BOXWOOD TERRACE

Post-Haste: Boxwood Hedge

Image via Domino Magazine. Designer, Stephen Shubel

When I first saw this photo, I had no idea that this boxwood hedge is actually artificial boxwood. I think it looks great and wouldn't hesitate to use in it in a small space such as a concrete patio or a rooftop deck (properly secured!). In this case, the hedge hides an ugly chain link fence. What do you think? Is artificial greenery the way to go if you can't have a garden or is it best to forgo if you can't have the real thing?

Boston Design - F.D. Hodge Interiors

Some of you may remember my post about the work of Seattle area artist Victoria Adams. Soon after that post, Boston interior designer Frank Hodge contacted me about Victoria's paintings. He'd found my post after searching the Internet for Victoria's work and was interested in her paintings for the same reasons I was, but was also looking for art for a client. Frank's email about my blog was very kind and encouraging and we exchanged a few emails they way we all do when we make a connection over the shared interest of interior design. I visited Frank's website and was immediately impressed by his work and if you visit his site, you'll understand why. I was so pleased that Frank agreed to let me post photos of his work that I could share with you here. The images to the left and below are of a sun room he designed for his client in Rye, NH. This home is a work in progress and I hope Frank will have more photos to share as the work continues. It looks like a beautiful home!

Frank is one of those fortunate people who has a focused eye and a great sense for color. He is mostly a self-taught designer, having attended classes at the Boston Architectural Center and having worked for Judy Ross & Co., and as a consultant to Charles Spada (another of my favorite Boston designers) before striking out on his own in 2006. His website features some of his projects, including show houses for the Museums of Old York in Maine. Frank got his start in the business after renovating a farm house he purchased in Chester, Connecticut. Word soon spread about how beautiful his house was and the editor in chief at the time of Woman's Day magazine, Jane Chestnutt, asked to see his home. She was looking for a designer to redo her apartment in New York and hired Frank for the job. Quite a start, no? Take a look at some of Frank's projects below.

"Marjorie's Room"

This is the guest bedroom Frank designed for the 2008 Museums of Old York Show House. The pistachio green walls were a surprise to me, but aren't' they unique and refreshing? Oh, how I love this room. I almost don't want to show the before photos, but you have to see the transformation to fully appreciate this room......

Below is the wall on which the bed and canopy were centered:

Following are before and after photos of Frank's work in the kitchen of the same show house. Most of the original cabinets remained and it's a great example of what a little ingenuity and creativity can do without completely gutting a kitchen.

After. Cabinet doors removed and filled with Paris porcelain and silver:

Sink area before:

And after:

Before the installation of a new green cupboard:

And after:

Another view of the sitting area in the finished kitchen:

Moving right along, here are photos of rooms Frank designed for the 2008 Museums of Old York Show House. This is the "after" of the Master Bedroom. Neutral tones make this room a calming retreat:

Fireplace before:

After. A reproduction unfinished George Washington portrait and iron lantern are unexpected touches in a bedroom. The floral pillow on the love seat adds a hint of color to the room.

Plenty of natural light....

...makes a great spot for a bookcase and antique writing desk:

I could move right in! If you'd like to see more of Frank's work and press coverage, visit his website here (F.D. Hodge Interiors).

Frank will also be designing a living room for the 2010 Museums of Old York Show House in York, Maine, if you'd like to see his work in-person. I've marked the date my calendar and won't miss it! The show house will be open to the public from July 17 through August 14 and you can find more details including directions here.

A Nantucket Cottage Before and After

It was 92 degrees today in Boston and the start of Memorial Day weekend is only hours away. Summer is here along warm breezes, sunny skies, open windows and weekend trips so it's a great time to think about summer cottage decorating. Unfortunately, I don't own a summer place, but I recently found photos of designer Jeffrey Bilhuber's summer cottage on Nantucket. These before and after photos of the cottage are from the September 2003 issue of Architectural Digest and show his unique take on the cottage look. The living room (shown here) is crisp and tailored with classic upholstered furniture, but also light and airy thanks to the open beamed ceiling and white sheers on the windows. The tangerine accent color on the chairs and pillows is a refreshing change from the blues typically used in summer homes near the beach.

Above is the same room before Bilhuber's transformation. To say that this designer has great taste and skill is almost an understatement.

Here's a before shot of what appears to be a den.

And the after. Chocolate brown walls warm (or cool) the space.

The dining area before with its gray stained walls.

Bilhuber kept the gray colored walls and added more tangerine colored accents. My favorite elements are the white contemporary dining table paired with traditional style chairs.

Here's another view into the den from the dining area.

And of course, the house only gets better. Here's a before shot of a room....

...that was transformed into a master bedroom. The matching chests must provide ample storage in this house where closet space is likely scarce.

A bright bedroom gets even better....

...with the removal of dated carpeting and wallpaper and the addition of original art plus sheer cafe curtains.

The house looks so tiny from the exterior, which is typical of the original cottages on Nantucket. No one would know from passing by what a fresh and inventive interior awaits inside. It's the perfect weekend retreat, if you ask me.

Have a Great Memorial Day Weekend!

All Photos by Peter Vanderwarker for Architectural Digest

Trunk Show

I am not a designer logo handbag kind of girl, although I would not turn down a small black quilted Chanel handbag (you know, the classic bag with the gold chain strap), but it's just not my look. Don't get me wrong. I like nice things including handbags that are stylish and well made. It's just that my lifestyle and budget at the moment don't support anything with a logo other than a Lacoste polo shirt.

So, why I woke up this morning thinking to myself "wouldn't the living room look great with a vintage Louis Vuitton trunk for a coffee table?" is still a mystery to me. Sure, the trunk would be eye catching, but also prohibitively expensive. It occurred to me in a brief (thank goodness) flash that the LV could be "fauxed" onto a trunk to look like the real thing, but as with fake designer handbags, it's better to own something affordable and authentic rather than a cheap copy of a luxury item.

From there, I made my way to Google (sounds familiar, yes?) where I found these images of Louis Vuitton trunks used for tables. They've probably been drifting around the interior decorating blog world for a long time, but they're new to me and hopefully you as well.

Photo sources from top: blossominteriors.com; Home of Ken Fulk, House Beautiful Magazine, photo by Victoria Pearson; HGTV.com; maisonclassique.com

To Paint or Not to Paint

Miki Duisterhof, Country Living

It seems lately that wherever I look there are images of homes with creamy white painted walls. There's a whole world out there of white walls that are not overly bright, sterile or bland. If my walls were just the perfect shade of white, I would finally be satisfied with my house. And I long to have this perfect white on my walls. Now. But, there's really nothing wrong with the wall color. It's a quiet neutral taupe that works just fine with everything in the house.

via the blog Belgian Pearls

Yet, I want to paint. But, I'm trying to talk myself out of it. And with good reason too as summer is approaching and why should I be stuck in the house prepping and painting when there are beaches to walk, antique stores to shop, and tennis to play.