There is a boom with the number of online design publications that are available for readers. Some of my favorites are Lonny, High Gloss, Matchbook, and Rue. Recently, I was perusing an issue of Rue magazine, a San Francisco-based publication, and an article, on page 79, caught my eye. It features a home owned by the founders of the fashion label, Farmers Market. Farmers Market is known for celebrating the purity of raw materials and utilizing neutral colors echoing the shades of Iceland in winter. Their home embodies the same pure and unprocessed philosophy while also emphasizing family history by framing stories through hearth and home.
In the photos shown with the article, you really notice their love of raw textures like sheepskin, real antlers, seashells, and sisal. I love the jars filled with foodstuffs and the upholstery finished in linen, cotten, and silk. The unembellished beauty of the materials speaks for itself and provides a striking backdrop for family souvenirs. Even though their home is on the other side of the world from Doux Nid in Houston, the philosophy of celebrating raw textures and framing stories through home has a universal quality.
When accessorizing, I like the idea of mixing clean lines with elaborate pieces. It takes some experimenting, but it is definitely worth the effort. Take a look at a stainless-steel cocktail mixed with a Kilim rug, leather ottomans, and a very traditional sofa covered in chintz.
To add to the eclectic feel of the room, I wanted to keep mixing it up with accessories on the cocktail table. For height, I used a Baccarat piece made of crystal and an exotic stand covered in stamped aluminum. I then added a bird’s nest filled with delicate eggs centered on a celadon bowl for texture. To add some whimsy, I layered a peacock made of horn, a vintage purse all hand-beaded, and a Chinese figurine made of porcelain on the exotic stand. The eclectic mix really works, because it is all tied together through color.
Initially, I placed the tall Baccarat piece in the center of the cocktail with the stamped-aluminum stand on the left and the celadon piece with the bird’s nest on the right. I noticed that the composition was unbalanced for some reason. With a simple tweak, I corrected the imbalance by moving the Baccarat piece from the center and creating a high point with it on the left side of the cocktail. Using the other accessories, I filled in with different heights like stairsteps coming off the crystal. Very assymetrical. Sometimes, all it takes is a little tweaking. Experiment to find your best style.
In the July/August issue of Lonny Magazine, designer, Adam Strauss, explains how he created ambiance in his Los Angeles apartment. He likes to unify interiors through color, mix modern and mid-century pieces with traditional pieces, and accessorize in out-of-the-box ways. His helpful advice dovetails nicely with the Doux-Nid philosophy.
Unifying Through Color
Color is the easiest way to create mood in a room. Dark colors like the deep browns, charcoals, blues and black are backdrop colors that are neutral but dramatic. Think about blending your fabric tones, wood, and metal finishes too for a really unified look. One of my favorite fabrics to use to set the mood is mohair, fabric made from one of the oldest textile fibers. It is luxurious and durable. When it wears, it gives you the shabby chic of an English-country house.
Mixing Modern and Mid-Century Pieces with Traditional Pieces
Doux Nid loves to use juxtaposition. Mixing high-end with low-end, formal with informal, or rustic with sleek. It is all about keeping balance between elaborate pieces and those that have simple lines and tying the whole look together with color.
Accessorizing in Out-of-the-Box Ways
Once you know the design elements and principles, you can start breaking the rules. I love how Adam Strauss propped paintings on sofas and headboards instead of hanging them on walls. He also mounted a series of small charcoal drawings on antique mirrors. Very out-of-the-box. The charcoal drawings have more presence, and the mirrors bring light and sparkle to rich-colored walls.
