The Mendham Road renovation is continuing along at a rapid pace. The house has already been transformed with the completion of the new roof and fascia details. The new dormer architecture is now even more pronounced and has been a major element in the overall change to the exterior of the house. In the attic, the owners have choosen to remove the original fiberglass insulation in favor of a more energy efficient foam insulation. The addition of passive roof vents also enable the attic area to breathe more efficiently which will reduce summer heat gain onto the second floor of the house.
An equally impressive effort has been put into the interior of the house and carriage house with the renovation of the carriage house sleeping area, the main house Jack-and-Jill bathroom, and a new, beautiful laundry facilty. Both rooms are appointed in head-to-toe subway tile and crisp white cabinetry that will be supporting white carrera marble tops with a honed finish.
The biggest funcitonal change to the house has also started with the removal of two end windows in the music room that will be outfitted with french doors leading out to a new entertaining patio.
After considering simply re-painting the exterior siding white, the homeowners have decided to opt for new shingles that are pre-stained at the factory. The siding will then receive a final coat of white stain once the new siding is installed. This decision was made in consideration of a number of factors. First, there are so many shingles that will have to be replaced becasue of the window work that won’t match up ot the existing shingles in texture or color. Second, the dark brown shingles will need to be painted which incerases the maintenance hassle and expense over the lifetime of the siding. Lastly, the shingle spacing on the main house is 7″ where the same spacing on the carriage house siding is 5.5″. New siding on both structures will reduce maintence costs, have a high degree of continuity across the facade, and present a cleaner, tighter appreance by bringing all spacing down to a more regal 5.5″ reveal.
Things are moving along quickly, so check back soon for Update #3.
The demolition phase of the Mendham Road renovation is about to begin. I have been working with my clients to design and oversee the renovation of an existing residence and carriage house in Mendham, New Jersey. I have been working closely with the homeowners and their architect over the past 18 months to refine the nature and scope of the project. This included scheduling and managing design meetings as well as managing the contractor bid process. M. Frederick will also act as the project manager for the entire renovation period.
The project includes the removal of the existing shingle roofing, addition of new window dormers as well as the replacement of most of the casement windows in the house. Garden pergolas attached to the main house will be used as an architectural accent as well as a means to create a better sense of symmetry for the structure. Interior modifications will be made to bathrooms, the laundry area, and cosmetic changes to the living area. Additionally, the front entry area will be slightly expanded and adapted to be more of a focal point for the house and to accentuate the entry area.
The carriage house will also get similar treatment with the replacement of the existing roof, windows and garage doors.
The residence and carriage house will be finished with a new cedar roofing and the main protions of both buildings will be repainted white. The gardens will be redesigned to enhance the back-field vistas on the property.
Keep checking back over the next few months for updated pictures as the renovation progresses.
I just returned from a trip to Los Angeles and found some really great design inspiration there.
I had a great experience staying at the London Hotel in West Hollywood. The hotel was recently renovated and was appointed with modern trimmings in a very chic, British sort of way.
I enjoyed the use of lacquered brass details throughout the hotel that added a nice touch of warmth to the crisp decor without seeming 80’s. The Waterworks bathrooms were clad in crisp white mosaic tiles and marble surfaces.
The ensuite area was divided by an integrated headboard partition and the suite was completed by the comtemporary lounging sofa perfectly positioned to appreciate the LA skyline. The Gordan Ramsey breakfast buffet was the perfect way to start each morning and was perfectly presented and complete with a wide selection of local, fresh fruits, cereals, and breads.
The La Cieniga area of LA is home to some of the best design resources in the country and is home to the leading design showrooms as well as design studios of some of the nations leading designers. Elle Decor was the presenting sponsor for the event this year which featured two days of design-oriented events and showcases. Many of the leading showroom display windows were decorated by leading local interior and Hollywood movie set designers and were inspired by movie themes.
My favorites were the James Bond inspired windows at Mecox Gardens and the Dr. Zhivago inspired set-up at George Smith Furniture. Caitlin and I enjoyed meeting Mary Ellen Winslow, Matthew Talomie, and Margaret Russell from Elle Decor at the new Farrow and Ball showroom. The event showcased the new Jo Malone candles inspired by select Farrow & Ball paint colors. The scented candles were as inspired as the colors they were crafted to reflect.
I also had some time to do some exploring and found some great new decorative accessories for the store that will be available later this summer. Among my finds are an amazing collection of Ethiopian crosses, some beautiful boxes from Morocco, and an oversized low asian coffee table in a scale that I have never seen. Check out the website and our store over the next few weeks to see these items.
When Caitlin and I attended the Elle Decor/Christie’s Young Collectors event at the auction house’s Rockefeller center location in Manhattan earlier this winter, among the many intriguing furnishings on offer was this stunning vintage settee. As with other great vintage designs, I saw in this settee various classic elements of the sort that provide the best inspiration for a transitional design aesthetic. Luckily, when it was the settee’s turn on the auction block, our bid won out. The settee is now in my design studio, catching the eye of everyone who comes in and prompting lots of admiring inquiries about its origins and construction.
The settee is upholstered in a perfectly tan linen velvet that time has delicately and charmingly worn along edge of the seat cushion, where lighter threads of a soft gold show through. The bolster and throw pillows are in a pale blue and gold Fortuny print.
I did a little research and was disappointed to find Fortuny discontinued that print, which unfortunately doesn’t provide a valuable clue as to vintage of the piece. If I decide to recover it myself, when I remove the existing fabric I would expect to find more intriguing clues underneath.
One of the elements of the settee’s construction that I take as inspiration for Transitional design is that despite its luxuriously deep seat, the settee is framed with a remarkably slender back and arms. Like my favorite Transitional seating, this allows for an uncommonly deep and comfortable seat while claiming a relatively modest footprint in the room. I intend to work that aspect of design into more of the seating in the M. Frederick line over the coming year. Aptly dubbed the Christie Settee, the modified design will appear in my 2010 furniture line.
Maybe it’s because it’s only 45 minutes outside of New York City. Or maybe there’s something in the water supply of Gladstone, New Jersey. Either way, it seems there’s a run on chic new establishments in this small town.
Sir Richard Branson (of Virgin Airline fame) is opening a luxury resort here this fall. An better yet for those who need instant gratification is M. Frederick – a design studio and home furnishings shop opened by interior designer Matthew Root.
Offering shoppers custom furniture, accessories, and interior design services, M. Frederick might be located on Main Street USA, but it’s as chic as any big city establishment. “Our design team offers complete turnkey services so that clients can be as involved as they want to be,” says Matthew. “Clients come in wanting anything from a polished silver lamp to a completely redecorated home.”
Matthew’s current favorites include vintage hotel silver from the Savoy in London, a large hand-sculpted Buddha from Thailand, and La Boca oil paintings from a recent trip to Buenos Aires. Global shopping in Gladstone? Who knew? Other than Sir Richard, of course.”
– Jenny Bradley, Traditional Home – November 2009
