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18
RUE TAKES MANHATTAN
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
IN EVERY ISSUE
8
EDITOR’S LETTER
10
SHOPPING CART
20
IN THE BUFF
22
MEET THE TEAM
LOOMING LARGE
12
24
16
26
EXTENDED FAMILY
RUE GETS HITCHED Rue attends the best darn wedding showcase west of the Mississippi.
INSIDE SCOOP
WHAT’S YOUR POISON
GLOBE TROTTER CHIC
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RUE SHOPS Portland’s resident blogstress takes us on a tour of her hometown.
34
BLOGGER SIDE-BY-SIDE
36
MEET THE DESIGNER A former software professional finds her life’s true calling.
44
GALLERY WALL
62
ACME PARTY
66
EARTH DAY RAINCOW
46
68
Reclaimed wood and vintage furnishings galore!
70
STUDIO TOUR
76
NATURE’S DETOX
ZEN LUXE
spring clean your plate with beets. cupcakes included.
BRIGHT FUTURE
HANDS ON
72
MAN IN THE BLUE BLAZER
78
TASTE WITH A TWIST
58
P.S. I MADE THIS DIy queen Erica Domesek makes a sunburst mirror. yeah, really.
74 RUE
REMODELISTA
ten Easy Pi eces.
Picks for the kitchen from vosges haut-chocolat’s culinarily inspired founder.
handcraf ted a m erican - m ade f u r n it u r e
Hess sofa $2399 Hess studio sofa $2299 Juno recliner $2199 Tyne cocktail table $1099 Arco floor lamp $2696 Arden low shag rug $999 Profile frame $ 69 all items priced as shown.
Choose from timeless designs for every room in your home, with limitless options for fabric, finish and sizes Find the perfect solution with custom furniture that’s ready in six weeks or less Get expert delivery anywhere in the U.S. for a flat rate of $229, no matter how much you buy
Chicago Denver Los Angeles New York San Francisco Washington D.C. Our free catalog has 344 pages of inspiration. Order yours at roomandboard.com. 800.952.8455
FEATURES
82
STORYBOOK SONG In the Las Vegas desert, a style storm is brewing.
104
142
DARK LIGHT SHINING Dine and dance at the San Diego studio of Feather Love Photography.
168
202
TEA BY THE SEA An afternoon with event planner David Stark.
SWEET DREAMS IN SPADES
BAILEY’S BLISS
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THE ENDEARING ECCENTRIC Travel to England for a country cottage tour.
216 184
THEORY OF RELATIVITY
Best hand-me-downs ever!
A PENCHANT FOR PATTERN The vibrant home of a Dallas textile designer.
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FOLLOW US!
Enjoy exceptional service and pricing available exclusively to the design trade. Visit WSIDesignerMarketplace.com to obtain more information, become a member and shop online. To reach a dedicated Trade Representative, call 888.837.4888 or +1.702.360.7147 if outside the US. Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn Kids
PBteen
west elm
williams-sonoma
williams-sonoma Home
PHOTO: JAMIE BECK
eDITOR’S leTTeR We’re further reminded of the importance of ecorelated themes when we think of recent events in Japan. We’ve seen how any disturbance in our ecology can have profound effects that touch not only our lives, but the lives of future generations as well. We were deeply moved by the tragic circumstances resulting from the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. At Rue we believe in the power of community and the importance of using our voice to help others in times of need. therefore, we’ve decided to donate 10% of the revenue generated by our next issue to relief efforts in Japan. We wanted to ensure that our donation goes to a reputable organization that will have a guaranteed impact on a cause about which
With spring officially upon us, I can’t help
we care deeply, so we’ve selected Women Deliver as
but think of fresh starts and new beginnings –
our target charity. Endorsed by the United Nations,
both of which ring especially true at Rue this
Women Deliver earmarks almost all of its funds for
season. since our last issue we’ve moved
the delivery of services to people in need rather than
cross-country and set up headquarters in san
administrative costs. We’re proud to support their
francisco. We believe the west coast has a lot
efforts in keeping mothers, women, and children safe
to say, and are proud to help provide you with
during this time.
a balanced approach to design. We’ll continue
We hope this new issue of Rue helps guide you
to showcase inspiring homes from around the
towards living a well-informed design life and that this
globe, but will now be coming to you from the
letter inspires you to help give a fresh start and new
beautiful, fog-covered city by the bay.
beginning to our neighbors across the Pacific ocean.
In addition to foghorns, cable cars, hilly streets, and tech-savvy entrepreneurs, san
sincerely,
francisco is home to a forward-thinking community that values sustainability. With this issue we’re sharing some of our favorite ecochic finds, and we hope to prove that going green doesn’t have to mean compromising style or breaking the bank.
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CRYSTAL GENTILELLO CO-FOUNDER and EDITOR IN CHIEF
MEET THE TEAM
CASSIE LAVALLE
ANNE SAGE
CRYSTAL
MARKET EDITOR
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
EDITOR IN CHIEF
ART DIRECTOR
Busts a move like nobody’s business. Easily bribed with mimosas.
Proudly sleeps in a ‘Grammar Police’ tee shirt. Easily bribed with pancakes.
Prim and proper but swears like a sailor when provoked. Easily bribed with espresso.
Pays $15 for a bimonthly hair brushing. Easily bribed with cheese.
COCO+KELLEY
THE CITY SAGE
PLUSH PALATE
DESIGN LOVE FEST
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PHOTO: TRENT BAILEY PHOTOGRAPHY
BRI GENTILELLO EMERY
CONTRIBUTORS
EXTENDED
FAMILY
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Rue couldn’t exist without the kindness and generosity of our contributing team. We get all weak-kneed and googly-eyed just thinking about ‘em!
ADRIENNE MURRILL copy
Alaina Kaczmarski styling
Amelia Lyon photography
Antony Crolla photography
Body Art by Allison face painting
Braedon Flynn photography
Cheree Berry stationery
Sarah & Chris Rhoads photography
EMILY ANDERSON photography
EMMA ROBERTSON design intern
Erica Sagon copy
fetch beauty hair
Haile Wossen florals
Inslee Haynes illustration
Jamie Laubhan-Oliver graphic design
Jay Johnson illustration
Jen Gotch photography
Jenny O’Connor styling
Jerry johnson makeup
Jesi Haack Design styling
JESSICA SOGA styling
JL DESIGNS florals
Justina Blakeney photography and styling
Kristen Henry hair
Kristy May photography
Laure Joliet photography
LEILANI MARIE LABONG copy
Lisa Warninger photography
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Mackenzie Horan editorial intern and copy
Marissa Lippert food columnist
Meagan Camp styling
Michael Fine photography
Pitbulls and Posies stationery
Raina Kattelson styling
Rebecca Jurkevich food styling
Samantha Miller copy
Sean Dagen photography
SHARK PIG videography
Sherrie Long hair and makeup
SHOKO WANGER
Son of Shark Pig videography
Steve Wrubel photography
JESSE SILVER production intern
Vivian Chen photography
copy
Will Taylor
advice columnist
YOU + ME* Lifestylists styling
William Brinson photography
Trent Bailey
photography
S T E G E U R
hITCheD
Bacon and bow ties abound when Rue curates the grooms’ lounge at this wedding showcase.
Photography: Amelia Lyon Photography Groom’s Lounge Styling: Anne Sage
S R U E TA K E
MANHATTAN with THE NEW traditionalists
PhOTOgRaPhy: KRISTy may
RoDARtE X oPENINg cEREMoNy $215
ShOPPINg CaRT
vELocIty $28
PhOTO: Kelly IShIKaWa
ANthRoPoLogIE $48
MoschINo $580
EAMEs £303
Bu In thE
Start a countdown months ahead with
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THE NATURE COMPANY $165
A.L.C. $425
AVANESSI $275
OOMPH $1980
uff
to the bare-skinned h rosy nude & airy aloe.
THE RUG COMPANY contact for price
ShOPPINg CaRT
cAthERINE MALADRINo $495
y LIghtINg $1730
looming
LARGE from crochet to macrame and beyond, this season’s crop of wovens is a winning over-under. tAPEEt by vIcINI $400
Asos $22
22
sEftE $440
KREME $195
PhOTO: CONDe NaSTe STORe
AMAzoN $88
KRAvEt contact for price
coco REPUbLIc contact for price
ShOPPINg CaRT
MoDERN DosE $395
MoDERN chIc hoME $219
MIRRORS WHAT’S YOUR POISON? sUKAN contact for price
bLIss stUDIo $463
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PILLOWS
WEst ELM $99
tEN thoUsAND vILLAgEs $98
RUGS WE ALL HAVE THAT ONE THING WE CAN’T RESIST..
CHAIRS MoDERN hoME $840
MILo bAUghMAN $4800
25
SHOPPING CART
SHOW ME YOUR MUMU $98
KATE SOMERVILL $48
SHOPBOP $98
jonathan adler $495
AMAZON $45
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PhOTO: RyaN heBeRT
AMAzoN $30
LE
MIssoNI $445 LEs gAzELLEs $630
GLobe
trotter
cHic
channel tourista chic with globally gorgeous goods from cammy hebert of Show Me
Your Mumu.
bARNEys NEW yoRK $225
INSIDe SCOOP
RUe ShOPS:
PortLanD with Chelsea Fuss PhOTOgRaPhy: lISa WaRNINgeR COPy: ChelSea FUSS WITh maCKeNZIe hORaN
chelsea fuss does it all. her blog {frolic!} is a darling of the design community, functioning as an online inspiration board for her event planning, floral arranging, and prop styling business. forever on the hunt for new props and venues, chelsea finds endless inspiration in the Portland shopping scene. she takes Rue on a tour of her go-to spots for antiques, fresh flowers, and the best chai tea in town.
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bernaDette breu 1338 Southeast Sixth Street
“this is my number one stop when I go prop shopping,” chelsea explains of the quirky bernadette breu. Its warehouse setup is filled with interesting artwork, antiques, and various oddities that chelsea can’t get enough of.
2 Heart 2211 East Burnside Street “Portland has the best coffee houses,” chelsea says proudly, “and heart is my very favorite!” her picks are their chai tea and cheddar bacon biscuits.
3 INK & PEAT 3808 North Williams Ave.
Chelsea’s top choice for fresh flowers and fun ceramics is this bohemian shop on North Williams Avenue. “Their merchandising is just delicious!” Chelsea raves of her friend Pam’s colorful outpost.
Marguerite is an experience is not to be missed. “It’s so fun to pour over all the indulgent details here,” says Chelsea. The shop features antique French linens, Cire Trudon candles, sumptuous ribbons, and letterpress paper goods.
4
MARGUERITE 1520 Southeast Bybee Boulevard
5 PiStiLS nurSerY 3811 North Mississippi Avenue Pistils seeks to emulate “country living in the city,” a vision they’ve carried out by offering a variety of plants, work by local artisans, and tools for the “city farmer.” they also have chickens on location: “It’s like a little urban farm store!”
SIDE-BY-SIDE Best design advice in 5 words? Artwork makes a home yours. Dream celeb decorating client? Diane Kruger. Whether dressed up or down, she seems grounded and always looks chic. What designer is your pretend BFF? It’s a toss up between Jeff Andrews and Brian Patrick Flynn. Fashion brand you wish would do home? Theory. It’s luxuriously simple. Coolest thing about your parents? In the ‘70s, my mom dated Pelé, the Brazilian footballer. Pick a throw pillow for each other. DwellStudio’s new Labyrinth Pillow in Persimmon reminds me of Amy’s gorgeous curly hair and her vibrant personality. Best gift you’ve ever given? I try to buy gifts that friends will never buy for themselves . . . like expensive candles or plane tickets for them to come visit me. Best perk of your job? My day-to-day work is what most people do to procrastinate. What do you have WAY too many of? Stationery! I love collecting fancy paper goods, but I rarely use them. Wildest pattern in your home? Sorbet-colored stripes on a set of curtains from Habitat in London. Craigslist, Etsy or Ebay? Etsy. I do love Craigslist for the deals, but shopping on Etsy is easy-peasy, and it’s such a treasure chest. Fave column on each other’s sites? “Cheap Chic Ideas” from a celebrity home — who doesn’t love celeb style on a dime?
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Julia from CasaSugar
West coast and east. Straight hair and curly. Can a goofball sitcom be far behind? Introducing Julia of
CASA SUGAR and amy of SHELTERPOP.
Best design advice in 5 words? Start with a statement rug. Dream celeb decorating client? Suri Cruise. What designer is your pretend BFF? Kelly Wearstler (for the clothes); Nick Olsen (for the lacquer and astrology advice). Fashion brand you wish would do home? Spanx. Streamline that puffy sofa! Coolest thing about your parents? They met at a Jewish singles party. The OG JDate. Pick a throw pillow for each other. Trina Turk’s “Palm Springs Block” Pillow in Orange. So cheerful, and it would look great with the new art she posted about in February. Best gift you’ve ever given? Personalized everything! Videos, chopsticks, lucite trays from La Plates. Best perk of your job? All the super talented, creative AOL-ers I work with every day! What do you have WAY too many of? Hello Kitty figurines. Wildest pattern in your home? Photo-real shoe-printed upholstery, via Spoonflower. Craigslist, Etsy or Ebay? Etsy for gifts, Craigslist and eBay for myself. Fave column on each other’s sites? “Decorating Ideas to Steal” covers everything from Gossip Girl to the White House. Love!
Amy from ShelterPop illustrations: inslee haynes
INSIDe SCOOP
PhOTOgRaPhy: SeaN DageN COPy: maCKeNZIe hORaN INTeRIOR DeSIgN: KRISTe mIChelINI
Meet the Designer:
KRISTE MICHELINI ThIS SelF-TaUghT Bay aRea DeSIgNeR INFUSeS ClIeNTS’ hOmeS WITh The Same SeNSe OF ClaRITy aND gRaCe ThaT She aPPROaCheS heR lIFe.
You studied political science at UCLA and worked in commercial real estate after college. How did you find your way into interior design? I decided to stay home from work after having my second and third children. I had acted as a general contractor and designer for three of our own homes before starting to help family and friends with their home projects. Interiors, photography, and art have always been my passion and I was just doing what I loved for fun. About six years ago, I formalized Kriste Michelini Interiors and turned it into my profession. I truly love what I do and still can’t believe I get paid to do it. It really is my dream job.
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You run an interior design firm, a successful blog, and a family of five — and yet you still find time to squeeze in a workout! Seriously, how do you do it?! It’s funny how it all worked out. A year ago, I was skeptical of starting a blog, thinking, “How am I ever going to find the time?” But like exercise, you make the time. I try to get a workout in first thing in the morning; otherwise it will never happen. Then I make sure our three kids are up, fed, and driven to school. I usually have multiple client meetings scheduled in a day plus design time in the office where I can focus on developing fabric palettes and specifying furniture or floor plans. I pick up the kids at 3 p.m. and from then on it’s all about homework, sports, drama, and spending time with them. We try to eat dinner as a family, going around the table to talk about the highs and lows of the day. I usually end the day by making a to-do list for the next one and I try to get to bed at a decent hour!
You must be incredibly organized. Where does blogging fit into that schedule? We maintain editorial calendars in the office that outline three months of themes and topics. By the end of each three month period, the calendars are covered in Post Its with ideas scribbled all over them. These calendars help us plan our blog strategy appropriately. We also have created a weekly structure for the blog: item of the week on Monday, textiles on Tuesday, project inspiration on Wednesday, going green on Thursday, and entertaining on Friday. Obviously there are more features to the blog, but this structure gave us a starting point and a plan for keeping the blog interesting and manageable.
“ I WAS SKEPTICAL
OF BLOGGING AND THOUGHT, ‘HOW WILL I EVER HAVE THE TIME?’ BUT LIKE EXERCISE, YOU MAKE THE TIME. ”
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Establishing an editorial calendar is a great tip for bloggers who might be reading this. How has your blog impacted your interior design business? Overall, I think having a blog is your voice in this world. It blurs the lines personally and professionally so it truly reflects your personality. Instead of readers just seeing the end result, which is a beautiful room or home, they have more insight into the thought process, the likes and dislikes, the ideas and finds, etc. It really allows readers and potential clients to get to know you better.
Both your blog and your design projects reflect a very clean aesthetic. How you would you describe your sense of style? Clean, classic, and modern. While I appreciate many styles, I find I am consistently drawn to cleaner lines. I don’t like a lot of “stuff.” I want each piece to have a role and each collection to create a beautiful environment for the client. Ironically, I haven’t always been this way and have to give some credit to my husband, Dan. Though he’s not a designer, he has always been steadfast in his minimalist approach when it comes to “stuff” around the house and somehow brought clarity to my own thinking on the topic.
I love the idea that every piece should bring its own story to the mix. What other philosophies shape your design work with clients? It’s so obvious but I really try to listen to my clients. I interview them extensively about how they live, entertain, and relax. The majority of my clients have children so I try to design their home as a worry-free zone in which they can enjoy beautiful fabrics and furniture without stressing. I look at lots of tear sheets, their clothing, their art and try to understand their overall lifestyle. Nothing makes me more satisfied than when clients say, “You got me! How did you do that?” when they see the final product. That’s the best.
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“ NOTHING MAKES ME MORE SATISFIED THAN WHEN
CLIENTS SAY, ‘YOU GOT ME! HOW DID YOU DO THAT?’ WHEN THEY SEE THE FINAL PRODUCT. THAT’S THE BEST.”
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You definitely know how to translate a client’s lifestyle into spaces that reflect his or her unique personality. What advice would you offer to readers looking to do the same in their homes? I would recommend starting a binder or a folder with pages from magazines, categorized by room. this helps me tremendously when I meet with clients because I start to see patterns of colors, styles, and textures that they like. It’s important to answer the following questions: What are three adjectives that describe how you want each room to feel? What is your budget? then, once you have a finalized floor plan, the room can become anything you want. If you don’t have a solid plan, you’ll have an uphill battle and a space that will never feel quite right. scale is key; make sure all the pieces are balanced and can relate to one another. I always make sure there’s some sort of “wow” factor in each room to make it feel special.
TALKING TRENDS : Hot: “Brass is back! It can be beautifully and tastefully done. I love small, glamorous spaces.” Not: “I’m tired of the ruralist look. That Belgian vibe is everywhere and overdone.”
Keeping inspiration folders and paying attention to floor plan and scale is excellent advice for readers of every budget and style. What sort of clients and styles are you working with now? I really aim to work with clients for life, so I have lots of projects that are continuations of work throughout their homes. I’m also taking on several ground-up projects, including a spanish hacienda-style home, a Martha’s vineyard home, and a more modern place in san francisco. We’re fortunate that our business has grown each year since its founding, but our goal remains the same as it was back then: to inspire our clients and to make their design dreams a reality. If we can continue to execute those objectives, our business will continue to thrive!
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GUEST CURATOR
LISA CONGDON
is an artist, illustrator, and author of the book A collection a Day.
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1. catherine Ryan 2. Joe Kievett 3. serena Mitnik-Miller 4. caitlin Keegan 5. Danna Ray 6. Jamie Milk 7. Little otsu 8. Renee garner 9. Jeremy Miranda
GALLERY WALL What’s the square root of fresh colors, playful shapes, and a touch of whimsy? We’re not sure, but we do know this isn’t your high school geometry class.
45
haNDS ON
Studio Tour:
ORGANIC CANVAS PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURE JOLIET COPY: ERICA SAGON
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They call it their “workstead”, but the new office of events firm bash, please and photographer Annie McElwain feels more like a breezy paradise playground.
the kind of wedding magic that Paige Appel and Kelly harris create is fodder for the inspiration boards of brides-to-be across the country. their work is craved and copied, blogged about and bookmarked, tweeted and pinned on Pinterest. Paige and Kelly run the wedding and event planning business bash, please. call them tastemakers or fairy godmothers or soiree queens: they are the goto gals for brides—and certain stylish businesses, too—that want an event to look at once effortlessly pulled together but full of vision. that magic starts in Paige and Kelly’s new studio in culver city, california, an industrial-chic space that is flooded with natural light and filled with vintage finds, salvaged materials and family heirlooms. “We kind of wanted the space to be a canvas,” Paige says, explaining the neutral colors and raw elements such as concrete floors, exposed ceilings and whitewashed brick walls. to give the studio warmth, texture and meaning, the two searched vintage shops and flea markets in and around Los Angeles for striking vintage and reclaimed furniture. they scooped up a wheeled factory cart from olde good things to use as a coffee table in the loft
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area where they meet with clients. Leather club chairs and a bar cart with wagon-style wheels were plucked from Wertz Brothers, and stools for the work tables came from the Rose Bowl Flea Market. Near Paige and Kelly’s desks sits a farmhouse table so storied looking, it could only be an heirloom. And it is: the table is a hand-me-down from Paige’s husband’s grandmother. Furnishing the space with old finds was a natural choice. “You can get something that’s better quality and more interesting aesthetically,” Paige says. “And it’s more responsible as far as the environment is concerned.”
Paige and Kelly’s handy husbands chipped in to design the space, building sawhorse desks out of plywood and doors—one of which is a workstation for photographer Annie McElwain. The men also built shelves using reclaimed wood and metal pipes, a look so chic that it strikes D.I.Y. fever in anyone who sees it. Paige and Kelly have artfully cluttered the racks with driftwood, succulents, dozens of vintage bottles and other items that double as mix-and-match wedding decor supplies. Paige and Kelly are masters at that “collected over time” vibe, especially for the weddings and events that they design. It’s overwhelmingly what brides want for their weddings right now, and that means Paige and Kelly bring in old farm tables for dinner, find vintage furniture and rugs for lounge areas, and use a smattering of unmatched bottles and vases.
PAIGE & KELLY’S TIPS 1. think about texture when decorating the table. Driftwood, succulents and rocks look fresh right now. If you’re using flowers, rather than plunk down one large vase in the center of the table, group together small bud vases of varying heights and styles.
for creating bash, please magic at home
2. Make any room more festive by creating a paper or fabric chain and hanging it with twine or ribbon. It’s a whimsical and affordable look that you can pull off in minutes. 3. A specialty cocktail makes the party feel complete. Paige and Kelly love to use herbal simple syrups. try combining rosemary-infused simple syrup, gin and grapefruit juice. 4. Little surprises for your guests go a long way. Putting menus at each place setting is thoughtful; splurging on straws with colorful strips is fun. give each guest something to take home, like a tiny potted succulent.
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One in a million. One certified rug. Zero child labor. One million possibilities.
Certified child-labor-free. Ask for the GoodWeaveTM label. GoodWeave.org
ECO CHIC SURVIVAL HANDBOOK
2011
Make a Sunburst Mirror!
YES, REALLY. MAKE A SUNBURST MIRROR.
WHAT :
A decor DIY guaranteed to illicit more than a few dropped jaws.
WHO :
Blogger, author and mother of reinvention Erica Domesek of P.S.-I made this
THE MATERIALS : 1. Round mirror with a
plain frame 2. Ping pong balls, enough to surround frame 3. Corrugated cardboard 4. Spray paint in desired color ( P.S. Erica used metallic gold.) 5. Nylon rope 6. Wooden dowels, two thicknesses ( P.S. The larger the mirror, the longer the dowels.) 7. Box cutter 8. Scissors 9. Glue gun
STEP ONE :
Cut a piece of cardboard the size and shape of the mirror as a base for your dowels. Place and glue the first dowel, holding it until set.
STEP TWO :
Build a spiraling stack of dowels, gluing liberally throughout. (P.S. Be careful! The glue is hot!)
STEP THREE :
Secure a second identical round of corrugated cardboard on top of the dowels; this is the surface on which the mirror will rest.
STEP FOUR :
Glue ping pong balls around mirror frame, holding each steady until glue sets.
STEP FIVE :
Glue rope all the way around mirror frame. Be sure to burn or tape the ends so they don’t fray.
STEP SIX :
Spray paint both the dowel construction and the mirror construction.
STEP SEVEN :
Glue mirror to corrugated cardboard on top of dowel unit.
STEP EIGHT :
Hang using fishing line or a plate hanger.
PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL FINE PROJECT DESIGN AND STYLING: ERICA DOMESEK
HOST A GREEN GIRLS’ DAY IN!
WHAT :
An afternoon of crafting and finger foods with a planet-friendly spin.
WHO :
The eco-events experts at Acme Party Box Company and a handful of Bay Area bloggers.
FLORALS:SOULFLOWER
The ATTENDEES: 1. Cathy and Lisa— Founders of Acme Party Box Company 2. Anh—9to5Chic 3. Julia—Casa Sugar 4. Liz—Say Yes to Hoboken 5. Logan—Oh Hello 6. Rebecca—Dans Mon Boudoir 7. Sylvia—Silver Lining
the edibles : Light nibbles for a windy spring day, including pink champagne and bubbly elderflower water; bite-sized quiche and crudites; feminine sweets like gum drops and mini cheesecakes.
ShOPPINg CaRT
gREEN PARty gooDs $12
cIAo bELLA $40
coLoRfUL chILDhooD $20
vIctoRIA DELANy $462
PhOTO: SUgaRlIly ON eTSy
eartH DaY RaINBOW host a green—and pink and red and orange!—backyard bash with happy planet party picks from events maven Mindy Weiss.
PANDORA DESIGN $120 AMAZON $19
BAGGU $11
CYKELMAGEREN $3200
ANTHROPOLOGIE $498
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ShOPPINg CaRT
KEvIN REILLy LIghtINg contact for pricing
KELLy hoPPEN foR EARth coUtURE ÂŁ243
PhOTO: Kelly hOPPeN
PIgEoN toE cERAMIcs $36
tEN thoUsAND vILLAgEs $20
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Zen LuXe interior designer KELLY HOPPEN proves that not all eco is created equal with her signature serene yet sophisticated aesthetic.
UNCOMMON GOODS $95
VIVA TERRA $49
POTTERY BARN $1088
GAIAM $25
KELLY HOPPEN FOR QVC $54
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PhOTO: CONDe NaSTe STORe
toMs $44
hULgER $30
toMs $69
AMAzoN $9
EcosystEM $16
booN $15
MEthoD $12
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haNDS ON
the man in the bLUE bLAzER PhOtOgRaPhy and styling: Justina blakeney COPy: Will taylOR
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Rue’s Resident gent hangs uP his blaZeR, ROlls uP his sleeVes, and uPgRades his uPCyCling CRedentials We’ve all felt daunted by the prospect of “going green” and reinventing an old item ourselves instead of making a new purchase from a store. It wasn’t until I embraced the notion of having a bespoke piece, something unique to me and my home, that I began to introduce eco elements to my interior. While I knew I wasn’t willing to give up massproduced shopping altogether, I did decide to make time for small DIy projects, and I soon discovered that the reward from giving new life to disused objects goes beyond the inevitable environmental benefits. It makes me feel fulfilled, as I know I’m investing more than just outputs from my credit card into my home.
REVITALIZE
Old ChaiRs
SPRUCE UP
Plain Vessels
the chairs in this breakfast nook were destined for the landfill before being rescued from the roadside. battered and weathered from many years of use, they needed an injection of color and energy. cleaned-up metalwork and reupholstered bases give them a second lease on life. this is a great project for kids because it’s quick, fun and really simple. start by sourcing old science beakers or sugar moulds from a flea market. then use masking tape stencils and tester pots of eco-friendly paint to create patterns on your objects. In under an hour you’ll have sweet bud vases to freshen an empty nook.
haNDS ON thE MAINE fLoAt RoPE co. $50
10 EASY PIECES Under-the-radar eco finds that have us pledging allegiance to the four R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle, Remodelista.
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bRAhMs - coNtAct foR
photo gREENhoUsE Eco-fRIENDLy LIvINg
Remodelista is the authority on home design and renovation. Each issue they share original ideas on remodelling and more--exclusively for Rue readers!
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R PRICE
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NATURE’S DETOX BEETS PHOTOGRAPHY: JEN GOTCH RECIPES: MARISSA LIPPERT
the approaching warm weather will encourage anyone to rethink stagnant eating habits—there’s a reason they call it “spring cleaning” after all! thankfully, there are ways to revitalize the body without resorting to a harsh detox.
STEP ONE? snap up some beets! they may stain your fingers, but they also do a nice job vacuuming your insides. star workers in your body’s personal housekeeping crew, they’re flush with heart-healthy antioxidants and nutrients that help detoxify the liver, and they’ll polish up a sluggish digestive system real quick.
VIBRANT & VERSATILE beets sparkle across the meal—from a smooth starter, to a standout salad, to a surprisingly rich dessert. okay, so the uber-health factor may have to be overlooked on that last one, but it’s totally worth it. so bring on the beets. here’s to a spring full of delectable energy and enjoyment!
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CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE RECIPES!
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TWIST In the kitchen and on the palate, Vosges Haut-Chocolat founder Katrina Markoff knows a thing or two about exotic indulgences.
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since 1920
Live Beautifully
Interior Designer: Mary Larez Photographer: Jeri Koegel
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maRCh/aPRIl 2011
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DU
UST Photography: Sarah & Chris Rhoads Prop Styling: Meagan Camp Wardrobe Styling: Jessica Soga Hair & Make-up: Sherrie Anne Long Videography: Shark Pig Talent: Billy Knox and Envy Model Management
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shirt: J. Crew pant: Zaharoff. suspenders: TopMan hat: J. Crew
shirt: Steven Alan skirt : Ani Lee necklace: JewelMint
shirt: Urban Outfitters blazer: Neon Heartache trouser: Anthropologie
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tank: Tigerlily cardigan: Relais at Anthropologie boxes: Serena and Lily & West Elm earrings: VSA Design lamp: West Elm bottles: Anthropolgie
shirt: Steven Alan jacket : Zaharoff bowtie : Brooklyn Circus pant and socks: TopMan glasses : Warby Parker shoe : Cole Haan
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jars : Terrain necklace : JewelMint pillow : West Elm snake : Nature Pavilion striped rug : Target
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cowhide rug : The Loaded Trunk wallpaper : The Wallpaper Collective apothecary terrarium : Terrain wire urns : Terrain striped rug : Target lamp : Target
girls shoes : Cole Haan billy’s shoes : The Generic Man
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dress : Rebecca Taylor heel : PeepToe bracelet : VSA Designs
boxes: Serena and Lily & West Elm pillow : West Elm jars : Terrain pumps : Cole Haan hangers : Vintage tank : Pavonine
slip : Only Hearts dress : Katie Ermilio rings : JewelMint
tableware : SusabellaBrownstein glassware : Anthropologie pillow : Serena and Lily tablecloth : Serena and Lily placemats : West Elm bottles : Terrain
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tank : Ann Taylor vest and shorts : Anthropologie stone bangle : JewelMint gold bracelet : VAS Designs
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crystal bottles: Anthropologie
sweater : Anthropologie boots : Sebago trouser: BlankNYC
vest : Urban Outfitters pant and socks: TopMan shoes : Cole Haan glasses : Warby Parker
shoes : Co
ole Haan
dress : Karen Walker pant : Katie Ermilio parasol : Bella Umbrella earrings : Jewel Mint
There is shadow under this red rock, (Come in under the shadow of this red rock), And I will show you something different from either Your shadow at morning striding behind you Or your shadow at evening rising to meet you... --T.S. Eliot, The Waste Land
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bEhIND thE scENEs IN thE DEsERt
BAILEY’S BLISS ChiCagO blOggeR bAILEy MccARthy fills heR hOme With COlOR, humOR & Class.
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PHOTOGRAPHY: EMILY ANDERSON COPY: ADRIENNE MURRILL INTERIOR DESIGN: BAILEY MCCARTHY STYLING: ALAINA KACZMARSKI
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On a quaint street in Chicago’s leafy Lincoln Park neighborhood sits a red brick house. Its turquoise door beckons like Alice in Wonderland’s rabbit hole. Upon opening it, you’re greeted by two well-coiffed dogs with wagging tails in a home that’s splashed with color. You tell yourself, “If this isn’t bliss then I don’t know what is.” That’s because this late-1800s home belongs to Bailey McCarthy, author of Peppermint Bliss, and her husband, Peter. Living out her blog’s tag line— follow your bliss—Bailey has spent the past two years turning their newlywed home into a labor of love.
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“It was really important to me to find a historic house and save it,” says bailey. After searching for two months, the Mccarthys bought what they’ve aptly nicknamed clifford, the big Red house. While they loved the building’s shell, the inside had been the victim of several bad renovations over the years. It screamed bachelor with an oversized bar and master bedroom on the first floor and the kitchen and living room on the second floor, which wasn’t going to cut it for these heavy entertainers. thus, clifford was promptly stripped to the studs and three of his exterior walls so bailey could rework the home’s layout and rejuvenate the victorian character. Now when guests walk in, a tufted Kelly green velvet sofa invites them to sit down in the cozy living room that is expertly layered with floor-to- ceiling gold curtains, books, and a worn antique rug. bailey designed the sofa, which faces the refinished fireplace mantel she found at Architectural Artifacts. the two antique chairs, bought on ebay and reupholstered in a gray floral velvet, flank the fireplace to complete the perfect conversation space. “I loved finding these great old things and working them into the structure of the house,” she said.
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Popping up throughout the rooms are her favorite colors, pink and green—“lighter tones of both before they get to pastel,” as she describes them. “I’m not used to seasons,” said the native Texan, “and I wanted a house that felt cozy in the winter but didn’t feel hot in the summer. Those colors in different tones lend themselves to that. You have the springiness of green and pink and then the blue can tone it down and make it a bit more for every season.” In addition to playing with those colors, Bailey mixed high and low pieces. Pretty much everything was tweaked—whether it was a side table she painted and added new
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knobs to or the ottoman she reupholstered in a leopard print. “I don’t like things that just sit there. I like things that make me laugh or engage me.” that’s where the accessories come in, such as the two lambs that keep her dogs bella and bernie company. one keeps watch over the backyard and the other has a seat of honor in the living room. “you just can’t take anyone seriously when they’re sitting there!”
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Rebuilding and then decorating the home really made Bailey trust herself. “It forced me to think about what my own voice was. I had to see a lot of different ideas from start to finish and that was really good for me.” Now she’s applying that perspective to a nursery for the baby girl she is expecting in August, and the third floor, which will become a family room-slashplay room. The experiences encouraged her to start her own decorating business, Quin B Studio, to share her talents with others. “You can’t get too caught up in what’s right or if it’s cool or if somebody’s done it before,” Bailey said. “Someone probably has and somebody will love it, and somebody will hate it.” Instead she encourages people to have fun with their homes and think about how they use the space. “I don’t like anything to be too precious; if you can’t spill red wine somewhere it’s not practical for me.” Don’t try to impress anyone, she says, but make yourself laugh. “It’s decorating—it’s not that serious but it can be really great.”
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THe enDeARing eCCenTRiC
British designer Christina Strutt on taste, trends, and doing what you love.
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PHOTOGRAPHY: ANTONY CROLLA COPY: MACKENZIE HORAN
Christina Strutt possesses an impeccable eye, a self-deprecating wit, and the distinctly English eccentricities depicted so often in American films. Hav-
ing honed her aesthetic at the likes of British Vogue, she did freelance styling from her family’s cottage in Somerset before launching her own clothing, decor, and fabric brand in 2000. Today she stands at the helm of the beloved British brand Cabbages & Roses, which designs and sells clothes, fabric, and housewares —a juggling act few other designers have mastered. “My professional life has never had a plan,” she says simply and matter-of-factly. The homegrown Cabbages & Roses now has three storefronts in the U.K. and a newly launched e-commerce site.
Cabbages and Roses 4 Avery Row Mayfair London W1K 4AL
“I always ask myself the same question: Would I like to own this product?”
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The company’s wares are all designed in-house and produced in small quantities primarily in England. “In my normal greedy way, I want to do it all!” Christina jokes. “I feel it’s important to create a whole lifestyle, as one goes hand-inhand with the other. In reality, it doesn’t matter whether your coat matches your curtains, but the home products, the fashion, and the fabrics do seem to sit together happily.” She is referring not only to the visual merchandising of her shops but also to the bucolic cottage where she spends weekends with her husband, planting in their vegetable garden and entertain-
“In reality, it doesn’t matter whether your coat matches your curtains, but the home products, the fashion, and the fabrics do seem to sit together happily.” ing guests at dinnertime. “My in-store aesthetic is very similar to my style at home, always changing and rearranging, cluttered and homey,” she explains. “I normally start a collection by thinking of what was missing in the last one, what I want to be wearing or what I want my home to look like. I always ask myself the same question: Would I like to own this product?” It is truly Christina’s taste that dictates the overall feel of each collection, with little regard for what’s popular that season. “I live in a world without trends,” she declares. “I mind very much that fashion dictates what is right and then, six months later, what we have bought becomes very, very wrong. We need to tune into what we love and own something because we love it, not because it is in fashion.” It’s a strong statement for a former magazine editor, but a philosophy to which her customers loyally adhere. Her approach to product design is fitting in a culture whose predominant trend of late is individuality, evidenced by increasing legions of street style blogs
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and the rising popularity of shopping in thrift and vintage stores. “My philosophy is that if you love it, it will work,” Christina says. “If I love a piece, it will get passed. If it’s merely the fashion of the moment, it will not. I can only rely on my eye and the advice of the Cabbages & Roses team. I do tend towards the eccentric, so I need to be reigned in from time to time!” Cabbages & Roses seems to be striking the right balance, relying heavily on Christina’s personal style. “I would never produce anything I wouldn’t want in my own home,” she says. “How heavenly to go to a shop that is guaranteed to sell a huge collection of everything you could wish for! I buy the vintage and antique goods from these lovely markets all over
“I can only rely on my eye and the advice of the Cabbages & Roses team. I do tend towards the eccentric, so I need to be reigned in from time to time.”
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England and then find myself buying them from Cabbages & Roses at their marked up prices simply because I can’t bear to have them not in my home. Is that greedy or what?” If it’s not her self-mocking humor that endears her to customers, it’s her drive that convinces them of her inevitable success. Currently, she’s juggling the completion of Cabbages & Roses’ autumn/winter 2011 collection, the beginning of sprint/summer 2012, and the design of two new fabric collections. Her team is working on a license with an American fabric company and the launch of a Cabbages & Roses boutique in Toyko this spring. Any home improvement projects (“I’d like the windows bigger, the garden flatter, and my wardrobe tidier”) will take a back seat for the time being. Though she spends the bulk of her work week in London, she escapes to her country cottage the moment she needs a break. “I like the idea of a retreat, not having to talk or make decisions, but it wears thin after a day or two,” she muses. “Recently we seem to be sitting down to dinner with ten or more on the weekends. My home is supposed to be this retreat from London, but then I come home and fill it with country people!”
PHOTOGRAPHY: BRAEDON FLYNN COPY: SHOKO WANGER EVENT DESIGN AND STYLING: JESI HAACK DESIGN FLORALS: JL DESIGNS
FOR ARTIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER NOA AZOULAY-SCLATER, THE PARTY DOESN’T START ‘TIL THINGS GET WEIRD.
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human skull sits on a tray alongside an array of horns and claws. feathers and fur, in lieu of flowers, make a centerpiece on the dining table. Each plate holds a menu printed on a folded paper fortune-teller; matching place cards rest delicately on the shoulders of little black birds. there are patterned tapestries and mismatched chairs, grasshopper pie and red wine in jewel-toned goblets. Welcome to the Darko Weirdo Dinner Party. It’s not your run-of-the-mill affair, but then again, Noa Azoulay-sclater, hostess of the evening, is not your run-of-the-mill artist.
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“i LiKe ReCReating the feeLing of nostaLgia, MeMoRies, and dReaMs.”
As the well-honed eye behind the fiveyear-old San Diego photography company Feather Love Photography, Noa has made a name for herself capturing the intimacies between lovers, bandmates and free spirits with a distinct bohemian flair. “Artistically, I like recreating the feeling of nostalgia, memories, dreams,” she says, citing film, psychedelia, and the grainy softness of vintage Penthouse photography as just a few of many inspirations.
A long-time band photographer (she has chronicled the evolution of her husband’s band, Astra, over the past eleven years), Noa made the decision to expand her repertoire after discovering, as a brideto-be in 2004, a glaring lack of inspiring wedding photography options. “My band photography was very sixties, very seventies--that was my main influence— and I wanted to bring that vintage [look] to weddings. It was terrifying; no one
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“Every single soul has an inner freaK”
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was doing that. [When I started], my portfolio was 95% safe. Over a period of time, it hit me: what if I only showed the stuff that I like? What’s the worst I have to lose? Then, everything changed.� Given her love of the unconventional, it should come as no surprise that for Noa, the Darko Weirdo Dinner Party was a fantasy realized. The gathering was held at her workspace, a studio fashioned from a once-dilapidated shed dating back to the 1950s. Her home is located on the same property, about a hundred feet away. The studio renovation was a six-to-eight month process completed with the help of several talented friends and artisans. A hodgepodge of recycled materials comprised the rebuild,
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including antique French doors purchased off of Craigslist, a bench and a desk constructed using decades-old redwood found stacked behind the shed, rusted siding from a metal junkyard, and a 120-yearold San Francisco restaurant window acquired for free by one of the builders. Taxidermy, gifted art, and a collection of Trader Joe’s vodka bottles are on display as decorations. “We really wanted to do a recyclable, reusuable, other-people’s-crap-is-mygold kind of thing,” Noa explains. “We definitely saved tons of money. When you’re dealing with a tight budget—just like in weddings—that’s how you come up with more creative stuff.” Not that there’s any shortage of creativity to be found here. When planning the dinner party, ideas flowed freely: “I said, what if we do a dark, seventies, weirdo sort of thing? How about tarot cards and face paint and skulls? What if there was fondue but also palm readings?” She got all this and much more, including face painting by body-art specialist Allison Roberts, who drove from New Mexico to take part in the festivities. All in attendance – an intimate group that included three of the five members of Astra—arrived dressed to the nines to fit the theme, with fur collars, flowing garments, and heaps of jewelry. There was a black-and-orange bird mask and a headdress topped with imposing black horns. There were drinks and dancing. There was music:
“We wanted to do a r e c y cl a b l e , r e u s e a b l e , o t h e r - p e o p l e ’ s - cr a p - i s - m y gold kind of thing.”
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music: funk, soul, and some especially rousing dance tracks by the bahamian artist Exuma. chocolate fondue, assorted finger-foods, and neon Jell-o completed the scene. “you look at those fifties cookbooks, and the food is all technicolor and kind of disgusting-looking,” Noa says, “Meat pies with pineapple, that kind of stuff. color-wise, I thought it would look fantastic. We always think of making food look pretty—which I love, too—but this was occultist fare.”
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IN THE E it all came together. “the food was beautiful, the paper goods were gorgeous. All of this great magic happened. Everybody brought great stuff and turned it into a dream come true. It was a good vibe.” A line printed on the Darko Weirdo invitation —“everybody is somebody else’s weirdo”— brings to mind a quote from Dr. seuss, a famously fanciful artist himself: “We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” When it comes to Noa, whether it’s her dinner party, her digs, her photographs, or her daily life, this perspective on weirdness seems to sum things up perfectly. there is something worth celebrating in uniqueness, in oddities, in the wonderful, and in the freaky. “I’m interested in people who are different and colorful and eccentric; it’s beautiful to me,” she says, “but you also start to realize that everyone is exactly the same, no matter how they live, or dress, or what type of personality they have: everyone is ‘normal,’ everyone is crazy, everyone can be boring, everyone can be fascinating, and every single soul has an inner-freak.”
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ND
HEY! YOU SHOULD PROBABLY WATCH THIS VIDEO!
additional Credits:
STATIONERY: PITBULLS AND POSIES
FOOD STYLING: JAY’S CATERING
HAIR: KRISTEN HENRY
VIDEOGRAPHY: SON OF SHARK PIG
FACE PAINTING: BODY ART BY ALLISON
VIDEO ILLUSTRATION: JAY JOHNSON
STUDIO DESIGN: FRANK MELENDEZ AND BILLY DASHIELL
STATIONERY: PITBULLS AND POSIES
LANDSCAPING: JASON CORBIN OF ARMADILLO LANDSCAPING
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PAPER GOODS FROM THIS STORY!
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PHOTOGRAPHY + STOP MOTION VIDEO: TRENT BAILEY PHOTOGRAPHY COPY: SHOKO WANGER ART DIRECTION + STYLING + STOP MOTION: YOU + ME* LIFESTYLISTS MAKEUP: JERRY JOHNSON FOR LAURA MERCIER HAIR: FETCH BEAUTY COLLAGE ARTWORK: JOHN MURPHY
SWEET DREAMS
IN SPADES SLIP UNDER THE COVERS WITH DEBORAH LLOYD FOR AN EXCLUSIVE PEEK AT KATE SPADE NEW YORK始S FIRST LINE OF BEDDING!
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It’s mid March, nearly spring, and the newly-launched kate spade new york website seems lit with sunshine. yellow has been declared the color of the month, and the site has gone golden in celebration. In true kate spade new york fashion, items highlighted under this theme are vibrant and warm and include a cornhusk bag modeled after a lemon wedge, a jacket named for daffodils, and a yellow clutch embellished with a tiny, twinkling pineapple. A canary-colored banner welcomes visitors to the new homepage with the words “hIP hIP hooRAy!” then dissolves to reveal a fitting reminder: “change is good.” Indeed, new developments are underway at kate spade new york this season. In addition to the renovation of the website, which now features a content-rich editorial section, the company will also be launching a collection of housewares that includes a brand-new line of bedding. “It seemed like an important next step,” says Deborah Lloyd, kate spade new york’s creative Director and coPresident. “We already dress our girl head to toe; now it [is] time to make over her bedroom.”
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HELLO SUNSHINE fans of the brand have several bedding collections to choose from, each of which conveys the bold personality and unabashed merriment that are distinct trademarks of the company. “this [line] fits seamlessly with the rest of the brand. Not everything matches, but it complements the way our girl lives,” says Deborah, who worked at burberry and banana Republic before landing at kate spade new york in 2007. “It is full of joie de vivre: colors, patterns. It’s sophisticated but with a playful wink.” An apt description. the bright yellow heirloom Rose collection includes a throw pillow with “hELLo sUNshINE” written across the front. the fairmont stripe theme is sleek and polished in black and white, while the kaleidoscopic garden grove set is a vision in green—and red, and pink, and yellow. the colors are rich, the statements are bold; it’s classically, audaciously Kate spade.
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AND SHE NEEDS HER “your bed needs to make you happy, relaxed and inspired,” says Deborah. “I’ve tried to give our customer options for her bedroom that will do just that. People are calmed or inspired by different things. some want bold color, others want a more neutral palette that they can accent with throw pillows and small details. Much as you accessorize an outfit.” featured on the new website is a short film by Mother New york. Dozens of yellow balloons sail skyward, and the occasional orb bursts mid-flight. toward the end, a last one pops to dispenses a shower of confetti and the message “LIVE COLORFULLY.” With this line of bedding, the kate spade new york girl can sleep colorfully as well. for she’s nothing if not fun-loving, and she needs her beauty sleep. Bedding available at bedbathandbeyond.com. from $29.99-$179.99.
BEAU
UTY
SLEEP
HEADBANDS: PRESTON & OLIVIA
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WATCH THE VIDEO!
DeBORah’S TIPS FOR a:
COZY BEDROOM 1. Choose quality
bedding: “Remember, you spend over a third of your life in your bed. It’s worth the investment.”
2. Get creative: “Pick
a base design that you love and accent it with your favorite colors and whimsical decorative pillows.”
3. Minimize: “No clutter—
your bedroom is a place to unwind. No TV!”
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Andy’s grandfather spent many a morning at this table.
FOR INTERIOR ARCHITECT ANDY BEERS, DESIGN IS A FAMILY MATTER.
THEORY OF RELATIVITY PhotogRAPhy & INtERIoR DEsIgN: oRE stUDIos coPy: LEILANI MARIE LAboNg
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The color on this lounger may be different, but the great lines are the same.
“ALL OF IT WAS BOUND FOR GOODWILL,”
says Andy Beers, a Providence, RI-based interior architect, of the prized collection of midcentury furniture inherited from his wife Megan’s late grandparents—heretofore referred to by their real-life terms of endearment, “Papa II” and “Mama II.” “When they became grandparents, they felt they were too young to be called ‘grandma’ and ‘grandpa’, so they came up with their own appellations,” explains Beers. Of course, such an impressive assembly—which includes, among other pieces, chairs by revered Danish designers Ib Kofod Larsen and Finn Juhl, and, Beers’ favorite piece, a Conant Ball dining set— would have ranked among some of the most covetable charitable donations in Goodwill’s history. Their fate as such seemed evident, especially since their heirloom pedigree was unrecognized by Papa II and Mama II, who simply viewed the furniture as sturdy and utilitarian. Even Beers—a co-principal, along with Santa Fe-based designer Cara Scarola, of the interior-design firm, Ore Studios—admits that
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“My business partner Cara and I are interested in creating simple homes in which people can live healthfully,
when the “hand-me-downs” (as he calls them) entered his life over a decade ago, he didn’t realize their value and collectability. “Megan and I were just happy to have a place to sit in our first apartment together,” says Beers. Had the designer appreciated the provenance of the pieces, he confesses the he probably would not have veiled the furniture’s charming upholstery—note the chartreuse daisy print on Mama II’s Finn Juhl “Spade” chair and the dandy stripes on Papa II’s Plycraft chair—in dreadfully boring black and tan ultrasuede slipcovers. “What can I say? I was in architecture school and taking myself way too seriously,” he says. Naturally, the 1600-square-foot Beers household, which occupies the top two light-drenched floors of a 1920s “triple-decker”, is steeped in quiet moments in the family’s history: Papa II refinishing the dining table (“It was a yearly ritual—I like knowing his hands have worked on it,” says Beers); the countless newspaper perusals hosted by the George Mulhauser-designed “Mr. Chair,” now covered in salmonhued mohair (“It’s not as sleek as the original black-tufted vinyl, but it
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Not even a shaggy flokati can disguise those sexy curves!
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“If you pay attention to the construction of a piece and buy things that support the way you live, you won’t fall into a fad—you’ll be surrounded by things you love and that you’ll want to keep for a lifetime.”
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The console now holds CD’s instead of LP’s, but it still rocks!
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Besides adding a sentimental quality to the home’s fresh-vintage tableau the hand-me-downs add a sustainable element to the design: they’ve been meaningfully reused; saved, if you will, from an anonymous demise in a landfill—even Goodwill could not have guaranteed an escape from such a tragic final resting place.
has its charms,” says the designer); Mama II rocking her baby granddaughter Megan to sleep in the 1970s teak-and-rope rocker—the same one Megan now uses to lull Henry, the couple’s eight-month-old son, into a deep slumber. Besides adding a sentimental quality to the home’s fresh-vintage tableau (hello, shades of citron and aqua; nice to see you, flokatidraped Dux sofa; greetings, spontaneous stacks of books), the handme-downs add a sustainable element to the design: they’ve been meaningfully reused; saved, if you will, from an anonymous demise in a landfill—even Goodwill could not have guaranteed an escape from such a tragic final resting place. Beers’ decision to set up his own family dwelling in an historic building—rather than in new construction—is itself an Earth-minded strategy, and the fact that the flat is flooded with warm daylight on all four sides equates to a significantly reduced energy bill. “My business partner Cara and I are interested in creating simple homes in which people can live healthfully,” says Beers, who suggests that homeowners on the brink of a renovation “consider doing what’s
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right for the house,” so that the next residents “don’t have to spend the resources to rip out a trendy moment.” While Beers doesn’t subscribe to a purely midcentury aesthetic (contemporary counterpoints in the design include a Roost trestle desk in the home office, recyclable FLOR carpet tiles in the living room, and yellow café chairs in the kitchen), there’s no denying that the look has gained popularity over the last few years. This begs the question: Is the midcentury style trendy or timeless? (Is now a good time to reiterate that the Beerses’ heirlooms have been in service for more than 60 years?)
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A cozy reading nook just perfect for picking up a book!
“Midcentury is trendy when it’s approached in a cutesy way,” says Beers, who disparages cheap vintage knock-offs for their poor composition rather than their counterfeit appearance. “If you pay attention to the construction of a piece and buy things that support the way you live, you won’t fall into a fad—you’ll be surrounded by things you love and that you’ll want to keep for a lifetime.”
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“I’Ve alWayS BeeN DRaWN TO ClOThINg aND INTeRIORS ThaT haRmONIZe DIFFeReNT SeNSIBIlITIeS.”
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PHOTOGRAPHY: WILLIAM BRINSON COPY: SAMANTHA MILLER EVENT DESIGN + STYLING: DAVID STARK DESIGN PROP STYLING: RAINA KATTELSON RECIPES + FOOD STYLING: REBECCA JURKEVICH STATIONERY DESIGN: CHEREE BERRY
TEA SEA BY THE
RENOWNED PARTY PLANNER
DAVID STARK
BRINGS A SLICE
OF THE MEDITERRANEAN HOME WITH AN AFTERNOON GATHERING.
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ew york-based design authority David stark is known for producing awe-inspiring events for an eclectic range of clientele—including vogue, saks fifth Avenue, zac Posen and oprah, to name a few. but fans may be surprised to learn that his impeccable taste and eye for design stem from his former life as an artist. “you know, I never intended to become an event planner or an event designer,” David says. “I didn’t even know that these were viable careers.” In fact, David stumbled into party planning by chance. After graduating from Rhode Island school of Design, he supported his painting career by creating sumptuous, one-of-a-kind floral arrangements for parties. “one day, I realized that flowers were not appropriate for every single occasion, and that if the world can be looked at as a tool box, then décor could be created out of anything!” soon enough, David stepped away from the easel to embrace a different kind of art.
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Make the decor part of the fun! Gather a selection of olives AND conduct a tasting to educate and entertain.
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“My hiatus from painting never bothered me though, because the event design work that I do is absolutely the same art-making act as painting. It’s just that the medium, or the tools that are in my toolbox, have changed.” Inspired by the ambiance of an artist’s studio, David’s latest collaboration with west elm embodies his love of painting—not to mention his knack for transforming repurposed materials into whimsical home accessories. The collection boasts everything from hand-crafted flowers and sand-colored placemats, to canvas-wrapped bottles and dinnerware splashed with flecks of blue. “The utilitarian ‘stuff’ that fills an artist’s workplace has always been sexy to me,” he says. “All of these elements and more can be utilized for lovely small vignettes in a home or assembled en masse to create a fabulous party.” David even dusted off his paintbrush to create the backdrop for this Mediterranean-themed soirée. “Painting and working in the studio brought me back to my initial artistic roots,” he says. “It was great fun to use a brush again whether it be on canvas or on tableware!” Taking a cue from artists like Matisse, who captured the breathtaking light of Morocco in his paintings, David orchestrated the playful affair by fusing “the culinary treats of the region” with the sights and textures of a day spent lounging at sea.
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GOODIE BAG ALERT! SEND GUESTS HOME WITH A BATH PRODUCT THAT COMPLEMENTS THE DAY’S THEME. DAVID CHOSE THE BODY TONING SERUM FROM SUPER BY DR. NICHOLAS PERRICONE FOR ITS OLIVE POLYPHENOLS.
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Despite the dazzling, often elaborate nature of his events, his design philosophy is deliciously simple: “It’s absolutely okay to break the rules as long as you do it brilliantly!” And David has some reassuring advice for party plannersin-training. “People get so stressed out when planning and hosting a party,” he says. “Remember to have fun—really, it’s just a party!” ADDITIONAL PROPS: On buffet: Small white fruit bowl, Davistudio. Linen napkin, Hammertown. Cake server and cheese spreader, Jonathan’s Spoons. Long wooden trays, Sawkille. Rustic wooden stands, Gray Works Design. On dining table: Drinking glasses, blue napkins, flat white platters, glass wine carafe, all by Canvas. Glass water jar, Michele Varian. All other props stylists own.
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A Penchant FOR
Pattern D a l l a s d e s i g n e r B o n n e e S h a r p f i n ds her calling in custom textiles
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Photography: Steve Wrubel Styling: Jenny O’Connor Florals: Haile Wossen Copy: Mackenzie Horan
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abric designer Bonnee Sharp has never been one to shy away from color. Having
traded in her writing gig at a creative ad agency in New York to pursue interior design at Emily Summers Design Associates in Dallas, Bonnee found herself searching fruitlessly for the patterns that would best punctuate her clients’ homes. “I started designing patterns in my free time because I knew what our clients loved and what I couldn’t find in showrooms,” she explains. Realizing there was a void in the market for the fabrics she envisioned, Bonnee began printing her patterns on a project-by-project basis, much to the delight of ESDA clients. The more clients gravitated toward her textiles, the more Bonnee was convinced that she had found her niche. She left her position with ESDA to have her first daughter, Georgia, and, six months later, to launch her own
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"i found my voice while living and worKing in new y o r K c i t y. i roamed the city every weeKend with my camera in hand and my mind open.� bonnee shaRp
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creative career with the fabric line Studio Bon. “I flew to New York with a 75-pound suitcase of fabric samples, called the best houses I knew, made appointments, and showed them my work,” Bonnee recalls of that fateful first trip. Her unique geometric patterns, coupled with her palpable enthusiasm for this new line of work, quickly won her the favor of renowned fabric house Schumacher, who agreed to represent Studio Bon in ten cities across the country. And the rest, as they say, is history. Today Bonnee and her husband Marc live back in Dallas with fouryear-old Georgia and ten-month-old Genevieve, but Studio Bon’s designs have hardly lost that initial urban appeal. “I found my voice while living and working in New York City,” Bonnee says. “I loved the
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"A home with small children can be beautiful, functional, safe, and fun if you are intentional in your decisions" Bonnee Sharp
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"I need age and solid wood frames,but also the crispness t h at pat t e r n b r i n g s . " bonnee sharp
hustle and bustle, the history, the people, the energy, and the artistic opportunities. I roamed the city every weekend with my camera in hand and my mind open.” The artistic inspiration Bonnee discovered in New York is now apparent in her family’s home, whose clean lines and generous rooms provide a blank canvas for Studio Bon’s contemporary creations. In addition to showcasing her studio’s modern textiles, Bonnee’s home features an enviable assortment of family antiques, from her parents’ collection of vintage Pink Vista china to the pair of coral porcelain lamps that Bonnee’s grandmother had saved up to buy for her own mother. The mix of modern materials and traditional heirlooms in the home sums up Bonnie’s taste perfectly: “My style is moditional—wait, is that a word?” Her love of organic lines is most evident in the dark wood Danish dining set she discovered at an estate sale in Austin, whose seats she had reupholstered in chic bone-colored leather. “I need age and solid wood frames,” she explains, “but also the crispness that pattern brings.” How do Bonnee and Marc preserve that sense of style with two little girls on the loose? “A home with small children can be beautiful, functional, safe, and fun if you are intentional in your decisions,” Bonnee insists. That means the mid-century coffee tables in the living room—a serendipitous flea market find—double as surfaces for board games with Georgia and a place for Bonnee and Marc to kick up their feet after a long day. “We’re often still working after we put the children to bed at night,” she admits, “but ideally we can have a glass of wine and relax!” Of course, the continued expansion of Studio Bon’s fully customizable collection means Bonnee’s work schedule won’t be slowing down anytime soon. Not that she’d have it any other way: “This is what she was meant to do,” reads her bio on Studio Bon’s website. Anyone who’s had a look at her delightful patterns would find it impossible to object.
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