November Elle Decor

Whew, this is tough. November's Elle Decor killed me. It was all about luxury. Pages of pointless facts about when certain luxury items came into favor, followed by features of luxurious homes filled to the brim with things that almost no one can afford.

There were dozens of quotes from designers on what "luxury" means to them and several of them said that money has nothing to do with it. They praised restraint and a couple of them called excess "burdensome" and technology a waste of money, as it is constantly changing. And then the magazine went and profiled homes that were completely excessive, layered with luxury (read: expensive) custom made finishes and furniture that precisely 1% of their readers can ever attain. I am completely dumbfounded and after a five minute perusal tossed my copy in the trash - understand I usually save every Elle Decor as there is at least one project inside that I want to draw inspiration from in the future.

My favorite quote in the entire magazine is Da Vinci: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." The older I get, the more I want to simplify and have fewer meaningless things around me. There were actually a few ads in the mag that I thought were beautiful and inspiring and exemplified this quote. So enjoy the only pages of this month's Elle Decor that I thought lived up to the description luxurious...the advertisements!

I included the Jean de Merry ad for the chandelier, I swear......hahahaha
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P.S. **Disclaimer - the eat-in kitchen Bill Sofield did is gorgeous and simple, with the best things money can buy. The entire project is probably considered a masterpiece by many. I can't hate on how stunning it is, just that it took two years, trips to Paris, and millions of dollars to create.

P.P.S. Heather called me out on my love for fine things. I do love luxury items, my friends - it was the message of accessible luxury portrayed in the design quotes vs. the homes profiled. There could have at least been ONE project that was more simple or attainable. 

production problems

Just got my new Elle Decor in the mail and tore into it right away. I was super excited to see the beach houses of two people I am obsessed with - Ralph Pucci and Athena Calderone...however, there were several production problems with this issue that really bothered me. There were pages missing (58-74!) and out of place, many blurry photos, and most of all I hate it when the article mentions a special room or piece and then they don't show a photo of it. In Ralph Pucci's house they only showed the clean, minimalist (read ho-hum) outside and living room. They spoke of a gorgeous dark wall in the bedroom with an overlay and then didn't show the master bedroom at all.

Sandra Lee's house is one of the most boring I have ever seen, with super low ceilings - the way they photographed it made it look like a dollhouse with oversized furniture. And her portrait with her COCKATOO on the cover makes me very sad. Why not a photo of her family?

Maybe mine was one of a bad batch...hope yours is better.

P.S. Still love Athena Calderone.
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P.P.S - Got an email from the publication's marketing dept today - they are sending me another copy. They are really on the ball over there to have spotted this tiny blog complaint and they took care of it immediately. Kudos to Elle Decor!

saturday spaces

Hey gang...so glad that this week is over and was a success! Huge strides in the French Quarter home of my clients - they love everything and I promise you, the art and accessories will really make that place pop. Didn't even want to photograph the insane deco burl credenza in entry until it has something over it. Here are some Saturday Spaces from the newest mags and the interwebs to inspire you through the weekend - have two new client meetings next week!
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Celebrity Home: Hilary Swank

Hi, all! I hope you had an amazing weekend and are gearing up for Thanksgiving. I have been so busy lately I barely have time to write these posts, much less go see all the movies that are out now that I have been to! hahaha (how gorgeous was the house in Twilight: Breaking Dawn? It was filmed here and several of the pieces were from my store!)
Speaking of movie stars, here is the home of Hilary Swank, featured in the latest Elle Decor. What do you think about it? I like the bedroom, but I honestly feel like the living room looks like a Crate and Barrel catalog. This apartment seems like a corporate rental. She says that there are very personal touches like the art and some African pieces she collected over time, but I honestly don't see it. It does not feel warm or lived in at all to me. This issue caps off a few months of disappointing spaces in Elle Decor - is it becoming the new Architectural Digest? Filled with impersonal spaces of celebrities? This condo is oddly reminiscent of Courtney Cox' house. What do you guys think?
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