Books for Looks

Nick Olsen — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:29:32 -0400

Hi folks! Long time no blog—remember me? I knew I'd really dropped the ball when I read this from a friend:

"Honey, your Dream House is turning into a recurring nightmare; one where I keep checking for updates and keep getting disappointed."

Oops. Though I must say, while this house has fallen victim to neglect, the tenement of my dreams is looking spiffier than ever! And more than a year-and-a-half after moving in I finally unpacked my massive (and massively heavy) collection of illustrated books. Mugatu says it and I'm going to second: Nothing makes a home feel cozier than books. Which leads me to today's central question: Does it matter if you haven't read all of them? ANY of them?

I'll admit I own a few coffee table books that I've never even cracked, or books I bought at the flea market just for the cover and couldn't tell you the author or title. But the books I've really read and enjoyed over and over? Penguin paperbacks. An acutely observant editor friend noticed a recent trend in shelter mags in which decorators/stylists are turning books around on the shelves so you can't see the spines. So now we can add "book shame" to the list of subcategories to status anxiety!

Bookcase Paxil comes in the form of Strand's books-by the-foot offering, but depending on how much cash you shell out, the look reads more "Bad Public Libary," chock full of 10-year old bestsellers, as E.F. pointed out. He shudders at turning books into accessories; I'm as torn as an old dust jacket because I appreciate their aesthetic, individually and en masse.

So where do you stand on the books-for-looks debate?

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Navajo Madness

Nick Olsen — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:58:00 -0400

One of my favorite stores in New York is Paula Rubenstein Ltd., home to all kinds of anti-mass production curiosities including giant balls of string (and barbed wire), a driftwood lamp the size of a sixth-grader, and the most comprehensively fabulous collection of Navajo blankets you'll ever see. They don't necessarily come cheap—this is Soho, not a thrift store in Wyoming—but I consider each one a work of art.

Native American motifs have swung in and out of vogue for decades: Ralph Lauren has long recognized that Navajo sweaters are just as American as preppy cableknits and Western-themed movies have kept the look alive. But there were some dark years in the 1990s for the colorful stripes, diamonds and checkerboards I love so dearly: Think Barbra Streisand album covers or the Arizona Jeans Company at J.C. Penney. A Navajo-printed denim jacket (paired with a turquoise bolo tie) or an entire duvet set may never look chic, but let's ponder some updated applications for our predecessors' handiwork:

—Upholstery: why not upholster an occasional/slipper chair in one of these incredible rugs? If yours is a museum-quality I wouldn't cut it up, but if George Smith and ABC Carpet can cover entire sofas in old kilims I see nothing wrong with repurposing a geometric blankie. Try centering a diamond design on the seat and back.

—Wall decoration: Hanging rugs and textiles feels a little grandiose, yet I love the idea of three or four unmatching blankets on square canvas stretchers hung against a long neutral wall. Would also make a graphic headboard panel.

—Furniture adornment: faithful reader Evan sent this pic of his kilim-covered Parsons dining table—pretty genius, no? This is definitely a DIY project fit for a sturdy cotton rug, not a blanket, but a good glue/staple gun and some elbow grease would do the trick. Maybe start with an Ikea side table and pay special attnention to mitering the corners, as Evan did here.

Image of Navajo rug via Len Wood's Indian Territory.

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Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:58:00 -0400

The Glass Console Ceiling

Nick Olsen — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:38:50 -0400

Now that not one but two kind readers have followed my lead on the Rustoleum Red Insta-Makeover I feel positively drunk with power and influence! Or maybe just a little hungover from the weekend's festivities. In any case, I got thinking about other semi-easy furniture tricks while browsing eBay over the weekend: I found so many nice, inexpensive metal table frames (console, coffee, side, etc.) that were done in by a thin glass top. Now, I could see the style in a 3/4- or 1-inch thick piece of clear glass with that pleasing green color on the side—that has a dramatic sense of heft to it—but inset glass-top tables are a major pet peeve.

Why, you ask? First is the flimsy factor. I just hate how setting down a glass (or anything more substantial than a weekly magazine) rattles a glass table; the clanky sound hurts my sensitive ears. Second, I can't shake the Raymour & Flanigan association: Every other table in a chain furniture store has a glass top! Finally, and this may tick a few folks off ... I really can't stand protective glass on any table, even the skirted variety. It's so precious! Like, "We don't wear our shoes on the white carpet." Unless your center table is on loan from the Wrightsman Galleries, I'd just invest in some coasters.

On to my trick: I'd buy any cool, cheap console table like this $130 Giacommetti-lite number from Target or this mixed-metals Regency eBay steal, measure the existing glass top(s), head to Home Depot, Lowe's, or the lumber yard, and have 1/4- or 1/2-inch cabinet-grade plywood cut to fit. Take it home, sand down the top and edges (using wood filler if necessary), prime, and paint in an OIL-BASED high-gloss enamel in a pretty color. Voila, lacquer-inset-top gorgeousness! The more ambitious might try some decorative painting techniques ... a simple two-tone chevron, perhaps?

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Dine on a Dime

Nick Olsen — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:33:55 -0400

I'll be honest: I don't eat at home too often. When I do, it's sort of an inhale-the-veggie-dumplings-over-the-garbage-can scenario—no wonder I see certain restaurant waitstaffs more often than I do my family—yet I hope to settle into a more domestic dining routine very soon. So what are the best options for an inexpensive table and chairs? Let's do a little mix-and-match roundup like they used to at Domino (loved those sections), because despite what Raymour and Flanigan might have you believe, coordinating "dinette sets" aren't all that stylish!

1. I'm loving West Elm's rustic Modern Farm Dining Table ($599): Looks like they caught on to Crate & Barrel's Big Sur moment and jettisoned the high price tag. I prefer the "natural" option and see it paired with a slick, modern chair ... just not any of the the ubiquitous Philippe Starck options. What about this honeycomb-esque Alchemia chair by Calligaris for $288.95? Looks sort of '60s-futurist, and I love the opaque red or black, but the clear versions have an unfortunate gummy shoe quality.

2. This Regan Dining Table from HomeDecorators ($419 for a 60-inch round, great for conversation) has a sort of Eames base with with a shiny white top. Why not break up those hard edges with a more feminine Louis XV-style side chair from Wisteria ($299)? As a general rule, French-y dining chairs like this one look best covered in a solid fabric like this tomato linen, or else a polished leather. Graphic stripes, geometrics, and florals tend to fight with the curvy lines and intricate carving.

3. For chic communal dining, why not try this watermelon Strut Table from Blu Dot (pictured, $699 for a 54-incher) paired with a tortoise-speckled bamboo bench from Pearl River ($45.50-59.50)? I'd make a cushion for the bench in an ultrasuede to match or in another bright color with contrast piping. Cheery, sturdy, and unexpected for a breakfast room.

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Between the Sheets

Nick Olsen — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:54:59 -0400

Yes, I'm referencing the Isley Brothers' slow jam sampled by Notorious B.I.G. on "Big Poppa" AND by Gwen Stefani on her song "Luxurious," which included the following ears-filling-up-with-blood lyrics:"We're luxurious, like Egyptian cotton/We're so rich in love, we're rolling in cashmere."

How charmingly 2005 of her. So why, just yesterday, did a flack for [company name redacted] call our office pimping 100 percent cashmere sheets? Seriously? Amanda inquired as to pricing: A king set retails for close to $5,600. Crikey! Now, I'm all about pleasing the senses, and picking and choosing one's indulgences. In fact, I quite agree with this quote from Frank Lloyd Wright (spotted on the wall of Club Monaco, of all places, while I was fondling their cashmere cardigans): "Give me the luxuries of life and I willingly do without the necessities."

Holler, Frankie! But who right now, besides perhaps the Sultan of Brunei, is dropping close to $6k on one set of sheets? Promise I'm not jealous, just genuinely curious. Even our big-balling clients would balk.

So, let's talk about bedding criteria: My main one is natural fibers (cotton). I've slept on Bed Bath & Beyond's Hotel Collection (in solid pale blue, pictured) for five years, and have never awakened chafed or wishing for 200 more threads per inch. Or whatever that means—I've seen "experts" on television testify that thread count has relatively little to do with comfort. I like the feel of jersey or that beech fiber alternative, but it always pills and does connote "college dorm." Silk or satin sheets seem apropos for Hugh Hefner AND itchy. Polyester is just slap out of the question. From a design point of view, I aspire to own a set of triple-line embroidered Schweitzers and weep because Williams-Sonoma Home discontinued their Greek Key bedding ... but a $300 duvet cover is still out of my budget.

So tell me, are you a true player when buying the sheets, or just between them? Or both?

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Taking Your Work Home

Nick Olsen — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:20:15 -0400

Decorno made an interesting observation whilst writing about fall's slate of new design books (my forever addiction), specifically Italian Touch:

"Fashion people have sexier homes than interior design people, so that should be fun to flip through."

I agree, and it got me thinking about other design-y folk and what their houses usually look like. Decorators, if less sexified, certainly use their homes as idea laboratories and their professional calling cards. Except perhaps yours truly! A recent visitor to my work-in-progress apartment (with all contents STILL shoved into the bedroom for my epic floor-painting project) asked what I do for a living. After my sheepish response I got, "Well, you obviously don't take your work home with you!" OUCH.

Yet architects—don't even get me started—are notorious for living in crappy, undesigned spaces. Probably because 99 percent of them are so overworked they barely make it home and so underpaid that they can't afford to reconfigure their hideous breakfast bar situation. Depressing.

So what about the rest of the work force? I don't picture most nurses living in something out of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. But I have met writers with books wall-to-wall, financial dudes with flat screen TVs in the loo (tuned to CNBC), lawyers with framed etchings of Faust (ha) ... but a MoMA curator with no art ? Say it ain't so.

Anyway, question: Which of your friends has the coolest house/apartment, and what do they do for a living? How much does interior style reflect one's vocation? Tell me there's an insurance salesman out there who lives like the Duke of Windsor!

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A Dorm Room Away From the Norm

Nick Olsen — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:14:37 -0400

Ah, college. Whether Bacchanalian fantasy or ivory tower tedium (guess which was my experience), these years usually share one thing in common: utterly crappy living conditions. At least for freshmen. Seriously, twin beds and communal bathrooms? No, thanks. But I love a challenge, and an 8'x10' room with a suite of yellow oak furniture certainly qualifies as such. Here are my tips for maximizing your scholarly style without breaking that beer budget:

- Paint: Not every dorm allows it, and most require painting the room back to white or cream at the end of your stay, but when else can you justify living in a symphony of fuchsia? College is about expanding your mind AND your decorating horizons, so hark back to that favorite color from kindergarten and go crazy. Invite new friends from orientation week over for a painting party. But PLEASE no accent walls: They only make a small space feel smaller. Four walls in a latex high gloss will make quite a statement to those kids who brought every single Beanie Baby with them from home.

- Fabric: You can take it with you. By that I mean fabric—duh—not lessons from Plato's Republic. Sites like ReproDepot and Fabric.com offer interesting patterns in every style from mod to Vera Bradley for as little as $5 per yard. For a minimal investment, you can make your room feel like the maharajah's tent (by tacking gathered bits of lightweight fabric at the ceiling with a stapler or Velcro), only rip it all down in the spring to repurpose for your sophomore splendor. The less ambitious might attempt a wall of fabric behind a headboard or stretch a favorite print over readymade bars.

- Repetition: For me, small space inspiration begins and ends with department store windows. Master window dressers like David Hoey and Simon Doonan know how to create visual impact in close quarters, and lesson number one is repetition. If fall fashion was having an Ernestine moment, I can guarantee you'd see a Bergdorf's vignette with 200 vintage telephones. Same rules apply in a dorm. Even for the ubiquitous band poster ... why not group all those MGMT graphics and mag covers together on one wall with an even 2-inch border between them comme ça? Or go to the copy store and experiment with xerography (a hyperpretentious term I learned in college): Enlarge a favorite image 1000 percent and paper one wall with 8.5''x11'' black-and-white photo tiles. I also like simple geometric decals, but again, only if they fill the entire wall.

- Furniture: Probably the most difficult variable in the dorm room equation. If you're not gutsy enough to put the standard-issue fugliness in storage like this kid (witness the current pinnacle of dorm decoration!), I say do your best to hide it with fabrics (skirted tables, makeshift headboard slipcovers, and the like) or just create diversions with artwork and rugs. There's another idea: Ikea offers so much fabulosity in this department, why not invest in a bunch of ten-dollar herringbone mats or a bold stripe to layer over the hideous dorm carpet? They'll travel to future rooms and first apartments ... studios that will cost your entire starting salary!

General advice: Go big, go bold, or go back home. Bring your own lights and change every bulb except for the one in your desk lamp to a 40 watt (or less) pink incandescent. You'll make more friends that way. Avoid cheesy sheer curtains or tab-top panels; try inexpensive bamboo blinds instead. Oh, and don't work too hard ... or maybe just stay in school until the recession's over. Heh.

Photograph of fuschia room by flickr user Jolante.

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Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:14:37 -0400

The Devil Wears Malachite

Nick Olsen — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:23:50 -0400

So this weekend I rushed to see The September Issue, R.J. Cutler's delicious documentary on the personalities behind Vogue (the magazine, not the patterns company). A proper tagline might've been "Passive Aggression is Always in Fashion." Seriously, though, I left the theater re-inspired to decorate and decide what would fill my own fall decorating issue:

Tubular steel and cane: The combination of these two materials used to signify the worst of the 1970s, but the fickle finger of fashion has flicked my ears once again. Don't Marcel Breuer's "Cesca" chairs have a kind of Woody Allen-movie quality? Like that lovable, New York yuppie intellectual feeling in Hannah and Her Sisters, in which Dianne Wiest whines: " 'Where did April come up with stuff about Adolf Loos and terms like "organic form"? Well, naturally. She went to Brandeis.' " I could see myself in layers of tweeds a la Diane Keaton, pulling up one of these chairs to dine at a smoked mirror-top table. Quite spendy bought new, but they come up at flea markets and eBay all the time.

Africa: For me, the furniture and art of this rich continent have seemed at times both taboo and passé—a kind of insulting neo-primitivism or Peter Beard safari pastiche. But with the outrageous success of the North African-born Yves Saint Laurent's auction last February, I'm reminded that modern artists like Picasso and Fernand Leger turned traditional African masks into Cubist portraits, and suddenly all those noses on cheeks look fresh again. Also, 'round our office a birthing stool is the decorating accessory this season. Honest! Every room, especially those on par with YSL's decorator Jacques Grange's, needs something rough, low, and sculptural for balance.

Amethyst and other stones: When I was but a wee lad I collected all manner of stones ... my (bewildered?) pa even drove me to the mountains of North Carolina one year for my birthday to mine for rubies. Now don't I feel vindicated that gems and minerals have made a huge comeback in style circles? Rock crystal lamps like Anthro's (a whopping $2,200) combine Stevie Nicks mysticism with Big Sur crunchiness, but retailers are now mining amethyst (heh) for its purple power. And to my eye nothing goes better with purple than green, so pair it with malachite—not just for Russian oligarchs anymore!—like one of these faux finish tables from Global Views (pictured, $284 each).

Photograph of Anna Wintour by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images.

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Anatomy of a Catalog

Nick Olsen — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:14:11 -0400

I don't know if you've stepped foot inside a Restoration Hardware store lately or flipped through the catalog, but things have changed since their days of peddling retro-inspired clocks and toasters. They now regularly team with new furniture and lighting designers, promoted with Peter Lindbergh-quality portraits and lengthy bios, and hock their wares ... most of which fall into the WHOA! category. And it seems they've taken more than a few cues from the trade-only standard bearers of style. To wit:

- The Buckle Chair (pictured, $995): For years Ralph Lauren Home has offered similar chairs (and desks and other pieces) for several times the price. I can't vouch for RH's craftsmanship—the catalog just arrived today—but the equestrian-inspired design nails the scale and stitching detail. I think both chairs nod vigorously to French designer Jacques Adnet, but I'm not certain ...

- The Camelback Slipcovered Sofa ($2,270-$2,980): I took one look and thought, "Two words, one ampersand: Lucca & Company." This camelback (I see no hump?) looks like a hodgepodge homage to the Belgian-y boutique's Lucca Sofa and their Todi, but the dumpy arms sort of compromise the design. Amy Perlin named a similar design after famed decorator Syrie Maugham, wife of W. Somerset.

- The French Upholstered Wing Chair ($1,310-$1,595): Speaking of the be-all, end-all of antiquarians (or pretty close), Amy Perlin has cornered the market on fabulously funk-da-fied seating. I'm not sayin' RH's wing chair rips off any of hers in particular, but the tatty-chic linen upholstery with evenly spaced tacks around the frame smacks of her haute-manorial aesthetic.

Final note: I know this stuff isn't cheap, but TRUST ME, the fancy alternative costs at least double—sometimes triple—the Restoration price. And the details are on point; waaaay beyond anything you'd see at Pottery Barn or even Williams-Sonoma Home. I'm impressed! (Please note my positivity and sincerity, as they may never return.)

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Breaking the Mold(ing)

Nick Olsen — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:09:48 -0400

My friend and font of recent blog post ideas recently e-mailed with this query:

Moldings: When? Where? And when not?

Good one! I guess I'm a little conservative on the topic: Stock moldings in new homes can look so ... stock. Walk through 10 subdivisions in Boca Raton and I guarantee 80 percent of the houses will have the exact same crown molding in every room. Same for anemic baseboards and wafer-thin door and window casings. Do you live in a historic home, or even just one built before World War II? Unless you're Richard Meier (who went all Corbusier in a Rosario Candela building), I say leave well enough alone. Save me a spot on the preservation board! Seriously: If you plan on moving walls or adding doorways in an older house, take pains to match the existing molding, even if it means ponying up for custom millwork. Continuity is key and it will make a COLOSSAL difference. If you're undertaking a gut renovation and are nonplussed by the old trim, rip it off and start fresh with these pointers in mind (top to bottom):

- Crown molding: NOT the superhighway to Classy Decor (pains me to write that). What's the style of your house? How tall are the ceilings? If they're around 8.5 feet or less, any molding at the cornice might make the room feel stumpy, whereas a crisp line (and perhaps no color differentiation between the two planes) could make it expand. My dear aunt lives in a perfectly proportioned Norman-style house with original plaster walls, high ceilings and NO crown. And no window casing for that matter—just substantial baseboard and door trim—it's chic! Spanish, Mediterranean, Craftsman, Moderne, Ranch: These are historic styles that probably don't require a crown (and will hence save you money). It's also fine to vary the styles within one house. Folks have written entire treatises on orders and hierarchies and such, but my SparkNotes version reads: "Fancy it up in entrance halls, living and dining rooms. Forget it in kitchens, pantries, mud rooms, and the like."

- Window and door casing: More of a necessity due to framing and drywall/plaster practices, though I did recently fake a concealed door to my bathroom by spackling all the way around the opening and painting the wall and door to match. Have to say it looks pretty dang cool, even with the bulbous brushed nickel doorknob sticking out. But for trad trimmings I think wider is better: Casings less than 4 inches wide with little or no detail look depressing. Would much rather spring for this more expensive profile.

- Baseboard: A must, unless you're a hardcore modernist/minimalist. I'd reverse the crown logic and advocate tall, complex baseboards even in small rooms with low ceilings; they're like a strong foundation. Mugatu taught me a trick: Paint the rectillinear lower portion black, especially if you have black or ebonized floors, like in this gorgeous Greek Revival townhouse he decorated. The white line between lends an unexpected dimension and furniture seems to float about the room. Of course floating isn't hard when you have 15-foot ceilings like these folks do ... talk about crowning glory!

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Such a Fan!

Nick Olsen — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:45:00 -0400

Summer has finally arrived in New York and it's a steambath. My pores are open, my windows finally closed, and my little A/C unit keeps hissing away, stretched to its BTU capacity. But like a pre-concert Madonna sometimes I just need to turn off the cool machine ... and then rely on my trusty ceiling fan.

I could probably pose this question every week in a different category, but why are most fans so ridiculously fugly? From contemporary brushed nickel spaceships with frosted glass fixtures to West Indian pastiche nightmares with wicker blades, fans are just trying too hard to make a style statement. So thank goodness for the Modern Fan Company. I own one of their Cirrus Huggers (no payola here, I coughed up the list price) and despite Mugatu's requisite jab ("Don't you think it kind of looks like a suppository?") I think it's fabulously anonymous and functional. Major power with a high clearance for my low-ish ceilings and, best of all, a dimmer for the simple dome light fixture.

If I had an additional foot overhead I'd spring for one of these Industry fans (pictured, $328). I've said it before, but copper is such a chic and underrated finish! It's billed as MFC's "first retro fan" yet there's nothing too old-fashioned about it. I might paint the blades glossy black though, a more interesting combination. A friend and client has the galvanized version in her kitchen and she painted them to match her cabinets. Yes, you can paint a ceiling fan! I think my Cirrus will end up Yves Klein blue before long.

I wish a company like, say, Hunter, would take MFC's lead in the traditonal market and refine their Low Profile series. Better colors and finishes would make such a difference on this simple design. Then I'd be a fan, for sure! (Sorry.)

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Countertop Conduct

Nick Olsen — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:50:07 -0400

Here at Mugatu International we're on a constant, uttlerly Sisyphean quest for "clean surfaces." Good luck with that in a decorating office. ... I currently have enough fabric scraps on my desk to make a Gee's Bend quilt. But homes, where the epicenter of work surfaces has to be the kitchen, are a different story. We need room to roll out cookie dough and store the coffee maker and perhaps display that artisanal olive oil. So how clean do YOU keep your counter surfaces? I'm not talking hygiene—we've all seen the Dateline episode where they send off the butcher block to the lab to reveal fourteen strains of Ebola—I mean the trappings of everyday life. I'm not all that domestic (a drawer full of takeout menus and half-empty tonic bottles are de rigeur) but I still aspire to minimize counter clutter. Yes to a chic dish and hand soap dispenser like the outrageous taxicab yellow version pictured ($119 at Conran, good grief), a regularly refreshed cleaning sponge, and a paper towel holder. And maybe a few of the appliances normal people might use daily, like a stylish toaster or the Bialetti Moka Express? No to boxes of cereal, carafes of oils, and racks of cumin. Am I being too harsh?

While we're on the topic, remember when Decorno opened Pandora's Box of Packaging? Folks got so up in arms about this dude who wanted to decant his detergent. I don't find it all that pretentious! I guess it's all about containers, and shouldn't kitchen cabinets contain all the foodstuffs and their not-so-pretty packaging? Go on, call me a decanting decorator d-bag!

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Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:50:07 -0400

Rug Roundup

Nick Olsen — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:53:22 -0400

With all the smarty sisters here on Double X, I have to remind myself that every post in the Dream House doesn't have to attempt "think piece" status. (Regardless, I'm always thinkin' about a piece, if you know what I mean. Ba-dah-bum!) So today, let's just look at some purty area rugs, shall we?

My pal Sarah over at Matters of Style (who applied my Big Red advice with great results) asked if I knew of a budget option for a simple navy and ivory diamond trellis rug she'd seen in a mag. Oh, sure, I thought. Googling ensued ... bupkes. Muddy-colored floral trellis loops and piles by the thousands, but no simple woven harlequin. I refuse to believe that anyone actually buys this tripe. (Let me. Please.) In my search I did find some encouragingly stylish options, so until the rug revolution comes, here are my picks for staying frugal and fabulous underfoot:

Williams-Sonoma Home Geometric Crewel Rug, $295-$1,350 (pictured). My priciest and favorite option: Buying one is easier than painting this exact pattern on your wood floor (though how chic would that be??). Hard to tell, but each little section is made up of tiny embroidered stitches known as crewelwork. Now there's truth in advertising.

Ikea PS Tuga, $299 for a 9'x9'. I love the wonky, homespun look of this hand-woven wool rug's design. Blue and cream is a classic color combo, and also a boutique I don't fully understand.

Pottery Barn Patchwork Jute Rug, $119-$699. PB's rug is paler in color and slightly more refined than this cheaper Pearl River version, but the coarse patchwork jute is a favorite of fancy decorators like Jeffrey Bilhuber. (His clients include Anna Wintour and David Bowie: Would YOU argue with the man?)

Speaking of my fave natural fiber, this Velay Rug from Ballard Designs ($29-$299) has a pleasing variegated stripe. Like a bag from the sadly defunct Joseph rendered in jute!

Finally, for indoor/outdoor use I still can't beat the cheeriness of KokoTrends' polyurethane woven mats. This Dash & Albert denim rug ($34-$495) is slightly more traditional but still hoseable, scrubbable, and bleachable. Feel free to make your own joke on that one.

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They Zig, I Zag

Nick Olsen — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:29:40 -0400

So I've been playing this La Roux song from Sean's 'Summer No Bummer' playlist on endless repeat. Here's the chorus:

Early nineties decor
It was a day for
We wanted to play
But we had nothing left to play for
Colourless Colour
Once in fashion
And soon to be seen

Ah, Elly Jackson, sing the Summer of My Discontent! Kidding. Sort of. Do you ever get the feeling that style cycles are speeding up too quickly and what's considered hip and new is just a painful rehash of stuff that was hideooooous to start with? For instance, this Garouste and Bonetti revival I'm seeing in all the mags. I'm trying to understand but to me it all looks like the Bette Midler movie Outrageous Fortune.

So instead of getting more de Pressed I'm just gonna get all De Stijl, the reductivist art movement and general body of work that lasted from 1917-31. That's like a milennium in today's ADD style consciousness! In a nutshell, the mostly Dutch Stijl-ers sought harmony through right angles, pure geometry, and primary colors (plus black and white). Of course this style has been revived over and over since the days of Piet Mondrian and Gerrit Rietveld but there's nothing more basic than Gerry's iconic Zig Zag chair. I want four around a Parsons breakfast table painted glossy red, yellow, blue, and black. This knockoff pictured sells for $250 each, way less than the licensed version and without those pesky Zoloft side effects (diarrhea). Too uncomfortable-looking for everyday use? Buy one as a piece of sculpture. (Modani says they're also good for storage, such as as glass vases full of apples. When I want Surrealism I'll let you know!)

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A (Cheap) Passage to India

Nick Olsen — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:18:51 -0400

I'm always curious about which of these little decorating posts (if any!?) resonate with you kind folks. ... I mean, back in the Domino days, my most commented-upon missive centered around a toilet seat. Go figure. But just in the last month, two readers e-mailed to ask about a fabric site I featured when Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited premiered and sent me into Indian-inspired overdrive. And then Mugatu needed inexpensive paisley block prints for a client's guest bedroom and sent me a-Googlin'. A Celine Dion moment ensued, and once again I'm curry-ay-zee for these patterns! (Always crazy for Mr. Anderson's visual quirkfests, even stop-motion animated films about foxes.)

The site? Friends of Tilonia, a nonprofit organization benefiting the craft section of the Barefoot College, a 35-year-old institution that addresses the basic needs of India's rural poor by promoting their artisanal skills. They offer all sorts of soft home furnishings, and their block-printed fabrics (see the turquoise delight, pictured) are truly stunning. And only $14.95 per yard! That's a SMALL fraction of what John Robshaw charges, though his selection and color palette are broader and equally gorgeous.

Where else can you go to outfit your mini-maharajah's palace? I've compiled my favorites, starting with the best and cheapest:

Vegetable Dyes Paisley Sienna, $4.98 per yard. A muddier color palette but so much detail. An entire room done up in this print would feel very Mongiardino meets Little House on the Prairie.

Hidden Treasures Lakeside, $17.95 per yard. I could see this overscale paisley on a suite of slipcovered upholstery sitting on a blue-and-white-striped dhurrie rug.

Michael Miller Mary Alua White, $4.98 per yard. I wish they still offered the blue colorway my pal Robin used on her tented loft bed fantasy, but this tan version is soft and subtle.

Treasures Paisley, $4.95 per half-yard. India after dark! Love the black background but ReproDepot says quantities are limited. Why is this the case with all the best patterns?

Hiding the Idiot Box

Nick Olsen — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:46:31 -0400

Especially if you live in a multi-thousand square foot space, chances are you're not fooling anyone with that armoire in your living room. Winter clothes? Sacks of whole grain flour? Mmmmhmm. We all know what's in there: a 36-inch Sony flat screen and all your Friday Night Lights DVDs in the drawer underneath. I'm all about hiding unsightly entertainment packaging (DVD racks and CD towers, be gone!) but just when did become so gauche to have a television front and center in one's living room? New televisions are so sleek and anonymous: A nice foil to all kinds of decorating. Here's how I'd treat the idiot box:

1. On a cabinet/credenza. And not necessarily one of those modern ones because they don't offer much contrast to the TV itself. I also find wall-mounted pivot brackets a bit ungainly when viewed from the side, so unless you need the screen at a perfect right angle to your head at every moment, why not plop the set down on a cabinet and hide the cable box and DVD player underneath (and notch out a hole in the back of the cabinet for cords)? They now make tiny new remote sensors to help in this regard. Hang paintings and other artwork on the wall behind the boob tube and it will all but disappear.

2. Surrounded by books on an etagere. I know, something like this won't fit a jumbotron, but books just make everything cozy. Cords hang easily down the back and with proper styling (tchotchkes, pottery, small paintings hung on the face or leaned just so), the TV becomes another object. If you have a built-in bookcase situation, Apartment Therapy gives tips on incorporating flat screens here (check out the color-coded organization!).

What I don't like? TVs sitting on a fireplace mantel or obscured by one of those weird 2-way mirrors. The former is too in-your-face, the latter too novel.

The Loser's Lap of Luxury

Nick Olsen — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:12:20 -0400

Everyone I talk to these days is either going through some topsy turvy, Saturn Return-influenced life change or is just happy to remain gainfully employed. We've all cut back (or at least pretended to cut back) on the luxuries: dinners out, vacations to exotic locales like Jones Beach, wash-n-fold service at the laundromat. But in the Olsen tenement decorating continues apace. Or at a snail's pace, I should say.

Since The Big Crash I've been trying to stay all Zen and eschew attachments (swing-arm lamps, flea market art), BUT I JUST CAN'T. I need stuff. I can't sleep on a tatami mat and wear the same smock every single day. And I would give my eye teeth for an ice machine (pictured) ... oh, never to handle another ice tray, what bliss! After all, I'm from the South where ice is a right and not a privilege. So what's the one household/decorating luxury you aspire to, revised for third quarter 2009? Will you splurge on _________ now that the Dow's up almost 3000 points since March?

You know what, I am gonna buy that pair of swing-arms. Mainly because they plug in and I can take them with me to the halfway house if necessary, but I also need the light. ConEdison is my new luxury brand!

Presented By:

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:12:20 -0400

Ikea: It's Not Just the Meatballs That're Hot

Nick Olsen — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:10:59 -0400

I've been reading my past few posts and I sound a little Didactotron Decorator. Just give us some cheap, stylish stuff for a hot minute, you ask? Gladly!

Yesterday I went to Ikea for work, and while sadly some of the best finds ($6 terra cotta pots and 49-cent cloth napkins with a simple red stripe) aren't on the website, there's still a ton of Swedish style to behold. I don't necessarily want to know how they charge so little, but I could definitely live with one of each of these treasures:

Husvik table lamp (pictured), $59.99. Like a silver-toned grasshopper, this lamp would lighten up an English pedestal desk or look great on a bedside table next to a swing-arm light with a pleated silk shade. Reminds me of Artemide but for a fraction of the price.

Melbu bed frame, $349. The picture doesn't tell the story here at all: This low-slung, woven (wicker?) bed looks like Tom Scheerer in the Bahamas. The cocoa brown color is pleasing in person, but I could also see it painted white or a bright color.

Ekby Bjarnum shelf brackets, $15/pair. The Swedish nephew of P.T. Barnum, Ekby ... kidding! I'm obsessed with these stainless brackets, so much so that I have four in my kitchen. They're sleek and sturdy but also sort of disappear.

Karsltad sectional sofa, $999. One of our clients bought this corner sofa for a poolhouse, and in context it might as well be from Dune. Yes, she has bleached pine paneling and ebonized floors—definitely proves Mugatu's old adage "Get your floors and walls right and everything else will fall into place." But the Karlstad's boxy-yet-refined proportions make it one of Ikea's greatest hits, if not the Greatest. I would still paint the legs black because that yellow wood is just fug.

Oh, and don't forget the meatballs and cinnamon rolls.

Cut a Rug

Nick Olsen — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0400

A kind reader recently hit on a topic I've been bouncing around in my noggin, contemporary oriental rugs:

Dear Nick,

Is it possible to DIY-distress an oriental rug? I desperately want the look of an antique frayed old rug. I bought a new Turkestan eight years ago at of those import stores where you haggle, and I love the design but it still looks brand new, except for the wine stains! Can I run over it with the car or lawnmower or something without ruining it?

Thank you for considering this question,

Amanda

Great question and here's my answer: BY ALL MEANS, YES! Truth is I'm just not always a fan of brand-new Persian carpets, whether purchased at Istanbul's Grand Bazaar or Restoration Hardware. They hardly ever have the depth or warmth of old rugs, no matter how faithful the design is to traditional examples. But before I advise Amanda to go all Double Dare on her Turkestan, let's ask one important question:

How much did you originally pay at the Haggle Emporium? If it's in the thousands, you might want to look into re-selling the rug and try buying an antique or semi-antique carpet you like more. I'm told this is a very 'soft' market right now ... I've seen 50 to 75-year-old rugs (Moroccans, Oushaks and the like) go for a couple hundred bucks at local auction houses. Check online catalogs first.

But if the Young Turk was a bargain, time to go cahrazee! Seriously, these rugs are made to withstand centuries of abuse and only look better for it. Break out that lawnmower, set of Wahl clippers, or Volvo and go to town. I certainly remember taking a razor to my Gap denim (circa 1994) in search of a Dylan McKay look, and rugs can be 'distressed' the same way. Plus it's therapeutic. Just do a little Google Image search first and pick a few threadbare carpets for inspiration ... think even and natural. Ralph Lauren's Rugby Store on University Place (brilliant branding once again) has patchwork ancient oriental carpets running wall-to-wall, and that's another viable look ... cut them apart and have a pro sew up the seams or simply duct tape from underneath. It's sturdier than you think! If faded's the desired look why not leave it out on the lawn for a good month? If the colors don't exactly jibe with your palette, shop for fabric dyes at JoAnn's or Michaels and practice spot-dyeing the pattern on a corner portion. Sounds hatefully tedious, but this is how the pros restore an antique carpet, and you can tweak your recent purchase to make it look like it came from Chatsworth and not the clearance aisle at Pottery Barn.

Trendy or Timeless?

Nick Olsen — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:36:17 -0400

Sort of like glass condos in Williamsburg or the proverbial bunny rabbit, trends in design tend to proliferate until government intervention is necessary. What starts as Richard Meier gorge ends up Toll Brothers fug, but enough with my real estate analogy; let's look at three decorating trends that refuse to die, and why.

1. Ikat. At some point in the early- to mid-2000s, every person of means in the United States took a little trip to the Silk Road and brought back at least one throw pillow. Or so Elle Decor would have us believe. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the look of this patterned weave (real ikats are made in places like Uzbekistan on looms only 16-20 inches wide), but at what point does exotic get downright ordinary? Oh right, when it lands on the shores of West Elm. Verdict: still cool and graphic (oof, there's one for Decorno's word funeral) if it's the real woven deal, but ikat-printed linens and canvases never get the pattern right and just look bouge-y.

2. Chinoiserie. I was recently quoted in the People Magazine Style Watch basically dissing Asian-inspired motifs ... and I've got more venom to spew! Yes, I still own a little white porcelain pagoda piggy bank similar to the one above that needs to painted. Yes, I still love scenic chinoiserie wallpaper even though it costs my entire salary. And Chinese Chippendale fretwork. But Nicky's peepers is just tired of seein' em all the dang time—can't we design-pillage another country? (Sorry, Morocco, you're it.) A particularly savvy anonymous commenter on my other blog once noted: "One day, we'll discover that the Chinese have a weirdly overstyled, vaguely condescending decorative arts tradition called Americanoiserie." BINGO. Verdict: still chic in moderation ... one or two Asian pieces, yes. Entire pagoda-themed rooms, no.

Lastly,

3. Chevrons, I wish I knew how to quit you! Seriously, I know I should be over the zigzag by now, but it's just so hard to mess up. Ex-Domino-er Michelle Adams started her own line of fabrics called Rubie Green, and this "East Village" chevron still looks fresh to me—what a smartly designed website, by the way. For my current painting projects I might leave out The White Stripes and alternate black with tan on a coffee table table top, or use slightly different tonal shades of the same color, like lavender, on a wood floor. Or vary the widths of the zigs and the zags. Verdict: I'm still filling up at the chevron station. (Sorry! It's Friday.)

The Furniture of Regret

Nick Olsen — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:55:10 -0400

Let's have a little primal scream/group therapy session today and talk about our biggest furniture regrets. Is there an item in your house or apartment that makes you wince every time you enter the room? But you still can't bear to put it out on the street? We've all been there, including certain decorators who should know WAY better. I'll start:

1. Years ago I bought the *perfect* wing chair at the flea market—sure it already needed re-upholstery, but what potential! I paid for delivery (extra thanks to four flights of stairs), got it in the door, and almost burst into tears. Oh, it would look perfect ... in my sister's old dollhouse. This thing was Smurf-sized. Forget big and English and robust, he wimped out even next to my diminutive French repro sofa. I snarled at it for three months then donated to a friend, important scale lesson learned.

Or so I thought.

2. Fast forward to The Great eBay Mirrored Side Table Debacle of 2009. Sure, this pair of mirrored cubes is the perfect size for my shoebox bedroom! I can tell from the single photo with a white background sans context clues, no need to measure! Plus who needs drawers at the bedside? Not me. And it'll fit in the back of my friend's Toyota Camry no sweat—I mean, it's only mirror, not heavy. IDIOT. I trekked out to the eBay warehouse in Brooklyn on the coldest day of the year to realize I'd basically purchased two shiny boulders. The rest of the story involves a man with a van but no cell phone, 150 EXTRA bucks, bloody fingers and a near death experience on my staircase. I curse them every night before I say my prayers, and would put them out on the street except I'd probably have to take a sledgehammer to the mirror first, which means 7 more years of bad luck.

WAAAAH!

Please, PLEASE tell me you can top this sob story and join me in the Hall of Decorating Shame. Sharing is caring, after all.

Chasing Lounges

Nick Olsen — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:35:28 -0400

The sun is finally shining in New York City, and I'm determined to keep my Florida tan. I can hear the derm warriors out there saying a suntan is your skin's cry for help, but trust me, no one wants to see this all pasty-like.

First, not to split hairs but I think it's actually "chaise longue" (long chair) and not "lounge." Oh, how the French must hate us for bastardizing their beautiful language! But you do lounge on it. Anyway.

Outdoor furniture can be outrageously expensive! I remember one client of ours calling to complain: "It's a little frightening when the pool furniture costs more than the pool." Touche. So for those of you lucky enough to have outdoor space (backyard? terrace? alleyway?), I've found my three favorite lounge chairs for under $350. What's your sunning style?

My current fave has to be this wood-slat single lounger from West Elm in white (pictured, $349 each). It has a sort of modern Adirondack feeling and the most adorable matching wooden wheels. Definitely needs a cushion, though.

Does wicker make you think of MeeMaw's screened porch? I hope not, because this HomeDecorators chaise has major sculptural appeal. Not adjustable, but the cheapest of the bunch at $179. I could totally see four wicker loungers lined up with simple black Sunbrella cushions and modern black metal side tables in between.

Finally, CB2's bask sun lounger in metal and plastic-coated polymesh. I'm sure they have something similarly sleek around the pool at New York's new, Oscar Niemeyer-esque Standard Hotel. (Though it seems like black mesh would get scorching hot by mid-afternoon?) Hot or not, $299 apiece.

Mahogany #8, I'm coming for ya!

Presented By:

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:35:28 -0400

Piping Hot

Nick Olsen — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:30:00 -0400

Piping, also known as "welt," is the strip of fabric-covered cord often set into the seams of upholstery, pillows, even clothing. As decorating notions go it probably lands on the traditional end of the spectrum, if only because sofas and cushions don't really need to be piped. In fact most modern pieces sport the no-welt look which I actually find quite chic in certain settings. But it's hard to resist adding an extra level of detail to solid-colored upholstery: a thin line of black or red on a beige sofa, no matter what style, can make basic quite brilliant. So why is that next to impossible to achieve on a budget?

I suppose because it's just hard to mass-produce. Calico Corners will let you pipe in any color of the rainbow, but their sofas hover around $2k BEFORE the cost of fabric, which you supply. No thanks. Beginning in September Ballard Designs will offer slipcovers with contrast cream piping, but only in 5 colors and only for their Baldwin sofa. Harumph. This chocolate brown and cream Carolyn sofa (pictured; sadly out of stock at Overstock.com) looks sort of Barbara Barry-on-the-cheap for a shocking $489.99. But I want something with more pizzazz.

Still share my pipe dream? Do you have a worn out old sofa with good bones? Why not call your local upholsterer, who can likely recover or slipcover granny's divan for less than anything at Calico or Ballard. Tell him/her you want THIN contrast welt (no wider than a quarter inch) on all seams. Solid linens or canvases shouldn't run you more than 20 bucks a yard, sometimes much less. Check out this slipcovered fantasy living room Mugatu (my boss for those just tuning in) decorated for his parents. I can guarantee none of the pieces match under their new clothes, but the white with black welt ties the entire room together.

Final notes:

1. I don't like contrast piping on patterned pieces. Just too busy; go for self-welt instead.

2. Many upholsterers create a double row of matching piping to serve as gimp, or the trim that hides nails and staples around the edges of framed pieces (I'm not making up the terms, I promise!). It's a personal preference but I think this also looks too commercial. Go for a braided gimp in a solid color for fancier furniture or just a single row of French grosgrain ribbon for simple stuff.

My Decoration of Independence

Nick Olsen — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:46:31 -0400

Is everyone getting excited for the holiday weekend? What, you don't get Friday off? How positively American! Kidding—quickie post here today because I'm currently vacationing through the 4th of July in our family homestead, a red-white-and-blue Craftsman bungalow. It's inspired me to make this palette cool again and not so Country Living. Here are my picks to help you declare your decorating independence (from corniness):

Stars: What about a chic five-point paper lantern in red? At 24 inches wide, it would make a liberating statement in a powder room. I also love these mirrored stars Ballard Designs (go for the 30-incher at $199).

Stripes: Cotton dhurries in stripes and chevrons are still as popular as apple pie from the McDonald's drive-through. I like Ballard's red and white rug because it works indoors and out and won't fade ("these colors don't run!"). $699 for an 8'x11'. Oh and there's a charm to this plaid mat from Ikea, practically free at $6.99.

Fireworks: I'm desperate to find Hinson and Company's fabulous "Fireworks" wallpaper online, but this Lulu DK for Matouk bedding (pictured) shares the same exuberance. Spendy, yes, but how can you put a price on decorating freedom?!

Classic Kitsch: Sorry, I really like these flag-embroidered napkins from Wisteria ($39 for a set of 4). So pretty on a solid blue tablecloth with a gigantic red carnation centerpiece. And what about old wooden-toofed George Washington propped on a bookcase? I cannot tell a lie: I like a plaster mini-bust.

Happy 4th, y'all!

Heavy Metal in the Home

Nick Olsen — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:20:27 -0400

A reader recently e-mailed out of concern for his bedroom: "Is it becoming a chromefest?" I assured him that this was not the case (photos revealed a mahogany dresser and some white lacquer goodness, too), but it got me wondering why metal furniture, especially the polished variety, is a particularly slippery slope when decorating. Metal finishes come in and out of vogue—the current trend for "Industrial Revolution Chic" translates to tons more oxidation and cast iron, dark and hulking table bases with giant casters, and the like. So does slick still do the trick (forgive me for that)? I think so. Let's go mining for style:

Nickel: Noted for its "warmer" feel compared to chrome, all the rage for bath fittings and Restoration Hardware-style etageres. Maybe that's why I associate this finish with the loo. I love a cool nickel desk lamp, but for a coffee or side table, polished nickel just seems a little bouge-y? Perhaps too self-consciously luxe.

Chrome: Nickel's trashy cousin. Brings to mind '50s diners with Cadillac grilles over the door. Quite naturally I'm trying to bring this one back! Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier designed all sorts of tubular chrome-framed seating in the first half of the last century, revived in the '70s when Pierre Cardin was making some knockout, Art Deco-inpsired pieces. I could even see these Knoll conference chairs around a sturdy wooden dining table. Chrome has a brightness and clarity that feels very Obama-era.

Brass: Are you picturing condos in Boca Raton with silk flower arrangements? Not so fast! I knew this material was staging a comeback when the Ralph Lauren showroom in the D&D Building (that's "Design and Decoration," not "Dungeons and Dragons") introduced this metal-framed bed in brassy, sassy splendor. "I think it's a little much," said our sweet salesperson. I loved it completely and unironically. Mr. California Michael Taylor was big on brass in the Me Decade, as is Kelly Wearstler right now. Paul Evans' Cityscape collection for Directional has also struck a major chord of late ... maybe the mixing of brass with other metals makes it fresh. A suite of brass-and-glass living room furniture? Not so fresh. But to me a dose of "Boogie Nights" here and there is sexy, not skeevy.

Aluminum: Not all that common except for in these fabulous Emeco chairs (pictured). When polished, aluminum has a kind of Howard Hughes glamour while the satin finish projects military-industrial-complex sobriety. No wonder I prefer the former ... Philippe Starck's also a fan.

Copper: I wish Tom Dixon would come out with a line of furniture to complement his penny-shiny light fixtures. A Parsons table in copper polycarbonate? Amazing. Polished copper next to pale green (the color it turns after oxidizing) is one of my fave color combinations. Has anyone seen copper on modern, non-Mission style pieces?

(FYI I'm leaving out gold because unless you're the Sultan of Brunei, it's gonna be fake, and that doesn't fly with me. Silver merits its own post.)

Am I forgetting any?