House Beautiful May 2013

Don't you just love a cover that has "tips and secrets" on it?

It feels like we're reading a declassified FBI dossier that 

J Edgar Hoover kept on decorators.  But now of course, we don't need that - we have Million Dollar Decorators.

I really like coral.  
Not only the actual one that you sadly find less and less on the Great Barrier Reef but also the color and anything remotely similar.  However, I have a little coral and sea fan fatigue.  
But that is only because it has been a little overexposed of late but I wouldn't mind a cushion in any of these fabrics.

I rarely comment on the ads but I have to say that I find the following one from Pierre Frey very noticeably soothing.

It's not too fancy but also perfectly pitched for trade as 

Pierre Frey is usually reserved for professionals only in London.

I thought this was a very clever ad from Farrow and Ball.  

It must be the most copied paints in the UK.  Everyone takes a sample of a certain shade like String or Pale Powder which is one of the most popular selling shades in London and takes it to the hardware store to copy.

I have seen this "tip" on blogs and some acquaintances who think they are saving money by simulating a Farrow and Ball shade but I can spot a fake wannabe shade a mile off.  Then it seems kind of sad that they went through all the trouble of painting and spending money with a mediocre imitation.  If you want a Farrow and Ball shade - just buy it from them.  At the end of the day, it's paint and not imitation 16th century French furniture where there is a huge price differential.

Bitch warning.

Do you get the feeling that this is either the boss's daughter or mistress who wanted to be a model because she is kinda cute and watched a few seasons of American's next top model?

Now even though it seems I am the Home Decor version of CSI, 

the fact is I am actually very laissez-faire in real life.  

The only thing I am picky about is uncovered tissue boxes and bare dishwashing liquid bottles.  I always decant in another bottle and use a wooden box to cover the Kleenex.  Makes a huge difference.

I wrote about choosing a sofa a while back and I read this section about tips on sofas with great interest.
I just wanted to share this with those who might be interested.

I have had to put a ban on buying books as I just don't have the space but I might have to make an exception for this one.

While I like monogramming, I feel like it might be a bit weird to be eating off someone else's initials unless Queen Bessie invited you for dinner. I think it's best to keep those to bed linen and towels.

These geometric wallpaper prints are quite nice but it might work better to take a sample and frame them as it would make lovely art in itself.  I worry it might be a little too overpowering otherwise.

Bath of the month was nice although if you look at it, 
the bathroom is actually a very simple and white one.

But actually the star of the bathroom is the chevron marble floor 

and the Missoni towels.

I guess it shows that sometimes it is just the one detail 

to make it unique.

There are certain decor elements that get filtered through from a ducal estate in Europe that enters mainstream Americana.  

But sometimes, it filters through off kilter.

While I understand the intention, this family seem either like

fashion victims or really stubborn family members who 

just couldn't agree on chairs.

I have a feeling that a 6 foot plus husband agreed to this chandelier because then it gives him an excuse to never do the dishes as his head would hit it every time he was near the sink.

This isn't actually decor but a safety hazard I wanted to highlight.

Guys, please don't put your car keys on the console in the entry hall.

If a house gets broken into, then you are just handing over your car to the thieves on a silver platter. Sometimes burglars don't enter 

the house for things but more often than not car keys so 

please put them somewhere else.

I really appreciated the decor of this house by Lake Michigan.  
It did do the Marrakech-y thing but it seems like it is the flavour du jour so let's see past that.  For those of you who like blue, 
you are going to need smelling salts.

The view over the lake doesn't hurt.

I always deduct a point when I see a fake anchor 

in a lake/beach house.

How gorgeous is the house?  

It looks like a doll's house version of a New England colonial.

I can't imagine one person who doesn't feel like cooking 
in this kitchen.

The tiling in both the fireplace and the bathroom is superb.

For those who have read my magazine reviews before know that 
I find this faux haphazard throwing of towels and throws
an anathema to interior styling.

But I realized that after the effect Martha Stewart and her OCD has had on all of us, there must be a movement against all this.  

All the stylists must have been so shocked when she went to prison. They probably realized that OCD was masking something and 

no one's life is truly perfect.

But when I see a pristine house with equidistantly placed objects with one throw just randomly dropped, all I envision that actually happens behind the scenes of every shoot is...

Some reformed Martha groupie who is in therapy for natural OCD that got intensified with her indoctrination is rearranging furniture and vacuuming one last time ( interns always miss a spot ) and the photographer is telling the stylist to breathe, drop the throw, and walk away. WALK AWAY! 

This genre of styling has now entered advertisements...

The crazy thing is I am becoming OCD about this myself!