Northshore Home magazine highlights the best in architectural design, new construction and renovations, interiors, and landscape design.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1006262
42 SUMMER 2018 living room "had turned into a gym" covered in blue tumbling mats in constant use by the couple's three children. The furniture was oversized. "I remember cringing a bit, thinking, 'You've got to do more,'" he says, with a light laugh. But what really grabbed Haydel was the antique China Tang dynasty horse by the fireplace. "It was really interesting; that this started the conversation," he says. "The homeowner said it should go to the basement." But Haydel saw a lot of history and emotional value in the little horse. He decided they would build on it. Today the house rings with a modern, easy mood threaded with historical perspective, using subtle designs sometimes repeated for cohesion. A lovely oriental lattice pattern, for instance, appears in the Nina Campbell wallpaper on the walls of the adjacent first- floor office and in the Clarence House pillows on the plush blue Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams living room sofa. "We pulled that reference again and again," Haydel says of the lattice design. The sleeper sofa, besides being a clear focal point, serves an important purpose, allowing the homeowners to accommodate an older family member who sometimes needs help. "We needed to have something that's beautiful enough to anchor the room, but that will also function properly," he says. "It made the space function really well." (The tumbling mats disappeared into the basement, where the kids are quite happy with them.) Blue, whether an organic ocean shade or an electric eye-popper, tastemaker nshoremag.com/nshorehome/ Carnival Creations BY SARAH SHEMKUS Mix the influence of the culture and streets of New Orleans with classic New England styling and the result is Carnival, the line of rugs designer Eric Haydel created in partnership with Dover Rug. The collection includes three patterns inspired by Haydel's memories of his Louisiana childhood, each available in three different color combinations. They combine bold patterns and refined palettes into modern designs that balance fun and sophistication. "It was a natural fit," Mahmud Jafri, owner of Dover Rug, says of the collaboration. The design called Streetcar uses shades of gray, black, and brown to evoke the rails and brick surfaces associated with New Orleans trolley lines. Second Line features bold stripes of varying widths in elegant neutrals enlivened with pops of lime green or sky blue. Masquerade renders swirling lines in a contemporary interpretation of the iconic Mardi Gras beads. Like many of Dover Rug's offerings, the pieces in the Carnival collection are handmade in India. Second Line and Masquerade are 100 percent wool; Streetcar also includes silk. The collaboration came about when Dover Rug was looking for a designer who could help the company create a collection that melded the classic and the contemporary. Haydel had worked with the store on some of his previous design projects, so the parties were already familiar with each other and knew they shared a certain spirit, Jafri says. At the time, Haydel was the president of the New England chapter of Association of Interior Designers, which gave Jafri even more confidence that the designer would understand Dover Rugs' clients and market. "Because we are on the cutting edge of designs and colors, we are constantly exploring new relationships. We were looking for someone who understands the New England sensibilities and the styles and traditions, and is able to incorporate today's colors and lifestyles," he says. "Eric just gets it." Launched in 2016, the collection was warmly received by customers. Jafri says the line is exactly on brand with the Dover Rug—exclusive and fashion-forward. Founded in 1989, Dover Rug offers a range of floor coverings from antique Middle Eastern rugs to contemporary wool carpeting. The company works with master craftspeople in Pakistan, India, and Nepal to create custom one-of-a-kind hand-knotted rugs in exclusive designs. And today, the company has showrooms in Boston, Burlington, and Natick. Looking forward, Haydel and Dover Rug intend to expand their partnership with a second collection of rugs. As industry trends evolve away from muted neutrals, the new line might include some more color, but will certainly maintain Haydel's unique blend of Louisiana playfulness and New England restraint. Jafri hopes to have designs available to debut in the fall, with samples available for clients to view by next spring. doverrug.com Dover Rug owner Mahmud Jafri shown with Eric Haydel's rug collection. The foyer is inviting and playful with touches of blue in the rug and accessories. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY ODOVER RUGS