Okay. Now for some shameless self-promotion. I’ll be putting one of my own rugs in our living room (how could I not, really?). We’ve settled on a Wheels design in grey tones. I’d like to try a wool / silk blend and am having some samples made as we speak. The design will remain as that seen below:
Below: Oliver Yaphe Wheels Rug in Charcoal
Other pieces will be scattered throughout the rest of the house. In the entranceway, we’re going to put a Duncan Runner. My daughter currently has an Alphabet Soup rug in her room, but I’ll likely move it to the nursery and add an Ali rug or some other form of stripes to her bedroom.
Above: Duncan runner, Ali rug
For the library bordering the living room, I’d like to add add a Madeline Weinrib Mandala Chenille Rug. I love the charcoal one shown below, but I’m toying with the idea of using a white piece since the room itself will be quite dark. I can’t really go wrong, though, her entire collection is beautiful.
Above: Madeline Weinrib Mandala Chenille Rug. Available at Y&Co.
This is starting to get fun. There are some amazing floor lamps available. I’ll probably pick something once all the other furniture is in place, since I’m not sure what we’ll really needed at this point – but here are some pieces I’ll definitely keep at the back of my mind:
Below: BDDW Floor Lamp. This is one of my all-time favorites. My sense is that we won’t have the room for it, but if we do, I’d take the plunge. After years of pining after this lamp, it might be time to bring it home. Available in Canada through Hollace Cluny. Photos care of BDDW and Lindman Photography.
Below: Zeitraum makes some pretty damn beautiful furniture and the High Noon light is no exception. I was recently smitten during a visit to Avenue Road in Toronto. Oh I do love it. This piece will fit in the same camp as the BDDW lamp – wait and see!
For some smaller options, I’d go with one of these:
Below: Tab Lamp by Barber and Osgerby; Kelvin F Lamp by Antonio Citterio. Both produced by Flos.
We’ll need a small table to put between two side chairs. This piece doesn’t really need to be that functional – just something to fill the space where we can set down a glass or book or something small. I think any of the items below would do the trick quite nicely:
Below: OKO and IKO Tables designed by Christophe Delcourt. Cup of Tea table designed by Henk Vos. All available at Avenue Road.
Below: E15 ST04 Backenzahn side table. Available at Klaus by Nienkamper.
Below: Douglas Chunk ($250) and Gus Modern Bishop Table ($325). Both available at StyleGarage.
For a coffee table, anything goes. At least that’s how I feel about it. I also don’t think you need to spend a ton to get something that works. While it would be nice to buy an original, I’m sure we’ll find something cheap and cheerful to do the trick.
I’m also at the stage of life where I’m thinking about kids banging into corner edges. I’m gravitating towards pieces that won’t be a hazard.
If you like any of the looks shown below, I’m sure you can shop around for one that meets your budget.
Below: The Brooklyn Home Company
Below: Taschen New Paris Interiors
Below: Mid-century piece care of Flickr
Below: E15 Basso Coffee Table
Below: Photo care of Eric Roth; Fontana Coffee Table
Below: CB2 Peekaboo Clear Coffee Table – $249
Below: Hot Rolled Steel Coffee Table ($475 for 48×24) and U Table ($1074 for 48×24 in walnut). Both from StyleGarage.
Below: La Palma Toe Coffee Table
Below: Meridiani Hardy Table
Given that our living room will be the main room to hang out in our house, we’re going to get a sectional couch. I’m looking for something with square edges and somewhat of a low profile. Here are some designs I quite like:
Above: Meridiani sectionals
Below: Minotti sectional
Below: Didier Gomez designed sectional for Ligne Roset
Below: Technically the photo below from designer Magdalena Keck is a couch…but with the two pieces it feels close enough to a sectional for me
Below: Sidsel Z
Below: Linteloo Mauro Sectional
Now the fun part. We’re starting to narrow down our options for living room furniture. As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, I love chairs. Choosing just one set of side chairs will be my challenge – but with so many amazing options out there it will be hard to go wrong. As always, price and function will come into play, but if I didn’t have any constraints, I’d be sitting pretty on one of these:
Above: Vintage Eames Aluminum Group chairs. Photo care of Owen and Vokes.
Below: Vintage Arne Jacobsen Tulip chair and Swan chair. Photos via stylist Lotta Agaton. It’s funny – I was never into the tulip or swan chairs until I started this build process. I’ve just seen them placed in so many amazing rooms that they’ve grown on me – I particularly like them when they’re well worn.
Below: Arne Jacobsen Library chair
Below: Didier Gomez Dessau chair for Ligne Roset.
Below: Cappellini Low Pad Chair by Jasper Morrison
Below: Walter Knoll Fabricius Armchair
Below: I don’t know if the chairs below are Knoll or knock-offs, but it doesn’t matter. I love them. Spotted in RUM magazine. Pretty lovely scones as well.
For our new home, we’ve opted to forgo a traditional front living room. Instead, we’re going to have the dining room near the entrance, the kitchen in the middle of the house and a good-sized living room at the back of the house.
This is the space where everything will come together – our choice of windows, furniture, the rug (of course). We need to decide what type of bookshelves we want, how the fireplace and TV will sit together. You get the picture.
I’ve been clipping lots of shots for inspiration.
I see Bryan Adams in a whole new light after catching a glimpse of his Paris apartment. It was featured in Elle Décor a few years back. The space is refined and minimalist. The entire apartment is beautifully put together in a way that doesn’t feel too “put together”. Definitely worth checking out.
Ditto for Dixie Chic Emily Robison. I’ve posted this image before, but I thought I’d include it again since I think the room has a great vibe.
And, then there are some spaces that are just plain old spectacular without needing very much added at all. Check out these digs…
Above: Joseph Dirand; Poteet Architects; Richard Powers Photography
I’m Katherine Yaphe, the founder and designer behind Oliver Yaphe, Inc. This business was an idea in my mind for a long time. I knew that I wanted to build something, I just didn’t know how. I worked in the corporate world dreaming of what to do next. Then one day I decided to just start. I launched with rugs. Branched off to artwork. Paper came next. We’ll see what’s to come. What I do know, is there will be more.
Oliver Yaphe Blog
I love being inspired to create. It doesn’t matter how big or small the undertaking, it’s more about this feeling that drives so much of what I do. This blog is my space to instill a bit of that energy to my readers. It’s a lofty goal. I might fail horribly. But every once in a while, something might click (or at least I hope so).
