topic Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE" in Home

DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

Oznell — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 12:04:13 GMT

After the simpler "farmhouse" look she did, I thought this one would be fun. It shows her more 'urban' mode, with touches of glamour and nods to Art Deco (love the ceiling light in this entryway, for example.) And look at that floor.

Again, maybe not completely or explicitly Art Deco, but that Thirties' influence is glamorously present. This sumptuous house reminds me of a 21st century version of a house Jean Harlow or Claudette Colbert or Carole Lombard would live in in one of those "madcap heiress" movies:

She had titled this "River House" on her site, and that drew me b/c it seems like often in houses near a river, the light has a special luminous, shimmery quality (reflecting off the water?). Might be imagining it, but to me the light in this house has that wavery, magical quality...

Oooh, this library or whatever it is, is just my speed, cozy paneling, staircase, sinkable upholstery, oxblood lamps and all!

Love the chunky (leather?) rhino next to the chair...and that window, of course.

And love the surprise of the pool room at the very end! Looks to be in the attic, maybe.

There were other fabulous rooms, quite a few of them, but I think these give the gist of this "river house".

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

Sweetbay magnolia — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 12:14:05 GMT

Fairy tale beautiful!

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

Ladylaughsalot — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 12:16:24 GMT

What a beautiful home. Perfectly done.

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

tobes — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 12:34:58 GMT

@Oznell love all rooms

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

LTT1 — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 12:40:04 GMT

@Oznell

I like the inlaid parquet floor in the hallway with the chest.

The kitchen is wonderful (to me) except for the squared-off edges of the marble island.

Love the unique window shapes throughout.

Love the pale pink paint in a bedroom.

Love the billiard room.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ That hall library with the leather hippo!

That whole area is decorated to my taste and I could live in (Maybe?)

Thanks for posting this.

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

fancy pantsy — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 13:04:23 GMT

that's a beautiful home! i love the room with the 'sinkable' furniture, and that's about the only room i could live in. also love the kitchen even though it's totally not my style.

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

Sooner — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 13:10:55 GMT

Change the red sofa to peachy pink and move me right in!

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

Somertime — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 13:15:33 GMT

@Oznell What an eye pleaser! I am mad for the entry foyer! It is exquisite! The detail amazing from the crown and dentil molding to the floor. The floor is a work of art! It took many man hours to achieve this look. It is all stained by hand, no inserts. The design is achieved by taping off the designs. If you look carefully you can see the "seams" running through. It is achieved by taping off the design and staining each section individually. The entire floor was striped to bring out the lightest color which is the overall color of the entire floor. The next stain applied is the medium color which is the inside color of each the large square. A slightly darker stain is added to the stripes and diamond pattern and the final stain is the darkest and then it is sealed. Hours and hours of work went into this. It takes a true craftsman to achieve this look, to say nothing of the cost. I love the chest as well, I think it's burl biedermeier chest.

What a spectacular entry foyer! Thanks so much for posting! Made my day!

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

shoptilyadropagain — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 13:18:56 GMT

It's not my style but, for the most part, is very nicely done. I LOVE that wooden inlay floor in the entryway....WOW!!!!

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

CANDLEQUEEN — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 13:54:13 GMT

I love this!!!! I also would love to get my hands on all of those books in the reading room....I would be found in there for sure. I love this!

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

stevieb — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 15:01:17 GMT

Very nice elements and spaces but I guess I'm the odd one out because overall, I don't care for this design. I've seen lovely rooms done by Howard and tend to enjoy her work, but not this time.

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

godi — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 15:15:28 GMT

Stunning. 😍

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

DREAMON — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 15:47:50 GMT

Another lovely welcoming home.

I am kind of on the fence with the Billiard Room. It doesn't flow with the rest of the beautiful home. I think I would redo it to be more complimentary.

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

Oznell — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 16:00:35 GMT

Love your insider's analysis of that gorgeous floor, @Somertime. I learn so much from the amazing posters on these threads!

I hope you won't mind my recounting this to those who may not know, @Somertime, but @Somertime had an enviable career working with the legendary designer David Easton, whose rarefied work can be found online and in many books on interior design...

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

Iwantcoffee — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 16:22:45 GMT

Thank you for sharing @Oznell. I have enjoyed looking at these beautiful rooms!

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

Foxxee — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 16:55:46 GMT

Love the house's interior architecture, but not this decor at all.

The living room with fireplace is just dreadful and looks unfinished. So stiff. Chairs and sofa sitting all alone...no side table and lamps that add to a cozy feeling, except one tiny table sitting in front of the sofa. What's the purpose of a coffee table if it's sitting too far from the furniture to be used?

White and pale gray bedroom too ghostly. No pink bedrooms, please.

The furniture in the sitting room by the stairs looks comfy enough, but the colors....? This room makes the most sense to me. Side tables, lamps, coffee table within reach.

Overall, I don't like her choice of furniture.

The bookshelves...what a way to ruin them by painting them this color blue.

I suppose, the kitchen is the best.

Each room I walk into appears to belong to a different house. Nothing ties together and certainly not with this lovely house.

I want to feel warmth when I walk into a house, formal or informal. This one doesn't have it. I'd take everything out and start over.

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

Somertime — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 20:13:29 GMT

@CANDLEQUEEN @Oznell

Candlequeen, your remark about the books tweaked my memory. Sometimes a designer will have a client that is not a reader or collector of books (unlike me) but, always wants a library filled with books. You can, actually, buy books by the foot...around $4.00 a linear foot. You have several "types" of books to chose from: by color either leather or paper wrapped, Antique books, Modern books, Vintage books, Children's books even by subject. TV and movies do this when they are staging a set as well. A designer will use these when doing a Showcase House and they are given a Library that they are required to design.

There are, always, tricks to the trade!

https://www.booksbythefoot.com/shop/pc/viewAllPrds.asp

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

Oznell — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 20:35:55 GMT

Wow, 'color-coordinated' books for every decor! Amazing site, @Somertime!

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

spiderw — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 22:04:40 GMT

So much beauty and class in every room! I love the furnishings, the colors and styles of it all. The floor is exquisite and there is a lot of appeal to draw me in. I could easily be at home in this entire setting.

Re: DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD'S "RIVER HOUSE"

GingerPeach — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 20:28:44 GMT

Very elegant.

If you like the rhino, @Oznell , you might like my antique Steiff elephant that stands proudly by my living room fireplace.

He doesn't look quite this good anymore. (Well, admittedly he's not elegant like the rhino, either, but he's a part of the family!)