A Tale of Two Owners

But first, a quick little response to the ending of my last post.  I, of course, feel that the Bunce home in the Hudson River Valley is much more cozy than the one in Ojai, California for one major reason - the weather.  California does not need cozy with its beautifully warm weather year round, so homes there reflect the weather with their open, serene, calm and uncluttered decor.  Homes in the northeast with subzero temperatures and two feet of snow need cozy.  Let's look at a home I've admired for years, that of Bill Blass in Connecticut, a man who knew how to do cozy.

This 1998 Italian edition of Elle Decor featured the following images of his home.

Here we see the designer in the throes of winter with his two goldens.   Even the dogs look cozy.

The beautiful stone exterior.


The wood tones of the floorboards, beams and antiques warm winter viewed through his french doors.

The cool white tones of the living room walls are warmed again by wood tones.  The fire in the hearth and the books add more.  I hesitate to add the word cozy - not a word associated with Blass - but this room and its fire are definitely inviting on a cold winter day.

Another living room view with such interesting antiques.

And more.

His dining room replete with antique maps and silver candle holders.  Love his simple table setting.

Library bookcases, mantel, and antique mirror.

Library's other side.  Blass has a library, I have a den with bookcases - somehow that defines the vast difference between his cozy versus my cozy.  His is so lovely.

The staircase model on the bedroom's table always fascinated me.  Again a fireplace stands ready for duty.

The designer himself amid his collections.  (Personal aside: love men in corduroy in the winter.)

Summer views from the internet.  Note at least three chimneys for winter warmth.

The following images were all found on Google images.

Another view of his mudroom.

More living room and collections and antiques.

From the ceiling molding, I believe this room is from his NYC apartment, not from Connecticut,  but the leather chair and the books and the antiques, and another staircase model all speak to me of, dare I say, cozy.  Had to include it.

Close up of Connecticut bedroom.  So, so tasteful.

"In 1981, the Vogue described it as “a house with integrity . . . and the best kind of American good looks.” As Blass’s friend and neighbor Oscar de la Renta noted a decade ago, Blass “achieved perfection in an extremely simple manner,” and in this, as in the effortless clothes he designed, which melded insouciantly chic practicality with silver-screen glamour, he was “totally American.”'  

Sadly, Bill Blass died in 2002 and his home was sold.  Vogue featured an article showing the changes made by this new owner, Daniel Romualdez, himself both a designer and architect.

Exterior still so beautiful.

Much brighter color in living room and fewer antiques.  Cozy?

Brighter dining room with some great antiques.  I really like this room.  Cozy?

Interesting entry way.  I've never been a fan of stuffed animals, but somehow I love the goose.  Cozy?

And because neither article from above showed the home's kitchen, I thought I would end with this kitchen from Colonial Revival Shingle Style.  It's both warm and cozy, I love it, and, after all, it suits the name of my blog.

Have a warm and cozy week end.  Till next time -
b

Warm and Cozy in the Hudson River Valley; Warm in Ojai, California

It is 10 degrees in my part of New York state today, so "warm and cozy" is definitely on my mind.  For years I have saved two magazines showing the same house, seemingly the the very definition of warm and cozy.  After scanning all the images of this house for you, I googled the owners' name and found the family living in an Ojai, California home in 2004, so I added these images also.  Come join me as we view both homes and their locations, and decide if both homes have warm and cozy elements.

Don't let the July, 1993 date delude you; the home exudes warm and coziness when readers would think the issue would be full of only "beachiness".

See.  (Don't you love the red paisley throw on the sleigh bed?) Cozy , right?

Right side of room with beautiful books and an antique painting.

And the requisite blazing fireplace. 

The study with a hanging tapestry, a find of the owner.

Dining room with more antiques and a painting I love.

Dining room close up.

Primitive armoire holding china, linen and cocktails.  And another antique painting.

That I love the kitchen is no surprise.  Yellow ware seems to be a particular favorite of the owners, but the cat seems unsure.

Master bedroom with its own roaring fire.

Bedroom and master bath details.

Note the touches of black throughout the house, acting like a unifying cord.

Guest bedroom.

Attractive owners of the house and collectors of antiques - Carol Gramm and Jack Bunce, both one-time models who met on a shoot.

Jumping ahead to November, 1994, we find the same home in Martha Stewart Living.

The same dining room as above but now in its Thanksgiving finery.  Love how the owners actually use their yellow ware.

Lorraine Bunce, Carolina's mother-in-law helps prepare sweet potatoes,

while Carolina bastes the turkey.  Even now days after Thanksgiving and Christmas, this fare looks so delicious - especially in 10 degree weather.

Cat still a fixture, warm fireplace, and lovely cheese tray all speak to a cozy holiday.

Glimpse into sitting room from dining room.

Another view of dining room in Thanksgiving finery.  Natural, simple and beautiful.

Host, Jack Bunce, and his guests.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Glimpse of a youngish Martha, and cranberry-filled pears.

Dessert table.

Carolina - chef, antique collector, decorator - rests after her job well done.  Note that Jack will do all the clean up before morning - a tradition that needs to be followed by all families, especially mine.

Don't you agree the Bunce home illustrates many elements that make up warm and cozy: fireplaces all aglow, a touch of red in paisley throws and tapestries, library with leather books, carefully chosen antiques, a kitchen bursting with holiday cheer.

Now let's view the Bunce family after their move to Ojai, California.  The following images were taken from the September 2004 issue of Martha Stewart Decorating.  During the time between the Thanksgiving above and the move to Ojai, Carolina founded her own design firm, Gramm Design.

Still the great yellow ware collection.

Still the pretty table scapes.

Still a great kitchen and antique oriental rug. 

Several of the paintings from the Hudson River Valley house.  Clementines now adorn the table replacing pumpkins.

Wooden floors replaced now with tile ones.  (Has the dog replaced the cats I wonder?)

Ah, still the antique daybed, painting, and a fireplace aglow.  Is that a clementine tree I spy?

Antique bed?  Antique chair and tile floor.

A very California and inviting exterior.

A 2004 picture of the Bunce family now including their 8-year-old son, Graham outside their Ojai home.  (All these articles may be found on Carolina's website, www.grammdesign.com.)

What do we think?  Can warm and cozy be transferred from a home on one chilly coast to a home on a warm one?  I'd be interested in your opinion, and I will tell you mine in the next post.  Till then, stay warm.  

From a very nippy 10 degree,

b