Would You Use A Colored Sofa?

Color sofas and couches have made a huge comeback in the past few years. What color is your couch?

Here are a few familiar images to remind you how great colored couches are.

Nicole Cohen designed this room using a fabulous green couch

Miles Redd rocked the camel back in blue

Emily Henderson put colored couches on TV big time

Miles Redd does orange

Miles Miles Miles

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Knoll Versus Knole

I have been in the trenches doing proof reading for a book I have been working on for over a year. It is finally going to press and will be out in October!!!

Whilst doing corrections, a caption for a sofa created some confusion.

What is this called?

And what is this called?

It was the battle of Knoll versus Knole. In design school we learned that sofas as we now think of them were "invented" around 1610, when the Sackville-Wests commissioned the making of one for their manor house (Knole in Kent). They still own the manor and the sofa. The design, henceforth has been called "Knole".

The original Knole sofa from 1610

The most recently famous Knole sofa can be seen weekly in the library of Downton Abbey (aka Highclere Castle).

The most famous Knole sofa that we see every week in the library of Downton Abbey

The library at Highclere Castle

You can read a great history of the Knole sofa at Apartment Therapy.

After many back and forth emails with my editor, the query of Knole versus Knoll was solved. Which one, Knole or Knoll do you think is in my book?

The Knoll sofa

In the meantime here's a nice round up of the Knole, which has made it's way into the modern age quite nicely.

Lavender Knole sofa via Houzz

A room by Alberto Pinto with a Knole sofa

Designer Orlando Diaz-Azcuy arranged a pair of Tiplady Knole sofas from George Smith  (covered in silk) to face each other in front of the fireplace

Pair of pinkie Knoles

The mechanics of the Knole sofa invented in 1610 - the high back made it possible to float it away from a wall, and made it cozy against pesky drafts - The sides went down so one could stretch out for a knap

It's so cool - The whole thing is held together with a rope and tassel

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Scouting A Mid Century Gem

Do you have hundreds of photos just languishing in your camera, or computer (or tablet), or smart phone? Do you have so many that you forgot what you took photos of?

I took these when I was scouting this house. The house is a mid century gem with pretty much all glam furnishings. I did some work for the owner, but she wasn't too keen on having her home published. It's a pity, but at least I have a few scouting shots.

Wallpaper from the 1970's. custom made Chinese rugs with an emerald (2013 color of the year!) border, brass base coffee table, orange couch, and a monumental Chinoiserie lamp on a white and yellow lacquer end table

Campaign style chest with tortoise front drawers and black lacquer casing flanked by a pair of white Chinoiserie arm chairs, with a collection of brass statues from Thailand mounted on the wall, and Murano glass animals on top of the chest

Jonathan Adler would pee his pants - Grass cloth covered gallery wall of pictures made form clock parts

Now these are Foo Dogs! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hazel And Robert Petril

I recently saw a couch I really liked. What's so special about that? Well, I see hundreds of them while looking for just that perfect one for a client. The hardest thing is to find is a couch that combines a stylish modern and traditional silhouette. You can always do a custom piece, but sometimes you just want to get something off the showroom floor.

I think I found the perfect couch designed by Robert Petril. I like it so much that I asked Robert to tell us how the design came about.

Hazel by Robert Petril for Lazar

from Robert..
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"I originally designed this sofa over five years ago. It was part of a huge collection of 30 upholstery designs I had created as the first "Simon Li Collection". A Danish company manufacturing in China that wanted to break into the American furniture business in a big way. There were doing some business with one very large retailer in the U.S. with one or two models."

Modern modular seating designed by Robert Petril

"These models were very commercial three piece sofa/loveseat/chair leather groups. I managed to convince them to take the path of style and create a new brand. I took some of their leather sofas and paired them with cool fabric chairs. I created many of the other designs you can find on my blog by clicking the "Mini Portfolio" tab. The original "Hazel" was one of them, although slightly different. I also designed the leg that's now on it back then as well. It's funny because the inspiration came from a decorative incense burner I had in the center of my Tatami tearoom in Shanghai."

The leg on Hazel inspired by an incense burner

"Well, that first High Point Market, the one BIG customer came in, and saw a completely different company and said, 'what the hell is this?', and walked out! The Danish guys went to the back and spoke Danish for what seemed like an eternity, and I was standing in the middle of the showroom thinking...Uh oh! The collection was very forward for that time, and they forced me to go a bit more commercial for the next market. So, the original 'Hazel' design got overlooked and fell by the wayside.

I always believed in this design and my vision for it. So, from the moment I went freelance back in 2008, I was trying to find a way to get it made. Finally, when Lazar approached me for some new designs, I found the right place and opportunity to make it happen.

Lazar gave it the name 'Hazel', and I got the awesome opportunity to work with Debra Venti the merchandiser and fabric buyer for the company. I send her color boards and briefs on the vision, and she goes out and works her magic and found the perfect covers."

The yummy fabric backed linen - I would upholster Hazel in velvet, in a vibrant, rich color

"In High Point, it was shown covered in a super soft and yummy fabric backed linen, and accessorized with some really fun accent pillow covers. I love the Bird fabric that Debra found."

Robert Petril and Debra Venti at High Point

"I'm proud to say that Hazel was not overlooked at all this past High Point Market. Multiple retailers including some big ones placed orders for it. And, the Lazar sales teams are now chasing down more commitments on it as well. I feel very excited and grateful this design finally found success.

Here are some useful links. I hope this story wasn't too long and boring. For me, it was a long journey, and one I'm proud of. Because I just didn't give up on it."

https://www.facebook.com/debra.venti,   https://www.facebook.com/LazarInd, http://robertpetril.blogspot.com/p/portfolio.html,    http://www.lazarind.com/dealers

from Valorie:

Not only do I love Hazel the sofa, I love Robert the man who designed it. His personal story is very interesting. His father was a very successful salesman in a furniture company, and Robert followed in his footsreps. He too, was very successful at sales and marketing. 

One day Robert asked the principal designer of the Italian furniture company he was working for if he could try out an idea for a sofa. He took it from visualization to production, to actual sales. Robert says (in his fascinating bio) "I've never looked back. I took off my loafers, business suits, and my ties. I rolled up my sleeve to proudly display my tattoo, and began to follow my real dreams. I've been designing ever since."

Robert Petril Designer

So my fellow visual vamps, do follow your dreams...

PS In New Orleans you can order Hazel from Scandinavia Furniture 

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The Geometric Print Couch

We've seen a lot of bold prints on settees and chairs over the years. And more and more we are seeing prints on couches. The geometric print seems to work the best, and a classic smaller scale tight back sofa, like a Camel Back is the perfect shape.

Here's a round up of images to inspire you.  Would you do it? I think it would be a great choice! Prints show dirt and wear and tear less, and they certainly add energy and pizazz. Doing one on a sofa, usually the largest piece of upholstered furniture in the room, makes for a great piece of design real estate.

via House of Turquoise

The before of the sofa in boring brown - I think the ottoman was a good influence -via House of Turquoise

Here's the room again with a great mix of geometric prints - via House of Turquoise

The famous Ruthie Sommers couch from the cover of Domino - this is the geometric that set the standard

Red Greek Key style print sofa - photo by Valorie Hart

Black geometric print on sofa - via Decorpad

Green Ikat style print looks so fresh

Black and cream bold damask print - photo by Valorie Hart, interior design Bruce McNally

My white leather Camel Back is calling me....


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What's Under Your Stairs?

I bet many of you that have a stairway in your house, under utilize the space below it.
But before I get to that, let's look at one of the most charming seating elements: The Banquette.

Banquette at my favorite French restaurant La Grenouille

Who of us has not gone to a restaurant, especially the ladies, and not wanted to claim the banquette? Seated against the wall, with a view of the entire room, you just kind of feel grand. Even the humble booth at the diner, is preferred seating because it's cozy.

Banquette at a restaurant

The space under the stairs just calls out for a banquette. Or you ou could just shove a couch or a jam settee under the stairs.

Couch under the stairs

But it just doesn't make it, does it? A banquette looks much more finished, elegant, and glam.

Tobi Farley

Banquettes have been widely used in many other cultures, in place of couches as we know them in our part of the world. Morocco is a good example. For many of us the optimal floor plan does not involve shoving furniture up against the walls.

Banquette in Morocco

We tend to like to float furniture. However there might be some little corner that a banquette might add a little extra something to the room.

My friend Tim Pope uses this simple banquette in his living room
See more of his fabulous New York apartment HERE

Melissa Rufty, a very talented New Orleans designer HERE, is the master of using the banquette.

Melissa Rufty

Especially when she tucks them under the stairs.

Melissa Rufty holds court under the stairs

Paired with the perfect small tables, she creates a seating area that is useful and popular.
She tells Mimi Read in House Beautiful: "When we have a party, it starts out collecting coats and purses, but it ends up collecting the late-nighters. It's where we hold court."

Melissa Rufty
Do you see the perfect Lucite table?

The banquette used in the odd unused place in the living room is a really smart thing to add.

Arnold Scassi

It offers glam looking additional seating and a great styling opportunity.

Via Chinoiserie Chic

All the old school master decorators used the banquette as a staple. I am so happy see its return. Many of you may already have a banquette in the kitchen dining area, but I think you should consider it for under the stairs, or for that unused corner in your living or family room.

Via Chinoiserie Chic

If you are handy, or have a handy husband, you can custom build one HERE

Or you can use modular furniture. Ballard actually sells some good looking pieces that would be fabulous under the stairs.

Ballard

You also could use a couple of benches in an L-shape and pile on the throw pillows.

Trunks as benches!
Not very elegant
But it could work for young decorators just starting out