Name:Nicole Lanteri, Interior Designer and owner of On My Agenda, and husband Aaron Trent.
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Size: 1200 square feet
Years lived in: 5 years; Owned
Lawyer turned interior decorator Nicole Lanteri knows a thing or two about making a house a home. A few years ago she stepped away from her career as a lawyer to pursue her passion for interior design, and (thankfully) hasn't looked back. Her own apartment is filled to the brim with home design, architectural, and fashion magazines for inspiration. Moodboards dot the walls of her office, which occupies the top level of the two-story loft that she shares with her husband Aaron.
Nicole and her husband moved from the bright lights of New York City to put roots down in this quiet residential neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia five years ago. Two things Nicole knew she wanted when looking for a place: an apartment (not a house) and lots of natural light. She sought an apartment on the top floor, which would allow for the most direct sunlight and would prevent her and Aaron from having to face any building construction that may be happening across the street.
To achieve the Parisian salon vibe Nicole loves, skillful planning and constant rearranging was involved. To maximize space, Nicole split their sectional couch between two separate rooms. And though she doesn't fancy herself a DIY-er in the traditional build-it-from-scratch sense, Nicole has a natural knack for re-purposing things. In her scheme, items that were once just decorative become much more functional. What was designed as a spineless bookcase, Nicole turned into neat linear storage for her many pairs of blue jeans. That picture frame rack from Ikea is now a shelf for holding toiletries.
The downstairs guest rooms winks at the traveler and invites you to read through books on Seattle, London, Los Angeles, and of course Paris. Bold patterns and various hues of green mix beautifully. Nicole's love for great vintage chairs is also notable. (Her husband Aaron holds the honor of being the official chair tester before each purchase.) One-of-a-kind floor sample items that she found at a steal from top showrooms are beautifully arranged to increase the impact of each space.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style/Inspiration: Our main inspiration is how we actually use our space. We love to cook, hang out and entertain in our home, so we wanted to create a furniture layout that reflected that. I love the look and feel of Parisian apartments (I'm a sucker for any book about Parisian interiors) and the idea of a sort of Parisian salon — cooking, entertaining, reading in one space. So we created a Parisian-salon-style layout with an eclectic a mix of antique pieces and more modern pieces. For our style, I wanted it to feel creative, unique and simply a place we love to be in every day. Traveling to cities also inspires my style — my favorites for design inspiration are Paris, Los Angeles, Portland, Lisbon and Chicago.
Favorite Element: We love that our small, open space allows us to enjoy the space together, but apart. We can still be in separate areas — me working in the office in the loft, Aaron downstairs reading — but can talk with each other and don't feel like we have to go to separate wings of the house to work or watch TV and not be with each other just because we want to do different things. The natural light in the space is amazing and a key part of why we purchased the home. Don't compromise on that if you know it's important to you — even on a cloudy day it feels bright in here! We also love that it's our forever home and never want to move — that's an amazing feeling.
Biggest Challenge: There are a few — finding a good space for Aaron's bike was a big one! It used to hang on the wall in our bedroom but that was too much for me so now it is just parked in the bedroom and he can easily use it — he was very nice to select one that color coordinated with our space. Changing the smoke detector battery on an 18' ceiling was an experience we hope not to have to repeat any time soon (if you have to do this be sure to replace it with a 10 year battery). Lighting the large open space over the dining area was hard too without any overhead lighting, but I found the right balance of light (without the expense of running overhead lighting) with wall lamps mounted pretty high on the wall and a mix of different lamps with different qualities of light/lightbulbs/shades. Lighting is so crucial and this was one of the first things I focused on. It sounds silly, but buying the right light bulbs and lampshades is actually really important and can change the look and feel of a space in an instant.
What Friends Say: "Let's have another drink!" Our dinner parties and get-togethers end up going way later than anticipated, which I love. When our family and friends visit, they love how cozy our guest room feels and never want to leave.
Biggest Embarrassment: I love rearranging furniture just to test how different layouts and plans will work. Moving furniture is sort of a form of therapy for me, and our space is a little bit of a design lab for my client projects. Organizing closets and cabinets is also very therapeutic. Aaron never knows if he'll come home to find me mid-reorg and literally all of the contents of the kitchen cabinets on the kitchen island.
Oh, and constant dust bunnies on the floors and fingerprints on the appliances are a downside to living in a loft space with all wood floors and bright light. But I just tell myself perfection is overrated and at some point stainless steel appliances will go out of style (I actually don't think that will happen any time soon, but it makes me feel better).
Proudest DIY: The desk and cabinet that I painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Antoinette and gray oil based paint for the knobs. I loved the piece and was psyched that the Chalk Paint was as easy to do as marketed and I could do it right in my home with no paint odor or mess — no more attempting to spray paint in the apartment (not a good idea)! If I could Chalk Paint everything I would!
Biggest Indulgence:My pink leather Eames Management desk chair. Even from DWR's eBay site (best discount site!) it was still a splurge. I'm happy sitting in it every day though, so it was totally worth it — how could you not be happy working in a hot pink leather chair every day?
Best Advice: Design from a plan, not just by picking out pieces here and there. Unfortunately, it doesn't usually work to buy pieces just because you love them or they are a great deal — they also have to be the right dimensions and right fit for your space and how you actually live. Find balance in your design of a space — high/low items, bold/soft pieces, warm/cold colors — and your space will come together a lot more easily and feel complete sooner than later. And, most importantly, work towards making your space feel effortless instead of perfect.
Dream Sources:Paul Smith No. 9 in London — an incredibly curated collection of amazing furniture and art that you can buy
Denova in the Hampden area of Baltimore, Maryland — best mid-century modern store with a touch of 1920s glamour and Paris in the 1950s
Les Puces de Saint-Ouen Market in Paris — I was like a kid in a candy store here.
Resources of Note:
PAINT COLORS
• Bathroom: Benjamin Moore Black Aura Bath and Spa
• Kitchen: Benjamin Moore French Beret
GUEST BEDROOM
• Dresser and desk: Antique thrift store
• Frames: Ikea; West Elm, vintage
• Curtains: Ikea
• Side chairs: Blue Dot collection at Target
• Ottoman: CB2
• Green lamp: Goodwood in D.C
• Sofa: Room and Board
• Chest: Grandparents'
• Sliding doors: Sliding Door Company
• Lamp: Ikea
• Artificial Bamboo Plant: World Market
• Fiddle Leaf Fig Fern Plant: American Plant
• Green and yellow painting: Home Anthology in Catonsville, MD
• Pillows: West Elm and CB2; blanket: West Elm
• Green rug: Anthropologie; Black and White rug: CB2
• Green chair: Crate and Barrel
DINING ROOM
• Brass Side chair: Georgetown flea market
• White lamp: Georgetown flea
• Music sheet painting: Mitchell Gold Bob Williams on 14th Street
• Wall sconces: Ikea
• Light fixture: Ikea
• Cabinets: Crate and Barrel
• Sectional: CB2
• Barstools: CB2
• Dining table: Antique store in NYC
• Two dining chairs: Crate and Barrel; others: Craigslist find
• Stools: Second Chance in Baltimore
• Buffet: Floor sample at West Elm
• Red lamp: Denova in Baltimore
• Trays: Georgetown Flea Market; Showroom 1412
• Square Metallic Wall art: Show pieces from West Elm
• Small wood tables: CB2
• Marble table: Antique store in Philadelphia
• Bar: Georgetown Flea Market
• Brass Lamps: Marshalls
LIVING ROOM
• Couch: CB2
• Blanket: Design Within Reach
• Marble Side Table: Eastern Market
• Art panels: Ikea
• Navy leather chair: Crate and Barrel by Mitchell Gold Bob Williams
• Gold bear and deer heads: Homegoods
KITCHEN
•Sculpture above sink: Urban Outfitters
• Vases for utensils: West Elm
• Canisters: Ikea
• Runner: ABC carpets in NYC
BEDROOM
• Faux Bois Wallpaper: Warehouse sale in Raleigh, NC
• Bed: Room and Board
• Dressers: West Elm
• Mirrors: Pottery Barn Teen
• Shell: Pottery Barn
• Curtains: Ikea
• Vase: Ikea; stem: West elm
• White Baroque Mirror: Georgetown Flea Market
• Spine bookcase: West Elm
OFFICE
• Besta storage system: Ikea
• Magazine racks: Ikea
• Rolling storage: Georgetown Flea
• Lamp: Ikea
• Desks: West Elm Parsons
• Sequin bird: Holiday Collection from West Elm
• Herman Miller desk chair: Pottery Barn
• Lamps: Urban Outfitters
• Eames management chair: Design Within Reach outlet on Ebay
• Telephone: Pottery Barn (Nicole uses it for business)
• Couch: Circa antique store in Charlottesville, VA. Reupholstered with Marimekko fabric from Crate and Barrel outlet in Old town, Alexandria Virginia.
• Crate and Barrel outlet in Old town, Alexandria Virginia.
• Porcelain cat: Georgetown Flea Market
• Coffee Table: Eastern Market
• Vintage Suitcase: Aaron's
• Vintage Eames Management Side Chair: Mode Moderne in Philadephia
• Inspiration board: Cork boards from Container Store
• Chalkboard: Ikea
• Postcard rack: Pottery Barn
• Hanging Pendant Lamps: Shades from West Elm and Cords from Ikea
• Pillows: John Lewis in London (LOVE pillow), West Elm (Flamingo pillow), CB2 (dot pillows), Anthropologie (yellow pillows)
• Rug: Anthropologie
• Curtains: Ikea
Thanks, Nicole and Aaron!
(Images: Nicole Crowder)
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I love the buffet/dresser/makeshift "bar" with the mismatched wood. I WANT IT! GIMME!
Lots of cool pieces, but for me it's too many styles that aren't cohesive
Wow! What a beautiful place.
i agree, that i love the buffet/bar with the mismatched wood. i want, want, want.
there is a lot to love in this place. you have a great collection of "things". i'm impressed. it doesn't look like clutter and an abundance of knick knacks, to me, it just looks fun. and you make the space look much, much bigger than it is. i really like your bedroom curtain layout, too.
i agree with the above that there are too many style that take away from the cohesion. but if it makes you happy, that's all that matters! the only thing i really don't care for is the dining table setup, such a GORGEOUS table with what are just awful chairs in my eyes. i can never get myself to like those chairs.
where is your brain tray from? i dig it! and what type of plant is that next to your couch?
whoah, that buffet is $1000! time to learn some DIY...haha.
Agree w/Sophie TO but I do love that red lamp on the bar.
I like the Eames style 'Hang it all' they have but they didn't post it's origin that I can see above? Anyone?
That bookshelf full of jeans?! LOVE.
Hi Nicole. I think I'm pretty close to being your polar opposite! I do nothing with a plan, I pick out objects here and there just because I love them and they are a great deal...and we got more dust bunnies than I can count (thanks kitters)! All my OCD gets burned up at work...and I leave work at work. Anyway...
Is that Eames Aluminum group chair in photo 32 upholstered in gold vinyl?
I had a pair until recently that were in gold vinyl and even though the upholstery was beat up, everybody Loved them. I was going to re-upholster them but I did a little research and found out how difficult that prospect is. As a matter of fact, I couldn't find one example of another person who had successfully done it DIY. Wouldn't they look smashing in black and white hair on hide?
Drool.
I'd love to know the names of some of those Parisian interior design books you can't resist.
This is kind of an odd question for Nicole, should she be reading comments, but how long have you been into this particular style? Did you ever cycle through other interests / obsessions, or has it been relatively constant? Was it scary to commit and go all out in this style for your "forever home"?
This house tour is an absolute dream. Thank you for sharing. I'll be looking at it time and time again, I'm sure.
Is the Blu Dot chair from Target comfortable? I've been wondering...
http://g-ec2.apartmenttherapy.com/3738230/nicole_09_rect640.jpg
Where are those white legged, wood topped side tables from?
I love the music as art. That's my favorite thing! Though I also love the panels behind the TV. They are perfect in that space.
Lovely place!
Nicole, I'm super interested in the career change (your home is lovely, too. the colour and texture sets are terrific) - I guess how you knew what to do to make starting your new career work... I'm struggling to 'find myself' career-wise since starting after grad school, but the thought of starting a business that would keep myself busy the way I love to be busy and make money doing it is terrifying. I'd love any insight you wouldn't mind sharing...
Love the area in photo 12. (Not sure which room it is.) Great use of colour. The main area is too bland for me, with all that white & beige. Love the pink chair too.
I like many of the pieces, but... that's a lot of stuff.
Having been a house guest in this apartment, Nicole has thought of things to accomidate guests that you didn't even know you would need but did. Every piece, room, design detail .... it all comes together in such a thoughtful, cohesive and unique way and then by the time you visit again, she's made it completely different but equally fabulous! Thanks for the virtual tour! Looking forward to my next visit soon XO
WOW. Omg, Im sooo in love with this place that i have to comment...and it is my first comment ever even though i been here for a while (I'm just lazy lol). Amazing, beautiful, full of personality. Im literally and very seriously jealous. LOVE IT.
I have to agree with previous comments stating that there are a lot of interesting and beautiful pieces, but they don't seem to work well together..well at least for me. There is something "off" about this house
This cluttered-cool house is exactly what I would have imagined for myself in my early thirties (had I had expendable income and no children). Sadly, my house is just cluttered...
Are those books in photo 14 just stacked on a piece of wood? how do you get one out of the stack?
Love your place!
I am absolutely enthralled by all the details in this home, I love the towers of books the black wall and the use of green as a conrtast, it is lived in and joyful, this is not a boring home, it has character and personality, bravo...
decogirlmontreal.com
sorry I guess I should have mentioned it was in photo 26
I love this place and I'd happily live there any day of the week, but I fail to see any similarity to a Parisian salon. Such a puzzling comparison . . .
I am loving your kitchen rug and your towers of books in the corner. Nice.
I like the pink desk chair, looks comfy...I do not like the books on the gold chair or the black walls...too much; love your neutral seating/ couch. I like black as an accent. Enjoy:)
Love the use of the Sapien (or Sapien-style) book case for storing your jeans. Now I'm surprised that I haven't seen any clothing stores do that yet.
Overstock.com has one almost exactly like it. And West Elm does too: http://www.westelm.com/products/patchwork-dresser-g788/?pkey=cconsoles-media-storage-cabinets&cm_src=consoles-media-storage-cabinets||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-
This place reminds me a lot of something I find myself telling my 4 year old daughter: just cause you like it doesn't mean you have to have it. This place looks like someone just bought up everything they ever liked and stuffed it all together with no thought toward any sort of . . .cohesive look, or traffic patterns. . .it's just awful :( The only thing worse than saying that is looking at it.
It's obvious the couple has excellent taste in furnishings, but save for the buffet, nothing is really able to stand out because everything just overwhelms everything else. There may be a few French-style pieces, but I honestly don't even sense a tinge of Frenchness here. There's just way too much stuff it even feels as if items were placed where they were simply because there was space. That said, the apartment unit is great -- natural lighting is a real treasure.
I agree with edmarch and 1001petals. The photos feel suffocating due to the numerous amount of items in each of the rooms. Also, it doesn't feel like there's a flow going from room to room. It almost feels like they're trying too hard.
too much clutter, no flow, not really French styling, amateurish (for a designer). nice space.
it's just overdone-you would not find this in a french interior-the look would be more relaxed and natural.
I find myself liking a lot of the individual pieces in the photos, but I don't understand why there has to be SO much stuff. There's too much going on for me to even focus on one section. Perhaps it looks different in person. But I'm not seeing the interior designer or French part, either.
It looks like a shop!
Hi! This is Nicole -- Thank you for the comments and taking a look! We love our home and use everything we have -- I know it may seem like a lot from the pictures but it is light and airy and flows well and we love it in person. We are able to seat 14 people for dinner (which we do often) and then just lounge the 2 of us. I also work from home so a lot of the books and stuff you see are work related. I pride myself in having a creative style and having fun with my space. Each client I work with I work to personalize their space in a way that feels just like them -- no two spaces are alike just like no two families are alike. As far as the Parisian inspiration, I in no way think I am living in Paris but love some of my gilded pieces mixed with modern classics and the feel of the natural light in an open space that we work in, entertain in, cook in and read in. It’s simply inspired by those aspirations. I'm happy to answer any specific questions about our home!
I love this home. Especially that black, yellow and green room and that couch in the office. I will have to say that the dining room chairs aren't my favorite but do like how they contrast with the table.
Your home is wonderful, it sure beats a lot of other tours that look staged and not having that "lived in" feeling. Thanks for sharing. ;)
Nice space...
Like the jeans in the bookshelf...
Would love to see the floor plan. Even a hand sketched, not-to-scale one, just to give context to the rooms...Should be a feature in all the tours.
i like that there is a lot of stuff. i agree with someone before who said it doesn't look cluttered. it just looks like a lot of fun personality. but if i were a guest, you'd see me snooping because i'd want to know what everything is! hah.
and again, i second the questions from above for Nicole!
where is your brain tray from? i dig it! and what type of plant is that next to your couch?
A beautiful and very personal space. I love that it is clearly inspired by various Parisian design trends (as well as some others) without feeling like a museum or a design school history project. Vive L'eclecticisme!
Normally I dont like multi patterned sofas,but I am in love with the one in your office! Something about the colors just work for me! I think those tables with the wood tops are awesome too,and I agree with a previous poster,I love the dining table but NOT those chairs.I see you have the chairs that go with it sprinkled about,were it me Id reunite them.I like a lot of stuff too,so I dont think its cluttered at all! I think you have a great eye,your place looks "decorated" but not in a standoffish way,very welcoming.Too many people these days are into the sterile,minimalist look,their homes dont give you any idea of who they are,whereas your place says "Welcome"!
Hi,
I was wondering if you could tell me about the sheet music you have as art on the wall? My boyfriend is a musician and as a gift for Christmas, I thought it could be really need to turn one of his songs into sheet music. When looking online I can't find many resources on this topic. Suggestions?
Thanks!
Lisa
I love everything about it. Especially the "green room". Beautiful home - thanks for sharing.
Thanks! We love the buffet/bar -- it's great storage and I like how it ties the neutral tones in the middle living space together. I then like having the "wings" of the house be more colorful and creative.
The brain tray is from Target and the plant is a Fiddle Leaf Fig Fern -- it's a gorgeous plant.
Hi! The Eames style Hang It All is an antique produced in Paris circa 1950s that I purchased at a gorgeous antique store, Oak Park Vintage Market, in Oak Park, Illinois. http://www.oakparkvintagemarket.com/
Hi, Mr. Modtomic Daily Blogger -- The Eames chair would look amazing in black and white hair on hide! Ours is a tan leather. Gold would be pretty cool too...I check out your site btw and it looks like you have some fun finds!
Hi, jaycob -- The white legged, wood topped side tables are from CB2. I'm not seeing them online right now but they may still have them in the store.
Hi, greyny -- The Blu Dot chair is comfortable but it depends what you would be using it for. We have people over for drinks or board games in that room and they are comfortable for that kind of setting. They wouldn't be as comfortable for curling up and reading though unless you had an ottoman with them to put your feet up. They look great, and a fantastic price.
What an amazing space. I can't wait to come over, practice my French, and sip cocktails. Congratulations!
The Sheet Music Painting is incredible - I want one, but the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams website doesn't list it as being available. Does anyone know if they might have it someplace discontinued - or was this just so old that it is now a remnant of the past?
Impressive and elegant.
I love the room with dark colored walls and the pops of green and yellow. Great look.
Hi Nicole
I love your apartment and especially the disco ball in the study. A friend of mine is dying for that exact same thing and I'd love to get it for her but its not in your list of sources. Any clues as to where I can get one.
Many thanks
Hi gubgub, Thanks for your comments! I do love my disco ball :) I purchased it at Target a couple of years ago. I would check Target.com or Urban Outfitters, and Amazon.com is always a good option.
Hi maestro58, I purchased the sheet music painting at the MGBW store in Washington, DC. It was a floor sample because the frame was damaged (but still looked great) so was a great deal. I would call them (or another MGBW store) and see if they have another one on the floor (I've still seen it on the floor recently) and possibly even one that's damaged. Another possibility is that in January they should have their floor sample sale and you can ask if it might be a part of that (if it's going to be discontinued). Hope that helps!
Thank you so much. And for the speedy reply!
That one silver "artwork" piece on the wall rammed right up against the thermostat is just one glaring example to me of the lack of compositional skills evident in this apartment; this is a little disconcerting for someone who works as an interior designer. I'll grant that aesthetics are very subjective, but regardless of one's tastes, editing skills and some design rigor are needed to produce an overall well-balanced and (as others have mentioned) cohesive design.
I too love the sheet music picture. Just in case anyone is interested (I don't know how much the floor model was), but I called them a while back to inquire about the picture and it was $2000.
When I saw the buffet I thought they'd done the veneer work themselves so, yes, DIY time for sure!
Love the feel of this house
Your home is AWESOME! I love all of the different styles and think it looks like such a fun place to live. You definitely have some serious talent! I am inspired by your career change too, way to follow your passion! It was a good decision!
Not getting the French influence and I agree that there are a lot of composition issues in this space. I think the upstairs office is the most cohesive and successful.
it was okay, but i was expecting a lot more from a decorator. she could have addressed the height of the room. i do love the sofa in the office, but maybe she should have followed her own advice about buying furnishings that fit the space you are furnishing. the tv area is cramped and awkward, so were the shelves and furniture in the black & chartreuse room.