A WOOD POST

Posted on 07/15/2010 by Slim Paley

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I’m absolutely stark raving mad about WOOD, particularly old wood, so compiling the images for this post was a labour of love for me. The photo above is of our octagonal porch in Sun Valley. The floors are reclaimed wood, with a stone border running round the perimeter. The walls are “papered” in real birch bark with thin switches of willow where the sheets of bark meet. Finding a tradesperson to do the installation was more difficult than, well, childbirth would only be a slight exaggeration, but where there’s a will there’s a way, right people?! Besides, you forget all about it when it’s over The speakers, electrical outlets and switch plates were all faux painted to disappear. My painter did such a great job but I’m not going to show you because I’ve been told to stop pointing out my “fauxed” stuff to everyone or there’s no point in “faux-ing” it. (Maybe I’ll sneak you a picture later) The fire place is river rock and metal with a very large single beam of old wood for the mantle. The light fixture is antique. One of my carpenters made the little octagonal table for me and the furniture is just indoor/outdoor wicker. In the summertime the windows can be removed and the room becomes a screened porch. I love to sit out here with my tea in the morning, watching the squirrels pick the bark off the railings we paid extra to find with bark, and listen to the river rushing by. Heaven.

Click here for the best “Wood” song ever

Norwegian Wood

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The house during construction. The octagon porch is to the far rear left.

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Squirrel handiwork on the porch in Sun Valley

Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto‘s 172 sq/ ft. bungalow with several different living levels.

“Conversation Unique” by Yvonne Fehling and Jennie Peiz (Gallery S. Bensimon)

DSquared Eau de Toilette for men

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A boy’s bathroom in Sun Valley.

The backsplashes and counter are zinc, vintage trough sink from the U.K. All the wood is reclaimed. The sink fixtures are copper plumbing pipes plated in nickel. (See early S.P. post “Pssst- Wanna Buy a Faucet?” Sept.09, for more S.V. bathroom photos)

Stella McCartney wood cage handbag

How splendid is this?

If I were a chic little Fairy with modern taste I would live in it!

Anyone know what hotel this is in NY?? I lost my credit- perhaps The Crosby St.?

Wood iphone cases at;

Miniot.com

Shoe photo from Italian Vogue

Matteo Thun for Rapsel

Wooden radiators by i.radium.

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A bedroom in Sun Valley.

Steeply pitched roof lines starting low on the bed wall and soaring toward the fireplace on the opposite wall help to create a very cozy haven.

Feu de Bois candle by Diptique

This is one of my favourite scents (burning wood) by Diptique

Rapsel wooden sink

wooden toilet seat cover

Yvette Laduk wool blend rug

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Front Porch in Sun Valley

Alexandre Moronnoz‘s park bench can be added to and twisted at any given point to make legs or armrests

Nasomatto Perfumes

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Wild flowers in an old wooden…thingy- Sun Valley

Choosing Favourites

Posted on 06/14/2010 by Slim Paley

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If absolutely forced to choose a favourite colour combination I would have to go with what I’ve compiled for this post. Rich dark brown, or even black, combined with linen beige, dusty rose, and just a touch of rusty claret or burnt sienna thrown in for good measure (you weren’t expecting just two colours, were you?!) I’ve begun with photos of perhaps my favourite room in our home, the master bath. The mahogany cabinetry and floor are softened by the linen colour of the walls and wardrobe curtains, as well as the dusty rose fabric on the chaise and window seat. What happened to my window seat throw pillows? I’m wondering the same thing myself as I look at this photo (note to self- look for missing pillows)

In summer, creamy linen slipcovers can be thrown over the upholstery to achieve an even lighter feel. A narrow band of ebony around the edge of the floor is my touch of black. The towels are hung on a most unusual antique I found many years ago in Chicago. It’s made of rich dark wood and I would have thought it was used to hang bed linens or table clothes over, but it has hooks running along the lowest rung and a heavy pewter lined base, as if to hold wet boots or umbrellas. In any case, it now makes one fabulous towel rack! The large pedestal sinks are original to the house (c.1895) although not to this room. I raised them to a more comfortable height by adding the ‘globes’ to the legs (the globes are wood and refinished in enamel) and tilted the mirror over the mantle just slightly for more of an old-fashioned look. The fireplace is also original.

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