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[Re]defining Beauty
I made a long overdue trip to the nail salon this weekend for a mani/pedi. And while scanning the assortment of possible nail colors from which to choose, I stumbled upon a stunning shade of peacock blue. It’s one of my favorite colors in general – rich, complex, almost regal – so the thought of it on my fingertips was titillating. Sure enough, I love it. Not only do I think the shade of blue is absolutely stunning, but in a strange way, I think it complements my skin tone. It’s funny then that some of the conservative loved ones in my life don’t share my enthusiasm. Don’t they see what I see? What’s not to like? Some people think pretty is synonymous with conventional. But I think some of the prettiest things are those that are actually unconventional. I’m not talking about anything bizarre or distasteful. I mean looking beyond labels and stereotypes and thinking about what makes something beautiful … the confidence with which a man carries himself, the complex ideas behind an abstract painting, the texture of an unusual plant. Of course, what’s stunning will always catch our eye, but sometimes beauty and substance wear an unexpected guise.
My peacock blue manicure.
A study for “Woman Pulling Up Her Stocking” and “Salon in the Rue Des Moulins”.
Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec found inspiration in bars and brothels. Unseemly venues perhaps, but the artist found warmth and vivid color in these unlikely spectacles.
Felicity Brown’s 2010 collection was inspired by Toulouse-Lautrec’s work.
Tilda Swinton is a chameleon on and off-screen. She can look ethereal, severe or aristocratic.
Some people don’t like modern art or furniture. It’s hard to understand with gorgeous, sculptural shapes likes these.
Who needs gold or diamonds? Dahlia Kloss’ necklace is a showstopper without precious metals or stones.
Although two of the world’s deadliest snakes, the Rosy Boa and Malayan Coral Snake are also two of the most beautiful.
John Hawkes, Mick Jagger & Adrian Brody.
The talent and swagger of these men makes their unconventional looks incredibly sexy.
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Chez Huntley – update 11/13
I am happy to write that the public spaces of chez Huntley are more or less complete. Hallelujah! And while I would love to give my readers a comprehensive 360 degree tour … it aint’ gonna happen. Apparently divulging too much about a project on one’s blog limits its exposure elsewhere, so I’ve learned. When did design get so complicated?! So alas another sneak peek will have to suffice. Hopefully the pix are enough of a fix – enjoy!
— Chez Huntley Interior Details —
My home reflects my own personal vibe. I love drama and a bit of sparkle, but I need natural elements to ground the glitz. For me, a humble sense of glamour is what makes a home (and life) truly elegant.
Tricia xo
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Chez Huntley – update 11/07
There has been a lot of activity at chez Huntley since my last update. I gave myself a Thanksgiving deadline for the public spaces, so once the calendar read October I had to get my a– in gear. I actually like the pressure of a deadline. It gives you clarity and forces you to be decisive. And as I’ve mentioned before, that doesn’t come naturally when one is both the client and the designer. There is still quite a bit of work to be done, but the next few weeks will be full of exciting developments. For now, enjoy a sneak peek (emphasis on peek) at some of the details installed thus far.
Tricia xoxo
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DCNY
I had a busy week. Meetings, travel, design events, etc. A jam-packed schedule isn’t necessarily enjoyable mid-stream, but I always love the results. I meet new people, see interesting things, get inspired, and in general, shake things up a bit. Between DC and New York, I stumbled upon some fabulous finds this past week. Whether it was design or fashion, food or art, it seemed that new and exciting things were available and in abundance. Of course there is never enough time to take it all in. It’s a good thing I am able to document it all with my trusty iphone and enjoy the fruits of my labor long after my work and the week is done.
– SOURCING RUGS & TEXTILES –
I love beautiful textiles and rugs. Especially when they are assembled together in a stunning collection. Subtle, graphic, textural or glamorous – it doesn’t really matter to me. Gorgeous is gorgeous regardless of content or genre.
– WINDOW SHOPPING –
Fall is always a delicious time for fashion. Even if you can’t purchase everything you see behind the glass, you can certainly draw inspiration from the displays and create new, eclectic ensembles within your existing wardrobe. I personally am all over this season’s bold colors, layers, baggie pants and fur jackets.
– SCOUTING FOR VINTAGE FURNISHINGS –
You can troll all day on the internet, but there is nothing like seeing the real thing. I can’t get enough of unique yet elegant, statement-making furniture. Unfortunately, I need another chair like I need a hole in the head. It was hard to resist these stellar vintage finds.
– DROPPING BY AN ARTIST’S STUDIO –
I’m a big fan of Julie Wolfe’s work. So to see her paintings and jewelry in-residence was quite a treat. Plus Julie is such a cool chic – interesting, laidback and irreverent. The evening was hosted by George Hemphill and marked by contemporary artwork, incredible jewelry, wine and a “deconstructed food installation”. Loved it.
– BELLYING UP TO THE BAR –
It wasn’t my last stop this weekend, but it was definitely one of the more photogenic. Ted’s Bulletin is a throwback to yesteryear with the style and ambiance to match. If dining, I would stick to the burgers and shakes. If you’re there for a cocktail, order a Jessie Clark. Besides the delicious concoction of chamomile-infused scotch, orange marmalade and chocolate bitters, the drink is served with a perfectly round ice cube produced in seconds by The Macallan ice ball machine. An entertaining and purposeful gadget whether you’re a scotch aficionado or not.
Tricia xo
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Mother Nature, The Original Muse
I created the inspiration board below for a client this week. The concept of “bespoke-modern-organic” is specific to this particular project, but it’s also an underlying theme I try to channel in my work. I often find that design is at its best when it is inspired by something true and natural. And I don’t mean conservative. Mother nature is not exactly bourgeoisie; she rocks some pretty crazy stuff. She informs some of the most interesting, avant garde art and design. She’s the perfect muse.
Samples of stone slabs and my Christmas wrapping from last year.
The “bloom” of the coolest plant ever, Asclepias (aka Monkey Balls). A pillow in the new Kelly Wearstler fashion boutique at Bergdorf’s.
The underside of a mushroom being prepped for dinner. Several pleating options from a favorite textile manufacturer in the DC Donghia showroom.
The ribcage of a dinosaur skeleton at the Museum of Natural History. A sculpture at Darrell Dean in Georgetown.
A beautiful shell I found on the beach in Chappaquiddick last summer. House of Lavande’s Seashell Cuff.
The incredible artist, Julie Wolfe, took this photo in the Amazon rainforest while traveling via the Art in Embassies program. My chic, French friend Sophie wears this delicate, yet modern bracelet with flair.
The simple beauty of a bird’s nest finds its way to a handcrafted gold ring.
Thanks ma’ for all the goodies!
Tricia xo
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Scenes from a Vacation – Part II (finally!)
As mentioned in my last post, I added an extra day to my northern California vacation so I could spend some time in San Francisco before heading back east. I hadn’t been to the bay area in years and had honestly forgotten what all the fuss was about. But I figured why not make a pit stop in an old stomping ground and segue a bit more gently back into life in DC. I was more than taken with the heavenly weather (68 degrees in August) and the lively urban atmosphere – crowded cafes, locals out walking their dogs and great shopping – in Pacific Heights where we spent the day. And although the word “hip” could be used to describe the area’s watering holes, shops and fashions, it didn’t smack of trends like some cities. San Francisco is like the popular kid in high school: confident and cool without even trying. And a vibe like that may as well be crack to someone like me. I couldn’t get enough. Shopping I did – and successful I was.
Thanks San Fran for sharing your mojo with me!
CIELO A store full of gorgeous, high-end European brands.
I picked up an Ann Demeulemeester blazer with chic, refined detailing …
… a scrumptious orchid-colored puffy jacket with cropped sleeves and sweet yet almost "goth" kitten-princess necklace.
NEST The perfect name for a boutique with a homespun yet vagabond flair.
New and vintage toys (check out the gorilla!), artwork, jewelry, furnishings and accessories.
I purchased this silkscreened tiger tote, printed cotton robe and wood handle purse … and love them all.
HEIDI SAYS SHOE SALON The sole-ful sister store of the Heidi Says fashion trifecta.
I found these flattering and totally versatile nude, patent leather wedges from Vera Wang Lavender.
ELIZABETH CHARLES A uniquely curated collection of fashions and accessories.
This boutique was uh-MA-zing! I fell in love with everything.
JONATHAN ADLER Ebullient, over-the-top fun from this eponymous shop’s designer.
CROSSROADS Vintage and consignment clothing, shoes, etc.
My [sporty, crunchy, anti-fashion] friend Lori nearly died of heart failure when I walked out of the dressing room in this get-up. Yes I bought a pair of gold lamé, parachute pants and a cropped grey hoodie. I think they’re fabulous, comfortable and totally hot.
JURLIQUE Skincare, bath and body products.
My masseuse in Sonoma recommended that I pick up a bottle of essential eucalyptus oil and add it to my morning shower to help relieve my nagging cough.
OTD Out-The-Door Vietnamese restaurant.
We recharged at Out-The-Door with noodles, dumplings and wine. Yummm!
SWIG Last stop … cocktails of course!
With a sexy vibe, live music and bar stocked to the hilt - this club was the perfect finish to a perfect day!
Tricia xosf
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Scenes from a Vacation – Part I
I just spent five days in Northern California with six girlfriends from home. We’re known
as “the nine” (I’ve mentioned them before) and were obviously short two on this trip. We
get together every summer, but this year we decided to do something extra special. To
round up that many women with husbands and careers and kids is no small task, so the
fact that we accomplish it at all is a big deal. An even bigger deal is how long we have
sustained our friendships. They date back to high school, grammar school and even pre-
school for two of us. Our longevity and stamina definitely warrant a celebration and where
better to do that than wine country USA – Sonoma and Napa. It was the perfect venue.
Gorgeous vistas, delicious food and the chance to talk, laugh and share with friends I rarely
see, but couldn’t live without. Cheers to my crazy, spirited, hilarious gaggle of girlfriends!
Night one decompressing on our deck with cocktails.
Our house was situated at the top of a mountain with views of the whole valley.
We were picked up bright and early on day two for a day of wine tasting.
That’s our driver in front leading us up a path to our first winery, Quixote.
Quixote is not your run-of-the-mill winery. The unusual architecture, incredible art
collection and one-of-a-kind wine barrels with their candy-colored hoops added to the
magical, Willy Wonka-esque atmosphere. And then of course, there was the wine.
At the second winery, Honig, I found my Napa vibe …very chiiillll.
For our third stop, we enjoyed a hillside lunch with the owners of the Frias
Family Vineyard. It was a lovely, low-key transition between wineries.
The final winery of the day was Flora Springs in St. Helena. Thank goodness for our laid-back
and tolerant guide, Travis. We were pretty pickled by that point, so you can only imagine what a
handful we were. He took it all in stride and treated us to perhaps our favorite tour of the day.
We spent day 3 in Sonoma at the spa and finished with dinner at Della Santina’s.
Our group split up on our last day in wine country. Four of us chose to go riding on the Kunde Estate.
The breathtaking views and our fantastic guide Dominic created a near perfect afternoon.
One last night of delicious wine and food at the award-winning Bistro Jeanty in Yountville – the
tomato soup in puff pastry was a big hit with the girls – and then it was back home for most of the
group. My friend Lori (far left) and I spent an extra day in San Francisco … but that’s another post.
Read about San Francisco in my next post, Scenes from a Vacation – Part II.
Tricia xo
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Chez Huntley – update 08/05
A great deal of progress has been made here in the past couple of weeks. The millwork
installation – new casing, baseboards and bookshelves – is complete. The painting has
been corrected and looks lovely. Lighting fixtures have been installed in the foyer/living
room along with simple, modern light switches and receptacles throughout the main floor.
I’ve even styled my bookshelves and purchased a new painting for the dining room and a
pair of cast greyhounds for the front entry. And as excited as I am to move on to the next
layer of furnishings and accessories, nothing is quite as important to good design as getting
“the envelope” right. I use this term A LOT in my work. Cleaning up the architecture of a
space and adding (or removing as the case may be) details is the key to a grounded and
balanced interior. And there is something really beautiful about a well-executed space
that feels good even without any decor. But of course, I’m an interior designer, so decor
is essential too. Once I add the furniture, softgoods and artwork, the space will really sing.
– Projects –
I purchased this pair of deer sconces about 4 years ago and finally had the opportunity to
use them. I … ahem, I mean we (I got a lot of help from Molly, H&C employee extraordinaire)
painted them white, so they have a more contemporary vibe appropriate for the house.
A major accomplishment for me: my very first lighting installation!
I was so proud. I called my boyfriend, my parents and sent emails to friends everywhere.
– Millwork –
The new bookcases in my living room. Cheap yet chic!
I kept the lines simple and wrapped the baseboard around the front for a clean, modern look. You’ll see
that I was anxious to style the shelves with my books and accessories – I didn’t even wait to put away my tools.
Above the shelves are the freshly painted deer sconces with extra long candle sleeves and taupe silk shades.
– New Purchases –
This abstract oil painting circa 1960 has incredible color that almost glows.
I found the painting above and this pair of greyhounds at Comer & Co. in Georgetown.
A fantastic new shop with exquisite things and wonderful service.
And speaking of dogs … I’m happy to say that Nina is feeling much better this week.
The little stinker kept pulling off her cone, so she was forced to rock this t-shirt instead.
My poor pup was quite the fashion victim last week.
Tricia xo
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Chez Huntley – update 07/22
“I’m fortunate that I can document all the progress on Luxe & Lucid for posterity.”
Did I write that just last week? Oh well. One step forward, one step back. We had a major hiccup this week at chez Huntley. Remember all those beautiful neutrals I taped to my walls? Remember that I selected Benjamin Moore’s Vanilla Milkshake as one of my colors? That turned out to be a bit of a problem. Upon the completion of 1 – and in many areas 2 – coats of this color, I noticed that it seemed a little off. The rooms appeared to be a lot more white than ecru. I thought perhaps it was all the light that pours into my house. Or maybe my new downlights were brightening the space more than before. Alas, when I taped the paint chip back up on the wall, it just wasn’t right. To make a long story short, Benjamin Moore’s formula for Vanilla Milkshake #OC-59 is simply wrong. The real color doesn’t match the paint decks. Moreover, Monarch Paint and BM corporate don’t really care. Umm, excuse me? As someone who has spec’d countless Benjamin Moore colors in her career, this is more than a little alarming. As a designer you can’t always be on site (or in-state or in the country) to review a test sample. I can understand a slight difference in value or undertone, but this so-called vanilla is just plain white. That means my entire first floor has to be painted again and that Tricia has to roll up her shirtsleeves and do some of the work herself. Because I may have been comp’d freshly mixed (and corrected) gallons of paint for my troubles, but my painter and his crew don’t exactly work for free. So add to my loaded schedule and to my resume …
Tricia Huntley: Professional Interior Designer, Blogger & House Painter
Thanks Ben!
Vanilla should be, well, vanilla. Right?!
The sample that says it all.
Vanilla Milkshake as sample (on left) and in reality (on right).
The paint store’s work product.
A little GRRRR to go with your morning coffee today.
Hoping for a little more “progress” in next week’s progress report.
Tricia : [
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Chez Huntley – update 07/15
After a painful start to 2011 and an arduous renovation on the Huntley & Co. office, I
am happy to say that work has finally begun on my own home. Phase 1 is underway!
The millwork, the hardware, the furnishings and the fabrics have all been selected. The
subcontractors are on site and all is chugging along. It’s a little bit surreal, in fact. I’ve
overseen dozens of renovation projects, but it feels a lot different in my own space. I’m
fortunate that I can document all the progress on Luxe & Lucid for posterity. Cheers
to progress. Cheers to design. And cheers to the new and improved chez Huntley!
– The Facade –
A little more groomed, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.
– The Public Rooms Scheme –
The fabrics and finishes for the first floor rooms have a natural yet glamorous
vibe that suit the architecture of the house as well as my own aesthetic.
I’m sure there will be a little tweaking, but I definitely have a scheme in place.
– Paint Colors –
Neutrals have countless nuances, so you have to pick the value and hue that
complement your lighting, furnishings and softgoods. So far I’ve settled on
Benjamin Moore’s Vanilla Milkshake and Sherwin William’s Windfresh White.
– Work in Progress –
Living Room
Living Room
Dining Room
Dining Room
Living Room / Dining Room / Sunroom
Stair to Master Suite
More to come – stay tuned!
Tricia xo
THE MUSINGS OF DESIGNER TRICIA HUNTLEY
