Furnishings That Enhancing Your Home's Architecture

The size and shape of a room can dictate the size and shape of a dining table and its chandelier.  In this photo of an octagon shaped breakfast area, designer Jill Rankl used a large round table to soften the lines of the space while highlighting its unique architectural detailing to the outdoors. 

The large resin stone table seats six comfortably and lends itself to intimate conversations.  The pedestal base allows the chairs to slide in and out with ease giving flexibility of squeezing one more person in.  Her choice of six fully upholstered side chairs with their scoop back, follow the round of the table freeing up additional space. The rich chocolate brown, blue & gold brocade damask on the chairs not only warms the space but add simplistic elegance and decoration.

 Given the tall ceiling height and large table size, she placed an oversized gold gilt drum fixture/chandelier to make a visually appealing statement.

For more information on enhancing your unique spaces, click here.

              Making An Entrance

    What makes a house a home? What makes interior decoration become interior decoration!? Its YOU! The thing that makes you different from every other person on this planet is your style, your interests, the way you speak, walk, laugh and relate to the world around you. What ever it is that gets you out of bed in the morning and propels you through your day makes you unique and special. So why settle for the same old same old in your interiors? When putting together your interiors let those special things about YOU come out and shine! I love how this shot of LCR owner and lead designer Peter Robbin’s entrance foyer speaks to his individuality and taste. The eclectic layering of textures, finishes, forms and origins speaks volumes about the gentle and sophisticated man who lives here.

          Starting with the walls, covered in the most sumptuous handmade tea paper in varying shades of silver and platinum Peter has created a quiet and soothing backdrop for this wonderful arrangement of objet. To give weight to the scene he has placed a classically styled chest finished in hand painted faux bamboo as a stage for belongings, as well as a spot to throw the mail and keys when he comes home after a day of creativity. What stands out to me in this tableau is the MIX! The terracotta figure of a man in Asian garb as a lamp says “classic tradition” while the limited edition vase in black and white says “avant garde”.  The wire dress form says “fun” next to the alabaster grapes that speak to “scale”. The central placement and strength of the contemporary painting lets the viewer know that art is important to this home owner. What he has done to so masterfully relate these disparate pieces to one another is the simple use of the color, black and white and red. Despite the varying origins and surfaces this beautiful tablescape is balanced, harmonious and most importantly personal.

         So remember that when you are striving to create beauty in your home look in the mirror for the answer as to where to start. It is within each of you to create what will speak to you personally and to let those privileged enough to enter your space know a bit more about you.

Restful Monochromati

This Florida living space in a high rise on the ocean is a study in soft blue, blue-grey, and black.


The walls, sofa, chairs and carpet share the same shade of blue, but, adding interest, their textures vary. In this gracious coastal aerie, the view is the most important thing.  The monochromatic blue scheme helps connect inside and outside.  Quiet color lets the eye rest in the interior before the gaze moves easily to the soft and shifting blue shades of sea and sky.   Monochromatic schemes are usually a simple color statement (and not only beige!).  They help frame and highlight beautiful views, important art, thoughtful accessories and the subtleties of texture.

How To Achieve Maximum Seating With One Versatile Piece

With the holidays approaching, you want to be certain your family room is in order. While friends and family tend to gather in a close-knit space, we find ourselves wishing we had more seating to accommodate our guests. With a large coffee table at the center, it not only anchors the space, but it also provides a wide perimeter to be surrounded by seating. Whatever your design style; traditional to modern, a large coffee table is an essential piece of furniture in any family room or living space. 

Designer Jill Rankl of L.C.R. Inc. took this principle to her client's home. The featured photo shows the large, chunky, burnished steel coffee table creating the conversation grouping. Its large surface allows more than sufficient room for food, platters, and other serving items all the while expanding the seating perimeter. Grouped around the coffee table are two 3-cushioned sofas, two fully upholstered chairs, and a two seat upholstered bench. With this principle in practice, it provides  the maximum amount of seating available while keeping the spacious feel to the room. Whether it be a holiday gathering or a TV viewing night, there is comfortable seating for 8-10 people. No room is complete without this versatile piece. The pictured coffee table is functional, but its stunning finish is sure to be a conversation starter!

View More From LCR Designers Here

Rediscovering Florals

For the past decade or so patterned fabrics have fallen out of favor. Rather than starting the room with a classic  floral  print or a traditional pattern leading from the window, designers have explored wide ranges of texture set against solid colors and simpler forms.  

In the last  couple of years with the " mid-century modern"  craze, we've seen the use of large-scale, high-contrast and bold geometrics---very "pop," very mid-1960's. 

Recently, however, we're seeing  soft florals, lovely organic designs and embroidery---even classic chintz. It's a pleasure to see this happening again.  In our design studio, it feels fresh and new.

One of the most exciting rooms I've ever seen was  at  a New York City Kipp's Bay Show house, back in the 1980's.  Mario Buatta ("The King of Chintz") started a room with a magnificent, full-bodied, color-charged floral. The room pulled out these luscious spring colors on to the fabrics, surfaces, walls, and ceiling, creating an explosion of three-dimensional color.  The sense was one of walking through the midst of a spring bouquet. 

How exciting to be designing again with flowers in mind. 

See More Design Styles Here

Capture Warmth By Using A Monochromatic Color Scheme

      With the close of summer and the oncoming fall season we start to think about the interiors of our homes again. It seems we hurry more during those precious few summer months trying our best to cram in every week at the shore, barbeque and day trip we can manage. I for one am relieved when fall arrives and we can slow the pace, grateful for the return of my children to school and the normalcy that schedule brings.

This particular fall season yellow and all of its associated shades of gold are hot, hot, hot! I love the effect that a monochromatic color scheme can achieve in a room. The layering of different materials, shapes and textures in one dominant color creates an enveloping sense of harmony. This effect is masterfully achieved by LCR designers Peter Robbin and Jill Rankl in this gorgeous Fairfield County living room. The golden cut velvet on the tall back chair and linen texture drapery panels and sunflower yellow silk on the throw pillows are luscious and soft to the touch. In contrast the spectacular patinated metal coffee table, antique brass apothecary lamp and other gilt accessories are hard and reflective, adding to the symphony of tone and texture. The warmth of this palette is always a winner, but for me what makes this room work so beautifully is the grounding effect that the cream white wood work, flooring and upholstery create. The addition of rich shades of oxblood red as seen in the magnificent carved chest and custom upholstered poufs is the perfect accent to an otherwise tonal scheme.  

                    

As we settle into the fall months and the winter to follow consider adding the warmth of yellows and gold’s to your interiors. Small additions like pillows and throws or paint and paper can brighten your interiors by day and capture the glow of candlelight and a crackling hearth in the evening. 

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Nambe: Art Designed for Everyday Living.

Nambé is the epitome of modernism’s mid-century servingware.  Founded in 1951 near Nambé Pueblo, New Mexico, its pieces are made from an eight-metal alloy having the luster of silver and solidity of iron.

Amazingly, the material was developed by a former scientist from Los Alamos Lab (the birthplace of the atomic bomb.)  The groundbreaking compound retains both heat and cold for long periods of time, making it ideal for ice buckets and bowls.  Both oven and stovetop safe, Nambé designs do not crack, chip or tarnish.  They hold temperatures up to 500 degrees and are safe even in the chilling temperatures of the freezer. 

Each piece transcends trends and generations being both undeniably beautiful and designed with artistic integrity while ensuring that quality and function are never compromised.  Nambé is truly art designed for everyday living. 

New pieces are for sale in Nambé stores, boutiques and even some big-box stores.  Older pieces have a certain nostalgic quality.  Nambé’s pieces go with everything, bringing a modern shine to any space.  Its recent offerings incorporate an enamel finish that mimics the look of wood and sandstone, a touch that adds warmth and color to the company’s cool ripple designs.  These include several pieces by the iconic designer, Karim Rashid.

Nambé is famous for including works of designers that share their unique vision with Nambe's:  creating works of art that you can use every day.

On New York designer Wei Young:  “His designs and creations for Nambé offer innovative solutions that strive for visual beauty and enhance user experience.”  His award-winning Fruit Tree Bowl “has an irresistibly playful spirit.”

 Steve Cozzolini (NYC):  “The beauty of design work is creating memorable experiences that engage the senses through fluid and sensual form, treating everyday objects as unique sculptural art and fashion for the tabletop.”  His award-winning Chirp Kettle is described as a “stunning sculpture for the stovetop.”

 On Neil Cohen (NYC):  “Cohen’s forward reaching vision and refined sense of shape, material and workmanship characterize his concepts.  His work supplies the kind of spark that engages the human spirit.”  His award-winning Elbow Frame is reflective of Cohen’s style:  “intentional creations that are meaningful experiences in themselves, apart from their functionality.”

And finally, an iconic Nambé find:  Kissing Salt and Pepper Shakers – minimalist and modern retro.