“My tastes are unabashedly eclectic. I wanted pieces that would work together not because they are alike but because they are different.” — Bunny Williams describing the aesthetic of her Beeline Home furniture line
Bunny Williams, creator of Beeline Home, launched her own design firm in 1998 after 20 years at the esteemed design house of Sister Parish and Albert Hadley. The 1st Dibs Style Compass feature on Bunny wrote of her, “When Williams speaks, you listen carefully, because you are going to learn something that will make your life a little better. Even if you aren’t lucky enough to have your own country home or an herb garden, her advice on those subjects transcends the specifics to embrace a joie de vivre that is both down-home and infectious.” I could not agree more. Everything she said seems to strongly resonate with my own design experience. Throwing herself head first into interior design when she started working for Sister Parish and Albert Hadley, she claims, “I knew after being there a little while that I was going to make a career of it. The learning wasn’t going to stop at office hours; I was entrenched full time.” And later when she started describing the process of creating her own home line she says, “I just wanted to create things that every room needs. Besides I like staying busy. If I didn’t decorate I’d spend my life in the country with my dogs.” I cannot tell you how many times I have responded to a comment about how hard I work by telling them that when I’m not decorating I don’t know what to do with myself. It’s not just a job – or a passion even – it very simply becomes a part of who you are. This is not to say that I entirely know what it feels like to be as busy as Bunny Williams, a 30 year design veteran who has authored three books, co-founded the Manhattan retail home and garden boutique, Treillage, and now creator of her own furniture and accessory collection, Beeline Home. To get from her first idea of Beeline Home to the finished product took her four years. This is mostly due to the fact that she decided to produce the line herself, claiming, “it has taken that long because I had to do it the complicated way.” Being in control of the manufacturing of Beeline Home was the only was she could ensure the pieces were properly constructed and that the quality of the finishes were exactly the way she wanted them.
The Beeline Home collection was first introduced in 2009. To keep the collection fresh and exciting, everything in the collection is a limited edition and new items will continue to be released each spring. The newest collection, Beeline Home II debuted at High Point this past October and included around 45 new additions to the line. The collection can be purchased through the Bunny Williams website. Below are just a few of my favorites… Enjoy!
Turquoise Lamp
I have had a love affair with these oversized, ceramic temple jar lamps since I first saw them in Bunny’s 2009 Kips Bay Showhouse living room. The Turquoise color and layering of the glaze is magnificent and I love the detail of the hand carved gilt lotus base!
Chicken Feather Lamps
Yet another lamp I fell in love with at Kips Bay last year.
Hyacinth Lamps
These tall and slender pyramid shaped lamps have a wood burned shagreen pattern and come in two colors: lavender with nickel hardware and ivory with brushed brass hardware.
Ziegfeld Mirror
This is Hollywood Regency glam at it’s best! Fitting considering Bunny claims to have been thinking of the old Hollywood movies when she created this piece. I love the white lacquered wood frame and the eight antique etched glass panels surrounding the large mirrored center keep it grounded in luxury and tradition, and from being too modern.
Scroll Side Table
There is something about the chunky legs of this table juxtaposed with the thin semi-honed granite top and delicate neo-classical details like the graceful volutes that support the tripod base or the hand carved coin details that makes this table magnificent.
Hourglass Table
An octagonal pedestal base of hand applied reeded wood, (finished in either an old gold or silver leaf patina) with a honed fossil stone top is what Bunny Williams calls “eye catching”.
Modern Marble Coffee Table
Like the Eglomise Table in her first collection but with a slightly raised honed fossil stone top….
Charlie’s Chair
This semi-slipper chair was a treasured gift from Albert Hadley to Bunny Williams. I especially love the high back.
Eclipse Arm and Side Chair
One of Beeline Home’s signature pieces, this chair features an elongated oval splat frame supported by tapered, splayed legs and perfectly finished with a tight upholstered back and seat. I love the contrast of the curved armrests on the arm chair with the architectural details on the apron and legs!
Nailhead Sofa
I have always been a sucker for this type of clean yet ultra-feminine type sofa with the curved apron and nailhead trim. LOVE the look of the tight back with the super plush loose seat cushions! All upholstery can be done COM (in clients own fabric).
Pug Bench
Bunny describes this bench perfectly, calling it elegant, yet compact. I love having pieces in a room that can serve as extra seating when you have company over, or a place to rest your books while you are reading alone. Function and style is always a winning combination! The carved scroll legs and paw feet really put the piece over the top for me!
Below are photos of Bunny Williams room for the 2009 Kips Bay Showhouse, where she used to showcase many of her new Beeline Home product….
Photos from this year’s High Point Showroom, which featured the Beeline Home Collection II:
Harriet Maxwell Macdonald and Andrew Corrie House Beautiful
Jean Larette House Beautiful
Home of Ricky and Ralph Lauren Elle Decor July 2008
Sunroom of Amy Neunsinger House Beautiful
Linda Garland Architectural Digest September 2004
Peri Wolfman Elle Decor June 2008
Simon Upton Elle Decor October 2009
Tom Fox and Joe Nahem Elle Decor Feb 2004
Miguel Flores-Vianna Elle Decor
Kristen Laird Design 