Chad Dorsey designed this beautiful kitchen. My favorite part about it of course is the Bird decal on the ceiling. This is what I had in mind when I was talking about the Birds Halloween theme in Part I. Subtly spreading these Birds and making them look like art, rather than just temporary decorations makes them look tasteful, and almost curated. Very adult yet I’m sure that the kids would love them too!
Did you notice the nest on the table? Genius!
One of my main inspirations for my personal style as well as my home style has been this single picture you see above of Betty Catroux taken in her home in Paris in the 70’s. The apartment was designed by her husband François…. That picture to me is everything. It could have easily been taken in the 70s, 80s, 90s or even today…. Catroux’s interiors from the 70s remain timeless because he knew how to mix the modern classics with warm or rustic pieces of furniture in a modern yet eclectic way.
Recently Catroux redid their apartment … I am not sure whether it was a full renovation or he just added on to the apartment because I recognize a lot of art work and furniture pieces from their 70s pictures that I came across on the net!.. I love that I can’t tell exactly what he did and where he did it… the revamped apartment feels like its continuing their story rather than trying to make a new one!
Here’s the living room, do you see what I mean? It looks so eclectic and modern. Again this could easily be a Catroux apartment from the 70s, 80s, 90s or even today!…
As always he not only mixed styles and periods but layered them in a way only he could do! There are pieces that the couple had for decades, such as the rustic colossal African mask and the 1995 portrait of Betty by Philippe de Lustrac.
I just love Betty’s office. François designed the built-in cabinetry all around the room. I love that she put a casual photograph of her late best friend Yves Saint Laurent in front of another photograph.
The painting above the sofa is by Emmanuel Gondouin from the 1930s. That Noguchi coffee table is one of my favorite tables. It’s so timeless and so fit for this beautiful library.
Even though that first picture will still be closer to my style than the current apartment, this is still my favorite home. It’s my favorite home for many reasons ( which I stated above) but mainly because it’s simply a home of a couple who have been married for 50 years (1968) who with the new renovations seems to be looking forward to living together for many years to come!
It isn’t easy to mix… but when it’s done right it somehow looks so easy on the eyes… I love what they have done with this apartment… they have mixed classical elements, design pieces and contemporary materials with luxurious details, with a masterful minimalist approach. The colors and textures are relaxing yet sophisticated! What do you think?
Images via Guilherme Torres
High street brand for a change! Love those ankle boots from publicdesire.com just look at those heels!
There are many movies out there that inspire us in terms of fashion and/or interior design…. So I thought I’d start a new segment on my blog about movie wardrobes that I love and that have influenced my taste and style throughout the years…
I’ll start this segment with one of my favorite movie wardrobes from the 1999 version of The Thomas Crown Affair which was designed by Kate Harrington. I loved Rene Russo ’s lead character, Catherine Banning’s wardrobe. The wardrobe was so impeccable and still relevant today, despite the fact that it was done 17 years ago.
Harrington was hired with only two months “to pull the clothes together,” which left no room for her to create anything from scratch: not a sketch, a pattern, or garment. She settled on a wardrobe for Russo’s character from the 1997 Celine F/W collection by Michael Kors (one of Russo’s suggestions) and a few Halston creations.
Harrington’s approach was like doing a magazine spread. “That’s how I saw it. I’d just act like I was doing an entire Vanity Fair issue, cover to cover, only with Pierce and Rene.” I’ve learned many lessons from Kate Harrington’s approach for this movie. Here are a few “lessons” worth thinking about:
1. You don’t have to have a colorful wardrobe to make a variety of looks. Rene’s character in this movie rarely wore the same thing twice even though she wore a lot of the same neutral colors like cream, camel, grey and black. She never looked boring because she mixed and matched her neutrals all the time.
2. You must play with textures and materials. For example, Rene wore a cashmere turtleneck with a leather skirt…. and I love the look above where she stayed within a colour scheme but added interest by mixing 3 textures cashmere, fur, and leather.
3. Invest in classic cuts because they will never go out of style. All her clothes are in classic silhouettes – that sequenced black dress, the turtleneck sweaters, the mandarin collar on her gown, that stunning biker cut leather jacket and the list can go on! Her wardrobe was full of items that are a must in every wardrobe and that have stood the test of time.
4. Always add a touch of “cool” to your look!. Rene’s character always looked cool even though she always wore very classic clothes… Like those cool aviator sunglasses with her conservative turtleneck and skirt, those unexpected earrings with a traditional gown, and that bustier over a classic white shirt (above).
This post has been sitting in my draft box waiting for me to remember it since January!! I can’t believe that I totally forgot about it!!
Hermès always manages to create beautiful window displays. This year they have commissioned the sculptor Frank Plant to design their windows… I loved it so much that I thought it is worth posting even if its so late!!
Better late than never right?
I love the way Kathy Kuo designed her daughter’s nursery in her NYC home!… She designed the nursery in away that her daughter has lots of room to grow and last till her teen years! I like how she mixed the patterns but stayed within the color scheme… The room looks so chic, not too themey, and yet very child friendly and cozy! I love it.
Going back to nature is back in fashion right now!!!… whether it’s in food, interior design, or high-end fashion!!!… In this Ukraine based project, Sergey Makhno Workshop used green and natural materials to create a loft-like space. I’m in love with the natural light that floods the apartment, and I recognize some of that lovely modern furniture I even have some of them on my wish list!… Though I must say that I wish they had a different dining table!!!
Two designers Gilles & Boissier live in this very stylish apartment in Paris….I love how they mixed classic and contemporary elements together and how everything seems to just work together!!!. They didn’t stop at mixing contemporary and classic styles but they even mixed designer’s items with stuff found at flea markets…. By doing so they made the apartment feel so personal…. so them!!!
I am in love with the white painted brick, the white beams, and the black floors…. I mean what a combination right?. A lot of people may see a black and white combination as cold and maybe a bit boring but I think that in this setting it makes perfect sense because it provides a blank canvas for art… It allows the art as well as the furnishings to breath and stands out…. Love it!
Running In Heelz 