Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Jenna Lyons' Home and Other Treasures

Some of you have emailed me and asked me where I've been. I wish I could say I was with Claudia decorating all of Paris (and if you don't have any idea of what I'm talking about, you just missed the best month long virtual trip to Paris ever!). But thanks to her wonderfully vivid and habitual posting efforts, you can visit her Paris again and often. Thanks Claudia for a delightful sight seeing month for us here in the States and bon voyage back home!

But I digress... Back to the question -- where have I been? Certainly not to England to visit the Queen either. Wish I had, frankly. That William is sure growing up fast. I still remember getting up at 3 a.m. when I was but a young high schooler and watching Diana become the princess that she did. And now, young William is her age when she got married. Where does the time go?????

Okay, again, I digress.

I have been busy with the children getting out of school and preparing the shop for its summer hibernation (I open only by appointment during the scorching summer months and spend some real quality time with the kids at home). So before they got out of school this past Friday, I ran around creation getting fabrics, matching fabrics, looking for inspiration, finding treasures, etc. I can't wait to show you some of the new old pieces that are being completely restored. Some are already up on my 1st dibs store in case you want to catch a glimpse. For all of you who have asked, I no longer have the online shop on Etsy as I have gone exclusive on 1st dibs and soon to its sister site, ShopAD (for Architectural Digest). So things have been quite busy but nonetheless, amazingly exciting. I have never enjoyed working this hard in all of my life. I am meeting some wonderful people on the way and my pieces are finding their way all over the country (most recently, one of my favorite pair of french antique chairs covered in organic muslin shipped to Anchorage, Alaska). Talk about white on white!

And still, I continue to be inspired by other designers and their work. I most recently picked up an old issue of Domino from my pile of treasured old magazines (November 2008 to be exact), and rekindled my absolute devotion and love for Jenna Lyons' home. I am fixated on it. And Heather Clawson, author of the ever so wonderful and popular blog Habitually Chic did a great post on it some time ago that I would love to share with you. If you are anything like me, you will fall in love with Jenna's home (and if you don't know who she is, you may just want to pick up that J.Crew catalog of yours and see that she is the master mind behind the fashion line). I find her home to be fabulous! I love the simplicity of it and the contrast between very little color. She's the only person I know who can make black walls so beautiful and appropriate.

But let me illustrate with photos:


Jenna Lyon's exterior in Brooklyn. I am just in love with the white and back contrast. So simple and elegant!



The cover of the magazine featuring her home. It now sits atop my pile of favorite magazines. I love the layering of antique persian threadbare rugs. I have a similar pile in my family room. They are indistructible even with kids and dogs.


The foyer. The elegance of the furniture is downplayed and made simple by the common household realities of little shoes and boots.


Love the polka dotted painting!


Very simple and minimalistic. The yellow breaks up the black and white palette.


Another shot of her living room with the dining room in the background.


A very simple kitchen design with shaker style cabines and exposed shelving.


Love that kitchen nook with the exposed side chairs and modern tulip table. I have a set of bergere chairs very much like these soon to come on 1st dibs. Keep an eye out for them.


Jenna and her little one.


Wish I could say my dressing room was like hers. Wish I could say I had her collection of shoes. Sigh.....


Her master bedroom and bathroom are all connected. Love that you can see her claw foot tub as if it were an art piece. But isn't it????


The baby room. Another example of how antiques and children can blend together.


Another shot of the baby room.


The master bath again.

Now can you understand my obsession?????

4 comments:

  1. Karina,

    Wow, I love this home that you have featured. I actually downloaded the one of the gray arch to the masterbath from somewhere many months ago and saved it in my dreamhome file!
    I hope that you have a wonderful summer with your sweet family!
    Mandy

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  2. I love her home. She has such a taste , every detail is well thought and I also love the polka dots painting.
    Merci for sharing

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  3. Just discovered your blog and shop via *Chic Provence*. I am really adoring everything!

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  4. Oh her home in Brooklny is gorgeous. There is so much that a person could do with a home like this it's got really good bones it's beautiful.

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