Think Chic Interiors Fuses Past and Present With This 100-Year-Old New Rochelle Colonial

The owners wanted to renovate and modernize while respecting the character and original features of the house.

| posted via http://www.westchestermagazine.com/Westchester-Magazine/Westchester-Home/Fall-2019/Think-Chic-Interiors/

When a family with three young children purchased this 100-year-old Colonial in New Rochelle, they wanted to renovate and modernize while respecting the character and original features of the house. They hired Malka Helft of Think Chic Interiors in White Plains to design the new spaces and oversee the project to completion before they moved from their Riverdale apartment. “They wanted not only a family-friendly house, but also something completely kid proof,” says Helft. “They didn’t want to be the parents who have to keep telling their girls, ‘You can’t go on those chairs.’”

Before finalizing fabrics for the massive sectional sofa, window seats, and other upholstery, Helft and the homeowners put their choices through a stain test, dousing them with orange juice, tomato paste, and other potential offenders to ensure that the performance fabrics would live up to their claims. She worked closely with EC Builders to update the rooms while carefully preserving original details such as stained-glass windows and moldings. The result? A chic, easy-to-live-in home with personality that’s built to last. “I have walked in many times since finishing the project, and I see all the kids lying on the sofa, and it makes me really happy,” Helft says.

Living Room

Twin teal chairs from Jonathan Adler bring color to a room where the predominant palette is white, gray, and gold. The chairs nestle against a small desk. “They wanted this little desk in the living room so that if the kids are in there in the evening, they could sit and do a little work while still feeling connected with the family.”

Family Room

Instead of a formal living room, the family wanted a very large den with a television, a big screen to watch games, and space to hang out with the kids. Helft created the ultimate hangout zone centered around a massive custom U-shaped sectional (12 by 18 feet) covered in gray performance velvet. The homeowners wanted a giant TV, but “I don’t like walking into houses and having a television staring right at you,” Helft says. The compromise: She built a fireplace surround with remote-controlled bifold doors that hide the TV and media components, so the room functions exactly as the family wants but does so with style.

Master Bedroom

Helft designed the serene master bedroom with warm tones and fabrics to give the busy parents a haven for relaxing. The upholstered bed is a customized version of the Charlene bed from the Kristin Drohan Collection. “She makes beautiful things,” Helft says of Drohan. “The craftsmanship is unbelievable” — an important consideration in this home, where the couple was willing to splurge but only on pieces and finishes that would really last.

Built-in window seats are furnished with velvet cushions and metallic-tone throw pillows that complement the room’s soothing blue-gray walls.

Dining Room

Though some families do away with dining rooms, these homeowners embraced theirs — it’s a hub of the house. The family eats most of their meals at the 12-foot custom quartz-topped table that’s ideal for entertaining extended family and friends. Chairs covered in Design Master faux leather stand up to spills. The antique fireplace mantel and an intricate stained-glass window were carefully preserved, adding to the ambience.

Landing

For the grand staircase, which is 25 feet high, she hung a Tech Lighting Mara Grande chandelier from Circa Lighting. It has LED bulbs, so the homeowners won’t have to worry about changing them.

Girls’ Bedroom

Three-year-old twin girls share this fresh, modern room where the ceiling was treated to a poppy pink called Secret Rendezvous by Benjamin Moore. “I love this because it had a little bit of coral, a little bit of pink — a cute combo.” A striped tepee provides a colorful play space and hiding spot. Window treatments are from The Shade Store.

Library

A handsome wood-paneled room that looks like a library functions as an old-fashioned smoking room. It’s a place to sit and relax and have a drink before or after a meal, says Helft, who found the brown leather swivel chairs with brass bases at West Elm and the light fixture at Jonathan Adler. All of the wood was repaired and refinished, the hardware refreshed, retaining the room’s masculine vibe.

Kitchen Eating Area

Because the kitchen had been recently refinished, it’s the one room that the homeowners decided not to renovate. But Helft helped to redecorate the eating area, using a table that the family already owned and creating a photo gallery using frames the couple had bought but never taken out of their boxes. “When I start a project with clients, before I do anything, I start looking through the furniture that they want to bring to the new place and their artwork and pictures. I get to know their personality, and it’s also important to have an idea of what they want to add.”

The post Westchester Magazine features Kristin Drohan Collection Charlene Bed appeared first on The Kristin Drohan Collection.

by Marni Elyse Katz – Globe Correspondent

posted via Boston Globe Style Section. Originally posted September 26, 2019 7:00 am

—Dan Cutrona Photography

THE BED
To channel a Santa Monica beach house vibe, Deborah Berger of Wellesley- based Maven Interior Design chose a white four-poster bed with a cornflower blue-upholstered headboard from the Kristin Drohan Collection for this summer home in the New Seabury section of Mashpee. “We wanted a look that was more West Coast than Cape Cod,” Berger said.

THE PAINT
The wall color, Sherwin-Williams’s “Hinting Blue,” lends a soft allure to the space. “I love the way it looks with all that natural light,” Berger said. Clear-glass table lamps let the color show through.

THE SETTEE & THE TABLE
The striped Hamilton tight-back settee from Duralee is the perfect perch from which to look out at the ocean. “This room has the best water views in the house,’’ Berger said. “The New Seabury waterway is out one slider, and the Atlantic [is] out the other.” The barely-there Peekaboo Acrylic Table hails from CB2.

THE CURTAINS
A hotel-style double track separates layers of a black-out drapery from semi- sheer linen panels with geometric embroidery, allowing the homeowners to reduce the intensity of the harsh afternoon sun without darkening the room.

THE RUG
A subtle leopard print wool rug from Stark Carpet was the impetus for the color scheme. “It is serene, but still has a tad of an edge,’’ Berger said. Kravet Kissimmee swivel chairs upholstered in white chenille provide cozy spots in the corners, while the faceted Vince stool from Pottery Barn adds a touch of shine.

Marni Elyse Katz blogs about design at StyleCarrot.com. Send comments to Address@globe.com. Subscribe to our free real estate newsletter — our weekly digest on buying, selling, and design — at pages.email.bostonglobe.com/AddressSignUp.

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Stop Giving Away Your Profits!
10am – 11am
The Point (on Commerce Ave next to the Transportation Terminal)

Join us for a roundtable discussion with Kristin Drohan, Cheryl Kees Clendenon, and Veronica Solomon on how to create more revenue in your design business by selling more products. Learn how to work with vendors, what you need to invest, and the pros and cons of buying direct– even the dreaded “freight” issues will be discussed. Bring your questions and ideas, and join the conversation!

Speakers: Kristin Drohan, Cheryl Klees Clendenon, Veronica Solomon

The post Roundtable Discussion with Kristin Drohan at The Point appeared first on The Kristin Drohan Collection.

I Pay $4,675 A Month For An Apartment In Brooklyn — & It’s Worth It

Jessica Chou, Brianna Donnelly | via Refinery29
Originally posted February 24, 2019, 12:30 PM

In Refinery29’s Sweet Digs, we take a look inside the sometimes small, sometimes spacious homes of millennial women. Today,

When 34-year-old Sarah Schiear and her fiancé moved in to their current home, it was pretty much given that Schiear would take the lead when it came to design. It was her job, after all.
Schiear, a former finance professional, had given her life a quick about-face when she started cooking, starred (and placed third) on The Taste, and created e-commerce and lifestyle website Salt House.

So of course “we both knew that I was going to do it up in terms of decor, but it was a bit tough for him,” Schiear says. “You know, he had to let go of a lot of his stuff.” In other words? “I made him throw all his shit out.”

To be fair, there wasn’t anything wrong with her fiancé’s old decor, she clarifies. “It was typical New York bachelor pad, and at first he felt some of this identity wrapped up in his items,” Schiear says. Now, almost a year later, both her and her fiancé feel settled in their duplex home.

“Even when it was halfway done, he was like this is amazing this is a palace, this is the nicest place I’ve ever lived in,” Schiear says. Watch the video above to see why — and read on below for a few of Schiear’s picks and decor tips.

How did you find the apartment? There’s so much space for New York.
“We found it on Streeteasy. I was just obsessed from the minute we walked in. I was like, Oh my god, we’re signing a lease on this place today. He was a bit more apprehensive because they were doing construction right next door.”
Was there a broker’s fee or anything?
“We had to pay a full broker’s fee, so that was the opposite of fun. It was 15 percent of the yearly rent. It’s crazy. The security deposit was, I think, just one month’s rent.”
What was your first impression of the space?
“Honestly, just the amount of space. The combination of the outdoor space and the two levels. The feeling is so open.”
Do you have any decorating rules or tips?
“I tend to find a photo of one thing for inspiration and that will start informing everything else. Like I saw a photo of a blue wall, and that started the whole process from there for the living room. But just like with anything else, the more you practice, the better you get, and the more you evolve.
I also think you have to work with the apartment, especially if you’re renting like we are. There are some elements of this apartment required me to keep it more modern, as opposed to some places that are older, where you can do some cool vintage-looking pieces. We have this marble staircase with a glass railing with a walnut handrail, so that kind of feels more mid-century modern, so we had to work with that.”
Did you learn from anyone in particular when it came to design?
“I grew up in a home that wasn’t that nice, and I also grew up in a broken home, but I was really close with my aunt. Part of what I loved about her place was how beautiful it was, and I think that must have inspired me in some way to want to create something like that for myself.”

The post John Canopy Bed a highlight of Refinery29’s Sweet Digs tour appeared first on The Kristin Drohan Collection.

I always prefer to invest in quality, timeless classic upholstery pieces, but that can be done in an updated way that incorporates these 2019 Trends.

1. What finishes will we be seeing in 2019?

Although the gray finishes have been very popular in 2018, we are seeing a return to brown finishes. They are more modern with gray undertones unlike the red and orange tones of the past.

2. Classic frames are still very popular, but we are also seeing curvy furniture.

The Lawson style ,like our Keegan sofa, has a track arm rather than a rolled arm. It can be used in just about any style genre.

Mid-Century Modern curves are also going to be very big going forward like our new Sur Sofa.

Splayed thin legs on just about any piece give it immediate sleek sophistication.

3. The use of metal is huge right now. Paired with fluffy hides (end of lifecycle… of course), leather, velvet or an interesting COM (Customer’s Own Material), creates a look that is updated, but not too trendy.

Our Max Bench, Times Square Chair and Brooklyn Chair epitomizes stylish furniture with these luxury components.

Even though we offer Gold, Silver and Black metal finishes, Gold finishes are still the most popular.

4. Details, like decorative stitching and Channel tufting are also back in a big way. Top stitching, flange welts, and wide trims are making their way into 2019 upholstery trends.

Our Bronie upholstered bed, Capital day chaise, and our Camellia designer sofa, and Christopher skirted sofa are examples of interior décor furniture capturing those elements.

5. Cozy panel beds that envelope you with warmth are also going to be strong sellers for 2019.

We’ve added our Tribeca bed, Swan bed with a high footboard, and the Destin upholstered bed to illustrate this trend.

This womb-like design feels nurturing and protective, which is something that feels needed in our current environmental state.

6. Fabric trends are very interesting. Performance fabrics like Crypton, Revolution, Eco Faux leathers, and Sunbrella are simply huge.

These performance fabrics look, feel and perform so much better than the first gen versions. You can’t tell the difference between a bed upholstered in eco- friendly faux leather or real leather. Why not choose the more environmentally friendly and economic option? Look at our Charles Chesterfield upholstered bed and tell me that’s faux? Well it is. It looks fantastic. We aren’t saying that leather is a negative because we are seeing an uptick in its use. We just really like the green option, which is also hypoallergenic.

Did you know there is Crypton Velvet? Can we get a Yaaaas?! This is one of our favorite fabrics trending right now. This Nantucket sofa is upholstered in Normandy Blue Crypton velvet. The Camellia Channel tufted sofa above, is in Ivory Crypton linen. A perfect way to have light upholstery without the worry.

Blue, gray and off white are still very popular color trends in 2019. We are also seeing pink blush, like this Anthony ottoman.

7. Authenticity of craftsmanship is a huge trend and my personal favorite movement. Telling the complete and real story of artisan fabricated  furniture will be a popular story this year.

We are all craving truthfulness. I have witnessed a lot of faux fabrication details on many new upstarts’ websites. Some have had articles written about them in Fast Company and other industry news. I hope everyone writing stories, influencing brands, and promoting goods will do some vetting prior to publishing. We will offer our Luxury construction and a value proposition to our clients and will do so with illustration and complete transparency.

8. Last but not least, and one of our specialties, is the desire for clients to have custom-made goods. We love collaborating with our clients on custom items. We are seeing a return to unique, one-of-kind designs that are the antithesis of the Restoration Hardware look. Look at some of the hand crafted goods we’ve created recently.

The possibilities are limitless. What will you create this year?

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To view tour, click here.

Images copyright © Salt House Market.

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This article showed up in the news recently. I’ve taken out the name and links because I don’t want to give this company any publicity. Read the following press release and then we will address a few problems with this new trend in furniture manufacturing:

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Five Quick Issues to Address with this Trend:

There are some apparent flaws with this method of furniture creation and styling. Follow the items below to make sure the furniture you’re buying is good quality.

1. 1. Problem number 1: Comfort
      This furniture cannot be comfortable based on the fabrication. To this individual’s credit, they don’t address comfort in all their propaganda. I would argue that’s what people care about the most. They don’t make the claim that their furniture is comfortable because they know it isn’t. How do I know it isn’t comfortable? Well, there is no spring up platform that supports the cushions. Is it a flat base. I can’t tell if it is wood or steel, but this is one of the most important aspects to achieving a comfy ride. With a modular frame, you have no way to attach coils, whether 8-way, hand-tied, or even sinuous. These are the high-end and mid-level ways you support the cushions and an integral part of creating seat comfort.
   2. Problem number 2: Construction
      The cushion construction is considered extremely low-end within our industry. A foam-wrapped cushion with “high resiliency,“ will not last or hold its shape. A very high-density foam cushion, about 2.2lbs, will keep its shape even though it doesn’t have a coil (spring) core. However, that is not what they are using. And polyester back cushions?! Without down or a micro-denier fiber, these will not only feel terrible but will look horrible in minutes.
   3. Problem number 3: Durability
      15,000 double rubs are not all that durable. It is a residential rating for fabric. Every designer knows that if it isn’t at least 30,000, you will find abrasion issues in a short period. The fabric must cost around $5 a yard wholesale. Again, this is not high quality. Is it washable or stain resistant? This is what determines longevity.
   4. Problem number 4: Quality & Price
      Presenting this furniture as high quality is irresponsible. This is far from high quality and probably very disposable. What will you do when your cushions are flat and the fabric wears? Oh, that’s right, you can purchase more covers from them. How convenient. . . and costly.Presenting these prices as high, as well as the quality, is truly negligent. “IKEA budget but high-quality mindset.” What? These are IKEA prices, but IKEA sofas looks far more comfortable. A sofa from this company is $1,195.00, which is not expensive. There are better ways to achieve economical furniture.
   5. Problem number 5: Misconceptions About the State of Innovation in the Furniture Industry
      Calling the furniture industry “stagnant in innovation” reveals the lack of furniture manufacturing knowledge of this owner. Has he been in a furniture factory in North Carolina? We can program a CNC machine (Computer Numerical Control) to do laser cuts that can mimic shake shingles or lattice. The part’s mechanical dimensions are defined using CAD software and then translated into manufacturing directives by CAM software. The industry hardly lacks innovation. Renaming KD (knocked down) furniture is hardly innovative. It is just a new name for an old concept.

Don’t Fall For the Hype

Does this new trend have a product with redeeming qualities? The concept does have application. It is more than likely great for people with homes that have tight ingress and egress or difficult stairways. This would also be great for kids’ spaces where comfort does not matter. It is the presentation of quality at the advertised price point that is misleading. Don’t fall for the marketing hype, just to end up with lesser quality furniture.

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Just a little bit about our boutique company. Our clients are prestigious established design firms, young hip design firms and also individual consumers (at a different price point, we protect our designers). What the designers purchase, and the consumers purchase vary slightly. When we track buying trends, we do it by cataloging a cutting of each fabric used in every project. We also track the finishes that are ordered and the frames we are selling. The best way we can determine the market is by evaluating the custom work our design clients have us fabricate. These are usually items they can’t find in the current market. When we see repeat requests for an item, we are likely to put it into our line.

For example, we were asked by two design firms in one week to produce a specific style of bed. That designer bed will soon be part of the line. We don’t pay too much attention to what other companies are doing. Originality is the key and being on the cusp rather than a follower is more appealing. We listen to all of our clients. They are the best source of pattern discovery.

Let’s get on with it.

We will start with fabric. What are trending upholstery choices? We have good stuff out there.

Velvets are still popular, but I’m really seeing a huge demand for stylish, durable performance fabrics. We are adding them to the line monthly. Crypton even has a velvet that is marvelous.

Linen also continues to be popular, and with new Crypton linens and other performance textures that mimic linen, this is a strong pattern that will continue into 2018.

Performance fabrics, in general, are probably the biggest trend. I remember the first Cryptons we used 9 yrs ago. They had a thick backing and were stiff. They didn’t let the cushions breathe and made for a firm, crunchy sit. The new Cryptons are soft and they now come in an array of textures. Other performance lines also have washable twills that work for the farmhouse and coastal movement.

Everything we carry also has a commercial rating for durability by having at least 30,000 Wyzenbeek double rubs. What is that you ask? Wyzenbeek is the flagship abrasion test for fabrics. A fabric is put on a machine that rubs the fabric along the warp and weft until two yarn breaks occur. When a fabric has a rating of 30,000 double rubs, it is considered sturdy enough for a commercial application. 15,000 is the standard for a residential application. It is pretty important to specifically use an excellent abrasion test fabric on high use upholstery.

Designers are extremely aware and are diligent about using fabrics in this category.

We predict the increased usage of leather as well. We don’t really know why, but we are seeing more and more people using it.

We have covered fabric content and construction, you still need to select colors to make a Crypton sofa! I find this to be very entertaining. Light neutrals like cream and greige were very popular, and I don’t see that slowing down next year. Blues of every color were also ubiquitous. I don’t see that changing either. We did a lot of gray this year, but I think that will slow a bit next year.

I Instagrammed about purple one week before Pantone announced the color and that was not the first post. We did a decent amount of pink and purple this year. I think that will continue into next year since the Pantone COTY was Ultra Violet. We also saw orange and green in smaller consistent doses. I think green will stay and orange may fade in 2018.

What will we see this year? I predict emerging warmer neutrals like camel and brown. I think ivory and shades of blue will also continue to be strong. I really want to see red back, but I’ve been hoping for that the past 2 years. I don’t know if my personal yearning holds any concrete evidence. I just like red.

What about the styles and finishes. Well, we did a ton of gray finishes this year and a lot of crème and black. We had to add a couple “grays” to the line. Dark brown finishes were still used a lot. Especially ones with a gray undertone vs. a red. I think we will see more ivory and lighter gray browns for next year. Red or orange browns still remain “out.” I think lighter wood finishes will also increase in use for next year.

What sold this year in frame styles? What will be popular next year?

This year we saw clean-lined classics as probably the number one “trend” (I used it… UGH). I don’t see that changing going into next year. We did a lot of tufting, but I think that could taper slightly. It is always a classic and really never goes out. Tufting is an elegant look, and I think there is an overall movement towards casual. Which leads me to the use of slip covers.

I have to admit hating this look 9 yrs ago. I’m now fully on board. The styling is so much better, and the fabric options are incredible. We’ve added several slipped frames to our line. Actually, almost any of our frames can be slipcovered.

We partnered with Erin Gates of Elements of Style and did a new slipped sectional for the line, called the Cape Cod. Check it out, it is awesome. Erin has great design instinct. We have also added a fabulous new washable performance twill in several colors to the options. It is amazing!!!

These fabrics can be washed on the delicate cycle with cold water accompanied with laundry detergent and bleach. After the wash is complete, dry your fabric on low heat for 10 minutes. Plus it is soft. It doesn’t get any better than that. You don’t have to limit the use to slip covers. It can be used anywhere.

We were asked to do a lot more metal frames. I think mixed media, in general, is something I saw all over Fall HP and we are seeing it in our factory as well. We’ve added several pieces to the collection. I just don’t see this going away anytime soon.

That wraps up our reporting. Feel free to follow us on Instagram @kristindrohan for the most up to date info and gorgeous lifestyle photos featuring our products. Also, visit our website www.kristindrohancollection to see all the new stuff.

The post Upholstery Trends For 2018 & A Look Back At 2017 appeared first on The Kristin Drohan Collection.

It’s the holidays, and every holiday dinner requires a potato recipe in my book. While I love roasted and mashed potatoes, I like to turn up the volume a bit during this festive time of the year and turn the humble potato into a showstopper of a side. This beautiful, herb and duck fat-laced potato galette is a recipe that looks super-impressive but is so simple to make. You’ll need a mandoline to get the potatoes nice and thin (this one is the pro chef’s go-to choice) as well as a springform pan which is cleverly used to hold the potatoes in place.

This recipe comes from our Holiday Hosting Guide, which is packing with entertaining tips and recipes to enjoy this season––check it out here!

Ingredients

2 pounds medium Yukon Gold potatoes, unpeeled, thinly sliced with a mandoline

3 shallots, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided, plus more for pan

4 tablespoons duck fat, melted

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Kosher salt and cracked black pepper

Fresh thyme sprigs, for garnish

Edible flowers (optional)

Method

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Set springform ring on top of parchment-lined sheet pan. Brush center of ring with melted butter. In a bowl, toss potato slices and shallots with butter, duck fat, thyme, and nutmeg. Arrange potato slices in layers, starting at the outside of the pan and working inward, overlapping them slightly. After each layer of potatoes has been added, scatter some shallots over top and sprinkle lightly with kosher salt. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour, until crisp and golden. Garnish with thyme sprigs and edible flowers if desired.

Tips & Notes

• I like the D’Artagnan brand for duck fat; you can order online or find it in select specialty grocers. The duck fat adds delicious flavor but you can also use more butter or a blend of butter and olive oil if you prefer.
• Edible flowers are totally optional but they do add a nice pop of color and interest.
• You can make this the morning you’re planning to serve it, then simply reheat in a very hot oven (450-500 degrees F) for a few minutes before serving.

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by Lisa Mowry – December 15, 2017 | via Atlanta Magazine

Photograph by Mali Azima

Factors contributing to this Milton master bedroom: the wife loves purple, the husband didn’t want the bedroom to be too feminine, the designer likes modern, and the house had ’90s-era high ceilings. “This bedroom is a mash-up of a lot of things,” says interior designer Kristin Drohan.

Objects overhead

To fill the tall space, a large-scale chandelier mimics the verticality and brings in some sparkle.

Dramatic silhouettes

The designer’s own furniture line, Kristin Drohan Collection, includes this statement-making bed and cozy “balloon” chairs, both adding “a bit of a French flair.”

Layers of lavender

Drohan coated walls in Sherwin-Williams “Individual White,” which has a slight grayish-lavender tint. A custom pillow in floral Osborne & Little fabric checks off the homeowner’s purple love.

Raspberry repeats

A Robert Allen fabric in the room’s signature color shows up on the custom bench, chair, and pillows to maintain consistency.

Balance is key

To keep Leigh’s husband Chris content, dark wood on the nightstands and bed frame adds a masculine tone. “I think the pinstripe on the chair backs is a bit menswear, too,” Drohan says.

Tip

Animal-print rugs work in almost any room since they read as a neutral, notes the designer. This particular leopard-print version is masculine—as well as a little funky—pushing the room to a Milton-meets-Paris look.

This article originally appeared in the December 2017 issue. of Atlanta Magazine

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