Do you see how hideous?

We need a new wall color!!!!!!

For Ewe

Hi Ron,

Budget alternatives for Lalanne sheep:

The original (about $5K a piece)



Phillips Collection?




Moss $575. for a medium one. I would like the grazing in Black




Then there's this, which looks VERY similar to Phillips Collection, but they are not fluffy. Hmm. They are $450. though! I could get a flock!







This sheep isn't as cute, but it does have synthetic wool and long legs for knee socks. $375.

Exclusive Access

Hi Ron,

Just so you know, this blog begins at the end. Start there.

Second, as I mentioned earlier, I have been quasi-obsessed with Lalanne sheep. I cannot afford them now, of course, but my craving for indoor sheep (or alpacas) and love for Jacques Granges must be satisfied somehow. Phillips Collection is like a porn site: it tempts you with photos but you can only get on as a member. Any way you could check into this? I am very interested in the sheep. Probably out of my price range, but, curious. I also like the river rock and patina coffee tables all smooth and shiny.

http://www.phillipscollection.com/

Budget Buys Dining Room Chairs

Hi Ron,

Dining room chairs---budget buys again.

Here is table (walnut with a soap finish)




Originally I wanted Wegner chairs since I am huge fan. Problem is, the Wishbone chair is everywhere in the past three or four years. (Actually I wanted China Chairs, but too expensive)

Anyhow here is Bottega Veneta's look from about three years ago:





They sell the reedition Wegners at Room and Board for about $800 each. (I love the ones in Peacock!) I guess we have to go for an Oak



If you think Oak is the best, I can get them much cheaper (for about $225. each) on eBay.


Don't really want to spend more than $1000. for chairs. If you have better idea, love to hear it!


Just so you know, I wanted it to have a natural feel, like the photo of the Daniel Ost table. I have JARS pottery that I use in sky and pearl right now, and want to layer some more color, like adding some light burgundy






Would like lots of flowers around, too. Maybe a box of burgundy orchids? (I know, orchids are everywhere, but they do bloom for a long time.)

Budget Buys

Hi Ron,

A follow up to yesterday. Wanted to present you with some high/lows and get your thoughts.

The budget for the living room is a ridiculous $2000-$2500. or so. I really loved that pic I posted yesterday of the armless sofa by Piet Boon




I was thinking of getting this armless made with some legs and use custom fabric from Silk Trading Co. to match the expensive sofa. This cheap Lucy can be made for $800 or so plus custom fabric ($250?)

Hi Ron

I thought I'd post all the house photos and comments on this temporary blog for an easy reference.


HOUSE:

-3,000 sq ft
-View home
-Modern
-New construction using old footprint (which is a boomerang shape. We had no choice)
-Materials--stucco, oak floors, limestone counters and fireplace, bluestone in backyard, Ipe wood deck and ipe accents in house
-Color palette: beige and grey mostly. (Benjamin Moore Realist Beige throughout house)

Thought process was that the house would be a neutral canvas for saturated colors in furniture and flowers. Use indoor/outdoor as theme. Colors in landscape are blue, purple, orange, silver, chartreuse, burgundy. Want to carry that throughout.

House has two views: Front faces the arroyo which is green; back faces mountains which are purple, orange, etc.

ROOMS:

House is "back loaded" with a long hallway/ gallery connecting all rooms

3 bdrms/ 2 1/2 baths + den


ISSUES:

-Need to repaint hallway, so would like to pick out a new color. The architect had insisted that there should be three paints used in home: Realist beige, a lighter beige for cabinets and a darker color for the hallway and behind the tow long counter/buffet areas for depth. The hallway color is awful--it's a mauve, and it is oppressive. I would like to find a blud/grey to be more of a match to the counters BUT the Realist Beige is a warm color and this would be a cool tone. What to do?

Also the thinking for the blue grey is that the skylights at either end of hallway have the blue sky and the frosted glass near entryway also has a light blue tone.


-Long counters built into both living room and dining room as a design element. I don't like them, but I was overruled. It is a bit excessive, and it makes already narrow rooms even more so.

-They put the wrong doorknobs onto the French doors (these are huge) I am aware of how inelegant they appear, but it is too expensive to replace them now.


ROOM HELP:

1. Hallway--new paint color
2. Dining room-need help picking out chairs for custom table
3. Living room-Need furniture. Architect had said that sofa must face fireplace. I hate the way this looks--it cuts room in half (already narrow) , I have to look at the back of furniture, and it looks like those hideous "screening rooms" that are so popular.

For living room I would like to get new sofa, and a comfy chair or two for near fireplace. Gotta pick out art, a coffee table , and a few important accents. I like it clean and fairly sparse. I want to be bold with the color, though.

4. Library-need furniture. Use this for work and tv watching. (Every room has a huge tv. Not my choice) It is another narrow odd shaped room.

5. Master Bath- need paint color. Was hoping to just pick up a blue from the glass tiles in shower enclosure and somehow tie it into the hallway.


INSPIRATIONS:

When they built the house about 7 years ago the thinking was that this would somehow be an homage to Hieronymus Bosch. I used a couple of his paintings for the feel. (Dining room table I ordered was inspired by this:




I wanted the house to feel like a Zeffirelli movie. I know that Mongiardino did his set designs. I like Mongiardino's set designs, but not his homes. (Too formal, matchy-matchy) But if you could somehow get that Mod Mongiardino going here, that would be cool.

I like the colors in the beginning of this clip:

(You might have to copy and paste this in your browser. I can't get link to work on this blog)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJi5o_AITMc

I wanted the living room to be chill, but with bright, exciting colors. I don't want any white, beige or safe. I was hoping for something fresh and dramatic.

See the vibe in this Zeffirelli clip:




That's what I wanted for house: festooned with flowers, natural materials, abundance, color.


For the record, yes, I know, I'm weird. But this is what I love.

If I could afford Lalanne sheep I'd get those too! So I could have animals in the house.


Two current designers/artists that I dig for house:

Piet Boon-- I like his restraint and chunkiness:



This is from his site, and is the most gorgeous fabric. How about a sofa/lounger covered in this:





The other guy is Daniel Ost. Technically he is a floral designer, but I like his style:





HOUSE TOUR:

Quick videos:


View from kitchen to outdoors:





Dining room/kitchen




Hallway/Library



Big problem is setting up work areas--he has a minimum 5 computers . No joke. He thinks he's Capt. Kirk.


Hallway/Master bath



Living room




Problem is layout. Architect said sofa has to face fireplace and big screen. I don't like it. Sorry. I want to open this up.