Designer Spotlight for Cottages and Gardens
We’re thrilled to be featured in Cottages and Gardens Designer Spotlight column this month!
Palm Beach Pied-A-Terre project featured in Southern Home
We’re pleased to announce that our Palm Beach Pied-A-Terre project is featured in Southern Home! Check out this ocean view vacation home project here and read the whole article here.
Featured in elledecor.com!
We’re thrilled to have our staircase from our Classic Georgian Estate Project featured in elledecor.com’s 27 Stylish Staircase Decorating Ideas article.
Detroit Home 2018 Magazine Design Awards!
Honored to be a judge for Detroit Home Magazine 2018. Congratulations to all the participants, great work!
Color and How it Creates Interiors – by Chris Roughan of Roughan Interiors
Published on Jun 1, 2018 in Around Town – Greenwich Moms
As an interior designer, I get asked a number of times of what color choice should I use for my dining room, living room, bedroom etc.? My answer is simple, the color that invites the feeling you want to convey. Color is very important and creates the initial feeling when you walk into a room. It can add warmth, chaos, calmness and of course sheer happiness or dread. I have organized a few colors and room examples on how color can be applied to your room interior.
Blue:
Blue is many peoples favorite color and whether its navy, cornflower, turquoise or cadet blue they all create calming. It is believed that blue can create chemicals in your body that slow down your metabolism. It is also proven that blue is a deterrent from food as it makes it unappetizing. Come to think of it I haven’t seen many blue plates. Blue is wonderful for reading rooms, master bathrooms, master bedrooms, powder rooms and living rooms.
Red:
Vibrant red is an energy surge and lures people into a space as it’s enigmatic. Diana Vreeland loved red and was know for her extravagant red interiors that she swore by. Red gets the mind and body going and it is known to get your appetite going. Red is not calming but can create great energy and creative thinking. Red works in gyms, dining rooms, and tiny powder rooms for an accent.
Orange:
Orange is red’s partner but more subtle. Orange as accents can give off happiness as it color is proven to be a medicinal energy booster. It has the ability to create motivation and will power. Orange is great for a home gym, accents in bedrooms, children’s study or room.
Green:
Green is the color of health, and it known for its stabilizing and effects of how people feel. Love green in a kitchen, dining room, children’s room, outdoor patio and reading room or conservatory.
Purple:
Calm and sleep are two adjectives to describe the effects purple or its sisters lilac and lavender have on an individual. This color is all about relaxation. They create a spa like feeling and can be used in all bedrooms, spas, reading rooms.
Roger Hirsch – Private House New York
Roughan Interiors
With a reputation for listening carefully to the needs of clients, attention to detail, and discretion, Roughan has become a favorite of international celebrities as well as design editors at Interior Design magazine, House Beautiful, Elle Décor, CT Cottages & Gardens and AtHome Magazine to name a few.
Photography by Jane Beiles
Art Smart Event at The Collective
Roughan Interiors featured in Serendipity
Check out our latest New Canaan Georgian-style home project in this month’s New England Home magazine!
Roughan Interiors featured article in New England Home magazine
Check out our latest New Canaan Georgian-style home project in this month’s New England Home magazine!
Designer Christina Roughan creates spaces with modern, traditional mix
Article By Christina Hennessy for Greenwich Time, March 20, 2018
As a child, Christina Sullivan Roughan would often join her mother on antique treasure hunts at the markets near her Massachusetts home. At first, it was a rough go — her mother’s intent gaze lingered from table to table as she sought out finds. It made for a long day.
“As I grew older, I appreciated it more and more,” Roughan says, who years later helped her mother and grandmother, when they set up shop with their discoveries at the Brimfield Flea Markets in Brimfield, Mass.
Roughan (pronounced Rowan), an award-winning designer who runs Roughan Interior Design, cultivates her own antique and collectible treasures that offer a distinct personality to a room. Her intent is to find objects that evoke emotions and conjure up memories. They are the pieces of a larger, eclectic puzzle — one that incorporates elements from different eras and styles in a way that all fits.
“If you walk around my house, it is very curated,” the award-winning designer says of the Weston home she shares with her husband and daughters. “It really is all the things that I love.”
Among her finds are glassware from the late Dorothy Thorpe — those silver-banded tumblers that were the rage in the “Mad Men” era, as well as the Norwegian bright enamel Cathrineholm bowls, with their lotus and stripe designs, that evoke kitchens of the 1960s.
A post shared by Roughan Interiors (@roughaninteriors) on Feb 9, 2018 at 3:08am PST
“When you go into a house and it looks like a kitchen you remember growing up in … it brings back nostalgia,” Roughan says. “I love to evoke that feeling and integrate it into the design. It’s about recapturing that feeling and redesigning it into the modern lifestyle.”
It is an intersection she has planted herself at since the start of her interior design career in the early 1990s, after designing stores for Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. With offices in Greenwich, New York City and Weston, her aesthetic is adaptable to sophisticated city lofts and studios, as well as classic country homes. She calls her approach modern traditional — a trend that has grown in popularity since she first started out in New York City in her early 20s.
“It’s timeless and approachable,” she says of a perspective that teams sophistication with simplicity.
One could trade in the words classic and comfortable, too. It’s tailor-made for those looking to soften the lines of modern and traditional furniture and bring a touch of whimsy and coziness to a space.
It allows Roughan to place two modern Saarinen chairs into a play space in a traditional Darien home. The room pops with color — deep blues and apple greens — and possibility. It can double as a place to play and a place to entertain once the toys are tucked away.
For a dining room in a 1800s Georgian home, she might suggest a traditional table, but surround it with modern chairs. Classic drapes are put on sleek, polished nickel poles and the wallpaper boasts bold floral graphics.
“I love modern furniture,” she says of Bauhaus and mid-century-modern pieces. “I like to integrate that into a more traditional space. The combination can be amazing when pulled together well.”
Nothing is too fussy or layered or staid in these looks. Even those with clean, simple lines have a softness and accessibility to them that reveals the personality and character of the family or person living in the space. Roughan works with clients to gather accessories and art they love and will give each project its own look.
Early in her career, such flexibility was key to designing the retail shops for Ralph Lauren.
“We had to do a lot of different looks for the experience,” she says, noting that each store required a distinct feel and personality. At any moment, she was looking for elements that would broadcast a chic New York City penthouse, an Irish cottage, an opulent English estate, a polo club or a cottage by the sea.
“I had an eye for fashion … and I never thought I was going to be an interior designer,” Roughan says. “It just evolved. … I had been trained very well by the best people.”
In the 24 years since she began working in homes and commercial spaces as an interior designer, she has attracted celebrity clients, including Donna Karan and Japanese retailer Takashimaya. She has transformed homes throughout the tri-state area and beyond, with projects in Greenwich and Darien, and those in New York City, Florida and California. Last month, she was tapped by the Fairfield County Antique and Design Center to show off her design style with a vignette she created from pieces within the center.
She suspects this approach to home design is not going to fade anytime soon, given the flexibility and function it affords the modern dweller. Colors need not stay in strict color palettes. Whimsical pieces can rub elbows with traditional accents. Art and photography can be hung side by side. It’s all about the flow, Roughan says, and ensuring the pieces work well together.
“It becomes very much a curated space,” she says. “Every project is different and that is part of the fun. I love finding accessories for clients and spaces. When it all falls together, it is synchronicity. It is finished, and it is something that is joyous.”
Designers on Designers: James Aman, Partner, Aman & Meeks
Great Art and Other Things That Inspire This Internationally-Known Designer and Author
Published in Klaffs, Winter 2018
By Christina Roughan, Roughan Interiors
Photographs by Karen Fuchs
In this column, I am pleased to introduce you to James Aman, partner in the world-renowned interior design firm Aman & Meeks. The firm’s classic designs can be seen in such prominent shelter publications as Architectural Digest, Elle Décor and others. James is also the author of, “The New Formal: Interiors by James Aman” a design book that features handpicked selections of Aman & Meeks Interiors. According to its synopsis on amazon.com, the book focuses on, “…creating settings where great art can live in harmony with the style of the interiors and provide an elegant and inviting living space for the collectors… the hallmark of James Aman’s design.”
James and his partner John Meeks are true visionaries. Their work is crafted to create livable, curated interiors that are timeless. For example, throughout Aman’s book, each project, whether completed ten years ago or today, looks as if it were just shot for an Architectural Digest spread. This is an extraordinary feat in and of itself and why the two are known for interiors that endure beyond momentary trends. From Palm Beach to Los Angeles to Europe and over their careers they report that their work always remains engaging and fun. Each new project is a truly new experience.
At the time of this interview, John was shopping for a Palm Beach client. I was able to catch up with James at their busy Manhattan office.
There are so many inspirational aspects to design, I thought it would be rather fun to ask James some questions to learn about his influences, aspirations and thoughts – and what motivates his creativity. Enjoy this journey of design with Aman & Meeks’ James Aman!
15 Questions for James Aman of Aman & Meeks
1. When you were a child did you know that your career would be in the arts? If not, what did you think you would do?
I loved theatre, how sets moved around, and I excelled in that aspect of design as a child.
2. How has your past influenced your design aesthetic today?
I have been working for 26 years with clients who have major art collections. That has affected how they view interiors and how they will approach things. They go for good bones and neutral color palates which makes things more livable. As John was a clothing designer before we started our firm, we both agree that we love a great Pucci dress but do not want to look at that piece every day. Common sensibility: go for livable and timeless.
3. What is one of your favorite films?
I draw a lot of inspiration from movie and theatre sets. One of my favorites is “Leave Her to Heaven” with Gene Tierney. Much of the action takes place in an amazing country house with interiors were built on a soundstage at 20th Century Fox studio in Los Angeles. Interior Design needs to be personal as well as dramatic. It’s a background for life.
4. What was your first job?
My first job out of Pratt School of Design was as a designer for Ralph Lauren. I was there for 12 years.
5. What music are you currently listening to?
Anthony and the Johnsons, Beautiful South, Snow Patrol and The Motels.
6. Who is your favorite musician?
Debbie Harry of Blondie fame. Her music is consistently good. I caught her show at the Café Carlyle.
7. Who is your favorite photographer?
The softer period of Robert Mapplethorpe is appealing. Also Horst P Horst whose style was a direct response to the major avant-garde art movements of the 1920s including Bauhaus and Art Deco. He has a neo-classic feeling that I find inspiring.
8. Who is your favorite Interior designer?
Billy Baldwin. He was innovative and still very much relevant today.
9. What is or was your favorite time period for design?
The 1920’s as exemplified by Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann and, of course, the 1950’s as interpreted by Billy Baldwin in his work.
10. Who is your favorite film director?
Alfred Hitchcock, hands down. Everything was so story-board stylized. Psycho was treated and executed as an art film — truly amazing for its time.
11. What’s your favorite personal design element, the one you can’t live without?
Vintage Kieselstein-Cord cuff links that I wear every single day.
12. What is your design trademark?
Timeless, livable glamour.
13. What’s your favorite travel destination?
John and I loved Amsterdam. The people are delightful, and the food is amazing. For us, the architecture there is wonderful to behold and we immersed ourselves in the museums. The Van Gogh museum and Rembrandt House are musts for design inspiration.
14. What is your favorite project to date?
For us, it’s all about the moment, so the project we are working on is always our favorite. We love projects with architecture and good bones that enable great design. Our clients move around or have multiple homes with substantial art collections that are always evolving. Our interiors allow our clients to change their art and it always looks good.
15. What is an element of your life that you can’t live without?
Milly, our little Pug dog!
Designers on Designers: Charlotte Barnes, Greenwich, Conn.
Published in Klaffs, Fall 2017
Design Hall-of-Famer Sets Style Trends in Interiors and Home Furnishings
Charlotte Barnes, founder/owner of Charlotte Barnes Design & Decoration, LLC, is the doyenne of Connecticut design. Her work is not only beautiful and well curated, it also speaks to her clients’ lifestyles and represents who they are. Charlotte’s interiors have taken her all over the world, designing city townhouses, pied-a- terres, residential apartments and special commercial spaces. She was inducted into the New England Design Hall of Fame in 2015.
I met Charlotte for the first time at her quaintly chic interiors shop in Greenwich. I immediately fell in love with her graceful, “not so traditional” style. Every detail was perfected — from the colored pillows placed carefully next to the caramel sisal floor, to the 4” custom collars on her tailored, white button-down cotton shirts, a “Charlotte” signature.
I’m excited to share her fascinating creative journey with KLAFFStyle readers. Charlotte spent most of her childhood in Philadelphia and upstate New York, often traveling to and from New York City to visit family. The city was part of her young vernacular, greatly influenced by an aunt who was an interior designer and a grandmother who was very social and wore gloves until the day she passed. These women and their senses of style are evident in her aesthetic to this day.
Early on she knew she would be working in the arts. As a teenager she painted her room multiple times to create different visions and developed a love of fashion. She integrated these youthful sensibilities into her future careers.
Upon graduating from school, Charlotte moved to New York City. Unsure of where to start her career, she took the advice of her father who said, “Get your real estate license.” Showing Manhattan apartments to a fashion executive—the president of Ralph Lauren—proved to be serendipitous. This client was a licensee for Ralph Lauren at a time when the company was growing and had a need for talented young people with taste. Charlotte shared her passion for style and fashion with this client. Their conversations led to an opportunity at Lauren and a job offer.
Charlotte became a Ralph Lauren merchandise coordinator at Bloomingdales and began to make a name for herself. As the company continued to expand, a licensee from Canada decided to take Ralph Lauren to London and recruited Charlotte for Head of Womenswear at the first office overseas.
Although she worked with Ralph Lauren design on womenswear, her main focus at that time was on merchandising, product design, working with factories in Italy, and creating womenswear that represented the brand. During this phase she developed a meticulous attention to detail. For example, merchandising a Polo shirt wall could take hours to get the look just right. Her commitment to seeking perfection paid off.
While in London, Charlotte met Anne Hardy, an American editor at British House & Garden who just loved her style and asked to feature her flat in a story. The response was so positive that it led Charlotte into Interiors as her next career.
When she returned to the States she settled in Greenwich, Conn., where she opened her eponymous boutique and design firm Charlotte Barnes Interior Design & Decoration, LLC. The boutique features select items from her 30-piece furniture collection, which she created and launched in 2014, as well as an array of curated antiques from her travels.
She loves tradition and her interiors clearly tell a timeless story tailored to each project. Sixty percent of her clients have worked with her more than once as their lives and lifestyles have evolved. Through hard work, honesty and integrity, her clients trust her implicitly with their homes. “In Charlotte we trust,” is a phrase she hears often when a client is not quite sure of a particular item. She always tells them, “Buy what you love, and you will always find a place for It.”
She’s attracted a loyal clientele in New York City, Greenwich, East Hampton, Watch Hill, Newport, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Palm Beach, John’s Island, London, Turkey and many other locations around the globe.
10 Questions for Charlotte Barnes
1. How would you describe your aesthetic?
Traditional but not. Clean elegant lines, timeless with a blend of tradition and modern. I love collections and the stories behind them.
2. What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Be honest and maintain your integrity.
3. How has travel influenced your design work?
Every place that I travel inspires me when creating my next project.
4. Most challenging experience?
When I first started I had a fashion background so I had to teach myself scale and proportion.
5. Most fun Job?
There are so many projects, especially the little jewel box ones. One that stands out is a beach house in Amaganset, a fab A-frame home with exposed beams I painted all white with accents of color. It was beach chic.
6. What is your favorite color?
White
7. What is your favorite word?
Swanky and swoon
8. Who is your favorite musical artist?
George Michael
9. What is your favorite vacation spot?
Bahamas
10. What is your most coveted accessory?
My custom white cotton buttoned down shirts with a 4″ collar and my collection of sneakers
Contact information:
www.charlottebarnes.com
Charlotte Barnes Interior Design & Decoration, LLC
173 Davis Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830
t 203.622.6953 | f 203.552.1160
info@charlottebarnes.com
