Okay, okay. It was me. In the library. With the candlestick.

Remember that awesome game? I spent hours in my friend’s basement playing Clue as a kid, savouring not only the mystery of it, but also the scene that it painted in my vivid imagination. I don’t know if that’s how the game played out for other kids, but for me, I would envision the mansion and its various rooms in absolute detail. The wood paneling. The grand staircase. The massive doorways with transom windows above and the moody lighting throughout. And of course, that iconic candlestick.

As it turns out, that candlestick from my imagination exists in much happier form, brought to life by the dynamic duo at Dunes and Duchess. Yes, one could say that it is drop-dead gorgeous, but that’s as far as its weapon-like status extends.

{Hamptons Designer Showhouse | Interior Design by Mabley Handler}

The candlestick really is where it all began for photographer Michael Partenio and stylist and writer Stacy Kunstel. Their photography and styling work appears regularly on the covers of interior design magazines and books, and {starting with that candlestick} they have extended their visual iconography into the world of home décor product design. The Dunes and Duchess line has expanded significantly since the creation of that first candlestick, but it all holds true to a very clear and striking aesthetic. Form and colour are the two bold signatures of this collection, and each piece is a statement unto itself.

I adore the bold colour and high-gloss sheen of the wall sconces above, the perfect punctuation mark to make a striking statement flanking a bed or a dramatic piece of art.

Turns out Oprah loves Dunes and Duchess, too. They were featured in this August’s issue of O Magazine. The candelabra really did steal the show in this spread, don’t you think?

One of my favourite pieces from Market was this oversized floor lamp {don’t you love the navy?}. Its unusual height offers condo owners with concrete ceilings the opportunity to wash a room with light without having to opt for ugly track lighting everywhere. Brilliant.

{photo: The Curated House}

I also loved the sculptural simplicity of this etagère in canary yellow, one of the newer pieces in their collection.

{photo: The Curated House}

I hope Dunes and Duchess have inspired you with their bold and sexy use of shape and colour. I know they have me, and I look forward to the next project where I can feature one of their striking designs.

xo
s.

All images via Dunes and Duchess except where otherwise noted.