Inspiration

Village Vibe: Rafael de Cardenas

I admit that I am a groupie for a number of designers whose work consistently makes me swoon. Rafael de Cardenas is a New York based designer who is definitely on my rock star list. De Cardenas manages to combine uber-luxe materials, rarefied mid-century furnishings, and art, all without a hint of stuffiness.

Known for his love for and dramatic use of color, this New York apartment is a study in soothing but sophisticated neutrals. De Cardenas keeps boring at bay through the use of layers of texture as in the blonde herringbone floors and trompe l’oeil malachite ceiling in the same soft neturals. Of course, he can’t resist jolts of color, as in the fabulous electric blues in the Inigo Elizalde carpet and graffiti inspired Assume Vivid Astro Focus wall covering in the stairwell.

Photos via Architectural Digest

Rafael de Cardenas NY Penthouse Living RoomThe blonde herringbone floors and faux malachite painted ceiling is neutral done the right way.

Rafael de Cardenas Ny Penthouse Dining RoomCustom dining table and chairs by de Cardenas. A pair of Campana Brothers chairs in electric blue against classic lacquered paneling are the perfect foils.

Rafael de Cardenas NY Penthouse hallwayThe unexpected blast of color in this graffiti inspired wallcovering by Assume Vivid Astro Focus on the stairwell ceiling is totally fabulous.

Rafael de Cardenas bedroom sitting areaCreamy nude leather on the Joseph-Andre Motte armchairs against the electric blues and browns in the Inigo Elizalde carpet in the unbelievably chic master sitting area.

Rafael, consider me a groupie for life.

 

Palm Beach Style

Maybe I need a vacation or maybe it’s because I’m heading to Miami in May, but I seem to have Palm Beach style on my mind of late. Palm Beach always conjures up fantasies of elegant pool parties, tropical colors mixed with crisp white, cocktails, and the good life.

Photos: 1/ Jan Showers Interior Design 2/ Lonny Magazine “Young At Heart” 3/ Dimples & Tangles blog

Palm Beach living room Palm Beach dining roomPalm Beach vignettePalm Beach Regency is an elegant mix of European and Chinoiserie influences with a dose of tropical flavor for good measure. To bring a little Palm Beach allure to wherever you are, On Madison has assembled a collage of items that do just that.

Palm-Beach

Fromental Handmade Wallpaper / Chinese Ginger JarsCodor Jabberwocky Mirror / Jonathan Adler Pagoda Lamp / Frances Elkins Loop Chair / Rose Cummings Banana Leaf Fabric  / Made Goods Malachite Console

 

To Shine or Not to Shine…

To shine or not to shine–that is the question! Let’s talk high gloss today:

I frequently preach the gospel of making a design statement in this blog. After all, one must take a bit of a design chance in order to achieve nirvana. Design greatness often means pushing the boundaries of good taste and this sometimes means breaking the “rules”. One of these rules has always been that walls should be painted a dignified satin or eggshell finish.

Many top designers such as Miles Redd and Steven Gambrel have discarded those rules and have glossed up everything from walls and ceilings to cabinets and floors. Of course, there is a method to their madness. One must choose carefully the right room and color before going crazy with shine.  For my money, libraries, dining rooms and powder rooms are perfect foils for high shine glamour. Jewel tone colors such as sapphire, garnet and malachite or the stark contrast of black and white look spectacular when done in a high gloss finish.

Whatever your high gloss fantasy is make sure you use a painter experienced with this type of application. High gloss finishes show every imperfection, so excellent preparation is key.

Here are some of the ways we are inspired by bold high gloss interiors and we’ve gone ahead and picked out Benjamin Moore paint swatches to match. Go ahead and let it shine!

The Pink Pagoda // Christina Murphy

Green and Pink High Gloss Walls green pink BMMiles ReddMiles Redd High Gloss impact wallsMiles-Redd-colorsBeautiful orange lacquered wallsOrange Lacquered Wallsorange

 

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