Strong As Steel

Nancy returned last week like a bat out of hell from two "relaxing" weeks in Florida with one question, "Why are you blogging about J Lo...or whatever her name is, Kelly Wearstler and some photographer? Who gives a _ _ _ _! (Insert Nancy's Boston accent) We are working on some great projects. Would you please write about those. The girls in Florida were like "I love the blog but I want to see what you are working on now....and where can I get those shoes? Does Rachel wear heels like that?"."

My response, "Why don't you girls write your own  _ _ _ _ blog!  I'll write what I want to and what inspires me or I won't write at all. ".  After my ego recovered from a little crushing, I couldn't stop laughing and took some pics of our current projects to share.  This Master bedroom project in a palette of steel gray featured below is one of my favorites and will be installed very soon. 

Our Design Project on our work table.  Grasscloth, Graphite Gray paint, dark steel gray silk, gauzy linen, chenille, sparkle and accents of mineral and amethyst.

J. Lo's Lanvin silk dress reminds me of the steel gray silk draperies we designed for this space.

Photo: Koray Birand via FGR

This photo on the right illustrates our color palette, the steel gray of the rope, the purple against the natural stone and the marine blue/green.

The project in process.  Graphite gray paint and carerra marble fireplace installed.

Photo: Kara Mann via decorpad.com

I included this photo to show our ceiling light selection since our light is wrapped in plastic.  We ordered our fixture in polished nickel to compliment our gray palette.

In process...

Rachel Hazelton is an Interior Designer from Middleton, MA with design projects in Andover, MA, North Andover, MA, Lynnfield, MA, Boxford, MA, Topsfield, MA, Boston's North Shore and throughout New England.

Simple Spaces, Bold Statements

Design truly is in the details. My personal design aesthetic is about simplicity and easy, casual elegance, the abscence of color and instead a contrast of light and dark.  I love a well edited space with a bold statement with a play on proportion, such as the signature grand scale mirrors designer and photographer, Vicente Wolfe uses in his spaces featured below or an oversized photograph as Windsor Smith used on her stair landing.

I have always loved Collette Dinnigan's home that was featured in Elle Decor. White walls, no moldings, no color, no pattern, no drapery and yet, simply stunning. I particularly love the vignette of antique dark wood bench with a plain white linen seat and a stunning black and photograph hung above in a white frame with a white mat so the photograph becomes the focal point and draws you in. The photograph reminds me of Chris Isaak's haunting music video, Wicked Games, featuring model Helena Christensen and directed by famed photographer Herb Ritts. The black and white video inspired the fashion photo shoot for Muse in Summer 2010, titled Wicked.

Photo: Elle Decor, Collette Dinnigan's Home

Photo: Elle Decor

Helena Christensen in Chris Isaak's video
Wicked Games via google images

Photo: Designer, John Saladino via

Photo: Elle Decor, Designer, Vicenter Wolf

Photo: Elle Decor, Designer, Vicente Wolf

Photo: Eric Roth via Elle Decor

Photo: Elle Decor of Christian Chaize's beach photo, Kiane von Mueffling's Home

Photo: Designer, Windsor Smith, Domino magazine

Rachel Hazelton is an Interior Designer from Middleton, MA with design projects in Andover, MA, North Andover, MA, Lynnfield, MA, Boxford, MA, Topsfield, MA, Boston's North Shore and throughout New England.