A Few of GP's Favourite Things

In case GOOP wasn't enough (and I am actually a fan lest my snide tone convey otherwise) GP has Oprahfied herself and graced us with a list of things she can't live without.  Here are some of them:

Seasonal Flowers - she likes single-variety posies, I have to agree.  Am not one for arrangements and don't get me started on the ubiquitous filler Baby's Breath!

Image from Elle Decor

Charles Edward Star Lanterns - these I do like, I even like her description of where they are in her home, despite it being a little corny - "I hung three of these at different levels in the stair hall so that we could pass them on our way up to bed at night".

Image from Elle Decor

Juxtaposed Religion Shelf - the shelf itself is pretty funky and of course Gwyneth being Gwyneth had to add, "built-in slots hold holy books...all at the same level, which is how I like to think about religion".  Yawn.

Image from Elle Decor

Cloth-bound Penguin Classics - now these I love!  Have bought them before as gifts and they're beautiful.

Image from Elle Decor

YUBZ Retro Handset - perhaps not the most portable handset but certainly very cool.

Image from Elle Decor

Image from Elle Decor

There you have it.  For the complete list visit Elle Decor here and decide which of GP's favourites is your favourite?

Nicolex

At Home: Ali Wentworth

The other night while catching up on some blog reading I enjoyed Fabiana's living room quiz over at Ciao Newport Beach.  Of course I found a favourite which turned out to be from the Washington DC home of Ali Wentworth and George Stephanopoulos.  Naturally I had to go searching for more photos of their home.

Now as previously confessed, I am not a lover of purple but something about this room really works for me.  I love the built-ins, the contrasting white mantle and of course the grey velvet sofa.  The cocktail table is a vintage army cot topped with glass and Ali used fabric dye to create the patterns on the wool rug (just thought you should know this as it's rather ingenious don't you think).

Image from here

I love how Moroccan pouffes work just as well in a sophisticated space as they do in a bohemian one.  If you love their look, you can pick them up here in Oz from Ada & Darcy and Table Tonic or from John Derian in the US.

Image from here

OK so I personally can't come at all the shells and coral but they are a collection Ali has been adding to since childhood, so I get it.

Image from here

Quite a masculine but very warm family room.  I love the wall panelling.

Image from here

The other end of the family room.

Image from here

There's a lot to love about this dining room - again the built-ins, the wall colour, another beautiful mantle (and is that a Juju hat I spy Louise), the chairs (!), the old table...

Image from here

The faux python console was found on eBay.  I seriously heart eBay!

Image from here

The chairs in the office are flea market finds.  I think sadly my obsessive personality would not cope with the stuffing falling out of one like that but I want the wall colour for my very own, it's Winter Solstice by Benjamin Moore.   Yet another great mantle adorns this room (that's 4 so far peeps).

Image from here

Love the bedside table and upholstered bench seat at the end of the bed here in the main bedroom.

Image from here

Ali and her daughter Harper in the living room.

Image from here

If like me you missed the original article you can see more pictures and read it here.

Nicolex

At Home: Courteney Cox

It's clearly a day for magazines because the July issue of Elle Decor is also out and it's featuring the Malibu home of actress Courteney Cox.  A two acre estate high above the Pacific, that includes guest cottages, tennis house & court, screening room and swimming pool.  Not too shabby.  After selling her John Lautner designed residence a few years ago she embarked on a completely different look and describes the vision for this home as "modern barn".  Helping her create it, was architect Michael Kovac and designer Trip Haenisch. 

I've started with my favourite picture from the house and one that sent me on a wild goose

chase for more Harland Miller paintings (found some here).  I just love this particular

one, which speaks VOLUMES (pardon the pun) as I am usually no fan of purple.

You can see it again here on the left of the photo (actually the other painting is also a

Harland Miller).  This is actually the entry of Courteney's home so a 

good place to start a house tour don't you think.

The sitting area off the kitchen.

The sitting area of the master bedroom is simple and tied effortlessly

together by the Matt Palmer painting hanging over the daybed.

A Kent Williams painting hangs in the living room.

The master bathroom with chair and ottoman upholstered in velvet

from Rose Tarlow Melrose House and a sketch done by 

Courteney's father while he was in high school.

The white oak powder room has a granite counter-top and zinc sink basin.  A photograph

taken by her Cougar Town co-star Christa Miller (Ali) rests against the wall.

The kitchen in the screening house.

The bar outside that kitchen.

Beautiful flagstone flooring in the poolroom, custom-made pool table and painting by Arsen Roje.

Before...

...and after.

A concrete table designed by John Lautner has been saved from Courteney's previous home and

they've been paired with stools from Lebanon in this wonderful outdoor relaxing area.

Outdoor dining under French pendant lights.

One word, VIEW.  Another word, MAGICAL.  More words, the fire pit (wasn't I just loving

fire pits yesterday) is surrounded by a custom-made banquette.  Courteney

says she has a coffee out here everyday.  And why wouldn't you?!

More outdoor space for relaxing, this one includes a sofa and 

cocktail table (both from Sutherland).

Saltwater pool in the flagstone patio.

What strikes me the most about her home is not just the breath-stopping views but the amazing art.  From the huge oils by Harland Miller to the sketch done by her father in school to the photograph from Christa Miller, each seems to fit the room perfectly and add something that no other piece of furniture or accessory could bring to it.  Personal and real.  I love it.  

Nicolex

Elle Decor: June Issue

Nothing nicer than sitting down with a cuppa to find the latest issue of a beloved mag has arrived.  BTW, am I allowed to call a magazine beloved?

"Rooms that lift your spirits".  Don't you think that's lovely?

I'm off a gander and will report back with my favourites:)

Nicolex

Top Interior Designers

Elle Decor has just announced their list of top 25 interior designers for 2011.  Here are my favourites:

JAY JEFFERS

Image from here.

SHEILA BRIDGES

 

 Images from here.

JAMIE DRAKE

Image from here.

KATHRYN IRELAND

Image from here.

JEFFREY ALAN MARKS

Image from here.

RICHARD MISHAAM

Image from here.

Pop over here to see the complete list.
Nicolex