Lucite!

Solid Quartz lamp with Lucite Base

I think Lucite Furniture is Most Excellent. However, allow me to clarify that statement. I think Lucite Furniture, properly executed, is Most Excellent. The pieces shown here represent the best of the best. They are all made with the closest attention to detail, clarity of the acrylic and some of the tables shown have crystal glass insets. Another important characteristic of a good piece of lucite or acrylic furniture is that it be heavy, substantial and scratch resistant. This is not just simple "plastic" furniture. Just one piece of lucite furniture placed in a room with other furniture materials such as wood, stone, plush fabrics, chrome or metal can be simply smashing. In fact, many of the pieces pictured below incorporate the use of wood and lucite or metal and lucite. Upholstered furniture may typically be created in any fabric of one's choosing.

The "Louis Ghost" chair designed by Phillipe Stark, (shown below), has been produced in a black acrylic version. This handsome twist on the original crystal, transparent version is lightweight and serves as a distinct and unique occasional side chair. One last word on lucite - It is not inexpensive! The Ralph Lauren Home Collection coffee table, (pictured above), retails for around $36,000.00. The Lucite bench, (pictured below), will run approximately $5,500.00 with fabric and the Todd Hase "Madeline" coffee table with it's custom wood top and lucite legs commands a price of around $12,000.00. I personally own a rectangular Ralph Lauren Collection console table with glass inset. It is the first piece of furniture that you see when you enter my home. The piece is timeless and one that I will never tire of!

Upholstered Side Chair with Lucite Legs

Ralph Lauren Home Collection Lucite table with Metal sides

Phillipe Stark "Louis Ghost" chair for Kartell in Black acrylic

"Lucy Lucite" coffee table from Todd Hase, SoHo

White Leather upholstered Lucite Lounge chair with arms

"Madeline" coffee table with wood top and Lucite legs by Todd Hase, SoHo

Elegant hand-tufted bench with Lucite base

Square Black Lucite table lamp with Clear Lucite Base

Funky Lucite side chair with exposed hardware

Hollywood Regency Style.

I am currently planning a trip to Southern California. Among my destinations is Los Angeles. I absolutely love LA. I even find myself quite fond of the Hollywood Regency Style. Hollywood Regency, Hollywood Modern, Hollywood Retro are all terms that describe one of the Most Excellent trends in home decorating today. This style has been made popular by interior designer Kelly Wearstler. Mrs. Wearstler is responsible for the designs of The Viceroy Hotels in Santa Monica and Palm Springs, California, The Tides Hotel in South Beach, Florida and a new home furnishings line for Bergdorf Goodman. Hollywood Regency Style involves a lot of mirrors, a lot of lacquer, and splashes of bold color. It also makes good use of bold graphics, Asian accessories and quirky, whimsical statues. The three room shots here, (above and below), are of the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica, California, (one of my favorite hotels). http://www.viceroysantamonica.com

I have also shown a few pieces of Hollywood Regency furnishings, (below), that would add glamour to any interior. They are all available at Inside Avenue.

The Viceroy Hotel Santa Monica Library

The Viceroy Hotel Santa Monica - Guest Room

A female bust - A Hollywood Regency detail

A sexy Hollywood Regency chrome side table

Hall Chest

Four-poster bed

White glazed horse head statue - A common Hollywood Regency accessory/detail

Bold colored Hollywood Regency style mirror - Strong Baroque influence

Most Excellent "Calligraphy" Swirl Mirror

Where the Deer and Antelope Play.

Lucite Deer Head mounted on a silver painted concrete block wall

First of all, I do not support or endorse hunting and the killing of animals for sport. While it has long been a tradition to mount the head of a deer, antelope or other trophy kill above a fireplace, etc., I would much rather go for one of these Most Excellent variations. In the right environment, a whimsical deer or antelope head made of lucite, painted resin, aluminum or hand-carved wood, may be just the right touch. I suspect any of these would be a piece that sparks conversation, adds interest to a space and is certainly different and unique! I do want to throw out a word or two of caution - this decorative accessory or detail is NOT just for any space, home, etc. It is a gem or jewel piece that must be carefully chosen and placed in the ideal room. This may be an area where the advice of an expert or professional may be important before proceeding. I would lean toward placing one of these heads in a more contemporary environment, however, I have no problem seeing one of these trophy pieces adorning the walls of a traditional den, library or living room. Design is all about exploring the possibilities, choosing the right elements and making sure they all work together flawlessly. I do consider the right eclectic mix to be "flawless". One of these wall statues might certainly be a part of an eclectic interior design. This detail is fun and definitely worth pursuing for those who are bold enough to take the adventure.

A pink painted deer head made of resin

Hand-carved deer head from Roost

A graceful aluminum antelope wall statue

Sloping, curved horn of antelope statue, (detail)

Aluminum antelope head wall statue, (detail)

Presidents' Day - The White House.

The President's Home

In the current issue of "Architectural Digest" readers are taken on a tour of the newly redecorated rooms in The White House. In honor of Presidents' Day I thought it would be only fitting to show the beautiful interiors here.

These photos are taken from "Architectural Digest", March 2008. The article that appears in the magazine is as follows. Please follow the link below for the remainder of the text.

"It is the most famous building in the world. People who have never heard of 10 Downing Street or the Élysée Palace know exactly what the White House is and even what it looks like. It is more than four walls and a roof. It is a symbol. Every day, in dozens of languages, television commentators report “the White House said today”—as if the building had a life and personality all its own.

And in fact it does. For more than 200 years the White House has been a living home to American presidents and their families. Everyone who walks its halls is conscious of all those—Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt—who have gone there before. “There’s a great reminder of history when you live here,” says Laura Bush, the wife of the current and 43rd president."

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/homes/2008/03/white_house_article

The Queens' Bedroom

The Lincoln Bedroom

The Palm Room

President's Park - The Gardens cover 82 acres

The Cabinet Room

The Roosevelt Room

The Family Theatre

The Family Theatre

The Vermeil Room

The Oval Office

The Oval Office

The Oval Office

The Green Room

The White House Library

By Appointment To Her Majesty The Queen.

Suppliers of Wallpaper, Cole & Son Wallpaper, Limited

Wallpaper fit for a queen and a United States President. These Most Excellent wallpapers are printed by Cole & Son, Ltd., England. I have recently developed of fondness for flocked papers - particularly the "Lifford Damask", shown above. This paper is a plush ivory velvet pattern printed on Silver foil paper. Perfect for interiors with a "Hollywood Regency" flare. Cole & Son, Ltd.'s collection includes paper depicting the work of artist Piero Fornasetti to wallpaper adorned with hummingbird's. The papers are Handblocked, delicate, luxurious, and even have a true hand-painted quality.

Cole & Son, Ltd. is part of a tradition that has been printing the world’s finest wallpapers since 1873. Little has changed over the years with the majority of printing techniques remaining the same today as when the company began.

Still located in North London, the factory produces; Handblock, Screen Print and Surface Printed wallpaper. Over 4000 hand carved wooden blocks help make up one of the world’s most distinguished wallpaper archives associated with some of the greatest design names of the time. Names such as Augustus Pugin, William Morris, Voysey and Walter Crane ....

Due to a distinguished printing history, Cole & Son has become the prime source for entirely authentic period and contemporary projects. Cole’s wallpapers can be found in a multitude of famous buildings from the Palace of Westminster to the Brighton Pavilion, from Buckingham Palace to the White House.

The Cole & Son, Ltd. archive includes a major source of many strikingly contemporary as well as traditional designs.
http://www.cole-and-son.com

Piero Fornasetti, "Tema a Variazoni"

Piero Fornasetti, "Flori"

Hummingbirds/Wallpaper & Fabric

Traditional "Trieste" Damask Wallpaper