Banquettes

As I've mentioned before - I love banquettes. There is something inherently glamorous about a banquette. Or perhaps it's because I imagine a dinner party of my friends piling onto a big banquette in my dining room. I can't quite put my finger on the source of this love, but it's there. Oh, it's there.

Banquettes are often thought of as built-in, such as this dramatic gem of a dining room via Toby Fairly. These built-ins can be a great solution to a tricky area.

However, the look and feel of a banquette can be easily achieved by pulling a sofa, loveseat, settee or bench up to your table, without the expense and construction mess of a custom built-in. Allow me to explain... visually.

 

A sofa fits perfectly between cabinets in a kitchen nook. via House Beautiful, February 2012 issue.

 

Another perfectly sized sofa. This one features a beautifully shaped back and another favorite: nailheads. Source unknown.

 

A very simple sofa becomes more interesting as a banquette. Source unknown.

 

This dramatic settee makes a big statement in this otherwise understated dining room. source unknown.

 

A punch of pink pattern brightens up this kitchen with the sofa turned banquette. Source unknown.

 

This clever Kitchen design features an armless sofa as banquette with a table where many others would have used bar stools. I love the originality and out of the box thinking! Source unknown.

 

An elegant sofa creates a contrast to the more rustic dining table in this interior design. The effect is stunning. via Four Walls and a Roof.

 

The Interior Designer of this hotel went big and bold. This space features a large, curvy hot pink sofa as banquette. Wow. via Ohmygosh! Design.

 

A beautiful curved sofa in a glamorous dining room, via Elle Decor

I wanted to add a built-in banquette to my dining room. However, the location of light switches and the air-intake vent make that project well beyond my budget. No problem - I now have my eye on a settee that I want to include. Stay tuned for more!

Do you love banquettes? Check out my collection of banquette inspiration on Pinterest. Do you have a banquette? I'm jealous and would love to see it! Please share photos with us on Facebook.
Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Lighting Inspiration

I recently found myself inspired by lighting shown in the Dec 2010/Jan 2011 issue of House Beautiful magazine. It's wasn't a lighting issue, but the homes featured had some unique lighting and unique uses of standard fixtures. Here are my favorites from the issue. Enjoy!

From Designer Thomas Hamel and a home in Florida, the kitchen and dining room below have fabulous lighting options. They certainly inspired me to think out-of-the-box.

 The use of different pendants at varying heights over this kitchen island is nothing short of stunning!  The individual pendants become one unified feature and make such a statement in the room. Brilliant!

This globally-inspired dining room is just a beautiful room. Period. My favorite feature is the custom laser-cut screens. However, I am also intrigued by the use of the modern chandeliers in the setting. It's a perfect eclectic balance.

From a Georgian Utopia, Serenbe Community, this home has used traditional chandeliers in some not-so-traditional locations.

First, the large chandelier over the kitchen island. It's an unusual place for this fixture, but it works perfectly for the size and style of the room.

Secondly, a crystal chandelier in the hallway. If your ceilings are tall enough for a chandelier - it's a great way to make a statement.

Oh, and they also have a banquette!! JOY!

If you missed my obsession with banquettes, please read: An Ode the Banquettes.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

An Ode to Banquettes

ban-quette, noun
\baŋ-ˈket, ban-, 1b is also ˈbaŋ-kət\
a. a long upholstered bench
b. a sofa having one roll-over arm
c. a built-in usually upholstered bench along a wall 


I love banquettes. They provide a function seating area, with more interest than your typical sofa or chairs. While often built-in, they can also be an armless sofa at the dining table or simple window seat. Enjoy this collection of a few of my favorite banquettes.

 A New Orleans home, by designer Melissa Rufty, cleverly uses the space under the staircase with a custom built-in banquette. So much more inviting than a sofa! House Beautiful Magazine.

 This breakfast nook by Mary McDonald,features a bench/window seat style banquette. As she says, "It brings a nice feeling to any place where you're going to want to sit and get cozy"  Veranda Magazine.

Not a built-in, but definitely qualifies as a banquette and an interesting seating arrangement. Celerie Kimble, House Beautiful Magazine. 

Banquette at Old Charm Bed & Breakfast in PA. Read about it at Michael, the Innkeepers blog, Inspired by Charm.

 

 Above and below: this tiny apartment has brilliantly adapted the banquette to maximize use and space. It serves as a sofa (above) and a dining area (below). Read more about this little purple gem at House Beautiful.

 

Above and below - the Colorado Home of the Year 2010, by Andrea Schumacher at O Interior Design, features 2 banquettes in the dining room (above) and nook (below).  Colorado Homes and Lifestyles Magazine. 

 Above and below: the Banquette that inspired this whole blog post. Designer Tobi Fairly added this very dramatic tufted banquette as comfortable alternative seating in this dining room. I'd say that is as interesting as any art piece, and more functional. House Beautiful Magazine.

Do you notice anything else wonderful about these banquettes? How about those mixed up pillows? 


Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Holiday Entertaining - Setting the Table

As Holiday Entertaining gets into full swing, I find myself inspired by some amazing table designs. Your table setting and decoration is a great way to set the tone for your holiday gatherings and to create parties to be remembered.

First a quick primer on *proper* table settings. To be followed, or completely ignored as YOU see fit for your own party...

Starting with your dinner plate, which looks more lovely and festive when layered over a place mat, charger, or both. A salad plate or bowl can be layered on top of the dinner plate, depending on your planned courses. Don't be afraid to mix styles, colors or vintage with new - get creative. Place cards are a great touch to a dinner party. Think out-of-the-box, use fruit or foliage, or a small gift.

 Next - forks to the left of the plate, knife and spoon to the right. Place silverware in the order of it's use, working from the outside in.

Glassware is at the top right of the plate. Water glass first, followed by white wine, then red wine glasses.

(article and photos from House Beautiful Magazine's Entertaining Issue)

And now some simply beautiful and creative table design and decorations that are inspiring me this holiday season. Courtesy of House Beautiful.

Michael Devine, Fabric Designer

Miles Redd, Interior Designer

Jan Barboglio, Home Furnishing Designer

And a final image from BBBCraft Sisters c/o Design Sponge. I love the incorporation of pomegranates and evergreen into the table.

Do you have a beautiful holiday tablescape? Share it with us! You can send me a link via the comments on the blog, or upload to the Beautiful Habitat Facebook wall.

Happy Holiday Entertaining!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Setting Your Thanksgiving Table Round up

I have seen so many wonderful blog posts about setting your Thanksgiving Table. Here is a round up of my  favorites in case you need some last minute inspiration.
Send us photos of your amazing Thanksgiving table!

Before you begin to make a beautiful table, here is a quick Dining Etiquette 101 from Sun-Sentinel.com.

And on to the Decorations:
Thanksgiving Decorating with Gratitude! from Irene Turners blog "Little Bits of Beauty"
Thanksgiving Table from your truly at Beautiful Habitat
Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas: Blossom & Branch from Design Sponge
Thanksgiving Table Inspiration from Habitually Chic
Interiors to Inspire:Thanksgiving Edition from Coco & Kelley

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Un-Set Your Dining Room

One for those "rules" of Interior Design is that a dining room should be purchased as a "set". Or at least the chairs should be a set of the same matching chairs. This is one rule that I love to break. As the Designer Vincente Wolf said in the May 2010 issue of House Beautiful Magazine, "Mix up the seating at your dining table. You wouldn't have eight identical chairs in your living room." I couldn't agree more.Mix it up. Have some fun!

Below are two rooms by Vincent Wolf to beautifully illustrate this point. Both were featured in House Beautiful.

And, because I also like to add variety to any room, here are two Dining Rooms completed by Beautiful Habitat. In the first room , we mixed up the client's existing black and cherry dining set by mixing in two woven chairs.

In this dining room we opted for benches to suit the casual lifestyle and fun personality of a young family. The pedestal table is a bit more traditional, while the benches and chairs are more streamlined and modern, contributing to our eclectic, collected-over-time feel.

For additional inspiration, here are a few photos of mixed up Dining Rooms, all from House Beautiful.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Favorite Things - Ulu Table.

Beautiful things keep appearing in my inbox.  I met the Ulu Table through my email today. She's such a pretty little thing that I wanted to introduce her to my wonderful blog friends.The Ulu is one of the many beautiful creations by Jiun Ho. He is a truly talented interior and furniture designer. If you haven't seen his work before, please take a little time to browse through his website. You're sure to find some inspiration.



Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Bloom and Bouquet Furniture

I very recently posted an Inspiring Images piece from the Chelsea Flower Show. Now I've come across some beautiful furniture that takes flowers as inspiration very literally.

From Kenneth Cobonpue, The Bloom Chair will add a sense of fun and spring time to any room. The chairs are handmade of a microfiber sculpted by hundreds of fine running stitches over a resin base. It is available in moss green, light green, red or yellow. I'd take it in any one of those colors!

 Also from Kenneth Cobonpue,is the bouquet table. It is a resin table with floral pattern relief, available in black or white and as a coffee table or end table.

For more ideas on how to find inspiration for your home anywhere, see my posts on inspiring images or my post on interpreting inspiration into your interiors.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Fleur De Lis Home Decor

In honor of the Saints' win in the Super Bowl, I'm dedicating today's post to the Fleur de Lis. The Fleur de Lis is a stylized iris or lily flower (fleur = flower, lis = lily). According to Wikipedia, "It may be at one and the same time political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic." It has been used in numerous coat of arms and flags throughout Europe, but is primarily associated with France. The Fleur de Lis came to be used in many French settled areas of the New World. In 2008, the Fleur de Lis became an official symbol of Louisiana.
If you want to add some of this historical symbol to your home, Ballard Designs offers the best selection in all things Fleur de Lis.

 

Table clock

 

Fabric by the yard (other colors available)

 

Glassware

 

Bookends

 

Towels

 

Lamp Finial

 

Wallpaper

Plaque

 

Address sign

Beautiful Habitat: Luxury Interior Design www.beautifulhabitat.com