Italian Style

I posted this blog back in August 2010 featuring designer, John Saladino's beautiful Tuscan style Montecito villa and the brilliant work of architect and designer, Bobby McAlpine.  I often mention that my mind, like other designers, is running a constant movie.  It's been this way since I was a little girl and probably why I spent entire summers dressed in my dancing school costumes.  I was always living in another place and another time inside my mind.  So when another designer posted the Christina Perri song, A Thousand Years, a song that reminded her of a book she read about the prolific writer Dante and his love for his muse Beatrice, I immediately thought of this beautiful editorial that I had included in this past blog post by photographer, Kalle Gistaffson, titled Storia d'amour.  Love is the ultimate inspiration.


On this rainy day, I thought I would share some inspiration from one of our recent projects. Design is about capturing a mood..a place..a time. For me, this is Italian style, casual and elegant. Limestone floors, faded antique rugs, velvet drapes, iron lanterns, cypress and statuary....and always romance.

Photo: Frank Grimm Source: http://www.dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/







Photos: Designer, John Saladino www.saladinostyle.com






Photos: Kalle Gistaffson, Storia d'amour, Source: http://www.dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/

Photo: Edith Wharton's Italian Gardens via http://www.trouvais.com/





Photos: Architect Bobby McAlpine, McAlpine, Booth and Ferrier Interiors Veranda Magazine




Photos: Architect, Bobby McAlpine & Designer, Susan Ferrier Source: http://www.cotedetexas.blogspot.com/

Photo: Frank Grimm Source: http://www.dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/

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.

Style File: Ryan Korban

This bedroom featured in Lonny magazine and designed by Ryan Korban is so dreamy.  Ryan Korban creates such interesting spaces with his unique mix of classic traditional design elements paired with what I would describe as rock star style. 

The bedside lamps, the vintage Bardot movie poster, the gray silk bed, the super glam chandelier....love, love, love.
Designer, Ryan Korban Lonny Magazine via
Designer, Ryan Korban Lonny Magazine via
I love this ultra feminine and glamorous bedroom design in blush velvet and steel gray silk taffeta .
Ryan Korban via

Korban's hard edge urban design of this retail space is a sharp contrast to the classic and refined bedroom above.
Retail space by Ryan Korban via

Black & Gold

This photo of these Gianfranco Ferre shoes is still a fixture on my inspiration board.  I immediately thought of them when I saw this 1940's vintage black and gold mosaic mirror in this stunning bath by designer, Michael S. Smith. 

Gianfranco Ferre shoes via google images
1940's vintage gold mosaic mirror on gold leaf tile.
"Michael S. Smith Kitchens and Baths" via L.A. Times article photo: Michael Mundy

Ann Sacks Obsidian Glam Tile
Dune Gold leaf glass tile via

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.

Year of the Dragon

Today marks the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year and the Year of the Dragon.  The legendary dragon is a symbol of good fortune, power and strength. 

The dragon is a regular motif found in Asian toile and chinoiserie fabrics and papers.  Although I adore classic chinoiserie, I love Osborne and Little's fresh design approach to this classic motif in their Chinese Dragon wallpaper.  It is so opulent and exotic, especially in the smoky amethyst and metallic colorway. 

Chinese Dragon wallpaper by Osborne and Little
Angelina Jolie's dragon tattoo via google images
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. 

Traditional Glam vs. Classic Modern: Aerin Lauder's Homes

A fantastic book by one of my favorite architects and designers is The Home Within Us by Bobby McAlpine.  What is the home within you?  The homes within me are many and varied in style.    Fortunately, as a designer, I can live vicariously through the spaces I design and experience creating in many styles.  Aerin Lauder has the luxury of having several homes to express her different design styles.  Lauder's East Hampton dining room in comparison to the dining room of her Manhattan apartment is a fabulous example of both the contrast and the continuity of my two favorite design styles, Traditional Glam and Classic Modern. 

Traditional Glam

Aerin Lauder's East Hampton Home via Elle Decor
Classic Modern

Aerin Lauder's Manhattan Apartment via Elle Decor

Design Bloggers Conference L.A.

Sex and the City "Escape from New York" Episode via
 "Decked out in our New York-goes-to-L.A.'s finest." -Carrie

I can't think of a better way to kick off 2012 than attending the Design Bloggers 2012 Conference in L.A. next month.  Some of the speakers include the legendary designer, Bunny Williams along with designer, Martyn Lawrence Bullard of Bravo's Million Dollar Decorators, the super talented and equally business savvy designer, Tobi Fairley and of course Boston's own Stacy Kunstel, uber talented stylist and editor whose work appears in dozens of premier design magazines including House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens and New England Home to name just a few.   It is sure to be a great event.  It will be my first time back to L.A. since returning home to Boston over seven years ago.  I'm looking forward to returning to palm trees and sun if only for a brief minute. 
  
Always evolving and pushing the limits of design, the energy of L.A. along with the extreme variation of architecture makes it truly an exciting city for an interior designer and the perfect place for this creative group to gather for this fantastic event. 

 
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.  

Tufted Banquettes

I am mad about tufting, especially tufted banquettes.  This mile long purple velvet tufted banquette in this Parisian Hotel is incredible.  We once created a banquette along a twelve foot wall to add more seating in a client's media room and upholstered it in chocolate leather with channeling versus tufting all the way to the ceiling.  I would love to design a tall tufted built in banquette for a dining room.  It is so custom and unexpected that it would add instant drama to a space.

 
Image via

Image via
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.

A little chocolate...a little leopard

Chocolate, especially this couture collection chocolate silk satin in my photo below, just makes every color more sophisticated and rich.  The leopard was not part of this project and actually in another stack of samples I have to return.  Based on this photo of my desk, I think I may have to hang on to it for this project.   

Photo: www.Elle.com

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.

Retro Chic

I tend to favor deep tone neutrals and smoky shades of color.  However, I'm kind of crushing over this turquoise and pink combination.  Ever since I came across this photo of Ashley Stark's bedroom again from Elle Decor's November issue, I am seeing turquoise and hot pink everywhere from the Versace Spring 2012 ad campaign to the Kate Spade book below.  Although, truthfully, it's sort of an 80's flashback reminding me of Demi Moore's "designer" apartment in St. Elmo's Fire.  It was totally fabulous at the time.  Shocking, I know.  However, if I recall, I was less interested in Demi's apartment and more interested in her co-star Rob Lowe.  My sister and I had Rob Lowe posters probably from Tiger Beat magazine hanging on our pink daisy "vintage" bedroom wallpaper.


Versace Spring 2012 via www.FashionGoneRogue.com
Kate Spade via
Designer, Kelly Wearstler via www.MyVibeMyLife.com via www.TheDecorista.com

Demi's Fab 80's Apartment in St. Elmo's Fire
St. Elmo's Fire via google images

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.

Traditional Glam vs. Classic Modern: Emerald, Black & Gold

I find that my clients seem to favor either a Traditional Glam design style or a Classic Modern style.  Traditional Glam is how I describe a more sophisticated approach to traditional decor with luxe elements like exotic chinoiserie or flock damask wallpaper, gilded french mirrors and rock crystal.  Classic Modern design may also include some of these elements but the overall look is more tailored, with clean lines and an emphasis on neutral colors and textures.  I personally love the blending of the two styles.  I'm often asked how I describe my style.  I would say, whether Traditional Glam or Classic Modern, my design approach is simply luxe. 

Speaking of luxe, the color palette of emerald green with black and gold is so rich and glamorous.  The two spaces below perfectly illustrate how this one color palette translates to two different styles, Traditional Glam versus Classic Modern.


via

Traditional Glam: This green chinoiserie wallpaper is fantastic with all those black hanging tassels.
House & Garden via

Classic Modern: A more subtle approach to emerald, black and gold with a touch of gold lighting and a gold banding
on the pillow.  Emerald makes a bold color statement through art set against a neutral space.  Finally, there is a touch
 of black in the marble fireplace and artwork on the mantle. 

Ashley Stark photo by Eric Piasecki via ElleDecor.com


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.
 
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