Traditional Style Open Living

Usually open living means a space that is industrial, modern or minimalist. How often do we see a true multipurpose living space which includes more traditional styling and multiple layers?

This spectacular room sees living, dining and office perfectly incorporated into one, large space. It really makes you rethink the need for all those walls, doesn't it?

So many noteworthy ideas here...

Warm tonal hues create a soft welcoming envelope for living.

Note the way the sofa is presented - a large banquette that starches the length of the wall, it can accommodate several people at once and yet takes up minimal area.

A large sculptural table takes centre stage, and as the darkest piece in the room it is grounded although floating atop several large cowhides.

The office area along the right side of the space includes two generous workspaces, and cleverly uses additional dining chairs, which link the areas and allows them to be pulled to the table for larger groups.

A wall of storage above the workspaces is busy, but balanced by the wall of mirror on the left, which fills in the large area above the banquette without further visually cluttering the room.


What do you think? Would this work for how you live?

x am

Palette: Bone and Black | Inlaid Bone

So I've been posting about bone and black this week, and of course must include inlaid bone furnishings. I cannot fathom the hours of work that go into these gems, it truly is an art form. In a quiet interior the pattern would add so much visual interest, yet is graphic enough that other colours and patterns can be played against. Wouldn't you love to have one of these pieces somewhere in your home?

The Traditionals

The Contemporaries

Subtlety in White on White 

Against a black wall? Heaven.

The Easy Update

The To-Die-For

From the home Of Jessica Marx. 

Can somebody please place one of these on either side of my bed? Thank you.

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You can also use furniture inlaid with Mother of Pearl for a similar effect, just with a little more sheen. I prefer bone, it is more matte and allows the pattern to take centre stage. Is this something you would use in your home or for a client? Have used?

x am

Palette: Bone and Black | Kitchen

Today I thought we might look at a few kitchens that have eschewed the traditional white for bone and shades of black… my dream kitchen would include some of these elements, like the stone floor below - perfection.

Rustic woods and stone floors. 

No glam here - this is all about scale and simplicity, allowing the textures to speak for themselves. 

Wish we could see this in the evening, with all those lights on...

Okay, it's not really a kitchen, but it's so darling! Those sconces completely make the vignette, right?

A black-stained plank floor laid in a herringbone fashion ground the space. 

I love, love, love the understated hardware and slab backsplash - so quiet.

Rare for a kitchen to have this ethereal quality.

Small in stature but large in interest, the floor balances the black range and energizes the space.

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Will be back with another bit of black and bone in the next days... fantastic to be finally posting these!

x am

Palette: Bone and Black | Art

Let's take the time-worn lustre of bone, and juxtapose it against the sharpness of black.... Opposites attract, yes?

I'm going to do a few posts on this combination this week.  The genius pieces of artist Jennifer Arment have caught my eye. Usually artists will pair black with a crisp pure white, but she chooses the softer palette. it adds a level of sophistication to her work. While the composition and simplicity of form are beautiful, it's the wit, the tongue-in-cheekness that I love.

These are strong enough to stand alone, but wouldn't they be a welcome addition to a gallery wall paired with vintage oils, or some high contrast nature photography? Rooms that take themselves too seriously are boring, after all!

What do you think? Feeling this palette? The art?