A HOW TO: DESIGNING ROOMS WITH JOIE DE VIVRE
My mother, sister and I are all in the design world. My sister and I learned about interiors and decoration from our mom who was instrumental in developing our design eye, and those who know her will agree that she is truly singular, and one of the chicest, most stylish, and gracious women. My mom shared her appreciation for beautiful things with us, including what elements make a room comfortable and interesting, which antiques appealed to her and why (hence, my love for Georgian furniture), how to entertain with elan, and more. She makes it look effortless, from masterful flower arranging to cooking delicious food (when we were very young she studied in Paris at Cordon Bleu and apprenticed with the top pastry chef in New York), and exudes her signature warmth, kindness, and generosity in everything she undertakes. I bring up early childhood influences because they inform the approach of a new book. My sister, Amanda Reynal, has just published Designing Rooms with Joie de Vivre: A Fresh Take on Classic Style with Abrams. Filled with color and pattern, it showcases projects that are traditional and classic, fresh and fun. It’s dopamine decorating with joy as a central theme. Each chapter is organized around different aspects of decorating and design topics. She discusses design fundamentals, color, signature moments, layering and details, the classics, making practical spaces stylish, and ends with joyful rooms. If you love brightly colored fabrics and eye-catching accessories, then this book is for you. Pick up a copy here, and be inspired by yards of Quadrille and Schumacher prints aplenty, and new traditional furniture from Oomph and Villa and House, among other favorites.
Images courtesy of Abrams
in 2022, Amanda designed an outdoor room at The Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse in Palm Beach. The space was anchored by a sunny, vintage-inspired floral print from Schumacher, and the pink, yellow, and green color palette was woven in through resort-chic, happy decorative accessories and tropical flourishes.
A wall clad in a sprightly floral print sets the stage for an entryway with a rattan console. The pair of lamps, malachite framed mirror and flowers were selected to coordinate with the wallpaper.
My sister and I love accessories, so it is no wonder her interiors are filled with various decorative trays, ceramic cachepots and bowls to corral odds and ends.
Lattice lends a classic feel to pale blue walls in this sunroom. Utilizing pink, blue, green, and yellow, the scheme is traditional and fresh.
In a breakfast nook, a tufted banquette provides wall-to-wall seating in a tight space. A cheerful print is used for roman shades and a zig zag print on the white Chinese Chippendale chairs adds an element of fun.
In her bedroom, shades of pink and green are balanced out by neutral grasscloth walls in a light beige. Our mother adores pretty bedding, and monogrammed linens are the finishing touch.