Decorating Secrets

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ML GUEST BLOG: Summer necessities from designer Robyn Woodhall

June 18, 2010 in Decorating Secrets, Furnishings, High Country Shopping, ML Recommends, Mountain Living, Outdoor Living by Christine | No comments

Enjoy this batch of simple summer necessities from designer Robyn Woodhall of Evolve Living in Missoula, Montana.

“This stone stool/side table is great for indoors or out.”

“A wicker day bed that comes in many colors; cushions and pillows can be customized.”

“French apple baskets. The grey-washed color is perfect for summer, and they store just about anything.”

“A hammered-glass decanter and tumblers for drinks by the pool.”Want to learn more about Robyn—and her picks? Click here: www.evolveliving.com

Posted via email from Mountain Living magazine

DESIGN OF THE DAY: A Soothing Space

May 27, 2010 in Architecture & Interiors, Contests & Competitions, Decorating Secrets, Mountain Living by Christine | 1 comment

This year, I had the honor of judging the American Society of Interior Designers’ Colorado chapter’s annual Crystal Awards. And now that the winners have been announced, I can (finally!) share with you some of my favorite entries.First up is the winner in the Bedroom/Bathroom category: a peaceful sanctuary created by Basalt, Colorado-based interior designer Robyn Scott, of Robyn Scott Interiors Ltd. Scott has coined the term “artitexture” to describe her holistic approach to interior design that allows texture, art and furnishings to become an expression of a space’s architecture.

It seems to me that this room explains the concept perfectly. The space features an inviting blend of textures, from silk and wool to linen and suede, but you won’t find any bold colors, patterns or contrasts. Instead, each element of Scott’s design quietly complements the room’s striking architecture, as well as the beautiful mountain views that Scott was careful to preserve (by day, the treatment she selected for the floor-to-ceiling windows can be rolled right up to the ceiling).

I don’t know about you, but I’d like to be curled up on that chaise lounge with a good book right now!

To see more of Robyn Scott’s work, click here: www.rsidesigns.com — Christine

Posted via email from Mountain Living magazine

Ooh and Aah

May 25, 2010 in Decorating Secrets, High Country Shopping, Kitchen & Bath, ML Recommends, Mountain Living by Christine | No comments


 We’ve seen many natural-stone bathroom fixtures in our day, but we’re finding it difficult to recall any quite as striking as these.Launching this summer, Stone Forest’s Siena Collection features contemporary sculptural forms for the home and spa, each hand-carved from rare blocks of Siena Silver-Grey marble — a material prized for its subtle tones, striking horizontal striations and web-like inclusions.

We love everything in the seven-piece collection, but if we had to choose, we’d narrow it down to these three pieces:

Tamburo Vessel Sink: We love this deep, barrel-shaped vessel (pictured at top), designed to rest atop Stone Forest’s Banco Shower Bench. A cavity carved into the back of the piece allows for a clean installation; the plumbing stays hidden underneath.

Adagio Chaise Lounge: At first glance, we thought this sleek seat was made of wood, but it’s carved from marble too. When used indoors, it absorbs the ambient room temperature. Place it outside and it will absorb just enough heat from the sun to warm you up.

Lastra Vanity: Designed as a base for a Stone Forest vessel sink (the Verona, Beveled Round and Natural Pebble vessels would work beautifully), this sleek piece features three slabs of marble with an alder wood inlay for storage.

To learn more, visit www.stoneforest.com.

Posted via email from Mountain Living magazine

A Natural Glow

May 11, 2010 in Decorating Secrets, Furnishings, High Country Shopping, ML Recommends, Mountain Living by Christine | 1 comment

via birchandwillow.com

Picture this: A sunny artist’s loft in Fort Point Channel, Boston. A craftsperson leans over her work table, fashioning bits of birch and willow branches, reeds and handmade paper into a one-of-a-kind light fixture.

The result of her efforts will be one of Birch & Willow’s spectacular light fixtures (which we happen to be head-over-heels in love with).

Each custom design is achieved using environmentally conscientious manufacturing processes, high levels of recyclable natural materials, water-based finishes and adhesives, and natural patinas.

We love the way even a simple sconce can add warmth, texture and interest to a space. Picture one in a powder room, hallway or bedroom.

Click here to browse all of Birch & Willow’s sconces, pendants, lamps and screens. To view some great photos of the artisans in action, click here.

Posted via web from Mountain Living magazine

Meet the women who are designing the high-country

May 11, 2010 in Architecture & Interiors, Decorating Secrets, ML Recommends, Mountain Living by Christine | No comments

In the May/June Remodeling Issue of Mountain Living, we introduce you to 12
of today’s top high-country tastemakers–‹the women who are making a statement
in high-country design. We let you in on what inspires them, what makes them
tick, and what’s up next in their world. From an architect in Anchorage, who
designs sleek, spare forms that work in harmony with Alaska’s big scenery;
to a veteran designer who shares her insight into the last 25 years of
Colorado design; to a fashion-industry veteran out of Jackson, Wyoming whose
designs are strikingly stylish–‹these women are sure to inspire. And you
won’t want to miss the photos of their work (there’s a style and space for
everyone to love).

CLICK HERE TO GET TO KNOW ML‘S WOMEN IN DESIGN AT WWW.MOUNTAINLIVING.COM.

Posted via email from Mountain Living magazine

DESIGN OF THE DAY: Old Wood, New Look

May 10, 2010 in Architecture & Interiors, Decorating Secrets, Furnishings, High Country Shopping, ML Recommends, Mountain Living by Christine | No comments

Call it “rural modernism” or “rustic sophistication” — by any name, furniture designer David Stine’s style is one that celebrates the marriage of sustainability and classic American furniture design.

Each of Stine’s pieces is crafted from wood that’s been responsibly raised on his family-owned 400-acre ranch in Illinois. Only trees that have reached the end of their lifespans are harvested and shaped into pieces for the home.

Pictured here is the Sycamore Round, a solid section of a massive old-growth sycamore tree that was kiln-dried and hand-scraped, then treated with an all-natural linseed oil finish. Wouldn’t have guessed that it would look so at home in such sleek and spare surroundings? It’s a clean and graphic backdrop like this that lets this piece’s natural beauty take center stage.To view more of David Stine’s work, click here: http://www.stinewoodworking.com



Posted via email from Mountain Living magazine

ML GUEST BLOG: Architect Sarah Broughton Shares Her Top Kitchen & Bath Finds

May 4, 2010 in Decorating Secrets, High Country Shopping, Kitchen & Bath, ML Recommends, Mountain Living by Christine | No comments

Architect Sarah Broughton, AIA, of Aspen firm Rowland+Broughton Architecture and Urban Design, just returned from this year’s Kitchen & Bath International Show (KBIS) in Chicago. Here, she shares a few of her favorite finds:


This year at KBIS, the theme was all about being inspired. Two products in particular caught my eye and imagination:

Manufacturers Kohler and Toto are incorporating “hands-free” technology and LED into sinks and lavatories for the home. The Toto Neorest Automatic Sensor Faucet utilizes LED for on/off, lighting and hot/cold options. The sink has blue LED “smart sensors” that turn on when you approach the lavatory. The full collection can be found at www.totoneorest.com.

I can’t wait to start incorporating these into our residential projects in Colorado. These new sinks will be a true “wow” factor in our interior design concepts for kitchen and bath.

Robern, a division of Kohler, introduced a new innovation in medicine cabinets: they slide up! A simple push of a button sends the new Uplift Cabinet gliding up, which reveals all the bells and whistles inside. LED lights are located inside and beneath the mirror for a nightlight.

Optional features in this contemporary medicine chest include a flat-screen television, electrical outlets and a magnifying mirror. The overall result will produce a sleek, modern aesthetic. The Robern Web site features a video demonstration <http://www.robern.com/videos/index.rbn?v=uplift> of the medicine cabinet, definitely worth the minute it takes to watch it.

Throw open the door to something new

July 2, 2009 in Architecture & Interiors, Decorating Secrets, High Country Shopping, ML Recommends, Mountain Living by Caroline | 4 comments

In the high country, we’re all about indoor/outdoor living, so we predict the latest from Marvin Windows and Doors is going to be an instant hit. Hot on the market, the Ultimate Lift and Slide throws notions of the traditional door out the window. Available in sizes as large as 12-feet-by-48-feet, this door (if you can even call it that) is made of panels of glass that disappear from view in one of two ways: they either stack together and appear as one panel, or completely disappear and slide into a pocket in the wall. The effect? Nothing but views. Look for the Ultimate Lift and Slide nationwide this winter (though if you just have to have it, now it’s already available in some regions). Check it out at marvin.com.

A few of our favorite fabrics

May 22, 2009 in Decorating Secrets, Furnishings, ML Recommends, Mountain Living, Outdoor Living by Caroline | No comments

There are ample reasons why we love Place Textiles’ spring 2009 collection, dubbed "The Painted Desert." This family of fabrics comes in four patterns and 34 colors–all inspired by the palette of the American Southwest. You’ll love the way color meets texture through striated warps, tightly-woven yarns and handsome stripes. Then there’s the fact that these textiles are designated Durable Luxury, which means their colors hold fast, they resist stains and they’re washable at low temperatures–all while being soft like fabrics should be. Sounds like the perfect upholstery pick for summer! placetextiles.com.

Artistic Fabric Collection

February 26, 2009 in Art & Antiques, Decorating Secrets, Events, Food & Wine, High Country Shopping, ML Recommends, Mountain Living by admin | No comments

In partnership with the Santa Fe based Museum of New Mexico, Kravet has produced its fourth fabric collection inspired by textiles from state museums. Taking inspiration from Navajo and Pueblo Indian rugs and ceremonial costumes at the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, Kravet has created a series of bold geometric designs and traditional southwestern patterns. The fabrics range from primary bold colors of reds and oranges to an updated indigo blue story fading into a more neutral gray palette. To accompany that, Kravet crafted a group of textural stripes adapted from Peruvian ponchos, Moroccan floor coverings and Turkish tunics found in the ethnic textile collection of the Museum of International Folk Art.

To view the entire collection, visit kravet.com.

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