Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Runway Envy 2 - More Outfits to Live In

More of my daydreaming about Spring days ahead. Milly is one of my favorite go-to labels. The styles translate perfectly into rooms, whether you feel Out-of-Africa-chic or in a Monte Carlo meets Miami mood.

Milly - Spring '09

Start with a pair of Jamie Young Lamps.

A garden seat that works indoors or out.

An orange sofa, done right, would be very cool. Another hit from Room Service!

A jute is natural choice for safari-inspired decor.



A pop of turquoise keeps it fresh. Peace and love keep it real.

Soft saddle leather , updated with chrome.

Adorn the walls with palm leaf wood panels.

Milly Spring '09

Chair Couture designs: Sweet meets sophisticated.

Grown-up girl lighting.


Artist Kerry Beary's work adds the perfect vibe - Milly style!
A lady-like tufted headboard in chartreuse...
combined with wild child embroidery...
and finished with innocent white.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

On the Set of "Privileged:" Girl Room Gets Glam


As promised in my earlier post about the set of the CW's "Privileged," I got the inside scoop from production designer, Rachel Kamerman, and set decorator, Claire Kaufman, about designing teen character Sage's new dreamy bedroom set. Needless to say, the duo had a ton of fun putting this Palm Beach "It-Girl" abode together, but the duo also wants their viewers to know that the look is not all about expense.

"It was so important to us that viewers didn't turn off the show and feel like they could never get this look in their own room," explains Kamerman. "We wanted girls to look at this room and feel they can go buy some of these pieces with their babysitting money." An example? The chandelier printed pillows above came from Target. The key to the look was more about mixing some expensive pieces with inexpensive finds and creative use of materials.

Kamerman's inspiration for this headboard design came from a night club set for a previous episode starring Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz. The boxes are made of brass mica and the pink sections are glossy linoleum flooring from Linoleum City. "I wanted it to be very make-up like," says Kamerman.

The nightstands came from HD Buttercup and Kamerman and Kaufman had the dust ruffle made out of simple fringe. Circles are a recurring theme throughout the room. Notice the clever use of white painted wood circle cutouts adorning the pillars. The base is painted gold.


The wallpapered panels make a strong statement without papering the whole room -- and is less expensive. The wallpaper is Graham & Brown's "Tempting Chrysanthemum" in chocolate and pink and can be found at Designyourwall.com.


The chaise came from the Warner Brothers' Studio prop house and was recovered and tufted in white. The gold foil key pillows are from Room Service. Kaufman adorned the window treatments with studs. "It's all about embellishing," she says.


Here is a full look at the set. The screen adorning the sides of the desk were inspired by a 1970s pattern Kamerman has in her vintage collection and recreated by her carpenter. The desk shown last week came from one of my favorite L.A. spots, Room Service.

Art was used sparingly in the room. "Keep it simple," advises Kaufman. But she reminds us to make it fun: "Put an art painting next to a rock poster."

M.A.C. cosmetics provided the latest Hello Kitty line to complete the girly-glam theme.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Runway Envy: An Outfit to Live In

A great way to spend a cold, rainy day is to look ahead to the bright days ahead and the gorgeous Spring clothes that hit fashion magazines this month. A look at the Spring runway shows from last fall reminded me of a feature our beloved Domino magazine used to do: Taking an outfit and turning it into a room. So, in honor of Domino, here is an object of my runway envy:

Chanel: Spring '09
This Designer's Guild sofa is the perfect start to my imaginary atelier


It would not be Chanel without quilted patent leather...

...or Pearls
Glamorous curves from Swank Lighting

Add a Coco-worthy stool

Fringe detail
No couturier's atelier is complete without a dressing area


Finally, don't forget Fifi and your joie de vivre!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

"Privileged"

If you haven't caught on to the CW's "Privileged," you are missing a really fun watch! If not for the fab clothes and witty banter (shout out to Marco!), watch it for the incredible Palm Beach digs in which most of the show takes place. Production designer Rachel Kamerman did an incredible job creating the glamorous Baker estate that truly provides a feast for the eyes in every shot. Light and airy it is not, but if rich colors, heavy stone and pure opulence describe your style sense, you will love this mansion.

It turns out Kamerman has posted short guided tours of some of the rooms in the estate on the CW Web site I will have more in the coming days from Rachel and her set design team about how they put the house together and where you can find the furniture and accessories they used. In the meantime here are some pics from the set.

Everywhere you look there are groupings of interesting accessories. Rachel and her team had to do a lot of shopping to fill this set up!


I love this guy. As Rachel mentions in her video tour, set budgets are tight and many items were found at flea markets. Perhaps this was one of those treasures?
The Baker Estate loggia is a perfect example of how to bring the inside outdoors.

Brave choice! Cobalt blue silk drapes in what could otherwise be an imposing dining room seem to bring the fictional azure Palm Beach ocean inside.
The teenage twins, Rose and Sage, shared a bedroom earlier in the season but now they have their own rooms. Sage's room is the off the chain! We will hear from Rachel about how she and her team pulled the look together, but here is a preview.

I love the gilt squares and rectangles hung behind her bed. What an inexpensive way to create the sculptural look.
So simple, yet such high impact. Glam up a desk by affixing screens to each side.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Vanessa Seward Envys "Mahogany"

Flipping through my latest issue of Tatler magazine ( I LOVE British fashion mags!) I saw a fabulous profile on Azzaro designer Vanessa Seward. Amongst her inspirations is the ever- fabulous 1975 film, "Mahogany," starring Diana Ross and the had-it-before-Obama-cool Billy Dee Williams.

"Mahogany" is a study in 1970s glittery glam mixed with a gritty dose of 1970s confusion and search of self. The clothes are to die for to this day and Azzaro's most recent collection perfectly captures the vibe.
The "Mahogany" set is also a study in 1970's bohemian chic juxtaposed with more formal velvet-clad flash of the same era. Buddahs and batik meets gilt and gaudiness, if you will.
This look works as well today. Don't forget the patchouli oil.
Gump's carries several versions of Buddah. I think this one is perfect!
A "Mahogany" inspired room is not complete without the Diva herself!


While it may be the velvet and gilt is best left to the 70s, it does possess a certain chain-smoking 70's socialite charm.

Friday, February 6, 2009

"Something's Gotta Give" Again






When writing about the art of set decoration, it's impossible not to give props to one of the most talked about sets in recent years, 2004's "Something's Gotta Give." Set decorator Beth Rubino hit this Hamptons beach house baby out of the park. It remains the object of envy for many of us. There is a great article about the Rubino and her work on the set in this Architectural Digest issue.

The new British Colonial line at Williams-Sonoma Home perfectly captures the spirit of this Hampton's-chic look: Elegant, timeless, comfortable, inviting:


Cuddle up with Keanu. Or a good book, if you prefer.

When guests drive out from the city. Make mine a Lemon Drop.

Just like Erica Barry's desk where she wrote and cried - A LOT.

Close your eyes and listen to the (real or imagined) crashing waves just outside your window.

The perfect beach house Audubon prints.