Photo: Tim Evan Cook
Los Angeles designer Alison Blumenfeld's example of a perfectly "un-decorated" room! (above)
Am so thrilled today to bring you a guest post from the very chic Los Angeles interior designer Alison Blumenfeld.
Alison has a wonderful effortless style - a fresh and easy manner in design that exudes good taste. I've been to her home...it is quite perfectly decorated with a mix of important antiques, sleek mid century modern pieces and lots of contemporary touches too. Her home has just the right balance between old and new, classic and modern. Alison manages to celebrate venerable old pieces like a gorgeous crystal chandelier from her grandmother, while honoring the sleek lines of mid century modern style with for example two facing Barcelona benches in her living room. I love Alison's taste and aesthetic!
Hence, without further chatter from me...I am thrilled today to bring you this guest post from interior designer Alison Blumenfeld!
BEGIN GUEST POST by ALISON BLUMENFELD...
To "Un-Decorate"Lately I am hearing the same thing from clients, they all want houses that don't feel "decorated". This does not mean they don't want to use a decorator, or that they don't want to decorate their homes, it's that they are striving for a new aesthetic. One that feels less mass produced, more personal. Perhaps it's a reaction to the pillow littered, tassel trimmed, overstuffed houses they grew up in, or since we as a society are more casual they are striving for an environment to mirror that, perhaps it's nothing more than wanting to define themselves in a new way. With social networks and magazines encouraging us to define ourselves through our acquisitions, associations, and interests it makes sense that the home is responding in kind.
Photo: W Magazine
In the hills outside Florence, fashion royal Laudomia Pucci is bringing her own brand of modern, kicked-back glamour to her family's 14th-century country estate. (above)
Tips for "Un-Decorating":1. I often tell clients buy what you love, it's the culmination of these items NOT any one item itself that will make your space your own.
2. Color is a great way to unite disparate items.
3. High and low, the same concept as wearing vintage, H&M, and designer together works well in a home. Mix inexpensive items with expensive ones.
4. Don't buy too much from any one showroom, store, or period.
5. Take your time. As a designer I love the idea of creating a turn key space, but so often when you do everything at once it winds up being very one dimensional. The best way to create eclectic interiors is to collect over time.
An apartment in the Marais in Paris designed by Frederic Mechiche in the
book Parisian Interiors (above)
I have always loved strange, interesting, personal rooms. Often these rooms are purely aesthetic, and would not say work well for the needs of a family. But these rooms can inspire us to think about a room in a new way. Here are some images that have been exciting me lately, a few rely entirely on the architecture for impact, for others its the unlikely pairings, but whatever the recipe these spaces feel personal, more collected than decorated.
Enjoy...
The home of Los Angeles designer Richard Shapiro (above)
Photo: W Magazine
French antiques dealer Yves Gastou has decorated his Paris apartment and Biarritz home with no heed for the rules of interior design (above and below)
Photo: W Magazine
Photo: Lonny Magazine
***
THANK YOU Alison Blumenfeld for this amazing guest post, these great photos and the helpful tips! I love the concept of the "un-decorate"...I'll use these tips in my own home!
Nbaynadamas readers, hope you enjoyed this guest post as much as I did! How might you do a little "un-decorating" in your home? Do tell!
Happy Friday! (Am running late as usual...maybe I should start posting at night again instead of early morning...then maybe I would be a little less rushed to work!!!!)
xo
Coco
P.S. Please remember to follow me on Nbaynadamas TWITTER too! Check out my latest tweets regarding a unique party I am going to attend this Sunday! Follow along please on twitter! Tell me what you would wear to the party!
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AN - Friday, December 3, 2010
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