Designer | It's Great To Be Home

A Tale Of Two {Design-Savvy} Sisters

Have you had a chance to check out the newest issue of Lonny yet? I think this third issue is the best by far, filled with gorgeous images and inspiring designers – if you haven’t browsed through it yet, you must!

Having lived with and decorated an apartment with my older sister during law school, one of my favorite stories from this issue was about Antonia and Victoria Thompson – two wildly talented sisters with very different design aesthetics.

{ Here’s another great thing about Lonny – you don’t have to be a professional designer to be on the cover of the magazine. Cheers to that! }

After living in Manhattan their entire lives, the sisters decided to take the plunge and buy their first apartments. Their real estate searches led them far and wide, but they ultimately purchased separate apartments . . . in the same building . . . on the same floor . . . with the same layout!

With an artist mother and extensive travels, it’s no wonder both sisters developed an eye for design. Antonia, the younger of the two sisters, tends to be more impulsive in her decorating, setting out without a master plan and picking up pieces she loves as she goes along – the result is an eclectic, lived-in look with a somewhat masculine edge. Victoria, on the other hand, takes a more meticulous approach to designing, identifying her key pieces and building a design plan around them for a look that is tailored yet youthful.

{ Living / Dining }

Many of the key elements of each sister’s space are the same – pattern (particularly zebra), splashes of turquoise, glass-topped coffee tables, furniture arrangement, upholstered stools (in zebra!) in front of the fireplace, and bold artwork.

{ Powder Room }

However, their tastes quickly diverge as Antonia prefers what the article’s author, Shawn Gauthier, describes as a “Parisian sensibility married to a chic eclecticism” while Victoria gravitates toward a “1950s Palm Beach vibe infused with a classic, mid-century vision”.

{ Kitchen }

This difference in design sensibilities is striking when their renovated kitchens are compared side by side. Antonia’s is a picture of function and utility, from the hanging pots and butcher block countertop to the commercial-sized refrigerator – reminiscent of Parisian kitchens and industrial chic. Victoria, on the other hand, injects a bit of glamour into her hard-working kitchen with penny tile and turquoise cabinet interiors.

{ Bedroom }

Both sisters designed soothing bedrooms, but Victoria’s is feminine and somewhat traditional while Antonia’s leans a bit more eclectic and muted.

{ Home Office }

From the floor plan above, it appears that both sisters have chosen to use their somewhat awkward dining areas as home offices – a great use of space as their living rooms are more than large enough to accommodate dining tables.

{ Bookcase }

Both sisters chose to paint the backs of their bookcases, a trend that really serves to highlight the styling of the shelves. {Check out Averill’s great post on this subject for more discussion & gorgeous inspiration pics.}

{ Living Room }

Ottomans upholstered in zebra fabric? Yes please! These are girls after my own heart with their love of zebra and turquoise.

So what do you guys think? They both created unique spaces that are filled with personality and special touches. Do you have a favorite?

To see full-sized images of each sister’s apartment, click here for Antonia and here for Victoria. All images originally from Lonny Magazine.

All Sproost Up

Think you have a pretty good idea of your decorating style?? Test yourself with this interactive on-line quiz from Sproost! This fun quiz that I came across on Young House Love shows you fully furnished and decorated rooms that fit into one of 16 different design styles and directs you to decide whether you “love it” or “hate it” for each room. You may look at anywhere from 16 to a bazillion rooms, depending upon how quickly Sproost can nix a design style from your answers. Interesting and pretty darn fun, if I do say so myself!!

I was surprised by the personal style combo that the Sproost quiz came up with based upon my answers to the quiz – a mix of cottage chic (36%), Nantucket style (36%) and vintage modern (28%).

While I never would have said that my style included anything called “cottage chic,” Sproost’s explanation of the style proved that its analysis was right on:

Who says that cottages can’t be modern and chic? Who says that they have to be floral and cheesy? Not you!

You love the carefree spirit that the cottage interior inspires, but you are also serious about your appreciation for modern art and hip treasures. You love old and new alike, and love to highlight them all to expose the uniqueness of each. What better way to show off these treasures than with a light background?

Although you haven’t had a chance to check out my art and accessories collections yet (you will, don’t worry!!), I think that “cottage chic” describes our living room to a “T,” don’t you?

But what about “Nantucket Style”? Not so sure about this one, Sproost. While I’m all about greens and blues and whites, I’m a sucker for dark wood over light wood any day of the week!

Oh how you love the beach! Who doesn’t, right? And so your dream home is either perched in your favorite beach town, or you’ve brought that favorite beach town into your house.

Your art and accessories speak directly to the activities that are found at the beach. Pieces of driftwood you found here, pictures or paintings of the amazing views there. Things that remind you of the coast – surf boards or fishing boats – are found throughout the house. The feeling of the seaside is both abstract and literal in the design of your space. The fabrics are natural, cottons and linens and are light in color and touch. Much of the furniture is wood or wood framed (the lighter the better, think driftwood!) and wicker, when done right, is a must.

And since your true inspiration is the sea, the colors and textures in your home are the same that you would find at your favorite beach: white, light beiges and grays of the sand and driftwood, a variety of blues for the ocean and sky, and greens and vibrant blues of the sea glass, but the key is white! Your space should feel light and airy and give off the mood one has when at the beach: laid back!

Your furniture is comfortable and the layout is cozy. The more it reminds you of actually sitting on the warm sand, the better! And what do you do at the beach? Hang out with family and friends – and your home is just an extension of this play place. And though the space is filled with large white furniture, it somehow manages to feel both durable and casual.

“Vintage Modern” makes up the last 28% of my design style:

Flea Market, anyone? You know you are drawn to modern furniture and interiors, and yet you don’t like a space that feels cold and sterile. And who could blame you? That’s why Vintage Modern is so appealing to you. Though the backdrop of the room, the walls and windows, are many times white or monochromatic, the furniture and accessories have the color, shape and texture to bring the warmth into the space.

The great thing about Vintage Modern is ease of mixing different styles in the one space. You can have a new modular sofa mixed with a great pair of chairs that your grandmother purchased in the late 1950’s. The new and old work appear as though they were destined for each other. Even if you don’t have time for swap meets and garage sales, so many of the mid-century pieces were so great that they have been remade and mimicked year after year.

I’ve gotta say, I think Sproost nailed with the Cottage Chic and Vintage Modern. Not so sure about the accessories Sproost picked for me, though… what is that boat doing there?