Elle Decor's A-Team (Part V)

We skipped a week on this feature (that can be blamed on me as I had been out of town and didn't get my act together until mid-week), but we're getting back to it today.

Halfway through Elle Decor's top 25 interior designers now, "Part V" will cover at least a couple with which I'm very familiar.

Catch up with:
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV

Miles Redd

ED (Elle Decor) describes Redd as "blending high style history with bold colors and patterns...that put a cheeky spin on tradition. Often inspired by the saucy elan of American design in the 1930s, his cocktail-ready interiors sparkle, shimmer, shine and seduce.."







We love how he manages to combine opulence and every day comfort. Also how he gives typically forgotten or functional spaces character and interest.

Katie Ridder

ED describes Ridder as "strikingly adept at merging exotic references (Morocco, Turkey, the Middle East) with unusually patterned wallpaper and fabrics...cheerful, worldly boho-chic spaces saturated with color, whimsy and couture touches."










Ridder's wall paper and fabric line is fantastic and we adore her feminine bedrooms that, yes, have a distinctively exotic feel. Her spaces are so unique and full of pattern and color. Much of it is straight up eye candy.

Stephen Sills

ED (Elle Decor) describes Sills as "a connoisseur and collector who has an eye for objects with impressive provenance...The look? Serene and sophisticated, history energized with a dollop of swagger. He's also known for his subdued color palettes, rich fabrics, jaw dropping modern art and striking finishes."







This was a difficult one for us since the work really doesn't speak to our own aesthetic. But we do appreciate the diversity of style that Sills brings to his design projects. We admire how he's able to infuse a lot of personality into traditional rooms without taking away from the sophistication, as well as add warmth to simple spare spaces.

So what do you think? Any opinions so far on Elle Decor's selected designers?




*Unless otherwise specified, all images procured directly from the designers' websites.

Now that the Bedrooms and Master Bath Are Done...

You may remember several months ago we featured a master bath with soft blue glass tiles, and then later we showed you the master bedroom and guest bedroom of the same house. Well, now the kitchen remodel and the guest bath remodel are complete, and we want to share the finished product with you.

Previously the kitchen had been dated with old cabinets, light fixtures, and tile counter top. It felt dark and confined. The floor had been Cuban tile, which is very popular in Key West, but it just didn't go with the changes the homeowners had made in the rest of the house. The kitchen was completely gutted, new tongue in groove beadboard replaced the damaged wood on the walls and ceiling, and only the floor plan remained.





We specified the cabinets to be a combination flat panel shaker style and beadboard to mimic the beadboard on the walls and ceiling. And we love the light fixtures that look like softly rounded river rocks...they pair wonderfully with the beautiful honed granite counter top. The light cabinets with glass doors definitely lightened and brightened the space.

Moving on to the guest bath...

We wanted to continue the pretty French apartment theme that inspired our redo of the guest bedroom in the adjacent bath.

Remember the pretty feminine bedroom in classic blue and yellow?



We continued those shades in the guest bath. It is a tiny space, but we think you can get a good feel of the room from the photos.







We love the classic claw foot tub, and it was in great shape, so we just changed the faucet and painted the exterior of the tub the same soft blue as the walls.

We have been so happy with the way every aspect of this project has unfolded. Believe it or not, we still have more to do and we'll continue to share the progress with you.





and

New Arrival at Style Key West

We saw these cute, colorful, and very well-priced ceramics of little sea creatures and knew they would be perfect for our tourist customers.

We get many tourists shopping at Style Key West since we are located only two blocks from the Ferry Boat Dock from the Florida mainland and two blocks in the other direction from the Historic Seaport with all it's tour-boats and several restaurants and also other fine shops.




Tourists are looking for souvenirs and small gifts to take home-not expensive, Key Westy and most of all, small enough to pack in a suitcase. These little fellows fill the bill and best of all are usable as decorative items and also tableware.

I'm sure they will be a hit - The $4 to $14 pricetag seals the deal!

That's Refreshing

You may remember that Terry and I attended the High Point Furniture Market in April. We posted lots of pictures, and we were very excited about the new things we wanted for the shop. Well, Market is not exactly instant gratification, and just now the things we bought are starting to trickle in.


This is one of my favorite sofas. I love the soft aqua and cream stripes and the pretty antique white spool legs. It's delicate and feminine, but definitely comfy.


This is the matching chair covered in one of my favorite fabrics called "Treasure." And I especially love the ceramic stool in washed aqua. It's such a serene scene and the first thing our customers see when they walk in the shop. It's the perfect antidote for the Key West July heat.

A little refreshment for the eyes.

Elle Decor's A-Team (Part IV)

A few weeks ago, we started a new feature, looking at Elle Decor's 2010 "A-List of 25 interior designers." Some are well known to us and some vaguely familiar, but all have distinguished themselves as the best in the industry (at least according to Elle Decor). We'll be looking at these taste makers each week - to see how they appeal to our own aesthetic and even find a little Key West in their style if it exists.

Catch up with:
Part I
Part II
Part III

On to a few more (I think we're halfway through the list now? Okay maybe a third of the way...) Here they are:

Joe Nahem

ED (Elle Decor) describes Nahem as "a master at using sculptural vintage furnishings...which he mixes with custom-made items, glittering accessories, and bold contemporary artworks. The results are dynamic and quietly dramatic rooms - highly textured spaces where history meets the future."






We love the luxury of his design style. His attention to lighting fixtures - particularly chandeliers - and ornate accessories, brings an old school glamour to clean lines and uncluttered spaces.

Thomas O'Brien

ED describes O'Brien as "an influential product designer as well as a taste making interior decorator...O'Brien has a look that's instantly identifiable - warmly modern rooms where furniture and accessories...mingle with rare and surprising objects that could have come from a cabinet of curiosities."

As I experienced with Charlotte Moss last week, it was hard to find images for O'Brien since there are so many to choose from. He doesn't have a current project "portfolio" on his website, so I just did some looking around and pulled some images that appealed to me:







O'Brien's work is timeless, and while he uses modern pieces, the colors and textiles maintain a quiet elegance. We love how he manages to achieve that in spaces that are also functional and comfortable.

*images from: Chic Coles, Martha Stewart, Washington Post

Alex Papachristidis

ED (Elle Decor) describes Papachristidis as "best known for his cheerful, pretty, multilayered interiors inspired by the Old World, packed with colors, patterns, objects, and art that could have been assembled over generations...What he never neglects is a touch of glamour."










If there are two things we can't get enough of, they are chandeliers and chairs. Papachristidis doesn't disappoint. That red fixture paired with pale green fabric and accessory accents? Charming. His portfolio shows not only talent, but also the ability to translate his own vision into the style of his clients. Each project strongly reflects his aesthetic, yet remains unique.

And another flash of whimsical and ecclectic Key West style for you - that last image pretty much nails it!

So what do you think? Any opinions so far on Elle Decor's selected designers?




*Unless otherwise specified, all images procured directly from the designers' websites.