In The Navy (Suite)

I'm awaiting the arrival of 2 sofas, a wing back chair, ottomans and a small hill of cushions I've ordered in yummy coordinated Warwick fabrics; a bold combination of navy blue geometric patterned and floral. Bold because I'm usually the safe cream dream girl.

Am considering the decor to revolve around them.

~

A flirtation with dark blue walls leaves me thinking the sofas might disappear into them, but an accent colour like the lime green below might make all the difference. The black and white stripe adds a French je ne sais quoi, non?

Blue pattern on pattern. Like. Like very much.

Okay these might be grey walls and not blue, but the patterned sofa truly stands out especially when paired with white accents. The tasteful artwork is always a necessity, but the dead stuffed owl just lifts the whole scheme, doesn't it?

Blue gloss lion heads certainly suggest "I'm an exciting individual with good taste".

All photos from White & Wander blog, except for pattern on pattern photo from ChiChi & Luxe blog

Country Monkey, City Monkey

Usually I make a face like a two-year old threatened with cabbage when I hear the words "Country" and "Style" used consecutively. Tragic images of 'quaint' from the 80s haunt me, the kind with rustic (read:new with bad faux paint job) signs that say "Home is Where the Heart Is", wooden barnyard animal attached. And a putrid floral pattern or nineteen thrown in to complete the look.

* Yech *

~

Then I stumble upon this beauty by designer John Loecke and his partner, and my Country world is rocked. This 1840 Federal-style converted schoolhouse they've christened "Monkey House" is located in New York's Catskills (wherrzzat?).

Comments on inspiration from the article in Country Living, written by Sara Bliss:

"The overall design was meant to harken to the classic interiors found in the English country house of a century ago--rooms filled with antiques, sculptural furniture pieces, and botanical patterns and prints on the walls. John and Jason reinterpreted the look, however, by introducing some decidedly offbeat pieces, including silver scallop sconces, giraffe print pillows, and a tropical-inspired chandelier."

On the use of patterns according to John:

"The trick to combining many patterns in a room is to choose a common color scheme. A variety of bold patterns won't clash when linked by a limited palette." To avoid overwhelming the space, John advises using no more than two large-scale prints and keeping other patterns geometric."

Photos are by Lucas Allen, article by Sara Bliss

Ben Does My Interiors, Who Does Yours?

If I were a Hollywood It celebrity I'd have Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz design all my homes.... in the hills of LA, my NY city pad (for when I do short stints on Broadway) and the holiday house in the Hamptons. 

Oh look, here it is.

Interior of the Hamptons house below. 

All Browns/Saide Hamptons residence images via Yatzer

Below, the interior of the Mondrian LA Hotel

These images via BNOdesign site

Où Coco Est?

Eagerly anticipating English release of Coco Before Chanel into theatres in September (why does France get it a whole 6 months beforehand? No fair). Incorporates 3 of my favourite things: Audrey Tatou, the French language and France in general, and Madame Chanel - one of my 'when-I-grow-up' heros. 

Found on youtube, a rare glimpse into her home at 18 Place Vendome. Features a delicious close up of the wheatchaff-base table I mentioned last year.

All images via Filmofilia.com

Book I Bought - Domestic Art

Purchased a couple of weeks ago on an expensive whim, and still ploughing through it. There is so much visual information and sheer fabulous-ness I can't cover more than a few pages at a time before my brain overloads.

I also managed to finally locate a copy of Cark Skoggard and Derry Moore's Rooms. I was short of breath at the beauty of it all.

Domestic Art can be purchased via Amazon

Style Is Mine

On more than one occasion, I've seen people comment on other people having style, hoitily sniff into the camera "People are born with style. You either have it or you don't."

~

Well, I poo-poo your view and say we can all learn to have style and grace and poise. I entertain the idea that some are genetically predisposed to being beautiful, and being born into the right environment certainly encourages stylish behaviour (having money helps), but appreciating beauty is a trait totally available to anyone. And isn't appreciating a beautiful life the foundation to having style and grace? The rest of us just have to learn it like any other behaviour; like having manners, or to consider the feelings of another.

Audrey Hepburn grocery shopping with her pet deer. Image from Raincoaster.com.

It May Not Be Flair Exactly....

Have been on an op shop rampage with visitors who are staying for a few days. Found a gem of my own yesterday at a steal for 5 bucks, The NY Times Book of Interior Design and Decoration. Sw-eeet. Like flipping through a coffee table book produced last year rather than in 1976, it's startling how very similar many of the current American designers are reprising interiors of the era.

Have been eyeing these swish Ikat-inspired bowls from Anthroplogie but haven't found anything remotely similar around here. Noticed pretty-boy designer Nate Berkus has some lying about in his home too.
Anthropologie bowl image thanks to Style Court

Flair by Fleur

Besides being a brilliant style blog, Mrs. Blandings is written with a wit and humour that only an interminably interesting lady could possess. She also possesses a fair amount of good luck ~ Finding an original Flair Annual 1953 on a shelf too high for her to reach.

~

With a run of only 12 magazines over 2 years and a fiesty spirit of innovation, graphic artists and magazine folk still look to it for inspiration today. Read more about the visionary Flair creator and editor Fleur Cowles here. A write up on 2008 Paperdoll Convention Archive gives a good idea of the magazines as they were.

All above images thanks to Mrs. Blandings.

The dozen Flair cover images are thanks to Brilliant Asylum.

The Elements of Style Illustrated

.... is the next book on my impressive(ly big) list of "To Gets". Watch the video on the Barnes&Noble website as Maria Kalman talks about her inspirations and lots of juicy views of her illustrations.