Steven’s dog, Sailor, who was featured in the book “At Home With Dogs and their Designers”, which made my Coffee Table Books for the Design Lover list.
In the design world, dedicating a blog post to Steven Gambrel is quotidian. My husband, who has listened to me talk all about Steven Gambrel over the years, says: “If Michael Jordan and Lebron James had a baby, and that baby grew up doing interior design at the level of a basketball player, it would be Steven Gambrel.” He’s just simply one of the best in the field, and if you love design, you surely know his name and work. In 2012, he was honored as one of “today’s greatest talents in Architecture and Design” in Architectural Digest’s “AD 100” issue.
Hey, Sailor!
Gambrel’s work is frequently featured in the world’s leading publications, including World of Interiors, AD, Town and Country, House Beautiful, and Elle Décor. He’s designed tile for Waterworks — Grove Brickworks (which we used in a recent Courtney Hill Interiors project). He CO-FOUNDED Dering Hall, what?! (Learning this as I research). He’s designed a custom accessories line with the Lacquer Company. And developed a custom lighting line through my favorite lighting company, Urban Electric.
A behind the scenes view into the making of a designer collection with The Urban Electric Co.
So most of you reading are probably already very, very well aware of Steven. But I can’t help it. I just adore his work. So I’m sharing a “brief”* compendium of my favorite Gambrel spaces. You can just roll on through and soak in all the goodness, or you can take a pause at each caption and read why it made today’s collection.
*Okay, it’s not that brief. But I tricked you, and now you might as well keep scrolling.
The King of Lacquer
Antiqued mirror panelling — yes, please.
Please note the interesting furniture layout and the use of different types of coffee tables — metal and glass, upholstered, and black cerused wood — THIS is a prime example of why I turn to Gambrel time and again for inspiration.
Only Steven can make me drool over a sectional.
So simple. So good.
A pop of teal in a world full of “whale gray,” as my family calls this color. Made even more appropriate by Mr. Whale in the stairwell.
It’s really hard to pick here. The two-toned cabinetry, those CHAIRS, the distressed display cabinet, the COLORS.
The space planning here is ingenious. Most people would say “Two full sized dining tables in one space? How ever could we make that work?” Steven turned this oversized room into an amazing space to host and entertain.
How interesting and unique are those light fixtures?
Mmmm
Lanterns! Bed canopy!
Y’all get the idea. The art! The colors, oh the colors. That marble floor! The DOORS!
That little mirrored niche! Who knew I liked yellow and gray together.
Honestly the stuffed tiger is the icing on the cake here.
I can FEEL the warmth of that fire just looking at this — had to take off my sweater!
Interior rusticated walls!
I love art displayed with chains.
Who says closets should be meh??
I might see ONE of those chandeliers and think — that’s a showstopper. Let’s put it over the dining room table, a very special moment. Steven? Let’s do FOUR and put them in this enormous walk-through space! Love the way you think, Steven.
Sweet Sailor in Gambrel’s kitchen
He’s the master of cozy niches, too. Is that an EGG collection on the wall? Amazing.
That brass push plate!!
That marble! That camel-y / blue gray color combo!
Mustard and black is always sexy.
Oh my gosh. Truly art.
The colors. The lacquer.
Steven knows how to style a tray.
If you made it this far, then you love Steven’s work as much as I do. I highly suggest you check out his first book, entitled Time and Place, which was published in 2012. And then buy me — I mean — buy yourself…his newest book, Perspective.