Daybeds

I've always had a bit of a thing for daybeds. Maybe it's the idea of being able to deposit a bed in any room of the house--I had one in my kitchen once and I could have lived in that room alone. Or maybe it's because they present a good excuse to pile on tons of throw pillows. Whatever my reasons, I know I'm not alone in loving these diverse pieces of furniture. I see a lot of twin beds at auctions and I'm often tempted to buy a pair and combine the headboards to make a daybed. Sometimes all a piece needs is a bit of wax to fill in scratches and water spots. Other times, an ugly finish can be covered up with a coat of paint and the whole look of the piece is transformed. Twin beds are rarely in demand anymore, but a daybed is as modern as it is a classic.

Images: Inside Out magazine, Christmas issue, vol.1, no.1. Campagne Decoration magazine, May/June 2010 issue. Easy Living magazine, November 2010 issue. Living etc magazine, May 2010 issue. Country Living, British Edition, October 2010 issue. Fresh Home magazine, Summer 2010 issue. Recycled Home by Mark & Sally Bailey, with photography by Debi Treloar, published by Ryland, Peters & Small 2009. Period Living magazine, October 2010 issue.

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Film Interiors: Addicted to Love

I recently read an article in New York magazine about design team Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch of the firm Roman and Williams and was intrigued enough by their old school materials meets modern living aesthetic to re-watch the film Addicted to Love in order to see some of their early work as set designers. The movie turned out to be better than I remembered and the sets did not disappoint. Though its release date was in 1997, the images could be ripped out of today's magazines. 

Meg Ryan and Matthew Broderick play jilted lovers Maggie and Sam, who camp out together in an abandoned building to watch their exes Linda and Anton through a camera obscura aimed at Anton's expansive loft. Their envious gaze falls both on the amorous new couple and on the space they share. When the apartment is vacated for a weekend, Sam and Maggie move in and comb each room for clues about who their partners have become in their absence. Though the loft takes center stage, the country house that Sam leaves to pursue Linda has plenty of charm of its own and even the shell of an apartment that Maggie and Sam share has a bit of steampunk appeal that Maggie's inventive wardrobe complements perfectly.

Sam's country home full of fresh flowers in anticipation of a dinner with Linda.

Linda's father arrives instead with a "Dear John" letter. 

The carved mantel is the showpiece of this room.

Decorative plates hang on the wall near an elegant settee.

Anton's workspace employs old metal locker bins for organization.

The neighboring kitchen features a carpenter's bench as an island.

A farmhouse table with mismatched chairs leads to a kitchen full of industrial elements--an old chalkboard, schoolhouse pendant lamps, a drafting chair and factory stool.

A vintage metal hospital cabinet is filled with fresh towels and strikes both a masculine and feminine note in the all-white bathroom.

The following are a few items on the market that channel the essence of Sam's house in Delaware and Anton's New York city loft.

Regency walnut fireplace mantel from Pegaso Gallery Design.

Plate Shelf from Silverfox Originals.

4 piece sofa set by Kai Kristiansen at Arenskjold Antiques Art.

Work bench from Lillian August Designs.

Vintage desk chair from Topsy Design.

Vintage metal locker basket from Haven Vintage.

Vintage medical cabinet from Amsuarezfl.

Film images are property of Warner Bros. Pictures.

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