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Top 5 Favorite Side Chairs of 2015 by Paula

Chairs, chairs, chairs!  Where do we even begin?  I have always had an obsession with chairs that can be seen in my office. From a chair eye chart at my desk, to Eames chair stamps and even a good size collection of miniature chairs from various mid century designers.  Side chairs are an important part of any room whether it be your Formal Living, Bedroom, or even your closet. They are as much about making a fashion statement as they are about comfort.  Below are our Top 5 Favorite Side Chairs for 2015.

#1  The Lance Chair

 

Lance Chair

 

Most everyone is familiar with the well loved Barcelona Chair designed by Mies Van Der Rohe in 1929.  As an icon of the modern movement, it is no surprise that the chair has inspired other designers to create their own versions of the quintessential chair.  The Lance Chair by Bernhardt has a unique take on the armless lounge chair style, with the addition of  brass metal legs and accents on the sides.  We love using this chair in office and bedroom settings as a comfortable reading and conversational chair.

 

#2 The Marley Chair

 

 

Marley Chair by Loft home

 

If you are looking for comfort and style wrapped into one pretty package, the Marley Chair should be at the top of your list.  With its Mid Century Styling and fun fabrics it is sure to be a hit in any Formal Living and Game Room setting.

 

#3  Recliner 74

 

Milo Baughman Recliner 74-DWR

 

What kind of a name is Recliner 74, you may ask?  So it doesn't have a fancy name, but we believe this chair speaks for itself with the word "style" written all over it. Being an Interior Designer, I am not an advocate of the overstuffed recliner that lays back with your head inches from the floor.  But I do believe that comfort and fashion can work together to create a space for all persons to enjoy.  This recliner is an original design developed in 1966 by the famed furniture designer Milo Baughman.  Many of Milo's designs are still in production today and are being built by the original company for whom they were designed - Thayer Coggins.

 

#4 The Pierce Chair

 

Pierce Chair by ZGallerie

 

Looking for a chair that offers a little more depth than your average side chair?  The Pierce Chair, with its extra deep seat and high arms provide the perfect setting to curl up and read a book or watch a movie.  We love to use this chair in bedrooms and secondary seating areas for your Great Room, such as that little private corner next to the window where you enjoy that last glass of wine while watching the sunset.

 

 #5  The T-Back Chair

 

T-Back Lounge Chair by Mil Baughman-Thayer Coggin

 

Allow me to introduce the T-Back Chair, another wonderful design by the famous Milo Baughman. As its name states, the chair has a metal bronze "T" on the back not only adding to the style of the chair, but for support as well.  For us, this chair fits seamlessly into a Home Office, Library or Formal Living space.

 

If you share a love of unique chairs, we would love to know what your favorite ones are as well.  There are so many wonderful ones out there, it was hard to narrow down to just 5 favorites.  Paula Ables Interiors is a great purchasing resource as well as design resource.  We have direct access to many furniture lines across the world and would love a chance to work with you on your next update/new home.  Give us a shout when you are ready to get things rolling!

 

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Beach House Luxe by Paula

As the days heat up and the kids get out of school, we are more ready than ever for a Beach getaway! So today we are getting in the mood for vacation with a Beach House Decor moodboard. We're putting a spin on the traditional, nautical color palette, with stripes and anchor decor, and adding a bit of GLAM to our Beach house!

[more details after the image]

Beach House Luxe

We love this elegant, luxe combination of decor, that still incorporates fun, beachy elements.

Beach House Luxe Product Details listed below (from top to bottom, left to right):

1. Coral Chandelier - Currey & Company - Beachy But Elegant // 2. Whicker Pom Pom Planter - Leifshop - Because pom pom, basket planters are much more fun; & everyone needs a little life [plants] indoors // 3. Soft Striped Throws - Crate & Barrel - Who doesn't want to curl up on the couch with a soft throw after a day in the sun? // 4. Abstract Blue Art - Z Gallerie - Beautiful beach inspired art that is not as literal  as beach photography // 5. Driftwood Mirror - Currey & Company - A subtle incorporation of beach product // 6. Shell Dresser - Currey & Company - The more shells the better // 7. Gold & Wood Coffee Table - Wayfair - Simple, sleek table that lets the accent pieces glow // 8. Striped Rug - ABC Home - A new take on your typical, striped, beach house rug // 9. Shibori Pillows - Rebecca Atwood - Because shibori tie dye is the new stripe // 10. Blue Accent Chair - Anthropologie - Blue accents are always a good idea // 11. Coral Sofa - Joybird - This coral colored sofa is a nice alternative to the traditional red or white beach house sofa.

If you have a Beach or Lake house that needs some design help, feel free to reach out to us! Or if you love nautical inspiration and want to incorporate it into your house, we would love to help!

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors. 

Helen Thompson - "Windows on Our World" by Paula

Helen Thompson is an Austin-based writer, producer, stylist and blogger, and she recently featured Paula Ables Interiors in an article! We love the Lake Austin Contemporary project she wrote about, and are so happy to have it published again! You can read the full article here, or on her website.

 

WINDOWS ON OUR WORLD

This limestone-and-stucco house by architect James LaRue and project manager Emily Marks is for an active family that enjoys hunting, fishing, swimming, and entertaining. Its location on Lake Austin is ideal for the enjoyment of the outdoors, but LaRue and Marks also created space for privacy. They designed a series of rooms and courtyards, in part to focus the view on the lake, and interior gardens that are extensions of the main rooms. They arranged the most-used spaces—the screened porch, living and dining rooms, and the master suite—to take advantage of the views. Garage and guest rooms were positioned closer to the street.

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The exterior walls are made of antique Lueders limestone; stucco from Waterloo Plastering is finished in a putty color.

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The house is sliced through by a dog trot, which also serves to point the view to the lake and the nature preserve beyond.

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Landscape is by Tim Benton and Ramon Suarez, Land Restoration.

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Interiors are by Paula Ables, who used a Radici USA wool rug to anchor the dining table by Lundon Furniture from Room & Board. The McCreary Modern chairs are also from Room & Board. Pendants are by Hubbardton Forge.

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The house is linked by steel-gridded Portella doors and windows. Entry floors are ivory travertine; in the dining room they are white oak.

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The slate fireplace surround is from Stone Solutions. The American Leather sofa is from Room & Board; the recycled pine coffee table is from Four Hands.

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The green chairs in the living room are a pop of color taken from the homeowners’ favorite tapestry, hanging above the fireplace (see below).

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Pendants are by Kichler Lighting. Rug is by Stanton Carpet.

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Kitchen, dining, and living room open on to each other—the view of the pool and nature preserve are the focus of the room.

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Another good view—this house borders on a drainage ditch on one side and has encroaching neighbors elsewhere, but LaRue focused every room on the assets of the lot and the nature preserve across the lake.

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The pool makes a visual connection to the lake.

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Tropitone chaises are ready for lounging.

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The connection between indoors and outdoors is seamless.

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The screened porch (on the right) is faced with Spanish cedar siding and is connected to the main house by a roof that creates another outdoor space.

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The garage is on the left; guest suite on the right. Landscape is by Tim Benton and Ramon Suarez, Land Restoration.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DROR BALDINGER

 

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5 Tips for Picking a Ceiling Fan by Paula

5 things to consider when looking for the best ceiling fan for your room:

Ceiling fans...are they a necessary evil or a stylish accent to the room?

We all know how hot it gets in the Texas Hill Country summers!  To get some relief, many of us rely on ceiling fans to keep our homes comfortable.  Running a ceiling fan can make a room feel about 5 degrees cooler than it actually is.

If you are ready to upgrade your existing fan or looking to add one, here are 5 things to keep in mind before you make the purchase:

1. Size of your Space

It is easy to underestimate the size of the fan you need.  A 48" fan may sound big but if you install an undersized fan you won't get the air circulation you need to cool off.

A good rule of thumb is:

  • Rooms less than 150 sq. ft. - Use a 42-48" diameter fan
  • Rooms 150-350 sq. ft. - Use a 52-56" fan
  • Rooms greater than 350 sq. ft. - Use at least a 60" fan or you can purchase 2-48" fans

Below is an example of a large open-concept living, dining & kitchen space, where this 8 ft. Big Ass Fan serves as both a cooling unit and a WOW factor.

Isis- Engel's condo

2. Ceiling Height

When selecting a fan for your space, know your ceiling height.  If it is an 8' ceiling, your best solution is a ceiling-hugger style fan.  If your ceiling is 10'+, you may need to add additional down rods to accommodate the extra height.

The typical rule of thumb is for the blades of your fan to be 8-9 feet above the floor. As you see in the photo below, we added a 12" down rod to our fan to accommodate the 10' ceiling--placing the fan at the perfect height for this bedroom.

Tureen- Farleigh's fan

3. Type of Installation 

Another critical factor to take into account when shopping for a new fan is: sloped or flat ceiling?

Some fans include adapters for sloped ceilings, but not all have this capability. Some adapters can be purchased separately, but can have restrictions on the angle it will accommodate; so it is important to know these details if you have a vaulted or sloped ceiling.

Sometimes the best solution isn't a ceiling fan at all. In the image below, we used a wall-mounted, oscillating fan to blow the smoke away from the bar-b-que area.

*Make sure to look for a damp or wet rated fan if installing outdoors*

Bellows-Hock's

 4. Lighting

Light kits have gotten a bad wrap over the years and for the most part we agree.  Lights on fans are usually unattractive.  This being said, the fan companies have heard our plea.  Many have begun integrating lights into the fan itself making for a more complete and attractive look.

Which look do you like the best?  If you know you want a light, certain fans have customized options for you to pick the shape and globe style you want. Also, some fans that do come with a light, come with a cap in case you decide you do not want to use the light kit.

In the living room pictured below we capped the light because we loved the fan design, but the recessed cans in the room provided plenty of general lighting.

Artemis- Alex Smith's Condo

5. Style

Just like light fixtures, there are a wide variety of ceiling fan styles. To start with, there are contemporary and traditional fans. There are fans that have multiple blade material options--from clear acrylic, all the way to woven rattan.

Many times fans blend in to the ceiling because they are thought of as utilitarian, but there are plenty of styles that can take your fan from Blah to Tah-DAH.

Below is a unique example of a ceiling fan we used in a bedroom that is just as much art as function.

Meyda- Coe's fan

What ceiling fan is right for you?  What will fit best in your space?

Do you want to go from Blah to Tah-DAH with your lighting in a new or existing space?  We are here to help with great ideas and friendly purchasing advice.  Give us a shout to help transform your space.

 

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors.