A Lil' Leopard

Can you believe it's March? Hallelujah!! I'm so over Winter.  Over the next few weeks the weather can be finicky, so what better than to throw a leopard swing coat over that Spring dress you've been dying to wear?

{images via Net-a-Porter, Vanessa Jackman & EmersonMade}

Can This Be Made Into A Room? Hermes Birkin

I have had this image on file for quite awhile now and every time I see it I fall in love all over again.  From the hint of a leopard pencil skirt, the gold chain bracelets, the gold nail polish, let alone the fabulous Birkin bag, I'm enamored with it all!  Sigh... how I adore Birkins.  I was tempted to ask my husband for a Birkin instead of a wedding ring, but once I tried on a few diamond rings I was hooked.  But a Birkin was a close second.  Let's see if we can't turn this into a room, shall we?

via weheartit

Nothing in the inspiration outfit really 'matches' but what makes it work is the play on different tones and shades of camel. I would wear this as my work uniform if I could, so let's make our room home office.  I would paint the room a shade of camel (I have to say camel because I can't bring myself to say... *cough* beige.) and install leopard print broadloom in a pattern similar to this one from Horchow.  The subtle leopard adds a hit of panache without being over-the-top.  I would then float a gorgeous Hollywood Regency style desk (Barbara Barry) in the center of the room and pair it with a Palladian chair in a caramel finish (Baker).  This is the chair equivalent of a Birkin bag.  Just like the bag, you can pair a Palladian chair with anything and it automatically adds a little je ne sais quoi and will never date.  Absolutely gorgeous.

 

Behind the desk, I would make a focal wall with a console chest (Hickory Chair) in the center, for office supplies, files, etc.  Above the chest I would add a over-sized mirror (Baker) and flank the chest/mirror combo with antiqued brass etageres, similar to the one above, by Phoebe Howard.  Fill the desk with accessories like a brass magnifying glass (Arteriors), cream leather storage boxes (Barbara Barry for Global Views), and add a cashmere throw or two (William Sonoma Home, I can't work unless I'm wrapped up in a blanket).  Top the room off with a mid-century inspired chandelier (Arteriors), and you have a polished home office!  Best part?  All of the elements in this room could be used in other areas of your home.  Move the mirror to the fireplace mantel, the etageres to the living room, or the desk to the master suite to use as a vanity!  It's always smart to think where else you could use an item down the road when you want to relocate or just switch things up a bit.

CanThis Be Made Into A Room? Tom Ford Spring 2011

He's bbbaaaaaccccckkkkkkkk....!!!!! Tom Ford is back for Spring 2011! Hallelujah! If you lived under a rock throughout the 90's, Tom Ford was the creative genius behind both Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent and has been on hiatus from fashion for the past six years.  Thank goodness the king of sexy is back with his own line, which has been kept quite secret.  The only sneak peaks we have are four images Mr. Ford leaked to Vogue and you know me, I had to turn them into a room!

The sexy Mr. Ford with his harem of chic 70s women.

“The seventies is what I love. Soft, touchable beauty is what I love,” says Ford.

images via Vogue

I think the rich moody blues contrasting against the soft ecru's is so striking.  To turn this collection into a room, I would paint the whole room in a dark dark charcoal-y blue and place a tailored sofa (Room & Board) in bone colored fabric on the main wall to create high contrast in the room's focal point.  In front of the sofa I would place a blue and white leopard print area rug (Horchow).  One of the most common mistakes people make in their homes is using too small of area rug.  Technically, you should choose a rug that is 9-12" smaller than the perimeter of your room but most rugs don't come that large unless you custom order one.  Think the bigger the better, so in front of a sofa place a 9x13 or 8x11 at the very least.  NO 4x6's!! This size would look like a postage stamp on your floor, unless layered on top of another area rug.  Now that we have area rug sizes out of the way, back to Mr. Ford!

 I couldn't design a room without some vintage.  For this 70s inspired room, I would add an oversized brass tray cocktail table, a pair of crystal table lamps (placed on a hidden console behind the sofa), and a glass chandelier, all circa 1970 (1st Dibs).   And how do you interpret a fabulous Afro?  A giant starburst mirror, of course!! This one is brass with blue accents in the center, again, circa 1970 (1st Dibs) and I would place it above the sofa in between the two crystal table lamps.  


To soften the hard lines of the vintage pieces I would drape yards and yards of royal blue dupioni silk (Half Priced Drapes), floor to ceiling, around the windows.  Toss some royal blue silk velvet (Etsy) and Mongolian lamb skin pillows on the sofa to add some interesting textural contrast.  And what would a 70s inspired room be without a disco ball?  A glass mosaic end table from Arteriors does the trick! 


Could you get down with this groovy pad, soul sista?

Design Legend: Jan Showers



 When I first picked up Jan Shower's book, "Glamorous Rooms,"  I was astonished at how her style was so close to my own (well, hers comes with a HUGE slab of traditional, where I lean towards the contemporary). The serene color palettes, the clean lines, the glitz of metals and glass, the draping of mass yardages of silk, all evoke an atmosphere of luxury that is not too pretentious. 

As soon as I flipped through this book, I ran home and got it on order.  When I received my copy, I noticed a little leopard peeking out from the dust jacket.  The actual book itself is a faux snow leopard!  If I am to be reincarnated as a inanimate object, it would be this book!

Jan's bedrooms were what initially struck me. In fact, there was one that was so close to my own bedroom! I couldn't find a picture online of it, but the walls were a darker silver-sage with two starburst mirrors over each nightstand and two arm chairs that are the exact match to my sofa in my living room. So beautiful. 

"We believe in insisting on perfection.  Timeless style.  Classic glamour.  The ease of living well. Simplicity.  Luxury you can take for granted."  -Jan Showers

(Can you imagine dressing this table for Thanksgiving? Note to self:  find puddling table linens.)

"Choosing different designs ultimately mixed with different interiors, from traditional to modern, is my real inspiration."  -Jan Showers

I know there's a lot to love in this pic, but I die over the door hardware. 

Can you believe the area rug is actually patched cow hides? 
It's such a fun texture against the smooth drapes and sleek occasionals.

Not sure what the carpet is.  Ocelot? Gazelle? Whatever it is, it sure is chic!

"Glamour and comfort are not mutually exclusive."  -Jan Showers

Jan added warmth and slimmer to the above entryway by treating the walls with warm silver-leaf tea paper.  The same tea paper is also on the inside covers of her book!

Love Me Some Leopard

Michael Kors RTW Fall 2009

Open up any fashion or design magazine lately and you'll see leopard print is all the rage.  My question is, was leopard print ever out?  I don't think there is another print more well adjusted to luxurious living and from the pictures you'll find below, it's been style maker's favorite for decades.  

1960s Vogue via My Vintage Vogue

1960s Vogue via My Vintage Vogue

Metropolitan Home

I told my husband before we married that he must be willing to have at least one room of our home with wall-to-wall leopard print carpet. I still remind him of this about every 6 months and his reply: "Whatever you want, dear."  He knows how to keep a girl happy!

Diana Vreeland Office at Vogue

1970s Trench via This Is Glamorous

Vogue

Unknown

Elle Decor

Miles Redd

via This Is Glamorous





Ralph Lauren Paris 2010
(notice the beyond gorgeous parquet floor, another must for my future home)

My absolute favorite, Christina Hendricks for London Fog 2010

One word of warning, a little leopard goes a long way, so use with restraint or you could look like this:

Thom Filicia's Tacky House 'before' shot

 OK, I just threw up a little in my mouth.  I can't leave you with such an atrocious image, so I'll leave you with dreams of Michael Kors...

Michael Kors RTW Fall 2009