Madrid Home of Maria de la Osa

Since I've been stuck on France for a bit, maybe it's time to mix things up again.  I just found the home of Madrid interior designer Maria de la Osa online and love her eclectic style already.  She has a great eye for mixing different periods and styles and I look forward to seeing more of her work in the future. 

This appears to be a different take on the same room above.  Also looks like they PhotoShopped out the door behind the screen when it was shot for Neuvo Estilo. 

Gilles et Boissier: Part Deux

Since I know not everyone is interested in my Parisian slideshow, I thought I'd mix things up.  Of course, I have Paris on the brain so we're not getting too far afield.  I posted some pics of the Paris apartment of designers Patrick Gilles and Dorothee Boissier of Gilles et Boissier a little while back here but just found some new photos on the AD France site. I highly doubt I can find an apartment to rent this fabulous on my next trip but I am sure going to try.  If you don't read French, Google Translate with happily translate the story into the language of your choice. C'est Magnifique!

I love this photo because there was a entire conversation about the plural pronunciation of the French word for round porthole window, hublot, during my visit to BETC. 

photos Jérôme Galland

Blue Monday

I had an amazing time in Paris but it was much too short so I am already planning another trip this fall. I can't wait to spend more time exploring new parts of my favorite city.  The highlight of this trip was finding the twice a year brocante around the rue de Bretagna in the Marais.  I have lots of pictures to post soon but until then, I'm posting a few photos from the old apartment of Jacques Dehornois who I imagine also spent many a day shopping the brocantes and puces of Paris. I don't know much about it except that it was photographed by Francois Halard and featured years ago in House & Garden.  Speaking of Francois Halard, he has a wonderful feature in the latest Apartmento magazine which I was alerted to by Wayne Pate who was also in Paris this weekend.  Definitely pick it up. 

Royale with Cheese

I uploaded these photos before I left for Paris but forgot to actually write anything or post it. In all honesty, jet lag is rearing it's ugly head.  Or at least that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. 

I actually posted these photos of designer Jacques Grange's apartment in the Palais Royal a few years ago but since the Palais Royal is one of my favorite places in Paris, I thought they deserved a second look. I'm still amazed that he stays so under the radar.  It's so French and chic.  I doubt that I will see him when I stop by the Palais Royal on this trip but I'm certainly going to keep my eyes peeled just in case! 

Be My Guest

Until I get back on track from the long weekend, I suggest heading over to Guest of a Guest to read a fun interview I did with them last week.  You can also see a few more photos of my apartment. 

Hat Attack

The sun is finally out after what seemed like a week of rain.  That means you might want to pull out a hat except that the gale force winds would probably blow it off your head.  Maybe better to display your hats on the wall or in the entry.  Nothing says summer like a good straw hat no matter it's located. 

Kendall Conrad's daughter. 

Brigitte Bardot

Design by Tom Sheerer. 

Pablo Picasso

Aerin Lauder's Southampton house.

Romy Schneider

via Country Living

Audrey Hepburn

Photo by Francois Halard

Photo by Jacques Henri Lartique

via India Hicks

Marilyn Monroe

via ELLE DECOR

Doris Day

by Eric Roth

Jacqueline Bisset

Vincent Van Gogh, Self Portrait with Straw Hat

Bamboo Story

One of the more avant guard rooms in the Kips Bay Decorator Show House is Sara Story's Bamboo Story space. She provided background information on the design so I thought it would be nice to share it in its entirety. 

" Sara Story's installation is a composition of form and color that invites viewers' heightened reflection through dynamic optical effects. In the abstracted sitting room, fractal upholstery pieces covered in solid colored lilac lambswool and binary pair of black and white coffee tables sit on a geometric floor pattern, establishing dynamic tension between figure and ground. 

The walls are covered in the black and white rendition of the "bamboo" pattern from Sara's recently launched wallpaper collection. In Asian symbolism, bamboo is a sign of strength, and the pattern is reflected in a lilac ceiling polished to a mirror finish. A custom vanity in the bathroom displays a full spectrum of the same lilac hue, relief from the after-effect of looking at a rigorous checkerboard of black and white tile on the walls and floor."

Sounds good to me. 

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic