I warned you my postings may be sporadic in the coming weeks.  Life is crazy…..and I caught a nasty cold somewhere along the way this week.  So, I am trying to stay on top of things and my blog writing and reading is suffering!

I woke up this AM in a bit of a panic…..I have less than 10 weeks until our baby boy is born….and I have done NOTHING (other than the gender neutral basics being handed down from our daughter) to prepare for him since we are moving shortly after he is born.

But, it hasn’t stopped me from collecting nursery inspiration images.  What do you think of these from Mary Anne Smiley in Dallas?

I think this nursery is fun….love the unexpected pops of orange with the traditional baby blue.  It may be a little over the top for my personal style…..but I am sure one little boy sure loves his space!

I was flipping through the current issue (Spring 2010) of Beautiful Homes earlier today and saw a familiar image in a feature on Architectural Elements, specifically Front Doors as Focal Points.

The following image opened the 3 page article.  No credit to source of the door, but the photographer was listed as Colleen Duffley.  (Can you tell it is time for a new scanner?!?)

No reference needed here, I immediately recognized the door as having been designed by Mary Anne Smiley for her Highland Park Dallas clients.  I blogged about this door here.

Photo by Diane Carroll

I absolutely love this door and would love to use a similar one in my own home.  But, I am not sure about using it as my front door…only because it may leave me feeling a tad too exposed for comfort.  But, perhaps on the back of the house to a beautiful screened in patio with a fireplace.  Or, something similar for an interior room– perhaps to my office or a sitting room.  What do you think?

A few weeks ago, I posted here about the foyer and living room of a Highland Park, Dallas home designed by Mary Anne Smiley.  The homeowners were youngish newlyweds and wanted to live in this established Dallas neighborhood, but needed help bringing a younger vibe into what was reportedly a dark and excessively traditional spec home.

The dining room was one of my favorite rooms in the house.  The mix of materials and textures really does, in my opinion, create a unique blend of old and new. 

First off, the silk Fortuny chandelier, can you imagine something more dramatic for this space?

Photo by Diane Carroll for Traditional Home (April, 2008).

There is nothing traditional about the acrylic console or table base.  However, the Dessin Fornier Plante Side Chairs in a warm wood finish add a bit of tradition to the room, as do the custom rug by Patterson, Flynn and Martin and the china cabinet filled with antique Asian ceramics.  The large white ginger jar flanking the china cabinet offers a modern take on a more traditional piece.

For the dining table, Smiley actually modified a Niermann Weeks piece, the Mirabeau Center Table, removing the base and replacing it with an acrylic version.  I love how she re-purposed the base by cutting it in half and inverting it to create two console pedestals.  After all, with the caliber of furnishings used in this room—no need to waste!

Photo by Diane Carroll for Traditional Home (April, 2008).

So, what did I walk away with from this room?  I’ll be honest, most of it is out of my budget.  I am doing a whole house and really have to plan my splurges carefully.  Initially, I really wanted these dining chairs, but 2 of them ended up costing more than the 8 I ultimately ordered. 

But, when I first saw this dining room I absolutely fell in love with the window treatments.  I loved the subtle tones and the texture created by the printed sheer fabric, with horizontal orientation.  So, when my dining room is complete and revealed, you will see these again.  The fabric is from Pollack (swatch below).

Pollack Fabric, “Hang Ten- Shell”

To be honest, they were not overly expensive.  I have a triple window in my dining room and did simple pinch pleated panels on either end.  Because there was no lining involved, the labor to have them made was just over $100 (retail) through my workroom.  The fabric was not a bargain, but overall the project did not break the bank.  I only needed 8 yards as I opted to do stationary panels to keep cost down.  (I have Conrad shades for a degree of privacy, as my dining room is front facing.) 

A post on my love of Conrad shades is for another day.  But, I am interested to hear what you think of this room.  Do you like it?  Is it too much of a mix for you?  I’ll be honest, my husband was not a fan.  And, until he saw our draperies hung, I think he was worried.

This Dallas home was designed by Mary Anne Smiley for a young couple in the well known Highland Park neighborhood.  When I first saw this article in the April, 2008 issue of Traditional Home I was immediately drawn to it.  I refer to this feature so often that the magazine is limp from my constant referring back!

I absolutely love the  front door which Marry Anne Smiley designed to tie into the existing stair rail.

According to the article, they updated the home by removing dark and heavy faux finishes.  I think this foyer is a breath of fresh air.  I love how the light comes in the door and the light colors give an airy feel.

I think the living room is brilliant.  I absolutely love the colors in here.  According to the article, this room was previously brown.  The light color on the walls had to be a major transformation, for sure.  Of course, the color was the designer’s custom mix.

Photos above initially appeared in the April, 2008 Traditional Home magazine.  Photos by Diane Carroll.

So, now to analyze several of my favorite components.

The rug is from Patterson, Flynn and Martin (“Pierced Lattice’’/Light Sea by Kelly Wearstler).  This rug is completely customizable and of wool construction.  Is this beautiful or what? Here is a better view.

The ivory leather chairs need little explanation, they are Barcelona® in chrome, hand buffed to a mirror finish; available through Knoll who, according to the website, received exclusive manufacturing and sales rights in 1953 by the designer, Lidwig Mies van der Rohe.

The chairs by the fireplace are the Niermann Weeks French Club Chair.  The finish is a gold finish.  The fabric on these chairs is 100% Linen by Nomi Fabrics Inc. (Medici Knot, Celadon).

The sofas are colored in a  Joseph Noble linen/cotton velvet (Penumbra, Polder).  This fabric comes in 10 colorways.  How luxurious does this look?

The pillows on the sofa are 100% silk by Donghia (knotty, knotty) available in one color, shown below.

The windows are first covered in silk Conrad shades.  We had these growing up as my mom used them in our living and guest rooms.  I’ve currently got them in my living and dining rooms.  I love these as they allow the light to come into a room but provide a degree of privacy for public rooms in the home.   You may remember I used them in my recent Mood Board Monday post.

The draperies 50/50 silk and linen from Nomi Fabrics.  The pattern is “Dynasty” and it is sourced as “multi” color.  I’ve included an image of the “natural” colorway (because I could not locate a photo of “multi” on their site.)

The end tables on the far side of the room are by Sun (in a different finish).

The console tables were designed by Mary Anne Smiley and the sofas are credited to Lucien Rollin.  I found a comment from the designer, herself, on the All the Best blog indicating these are “French 40s design.”

I hope this is not too much detail.  I love this room so much and if you are anything like me I read shelter magazine articles with a finger marking the sources section so I can constantly flip back and forth to identify various products.  It really makes you appreciate the time and expertise the designer put into creating such a put together and unique space.

I plan to cover the dining room next.  My dining room drapes were inspired by the ones in Smiley’s design.

Have a great weekend.  See you Monday!