Sipping Toddies By The Fire

All this week I have been obsessively checking out my new iPhone app, Ski Report. This very cool little program lists all of your favorite ski locations and gives you weather reports, new snowfall amounts and comments and pictures of the slope conditions. I am drooling over the fact that here in the mid-atlantic we have actually had some decent snowfall, including 5" of new snow at Wisp in Maryland just yesterday! Maybe I should go skiing tomorrow! Well, all of this cold weather and visions of snowy ski mountains makes me think about beautiful ski lodge design. After a long day of skiing or boarding there is nothing like cozy-ing up to a crackling fire, hot toddy in hand in a gorgeous lodge. I have found a variety of spaces some appropriately rustic and inviting and a few with a contemporary take. I hope you can enjoy these until you too can hit the slopes!

The Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch Beaver Creek, Colorado

The Main Living Room at The Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch. I hung out here for a few hours, took a nap and drank hot chocolate after a long day of skiing last year. It was such a warm and inviting place, complete with ski check at the door and slippers to wear by the fire!

Beautiful Idre Fjall ski lodge in Sweden.

Contemporary lodge at The Omnia in Switzerland

Ralph Lauren design with beautiful textures and that traditional rustic feel.

Ralph Lauren's rustic bedroom, wouldn't you like to just cozy up in this room with a good book?!

The Verbier in Switzerland suites with in room fireplace and contemporary lodge feel.

I'm not sure where this great lodge is located but the view is spectacular as are those leather poof chairs.

I really enjoyed this photo because I thought it was a great example of how to apply lodge design to your own home with a contemporary flair.

Iron-ing Maiden

I can't wait to have a real laundry room. Any house I someday own must have an actual room dedicated to the art of laundry. Now most of you are probably scratching your heads in confusion, don't get me wrong, laundry is NOT my favorite thing in the world and ironing is pretty much on the bottom of that list. However, if you know me at all you know I have perfected the art of folding, some say I fold clothes like origami! So having a beautiful room in which to make my paper crane clothing creations is a dream. Check out these gorgeous laundry rooms of which I am completely envious. And while you are at it invest in some great laundering products from The Laundress, it may just make doing laundry a little more glamorous!

The Laundress Sweater Care Gift Set

Soft soothing green

I absolutely love this beautiful contemporary room complete with large vessel sink for hand washing.

The built-ins in this laundry room are beautiful and I adore the black and white striped chair.

The wall paper in this cute laundry features vintage laundering scenes.

How lucky would we be to have a beautiful room and view like this in which to do our daily chores?!

I love how the washer and dryer are hidden behind folding doors for a seamless look.

One could spend all day in this room, although I'm afraid no laundry would get done!

Simple and chic by adding wallpaper and a chandelier.

Super sleek and wonderful with plenty of folding space.

Bookscases, Shelves and Things to Put Things On

I am writing this post especially for my Mom. She has a great little house on the South River near Annapolis were she has lived for about four years. Anyway, she had done a lot of painting and re-painting and put on a sun room addition, but she hasn't gotten down to really adding all of those special touches that make a house a home. I know she wants to have book shelves flanking her fireplace which I think is great! I am always a fan of symmetry, (a product of my slight type A personality, I'm not sure?) so of course I want to help but "styling" a bookshelf takes a certain finesse. I went on a search of interesting ways to dress a bookcase. Books are almost always the main ingredient but not necessarily, using accessories, paintings, collections, and dishes will add variety. Try employing a few of the following techniques to update your look!

Start with a clean slate- take everything off the shelves its easier than trying to work around preexisting conditions. (yikes! too much talk about health care i think)

Chose objects that that relate to each other- a collection of plates, a group of white ceramics.

Whole rows of books look more balanced on the bottom shelves and stacking them in rows from tallest to shortest isn't always the best option. Try stacking them randomly to create a very natural look.

Monochromatic look

I love how they hung a great piece of art on the shelf it adds a whole new dimension

Adding color to the back of the bookcase is a great way to freshen up a boring shelf

If you are like me you could fill your whole shelf with books. Try stacking books to add a different look. Display your "best" books at eye level, I really like large design/art books. Martha Stewart recommends rotating books stacked horizontally to prevent warping of bottom books.

Covered books- I think covering books can look awesome, especially when it helps bring color, or lack of color to your space. However, am I the only one who finds this a bit impractical? I occasionally want to read the books that I have on my bookshelf or at least be able to locate a book to lend to a friend.

Wrapping your books in brown or white craft paper could look really cool and you could label them with your best architectural lettering! Or try this simple Pottery Barn trick and turn your books around to create a more consistent look.

This is so clean and simple!

An interesting display which has a lot of smaller accessories without looking too clutter-y.

Use baskets to conceal unattractive items like dvds or to store blankets

Have fun creating your new look.
Not sure where to start? Call W Design Studios and we can create a great look for you!