New Kitchens by William Hefner & Christopher Peacock

I just love the pure beauty and artistic simplicity of William Hefner’s kitchen designs.

If you are not familiar with William Hefner, he is a wonderful architect from California. He designs beautiful homes, but his kitchens rank high on the inspiration scale for me. 

Although not practical for the snowy northeast winters, I adore his use of steel windows and his streamlined aesthetic which is both sophisticated and beautiful.
 

He has just published a gorgeous new book California Homes.  William Hefner also has sent me a copy to giveaway to a lucky Willow Décor reader.  As always, just leave a comment. Or as you know, current subscribers and followers are automatically entered to win.  You can order a copy of California Homes HERE. Or visit his website HERE for even more inspiration.

In other exciting news, Christopher Peacock inspires us once again with his stunning new kitchens on display in his fabulous new 5000 square foot showroom in the D&D building in New York City.

The new showroom is breathtaking and Peacock has really created something special.  Every cabinet, stove hood, and drawer pull reflect his outstanding quality and flawless design.

It is glorious inspiration at every turn. Notice the beautiful curved cabinet and the butcher block integrated in to the center island.

The showroom is not limited to kitchens, he has other wonderful installations including a library, bar area, dining room and a terrace.  Though they wouldn’t disclose the cost of the new showroom, its clear that no expense has been spared!

To see more of Christopher Peacock’s latest designs click HERE. 

Finally congratulations to “Yoga Girl” for winning the Magni Giveaway – please email me your shipping address.

(all photos used with permission. Content copyrighted and not be used with our permission  from Willow Décor)

Dreamy Bathroom!

I wasn’t surprised when Architect and Design firm Alisberg Parker won an award for this wonderful bathroom.

The Greenwich Connecticut firm is not only exceptionally talented in creating and renovating spaces but also in decorating those spaces with the just the right materials. The effect, as you can see above, is stunning! I love how the large marble floor tile is off set by the small brick subway tiles behind the vanity. To the right is a gorgeous free standing tub and to the left a walk in shower.

Here is a closer view of the tub. It is beautifully set in a cathedral peak with lovely windows to capture the view. The lighting choice is sublime. Overhead lights would have cast a harsh glow and I think chandeliers in the bath are just getting too overdone. Here they selected wall mounted arm lamps for soft and romantic lighting - a very interesting choice which I just love!!

The walk in shower also has interesting lighting which echo's the angles and lines of the shower. Alisberg Parker did a wonderful job of incorporating the angles and eaves of the house into the shower’s design.

Here is a better view of the shower – Isn’t it a fabulous space?! Plenty of room for two!

A classic marble vanity and nickel fixtures complete the perfect bathroom. This is one to keep for your inspiration files! Excellent design – outstandingly executed! To see more of their beautiful projects click HERE.

(All content copyrighted and property of Willow Décor – All Photos by Eric Laignel property of Alisberg Parker not to be copied without permission)

A Country Farmhouse

There is nothing more charming to me than a wonderful farmhouse. Old or new, I love the warmth and homey feeling!

I wanted to share this farmhouse from Rehkamp Larson Architects. When their clients purchased the property, the original farmhouse was in shambles. The owners envisioned a more modern, but classic styled foursquare farmhouse.

They wanted an expansive porch to wrap around the home to enjoy lovely views of the beautiful property.

Inside I fell in love with the old fashion styled farmhouse kitchen. Notice the large windows with mullions only on the top half. Also notice the huge wood center island. A bridge faucet and open shelving really helps capture the farmhouse style.

From this angle you can see the apron front sink. Another detail which really adds to the farmhouse feel are the exposed hinges on the inset cabinet doors, as well as the latches and bin pull hardware.

I adore this adjacent butler's pantry. Also notice the glass front cabinets and under cabinet shelf.

The bath is a wonderful reinterpretation of an old farmhouse bath. The slipper tub is sculptural and beautiful. The tile and high dressers also add a feeling of age and history.

Another favorite is the clapboard clad sunroom, outfitted with gas grill and hood. A great space for entertaining. Notice how the brick walls are complimented by the bright color palette. The colors really update and modernize the farmhouse feel.

The deep porch with beadboard ceiling creates a marvelous space for enjoying the vista. The very talented team at Rehkamp Larson Architects did an excellent job of creating a modern farmhouse for their client. To see more of their work click HERE.

(All photos Rehkamp Larson Architects- all content property of Willow Décor and not be copied with out permission)

Meyer & Meyer's English Rose Estate

Boston is wonderful place if you are interested in architecture. There are so many glorious historical buildings. America's gilded age brought architecture with unparalleled opulence to Boston. Some of these buildings still remain untouched. Such is the case with the beautiful English Rose Estate, built in 1929. The house was built for Quincy Adams Shaw, a wealthy copper mining investor. The house is a three story, symmetrical red brick Georgian Revival almost 18,000 square feet.

When the homeowners purchased this elegant estate it was in dire need of renovation. They looked toward the talented architectural talents of Meyer & Meyer . Both John Meyer and Laura Brooks Meyer became instrumental parts of the elite design team to restore the home to its original grandeur. The scope of the work included the complete interior rebuilding of two-thirds of the house to create a new master suite, third floor bedroom suite, new entry and reception halls, and construction of a new main stairway.

With Meyer & Meyer directing the efforts no detail was overlooked. A new limestone portico was also added on the west elevation of the house with a balustrade railing at the second floor terrace. Now let's have a look inside.

Here is the original stairway when Meyer & Meyer began their renovation process. The goal was to not only return the home to its original beauty, but also to enhance it.

John Meyer is also an artist. He creates expressive, hand-drawn perspective images of his designs. Meyer feels his drawings provide a “virtual window” where architectural and interior design issues unfold before the owners eyes and allow every detail to be studied. As he designed this home, these hand renderings gave his clients an clear picture of his vision and feel for the space. Often times his clients frame these spectacular works and they become treasured and sentimental parts of their art collections. Above is Meyer's hand rendering of the entry staircase. Isn't it spectacular?!

Here is the final result. You can see that the style of the interiors evolved over time because the homeowner, who travels extensively in Europe, was enamoured with the chateaus outside of Paris. The interior result decidedly became more French than American with the use of French rococo style, pastel colors and detailing. Notice the addition of the window behind the staircase, this small window adds an incredible amount of natural light to the space. Also notice the new hand forged bronze railing - a true work of art. Meyer did an amazing job of capturing all the details and creating a space of reminiscent of a bygone era.

Here is the before picture of the Grand Reception Hall.

And here is the hand drawn rendering that Meyer carefully and thoughtfully prepared for homeowners.

Finally here is the end result that was guided by both John and Laura Meyer. How could you not be awestruck?! Notice the moulding details, as well as the hand painted ceilings. These spectacular ceilings were painted by John Canning, the conservation specialist that also was responsible for restoring the sky mural on the ceiling of New York's Grand Central Station. Every craftsman on this project was dedicated to maintaining the highest level of quality and integrity. An amazing result!

Here is yet another view of this gorgeous home. The detailing is outstanding.

The Grand Reception hall from another angle - notice the ceiling detail, crystal chandelier and fireplace.

The master bath, bedroom and dressing room were also part of this renovation. The panels of master bedroom were also painted by Canning. Each of the four panels depicts a woman enjoying each of the four seasons.
A peek into the dressing room. Notice the cove lighting, moulding detail and hardware. No detail was overlooked.

It is wonderful to see these old buildings being carefully restored and returned to their original grandeur. The English Rose Estate is a reminder to us all the value of preserving and enhancing historical properties. To read the article from New England Home and to see more gorgeous photos and details about this house click here . For more information about the beautiful work being done by Meyer & Meyer click here. Thank you again to Meyer & Meyer for sharing this spectacular, lovingly restored architectural gem with us.

(all photos property of Meyer & Meyer, Inc Architecture and Interiors - do not copy with out permission)

Lessons from a Grand Home

One of the wonderful things about writing Willow Decor is the opportunity to get to know Architects, builders and other designers. Like any master skill, if you look closely and listen to these talented individuals you can learn an amazing amount. Master architect, Tom Catalano of Catalano Architects, was kind enough to send some photos of a house he recently finished. While the house clearly exceeds the price range most of us can afford, reflecting more closely on the design, we can learn a great deal about how to add details and features into our own more modest homes, for a stunning effect. Here is the exterior of the home. Of course it is beautiful, but interesting things to note are the the roof lines and the use of multiple materials. Stone, cedar siding and wood accents and doors are featured prominently. Additionally notice the curved roof lines, copper roofing and copper accents. The cobblestone driveway also adds to the wonderful feeling outside. In your own home try to assess if you can add any one of these features to your existing exterior. A new wood door or cobblestone edging along your driveway or walkway can instantly elevate your exterior.

Of course some things are difficult and expensive to change once in your home- like banisters. But take a look at this entry. The iron spindles add a such a lovely accent to space. Also notice all the mouldings in this area. They are so beautiful. The addition of moldings is another way to add grandness to your spaces.

The gorgeous living room has all the architectural features to make it a showplace: limestone fireplace, curved large windows, beautiful mouldings. Here the mouldings have been painted a soft seafoam, rather than white and become more prominent in the room. Paint is great tool to use to call more attention to a wonderful feature in your room - who could forget the black painted mantel from the movie It's Complicated (photo link here)?

The dining room color echos the living room colors and provides a beautiful flow. Also notice the light fixtures. I love sconces in a dining room. They provide ambient light that can really help create a spectacular atmosphere. Also notice how the beautiful windows are not covered with heavy draperies, but allow the light to flood the room.

Thea kitchen is an area where details abound: the ceilings are coffered, the cabinets have all the extras, not even the tile was overlooked.Notice the detailed inlay on the cabinet crown moulding and the extended sides of the cabinets. Also of note it is the wood wall moulding which highlights the arched opening into the breakfast/dining area.

I imagine that wall moulding was used to off set this moulding detail entering the family room. The wood trim around the stove hood is interesting. Here is a close up of the tile design. Although the center piece is most likely expensive, the tiles that are not embellished are generally more affordable. Adding decorative tiles in strategic places, can give you an expensive, beautiful look for a reasonable cost. This can be done in your current tiled space, by carefully removing specific tiles and replacing the opened area with something more dramatic. Another doorway with wall moulding that looks into the breakfast/dining area. I really love the raised fireplace. So cozy in the winter. Notice the color of the kitchen ties in nicely with the color of brick. Off the entry, which you can see through the doorway is the library. Who wouldn't love to be surrounded by such fabulous wood and furnishings? Notice the ceiling - a deeper russet than the kitchen. Painting a ceiling in this tone really envelopes you in the room. (Have you noticed I am really into painted ceilings lately?)
Wonderful marble bath with wall mounted faucet.
This house has it all, including a to-die-for mudroom. The beadboard walls are so inviting. I love the branch like pulls. Also notice the floor; the slate is set on the diagonal which will make the space seem larger, and then edged horizontally, interesting details!
Here a back stairway brings you to the second floor. I suspect it is off the mudroom due to beadboard walls. I love beadboard in a newer home. It adds a nice touch by adding depth and a sense of age.
This is an entry to seating area -not sure which floor it is on, but I included it to show the wall moulding detail. It is interesting to me how well the rosettes mimic the kitchen backsplash tile. I love when details of one room are echoed in a different way in another room and this is a great example. Stunning!
The master bedroom is tranquil and beautiful - again gorgeous windows and french doors to private patio flood the room with light. The leather headboard provides a nice balance to the stunning wood ceiling.

Finally the opulent master bath. So much space and light - a dream with private make up area, separate sinks and glorious soaking tub! Small glass shelves dividing the vanity spaces provide privacy and openness at the same time.

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This house is an exceptional example of classic home design. Though we may never be able to live in such a home, there are many small elements we can take from this and use in our own spaces. Take a fresh look at your room. Can you add some crown moulding, paint the ceiling or the mantel, add some tile? Outdoors can you edge the walkway with cobblestones or create a pebble path in the garden? Small changes can bring big impact. Let me know if any of this inspires you!

(all photos by Eric Roth and property of Catalano Architects - do not copy without permission)