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Happy Anniversary To Me

Posted by deardesigner in Inspiration | Interior Design - (10 Comments)

It suddenly occurred to me at the weekend that Dear Designer’s blog has now been going for just over three years.  And I never even noticed the anniversary passing!  Probably because my life is so much busier now that weeks go by in a blink of the eye and this whole year has passed in a kind of blur.

Not that I’m complaining.  Blogging started as a hobby, rapidly became an obsession and now, as many other bloggers will agree, is simply a way of life.  And it’s enriched my life in so many ways.  I have a whole network of friends I did not know previously, I get to travel occasionally, I get invited to more events than I can possibly attend and I am constantly amazed and awed by the amount of creativity happening in the design world around me.

But I digress, to mark the occasion I am listing below the 10 most popular posts of the last three years.  In order of popularity. (click on the image to go to the full post).

Celebrity Snoop – Jennifer Aniston

I believe Jen has now sold this Beverley Hills house but it’s been by far my most popular post.

Kelly Hoppen – Ideas

Kelly’s very popular book has been very popular on my blog!

Celebrity Snoop – Bedrooms

A round up of all the celebrity bedrooms I have ever featured.  This one belongs to Donna Karan but there are many more on the post.

Wallpaper – Fresh Blue Feature Walls

Wallpaper posts are always popular.

Just My Imagination – Bold Bedroom

A 3-d rendering of a bedroom that is pure fantasy but the black, white and red colour scheme proved a winner.

Designer Envy – Kit Kemp

The warm and colourful family home of the designer of Firmdale Hotels.

Inspiration – Masculine Bedrooms

It seems that inspirational posts are another hit, especially masculine bedrooms…

Inspiration – White Metro Tiles

white metro tiles…

Inspiration – Glamorous Bathrooms

and glamorous bathrooms.

I Spy – Timorous Beasties Wallpaper

So it’s pretty clear to me now that you lovely readers want to see more celebrities, more designers, more wallpaper and more inspirational images.

I’ve made a mental note.

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Celebrity Snoop – Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Malibu Home

Posted by deardesigner in Celebrity Snoop | Interior Design - (1 Comments)

I have just fallen in love with the Californian home of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith!

Designed by Architect Stephen Samuelson, it is full of intimate spaces, organic forms and handcrafted details.

I think it’s the views that really grab you.  Every room seems to be designed to take in those glorious vistas.  From waking up to sundown there is a little nook for drinking in all of that fresh air.

For more photographs and details of the house head over to Architectural Digest.

Photographs by Roger Davies.

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Celebrity Snoop – Ivanka Trump

Posted by deardesigner in Celebrity Snoop - (0 Comments)
01-Ivanka-trump-apartment

The New York apartment of Ivanka Trump in an Upper Eastside tower is as glamorous and luxurious as you would expect but it’s not in the least bit showy.

She worked with decorator Kelly Behun to create this very carefully considered look and I’m liking it a lot.  The faded colours of the rug are beautiful, as is that light installation.

Apparently the light fitting over the dining table is the first thing she bought and is still her favourite thing in the whole apartment.

I found the bright blue accents quite surprising at first but then they grew on me.  Inspired by the chinese dogs maybe?

The nursery is the cosiest room…and don’t you just love that low chandelier?

For more pictures and the full story, head over to Elle Decor.

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Celebrity Snoop – Reese Witherspoon

Posted by deardesigner in Celebrity Snoop | Interior Design - (1 Comments)

Oh, I do like a little snoop, so I’m going to share just a few pictures I spied in Elle Decor this week.

It’s the historic Wallace Neff ranch that Reese Witherspoon bought five years ago in Ojai, and where her family spends weekends and holidays. The property sits on seven acres that include a swimming pool, a barn, a horse paddock, and guest cottages and was originally built in 1923.

For more beautiful pictures and the full story, hop over to Elle Decor.

Photographer: William Waldron

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Jonathan Adler’s Shelter Island Retreat

Posted by deardesigner in Celebrity Snoop - (4 Comments)

I’m a big fan of Jonathan Adler.  He is maybe not as well-known in the UK as in the States but that is about to change very soon believe me.  There is now a store in London, in Sloane Avenue and there are more in the pipeline.  Plus you can buy online.

Visiting the Jonathan Adler empire in New York last March as part of BlogTour NYC was one of the highlights of the trip for me.  Jonathan was a gracious host; he was warm, genuine, chatty and funny.  His design aesthetic is for bright and colourful mid-century style and the Shelter Island retreat he has created with his husband Simon Doonan is no exception. 

You can read the story behind the retreat over on Architectural Digest.

And here’s a few of my own snaps taken in March.

A relaxed Jonathan chats in his office where on the other side of the room is his desk/ping-pong table.

Fascinating to watch the man at work, pink crocs an all!

Just a couple of glimpses of the colourful and fun Adler products.

The lovely Emily Peck recorded an interview while we were there and you can read all about it over on the Achica Living blog.

Maybe next time we’ll get an invite to the Shelter Island Retreat?!

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Celebrity Snoop – Ines de la Fressange

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Designers - (2 Comments)

Just what you’d expect from the queen of chic.  A delightfully pared down idyll in the South of France, where friends and family can relax.

 “For me,” she says, “decor has a great deal in common with fashion. You have to have several basics, just as in a wardrobe—furniture that resists passing trends. Then you add accessories—a vase, a rug—that play the role of a belt around a dress or a sweater.”

To read more about the house and see more photographs head on over to Elle Decor.

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Celebrity Snoop – Erin Featherston

Posted by deardesigner in Celebrity Snoop | Interior Design - (7 Comments)

I just love this New York apartment belonging to Erin Featherston.

The first photograph has been on one of my pinterest boards for some time but I keep going back to it.  I can’t quite work out why I love it so much.

I guess it’s because it’s feminine without being overly girly.  The colour palette is quite soft and the vast windows just flood the space with light.  And who wouldn’t be blown away by those doors?

The silk roses trailing down the Holly Hunt candle chandelier are so pretty!

Yes, I’d feel like I was floating on air if I lived here too.

All photographs via Vogue. Photographer Claiborne Swanson Frank.

 

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I Spy – Kylie at Home

Posted by deardesigner in I Spy | Interior Design - (10 Comments)

 In stores from February, five luxurious and beautiful new bed linen designs from Kylie at Home.

A feast of crisp white linen, embroidered ribbons, and a scattering of tiny diamantes…cushions with crystals and beads…

bed linen,luxury,

…tactile waves and pleats of sumptuous truffle satin… 

bed linen,luxury,

…stunning flock designs…soft gold satin and strong black detailing…

bed linen,luxury,

…panels of glistening metallic silver sequins against dark sumptuous black satin…cushions with tiny metallic beads and tassels…  

bed linen,luxury,

…soft oyster and warm caramel with a hint of sparkle…an understated look of luxury…velvet and diamante cushions…

bed linen,luxury,

…lavish quilted satin throws…delicate cream pearls…velvet cushions embellished with diamond encrusted brooches… 

bed linen,luxury,

All designed to bring out the pop princess in us all!

Which is your favourite?  

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Celebrity Snoop – Hilary Swank……….

Posted by deardesigner in Celebrity Snoop | Interior Design - (7 Comments)

Hilary Swank’s New York Apartment as featured in Elle Decor.

Modest in size and surprisingly understated,  “I feel comforted in smaller spaces,” the actress says “They’re more nurturing.” I second that.

Hilary has also started to collect art and this wall clad with planks of reclaimed barn wood sets them off beautifully.

Apparently a lot of the furniture is from Calvin Klein Home so it’s not surprising that it’s so tasteful.  I love the mirror propped against the wall in the kitchen.

And the very restrained colour scheme.

Can’t you just imagine curling up with a book in this cosy corner?

On a side note, this is the third time in a week I have seen scissors used as decoration…I must investigate further…

To read more about the design decisions and inspiration for this beautiful apartment head over to Elle Decor.

Photographs by Simon Upton.

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Celebrity Snoop – Bathrooms

Posted by deardesigner in Celebrity Snoop | Interior Design - (4 Comments)

From time to time I am guilty of a little celebrity snooping.

Who isn’t?

So here are a few celebrity bathrooms and powder rooms out of the archives.  See if you can guess who they belong to before scrolling down to the answers at the bottom.

Answers:  1.Sharon and Ozzie Osborne via AD 2.Candace Bushnell from Elle Decor 3.Cath Kidston from Lonny 4.Donna Karan via Habitually Chic 5.Ellen Pompeo via Elle Decor 6.Sarah Jessica Parker via The Fashion Spot 7.Meg Ryan via Elle Decor 8.Kate Hudson via Nicole Macaluso

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