DAZZLING DESIGN: AMANDA NISBET'S LOVE LETTER TO COLOR

Photo courtesy of Amanda Nisbet

 Amanda Nisbet captured during a rare moment of down time in her office

Photos courtesy of Abrams

Daring. Focused. Fun. A few of the words used to describe New York interior designer Amanda Nisbet's color saturated interiors. In her new book from Abrams, Dazzling Design, she takes us along for a fast-paced, technicolor ride. The classic and modern mingle in her interiors and reveal a refreshing take on how to use color daringly to make a big impact. Her derring-do will inspire you.

 Photo by Roger Davies

The power of purple. Glammy crystal and gold chandeliers add an unexpected, gleaming component to plum painted walls and upholstery fabric. Bringing in an energetic patterned carpet and vivid piece of modern artwork, the palette is balanced.

   Photo by Stacey Van Berkel Haines

Color can go country casual, where blue panels cut a swath of brightness through a room grounded in a neutral palette. Touches or red, brought in through picture frames and a table lamp lead the eye around the sunny, beach house space.

 Photo by William Abramowicz

Chartreuse walls paired with  yellow accents in Peking glass, hits of grey and brass tabourets in a living room

  Photo by Stacey Van Berkel Haines

You can also be daring in how you go about displaying collections. Nisbet created burlap-covered shadowboxes to offset the white coral displayed inside, creating a visually arresting art piece. Natural light wood chairs, a pine farm table and sisal carpet coordinate for a light feeling in a summery setting.

Nisbet's And Collection fabric collection brings her vivid geometric and free flowing pattens to jolly textile designs

Allanah in Pitaya

Francesca in Rum Punch

Positano in Plum

Airdrie in Fiddlehead

 The Poppy Lantern

Kicky lighting with Urban Electric channels the same sense of fun  her effervescent interiors impart.

 The Anna Leah Standing Lamp

EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED: URBAN ELECTRIC

Making American - made lighting their forte, The Urban Electric Company, based in Charleston, South Carolina, is one stylish operation. From the 30,000 square foot former Navy Base brick building they call home, to the interesting designers they partner with for collections, their fresh take and forward thinking create gorgeous transform-a-room lighting. The 75 person team and founder Dave Dawson make bespoke craftsmanship their mission.
They have turned to a host of top talent, including Darryl Carter, Amanda Nisbet, Amelia Handegan, Richard Mishaan, Tom Scheerer and others to design hanging lanterns, sconces, standing and table lamps that push the boundaries of metalworking, color and form. I love them for their forward thinking innovation, their impeccable American-made craftsmanship and design style savvy. With a loyal designer following and a new Atlanta showroom they are worth knowing about.

The Sagaponack Hanging Light by Richard Mishaan
has a clean, modernist sensibility.

Two colors make the Venetian Lantern by Richard Mishaan festive. A pared down traditional form based on a classic design provides a new take.

Sleek and sexy, the Travers Sconce by Amanda Nisbet can go deco, mid century or minimalist.

Amanda Nisbet's geometric circular design in the Montreal provides a playful touch. Her fun ethos shines through.

The Anna Leah by Amanda Nisbet takes circles to a new place with the chain design that climbs upward in an eye-popping standing lamp. Pick a Benjamin Moore color to work in your color scheme.

The sweeping lines of Amelia Handegan's Belle Meade Double Sconce have me smitten.

The single arm

As seen in the swish Monkey Bar in NYC.

Paraply by Amelia Handegan with an umbrella top and woven sides in glowing brass is like a great charm from a vintage bracelet.

Thomas, the Mark Maresca - designed lantern is all about simple forms that speak volumes.

Belmont Hanging Lantern by Mark Maresca with a spiky Regency flourish at the top and geometric surround.

The Gibson Hanging Lantern from Mark Maresca sheds a lot of light and would be a nice addition over a kitchen island.

Diamond by Michael Amato, the in-house creative director, designed a gorgeous aged finish for this intricately amazing gem.

Long and lean, Cirque by Michael Amato plays on triangle shapes. Pick any color from Benjamin Moore to have it painted.

Chisolm Hall by Michael Amato is also available as a flush mount and defers to classic British design with an American simplicity.

Michael Amato's Globus with the top half silvered is a fresh take on the popular orb I am seeing a lot of now.

Anson Ribbon by Michael Amato is available in any Benjamin Moore color and curlicue flourishes make the light and airy piece wonderfully evocative of a great Dorothy Draper interior.

Bit by Michael Amato is like a timeless Hermes bracelet, clean and simple.

The Edina, with a flush and raised backplate and curvy arm is perfection.

THE NEW HARBINGER ARRIVES

This...

led to this!

Nantucket Red doors painted in a custom Lucas Studio color for Portola Paints look sharp! A custom sized zinc Cosy pendant in a red powder coat finish was designed by Michael Amato for Urban Electric (it launches early January 2012) hangs above the front doors.

Joe Lucas and Parrish Chilcoat are design partners in Lucas Studio and Harbinger, their home furnishings and accessories store. They outgrew their charming Almont Yard digs and have migrated nearby to a new home, at 752 N. La Cienega Blvd. in West Hollywood. Here is peek at their shop, a true destination for interior designers, gift seekers and stylish and savvy. A well-edited mix of antique and vintage finds, small batch imports and an array of the best boutique wallpaper and fabric vendors set Harbinger apart. They carry top notch special lines from Katie Ridder fabrics and wallpapers, Italian Idarica Gazzoni's exotic prints, John Stefanidis prints charming, Pintura Studio, Prints Etc, Sister Parrish, to Holland and Sherry and more.

Welcome!

A Colleen and Company Blue Tortoise Coffee Table anchors a seating area with their neo-wing chair, Swedish and floral four panel folding screen.

The eclectic mix of styles makes the thrill of discovery a shopping adventure. Their Plaisir Relax Chair with a white frame sits to the left in a Prints Etc. fabric.

The custom Vreeland Settee in a small geo for big style. The small rolled arm is a classic yet contemporary touch.

A pair of Oslo painted armchairs in front of the Walnut bed made up in Hillary Thomas bedding.

The armchair is upholstered coordinated pale green fabric and green frame can be done in COM like most of their custom pieces.

A work table where samples can be mixed and matched with a plaster chandelier hanging above. A fancy silhouette is taken to a casual place with the finish treatment- chic!

Fine thin walled porcelain tabletop with color-lined teacups adds an artisanal, handmade allure.

Get to work! The work table in a dark wood doubles as a desk for display and productivity. The Large Oak Bamboo Chair in a bright pomegranate fabric adds some zing. Low bowls with a wash of color inside provide an unexpected color surprise.

The Harbinger-designed Oyster Bay Console Table in the window with plaster and ceramic watering cans from Italy and a swirled Brushstoke Lamp from Beeline Home. A Katie Ridder on the wall ties the lamp to the palette.

Their Antwerp Sofa with channel tufted back and tight seat done in a deep apricot velvet.

A super chic four poster bed dons bed custom embroidered hangings of Holland and Sherry fabrics.

Striking and graphic, these black and white bowls are handmade in Italy.

Beeline Home has a new home in Harbinger. Their wood-framed armchair is covered in a geometric fabric from Idarica Gazzoni.

A Beeline Home Chair flanks a seating arrangement.

Boldly hued fabrics from Amanda Nisbet light up the fabric area. Displayed on easy access hangers, full widths make viewing a snap.