In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.
Rebekah Zaveloff likes her luxury just a little bit rough. Knots and fissures add character to oak flooring. Subtle asymmetries in mosaic tiling evoke the hand-laid floors of ancient stone temples. Painted terra cotta tiles affect the aged patina of medieval châteaux, while mohair carpeting is thick enough to grab by the fistful.
“Authenticity and imperfection are common threads through all the materials in my mood board,” says Zaveloff, co-founder and creative director at Imparfait Design Studio, with locations in Chicago and Lakeside, Michigan. Her penchant for places that feel “old and layered” also influences her preferred palette of “earthy hues”—warm colorways that can be found in her favorite flower, Helleborus x hybridus, commonly known as Lenten rose. “Its blush, tobacco, cream and beige tones just make me happy,” she explains. “Plus, although it’s almost tropical-looking, it can withstand frost and snow. Beautiful and resilient!”
Other cozy tones occur in undulating ecru tile, gingery grasscloth wallpaper, intoxicating cognac velvet upholstery, and the rust-hued ground of an intricately embroidered linen. To temper all this toastiness, ivory marble with gray veining, a linen block-printed with charcoal crosses, and a moody indigo stripe introduce a welcome chill. “Mixing cool and warm tones to avoid being too trendy is always my modus operandi,” says Zaveloff. She imagines the elements of her flat lay imbuing a lounge, bar and powder room with old-world Moroccan charm. “Almost like in a boutique hotel lobby, but for a home,” she adds. “All that’s missing are books, music, Rummikub and a bottle of rosé wine.” Below, the designer speaks to each of her selections.
1. FARMHOUSE ESCAMBERT EUROPEAN OAK FLOORING BY DIVINE FLOORING
“Flooring and rugs are literally the foundation of any room. Here, I’m starting with an oak floor that has depth of color and character.”
2. CALACATTA CORCHIA EXTRA HONED MARBLE BY CALIA
“Nothing is more beautiful than the strong veining of an Arabescato Corchia marble. I know some people out there are still afraid of marble, but when it has this much movement and variation, it really does hide more than you think. It’s the showstopper in any kitchen, and it pulls from natural wood cabinetry to create a sophisticated palette.”
3. FOUND BRASS FINISH BY THE URBAN ELECTRIC CO.
“I have been obsessed with this lived-in finish from The Urban Electric Co. for as long as I can remember—no one does it like them.”
4. SAILOR SCONCE BY THE URBAN ELECTRIC CO.
“The Sailor sconce speaks to me on so many levels: It’s modern and traditional, masculine and feminine all at once.”
5. JACINTO GRASSCLOTH WALLPAPER IN GINGER BY SERENA DUGAN STUDIO
“First off, I love pretty much all grasscloth wallcovering, and this one is no exception. It’s a small-scale pattern that reminds me more of a fabric (which, of course, it comes in as well). It pays homage to Colombian weaving traditions, and that’s probably why I love it—I have a bit of a woven-hat addiction! I also love a wallpaper you can easily hang art on top of without it competing.”
6. SLIDE WATERJET MOSAIC TILE IN CLOUD BY MICHELLE GERSON FOR ARTISTIC TILE
“The minute I saw this installed at Artistic Tile’s showroom, I was smitten. It comes in a large size and other stone options. I love how dramatic and sexy the pattern is. Its simultaneously organic and geometric presence can complement a multitude of wallcoverings. It plays well with the Jacinto grasscloth wallpaper, but I could see it with a botanical pattern just as easily.”
7. MARGOT XL SOFA IN BANKS COGNAC VELVET BY VERELLEN
“This new frame style by Verellen is a bit more traditional than a lot of the brand’s other pieces (which I equally love), but this take on a roll-arm sofa modernized with a bench cushion is pretty perfect, and comfortable as can be. Here it’s shown in a delicious cognac velvet, but it looks beautiful in a linen as well.”
8. WENTWORTH EMBROIDERY IN RUST BY SCHUMACHER
“Woven and embroidered fabrics are among my favorites because they have a depth and human touch that just can’t be matched. Rust, caramel, whiskey—whatever you want to call it—always nicely relates back to the wood tone and is a way to create repetition without being redundant.”
9. VINTAGE LAMP WITH BLACK SHADE
“I collect vintage lamps, and this is my favorite. It’s almost like she’s part of the family—I really need to give her a name! I also have an obsession with black shades, especially when they have gold interiors. I would live by candlelight if I could.”
10. ZELLIGE TILE IN UNGLAZED natural BY ZIA TILE
“While zellige is everywhere and most often seen in gorgeous saturated colors, unglazed terra cotta has its own quiet charm. The natural variation, texture and patina give instant character to a room. We’re using this on floors in butler’s pantries and bathrooms and pairing it with a patterned tile on walls. I love mixing warm and cool tones, and the natural unglazed with natural white is a favorite combination.”
11. MANSOUR 2 TILE IN MOCKA, LATTE, HONEY AND GRAY oN OFF WHITE BY TABARKA STUDIO
“I first discovered Tabarka Studio at the Coverings trade show in Chicago back in 1999 or 2000, and I have used it on pretty much every project since. I take patina very seriously, and I think it’s nearly impossible to replicate authentically, but somehow Tabarka does it! This tile looks like it was reclaimed from a chateau in Spain. I particularly love using a patterned base trim in bathrooms—it’s something you see more in Europe.”
12. MARBLE MOSAIC HONED STONE BROKEN JOINT TILE IN ROSA PORTOGALLO BY ARTISTIC TILE
“I’ve always had a love for tumbled and hand-clipped stone, even when it went out of style for a bit. Stone like this gives a bathroom instant patina because of its imperfect nature. It’s great for shower floors.”
13. AMUN STRIPE FABRIC IN CHARCOAL BY KATIE LEEDE & COMPANY
“Besides wovens, another favorite is a block print on linen. The printmaking part is what appeals to me. It’s not perfect; the design fades in and out depending on the pressure of the block. This fabric is lovely for window treatments or throw pillows, and brings in some contrast with the indigo and dark plum.”
14. NECTAR DE FLEUR D’ORANGER GENTLE HAND CLEANSING GEL BY HENDIYA
“I discovered this while traveling in Tangier last spring, and I ordered all their products immediately upon my return—hand soap, body wash, lotion. Scent is such an important part of a home. This transports me right back to Morocco and Seville, where the orange blossoms were in full bloom.”
15. ZELLIGE TILE IN CASABLANCA BY ZIA TILE
“Even though zellige is having a moment these days, I installed this 2-by-2 in my Chicago kitchen back in 2010, when the style hadn’t really hit the U.S. market yet. I will never get tired of its natural beauty; the flaws and divots are part of what makes it so unique. I love how the glaze varies in color and even in sheen. It reminds me of the surprise of printmaking in art school—you don’t know exactly what you’re going to get. That said, this sort of uncertainty isn’t for everyone!”
16. CUSTOM MOHAIR RUG FROM THE CONTEMPORARY COLLECTION BY AMADI CARPETS
“Run your fingers through this once, and you’re done—nothing will ever stand out as so luxurious again. While mohair is a favorite fabric of many designers, it’s not always the softest. But these rugs from Amadi feel like silk.”
17. PIENZA BIRILLINO RIGATO FABRIC IN GREY/NATURAL BY C&C MILANO
“Colors that are hard to pin down are my favorite—is it blue, indigo, gray? And as far as I’m concerned, there’s linen, cashmere and velvet, and that’s everything [when it comes to textiles]. This fabric does it all for me. It’s a beautiful woven, a perfect ‘off’ color, a classic stripe but with a twist—and it’s linen, my favorite.”
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