DecorWrite

For the love of Franz

{Room by Miled Redd with Franz Kline style artworkhttp://www.milesredd.com/portfolio.php}

I’m a huge fan of Franz Kline and his style of abstract expressionist art. In fact, placed squarely above my living room couch is my homage (read: imitation I haphazardly painted back in August) to to his untitled work from 1951.

{Franz Kline Untitled work from 1951}

I moved my version temporarily to see how it did with my settee (see below), but it’s back in it’s rightful home now.

{My faux Franz Kline}

Then I saw the Architectural Digest cover for this March, and thought to myself, I too have that Franz Kline above my couch! Does this mean I am part of the “Age of Elegance”? I hope so.

{Architectural Digest, March 2011}

Before AD, it was Martha Stewart’s Kevin Sharkey that made a statement with Franz Kline inspired artwork in his apartment:

{Kevin Sharkey's bedroom from Martha Stewart Living September 2010}

{Kevin Sharkey's Living room from Martha Stewart Living September 2010}

Yesterday, I opened up my new West Elm catalog, and saw some more Franz Kline inspired work:

{West Elm catalog}

Excuse me, I have to go make my heist plans for the contents of Kevin Sharkey’s apartment, and possibly the nearest West Elm as well.

NY Fashion Week: Seeing Red

{Credits at bottom of post}

If NY fashion week sent a clear message about anything for the trends this fall, it was that red is going to be the color to wear. Red was the rule rather than the exception for the 160+ shows. I might even dare to say that for fall 2011, red is the new black*

*black, if you’re reading this you, know it’s not really true. You know how I love you and your slimming ways…I would never leave you for that harlot red… not permanently at least.

Below are some of my favorite reds from the shows:

{1} Prabal Gurung {2} Rebecca Minkoff {3} Ralph Lauren {4} Wes Gordon

{5} Steven Alan {6} Marchesa {7} Wes Gordon {8} Rebecca Minkoff

{9} Malandrino {10} Monique Lhuillier {11} Marchesa {12} Monique Lhuillier

As you can see from these looks, how you choose to incorporate red can vary. You can drape yourself in red from head-to-toe, or you can bring it in with a gorgeous coat or accessories. Feeling really brave? Go for red tights with your ensemble (which a few designers did for their show, when I find it in the depths of my spreadsheet I’ll post it)

If you want your red on a more daily basis, incorporate it into your decor. Again, you can do so numerous different ways. You can go all out and have a red room like the one below, which has red walls, furniture and even curtains (and looks lovely). This room works because it has lots of light, the rest of the furniture is bright or lightly colored, and the deeply colored wall is broken up by the pictures. Rooms with red walls often don’t work because people pair them with too much dark furniture and the result is a dark oppressive room.

Elle Decor

Another great option is red bookshelves. It can bring attention to a fantastic book collection.

Paloma Picasso's Moroccan Home featured in Harper's Bazaar. Photo Credit: Christopher Sturman

Or, you can incorporate red in a more subtle way, by having a couple of pieces in the room with red.

http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=1690

http://www.homesandgardens.com/

InStyle via http://www.porterhousedesigns.com/colorsizzle/go-rogue-with-red

Loving red? Can’t get enough? Check out more of the fashion shows at www.style.com

Designers in the header image are: Marchesa, Prabal Gurung, Rachel Zoe, Tory Burch, Tibi, Rodarte, Steven Alan, NAHM, Monique Lhuillier, Victoria Beckham, DKNY, Proenza Schouler, Naeem Khan, Michael Kors, Narcisco Rodriguez, Ralph Lauren, Peter Som, Rebecca Minkoff, Ohne Titel, Rag & Bone, Wayne, Wes Gordon, United Bamboo, Timo Weiland, Three As Four, Luca Luca, Chado Ralph Rucci, Elie Tahari

Ready to Wear{stler}

I spent this whole weekend doing homework. In fact, my nerdiness even included an Excel spreadsheet. What was I working on? Well, I looked at the 160+ fashion shows/presentations that made up most of New York Fashion Week! My eyes may be ready to fall out of my head, but you’ll reap the benefit of it. I’ll be showing you some major trends, how they translate, and hopefully introducing you to some designers you’ve never heard of.

To start us off, let’s look at some interior design and fashion design crossover. The queen of maximal (aka. more-is-more) interior design, Kelly Wearstler, made her fashion week debut last week with a contemporary clothing and accessories presentation.

I’ve grouped the collection with some of her interiors as a point of comparison:

What do you think? Has her aesthetic translated?

Below are my personal favorites from the collection. I’m having a blazer-skirt moment.

The entire collection will be available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman (along with the decorative home collection she already has with the retailer).

All RTW images from style.com

All Kelly Wearstler images and interiors from www.kellywearstler.com

Day{bed} Dreaming

http://www.interior-designer-nyc.com/

A few nights ago I was out for drinks with one of my dearest friends, one who happens to be moving away this summer. If there was any chance of success, I would have spent the time begging her to stay, but knowing there wasn’t, we talked instead about the benefits of her move. Namely, more space! A bigger apartment! As any aesthetically inclined friend would do, I immediately began planning the setup of her hypothetically large apartment in a city that is not New York. When discussing her potential guest room we hit upon the age old question. If the room is going to be used as an office AND guest bedroom should she go for a daybed?

She wondered, “Aren’t daybeds kind of awkward? Not quite a couch and not quite a bed?”

My response, “They certainly can be awkward. If done properly though, they can look pretty great.”

I now offer Exhibits A-G of my point.

Exhibit A: Daybeds can be totally glammed up.

Room by Mary McDonald, from The Allure of Style, Rizzoli Publishing

Via Inspire Bohemia

Exhibit B: Daybeds can be rustic chic

From Elle Decor, the apartment of Carlos Aparicio

Exhibit C: Daybeds can be modern and spare

From the Elle Decor living room lookbook http://www.elledecor.com/image/room_finder/89?page=157

http://polishedplum.blogspot.com/2010/10/stylish-daybeds.html

Exhibit D: Daybeds can be comfy cool

From Elle Decor January 2006

From the Elle Decor Lookbook

Via House Beautiful

http://stylecarrot.com/2009/06/21/get-the-look-frank-roop-style-diy/

Exhibit E: Daybeds can be country casual

http://celebrationsdecor.blogspot.com/2009/12/daybeds-and-cushions-in-living-rooms.html

Exhibit F: Daybeds can look like real beds!

From Veranda by designer Nancy Braithwaite

Exhibit G: Daybeds can look traditional and tailored

http://sketch42blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Homepage-04.jpg

http://www.veranda.com/room-decorating/vicente-wolf-home-design

I may have only scratched the surface on this, but I think I can rest my case. Daybeds are definitely versatile, and wouldn’t be a bad choice for a hypothetical guest room (especially if I get to stay in said guest room!).

DVF Home Sweet Home

DVF table setting from House Beautiful

Diane Von Furstenberg has just launched her highly anticipated home collection. For now it includes tabletop items and bedding, with more on the way. Some of my favorites are below. You can check it all out at on the Bloomingdale’s website.

While the home collection looks great, I can’t deny that it’s her living room/library I keep thinking of… Books, books, and more books! Three rolling ladders! A girl can only dream…

DVF library from InStyle UK

On the off chance that DVF still hasn’t proven her love of the written word to you, don’t forget her dining-library. Swoon!

Confession: The Baby-Sitter’s Club

I can’t quite remember when my childhood bookshelves were emptied of their contents. All I know for certain is that my collection of The Babysitter’s Club, Sweet Valley High, R.L. Stine and various others no longer occupy the white bookcases in my old bedroom. Not that I miss them, I was ready to let them go (whenever that was), and I’m sure that they are in a better place now (wherever that may be).

Ok, so perhaps I do miss them a little, once in a while. I can still picture the bottom two shelves of my bookcases, which were designated for my Baby-Sitter’s Club collection. The way I consumed those books I imagine Ann M. Martin has a castle next to J.K. Rowling in Scotland.

Whenever I feel a twinge sadness at the loss of my beloved Baby-Sitter’s Club I remind myself how easy it is to take a little trip down memory lane:

First, I can head over to Scholastic to take the online quiz informing me which member of the club I am. Although, let’s be honest, if you remember even a little bit about the books you can rig it. I know Kristy was bossy, Mary Anne was sensitive, Stacey was glamorous, Dawn was into the environment, Claudia was artsy, Jessi was a dancer, and… sorry Mallory, I never wanted to be you, I thought you were lame (I see the irony now, since Mallory was the “writer”).

Then over to Mental Floss, which also offers a few fun BSC related items.

{1} A BSC general quiz to see what you can remember about the books (my score: 77%…. very beatable).

{2} A quiz where you have to decide if the outfit described is a Claudia Kishi creation, or something a celebrity wore (my score: 75%…this one was tougher, I’m surprised I did even that well).

{3} The Quick 10 on the BSC, with some interesting information on the series. Also, readers are asked to hypothesize where the members of the BSC would be at 28. I can’t quite decide my own version of where are they now, but Stacey as a Real Housewife of New York City? Sounds right on track!

The Baby-Sitter’s Club was reissued about a year ago with a prequel:

While I’m happy they are reaching a new generation, in my mind they should always look like the originals, many of which are available on ebay. Also available on ebay is the original Baby-Sitter’s Club game, which I once proudly owned.

See why I thought Mallory was lame? Her picture is terrible (bottom headshot), and I totally had pierced ears way before she did. Besides, who lets an 11 year old babysit?

Interior Inspiration: The Bronte Sisters

Photograph: Eamonn McCabe

Above is the room in Haworth Parsonage where the Bronte sisters lived and wrote. Friend of Charlotte Bronte and fellow novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, described the room as “…the perfection of warmth, snugness and comfort, crimson predominating in the furniture.” With Valentine’s Day fast approaching I could think nothing more appropriate than to take inspiration from the room where Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Villette and other love stories were penned, cozy and crimson by the fire.

{1} GOA Collection Wool Area Rug in Chocolate Scarlet By Surya Rugs from Burke Decor {2} Martha Stewart Living™ Crosslink All-Weather Area Rug from Home Decorator’s Collection {3} Martha Stewart Living™ Chrysanthemum Area Rug from Home Decorators Collection {4} Jasper Printed Dhurrie by John Robshaw from Burke Decor {5} Grammercy Collection New Zealand Wool Area Rug in Chocolate Red By Surya Rugs from Burke Decor {6} St. Martin Polypropylene Rug from Overstock.com

Some other ways to keep cozy with crimson:

{7} Calligraphy tea set {8} Tamarind Robe by John Robshaw from Burke Decor {9} Candles by Red Flower from Garnet Hill {10} Hand-Blocked Jaipur Quilt + Shams from West Elm

Top image and Elizabeth Gaskell quote from the Guardian UK.

Are you feeling it?

Just in time for Valentine’s Day weekend, my not-so-secret love affair with Illustrator continues…

Love is in the air!

The Malcolm Gladwell Book Generator

There’s been a bit of buzz around the Malcolm Gladwell Book Generator, which generates fake non-fiction titles in the style of Gladwell. Having read Tipping Point and Blink, I couldn’t resist a try. I wasn’t disappointed with my result:

How did they know that Clarissa Explains It All was one of my all-time favorite shows? She did explain it all, and while wearing crazy outfits! As long as Sam climbs in through the window, Ferguson is causing problems, and Clarissa’s mom is making something bland with carob in it, I’m sold. While we’re going there, if the book happened to play the theme song at the beginning I wouldn’t be entirely opposed to it.

“Na, na, na-na-na, na-na-na-na, na-na.”

“All right! All right!”

Since the book doesn’t actually exist, you can get your fix from watching old episodes. The Season 1 DVD of Clarissa Explains it All is available on DVD from Amazon.

Images from www.malcolmgladwellbookgenerator.com

Cover Designer: Helen Yentus

In my mind, the book cover for Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love is just as memorable as the book. I remember spotting the distinctive cover design across the crowded subway on my way to work a few years ago, and I think I bought it within 24 hours of seeing it. No offense to Julia Roberts, but I was saddened to see the original cover replaced with a picture from the movie on the paperbacks (actually, I’m not really a fan of using movie pictures as book covers in general). What’s my point? Well, even if you have never heard of Helen Yentus, you probably know her work, she’s the one who designed the cover of Eat, Pray, Love. Here are some more of her other memorable covers to enjoy:

Her black and white series for Albert Camus is great and feels as stark as you would expect from the author.

There is something about the cover of Words Without Borders that I adore. The map admirer in me is here to stay.

The Sun and Shadow cover reminds me a lot of Eay, Pray, Love.

Like Coralie Bickford-Smith, Helen Yentus designed a cover in 24 hours (see above) for NaNoWriMo.

Now, if you meet Helen Yentus someday, you don’t have to be the millionth person to say, “wait, you did the cover for Eat, Pray, Love?” Instead, you can be the awesome person who casually mentions that you think her Words Without Borders cover was inspired. Or, you can tell her how amazing the chickenfish on her website is.

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