What I Love about Nick Olsen's Spread in Veranda

Were you as captivated as I was by Nick Olsen's work in the latest issue of Veranda?  There's something about his aesthetic  that's complex, and yet, so effortless.  Nick has a voice and he's not afraid to see his vision through. 


 The setting  is a Pre-War Beaux Arts building in New York City, which doesn't hurt things, since there were (most likely)  abundant architectural details already in place. Olsen masterfully updated the space with fresh colors, an engaging mix of styles, and a smattering of the unexpected.  


What I love most about the design is that it's rooted in traditional design. There are antiques, silk taffeta curtains, velvet sofas, bullion fringe, canopy beds (although freshened up with white paint), Persian rugs and floral (deGournay) wallpaper.   Olsen layered in some modern elements as well,  but it didn't feel trendy or overplayed, as in chesterfield/barcelona/chevron/ikat/suzani/geometric - rinse and repeat.  (And please don't misunderstand, the aforementioned design elements are lovely and I don't  hesitate to use any of them myself,  I just don't think they're a requirement for every space.)

Source: quintessenceblog.com via D on Pinterest

I also love that it''s "pretty" .There's color!  There's pattern! There's trim! There are flowers! 

Source: quintessenceblog.com via D on Pinterest

Oh, and one last/important  thing .  The apartment doesn't feel overly  "coordinated".  Olsen pulled from a wide range of colors, textures and design styles. The curtains don't match the pillows which pick up a color from the rug, etc.etc.  Of course there was an overall color concept  and mood for the space,  but then some of the pieces were chosen intuitively; just because they felt right  in the space, and not because they matched.  This maneuver is tough to pull off, and the results are never middle of the road.  It's either a home run or a swing and a miss .

Source: quintessenceblog.com via Denise on Pinterest

And so (for me), this apartment by Nick Olsen is what great design is all about.  It starts with a base of tried and true classic pieces, layers  in some modern elements to represent where we are today, and tops it all off with a bit of the quirky and unexpected.  It's the art of the carefully chosen mix at its best. 


What did you love (or not love) about it?


Need some help pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be !  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com.

Ruffles!!

Do you think the pendulum is swinging from modern, clean-lined elements back over to the soft and pretty side?  In the most recent issue of House Beautiful, I was/am completely captivated by Nick Olsen's design of this tiny-space New York apartment.

Image sourced from La Lampshade

  Lots of pretty elements were scattered about, like floral fabrics, soft colors, fresh flowers and painted furniture.  But what really caught my eye were those fun curtain panels with the pleated ruffles edged in emerald green!

which brought to mind these curtain panels I flipped for (pun intended :) in Elizabeth Mayhew's  "Flip for Decorating".

Similar pleated ruffles!

and also these I've noticed showing up in Miles Redd's recently published projects.

Image sourced from Matters of Style blog

Image from The Peak of Chic

Image sourced from The Peak of Chic

So there you have it - ruffled curtains are back in a new and sophisticated way!  Do you love them too?

Need some help pulling your style together?  Kim Lemmon at Yessick's Design Center can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call 423.653.3186 for details.