Stately and Empty

In an article in today's New York Times, enititled, "Stately Home Awaits the Return of a Political Son," newly elected NY governor Andrew Cuomo states that he plans to live at New York State's Governors' Mansion in Albany. Cuomo will be the first NY Governor to spend a considerable time at the estate since his father, Mario Cuomo was governor in the 1980s and 1990s. Unfortunately, such is the fate of many of the elaborate Governors' Mansions throughout the United States. What with technological innovation, many Governors don't need to be in the state capital all the time, and can conduct business elsewhere. Below are a sampling of Governors' Mansions from states with newly elected Governors. I wonder who will be occupying these hallowed halls? 

California

 Maine

New Mexico 

South Carolina

Oklahoma

Tennessee

Seeing Red

I thought it only fitting that after last night/yesterday's election results I show you a few of my favorite red accented rooms.

Of course we all know Brooke Astor's Albert Hadley designed red lacquer library in her Park Avenue apartment ... and we all know how I love a good lacquer job. 

 And Diana Vreeland in the famous pose from her apartment. 

Decor Pad

Chinoiserie Chic!--I love this red lacquered bamboo chair, with the red desk accessories. 

Decor Pad

 The red accents are a nice addition to this otherwise white kitchen.

Decor Pad

Again, red desk accessories add a bright touch to this white office. I am very jealous of this person's organizational abilities! 

Decor Pad

And I just love these headboards. And this picture might be the most representative of the current political climate--strong hits of red, on a light blue background. 

Divine Intervention

I don't think that I can go on and on enough about Marie Claire Maison! You all know how much I adore this French decor magazine ... and this feature below is no exception!--Just wish I could read some French ... What I gathered from my limited French is that this church below is in Cape Town, South Africa and was renovated by an Italian couple. 

It is very exciting that I came across this church, as my historic preservation studio project this fall involves coming up with a reuse of an historic chapel building here in Philadelphia. Churches can often be hard buildings to reuse, as their massing is very specific to their original use, and there are those who are superstitious enough to believe that sleeping in a church might be sacreligious. Not when the church is as fab as this one! 

All you lacquered lifers know how much I love the simplicity of an all white interior. Especially in a location such as Cape Town. In this space, the white interior allows you to appreciate the wonderful patina of the floors. 

Look at the rustic chic kitchen cabinets. The way that they extend all the way to the floor, instead of having a base, is very unusual--I love it. Makes it seem as though the cabinets really are part of the architecture, instead of an installed piece of furniture. 

How cool is that screen that divides the kitchen space from the eating space? What this does is allow for the delineation of spaces without disrupting the experience of the architecture of the building. Oh how I adore these beams! 

How would you like to sleep up in the rafters of this reused church? I am sure the view of the space and the experience of the architecture are absolutely divine. 

photos courtesy of Marie Claire Maison http://www.marieclairemaison.com

Surf's Up!

Hey all! Sorry for the delay in posting these last few weeks, I had midterms last week and my first presentation of my thesis proposal (yikes!) No worries, all is well--missing all of you though! 

This new "Hamptons" home listing was just brought to my attention this morning. Its located in the Amagansett Dunes, and for those of you who aren't familiar with things "Out East," the Amagansett Dunes are located in the town of East Hampton, in between the village of Amagansett and Napeague Harbor. Although it is officially fall here in Philadelphia, these photos get me thinking a little bit about summer. 

Brady Bunch meets danish meets mid-century modern meets surfer chic. Love it. What a happy little house. And it can be yours for just over $1 mil! Obviously I don't have that kind of money, but I do think its a steal at that price. I wonder if they would throw in some of the furniture ... 

A girl can dream though, can't she? Until tomorrow Lacquered Lifers ... 

Board to Tears

House Beautiful

Recently I have been obsessing about fineline tongue and groove boards on interior walls. And more specifically, tongue and groove boards mounted horizontally.  In my opinion, there is something both extremely traditional and modern about this interior architectural feature.

House Beautiful

Without any bright colored paint, instant interest is added to these walls! 

House Beautiful

 They also make rooms appear larger, as seen is this hallway. 

House Beautiful

One part rustic and one part modern, I love these tongue and groove boards! 

For the Love of Orange

What is it about fall and the color orange? I love orange all year round for the great hit of color that it can add to any space, however, in the fall I am especially keen on it.  I think it has something to do with the changing leaves, pumpkins, and the desire to shed the corals and the salmons of summer for something a little edgier. 

First thing a girl always thinks about when talking about a good color orange ... Hermes gift boxes.  I'm not exactly sure whether that is because the gifts that come in these boxes are so fabulous, or whether the orange color of the box is really the chicest orange.  In any case, the chicken or the egg syndrome. Whenever I hear someone describing something they purchased that was orange or something orange that they are planning on wearing, it always seems that they try to justify it by describing it as "Hermes Orange." No need to justify, orange is ahhmazing. 

Martha Stewart

Ahh pumpkins. It really brings back memories doesn't it? Although I absolutely love an orange pumpkin (obviously)--check out what Eddie Ross did to the pumpkins in his table setting for Lonny. 

Lonny

Instead of simply using predictable pink in her daughters' bedroom, interior decorator Palmer Weiss jazzes it up with orange headboards. 

Apartment Therapy

Why not paint the floor orange? Terrific idea. You lacquered lifers know how I am a sucker for a good lacquer job. 

Pure Patina

In the office of my friend, and Charlotte-based interior decorator Kristen Cone, she used orange as a contrast against her industrial bookshelves and gray walls. Check out more photos on her blog here! 

Time to add some orange into your life, don't you think? JCrew sail bag, $198.

Urban Outfitters Velvet Pintuck Pillow, $32. 

And for the "Cheap and Chic of the Week," Urban Outfitters 2x3 rag rug, $14. 

Transitions

This year, the beginning of fall has me thinking about the beginning of summer, and the similarities between them. I took these pictures on the beach in mid-May, before Memorial Day and the official beginning of summer. The Beach was empty, and I was wearing a sweatshirt. On a sunny fall day like today, I'm sure the feeling wouldn't be much different. However, now instead of being on the beach in Long Island, I'm back at school in Philadelphia ... and that's why these pictures fill me with a sense of longing for the summer that went by so fast ... 

I'll be back later today with a decor related post, I promise! I just wanted to share these pictures (and my mood) with you all. xo