HE'S BACK: Nathan Thomas Studios

Look whom I stumbled upon! Nathan Thomas, the winner of Top Design, the show that consumed my life for a few months. I think it's clear when I say that Nathan and Eddie were my two favorites from the show. Nathan had such an edgy yet sophisticated style--plus look how cute he is! He's worked for the best in interior design; Alexandra Champalimaud and Nathan Egan. He attended Pratt Design School; which is super encouragement for those of us going to school in hopes of becoming an interior designer too!

This is from when Nathan was on Top Design. It was one of my favorite things that he had done because it was so incredibly creative. The painting on the wall was made with paint dripped right from the can onto the canvas and he hung it horizontally. Then the chandelier was also made by him with paper plates! So amazing.

This is from an apartment he designed in Chelsea. This light fixture looks familiar, yes? Even in a different space, it looks incredible.

This is a salon that he designed in Brooklyn! It is so fun/creative/amazing looking.
The painting on the walls are so whimsical and then there is that giant wrench (Is that a wrench? I don't "do" tools) in the corner.

Read this adorable slash inspiring interview from The Denver Post. Also you MUST look at his website HERE. Congratulations again, Nathan!


Alicia B.

Dining Table and Sofa? YUP!

As if it wasn't obvious enough how much I adored the show Top Design (Eddie and Nathan in particular), I'm going to keep talking about it even when it's over. The show was silly sometimes but other times very inspirational and brought forth many design questions/issues. Remember the episode with those (ridiculous) Swarovski Crystal chandeliers? In Eddie's dining room that he designed, he put a sofa on one side of the dining table and chairs on the other. I was completely bewildered with the judges said they had never seen this idea before. I had seen it countless times in Domino and House Beautiful and had even used that idea in a school project! Anyway, I've collected some examples of this being done. Enjoi!

Tom Scheerer put this elegant sofa on one side of this breakfast/tea table. I think it looks very calming and draws your eye to the windows.

This one also leads your eye to the window but also give you something to settle on visually as these windows are floor to ceiling and there appears to be a lot of open space.
By architect Joeb Moore from Kaehler/Moore.

How elegant and cosy does this sweet little table look with these small sofas? From House to Home. I love the colors in this room too; perfectly feminine and inviting.

On the back wall they placed a gorgeous loveseat. From Domino.

You don't always have to have a sweet delicate little arrangement. Here, Alessandra Branca puts a heavy trestle table with an armless seat and matching high backed upholstered chairs.

I think the lesson learned here is, use a sofa with interest; some sort of embellishment or beautiful fabric. Also, don't have the sofa with it's back to you as you enter the room. Has anybody ever done this? I'd love to see pictures! I think it's a very sweet idea and when I have a small sofa I would use it in my breakfast room (when I have a breakfast room too). Perfect.


Alicia B.

Bye Bye Shazia

For anybody who watches Top Design, you'd probably be jazzed about last night's outcome, too. Shazia Kirmani is finally gone. SO, I decided to search her to see if she'd done anything since being kicked off. Not really. Before she started the show though, she got a spread in Nirali (which means different) Magazine, a magazine about art, gossip, movies etc for South Asian Americans and Canadians. So far, I'm uncomfortable. While I do like some elements (I'm always trying to see the positive side of things), many of her elements are poorly chosen and cliche.

.I like the light whimsical feeling but the carpet is too small and being hidden.

Vomit.

I like the chest in the corner. Life Magazine Covers framed? Looks like a tacky DIY project which I'm sure it was.

I like chocolate brown walls. I'll give her that since I know I'm being too harsh.

Something looks crooked or like its about to fall off the wall. Nervous.

I think the thing that made me the most annoyed about her (besides the fact that I was scared every show that she was going to ruin EVERYTHING) was that she thought she was going to be the first ever Indian/Pakistani Interior Designer. In almost every show she would say that she was really going against the grain in her culture by not being a doctor or a lawyer. While that IS the stereotype, you're not the first one and you're putting your own culture/heritage in a box which I found offensive. Good for you Shazia for wanting to have people look up to you for breaking the mold. Was that too harsh? Your thoughts on Shazia?


Alicia B.

HI Big Daddy!

Kerry Howard (aka Big Daddy) was a contestant on Top Design and was eliminated last week. India Hicks "couldn't live with his design." He now has his own firm in Georgia and seems to be doing quite well. I liked him a lot and I'm sad that he got kicked off but look at him thriving! His company is Howard House Interiors which he is running with his design partner, Lyndsy Woods. They have a lovely mix of traditional and contemporary interiors. Below are some of the pics of their greatest interiors.









Alicia B.

Eddie Ross

Adorbs.

Top Design is now one of my most favorite shows. I just love to see what they do each week and I get so inspired by some of these people--even the ever anonymous "Ricky Schroeder's wife," Andrea. My favorites on the show right now are Eddie Ross and Nathan. Eddie used to work for Martha Stewart and is a really great designer with original ideas--plus he pops his collar. His blog is very fun to read as he takes you around to antique stores, answers design questions, and writes about his favorite objects. Here is a fun project that he walks us through for putting mirrors on these beautiful plates.


Alicia B.