Amitha Verma Interior Design

The counter set the tone for the rest of the décor. I designed a palette of rich golds and pale creamy tones to complement the red, and had a custom Louis XV-inspired cabinet made especially for the room. The hardware was so much fun to select – we were like kids in a candy store! Eventually we settled on this beautiful mismatched antique brass hardware with a natural patina.

Amitha Verma Interior Design

We decided to wainscot the wall to get in a little more stonework and used this amazing border from Walker Zanger with our vulcan red onyx tones and deep gray coloring. It was so decadent, it really fit in with our overall look. On the walls we worked with Segreto Finishes to apply venetian plaster, and this ever-so-slight motif was sprinkled on top of the plaster. Finally, I picked a really subtle Rose Tarlow print for the small window covering, something that would blend in rather than detract from the dramatic red. And here’s the finished effect!

Amitha Verma Interior Design

Perhaps one of the most famous examples of Empire style today is the much-photographed Red Room at the White House, with its bold color palette, elaborate gilt chandelier and medallion embossed silk sofa.

(Source: East Wing Rules)

It’s definitely not a style for the faint-hearted! The colors and motifs of Empire-style décor were inspired by Egyptian tombs – deep red, cool azure, rich green and acid yellow, with sphinxes, lions, lotus blossoms, eagles, rosettes and animal-paw feet. Draperies were always heavy and luxurious, wood was typically expensive (rosewood, mahogany and ebony) and gilt and brass ornamentation was everywhere. I found some great examples of this kind of décor in these pictures of Vizcaya, the former estate of businessman James Deering in Miami. Don’t miss the highly decorated walls, the use of gold, and the fabulous tented ceiling in the bathroom – such luxury!

(Source: Architect Design)

I love the opulence of old-style Empire décor, but it doesn’t always sit well with my preference for calming, cool interiors. I prefer rooms that combine the grandeur of this style with a softer color palette for a look that is elegant but not overpowering. But if you really want to make a statement deep, rich saturated colors with Empire style pieces will definitely make a bold design statement!

(Source: Decorati)

I love to  incorporate these highly stylized elements of a particular style or era into a space like a foyer, where they can stand independently and still make an impact. I’m really liking the effect of this Empire-style marble-topped console against a rich gold patterned wallpaper. With the pale wood floors and classic chairs, upholstered in an elegant gold and ivory stripe, the overall look is reminiscent of the Empire style but perfect for a contemporary home.

(Source: Elle Decor)

What do you think? Is the Empire style something you could incorporate into your own home, or is a style like this better left to the palaces and stately homes where it originated?

The palette this time is inspired by shades of green and blue, very elegant and with a kind of sophisticated grandeur. The custom sofa (7) is being made in a beautiful soft grey-green linen fabric, and I’ve picked a charming Lee Jofa print for accessory pillows. No loud colors and way-out prints for this client – the idea is understated glamor, all the way…

The classic Louis XVI bergere chair (3) is one of my favorite frames; I love the carving, and the grace of its curvy but upright shape. This is a piece we can customize, so we will customize the finish on the frame to a rich green painted finish. It will look so rich with this large scale floral print and bring out the colors in this lovely fabric.

For the tables, we’re working with a mix of traditional rectangle (4) and round (6) shapes so that the room is not all hard edges. Given the soft curves of both the sofa and the bergere, I think the gently concave legs of the side table complement them perfectly.

We included a classic gourd lamp for the side table- I just love the shapes in this lamp (5) but you can see my love for gold coming through on this project too!  I just adore the regal look of this beautiful chandelier (2) and the look is echoed in the accessories too (1). Like I always say, you can’t beat gold for adding a touch of luxury!

Bold and luxurious and almost indecently decadent, gold has a real wow factor to it when used in interiors. We’re not talking tacky glittery gold here, but gorgeous textured gold surfaces, dull gold finishes, and soft gold prints. It’s just a little bit showy but still oh-so-elegant…

(Source: Eclectic Revisited)

The foyer above is an extreme example of the use of gold, but I still love how the textured gold walls look, especially with the mirrored console. Such richness and depth! For my Houston interior design clients though, I tend to create more subtle gold tones, like in this kitchen I worked on last year. The stone in the kitchen backsplash had a lovely gold hue. See how the overall look is very ‘gold’ though the surfaces are mostly a warm cream color, and the extra glow is created with clever lighting?

Amitha Verma Designs

The wonderful thing about gold is how luxurious it looks. I adore using gold in the bedroom, for a truly ‘Parisian boudoir’ feel. Wouldn’t this bed heaped with gold cushions just make any girl feel like a queen?

(Source: French Interiors)

I often find that a subtly decorated space is instantly glamorized by the addition of touches of gold. This powder room I designed for a client was mostly decorated in shades of gray and blue, but the addition of a gold carved antique mirror really added a touch of style, I felt. I really love how the gold is echoed in the sheeny scrollwork of the faux finish on the walls too, and in the accents of the moldings on the vanity!

Amitha Verma Designs

In fact, gold mirrors and gold chandeliers are perfect accessories for just about any space – brightening up a foyer, finishing off a formal drawing room, even adding a touch of decadence to a bathroom. What do you think?

(Source: Veranda)

Every time I come to choosing the lights for a particular project, I’m drawn to this design house. Whether the look is contemporary chic, classic minimalism, or traditional and ornate, I always find something here that appeals to my design sensibilities.

Recently I was on the lookout for a simple pendant light and I came across this gorgeously elegant scallop pendant designed by Barbara Barry for Visual Comfort.

(Source: Circa Lighting)

I just adore the grace and simplicity of something like this, which works in any environment – the sign of good design. How perfect it looks as part of this all-white interior, set against a dark wood floor. I love how the curves of the lightshade echo the Baroque-inspired mirror frame!

(Source: Trove Interiors)

You can understand how versatile this piece is if you see it in bathroom setting. Combined with the French doors and old-fashioned taps, it helps create a real sense of luxury and style.

(Source: Trove Interiors)

One of my other favorites is this stunning regency chandelier, created by designer Joe Nye.

(Source: Circa Lighting)

You can’t beat a chandelier for adding a genuine touch of grandeur to a room. I’m loving the effect of this gorgeous chandelier in a dining room that just oozes neoclassical charm. It’s actually from the home of Visual Comfort founder Andy Singer!

(Source: House Beautiful)

You can go as ornate and grand as you like with a chandelier. This decor, which was styled by Suzanna Kasler (another member of the Visual Comfort team) is a great example of how a room can marry traditional and modern elements to create an aesthetically pleasing as well as a comfortable and ‘livable’ space. We were able to use this elegant chandelier in one of our interior design projects, which will be featured soon!

(Source: Home and Interior Design)

The highly decorative chandelier is simply the icing on the cake – or the ‘highlight’, if you like!

The first known chandeliers were created for medieval places of assembly around the 12^th century. Their construction was that of a wooden cross with candles attached to the top of each of the four arms. They were then rigged with rope from a hook in the ceiling and over to be secured on the wall. Perhaps they were very primitive and very basic, but a good beginning nonetheless.

So you’re flipping through your design magazines, or even the latest Restoration Hardware catalog, and might have come across some of these wooden chandeliers. Do you wonder, are these new or modern, what inspired these designs? Who new, these chandeliers have their roots from early 12^th century designs!

Oly Isa Wood Chandelier, Available through Interior Designers

Restoration Hardware Chandelier

Restoration Hardware Chandelier

In the 15^th century came a more complex design based on a ring or crown with multiple candles secured around it. These new and improved fixtures became popular decorative items in the main rooms of houses and palaces of clergy, merchant class and nobility.  These extremely expensive fixtures were a sign of status and wealth. These are still very popular chandeliers even today, and many lighting designers incorporate these 15^th century designs into modern day fixtures.

Beatrice Chandelier

This is a gorgeous crown inspired chandelier designed by Julie Neill Designs.

Carol’s Crown St. Chandelier

Clearly inspired by the crown design concept by Julie Neill Designs.

I find it so fascinating no matter how inventive we are in our designs, and products there is always a trace of the past to be found!

In one of my favorites, there was an article featuring a couple’s residence on the famed Left Bank neighborhood of Saint-Germain in Paris. I recently had the pleasure of visiting this elegant neighborhood back in December. One of the people I work with invited us to her flat , a classic 18^th century residence, true to the classic French Louis XV, XVI and Neoclassic inspired style.  It was such a treat to see a classic French flat.

Look at this magnificent foyer! What an exquisite entrance. Designed by Henri Samuel and Susan Gutfreund, this is grand foyer is such a classic Parisian 18th century inspired entrance.

Veranda Jan/Feb 2011

I love the classic limestone flooring. This combination of light and dark stonework on the flooring is so timeless. I could never tire of this design. When designing our interiors we tend to use classic stones and materials that will last the test of time.  Limestone from France has this rich coloring and texture, and is often reclaimed from old flooring. Talk about recycling! I am such a fan of a lantern instead of a chandelier in a foyer. Less is so much more! Look at the gorgeous window in the staircase, reminiscent of an oeil-de-bouef, and those moldings!

More to come, as I enjoy the rest of this article.

Veranda’s coverage of the 1920s Greystone estate design showcase in Beverly Hills included the design projects of 28 of the country’s top designers. One design clearly stood out on the merits of its over-the-top luxury guest room. From these images you can see that paying close attention to every detail, when designing a guest room, can lead to very decadent results.

Veranda (via)

You might not think twin beds perfect for a guestroom, but as you can see here they don’t have to get lost in the room due to their small size. This is a great way to maximize sleeping arrangements for one room. Volumize your bedding with an assortment of plush details like a pillow top mattress, feather bed, 1000+ thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, and a mixture of pillows in differing thicknesses to offer guests their perfect match. Add an elegant duvet cover with a thick and plush down comforter buttoned snugly inside.

Add a bench at the foot of the bed as this designer did or a couple of chairs. Make sure the lighting is controlled through a dimmer for the optimal lighting preferences of your guests. Here the dangling globes above each bed offer plenty of light for reading or needlework, so a lamp on the bedside table isn’t necessary. Guests get maximum privacy with roman shades and a glowing view to the outdoors during the day with sheer blinds.

Veranda (via)

Providing a small area for writing or working will make for very appreciative guests. Many of us now carry our laptops with us when we travel, so having a beautifully appointed area for this purpose is a treat. I love to include secretaries as a “nightstand” with a side chair so guests can easily work while visiting. In a setup such as this, guests can also use this area as a vanity area with the simple addition of a beautifully appointed mirror!

I love to make the powder room in the homes I design a focal point where the personal style of the homeowner shines through along with the use of one of a kind treasures. The idea for the pretty powder room shown here evolved over the many months of the project, as I got to know the client. Starting out with only a shell, and a box built out for the vanity, we collectively gave the powder bath time to evolve into what it would eventually become, a focal point of concentrated beauty. Every detail was considered to give this room a unique design.

Not wanting plain straight panel doors, I started out by designing the powder doors with the lovely curves and moldings you see here. They are French-inspired from around the Louis XV period, when designs were very curvy and organic, slightly reminiscent of the Rococo style.

The tile in the backslash is hand painted with a blue and green motif in the design, which I added for a little bit of decoration behind the sink and to add an additional layer of color with the countertops and wall finish.

The antique mirror was my favorite find! I always look, hunt and dig for the right pieces to put in my powder bath designs, and found this incredible antique French frame. It was so tattered; I wasn’t sure the frame could even hold the mirror, but full of hope, I took it my local frame shop and they fixed it all up, secured the frame and put the mirror in for me. The patina of the mirror’s frame is reminiscent of the green in the walls and once hung is absolutely gorgeous.

Last, but not least, we considered the floors and the ceilings. We added a small border of mosaic stone around the bathroom, and included small 2” x 2” inserts with the same painted tile. In the ceiling, we used a little chandelier. At one point, we were considering changing the red crystals to another color, but once it was all done it was the perfect bit of contrast. There’s that old design adage that every project should have a touch of red! We also did a beautiful hand painted design on the walls, exaggerated the pattern and it made the powder, which initially felt small, feel really open and airy.

Decorative faux finish available through interior designers. In Houston, contact Amitha Verma Interior Designs.