24 January 2010

Saladino + Vermeer = {Absolutely Brilliant}


Is there anyone who doesn't love Vermeer today? The Girl With the Pearl Earring has almost mythical powers of enchantment, mystery, wonder; dubbed The Dutch Mona Lisa, it inspired the movie starring Scarlett Johannsen, a visual feast. When interior designer John Saladino set out to design a Manhattan condominium in SoHo for the Veranda Magazine Showhouse, he chose that painting as his inspiration.

Now, many of us might choose a painting for design inspiration. But in the hands of the brilliant Saladino, the subtlety, the evocative details, the refusal to compromise yielded a vision that resonates with 17th C. Dutch Neoclassic sensibilities...while managing to stay fresh and modern....pure genius!

Saladino may have thought: "If Vermeer could produce luminous paintings out of the gloom of northern European Amsterdam, then I can harness the grey light of Manhattan's canyons and create a softly glowing SoHo interior"!



I love these pewter plates from Arte Italica, but mostly I adore
the wall finish: scratch-coat plaster suggesting the layering of time



Saladino's inspiration painting yielded a palette of creamy whites,
deep taupes & rich pewters with touches of lavender and periwinkle blue throughout



the serene and intimate setting is enhanced by the 17th C. style
furnishings with the linens carefully draped over the table; modern draperies
and gorgeous antiqued flooring by Exquisite Surfaces set the tone




nailheads on antiqued leather suggest
17th C. Holland




this stunning stairway in antiqued flooring
also by Exquisite Surfaces




again, the antiqued floors set the tone for the old bench, while
the huge mirror captures all available light and sends it back into the room;
deep blue-grey wall and old tapestry create atmosphere




a delicate, feminine feeling for the dressing table
with delft-pattern rug underfoot




softly atmospheric light in a beautifully designed sitting room




Saladino's use of lavender and periwinkle blue works brilliantly
against the soft neutral palette





All Photos by Antoine Bootz
Images Courtesy of Veranda Magazine





.............................................................


in the new year, it's:


Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design


29 comments:

  1. Nice post. That would have been fun to see. He has a new book out, all about his house in Montecito that looks good. He has always had a great such a great palette. Really nice painting above the sofa too. Saw a post about that persons work somewhere recently too. Wish I could find it. Daniel

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  2. I agree with Daniel, this is a very good post. The colors in this design scheme are beautiful and soothing. Funny, it was 17th century Dutch painting that really sparked my interest in art, so it has always had a special place in my heart.

    BTW, Scarlett Johannsen IS a visual feast!

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  3. HI Daniel I thought of your space when I saw these walls and floors...I don't know the artist over the sofa but it is familiar to me too, ethereal & otherworldly...

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  4. Hey Denny, finding inspiration for a design scheme in a painting is one thing, but executing like this is amazing to me..every little detail including the palette feeds the concept without throwing it in your face....I remember you saying that about Dutch painting getting you started...now about Scarlett...:)

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  5. I have a large niche in my new dining room that is still blank. I like the plates and plaster. I would love to add a different color to the room somehow, and I could do it with a tinted plaster. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  6. Hi Michelle I would love to see what you do with your niche..will you use these colors? do you have pewter plates? good luck!
    Kit

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  7. Hi Kit!
    I loved that piece in Veranda!The lavenders and wall textures were so simpatico! I also went nuts over the Arte Pewter plates on the wall so much so, we are going to do at the shop.( I also thought the mix of the Juliska with the Arte Italica pieces totally worked although,they are competitors,they really compliment each other). Nice Post!Maryanne:)

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  8. Ooooo U wish I could see this space in person. I was at John's lecture last year at the SF Design Center and didn't want it to end.... it was all about his estate *and the new book and CD).... so inspiring. Thanks for posting this. My favourite is the entry way with the simple bench and large mirror and I really love the colour palette....

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  9. Ummmm, delicous...loved the colors and pictures.
    Thank you for coming by my blog...this is a great post.

    Have a fabulous week pretty lady.
    Lee

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  10. Hey Maryanne, thanks for stopping by (still in Paris?)...yes the new Juliska pewter is smashing, will look for it in your shop next trip. I actually love both lines too. I think this is one of the most beautiful interiors ever, thus the post, even though it is quite exposed through Veranda too....
    bisous!
    Kit

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  11. HI Valerie, thanks for stopping!! I love your blog and the pictures of San Francisco in the rain...(I'm here in Redwood City, in the same rain!)...are you going to the SFDC design week next month too? meet for coffee?

    Kit

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  12. Hello Lee! lovely to see you here, keep on comblogulating!

    all best things to you too this week,
    Kit

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  13. The pewter plates and tea pot jumped out as me bc I was at Winterthur in Delaware, USA (du Pont Mansion) and there were 6 tankards made by Paul Revere in 1772. Can you imagine? Now that was a collection. I'll be posting next week about our visit! Cheers! Jennifer aka Gigi

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  14. The nailheads on the leather chairs - love them! And the quote written above - lovely. Recently found your blog and will definitely be back.

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  15. So subtle and beautiful - he truly is very, very good. My favorite. Thanks for the post!
    Nancy

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  16. Hi Simply, I agree on the nailheads. They are so evocative of the era...love your blog and hope you are enjoying "rural" oregon!
    Kit

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  17. brilliant post... mr saladino is so talented... i will have to check out his new book... thanks for the tip .. hope this finds you well xx pam

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  18. Hi Pam thanks for visiting..all is well down here in the soggy No Cal area! His work is so wonderful...hope your shop is doing well...all best

    Kit

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  19. i am lately in love with the color lavender. J'adore the lavender, silk slipcovers!

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  20. HI Dana, it is a wonderful color, mysterious, calming and refreshing at the same time. I am specifying a lavender carpeting for a client...so chic!

    Kit

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  21. Fabulous indeed. I love everything, with the mauve/purple couch as a definite must have

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  22. Saladino is such a master... subtle and sophisticated, with just the right amount of detail... great post!

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  23. Hi Corine I agree on the couch...now to find the right client!

    Kit

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  24. Hi Terri thanks for visiting!

    Kit

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  25. Love the atmosphere . It is soft, and chic. Every detail is well thought !

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  26. Thank you for the plaster wall suggestion. It is just what I wanted and didn't know it for a wall in a kitchen design.

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  27. Hi Sami, perfect for kitchen wall...send pictures of your project! I like your blog and am following you now

    best, Kit

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  28. Admirable blog that you have, of beautiful decoration in any case, good continuation.

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I would love to hear what you think! merci!

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