no. 11: gallery wall

I'm a fan of the gallery wall--when done correctly. The trick is to make sure all the pieces are big enough to fill the space. If it's little things clumped together on a big wall, that rarely works. This room is a gorgeous example of a successful execution.

Via delight by design.

no. 10: velvet couch, check. bookshelves, check.

I am too busy sighing longingly over this room to even identify why I love it so much. And it's not the color-coordinated books, a trend I normally think is silly. This room is stunning!

Via the marion house book.

no. 6

The owners of this couch redid it in navy with white piping to fit in with their modern decor. That's nice, if that's what you're into. Personally, I would have painted the walls a rich purply dark charcoal and thrown some ... why yes ... chartreuse velvet throw pillows in place of the bolsters. A lucite lamp and a gold art deco mirror would set it off beautifully.

no. 5

What is it about velvet furniture (especially tufted, chartreuse or rust-colored velvet furniture) that just makes a room look so amazing?

The books and wallpaper don't hurt, of course.

(Via apartmenttherapy.)

no. 4

Look at how perfectly this room is designed. The velvet chair's mustard echoed in the pillow; the cognac leather chair complementing the file cabinet by the fireplace; the black leather ottoman picking up both the wall and the texture of the cognac leather chair; all the colors mingling in the rug and the plaid pillow, which have patterns that clash just enough; the modern lamp and square mirrors playing against the more elegant, old-fashioned central mirror and candles. Really, really lovely.
(I don't recall where this photo is from; please let me know if you know the source!)

no. 1

Vanessa Bruno's Paris apartment is (was) one of my all-time favorite domino spreads. I love the careless yet careful selection of art adorning the shelf along one wall. 

I also loved that jar of white candles. I had a box of ivory beeswax candles collecting dust in a box. I unwrapped them and stuck them in an unused glass vase. With some black ribbon looped around the neck of the vase, it's a minimal but luxurious addition to my mantel. And the candles are there for grabbing in a dinner party or power outage.