If you’re looking for a coffee table that will stand the test of time, look no further than the plinth coffee table trend. These tables have literal lasting power given that they’re solid blocks of stone!

Idea to Steal: Plinth Coffee TablesIdea to Steal: Plinth Coffee Tables

Low profile yet sculptural, the plinth table can certainly stand (or should I say sit) on its own. I’m particularly fond of styling these bad boys to maximize the negative space. That really lets the beauty of the stone stand out.

Idea to Steal: Plinth Coffee Tables

But if you are more of a maximalist there is plenty of surface area to play with. The table’s low profile allows you to  have more fun with with objects of varying heights. You can creating stacks or books for favorite objet, or use a tall dramatic flower arrangement. The plinth table is kind of the perfect blank canvas.

Idea to Steal: Plinth Coffee Tables

I am particularly obsessed with the the plinth table by Menu in the Rose Calcutta marble. The stone for these tables is selected and assembled by hand to ensure the edges line up perfectly. The movement is just gorgeous. Additional adornment is hardly necessary.

Idea to Steal: Plinth Coffee Tables

While you can search around and find a few other plinth-like coffee table options from big box retailers, I do think the Menu design is the most classic, elegant and timeless. Thankfully, if you do a little digging you can find them at discounted prices (ahem, here!)

Idea to Steal: Plinth Coffee Tables

I am very tempted to take my own advice and add one of these beauties to This Old Victorian. Very very tempted.

How about you??

For our entire archive of theft worthy design ideas, CLICK HERE.

images 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 

At first glance, you might not think there’s anything amiss with the rooms you see here. And you’re not wrong. They are perfectly fine. But who wants to live with fine? Not me! These pics show how I originally missed an opportunity to make my bedroom and master bath next level. I consider this their 1.0 version.

Thankfully, there’s an easy way to upgrade a space without having to start from scratch. Lighting is one of the easiest ways to change a room and make a major statement, but there are a few tricks of the lighting trade – tricks I’ve had to learn the hard way over my nearly five years of renovating This Old Victorian.

To begin, I missed an opportunity to create eye-catching contrast. You could call both my bedroom pendant and bathroom sconces “classic,” but you could also probably use the b-word too. They’re boring! They just blend into the background. Yawn. Lighting is the jewelry of your room so you want it to be eye-catching.

I also made an error with my use of scale. That’s often one of the most difficult parts of picking lighting. You don’t want pieces that are too small. It’s a mistake you can’t ignore. It’s certainly the first thing I thought about every single time I stepped into both rooms.

To fix these issues I turned to one of my go-to lighting resources – YLighting – to do a major upgrade and create the wow moments these rooms really deserved. I have actually found the vast majority of fixtures for our house at YLighting. They have an amazing inventory of modern pieces and carry some of my favorite brands, both big time designers and smaller up and coming lines.

When selecting our new fixtures, I certainly solved my contrast and scale issues. The Roll & Hill sconces I picked for the master bath have a lovely elongated shape that compliments our house’s epic ceiling height. The Marset Ginger pendant I chose for the master bedroom has a longer drop and a much larger diameter, making it the statement piece the room really needed.

I also wanted to inject more interesting materials and finishes into these rooms. Pro tip: when you pick lighting for different rooms, the fixtures don’t need to be twins – in fact you don’t want them to be, but the lights should at least be cousins. Think somewhat related. My new sconces and pendant both feature a light oak wood which helps connect them, while the Ginger pendant has black accents that relate to lighting I have in other rooms. The sconces feature marble and brass as do fixtures I’ve used in the house’s other bathrooms. It feels cohesive without being matchy-matchy.

I’m so excited to finally have lighting that draws your eye in a good way. My biggest lesson here? Don’t play it too safe. Your lighting is your opportunity to really express your personality, have fun and play.

To save you from repeating my lighting faux pas, I put together a video summarizing all of my best lighting tips. Bonus – it includes major sneak peeks of my bedroom and bathroom makeovers!

I hope you find it helpful as you upgrade your spaces this fall. Now is THE perfect time because YLighting is having their fall sale right now! Click HERE to shop. I’ve also included some of my top picks below because I just can’t help myself. Someday I’ll have another project to do, right??

This post is a paid partnership with YLighting. Thanks for supporting collaborating that have kept apartment 34’s doors open.

photography by andrea creative, aubrie pick

When you close your eyes and imagine your dream home, what do you see? If you said a mix between Oliver Gustav and Vincent Van Duysen, where elevated simplicity meets luxurious texture and pitch perfect restraint, then we’re meant to be design BFFs. If said I found such serenity, would you believe me?

Apparently, I want to live in the world of Zara Home’s new A/W 2019 campaign – A Life of Simplicity – because everything here is harmonious, soothing and when you stop to think about it, really oh so simple.. Be gone over-crammed shelfies and overloads of color – or stuff. What if you lived only with what you needed, but everything you have has to be beautiful. Intentional. This is where I want to call home.

This gorgeousness is no surprise given that this campaign was created in Copenhagen by some of my online faves including stylist extraordinaire Colin King and designer Rosie Seabrook. I love how pared back spaces like these force you to focus on the details – the texture of the plaster walls, the curves of the vases atop the dining table, the golden glow of the amber-hued glassware on the kitchen shelf. You miss nothing because it’s all meant to be seen – be experienced.

Hello dream kitchen, how you doing? You’re really making me want to redo mine right now.

Of course it helps that Zara’s new collection of tabletop, textiles and kitchenware have been paired with old world design classics (hello Jeanneret, Poulsen and Fritz Hansen), all in a timeless and soothing neutral color palette within a next level Scandinavian apartment. But all to perfect effect. I am sucked into this world and want to know how I can make any part of it my own (I currently have my eye on this vase and this bowl).

While of course I know a zen-like bedroom won’t calm the nerves of an overtired parent living in an insane world, I can hope that a perfect lounge chair or minimalist mirror might help. Or maybe I’ll just continue to look at these pictures. and deep breathe. Until the end of time.

What say you? Does this inspire you to up your style?

For more elevated design inspiration, CLICK HERE.

photography by frederik vercruysse, styling by colin king for Zara Home

When you here the word Birkenstock, would you ever connect it to Parisian chic? I certainly wouldn’t. But the ugly shoe trend has taken the hippie staple and made it fashion and now Birkenstock  has also made it design! The brand has just opened a new showroom on the Rue Saint Honoré in the heart of Paris and it is stunning. Don’t think you can combine Birkenstocks and high design? Scroll. You’ll be as amazed as I am.

Birkenstock 1774 showroom in Paris on Apartment 34

Created to display Birkenstock 1774, the company’s collection of limited edition designer collaborations and special projects, the showroom is a perfect example of an idyllic Parisian apartment complete with parquet floors, paneled walls, stunning fireplaces and cascades of natural light.

Birkenstock 1774 showroom in Paris on Apartment 34

The creative consultancy Vinson & Co juxtaposed the apartment’s classic architecture with modern furnishings in that elevated European way that I just cannot get enough of. Pieces in each jaw-droppingly pretty room come from mid-century icons like Cassina and Pierre Jeanneret and modern day show stoppers from Faye TooGood and Vitra.

Birkenstock 1774 showroom in Paris on Apartment 34Birkenstock 1774 showroom in Paris on Apartment 34Birkenstock 1774 showroom in Paris on Apartment 34

The designer Birks just seem to casually rest among the perfectly composed rooms. They are cohesively filled with warm tones, worn leather, ceramics from well-known ceramicists including Simon Hasan and unique woven art created by embroiderer Geraldine Larkin using jute and felt – materials used in the making of Birks!

Birkenstock 1774 showroom in Paris on Apartment 34Birkenstock 1774 showroom in Paris on Apartment 34

I would gladly call this showroom home, whether it came with the shoes or not. For now ,I’m plotting a trip to Paris to see this space and maybe pick up a pair of the Rick Owns Birkenstock collaboration. They have enough edge that they block the memories of Birks worn with socks out of my mind. 

If anyone is still headed to Paris before summer’s end, please go visit Birkenstock 1774 and report back if it is in fact as fabulous as this looks!

For our archive of inspiring retail therapy, CLICK HERE.

photography by depasquale + maffini

I may be back in the office this week, but an overabundance of jet lag, emails, photos to edit and a general denial that my summer in Italy is over has made it a bit tough to get back on my blogging game. For that, I apologize. I’m determined to chip away and get eager to share all my Italy travel guides, the myriad of design updates I’m working away on and so much more. Sadly my brain works faster than fingers on the keyboard. So for now, I’m just going to keep chipping away, but then I spied this bright and cheery kitchen that stopped me in my tracks and made me smile, so I had to share immediately as I thought it might brighten your week too.

A Peach Kitchen on apartment 34

It just so happens that this lovely space belong to my amazingly talented friend Rosy, so it’s no wonder the design is picture perfect. I actually shared this kitchen in this post after I hosted this event in Rosy’s beautiful home. The change from this kitchen’s previous look is rather dramatic. As someone who very publicly eschews the use of color, I don’t know that I would ever think to paint my kitchen peach, but after seeing the affect of this amazing makeover I’m all for it.

A Peach Kitchen on apartment 34

The secret to success when using a hue like this, is to use it as a pop of color. I actually did something similar, albeit with a dark hue, in the Sunset Bungalow project. Using color as an accent gives a room an extra dimension and a jolt of interest. Imagine if the kitchen niche was simply white. You’d hardly even notice it at all. I also love the addition of shelf, painted in the same peach hueIt adds another layer of texture and it quite practical in a kitchen. You always want a (good looking) kitchen tool or two at the ready.

A Peach Kitchen on apartment 34

While certainly a touch feminine, the dark woods and mix of terracotta tones keep things from tipping too girlie.

 A Peach Kitchen on apartment 34

I spy the perfect amount of terrazzo with that nicely placed tray.

A Peach Kitchen on apartment 34A Peach Kitchen on apartment 34

I don’t know about you, but this is the midweek pick-me-up that I needed!

For more color inspo, CLICK HERE.

photography by seth smoot for domino magazine

I never really paid much attention to tile until I had to make so many decisions about it. I think we have seven different types of tile in This Old Victorian. Sure, you can go with your standard grade white subway tile and do ok, but why not grab the opportunity to do something really special in your space. Enter the newly launched collaboration between cult tile favorite Clé and Zio & Sons.

If you don’t know Clé, here’s a primer. What started as one of the first online tile shops in 2012, Clé has helped transform tile from being a functional backdrop to a more artful, provocative facet of our surroundings. Clé seeks out heirloom quality tiles from across the globe. Their inventory extends from classic moroccan zellige, glazed raku-fired tiles from Vietnam, rustic Italian terra cotta and carrara stone to thin clay bricks domestically sourced. I used Clé tile on my fireplace surround and couldn’t be happier with the result.

And if you don’t know Zio & Sons then you best get on Instagram stat. Everything Anthony Dargenzio touches turns to gorgeous. Anthony connected directly with Clé after he debuted his collection of rental apartments in New York’s Hudson Valley. When Anthony used Clé Tile’s Zellige design in the kitchens of This Old Hudson, the spaces just blew up on Instagram and a match in design heaven was made.

Through Clé’s Zellige tile, D’Argenzio discovered a material that was simple yet embodied both history and craft. These elements paired perfectly with his love of historical architecture and natural materials. Built to last, the brand new Zio Zellige + Clé collection is a classic yet simple design,” D’Argenzio says. “It was inspired by the Old World and driven by handcrafted texture that’s increasingly harder to find.”

Drawn upon the rich mosaic patterns of Moroccan design and working alongside Clé, D’Argenzio created an offering of two simple
shapes in four neutral shades: 4”octagons and 1” square “dots” (known as a bouchon). You can apply your own personal tastes and creativity to set a vibe all your own.

I asked Anthony the three things he loves most about this collection.

  1. Versatility: The timeless color palette and pattern really make this product accessible to be really be used just about anywhere. Suitable for commercial and residential use. Storefronts, Pool, hotel accent walls, you name it!
  2. Texture and artisan feel – each tile is hand crafted and unique, adding a sense of old world soul to your space.
  3. A one of a kind mosaic, right out of the box. Saving your installer time (cutting) and you money.
  4. Bonus: I got to visit Morocco which was so inspiring and beyond beautiful. You can see a few snapshots from that inspiration trip here.

And when I asked Anthony about what he he learned from creating his first collaborative collection his three pieces of advice were spot on.

  1. This opened my eyes to the world of product/ material design. I want to create so many things now! We already have a few things brewing. (and I cannot wait to see what they are!)
  2. Patience! From design to development these take time. Expect delays.
  3. Stay true to yourself, style and brand. No one else can replicate that!

Tile offers such an easy opportunity add major personality and personalization to your space. Break out of the white subway rut and try something truly unique, artisanal and timeless. I’m already plotting the next place I can put in some tile. Deets on that project coming to you soon!

I feel like I’ve been mighty quiet about the status of our house for quite some time now, but it’s because I’ve actually been a rather busy bee, determined to finish This Old Victorian once and for all (you can catch up on what turned into a nearly five-year process right here).

After attempting to problem solve my biggest design challenges over and over again, I’ve realized there are some design conundrums that are simply beyond my experience level. Or perhaps I’ve just been staring at this house for too dang long. Quite likely. Enter culprit number one; my master bedroom. Here is its current state again, should you need a reminder. Not much has changed….yet.

The current status of my master is lovely but a tad…plain. While it’s clean and calm, there isn’t really any wow moment. This house deserves some wow. I deserve some too dammit! As of now, my bedroom houses a bed, a sad Ikea dresser and….that’s about it. After being in our house for a good bit now, I’ve realized I’m really in need of a haven from the rest of the world. I’m looking for something with more layers, texture, and a good dose of sophistication. But this room is just really dang hard to figure out. All of its layout quirks has managed to stump me.

Enter my friend and interior designer extraordinaire Lauren Nelson. I’ve collaborated with Lauren to help create the magic this master bedroom needs to get to the next level and today I’m giving you a sneak peek into where we’re headed!

Our moodboard features a color palette of warm woods, dusty, earthy hues and lots of natural texture. I’m really love the vibe. But my biggest aha in trying to figure out this space was the realization that it requires custom solutions. Tricky dimensions, oversized windows, a fireplace (I know, rough life) mean off the shelf furniture just don’t make this room functional. This is why I needed to call in a true pro. Lauren created a custom bed design that will tuck perfectly beneath my extra low window casings. Built-in side tables will provide me with the functionality and the rich warm tones I’m craving. Lauren has added in little custom details will make it a truly one of a kind piece. I can.not.wait.

The other big aha was the need to amp up the room’s lighting. Being blessed with extra high ceilings, it’s was a shame not make sure your eye is drawn up. Enter YLighting – my absolute favorite lighting resource. My dining room pendant, media room pendant and so many of my flush mounts are from YLighting. They have options that fit literally every style and every budget.

I’ve set my sights on the Marset Ginger Pendant for our bedroom. Its unique shape features a mix of materials including an oak canopy and blackened aluminum frame. Its gorgeously oversized, making it impossible to miss and it will contrast with the walls and drapery so well. I’ll also be upping the ante in my master bathroom with a set of extended sconces made of bent wood and brass with marble backplate also from YLighting. Because sometimes you just cannot resist. They are going to be next level good. Here’s a little schematic of the pendant with my future bed!

While we’re still midway through the design process and I won’t be able to share the final reveal for quite some time, I couldn’t help but give you at least a sense of where we’re headed so…here’s a major sneak peek of the final design rendering with you!

In addition to the stunning lighting and awesome custom bed, we’re going to add a vintage Moroccan rug for a pop of print. I’m obsessed with the rug. Floor to ceiling drapes will add softness and a refinished vintage dresser will give me the storage I so desperately need and the style I crave (sorry Ikea, you’re just not cuttin’ it). We’re currently working on a dream mantel for the room’s fireplace and I have a few ideas for eye-catching art up my sleeve. It’s always fun when you get to dig into the details phase of a project like this.

Well, it’s not quite as fun install day – I’m counting down to the moment when the master bedroom of my dreams is actually mine.

Stay tuned!

To catch up on all things This Old Victorian (do you remember what it looked like when we started??), CLICK HERE.

this post is in partnership with YLighting. all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. thanks for supporting partnerships that have kept apartment 34’s doors open

It’s one of my favorite times of year – the San Francisco Decorator’s Showcase is here. If you’re not familiar, this annual event takes a home – let’s be real – an insane mansion, usually in the picturesque Pacific Heights neighborhood, and as many as 30 designers completely transform it, room by room. This year’s showcase is particularly spectacular. The house itself was completed in 1904 and is a replica of Le Petit Trianon, Marie Antionette’s chateau on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles. The home is over 18,000 square feet, features 14 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, two kitchens, an elevator and a full ballroom. No biggie. Needless to say there was a lot for this year’s designers to work with (side note, the house was also abandoned for nearly a decade so it was also in total disrepair).

There is so much to see in this Showcase. Each designer has the liberty to put a highly personal spin on their assigned room. There were many a stand out space in this year’s house but I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite highlights for you.

NEUTRAL TERRITORY

living room by heather hilliard design

Probably no surprise, but I was immediately drawn to all of the spaces with neutral designs. The living room, by Heather Hilliard, was a nod to modern Parisian apartment. It features a mix of classic vintage, contemporary pieces and the first look at one of the many rooms featuring curved lines. Keep your eyes peeled. You’re going to see a lot of soft lines.

the oak room by sindhu peruri

In the Oak Room – or essentially the in-home bar and lounge – designer Sindhu Peruri gives us a built-in banquette, another of my favorite design trends, along with stunning custom cabinetry and geometric shelving. Also love the vertical tile backsplash in this space.

wabi sabi soak room by clara bulfoni, geddes ulinskas architects

And in the Wabi Sabi Soak Room (aka a bathroom sans toilet) by Clara Bulfoni, you get a beautiful breath of fresh air with warm woods, stunning handmade Cle tile (I used them on my fireplace and am obsessed) and yummy textured plaster walls. It has movement, it has tons of natural elements and is the perfect calming retreat.

PRINT AND PATTERN 

Recital Room by martin korbus design

Classically Modern vestibule by scott robert design

While white walls might be my personal mainstay, the Showcase is always all about drama. This year is no different. Everywhere you looked walls (and ceilings!) were papered, hand painted, lacquered or in the case of the downstairs hallway – adorned with flooring. It’s a great reminder to think outside the box.

GREEN WITH ENVY 

Balcony Garden by brandon pruett design

breakfast room by eche martinez

Whether it was an entryway, atrium or balcony full of plants or a room’s accent color, green is having a good moment in this house. I think the green safari chair needs to become a thing.

POWERFUL PINK

Houghton Hall Reimagined Entertainment Room by jonathan rachman

Daydream Believin girls bedroom by studioHeimat

Deep raspberry is another color de jour in this year’s Showcase. Ironic given it was the color I so desperately tried to get rid of in the original Apt34, but I love it in these bold concepts.

PAINTERLY WALLS

master bath suite by alexis humiston

Houghton Hall Reimagined Entertainment Room by jonathan rachman

Major statement wallpaper is biggest trends seen throughout this year’s Showcase. A number of designers partnered with De Gournay to create custom, hand painted wallpaper to compliment their designs. While I’m usually not a wallpaper person, I could certainly appreciate the ultra lush look.

While rooms in the Showcase might feel totally over the top or completely unattainable, that’s kind of the point. I love visiting to search for 90-bits of inspiration that I can translate in a more accessible, daily life kind of way. If you can get yourself to Washington Street before the end of May, I highly recommend it.

Btw, it’s also now for sale for a cool $30 million!!

The San Francisco Decorator Showcase runs until May 27. Tickets cost $35-$40 and proceeds benefit University High School.

images via decorator showcase and by Daniel Lunghi, Lunghi Media
Group for Town and Country

So I realize my Scandinavia recap is a bit overdue at this point (the real-time recap is still on Stories though). What can I say – I’m verrryyy slow at editing the 3,000+ pictures I took during those five days. While I continue to whittle away at culling my travel guide, I thought I might as well share one of the many design finds from the trip. I saw so many gorgeous collections, but I was particularly smitten with the brand Skagerak.

Skagerak: One of My Favorite Scandinavian Finds on apartment34Skagerak: One of My Favorite Scandinavian Finds on apartment34

Started in Denmark more that forty years ago, Skagerak was initially known for their stylish and hardworking outdoor furniture, but they’ve since started designing an array of pieces for inside your home that are focused on craftsmanship and simple, functional design….and I basically want everything.

I’m already trying to figure out where I can put that gorgeous Vivlio shelving system seen above into This Old Victorian. The two-toned design, featuring ash shelves and a cinnamon brown frame is so good.

Skagerak: One of My Favorite Scandinavian Finds on apartment34

The Brut Table was designed with the theme ‘petit’ in mind, which is reflected in the table’s elegant and slender composition. Powder coated steel and blank brass feet give the table a chic character. While it looks dainty, this table is rock solid.

Skagerak: One of My Favorite Scandinavian Finds on apartment34

Skagerak’s new terracotta collection, called the Edge series, is inspired by an ancient Greek-Egyptian tradition for craftsmanship. Each piece in the collection of tabletop piece has the original matte finish on the outside but is glazed on the inside to offer a stunning contrast and give you a watertight vessel.

Skagerak: One of My Favorite Scandinavian Finds on apartment34

The Reykjavik Daybed designed by Included Middle is inspired Iceland. The bed frame is German Douglas Pine and the upholstery is from Kvadrat.

Skagerak: One of My Favorite Scandinavian Finds on apartment34

Skagerak came to my attention through Objects by Camilla Vest. The images here are all from the gorgeous showroom located in a lofty 1899 townhouse in the heart of Brooklyn. Objects represents coveted Danish brands including Skagerak, along with Brdr.Petersen and Skovshoved Møbelfabrik as well. Founded by Copenhagen-born and long time New York resident Camilla Vest, Objects started out of a passion for sourcing and combining unique pieces in a minimal yet playful way, based on the design philosophy that less is more – exactly the ethos I came home with from my Scandinavia visit.

Skagerak: One of My Favorite Scandinavian Finds on apartment34Skagerak: One of My Favorite Scandinavian Finds on apartment34 Skagerak: One of My Favorite Scandinavian Finds on apartment34Skagerak: One of My Favorite Scandinavian Finds on apartment34Skagerak: One of My Favorite Scandinavian Finds on apartment34

One of these days I am going to get myself back to New York so I can visit the Objects showroom in person. And if you have the chance to go to Copenhagen I highly recommend visiting the Skagerak headquarters. It resides in an old postal building and is truly remarkable. I got all the inspiration while there.

But for now, you don’t have to wait to get a piece of Scandinavian style in your world. Camilla has done a great job making sure many of our favorite retailers carry Skagerak. You can shop the pieces currently atop my wishlist below.

 

For more about my favorite design inspirations, CLICK HERE.

design by Objects by Camille Vest | photography by sarah elliott

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