}
“Diana Vreeland’s observation that ‘pink is the navy blue of India’ always delighted me that there’s a spot on earth where it’s that commonplace.”
PINK, FLOYD: In my last home, our living room was shell pink with mother-ofpearl wainscoting. I adored it, but I was the lone female in a house full of men, and when we moved into our current home, my sons made me promise not to use “that color”. Cut to the day I had to create a colorful room for a photo shoot and the boys came home that evening to find the family room was now orchid pink. Fortunately, they thought it looked fabulous, so I left it that way for quite a while to remind myself I wasn’t in Kansas anymore- it felt much more like Jaipur!
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GARDENS IN THE MIST: Where would we be without hand-painted de Gournay Chinoiserie
wallpapers? These fantastic wall coverings take their cue from 18th and 19th century French designs, but like this ethereal version, they’re rendered in contemporary colors and finishes which give them a wonderful modern feel. The taboo-breaking decorator Elsie de Wolfe loved cockatoos, and I side with her love of birds. Two small cast-iron pigeon sculptures in my entryway are personal favorites, as is the unusual silver- plated pheasant Finches, partridges and turtledoves are associated with love, happiness and courtship, so I enjoy including their images in my design choices.
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CLIMBING THE WALLS: One of the best ways to bring history into a contemporary space is to display it on the walls. I search for series of things, like mid-century fireplace tools, charcoal nudes, architectural drawings, and 1950s fashion photos. Vintage frames are a wonderful way to show them off; hanging them vertically all the ay to the ceiling will emphasize the height of a space. Another favorite method is mounting a collection of objects, such as African tribal necklaces, 19th-century plaster intaglios or colored wax seals on leather and display them in acrylic boxes, so that the presentation itself is a mixture of antique and modern. There are literally endless possibilities.
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}
“A home in balance is masculine and feminine, antique and modern, light and dark, austere and glam, rustic and sophisticated—all these things in perfect harmony.” CROSS POLLINATION: This garden room at the end of the house was never used, and my clients wanted to turn it into the husband’s office. I noticed that the south- facing room received wonderful light at the end of the day. I could imagine it being the perfect spot for cocktails at dusk, with guests mingling in the space and strolling in and out of the adjacent gardens through the open French doors. I put a handsome Empire desk in the middle of the room, a chandelier overhead, and then proceeded to glam up the space with a custom-patterned silk rug and blanc de chine porcelain. I clad the walls in a silver leaf wall covering and had an artist hand-paint it with trees and flowers inspired by the gardens. When they hosted their first party in the finished space, the evening light reflected off the silver walls and turned them a warm, glowing copper. The effect was magical - almost as remarkable as the transformation of a once-neglected room into a beloved and well-used space.
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There are times when there’s no obvious story to tell in a space, so you have to make one up. That’s exactly what I did when I was asked to design a large suite in a show house. I was overwhelmed by the task at first, but then I decided to dream up a fictional client with a really interesting backstory. I really got into it and came up with a wacky idea: if the Duchess of Windsor and the Sultan of Brunei had a love child, this would be her room. This crazy premise and mash-up of sensibilities allowed me go wild. I designed a dramatic bed canopy—gorgeously pleated and tailored —inspired by the Duchess’ soigné outfits. This was paired with a bed upholstered in zebra—a nod to the Sultan. The room had silk-velvet wall coverings and was furnished with a Tony Duquette screen, embossed bronze trays from Spain, a pony skin rug and many other exotic and elegant things. It was a mix of old and new, past and present, his and hers —and glamorous as all get out. Actually, forget the love child. When it was done, I wanted to move right in myself.
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GARDEN PARTY: This side entry space at Westridge was meant to be more than just a mud room. The stone floor and countertop with a view to the greenery outside turn it into an inspiring garden room, while the deep flower sink also doubles as a handy water source for rinsing out anything that needs to hit the adjacent washer and dryer.
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