Steven Gambrel: On Children Rooms

With new home comes new decor.  Fun, fun!  We've been in this house for 7 months, although we didn't get our furniture until December so technically that's a little over three months living with our own furniture.  Since this apartment is a lot bigger than our previous home there is still a lot of things we need to get.  For Lucas's room I'm looking to do something still child appropriate, he is only 4, but a bit more grown up as well.  When thinking about it I remembered the kids rooms designed by Steven Gambrel I've seen and how beautifully done and child-tailor-made they are without looking too adult.  Enjoy!

An unexpedted visitor

I love seeing homes displaying things that are unexpected and surprising.  I think it says a lot about the person living in;  All good things!  A life size Giraffe for instance is playful and beautiful as well as fun! I wouldn't like a taxidermy one in my house though, because I frankly think that's a bit freaky if not sad, particularly in a child's room.  On the other hand I have mentioned before how gracious I find them and how I would love to have a man-made one in my house adorning a corner.  Enjoy!

images via Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Coco Kelly, Harper's Bazaar, Elle Decoration UK, Vogue, T Magazine, Inside out

Tips I learned from this year's Kips Bay Decorator Show House

I was able to walk the Kips Bay Decorator Show house for a few hours and took a lot of it mentally and in photos.  There is always something new to see for the first time and tones of inspiration to get from show houses.  This year there was a lot of interesting details too good to not share them.  When I looked at Thom Filicia's space the first thought I had was that he had set up his shop in the middle of Kips Bay Show house, although none the less beautiful.  His space (above) called "The Gallery" was a walkway between the dining room, living room, entrance and hallway and every piece of furniture in it belongs to one of Thom's many furniture lines.  The space had only two small walls of about 3 to 5 feet and two other even smaller ones.  Magically Thom made it feel like a room.  My conclusions of how he nailed it!

Painting the ceiling the same color as the walls not only make the space bigger by (blending the boundaries but at the same time it encloses it by making the space feel more like one whole space and giving the fifth wall (the ceiling) a more important roll.  The high gloss walls bring movement.   

A Light and airy chandelier instead of a closed one or a shaded one helps open up the space.  

A black painting brings depth to a small space.  The curtains help make the walls feel bigger.

Secure your runner in a stylish way.  By Charlotte Moss. 

Add a cool wallpaper to baseboard for a touch of whimsy.  By Charlotte Moss.

Wrinkle-looking curtains for kids rooms is a brilliant idea. Very appropriate and fun.  By Laura Bohn.

all images by Julie Yenicag for Belle Vivir