House Elite Decoration

On a post from a few weeks ago, I asked whether any of my readers knew more about the house that contains the Victoria Hagan designed kitchen.  Sure enough, one of my readers knew the architect (Oscar Shamamian)…and after a few simple google searches, I discovered that this kitchen that has been featured so many times on my blog was actually part of a feature from Architectural Digest, October 2005. It came as no surprise to learn that the house is in Nantucket – the clean crisp style of the kitchen, with its overall casual vibe, seems so appropriate for Nantucket. A picture of the house from the architect’s website.  The AD article says that this house was designed to be about family and Nantucket and the goal with both the architecture and the decor was to be understated, elegant but informal.  The architectural firm that designed the house is Ferguson & Shamamian, who are known for their “rigorous Neoclassicism”.  The house is described as a “shingle style structure, with gambrel roofs”. (Source) The AD article chose this view of the front facade of the house, which gives a good perspective on the front wings of the house.  I have seen quite a few new homes in Atlanta recently that have two front wings, making a courtyard, but the homes I have seen typically have a motor court in the front and the wings house garages on either side. The rear of this house features magnificent views of the harbor. There is also a pool, which I assume is tucked to the side. This is an iconic Victoria Hagan picture, and is a beautiful representation of her style.   I had no idea that it came from the same house as ‘the kitchen’! The other side of the room – interesting that this room was published in 2005 (so probably was decorated a few years before that), and we see a similar light fixture to what Restoration Hardware has recently started offering…5 years later. Another view of the room.   I have a fondness for view that extend through multiple rooms. These doors aren’t perfectly lined up, but they give a good feel for the expanse of the house. Image via Ferguson & Shamaian. One of the bedrooms, this one so perfectly coastal New England with the shiplap siding on the walls,  blue and white color scheme, and the starfish as a design element on the wall shelf. Image via Ferguson & Shamaian.

Another bedroom in the house, also decorated in calm and neutral grays and whites.  Note the lights on the ceiling, a charming alternative to can lights.  Image via Ferguson & Shamaian.

This vignette is wonderful – a dressing room with a closet attached, and full length mirrors flanking the door.  I love the dressers that are positioned under the window, and would love to see the rest of the room given that I have been researching closet configurations. A small study. A charming landing whose roofline conforms to the shape of the dormers.  I am fascinated by all of the paneling in this house, which normally I associate with a formal style of architecture, and yet is seems tailored but not overly formal in this setting.  The dining room has the same tailored and crisp feel – the paneled walls are used here too, but the overall feel of the room is not formal. I am a big fan of a well designed bathroom, and this one is quite beautiful.  It is clean and spare, airy and spacious.  I am intrigued by the cabinets built into the wall on either side of the tub.  Image via Architectural Digest.  Victoria Hagan has a much anticipated book coming out on October 12, titled Interior Portraits.  It is the first book to capture her design history, and I am looking forward to seeing more of her work.  To pre-order the book, click here. To visit my store, Quatrefoil Design, click here. To subscribe to my blog by email, click here. To follow my blog on Facebook, click here. To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store.

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