New flat

[Bouji]

I've moved, to St. John's Wood, for those that know London, and its a brand new building.
I'm talking a contemporary approach to the interior design.

In the lounge,

It has oak hardwood flooring and halogen lighting.


This sofa,
These chairs
This wall unit, minus the shelves on the right of the plasma, the plasma is centralised,
on a backboard like this but in wenge (black)

Deep antique gold raw silk (shot with black) curtains, no pelmet, pinch pleats, overhang.

Still looking for tables and lamps.

Also, as far as bits and pieces go, I've got a few vases and display bowles from Tiffany, and some small Lalique sculptures, but that's about it.
I also have some painting, bacon repos. to go up but I need contemporay frames.

Looking for more of the kind, including other odds and ends, like photo frames etc.

Also, any ideas for the coffee table, side tables, lamps, and any other such things would help.

 

[Bouji]

Also, as for a rug, I'm thinking either French tapestry or a Persian Nain style rug in all silk

 

[designprofessor]

Nice choices. Seems like you have a good idea of where you are going with this.

 

[Bouji]

Originally Posted by designprofessor

Nice choices. Seems like you have a good idea of where you are going with this.

Thanks, do you feel they go? Some things are ultra modern, like the BO concept plasma unit, whilst some are a bit more contemporary, like the raw shot silk curtains, and the sofa and chairs.

 

[designprofessor]

I personally like the contrast of old to new. I think the furniture you have chosen will work just fine and be accepted as modern in this context. White being a "modern" color at any rate-according to Le Corbusier.
I'd like to see these Bacon -esque? paintings.

Only thing I'd add, which you may have already solved is -color? Any spots of color to punctuate the interior? Vases, pillows, flowers /plants?

 

[Bouji]

Originally Posted by designprofessor

I personally like the contrast of old to new. I think the furniture you have chosen will work just fine and be accepted as modern in this context. White being a "modern" color at any rate-according to Le Corbusier.
I'd like to see these Bacon -esque? paintings.

Only thing I'd add, which you may have already solved is -color? Any spots of color to punctuate the interior? Vases, pillows, flowers /plants?

I can get some photos of these Bacon-esque paintings, they were done by a friend who completed an MA in fine art at Central St. Martins.
As for colour, I always keep fresh flowers, and the curtains are, as I said quite a deep antique gold. The rug, I think will add more colour to the room.
Any other suggestions, not related to the original question would also be apriciated.
Here's a typical Persian Nain rug (albeit it is a wool/silk blend, I'm looking for all silk.

 

[designprofessor]

Just post some photos when this is a done deal. I started a "SF Cribs" thread in this part of the forum- needless to say there are some great living spaces that some of the members have.

 

[Brian SD]

Sounds great to me. Finally old enough to move out, eh?

 

[johnapril]

A rule of thumb about interior decorating: start with the paint. It frames the six other levels of color that will go in the space.

 

[Bouji]

Can you explain 'six other levels of colo(u)r' please? The walls are pure white.

 

[johnapril]

Sorry, Bouji, I misspoke. I meant seven layers of design. Those, in the order Christopher Lowell recommends proceeding, are as follows:

1) paint and architecture
2) installed flooring
3) upholstered furniture
4) accent fabrics
5) non-upholstered furniture
6) accessories
7) plants and lighting

I tend to agree with his assessment, though I skip accent fabrics, and I tend to hate accessories. But I will agree that his advice on painting is excellent. Are you planning to keep the walls white?

 

[Bouji]

Originally Posted by johnapril

Sorry, Bouji, I misspoke. I meant seven layers of design. Those, in the order Christopher Lowell recommends proceeding, are as follows:

1) paint and architecture
2) installed flooring
3) upholstered furniture
4) accent fabrics
5) non-upholstered furniture
6) accessories
7) plants and lighting

I tend to agree with his assessment, though I skip accent fabrics, and I tend to hate accessories. But I will agree that his advice on painting is excellent. Are you planning to keep the walls white?

Perhaps not in the long term, as I'm not a huge fan of white walls, or light coloured walls for that matter - but for now, I think I'll keep them as they are, because they are very versatlie, they match with a lot of colours.

 

[Nantucket Red]

All-silk Persian rugs look exquisite, but they will tend to bunch up on you, as they do not have much body. I'm constantly having to smooth out wrinkles in my dining room Tabriz, which is wool on a silk warp.

If you are putting one over an existing carpet, this will not be such a problem, but if you are putting it over a hardwood floor, you're going to want a rug with more body that will lie flat and stay that way.

Silk rugs are also not as durable as wool, but they make excellent wall hangings.

 

[johnapril]

Take care in hanging a rug. The way it is done can change the value of the piece.

Also, don't fall into the trap of decorating a room starting with a rug. It can cost you a fortune trying to compete with something that complex. Start with paint. Paint goes on all 5 walls (the ceiling is a wall). The floor is the sixth wall, but you shouldn't deal with that until you've dealt with the paint. White can work in a contemporary setting, but not all whites are equal. If the white has some warmth in it, this will better complement anything you put in the space afterward.

 

[GQgeek]

Originally Posted by johnapril

Sorry, Bouji, I misspoke. I meant seven layers of design. Those, in the order Christopher Lowell recommends proceeding, are as follows:

1) paint and architecture
2) installed flooring
3) upholstered furniture
4) accent fabrics
5) non-upholstered furniture
6) accessories
7) plants and lighting

I tend to agree with his assessment, though I skip accent fabrics, and I tend to hate accessories. But I will agree that his advice on painting is excellent. Are you planning to keep the walls white?

That's basically how I'm going about decorating my new place. I hadn't thought it out in such a precise manner, but it's the most logical approach.