3/31/11

Still thinking pink.


Photo: Erica George Dines for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles

Pink sofas? I'll take two, please. And while you're at it, can you paint my front door and fireplace black? What? The fireplace is a brick contractor's special and will look like a truckstop hooker in a workin' girl dress from Forever 21 if I paint it black? Okay, just build me a fabulous mantel box for it and then paint it. Money's no object here in Fantasyland.

3/29/11

Pink with black or grey.



I love this image by photographer Debi Treloar--especially the way the light reflects off the glass. Light reflecting on glass gives a room (and a photo) energy. I'd like to have this blown up huge and hang it above my sofa.


Photo: Debbie Treloar

But I also love this image--it's so bright and peaceful. There's no shortage of chairs around my house, but I'm still looking for something to go around the dining room table. I want something comfy and upholstered so the space feels more like a sitting room since there's not alot of fine dining going on at my house.

3/28/11

Elle Decor. I subscribe for the articles. Really.

Photo: Simon Upton for Elle Decor


With online magazines like Lonny offering so much free decorating porn, my expectations of traditional print publications are changing. I still want the tactile experience of curling up on the sofa with paper pages, but I want to be awed. That's why it was great to see Elle Decor deliver such an inspirational, focused issue this month.


The issue was both world-class and a truly fresh take, just as the cover promised, filled with amazing international design. The featured homes were all very aspirational-- most of us don't live like this--yet there was so much that could be interpreted in our own homes. And there were pages and pages of it--truly immersive, just like the online pubs.


Sid Bergamin's Trancosa, Brazil, vacation home, shown on the cover, was stunning--casual and relaxed. It felt very ethnic with all it's Suzani-draped chairs, and yet with its navy and white stripes, somewhat American and preppy. I love how he pulled two Barcelona stools up to the sofa without using the chairs. I dream of vacationing here.


Photo: Simon Upton for Elle Decor via My Favorite and My Best


This room in Nabil Nahas' apartment in Beirut was beautiful. I love the contrast between the ornate Syrian mirror and chest and the more modest crocheted bedcovering. The expanse of white kept the room from being too overwhelming, while the texture of the spread tied it all together.


Photo: Simon Upton for Elle Decor


Antonello Radi's 16th century palazzo in Umbria was a bit harder to relate to, but I did like this room with its Chesterfield sofa and mix of fur and ethnic pillows. I'm sure they were all "very costly, very important and highly sought after," the owner's own words to describe not these but some Umbrian pieces in another room. No dreams of vacationing here. In fact, I feel like I need a shower.


What did you think of Elle Decor's April issue? Are there any other print shelter pubs you're loving or hating this month? What do you think print pubs need to do to retain an audience and set themselves apart from online pubs?

3/27/11

What would Karen Walker do?

Decorate by Holly Becker of Decor8 with publishing veteran Joanna Copestick, author of The Family Home, among many other titles. Photography is by another veteran, Debi Treloar, who shot the images for some of stylist Emily Chalmers' books. Available to pre-order on Amazon for only $20.11. I can hardly wait to curl up with this on my sofa and get inspired.


Undecorate by Christiane Lemieux, founder and creative director of DwellStudio, with Rumaan Alam, already in bookstores and available on Amazon as well. It's definitely on my wish list.


Decorate. Undecorate. This is where Karen Walker would say, "You say tomato. I say vodka," then buy them both and drink herself into a stupor. I tend to agree. The sheer volume of great new decorating books and the resultant design ADD is enough to drive anyone to drink.


What's on your reading list?

3/23/11

Kathy Griffin and a consolation prize


Since Manuel Canovas and I are clearly not destined to be together any time soon, I bought four yards of this vintage seventies upholstery fabric from Thoroughbred Threads on Etsy as a consolation prize. I know it's crazy, but I can't decide if is it's crazy-genius or crazy-weird-and-sad- like-Kathy-Griffin.
So, my question is, if this were your living room...




Would you use this fabric to reupholster this chair? With black piping?



Or perhaps make seat cushions for a couple of these chairs?



Your thoughts, please!