Decor & Design
A Study in Design
Design choices accentuate a comfortable space transformed for a quiet escape.
BY
Megan McClure
PHOTOGRAPHY
Kurt Eckhard


"The accents have a similar color palette to achieve an overall warm, rich look." - Tracy Miles, Allied ASID, Dau Furniture

TRADITIONAL STUDY

For homeowners wanting a stylish, functional space for reading, corresponding or relaxing, a well-designed study is the perfect retreat. The sun-filled, spacious library, located in Hayden Homes’ Pendleton model home at The Summit at BaratHaven, offers all the details needed for a balanced space with a relaxed ambience.

To create a traditional look, Tracy Miles, Allied ASID, from Dau Furniture, outfitted the study with accessories reminiscent of centuries past. “Some might call it English traditional,” says Tracy, who is a member of the buying team at Dau Furniture.

Adding a quaint personal touch to the look of the desk, nostalgic and whimsical fabric and accessories are used in charming combination. Two antique bronze ladies’ shoes provide a feminine touch in what Tracy describes as a generally “masculine” study.

An antique brass banker’s lamp with a brown marble base completes the ensemble of desktop accessories. Behind the desk is a black directoire oval armchair that hearkens back to formal, 18th-century furniture styles.

Though all the furnishings in the space are new, many are designed to convey an antique look. Some items, such as the picture frames displayed on the bookshelves, were made with distressed wood for an Old World feel. Gold and bronze accents mix with blacks, browns and reds to create a unified, traditional motif.

A floral arrangement with hints of red and gold adds a soft, natural element to a perfectly paired corner table. Pheasant feathers and grasses characterize the arrangement and blend beautifully with the area rug’s deep tones and striking floral motif. “The traditional design of the space blends a touch of elegance with a handsome flair,” says Tracy.



"This look is all about living fully in the present, but with the context of history." - Taylor Haywood, Centro Modern Furnishings

MODERN STUDY

Utilizing unique materials and unconventional shapes, Taylor Haywood of Centro Modern Furnishings gave the home’s study a modern appearance with a nod to European design. “In Europe, modern design is revered, but most buildings are pre-modern, so it is common to see very traditional rooms with very modern furnishings and accessories,” says Taylor. “This demure, traditional study provided an excellent setting for this approach.”

The centerpiece for the project, a “Kokoro” table lamp by Ingo Maurer, makes an elegant yet bold statement in the styling of the study. Beams from the halogen bulb can be directed to illuminate the space using the heart-shaped mirror adorning the top of the lamp. Its delicate shade, crafted from red paper, stands out as a focal point in the neutral color scheme of the room. “Red became the accent color, mostly for its drama,” says Taylor.

The flowing form of the desk lamp is echoed in the shape of the Tom Dixon “S” chair, which is fashioned from straw on a steel frame. “I used several dynamic, curving forms to contrast with the rectilinear room,” says Taylor, “and to show that modernism can be warm and sensual.”

Other pieces, such as the desk tray – fashioned from a steel I-beam – and the mirror-polished steel ashtray, add their own hints of character to the environment. “Each of the pieces we used in this project has a unique history, context and significance,” says Taylor, “and can say as much about you as the books on your bookshelf.”