Accolades for Paul Corrie

DC Designer Paul Corrie is ON FIRE these days. He’s been recognized so frequently that it’s almost comical, until you take a look at his work and realize that, on both macro and micro levels, the former lawyer’s designs are like exquisite still life’s.

First, let’s tally the accolades, which, tellingly, have all flowed from Traditional Home magazine.

– Paul’s home is featured in the October 2010 issue, which is now on newsstands.

– In March, Trad. Home chose him as one of its “Young Traditional Home Designers to Watch For.”

– THEN, as if that weren’t enough, readers and designers — in separate contests sponsored by the magazine — BOTH chose him as one of their faves. That makes him a designer’s designer AND a client’s designer — a rare combination.

Paul, have you set up an office yet at the magazine? Well, you should, since you’re going to be making design recommendations for a randomly selected reader, who lives in Kentucky, in next month’s issue.

Now on to the pictures. Paul sent me some before-and-after doozies from a tiny condo project he just completed downtown. See for yourself why Traditional Home loves him so much.

Here’s what he found:

Yellow, pink and green, oh my!

And after:

Ahh, much better.

A detail of the corner. I like the casual placement of this formal old portrait.

Another before, looking toward the entry:

Note the pedestal-legged console and urn on top of it next to the front door...

And after:

A much better showing, especially without the tacky mirror and all that banana-yellow on the walls.

Let’s retire now to the bedroom, as its former self:

That yellow has chased us all the way in here. Add to that insult, an injury of melon and sage green. What kind of stores sell this stuff?

Paul to the rescue:

I could sleep soundly here now that we've departed the Copacabana.

I could curl up in those lush velvet drapes alone...

And now, another flashback — this time from the other side of the bed:

Ow. This hurts.

And back once again to what is now a lap of luxury:

I love it when a bedside "table" is also a desk, especially this smart-looking antique drop-leaf.

Here's more of a closeup. I just love the sweet little light on top.

Now you can see how Paul can utterly transform a space from a disturbing before picture to a sanctuary in all aspects, from color to texture to line. I especially love what he did in the bedroom, creating a soft, sophisticated environment that literally envelops you.

Thanks for sharing, Paul. Your honors are well deserved. (To see more of his work, you can go to his Web site, right here.)