Drab, dull and boring doesn’t even begin to cover it. Is there a reason the refrigerator has been plaid-bombed? And why is boring, old beige the go-to for apartment units? You would think for $3000 a month — it is in Manhattan, I know — the landlords would have at least given this ugly kitchen a fresh coat of white paint. Is that too much to ask?
via curbed
You can view more of this monstrously boring kitchen over at Curbed.
…well sort of.
I saw the following listing on Curbed, and my immediate gut reaction was “Ewww” and “Luann De Lesseps was right, ‘Money can’t buy you class.’” This space is terribly gaudy, chintzy, jacquard-y, and overall, it’s just tacky. It’s much too much and a lot for the eyes to take in all at once.
via curbed
That said, the rest of this $72 million (!) home is actually tastefully decorated. Luxurious, but not too much.
Take a look at the foyer, for example: it’s gorgeous!
via streeteasy
Shame about that sitting room, though. This place could have been great.
Curbed, via Streeteasy
…see what I did there? I’m so clever sometimes!
Anyhoo, it’s almost the 4th of July non-weekend, so to honor that, here is a bevy of beautiful homes featuring red, white and blue color palettes and accents. This classic American color combination happens to work well, when done in an understated manner. For example, an all-white loft with blue and red pieces — used sparingly — is patriotically chic.
via homedit
By the way, this beautiful apartment was built in Athens for a French politician.
Here are a handful of other apartments with the red, white and blue color palette. This red kilim rug and blue Eames DAW Armchair add personality to this all-white bedroom.
via design tripper
All-white Scandinavian apartments can sometimes look too modern and sterile, with their monochromatic rooms and teak MCM pieces, but this red rug and various blue accent pillows really brighten up the place.
auction decorating via skona hem
This space is a veritable gallery of mid-century modern and contemporary pieces. The white loft features mostly white pieces, like the Barcelona Daybed and Chairs, with pops of blue, seen in the painting, and red, seen in the Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair.
via arch deco
Can’t get more classic American than this:
hgtv via fresh quince
Have a great 4th of July!!
Here’s another beautiful house in Coromandel, New Zealand by the architects Crosson, Clarke and Carnacha. I previously covered one of their homes in my post on Mid-Century Modern Beachside. This design firm has some truly amazing projects, and I would cover them all, but I particularly like their Kuaotunu Beach House.
patio
I mean come on, this is per-FEC-tion. This holiday home is giving off a modern, yet relaxed, Hamptons vibe. I love it: the openness of the home, the multiple rooms that each open up to the patio, the seclusion and the view. The materials and color palette both reflect the home’s surroundings and add to the modern beach cottage aesthetic.
These look like the Modern Floater Chaise by Manuel Kretzer and Mathias Bernhard, but I’m not 100% certain. Either way, I love a modern floating chaise!
patio
Let’s talk about this den that opens up onto the patio: What I really like, besides the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, is the incorporation of beachy materials. The oars hung as wall art, and grassy green area rugs are lovely.
den
From this view you can see how expansive this home is.
den
This view is something else. And because the walls are made of glass, the homeowners have variants of this spectacular view from every room!
kitchen + dining room
You can check out more pictures of this amazing house, here. Oh, and they have a book, “Ten Houses.” Great gift if you like coffee table books of gorgeous homes in faraway lands. Ahem…
… the Berman Residence, recently completed by Robert Berman, founding partner of Johnson Berman. This 40-year-old apartment is located in Mies van der Rohe’s Highfield House Condominums in Baltimore. The entire apartment is amazing, but this vignette is a great example of Berman’s aesthetic choices: mid-century modern, stylish, understated and a little playful.
I love the color palette here, too. This dark celadon green Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair, the Eames Walnut stool, the black + white Alexander Girard print with little pops of red, it’s all working for me.
via houzz
There’s also a fair amount of kitsch here that I think works really well. Gotta love doubling up of side tables here: a tiny Tulip table and gnome side table ( I want one)!
bedroom, via houzz
… and poolside too. Because it’s summer. And summer in NYC means wishing for a pool or a beach where I can cool off because it’s already too hot! On that note, here are some of my favorite mid-century modern pieces poolside or beach side. Let’s all pretend to be in a better place…
A set of white Bertoia Diamond Side Chairs and a table are simple and a little bit retro at this Hollywood bungalow.
via living etc.
Here’s a pair of BKF Chairs, aka Butterfly Chair, on a beachside patio. Perfect. Serene. And probably cool…
via life of an architect
Frederick Stelle‘s renovation of his Long Island home includes a set of Richard Schultz’s 1966 Collection of patio furniture. I am loving these lounge chairs and the infinity pool! Why am I not there drinking a mojito?
via north elevation
On a secluded beach in New Zealand is the Whangapoua Sled House built by Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects (say that 3x fast). A pair of Finn Juhl lounge chairs looks out to the sandy beaches. The hearth, cowhide rug, and Eames Walnut Stools give the space a rustic, cottage feel.
via 1st kind design, via crosson clarke carnachan architects
So besides looking at other people’s beach houses and luxurious pools, how are you going to keep from melting this summer?
… the simplicity of this addition to House 6. Located in Sydney, NSW, House 6 is an exercise in modern simplicity. Built by Welsh + Major.
While I normally don’t like these really simple spaces, there’s something very meditative about this dining space. It opens up onto the home’s garden terrace, plus… Eames DAR Chairs and Tom Dixon Pendant Lamps. Duh!
welsh + major, via architizer
found via Architizer
