Top Five Faves: Dining Room Chairs

July 30th, 2010 by jennifermyers

There are so many elements in creating the perfect dining room that it’s hard to focus on one aspect. But for you, readers, this week we’ve managed it. Behold our Top Five Favorite dining room chairs, and from the looks of it, we at LRM Interior Design like to be comfortable while we eat.

And why not? A good designer should be able to choose or create a chair that suits its purpose, i.e. an occasional chair need not be as comfortable as a reading chair, where one would spend much more time. When entertaining, as a dining room suggests, we want to make sure that our guests are happy in their seats, not waiting for the moment that dessert is finished so that they can retire to the softer furnishings of the living room!

Three of our five chairs are tufted, suggesting maximum comfort and luxury while dining; the remaining two are certainly plush. But please, dear reader, choose your own Top Fave…

Kravet10766b

Kravet Ensemble Chairs

1. Kravet Ensemble Chair: If you are ever lucky enough to be invited to Senior Designer Jan Smith’s home for dinner, don’t dare say no. It’s no wonder that her choice of chair includes arms—one bite of her husband’s cuisine and you’re likely to fall out of your seat with delight.

Jan is the ultimate hostess, and prefers staying at the table to being in the kitchen: “Dining is an experience for me, and I prefer it to last for hours and through multiple courses,” Jan explains. “These chairs are perfect for extended periods of sitting. Plus, I like the idea of using a “club-style” chair at a dining table.” (read the rest of this post…)

Top Five Faves: Patterned Wallpaper

July 9th, 2010 by jennifermyers

We warned you—we have more to say about wallpaper. Not quite as much as last week, as we were able to narrow down our patterned choices to the required five…just. Where last week presented wallcoverings that were nigh on incredible, this week we’re staying more in the realm of what most people would call wallpaper. But that doesn’t mean they’re boring….

Schumacher Imperial Trellis

Schumacher Imperial Trellis

1. Schumacher Imperial Trellis: This pattern is a staff favorite, and although it comes in 14 colorways, including Parchment/Midnight, Citrine and Cinnabar Gloss, we love it in Charcoal. Although it’s in Schumacher’s “Modern” section, we think that the pattern has such a classic feel to it that it could be used in a traditional setting, too.

Romo Kimura in Turmeric

Romo Kimura in Turmeric

2. Romo Kimura in Turmeric: The name and color of this wallpaper conjure up two different Orients—Japan and India. The combination of florals, using both lotus flowers and cherry blossoms, give this wallpaper a balanced pattern, and the grey looks fantastic against the deep yellow background.

Graham & Brown Drama Wallcovering in Boheme

Graham & Brown Drama Wallcovering in Boheme

3. Graham & Brown Drama Wallpaper in Boheme: This pattern also comes in burnt orange and black, but we love it in chocolate—could it be the name? Actually, we love how the retro feel of this paper comes into its own in the chocolate color, but the updated pattern keeps it feeling modern. This paper would be great for a den, game room or dining room, and we can’t wait to use it to create something fabulous. And when we do, we’ll definitely post it!

Cole & Son Apana Gold on Blue

Cole & Son Apana Gold on Blue

4. Cole & Son Alpana in Gold and Blue: This wallpaper made us feel like we were going to have high tea at the Ritz in London, what with its delicate gold design on the eggshell blue. Think about an elegant afternoon sipping tea and nibbling on cucumber sandwiches and scones in the most divine setting. Designer Kristen Rusert commented: “The pattern is beautiful, and I love the color combinations—it also comes in gold on black. It looks so regal!”

Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon

Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon

5. Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon: Back to the Orient, but this time—China. We’ve loved this pattern in a fabric, and we love it just as much as a wallcovering. Out of the four colorways, we love the Aquamarine over Lacquer, China Blue and Alabaster. We are enchanted with the dragon winding through and peeking out from behind the peonies and dahlias.

Top Five Faves: Unusual Wallcoverings

July 1st, 2010 by jennifermyers

First confession: this week we fudged. Just a little bit. We were beat at our task by the multitude of wonderful, exquisite and downright fantastical wallpapers on the market, and we could only narrow our Faves down to seven. Don’t hate us because they’re so beautiful!

Second confession: we couldn’t even fit all of our favorite wallpapers into one Faves blog! So watch out for part two, when we present our favorite patterned wallpapers.

But now, for our favorite—shall we say off the wall?—choices:

Schumacher Kyoko Mica

Schumacher Kyoko Mica

1. Schumacher Kyoko Mica in Silver: Jan Smith wowed us with this one, especially since we have used it in one of our high-end bachelor pad guest bathrooms. “For that project, we used a bronze colorway of this paper, and in the small bathroom, it added sparkle, texture and a much-needed presence,” Jan explains. “It is the first thing you notice when you enter the room, and the impact of it stays with you after you leave.” It’s a lot to ask from a wallpaper, Jan admits, “but it delivers!” (read the rest of this post…)

Top Five Faves: Chandeliers

May 28th, 2010 by jennifermyers

Chandeliers are the cream of the lighting crop, adding elegance to the practical nature of room lighting. Even the sound of the name sounds highbrow and expensive, and we at LRM Interior Design love the many different styles and materials that chandeliers are made of. As usual, it was very difficult to narrow down our list to just five, but here they are.

Jaeger 6-Tier Horn Chandelier

Jaeger 6-Tier Horn Chandelier

1. Jaeger 6-Tiered Horn Chandelier: Our love affair with capiz-shell chandeliers is still strong, don’t worry—after all, they helped us win one of our ASID awards! But it will have to share our hearts with this Jaeger horn chandelier, as the color and shape of the horn pieces are gorgeous. The hammered antique brass canopy is beautiful, as is the light diffused by the polished pieces of horn. This is a light fixture that does not melt into the background, but is rather more of an attention-getter—we must feel like it’s one of the LRM gang… (read the rest of this post…)

Top Five Faves: Accessories

April 30th, 2010 by jennifermyers

All of the designers at LRM Interior Design love to accessorize, and there’s never a room that wasn’t improved by their confident style touches, whether it be on the floor, on tables or on shelves.

This month’s Top Five Faves capitalizes on those elegant pieces that accessorize a room. As always, it was tough to narrow them down to just five, but we managed to…

Sea Urchins from Oly Studios

Sea Urchins from Oly Studios

1. Sea Urchins in cast resin from Oly Studio

Lisa McDennon chose these from many wonderful accessories and gift items at Oly Studio. “I like the depth. It makes them interesting and eye catching,” remarks Lisa. “They are chalky and organic, but very modern.” The three sizes are unusual and make them fun to use; there’s a 10-inch, a 11-inch and a 25-inch version. “Two large sea urchins would look great under a console, while a smaller one would be perfect on a small bookcase shelf.”

Black Stallion sculptures from Gump's San Francisco

Black Stallion sculptures from Gump's San Francisco

2. Black Stallions from Gump’s

Both the style and the terra-cotta composition make these complementary stallions look like they were recovered from Ancient Rome. Made entirely by hand using techniques by Tang-era artisans, these pieces have a washed and distressed black glaze that allows glimpses of the clay beneath to shine through. “These are fantastic accent items for shelves or consoles,” says Jan Smith, senior designer at LRM Interior Design. “They are neutral, interesting and masculine—without being offensive.”

Manzanita branches can be made into a beautiful jewelry tree, like this one from Viva Terra.

Manzanita branches can be made into a beautiful jewelry tree, like this one from Viva Terra.

3. Manzanita Branches from Gold Leaf Design Group

Lisa loves the twisted branches of the manzanita tree as a decorative item. “They work so well as a room divider, or just as a sculptural accent,” says Lisa. “I’ve even used smaller ones in tabletop floral designs.” Manzanita branches are very versatile, and can be painted using any type of paint and transformed into almost any type of decor. They look great in a planter, combined with succulents, as a retail or home display of jewelry and even as contemporary holiday decor, whether it be Christmas or Easter.

One of three sizes of horn boxes from Roost Co.

One of three sizes of horn boxes from Roost Co.

4. Horn boxes from Roost

“These boxes’ laquered finish is absolutely beautiful, the interior is crafted from natural wood—and they make perfect gifts,” comments Lisa. Choose from three sizes to add to a desk, a coffee table, bookshelves or even a chest of drawers. “I keep paperclips in one of the small sizes on my desk, and they are perfect for hiding the remote control in a nice family room or game room.” These boxes are a firm favorite with the entire LRM Interior Design staff.

Corsage Vintage Brass Accessory from Arteriors Home

Corsage Vintage Brass Accessory from Arteriors Home

5. Vintage Brass Corsage from Arteriors Home

Arteriors Home has brought on board their first branded signature collection with Laura Kirar, a noted interior and product designer known for being inspired by nature. These brass flowers look like gardenia dipped in metal, and are perfect for a coffee table. “Coffee tables need a hint of glamour,” says Jan Smith. “And, if the item is from a top-rated designer, that helps too!” The flowers come in two sizes: a 5″ x 4.5″ and a 7″ x 6″. Pair them on a coffee table for a double dose of glamour.

Top Five Faves: Sofas

March 28th, 2010 by jennifermyers

This month’s Top Five Faves from the LRM Interior Design team features the focus of the living room, that one essential piece that should speak as much to aesthetic as it does to comfort: the sofa.

As usual, it was an effort to narrow the list down to five from the 30 or so that the team originally picked. We did actually cheat a little bit and add a sixth, as it is technically a settee rather than a sofa! But here, in all their glory, is the shortlist:

Kravet's Quartet Sofa

Kravet's Quartet Sofa

The Quartet Sofa from Kravet

This sofa is a perfect example of classic styling and soft-as-a-cloud comfort. The team, especially designer Kari Seydewitz, loves a sofa you can sink into for complete relaxation. But the dreamy cushions weren’t the only appeal for this sofa: the nailhead detailing on the arms and along the bottom edge added to the elegance of the design. Being a Kravet sofa, it is also available in two sizes and 60,000 different fabrics, which makes this a great choice for many types of clients and rooms—dress it up in a more expensive fabric for the living room, and a casual, long-wearing fabric for a family or game room. Team the Quartet up with its matching sectional and chair for a complete set. Call LRM Interior Design and have them create the perfect Quartet sofa for your room.

Crate & Barrel Petrie Sofa

Crate & Barrel Petrie Sofa

The Petrie Sofa from Crate & Barrel

The mid-century modern look of this sofa appealed to the whole team, and could all imagine themselves lounging on it gracefully, like a female member of the TV show Mad Men, or as a modern-day Mary Tyler Moore. The wide bench, covered in supportive but extremely comfortable cushions, is the main reason for the sofa’s high rating amongst the LRMID team and Petrie purchasers, but another is the tufting on the back cushions—a detail that is hard to resist. Choose this sofa and you’re buying American, too; Crate & Barrel has this sofa made by a small, family-owned furniture manufacturer in West Virginia. Both beautiful and affordable, this sofa is a timeless, and favorite, choice.

Baker's Sofa-By-The-Inch

Baker's Sofa-By-The-Inch

Baker’s Sofas-By-The-Inch

Not only does this sofa have great lines, it’s also amazingly easy to customize and size for rooms big and small. This sofa (6519) can be ordered in any width between 60″ and 102″, making it an interior designer’s dream. The styling is contemporary, with the long, sleek back pillows and extended seat cushions; but with touches of traditional, in the curvature of the arms and the perfection of the dressmaker’s flounce. The pleated skirt is what really drew the attention of LRMID’s designers. The only drawback to choosing this sofa would be if a client had their heart set on leather, as it’s not an available option. LRM Interior Design can customize this Baker sofa for your home; call for a consultation.

The Ebanista Coimbra Sofa

The Ebanista Coimbra Sofa

The Ebanista Coimbra Sofa

Ebanista, the sofa’s manufacturer, prides itself on an “old world charm with modern sensibility,” and they’ve definitely combined the two fantastically in this piece. Although it’s the turned-wood legs and stretcher bars of the Coimbra sofa that captivated Lisa McDennon, not least because there are four choices of wood finish. This elegant touch makes this sofa a great fit for so many California homes, especially any with a Spanish style. The Coimbra sofa’s high back would showcase strongly patterned or colored fabrics well. Such a tall sofa would sit just as easily against a room’s wall as it would standing separate in a large room, in order to break up the space. Equally as beautiful is the stately Coimbra chair. LRM Interior Design can recommend the nearest showroom to view Ebanista furniture in Orange County.

The Geoffrey Sofa by Bradley Hughes

The Geoffrey Sofa by Bradley Hughes

The Geoffrey Sofa by Bradley Hughes

If you’re looking for a sofa that provides comfort, beautiful design and privacy, the Geoffrey Sofa is the ideal choice. This sofa’s arm height was not designed for setting actual arms on, as they stand at over 3′ high. The sofa is also 38″ deep, allowing for extreme relaxation, and would be as great in a small home theater room as in a large living room that demanded dramatic, large seating. It wasn’t the size that grabbed the LRMID team’s attention, but the exquisite attention to detail on the double row of nailheads that march up the arms and along the back of the sofa; and the simplicity of the pleated skirt along the sofa’s lowest edge. A consultation with LRM Interior Design will tell you whether or not this sofa is right for your home.

J. Robert Scott's Medallion Settee

J. Robert Scott's Medallion Settee

The Settee: The Medallion by J. Robert Scott

We’re sneaking this one in on the end, as it’s not technically a sofa. “I’ve pined over this sofa for years, waiting for the right project to use it in,” explains Lisa McDennon. “This sofa just says, in no uncertain terms, that ‘you’ve arrived’.” And it does—it looks like a modern interpretation of something found in one of Versailles’ many rooms. And the craftsmanship matches its looks, with hand-carved wood covered in 22 carat French gold leaf with antiquing. If this settee has captured your heart too, call LRM Interior Design right away; Lisa will be happy to find a way to place it in your home!

Top Five Faves: End Tables

February 28th, 2010 by jennifermyers

LRM Interior Design proudly presents the first of their Top Five Faves blogs. We are starting off with the topic of side or occasional tables that we love! Of course, it was so hard to whittle the list down to just five, but we did our best to present the five best table that the industry has to offer, from many talented furniture designers. So, with no further ado, let’s begin:

Hershey Table from Corbin Bronze

Hershey Table from Corbin Bronze

Top Fave Number One: Lisa McDennon’s choice was this uniquely shaped hammered bronze table from Corbin Bronze. Not surprisingly, it’s called the Hershey Table, and indeed the base looks just like the delicious Hershey’s Kiss™. This table could be tucked in the corner or next to a chair, where its unconventional shape could be discovered by the observant viewer. Or, an interior designer of Lisa’s caliber could design a whole room around the beauty, color and form of this chair. She has done it before with a single lamp! Find this and more Corbin Bronze tables at www.corbinbronze.com. (read the rest of this post…)