dyadcom, Author at Elizabeth Pash

Manhattan Pied a Terre

July 31, 2017

This little jewel of an apartment was a pleasure to decorate. The clients are a lovely couple from Houston who live part time in New York City. This duplex penthouse is on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and includes two bedrooms, two baths and three terraces. A real luxury in New York! As the apartment is a rental, the clients didn’t want to invest in a lot of elaborate painting and wallpaper. We had roughly six weeks (during the holidays, no less!) to get the apartment ready, so my Los Angeles-based design partner Missy Calvert and I got to work! The space was freshly painted in a cream color. In the interest of keeping things simple and cost effective, we opted to design around this neutral backdrop. Our client’s late father was a prolific artist, and his collection dictated the color scheme in the public rooms–deep golds, oranges, black and white. We included a mix of reproductions and carefully selected antique pieces with vintage lighting and accessories. Given that the clients hail from Texas, we also made sure to add a bit of Texas vibe to the decor.

The living and dining rooms are actually one big room, so we divided the space with the furniture layout into a dining area and a sitting area. The antelope rug adds a bit of fun, and works well with the colors and other elements of the rooms. The dining chairs are from Restoration Hardware–an excellent price point, as well as being quite sturdy and comfortable. The dining table is a reproduction and the chandelier is gilt metal with crystal from France, ca. 1940s.

In the front entry, we used a William IV mahogany cabinet from our shop. The entry is small and not very wide, so this piece was the perfect size. It serves a useful purpose and looks lovely with a silver tray, the French 19th century mirror and Murano glass lamp.

This side table in the Living Room is from our collection, a neoclassical style Italian round table with a Greek key motif on the apron and leather top. With all the rectilinear pieces in the living room, the round table adds a softening touch. The framed intaglios add a bit of interest on either side of the sofa without competing with the main painting.

This chrome and brass mid-century Jansen style etagere from our collection adds a bit of visual interest to a small alcove and is a great place to display books, accessories and family photos.

We wanted to soften the space underneath the stairwell, and so added this vintage bench, upholstered in a striking mango velvet from Designers Guild. The planters add a welcome touch of green.

A cowhide rug lends a bit of Texas to this Guest Room!

We wanted to create a restful Master Bedroom, in soft blues and creams, as an oasis from the hectic pace of New York. The bed is from Eloquence, lamps from Circa Lighting. The chaise is from the Kristin Drohan Collection, and the mirrors from Ballard Designs.

This vintage brass bar cart from our shop was the perfect addition! We found a pair of low French chairs in a flea market–great detail and perfect scale for this space. We covered them in a beautiful Cowtan and Tout velvet with a Samuel & Sons orange leather piping.

The outdoor terrace is such a bonus in New York–outdoor space is a real luxury! We carried the orange color palette outdoors since the terrace is visible from the apartment–a nice complement to the gray upholstery. Teak furniture from Kingsley Bate; pillow fabric from Thibaut’s indoor/outdoor collection.

The apartment is a perfect “home away from home” for this couple and their family and friends. We loved working together and I wish them much happiness in New York.

Legends of La Cienega

May 30, 2017

While waiting with a growing sense of desperation for spring to arrive on the East Coast, I escaped for a whirlwind few days in Los Angeles to participate in “Legends of La Cienega,” a three-day celebration of the city’s design talent and resources. Now in its ninth year, “Legends” is organized by the many shops and showrooms clustered on La Cienega Boulevard in an area known as La Cienega Design Quarter (or LCDQ) in West Hollywood. With the support of many sponsors, including 1stdibs and the Hearst Design Group, Legends included a wide range of fascinating panel discussions, tours of the finest of LA’s extraordinary range of design houses, along with lively receptions and cocktail parties. There was something for everyone! The week kicked off with a gala cocktail reception at Fig and Olive, one of my favorite eateries. It was nice to see friends and colleagues and meet some California-based members of our design community.

At the Fig and Olive reception with LA designer Missy Calvert and NY designer Kati Curtis

Day two had us off and running. The jam-packed schedule left us exhausted but exhilarated. Most of the day was spent visiting design shops and showrooms — some of my favorites include:

Hollyhock—owned by designer Suzanne Rheinstein, this beautiful shop features a wonderfully curated collection of quality antiques, lighting and accessories as well as Suzanne’s custom line of upholstery, furniture and lighting. Behind the shop is a lovely garden space for special events.

Harbinger—one of my favorite showrooms in the country! An outstanding collection of wallpaper, furniture, lighting, carpets and decorative arts including some of my favorite lines—Amanda Nisbet, Moore & Giles, Coleen and Company, and Sister Parish.

A beautiful vignette in the Harbinger showroom

Hollywood at Home — an exceptional and wide-ranging collection of textiles, furniture, accessories and lighting. Everything to create a chic and comfortable home.

I love the combination of pattern and textiles in this bedroom design by Hollywood at Home

Jasper—This chic showroom offers a stunning array of furniture, fabrics and accessories. I fell in love with this gorgeous floral and need to find a way to use it!

Exploring Jasper textiles with my west coast design partner Missy Calvert

The Windows of La Cienega — One of the wonderful traditions of this design celebration are all the shop windows, each styled by a different designer. Seeing each designer’s use of color, texture and staging inspired us all! Some of my favorites are shown below.

The window at Downtown designed by Angel Sanchez and Christopher Coleman. I am always a sucker for a bit of femininity!

The window at Hollyhock by Meredith Ellis—This “Explorer’s Journal” was a wonderful celebration of the colors, textures and materials from around the world.

There were also plenty of opportunities to learn from some of the true legends in our field. Each day featured a series of panel discussions with an extraordinary array of design talent. Some of the highlights included:

The Power of Paint: Achieving your Vision with a Stroke of the Brush, led by Veranda Editor in Chief Clint Smith, with panelists Alexa Hampton, Alessandra Branca and Ellen O’Neill, creative director at Benjamin Moore paints. Everyone agreed that, with paint, one can get the most bang for the buck and really transform the feeling of a space. And the beauty of it is that it is easily fixed if you don’t like it!
Demons and Disasters in Design, led by LA designer Madeline Stuart with panelists Nate Berkus, Philip Gorrivan and William Peace. A lively and humorous discussion. There is some comfort in knowing that everyone has made a few mistakes on the road to success. The important take away is to admit your mistakes (and fix them to your client’s satisfaction), learn from them, and then move on.
Standing Proud: Preserving Architectural Heritage in LA, led by Luxe Editor in Chief Pamela Jaccarino with panelists Brett Parsons, Jaime Rummerfield and Tim Barber. As a New Yorker, it is always fascinating to learn about other cities and I enjoyed learning about the active movement to preserve LA’s many architectural and historical treasures.
Say it Loud: Bold and Bright, led by House Beautiful Editor in Chief Sophie Donelson with panelists Anne Hepher, Nick Olsen and Ron Woodson. A lively, funny and inspiring exploration of the creative process and dialogue with clients when selecting color palettes.

As always, I love my visits to LA, seeing friends and colleagues and meeting new ones. Although travel takes time away from our day to day work and responsibilities, going away and experiencing another place is always a source of inspiration. Legends of La Cienega also allowed me to meet some people whose work I have admired, such as Marisa Marcantonio, the founder of Stylebeat, a must-read blog for anyone interested in the latest trends and emerging talent in the design world.

With Marisa Marcantonio of Stylebeat blog

Being surrounded by sun, towering palms, and the stunning jacaranda trees that line the streets of LA this time of year made me yearn for spring to finally arrive at home. The picture below is definitely not something we see in New York! Until next time, LA!

Paris Delivery Day

May 12, 2017

At my 1st Dibs showroom in the New York Design Center at 200 Lexington Avenue

I travel to France once or twice a year to search for treasures for my shop. The day the shipment finally arrives in the showroom is full of joy and activity. Not only have these pieces existed for many years (if not centuries!), they have made the journey from the dusty flea markets in Paris, across the ocean and into our space. I am happy to keep them and enjoy them until they are off again to their new homes.

My team and I painstakingly unpack and inspect each item, then evaluate where to place them among existing pieces in the showroom. We measure, debate, lift, shift, huff and puff until the work is done and the treasures are nestled beautifully in the space.

Some of our finds:

This Louis XVI style painted and parcel gilt four-paneled screen is absolutely gorgeous. Screens add a bit of dimension to a room, especially one that doesn’t have a lot of architectural detail. They can also serve as room dividers. This one can add a bit of glamour to a space without being too fussy.

Sunburst mirrors – I will never tire of these. Sometimes one adds just the right finishing touch.

Murano glass lamps–I love sitting these works of art atop a very traditional chest or table. The juxtaposition makes both pieces shine!

Large plaster neoclassical panels–these caught my eye and I think they would be fabulous in any setting, particularly in a contemporary setting.

Coffee tables–the Willy Daro table with the sculptural metal base is a work of art that also serves a practical purpose.

Louis XVI dining chairs are classic–I love their clean lines and quiet elegance. These will look even better once I gave them a bit of a facelift by pairing them with fresh, contemporary fabric.

Paris delivery day is truly a special day for me. But even more exciting is knowing that each of these special pieces will soon find a beautiful home where they can shine and bring joy to others. Until my next trip to Paris!