The Icon Fabric

Have you ever purchased a pair of really fancy, really expensivo shoes?

And then worn them with a dress from Forever 21 or Target?

And then someone asks " Is that dress from Saks?"

It's guilt by association people.

And it applies to interiors too.

Which is where "icon" fabrics come in.

There are alot of icon fabrics on the market right now.

Fun, fresh prints that can jazz up just about any room.

Since most of them are carried by "trade-only" fabric houses, they tend to be a bit more expensive, but if used in small doses, they can have high impact for a lower cost.

My favorite thing to do is jazz up an inexpensive sofa or chair with "Designer" pillows, made from a fun Schumacher or Kravet print.

A few examples if you will.

Kelly Wearstler's Bengal Bazaar for Lee Jofa makes this window treatment sing.

I adore this room, designed by Alexandra Berlin of Things That Sparkle.

You heard it here first, folks. She's one to watch!

This Quadrille fabric makes a simple headboard pop!

Again---Bengal Bazaar on the windows adds an element of interest to this nursery.

I love Tobi Fairley's use of print in general and I notice that she often uses icon fabrics.

The green wingbacks in this room are covered in a Barclay Butera print and the club chair is in a Schumacher chinoiserie.

Traditional French chairs are brought back to life by Kelly Weartsler's Imperial Trellis in Citrine for Schumacher.

If you want to "get the look" for less---Try a pillow in your fave fabric instead of using tons of fabric for window treatments or upholstery.

There are tons of great sellers on Etsy.

And, FYI, one of my favorite pillow makers, Woody Liana on Etsy is having her "Spring Sale" right now!

What's your favorite "icon" fabric?

Patent Leather...Unexpected, and Fabulous!

I think the best design elements are the one's that are unexpected.

Which is why I'm really loving patent leather upholstery on classic chair shapes.

Give me a Louis XVI style chair or a classic mid century shape in a punchy patent,

and I'm totally on board!

Jan Showers

I love the combo of yellow and green here.

Super fab!

Love this tufted yellow version too!

Kelly Wearstler---Always a win!

What's your take on patent leather on a classic chair?

INTERVENTION, the Tale of a Furniture Crazed Interior Decorator

Meg Braff via HouseBeautiful.com

Last week, while furiously googling "white etagere" for a client,  I came across these bad boys from a shop in Palm Beach, called Circa Who.

And for about an hour while I scoured their website, all I could think was, "Is this a stinking joke?!"

I've literally never been more excited in my life.

If you like Hollywood Regency or the 1960's Palm Beach vibe at all, go check IT OUT, Immediately.

For a minute, I almost considered not sharing my new secret internet amazingness with you, and then I thought, "Well that's just selfish."

On to the next part of my story. 

While hunting around for said shelves in a lovely thrift shop in Houston this weekend, 

I stumbled upon this gorgeous tufted leather chesterfield love seat.

And I immediately thought of this space designed by Kelly Wearstler 

for the Tides at South Beach hotel.

 And I was pretty much ready to throw out my whole living room 

in order to start over with this love seat as my centerpiece.

And the friend accompanying me pretty much was about to stage an Intervention.

Because let's face it, with the amount of times I'm wanting to redecorate every inch of my home lately,

it could be neccessary.

I wonder if A&E's Intervention show takes Interior Decorators?

It might be a welcome change from all the drug addicts.

I didn't spring for the sofa (yet.) 

But I did find a fabulous Rattan Etagere at that very same thrift store!

Ta-Da!

I'm going to spray paint it a gloss white so it can look like these beauties!

images via kellywearstler.com, tidessouthbeach.com, circawho.com, ae.com

Circa Who

Is there anything that you have a weakness for buying?

Home Decor? Magazines? Shoes?

Retro Fabulous..... A Dallas Home Goes Glam!

Ok readers, As my friend Blair so nicely pointed out, I slacked on you for 24 hours.

Deepest Apologies.

To make up for my behavior, I'm retro-actively posting.

So here comes the second bite of fabulousness for the day.

The owner of Again and Again, the repurposed vintage furniture shop I spoke of yesterday (ok, an hour ago.) Leslie Pritchard, has a FABULOUS home in the Turtle Creek area in Dallas. 

Her designer friend, Breck Woolsey, glammed it up for her.

And this, my friends, was the BEYOND Fab result:

A few notes on this picture.

1. Love the coral sofa and Missoni-style printed chair.

2. Really into the cowhide rug under the black and gold leaf coffee table

3. Does anyone else notice that Ms. Pritchard is the twin of Celebrity Designer, Kelly Wearstler?

Perhaps that's why Breck decided to use Kelly Wearstler's influence in many of the rooms?

highfashionhome.com

She has pink curtains.

And the Dorothy Draper Style chair is recovered in Kelly Wearstler's Apricot Bengal Bazaar.

DYING.

I have no words for this buffet.

Ok, I have one.

FABULOUS.

I love the way this bed is styled.

Headboard inspired by Kelly Wearstler.

Dusty Rose pillows, tan Hermes blanket.

LOVE the white 1960's side tables and tall lamps.

Gorgeous.

All pictures courtesy of FD Luxe Magazine for Dallas Morning News.

So, Are you or are you not thrilled that I shared this with you?

The Friend Style Files.....Katie

My friend Katie (pictured below with her fiancee) is currently planning her wedding. We were talking about her dream design aesthetic recently and she mentioned how much she likes the decor at The Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica. 

Of Course I automatically love it, since it was designed by my fave, Kelly Wearstler. She designed it in the "British Regency" Style with core colors of white, black, and kelly green.

It's preppy, it's chic, it's hollywood regency.

It's FAB.

 

photos via viceroyhotelsandresorts.com

Katie recently moved into a new condo with her fiancee in Kansas City.

I thought I'd design their formal living room.

Disclaimer: When designing this room, I primarily took her future hubbie's masculinity into account.

And then promptly ignored it.

Katie's design philosophy is a mix. She's preppy with a trendy vibe. Picture skinny jeans and a DVF Top with pearls. She's glam yet laid back.

I think something emulating Kelly Wearstler's Hollywood Regency Style with a British Preppy kick would be perfect for her.

I'd start with Schumacher's Green Trellis Wallpaper. It's instantly drives home the tone we're going for.

I would place two of these white tufted sofas from Z Gallerie facing each other 

Three of these mirrors from Ballard Designs would go above the couch against the wall

 

This birchwood coffee table from Pieces in Atlanta is awesome. 

Totally perfect for their living room.

SO much personality.

 Also love these two gloss black side cabinets to flank the couch against the wall

Via Pieces in Atlanta

Each side table would have one of these lamps from High Fashion Home

A vintage console like this one painted kelly green would be perfect for storage and to be used as a bar

I would flank the console with two of these lamps from Horchow

Between the couches on one side I'd put two of these chinese chippendale chairs by Jonathan Adler via Horchow

I'd recover the cushions in this pink/white Calico Corners Fabric.

For her fiancee's sake, I wouldn't add too much pink, but I think a little accent is fine.

Plus, Katie loves it.

Opposite the chippendale chairs, I would add one of these chairs from High Fashion Home

 Covered in this green silk from Schumacher

As a finishing touch, I'd add curtains like these black and white one's in the picture below.

image via tristalerit.com/blog

Did I mention that besides being their virtual home designer, I'm also a bridesmaid in their June wedding?

Think this qualifies me for BBE (Best-Bridesmaid-Ever) ?

I do!