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A final article in a 3 part series focused on elements of a Christopher Peacock Kitchen, I am focusing on decorative hardware. The first 2 were focused on cabinetry and look, and decorative lighting. At our studio we are currently working on 3 projects that are focused on this aesthetic . This feel and look is a great fit for a interior for Manhattan Beach design , Palos Verdes Estates or Hermosa beach. It is commonly referred to as a Cape Cod Kitchen and allows me to deliver a lighter feel for a kitchen. I think you will enjoy the insight provided below. To be really honest I love to select the final hardware for cabinetry as I think it makes a huge design impact BUT it is sooooo time consuming! “
The piece above might be a little easier to use but is a bit heavier look. I highly recommend ordering samples for options before you place your final order. Make sure your stile (vertical member of the door) is wide enough to handle the hardware. Give it to your cabinet maker to try out on a door. These latches are commonly referred to as “Ice Box Latches”
The cupboard latch above involves more of a twisting action for the client to open the cabinet and sometimes can be difficult to open . If you stick with the better quality hardware companies you more than likely not have this problem.
Look for subtle nuances in your hardware selections such as open areas that do show the screws, step down details, shape and proportion. Finishes for this look could be polished nickel or chrome to oil rubbed bronze. ORB gives me the more casual look while the others I mentioned will add a touch more formality. When selecting your hinges , an exposed hinge is most likely to be used to be true to the look.
In this picture above you can see that Ice Box Hardware was used and I think this is an excellent look and feel for this type of kitchen. It gives the design great charm and nostalgia. The species of this piece here appears to be rift cut white oak and that is a great wood for this application as well.
 As a design study on other elements that make this look achievable, I will touch on decorative lighting. Again this series is inspired by the talent of Christopher Peacock of which many of our kitchens parrallel in taste and in style. So many clients are attracted to this lighter fresher approach I decided to write what makes it all work.
Decorative lighting is very important and should never be rushed through the selection process just to get that chandelier up before the Holiday Party. I recommend taking your time and planning , budgeting, etc for this design task. Decorative lights are the accessories to design similar to the accesories we add to our apparrel before we head to that important social event.
I have enclosed a couple examples of lights I love and why they work in a Cape Cod Kitchen , Christopher Peacock Kitchen or a beautiful Manhattan Beach Design.
You want your lighting to compliment and add charm to your interior, it can make a big difference and you dont always have to invest a lot of money.
I also recommend to scavenge your city’s arcitectural salvage showroom. There are some great finds that might need a little refreshing and the stories behind them can be great and good Cocktail Party Trivia. I am reluctant to show too many Restoration Hardware fixtures because I am seeing them become so common, and what so many people are installing in their kitchens. Before final selctions , I often ask our design team - are we specifying this element becasue it was easy to find , or is it indeed the correct fixture and makes the room unique with timeless character.
 Good luck hunting and LEAVE COMMENTS OF YOUR DESIGN THOUGHTS
I get involved in many different types of design projects, ranging from custom home detailing, full house remodels, to kitchen or bath remodels. One design trend I have been seeing from my clients has been to lighten things up. I use “trend” hesitantly because using lighter materials is not trendy and would certainly stand the test of time. Many clients come with concepts from Christopher Peacock Cabinetry, and cape cod kitchens for their Manhattan Beach Interior design or even Interior design Palos Verdes. It is a style that can be implemented into interiors ranging from beach feel to modern ranch.
S So I decided to write a summary of Elements of a Christopher Peacock Kitchen and will have follow up posts that will identify lighting and hardware elements in a cape cod kitchen. These same elements can be used in cape cod bathrooms as well. Peacock Kitchens might be out of price range for many people but the look is achievable by studying the elements.
How to get this look:
1. Inset cabinetry and exposed face frame
2. The right hardware style and finish – polished chrome or contrast the oil rubbed bronze for a more vintage casual feel
3. Hardwood floors- I would suggest walnut or white oak stained a nice medium chestnut brown
4. Farmhouse sink should be considered
5. Great lighting – consider over scaled pendants or vintage lights from an architectural salvage company
6. White marble counter tops- there are about 5 species being quarried right now so I would strongly advise you select with your designer or in person
7. Matte Black countertops- hone a granite, soap stone, or I love Cambria Black Satin that gives me a leathery black satin feel and your next door neighbor will not have it!
In conclusion, the look is very clean and fresh but also can be warm too with the addition of contrast wood tones that gives us a really nice eclectic feel. I think this style works in a Manhattan Beach interior design or a classic interior design Palos Verdes as well.
 I get so many magazines and product literature that I sometimes can not keep up. One of them I get consistantly and don’t pay attention to much is Flor. I guess I never got why you would want to do carpet tiles over just carpet. But now I have a perfect use for it and am going to be designing it in a Kids Playroom. I wanted to maintain a little  level of sophistication in this room (sophisticated kids room?) oh well, its off the main living area and has lots of visual access so I was avoiding using traditional kitchy themes such as big numbers or characters on the floor(not that there is anything wrong with that) but for this young Palos Verdes Estates couple, I wanted their kids to grow into the room and not be over Elmo in 18 months.
The built ins will be painted wood with a laminate top with a wood edge. I do this because it is a real work horse when it comes to kids crafts, glue crayons and when I have done wood tops in kids rooms before it always looked ratty, chipped and dented so this is a much better solution. Luxurious patterns for your floors can be created with all sorts of new and interesting color blends and patterns.If a you have a terrible stain in a certain area , we can just pop up the tile and replace with a new one.
 I still have a little research to do before I am totally sold on this product, but I am totally inspired for the moment- at least until the next magazine filled with new products arrives.Please contact us if you have any questions or have a design dilema- Thanks for visiting.
 Your master bedroom should be a sanctuary for rest and relaxation. For many of us, however, it is the most overlooked room in the house. It becomes a last priority in the business of life. Whether time or money is the reason for your master bedroom’s neglect, these tips should help you quickly transform a drab bedroom to a mater suite at a price anyone can afford.
First, evaluate the layout of the room. Is there a design that would better suit your purposes? Is there a way of arranging the furniture that would offer a more appealing look? Most of the rooms I do demand the bed faces the view or a fireplace. a recent project reminded me the view may not be as important as the overall layout of the room. My point is, these Interior Design clients have a great ocean view right on the cliffs in Palos Verdes Estates-but what do you see at night? That’s right BLACK, so we flipped the bed over and made a seating area so they could enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning in a great chair and actually see the ocean. So watch what you are fighting for and take an objective aproach, you might be missing something.
Painting the walls of a bedroom can add color in an instant. This is the cheapest way to make a dramatic difference. Don’t fall victim to white walls. Find a color or texture that fits your color theme. Even a soft linen color can set your trim and moulding off and still be that serenity now feeling we are all trying to attain.
Wood floors with an area rug or carpet are 2 choices i like best and it is sometimes guided by budget because carpet is the least expensive route. Great bedside lamps are imperative and can be either wall mounted swing arm lamps or table lamps.
For reading and ambient lighting, select a lamp with character and 3 way switching if possible. If your room allows, I love adding a chandelier in the interior design of a master bedroom.
Recently designing Manhattan Beach interiors, a client thought it might be too formal , but I showed her a casually elegant lantern chandelier and she loved it. Again , remain objective and be open to new ideas because this really made the room more unique and high end.
A lthough this room does not have a high ceiling, you can see what a chandelier can do for a room. I love an upholstered headboard to soften the room. Pay attention to the soft palette and calmness of the room.
A free standing desk is a nice touch in a master bedroom. This same area could have been used as a vanity area as well.
Pay attention to details such as nail head trim, contrast cords and stitching details as well. These are the details that add so much to the look of a room if just planned for.
 1. Let the sun shine in
Lighting always opens up a room, so if you have a lot of natural light, don’t cover it up with heavy drapery. Keep window coverings simple. Grass Shades or Roman blinds, which are made with nearly transparent fabric or natural fibers www.castec.com are barely visible when open and allow plenty of light in. If your room doesn’t get a lot of natural light, fake it with a few lamps. I recommend using halogen light bulbs, which cast a glow similar to natural daylight.
2. Don’t fear mirrors
Relax—we’re just talking one or two of them. It won’t look like a tribute to disco fever. Hang a mirror on the wall that is opposite your windows to reflect natural light and give the room a brighter, more open look. Bonus: it will also reflect the outdoors, bringing the illusion of nature into your home. It often gives the promise of more space.This is an excellent use of mirror on a wall that had no impact prior. The drapery panels and mirror make the space feel larger and a window feeling is captured.
3. Buy furniture that is scaled to fit your space
You may be in love with that giant overstuffed sofa, but you need to shop for the room you have. When selecting furniture, keep scale and proportion in mind. Keep more open space for heavy traffic areas and keep it simple.
4. Use multifunctional pieces
When space is at a premium, make the most of the room you do have with furniture that does double duty. An ottoman can serve as a coffee table, a spot to eat snacks or a place to play your favorite board game. Little ottomans could double as end tables if you put a tray on top of them and when you need extra seating for guests they will perform double duty.
5. Embrace light color
Skip dark colors. Whites or light colors make a room seem bigger. Another Phil trick? Paint walls and ceilings the same color if you don’t have wonderful molding. It’ll trick the eye into thinking ceilings are higher than they really are. Think fresh spring or beach interiors colors. When implementing colors for beach interior design I try to use clear and fresh colors.
6. Resist the urge to over accessorize
Throw pillows, lamps and a few pieces of art are a great way to inject color and soft pattern into your room, but when adding your finishing touches, bear in mind that clutter will only make your space seem smaller. Avoid visual vibration.
I had a chance last night to visit a fantastic restaurant and bar designed by David Collins. I was really inspired by the mixture of traditional materials with a contemporary edge. The result is a mixture of Hollywood Glamour with a Modern Elegance. Particularly interesting to me are the light fixtures used in the space. The scale and character of them added an amazing dimension to the room but also remained functional. Notice the Sconces and how they wrap the columns and unique chandeliers.
I also loved the traditional lines of the furniture but again with a softer detailing. The ceiling was washed with a fantastic gray/silver finish that reminded me of a driftwood feel. There is a gray-washed brick detail between the beams that surprises us because it is a traditional material used in a very glamorous space.
What I take away professionally from an interior designers point of view when I visit inspirational spaces is to always stay educated on the latest materials , lighting is a fantastic design tool, and consistently think outside the box. And it also makes me feel inside that I am in the right profession because I was so motivated and excited as I drove home to go do something amazing the next day.
If you are looking to have a new experience I personally recommend a design and dine experience at http://www.gordonramsay.com/gratthelondonwh/
I get a lot of design magazines and can barely keep up. And to add to those great interior design books, and magazines I get about 8 or more mail order magazines as well related to the trade. I have to admit, I am finding more and more for our projects in Wisteria. I like them because they have those special quirky pieces that make a room unique. So I have decided to show you a few wonderful pieces I have found for projects. The table above is great as it gives you that warm feel in an entry and they way it is accessorized shows great eclectic balance. This table could be used in Manhattan Beach Interior Design Project or in the interior of a sophisticated Rolling Hills Home.
This piece catches my eye because of its unique finish and shape. We would bring this in to our upholsterer and add our own custom fabric and contrast gimp cord to make it special for the project. A pair under a console, in a living room or use it as a vanity stool in a Master Bedroom. Great little accent and the price is great!
I love this group because it shows how to use painted furniture to create a serene feel. It seems we are using more to mix our finishes and create more eclectic feels.
They have a lot of great vintage accessories that just bring incredible life to a room. There are so many choices of what to buy, as a consumer you could drive yourself crazy in what to get. Scale, color and proposition make a big difference in this selection process as well. But that is why you hire an interior designer right!? Had to get a plug in there and this is my last sentence- see you next time!
Inspired by an unusually hot week in Southern California, I wanted to introduce you to 2 products I like to use as shade options. One is what is called a Solar Shade and the other is a Grass Shade . They can both be motorized on an incredibly quiet motorization system of which you will never hear operate.
These shades (or even drapery) are automated window treatments that operate at the touch of a button from a wall-mounted keypad or a handheld remote. Press “open” or “raise” to open the window treatments, or “close” or “lower” to close them. It’s that simple. I love the clean look of the roller shades and the texture of the grass shades. They come in so many color options that one will certainly fix your heat or privacy problem. I have the grass shade extremely well in both traditional and contemporary interior design projects. The solar shades are an excellent choice for the beach and west facing windows. I use a timer on these when doing interior design projects in Manhattan Beach and the clients are away at work but want to protect their interior during the day when the sun drops at a set hour.
Another facet I like about the grass shades is the fact that it is a nice balance of privacy but also you feel the exterior. Here is another example in a Pool Cabana recently installed using Grass Shades.
I wanted to profile one of my favorite furniture companies Ebanista .
It was after thirty six years of collaborating with European Ateliers and painstakingly developing worldwide resources that Ebanista was launched.
Ebanista is now known for luxury and sophistication in the world of interior design. This Italian and Spanish inspired line is one of my favorites because of the incredible finishing techniques and the unique range of styles.
It’s hard to tell what’s an antique, and what’s not, and that’s precisely the point. I can just see the ceramicists, weavers, foundrymen, guilders, silversmiths, artists, and furniture makers all working together. These trades were once known known throughout Europe as ebanistas - assure the elegance of old world charm with a modern sensibility.
You have to have a good budget to use a lot of this line but one piece can make a room and that is why they have become the source to the most influential designers.
I have used pieces from this line in Palos Verdes Mediterranean Interior Design, Manhattan Beach Spanish Mediterranean home, and a Cape Cod home where we needed just the right antique feel. So although it appears a bit more serious and grandeur, it can also be used creatively in other environments.
I have enclosed a few of my favorite installations and 2 individual favorites, a chest and a very noble chair. Hope you enjoy…
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