BEAUTY: Interior--Kelly Wearstler

Once again, interior designer Kelly Wearstler shows her talent and genius, this time in a spacious Bel Air home. Present are some of her signature pieces designed by her, as well as her passion for unique lighting, and vintage pieces spanning the Art Deco 20s to the abstract 60s. She is heavily featuring brass, which is making a very strong comeback in interior design, as well as her love for pietra dura or inlaid marble, and strong geometrics like stripes and pyramid shapes. I really like the Jean de Merry chandelier over the Pedro Friedeburg table in the entryway, and the gold and brass kitchen, but I especially love the very long sconces in the living room which were salvaged from a Roman cinema. Click on each one of these images and drink in her heady creativity.

Photos via Architectural Digest

http://www.kellywearstler.com/

BEAUTY: Interior--Steven Sclaroff

Steven Sclaroff has done a marvelous job on the restoration and interior design of an iconic building registered with the National Register of Historic Places. The home currently belongs to Kate and Andy Spade but it was built as a residence and studio for artist William Merritt Chase (1849–1916) in 1892, as part of a larger Chase Art Colony. Chase was an American Impressionist painter and a highly revered teacher. He is also responsible for establishing the Chase School, which later would become Parsons The New School for Design. But his personality was flamboyant and his Manhattan studio was extravagantly filled with opulent furniture, decorative objects, stuffed birds, oriental carpets, and exotic musical instruments. And clearly, Sclaroff used that as inspiration to fulfill the Spade's own penchant for interesting and art-filled interiors. In this project, Sclaroff retained the two large rooms where Chase taught and I love how he has covered the walls with art which is hung salon-style, along with Oriental rugs, a mix of classic comfortable furniture pieces, books, ethnic sculptures, and other fascinating objets. The mix of patterns is artful, playful, fun, and interesting without being overwhelming. The kitchen and bathrooms feel fresh yet period-correct too (how about that master bathroom?--you could park a few cars in it). I think Chase would feel right at home.

http://stevensclaroff.com/

BEAUTY: Photography and Interiors--Trevor Trondo

I have been marveling at the interior photography of New York photographer Trevor Trondo. I just wish he identified the designers of these spaces on his website. They are all quite unique and gorgeously designed, but some of them are just jaw-dropping, like the futuristic laundry room, the lounge with the swing, and the wild wood-and-pink bedroom!

http://trevortondro.com/

BEAUTY: Interior--Jay Jeffers

Since returning from France, I have been swamped with interior design work, which is great. I am hoping this might mark an upswing in finances for people in general and therefore an interest in the hiring of an interior designer (namely me). I am working on a master bedroom and bathroom extension and renovation, completely furnishing a huge 6,000 sq. ft. home, and a guest bathroom renovation. This leaves little time for posting the marvelous things I come across. But I had some time this evening, and I want to share with you San Francisco interior designer Jay Jeffers' new weekend home in Napa. I am crazy for Jeffers' work to begin with, but this charming house is pitch perfect. He took a non-descript California ranch house and created something elegant yet casual. I love the chevron wood treatment on the living room fireplace wall, and I especially love the fresnel stage lights in the bathroom!

http://jeffersdesigngroup.com/

BEAUTY: Interiors--Nicole Hollis

The interiors of designer Nicole Hollis are sophisticated, but edgy. They feel traditional but are composed of non-traditional, even whimsical items. She designed a dining room for Vitra using office furniture, and covered curvy molded Panton chairs with Scandinavian sweaters (second photo)! And I really love the hair-on-hide wall panels in the dark library (last photo). I'd like to do a version of that for some clients... maybe with traditional brown and white instead of black...hmmm...it could take a tan/ burlap/ organic turn...

http://www.nicolehollis.com/index.php