The difference between good home design and average is all in the details. I was reminded of this recently by a book released by House Beautiful appropriately entitled
'It's all in the details'. The little bed nook seen at the top took a lot of care in detail drawings and planning -reminicent of the bed nooks seen in Europe so often in the 18th century. Don't you just want to curl up there, I do?! A detail like this is what probably made the home owners love their house!
This beautiful staircase with a chippendale style banister, photographed by Grey Crawford, graces the cover and is what really drew me into the book. So much more interesting to a minimalist room like this than if the architect had chosen an equally simple railing.
This room also features some beautifully minimal wood bookcases that match the craftsmanship of the staircase. (That is a mirrored fireplace screen in the lower right hand corner -I had to stare at it for about a minute to realize what it was!)
The finishes in this house, designed by
Barnes Vanze Architects, are the details that count here. The beautiful wood french doors and casements (from MQ windows) also are an important detail as all of their muntins align.
A modern day version of a french country house, the classic proportions are there, along with the wood and stone finishes but done in a more simple style that lets you appreciate the good bones.
This graceful stair would not seem half as grand without the bronze railing. The space is further amplified through the traditional use of stone and classical furnishings. What details initially drew you to your home?
The finishes in this house, designed by Barnes Vanze Architects, are the details that count here. The beautiful wood french doors and casements (from MQ windows) also are an important detail as all of their muntins align.
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21 comments:
I love this, pop over to the site and leave me your info as you won on the giveaway!
Leslie
looks like a great read...
Love the pared down bones look. Such divine elegance to view, but I don't think I could live in it. Too much responsibility to keep life clutter at bay. Have always loved the idea of the built in bed look, rather like an internal window seat. Don't think it would work well for two. Two much fighting over who gets the outside spot. The inside spot, cozy, but would require trampling over the beloved to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night!
check out the book, custard!
HBD, great observation -so true about 2 people in the bed. But still perfect for 1! You could always do it ala thomas jefferson and have it open on 2 sides between rooms.
AD, this looks like a great book. I have always loved the idea of the built in bed- great in a child's room. I have used the tall french doors and casements with the minimalist muntins in a townhouse. I adore both staircases. Are they to code? (esp the bronze)
My little tudor has angled ceilings upstairs and steps up to a guest room and then to a little closeted room on either side of a landing, then again 2 steps to a wide hall (have a french day bed there) and two more rooms beyond. the guest room is all old beadboard walls ceiling(need to photograph it sometime)Love this post! la
My Amazon cart is brimming with good books and I just added this one. Thanks for the review.
Kathleen, it's worth it!
LA, I know the chippendale obviously meet code (no more than a 4" gap between pickets that a child can get stuck in or fall through) but I'm not sure how the bronze one passed. Maybe it's not in the USA or there is another staircase in the house? Or maybe the x braces meet some type of exception? i'll have to look into that!
Gee, They are all great, especially the room with the French Windows. Going to add those windows onto my wish list
This book looks incredible! I have heard this said time and time again by the top designers and the top architects - it is the details that make a home extraordinary. I am ordering this book NOW!
oh my . . . that charming, little sleeping nook looks absolutely perfect ! Nothing but sweet dream therein contained.
It reminds me of the bed at Monticello . . . which I've always loved.
The modernised Frenchy Country House has to be my favourite here.
What draws me to any house is light. The way it falls across it, like hair across a face. Or even the shadows and shade; those draw me in too. The same as well with rooms, anything can be made to work if there is light and perhaps... wood floors.
I had a friend once growing up who had a bed like the one in your first photo...I always coveted it madly.
That Chippendale bannister would be the ultimate for me - saved now in my files to pressure my husband with! Thanks! Tracey xx
Love the Chippendale banister.
So pleased to know about HB's new book. The two banister's are stunning. I found our home here in Houston on the internet while living in Seattle. I was drawn by the architecture of the back of the house oddly enough. I never got to view the interior myself (left it to the husband)except for by photos. The front of the house is not as impressive. Wish I could turn it around on it's lot!
Holy crap! I want that bed!!!
It looks like a great book. I agree that it is the details that can make or break a room. I find that staircases are one of the hardest and most expensive to detail properly. The 2 examples you have shown here are beautiful.
The details that drew me to my home....the light, and the fact that the owners had it designed and built by an Architect. It also could have been that there was no house like this on the market. It just felt "meant to be for mr. and mrs.pve."
pve
Sometimes things like this generate the lift of inspiration and the crash of reality at the same time. I'd love to redo our railing - these are great examples.
I just came back to look at this post again. I really, really love rooms that have windows on two sides - like a few of the standout examples in this post.
to my home... the yard, the price, and the incredibly creative neighbours, whose violin and piano do wonders to the atmosphere here :)
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