Amazing Bookshelf

This is one of the most unique bookshelves I've ever seen with the books brilliantly nestled under each stair riser.  It might be a look that is hard to pull off in many traditional homes, but I can think of some tight Manhattan spaces that could use this ingenuity. 

 

Front of the stairs from the bottom of the staircase / straight down from above

from NeuBlack

Tony Duquette

I'm finding iconic interior designer Tony Duquette's over the top nouveau-Baroque style really inspirational.  It's way to embellished for my taste, but it's total eye candy to see such dense layering of textures and materials and rich colors.

Tony Duquette

Bedroom at his home Cow Hollow

Bedroom at Horntoad

Drawing room

Drawing room at Cow Hollow

Dressing room at Cow Hollow

Formal dining room at his studio

His "Little Thai House" in the Dawnridge garden

Office at Dawnridge

Office in the Dawnridge garden

Kitchen at Frogmore

Renovation of a 12th century palazzo in Venice

Vignette under the stairs in his studio

all images from tonyduquette.com

Brooke Duchin

Writer and New York fixture Brooke Duchin's home is an incredible hodgepodge (I mean that fondly) of objets d'art, furniture, fabrics, textures, finishes and colors.  While certain items may seem jarring, they all work in the grand scheme of the eclectic apartment - a dark, oversized painting against an icy blue wall, an alligator scaling a bookshelf, a dove hanging from the ceiling . . .  crazy and fabulous.

from New York Social Diary

Conservatories

Once I'm past the apartment living phase, I have this fantasy of living in a well-appointed home with a yard and an elegant conservatory.  An indoor pool would be nice, but let's not get crazy here.  I've seen a lot of options that look like odd, modern boxes that were randomly attached to otherwise beautiful houses, but these have real architectural élan (and a price tag to match, I'm sure).

Love, love these vines.  This orangery has a distinct secret garden feel to it.

No need for something large--a small sun room with enough space for a breakfast table or a few overstuffed chairs is plenty. 

from Glass Houses

The whole effect here is so pastoral and lush.

from Parish Conservatories

The triple peaked roof is so unique, almost like glass tenting.

from Parish Conservatories

This seems straight out of the Hamptons.  It would only be made better by an ocean view.

from Parish Conservatories

I love the idea of sitting out in my conservatory on sunny winter days.

from Parish Conservatories

Imagine this with all three sets of doors thrown open on a breezy summer afternoon.

from Parish Conservatories

I'll take this orangery as my entire house.  I would kill for floor-to ceiling divided light windows like these.