Ottomans, Benches, Foot Stools, Hassocks

Ottomans have become a favourite of mine to use in family/media rooms and dens. I like using them for several reasons. First and foremost they serve as the indispensable coffee table. I like to make mine with tight tops and rather flat as opposed to padded with a pillow effect. This way you can set things on top of them without worrying about them toppling over. Secondly you can comfortably set your feet on them and be in a semi-reclining position to watch TV, read or maybe even fall asleep. Thirdly I can have them made any size to fit the requirements of the room. This is a real benefit because large coffee tables are hard to find and are more costly than having an ottoman custom designed for the space. In the space below the ottoman is made out of deep chocolate brown faux Ostrich. This family has two young daughters and they use the ottoman to color on and do their craft projects and have snacks. Spills can be wiped up easily, and the deep brown faux ostrich adds and a nice textural interest and makes a dramatic center focal point for the room.

Patricia Gray Inc. Photo Roger Brooks

Patricia Gray Inc. Photo Roger Brooks
These ottomans (in the same house as the photo above) go against my tight top rule, but who couldn't resist sitting down in this den and putting your feet up on a down filled leather pillow top ottoman.

Patricia Gray Inc. Photo Roger Brooks

This ottoman is large by ottoman standards 5 feet by 3 1/2 feet. It is covered in Holly Hunt, Hair on Hide Leather, in a creamy butterscotch color. It was made long so 3 people sitting on the sofa could all put their feet up on it, and I made it deep enough to that there was still room at the back for the inevitable books, magazines, remote controls and trays for snacks and drinks. It also doubles as extra seating for parties. What coffee table has that much versatility?

Patricia Gray Inc. Photo Gary Beale
The Ottoman in this penthouse I had made in charcoal gray Beacon Hill "Pashmina". It is soft and luxurious like a Cashmere blanket and makes a nice warming contrast to the leather sofa. It sits on top of the same color of Belgium wool area carpet. Facing the sofa is the view with the TV hung and framed between the windows. Where else do you put the TV in a room that is all windows & view.

Patricia Gray Inc. Photo Gary Beale

Below are some more designs for ottomans, benches, foot stools, and hassocks that I like.

Madeline Stuart Greek Key Ottoman Tangier Hassock by Michael Berman

Illusion Feadship - White Bedroom at Sea

In continuing with my theme of "White Bedroom" postings this week here is another one!! This white bedroom is in a newly refurbished Feadship yacht designed by Frits de Voogt in 1982 named "Illusion" and is featured in this month's Architectural Digest magazine. You can read the full article here. The Interior Design Firm - Bannenberg Designs out of London "covered a wall in white wallpaper, they white-lacquered the cabinets, they upholstered the bed in squares of white leather and they furnished the space with pale oak pieces." What might have been startling is instead restful, in a way that only white can be when it is properly employed. As well as wanting to curl up in this restful bedroom, I would also relish curling up on the Aft deck (shown below) with a good book this weekend!

Master Stateroom decorated in multiple textures of white

1983 Feadship "Illusion"

Aft Deck

Another White Bedroom

I don't know how I missed including this picture in my last posting on White Bedrooms.

Shabby Chic via Cote de Texas
Cote de Texas describes this picture as: Gustavian and Shabby Chic - the new combination.
I would love to sleep in this bedroom!!

Patricia Gray writes about Interior Design inspirations, emerging trends, and the world of Design.
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White Bedrooms

Nothing is more timeless, serene and restful than WHITE ON WHITE in a bedroom. I grew with a white bedroom and I can still remember the quality of light that came through my white curtains as the morning sun was rising. When I design an all white room I use several shades of white to bring out the architectural details, or I layer the space with strong forms in different tones and textures of white and then use some strong contrasts to outline and bring the white into focus. Every room no matter what colors are being used can benefit from a touch of black. Some of my favorite whites I use are are from Benjamin Moore: Cloud White, Simply White, Ballet White and Designer White. My all time favorite is Cloud White. I like it because it has a chameleon effect and it is a very soft. Not every white is snow white. Try using: ivory, cream, antique white, and palest beige, blue and yellow.

I like the way that Thomas Pheasant has treated this bedroom architecturally.
The wrap around tufted low headboard creates a unified feeling to a room that has angled walls.

Vicente Wolf is a master at juxtaposition.
His signature element in all of his rooms is a large over sized mirror, usually resting on the floor.

This is Nancy Corzine's very elegant bedroom. Photo via New York Social Diary
The mirrored screen creates a lively play of light and images.

Super Luxe by Alberto Pinto.
I like the layering of the padded headboard on a padded wall.

Fun & whimsy by Antonia Hutt

Hotel Luxe in Marrakech

This is a Master Bedroom that I did for a client, which was in a Heritage building, in
Vancouver's historic Gastown. There are recessed sliding glass doors on each side of the
bedroom to close it off from the dining room on one side and the ensuite bathroom on
the other side.

Mimmi O'Connell  I love the Campaign bed used here and also the textured white carpet.

Thomas O'Brien I like the use of paneled mirrors on the closet doors.

Mary McDonald Who doesn't love a canopy bed.

John Stefanidis

Tom Scheerer

David Hicks - the King of 4 Poster Beds

David Hicks

Alberto Pinto

Elle Decor

Williams-Sonoma

Click here to see other posts on Color

Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design,
architecture, and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog, 2009

Patricia Gray Interior Design: Knoll Saarinen Table

Patricia Gray Interior Design: Knoll Saarinen Table

Knoll Saarinen Table

Knoll Saarinen Table

Right now I am loving the cleanness of this table designed by Eero Saarinen in 1956. It has really stood the test of time and is now considered a "Design Masterpiece". I will never forget in Design School we had to do a two-point perspective rendering, hand drawn, of this table (the elliptical version) with 6 chairs with the same base around it. I hated that base for years, but I have finally come to terms with the beauty and versatility of the design. I particularly like the quote below by Saarinen and the fact that he referred to the legs of tables and chairs as "a slum of legs". As a designer I can totally relate to that. It is always a challenge to pay attention to the detail of "legs".

Knoll Saarinen Table

"The underside of typical chairs and tables makes a confusing, unrestful world,"

said esteemed Finnish designer Eero Saarinen.

"I wanted to clear up the slum of legs." Design Year: 1956

Knoll Saarinen Table 
Diamond Baratta

 
Knoll Saarinen Table
Eric Piasecki Photography (left) Dominio (right)

Tom Scheerer (above left and all below)

Knoll Saarinen Table

 
Knoll Saarinen Table

Knoll Saarinen Table

 

Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design, architecture,
and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog, 2009

Fifi Flowers - Artist Inspiration

I have come across a wonderful artist who writes a blog called Fifi Flowers.  She was inspired to do a drawing by a picture I posted recently on my inspirations on Patio Furniture.  I love what she has done and I never cease to be amazed at the different things that trigger the creative process in each of us. 
 

                  Briger and Briger                                                   Fifi Flowers