My Favorite...

... Tight back sofa is the Berkley Tight Back from Baker Furniture.

via Baker Furniture

My personal taste lends more towards a sofa with loose back cushions, but on a recent trip to the Boston Design Center with my Newburyport client, I was challenged to think about what I would choose if I couldn't have my go-to loose back style. 

Tight backs certainly have a cleaner, tailored look, and you never have to worry about fluffing loose cushions. There are so many options and styles, such as deep button tufting, random buttons, or back shape. Many may find the multitude of choices completely overwhelming, but the designer in me wouldn't have it any other way.

This particular client constantly fights a battle between several cats and fluffy sofa back cushions. The cats enjoy sleeping on top on the back cushions on her current sofa, and end up squashing them down to an unflattering pancake which, I can imagine, would drive me absolutely bananas. So we set out to find a stylish and comfortable tight back sofa that the cats would not look at as a comfy napping spot. 

This Berkely sofa by Dapha turned out to be my client's choice because it had clean lines and was extremely comfortable. I also thought the slanted arms and wood legs were flattering. Since we saw so many tight backs on our visit to the BDC, I thought it only fair to include my second favorite tight back, the Malibu by Kravet. Isn't it fancy with the tufting and nailhead details?  I think it is just so pretty.

via Kravet

What are your favorite tight back sofas?

My favorite...

My favorite outdoor lounge chair is Janus et Cie's Ascona Lounge Chair. I would enjoy owning anything from the Ascona Collection, but can especially picture these chairs around an outdoor dining table, or clustered among a small fire pit on the patio. As with most pieces of the collection, it can be specified in either pecan, limestone, or bronze Janusfiber, making it water repellent and appropriate for our up and down summer climate here in New England. With a neutral cushion and some colorful outdoor toss pillows, I can imagine lazily lounging while catching up with family and friends.

My favorite...

We all have colors that we gravitate towards: ones that make us happy and lift our spirits. Mine is purple. I keep a picture on the wall above my computer of a beautiful landscape in Maine. The sky and ocean are misty, the trees are green, and the flowers are purple lupins. I could get lost in that image all day. It is so peaceful and serene.

In honor of my favorite color, here is a collection of lovely interior design ideas to inspire your next space:

Okay, this rug isn't for everyone, but I am intrigued by the trend of over dying traditional oriental carpets. Landry&Arcari sells carpets like the one above and has a wide selection from traditional to contemporary designs.  Any rug could be a great starting point to a room.

How darling is this?! Serena & Lily has the prettiest bed linens among other knockout pieces. This bed is dressed in their Pinwheel Quilt, Kite Sheets, and Color Frame duvet and shams. I could picture this is a little girl's room.

Wisteria has a wonderful new collection of lavender furniture and accessories, including these linen flange edge toss pillows. They come in a variety of sizes and are reasonably priced.They also sell this antique inspired Louis Chair with lavender upholstery! I'm not sure how my husband would feel about these in our dining room, but I think they are fabulous.

I could see this wallpaper by Graham & Brown in a powder room. The scale of the motif is perfect size to make it a statement, especially in a small space.

What do you think?  Could like purple as much as me?  What's your favorite color?

My favorite...

I've always enjoyed reading about Designer's favorites. It's a great way to hear a fresh perspective and be exposed to new products. So, it's my hopes that I will be able to share some of my favorites with all of you.  Today marks my first favorite show and tell: 

The 3972 Swivel Chair by Lee Industries. I know, the name could be a bit more inspiring, but this chair has more than enough wonderful aspects to put it at the top of my favorite list, and maybe yours too!

Right now, I am looking for the perfect swivel chair for three clients, myself included. This little number with the Cloud Nine cushion delivers on being the most comfortable chair me or any of my clients have ever sat in. I've had my fair share of looking for the perfect swivel chair, and this one perfectly supports your shoulders but is low enough to position in the middle of a room without blocking up the space. Its transitional design easily suits many decor styles, and the dressmaker skirt hides the not so attractive swivel mechanism. The functionality of a swivel is ideal for many spaces, because it can turn to face a TV, fireplace, or conversation grouping.

I've seen this chair done in a traditional rich velvet, but for two clients I've had it covered in a caramel linen, and for another in a gorgeous Ikat in various shades of red. I wonder what I'll get it covered in for my home :)

Sometimes it can be hard to purchase a chair before testing it out, so if you live in the Boston/ Metro North area, you can visit the Grand Rapids showroom in the Boston Design Center, or Wishbasket at the Tannery Mall in Newburyport.