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A Week in Translation

Oh the Joys of Fashion Week!

I love beautiful clothes, but by no means am I any type of fashionista. My core wardrobe weighs heavily on the classic side, more along the lines of designer, Haider Ackerman.  His luxurious layering and impeccably tailored silhouettes are set in motion through soft drapes, casual knotting and undulating folds. His palette would have mother nature weak in the knees; beautiful, earthy shades of striking apricot, burnt umber, copper and burgundy perfectly matched more ashy and cold shades of dark blue, off gray and khaki.  He’s classic, yet very sexy. His collection would translate to a luxuriously rich decor, abundant with all of the decadent materials and hues he uses in his collection.

Until I took in the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met, I never really appreciated all of the crazy couture strutting down the runway. I thought; who wears this stuff?  Alexander McQueen truly opened my eyes to the extraordinary imagination and details that made him a legend. So as New York Fashion Week prevailed, he was a constant in my mind as I took in all of the unique design collections, crazy hairdo’s and makeup, with renewed respect and eyes wide open. I viewed each fashion from an interior perspective and got completely lost in translation; the structures, color combinations; juxtaposition of materials…every single detail.  Don’ t get me wrong, there are still those designs that make me wonder; Who Would Wear That?

Those are the designs reminiscent of Pollack vs. Rembrandt. While I adore abstract art, I could never really see the skill in splattering paint all over a canvas; whereas fine art is masterful, thoughtful, pure genius; it requires talent & mindful precision.  For me, the Rembrandt equation is the ideology that should translate into interior design.

This grungy collection is pure Pollack; it’s the interior design equivalent of an unmade bed.  The language of this entire collection speaks of dirty laundry.  The biker vignette is quite symbiotic, but a bit more polished.

I think this strikes the perfect balance; a little rough & tumble and an unmade bed!

Jean Paul Gaultier’s Couture is contemporary Rembrandt. Just as you would architect and design a house, there is imagination, a creative thought process, hours of planning & fabrication that goes into each of his designs. Gaultier’s designs translate into a sophisticated decor; rich layering of fabrics, metallics; formal and urbane. Kelly Wearstler would be my Gaultier interior design translation; her style is outrageous, alluring and sophisticated. Her interiors are occasionally quiet, but quite frequently exuberant with a lot of color,and always elegantly layered with mixed metals, provocative textiles & decadent fabrics & finishes.

This copper & creamy white combination is not seen often in decor.  Take a color queue from this collection by designer, Stephane Rolland. I love the ease & flow of her collection; it’s elegant, and yet her designs appear to be quite comfortable. This same premise should translate over to one’s decor.

Translate Stephane’s collection into the home.  Imagine an iridescent copper ceiling, creamy upholstered sofas, burled wood, sleek side chairs & benches. Throw in a modern, cognac leather chair, graceful, flowing draperies, and finally, finish off the room with perfect jewels of artwork, side tables, accent pillows & accessories. Whether it’s fashion or interior; it’s all about quality & details; luxurious trims on draperies, pillows & upholstered pieces. Hand painted finishes, gorgeous lighting, luxurious rugs; this is what elevates the style of a home. If you skimp, you’ll end up paying for it in the end.

It’s no surprise that deep, rich Autumnal colors are trending for fall. Take a look at Kravet’s Fall forecast.

Abstract two ways; very structured and melodious. The translation of  the structured style would play out in an ultra contemporary, sleek, minimalist home with very defined lines.  The softer version, while still modern is a bit more on the traditional side; comfortably tailored, not as sharp.

Everywhere I look, I’m seeing dots!  Polka dots seem to be all the rage in fashion right now, but not so much for interiors; I’m still trying to connect with the dot. Here’s one that speaks to me; it’s modern, on a grander scale and it meshes into the next making it discreet.

Even though I dabble in the classics, I do like to add a dash of trendy here and there — in my wardrobe as well as my my decor.  Trends are here today, and gone tomorrow. Trendy is disposable once the rage is passe’, so unless you have an endless bank account, it’s best to anchor yourself in the classics and accessorize with the trends.

Pick a designer, any designer; take a look at what’s strutting down the runway this year and find your favorites.

The fashion runway in New York may have come to a close, but fashion never misses a beat; the show continues on in London, Milan & Paris!  Continue to indulge to your hearts content! And feel free to Pin away; all of these fabulous designs and so much more are just waiting for you on our #NYFW Pinterest Page!

Once the shows are over, what does happen to all of those flamboyant collections that truly aren’t wearable? Designing minds want to know!

A Musing Week…

What a musing week! The most exciting part of the week was our write-up in Forbes about our wonderful Sandy Oster, founder of Decorator Tag Sale. I really need to brag for a moment about this truly amazing woman. I could use every positive, motivational adjective in the world to describe her, but it just wouldn’t suffice. I have never met a person that is more talented, gracious, modest, positive, or hard working.  In addition to building Decorator Tag Sale, she continues to run her incredibly successful design firm, Sandra Oster Interiors.  Her plate is full, her cup runneth over; I’m talking 24/7. Clearly, she is driven by passion, and her businesses are a true labor of love. So it was nice to receive a little media thrill to keep the thrifty engines forging ahead. We’re continuously adding new inventory to our e-boutique, thanks to all of the tastemaker designers out there; they are the reason Sandy started this business in the first place.  Designers, keep trucking in those curated goods!

New discoveries continue to thrill & inspire us! Jaw-dropping products, glossy e-publications,  new artists & photographers, and mind blowing DIY transformations — Life is Good, especially when you have the opportunity to share such wonderful musings.  

Awe-inspiring architecture & design beckoned attention. Just take a look at Kelly Klein’s Palm Beach Getaway in Architectural Digest.  I’m always amazed by creative brilliance; the spiraling window and staircase are mesmerizing. Conceptualizing that staircase is pure genius; execution is sheer perfection, and the contractor is a true master of his craft. This is the product of impeccable architecture & design.  We certainly weren’t at a loss for Dreamy Kitchens; and none of them were white…a truly refreshing departure! Dig into the details on our Facebook page.

Let’s Cruise Through a Little Redo

I relish designs that are off the beaten path. This bicycle base was such a fun & creative idea. As designers do, I couldn’t resist redoing this space to brighten it up and add a more cheerful, whimsical vibe. The truth is, I’m a huge fan of cruiser bikes — fat tires, squishy seat, fun colors, cute wicker basket, chirpy little bell — it’s so designer’ly don’t you think?  I want to driftwood the walls, paint the floors, and park my cruiser. Add a clean, crisp white countertop and set an oceany, bubble-patterned, glass vessel sink atop — now that’s cruisin’.  My version would keep the handlebars and actually hang the basket from the bars; then fill the basket with colorful linen hand towels. Cheery don’t you think?

There are times when we can’t find what we’re looking for; it’s the wrong color, style, etc.  This is when we take matters into our own hands with a little DIY!  Just look at how Arianna Belle transformed these baskets from relaxed to glamorous, with a little silver paint.  And over at Signature Style, chalk is still going strong. The collection of photographs gathered around “Love” are so thoughtful.  One bold L-O-V-E says it all, making those photos worth more than a thousand words.

I don’t know about you, but my ultimate relaxation activity  of choice is curling up with colorful, glossy e-zines & blogs. I just love the internet limo that drives you right to the doorstep of your destination with a simple click of the mouse — no dressing up, no car, no make-up — just point & click to add to the shopping cart, and a few days later the nice man in the big, boxy brown truck delivers your treasures!  Oh Happy Day!

Like finding hidden treasure, I happened upon a few new gems this week to add to the reading list. The even bigger bonus; put them all together and you have the perfect party!

New found love,  Foodie Crush Magazine will have you salivating at first glance. Warning! Don’t read this on an empty stomach; we won’t be responsible for a foodie binge…only crushes.

We can all use a little flower power to brighten our lives. Thanks to Eddie Ross, we discovered the brilliant Flower Magazine. Your eyes will dance as they peer through pages upon pages of sheer floral bliss. 

And to add the big bright cherry on top, I introduce you to Festivities Magazine. You now have everything you need to plan the perfect party; food, flowers & party inspiration!  It’s the perfect little package!