1 British interior designer, David Hicks, has been a lifelong inspiration to me.
2 Hicks was a style icon and design legend. He shocked the world of decorating in the 50s and 60s with his fearless use of color, bold patterns in textiles and carpeting, and mixing of antique and modern furniture.
3 One of Hicks' watercolors. Whereas I collect tear sheets, take photographs and jot notes, Hicks would paint his inspiration.
4 Some more of his watercolors. I love the seaside theme.
5 I like the use of space in this entrance hallway - with a wall full of frames, it doubles as an art gallery. Definitely something I will consider for my own entrance hall.
6 Something on the left side of this room caught my eye.
7 This statue reminds me of the two beautiful figures I brought back from my trip to China.
8 And I thought that I liked mirrors! This room puts my 250-pound Desiron mirror to shame.
9 This bathroom design is very reminiscent of the master bath in my new apartment. Like this structure, my sink has a lot of unused space underneath. I'm thinking about turning it into storage.
10 Every host needs a bar and I plan on setting one up in either my living or dining room. I love the marble top on of this table - it's exquisite.
The process of remodeling and decorating my new apartment has brought to mind a lot of different designers whom I admire. Their work encourages me to devour books, films, photographs, music, tear sheets - anything I can get my hands on for inspiration in creating a new space for myself.
Someone who has always been a muse of mine is David Hicks, the extroverted British designer whose career took off in 1950s through 70s. Hicks was the king of mismatched style before anyone else - he mixed antique with modern and did it with good taste and acumen. He was a true decorating trailblazer. If you want a dose of Hicks' design touch in your life, look towards his trademarks of mixing contemporary pieces with traditional, layering patterns on top of each other, and use of his classic "H" logo. Though I have a long way to go until my renovation is complete, this book makes me realize just how much of an influence he's had over my design aesthetic. I hope you enjoy the images from this wonderful new book as much as I do. Have a great weekend!
Kevin Sharkey 
From: Lydia | 10/9/09 at 12:15 pm
What a well-stocked bar and a welcoming gesture to any guest in one's home.
I also like the lamp on the bar. It makes it feel more personal, less like a restaurant bar.
From: Rowaida Flayhan | 10/9/09 at 6:19 pm
Hi Kevin,
David Nightingale Hicks was an amazing interior decorator and designer, famous for mixing antique and modern furnishings and contemporary art. He is an inspiration to me in my homes I love mixing antiques with modern. His son Ashley Hicks is an architect and designer, she wrote this book, A Life of Design.
Looking forward to seeing the clip from the show about your renovation.
Wish you a great weekend!