Everyone knows who I'm talking about. If you don't, it's time to step out from under the rock you've been living and start to see the light. Kelly Wearstler is an interior designer turned designer, with her own ready-to-wear collection. She's collaborated with The Rug Company and Bergdorf Goodman and Lee Jofa and is soon to launch a signature line of wallpaper and trims with the brand. She has published four books based on her talents and inspirations: Modern Glamour: The Art of Unexpected Style, Domicilium Decoratus, and Rhapsody. She has been very busy. So now that we're all intimidated and full of self hatred, let's begin.
Reason One: She Knows How To Mix
Kelly has an unmistakable style with every space having a sense of adventure. She mixes furniture pieces from different periods, with different stones and woods. Kelly layers pattern over pattern like a master.
There's the floor, the console and then the walls. It all 100 percent works. Genius.
How does she layer three completely different patterns and textures and make them each shine without outshining each other? Maybe if I knew I would be able to land myself a job, just a thought.
We get it Kelly, you're so beautiful and so talented. Let's keep moving.
Reason Two: She Has Conquered It All
Kelly has worked with the Rug Company to design her own line of 8 rugs which are all more gorgeous than the next.
Her line of fabrics with Lee Jofa; UH-MAZING.
Her boutique in Bergdorf Goodman.
Reason Three: She's Designed The Best Hotels
The Avalon in Beverly Hills and the Viceroy Hotels and Resorts set the bar for hip, glamorous and modern hotels. Kelly mixes roman heads with shag rugs with vintage Italian style pieces.
The Avalon in Beverly Hills. I would be the person leaving with a chair literally falling out of my hand luggage. "What, this? That's my turquoise leather chair. You didn't see me come in with it? I'm pretty sure I came in with this chair."
A room in the Viceroy Hotel, Miami.
Imagine checking in next to that half head. My husband would not be able to take his hands off that thing and as a result would be asked to leave. That wouldn't be surprising after I tried sneaking out with a chair in my bag. Obviously my husband and I are very classy people.
Reason Four: She Has an Incredible Collection
If her interiors make you want to come back to earth again as Kelly Wearstler herself, then her collection will only do you more harm.
Her collection does such a great job bringing her aesthetic from interiors to the ready-to-wear. Even her manikins have attitude, almost as much as I do before my first coffee.
Reason Five: She Creates Amazing Residences
Obviously anyone would live in any one of the homes Kelly has designed. They are so outrageously over the top without actually being too much; an ability Kelly has mastered. I would even be happy to live outside on the corner of these homes, anyone with me on that?
This is a home she did in Malibu. I love how the space feels appropriate for being on the coast and not being "coastal."
Could this foyer be any better?
This is a home in Bel-Air.
After writing this post am I hoping Kelly (people who work for Kelly) reads this post and falls in love with me and so begins our journey together, don't judge me.
All of the pictures can be found on Kelly's blog: myvibemylife.com
It's the first week of December, time to start purchasing or start thinking about purchasing gifts for all the people in your life. It really does pay off to have little or no people in you life this time of year. It's always hard to find the perfect something for a friend, husband, nieces and nephews, and because I have some time on my hands (an abundance of it) I decided to help you out with my own personalized gift guide.
For The Hard To Please
This mug is kind of perfect for the person who thinks nothing and no one is good enough. Find it over here.
There's no one these shoes can't please. When I look at this pair of gorgeous shoes I start playing the song "Ow I feel good...." in my head. Buy them here.
This leather arm chair is so insanely gorgeous. Perfect for anyone, any room any house. Buy it here.
For The Easily Excited
For someone who is easily excited about life in general, they will be exploding with joy to receive a gift every few hours of the day. They'll get excited every single time. Before you try it, realize this will be an exhausting day for you.
For The Cool Kids
Most cool people have a complicated Nikon or Canon camera. This hot cup is even a good gift for someone who is thinking of buying one of these cameras. Although someone satisfied with this hot cup over an actual Nikon camera isn't cool anymore. Click here to buy one.
Love this brass pen or pencil holder. It will immediately chic up any office desk. Over here.
Is there anything cooler than a rose gold plated retro bike? Not really. Over here.
For The Nostalgic
These lined notebooks are a good way to keep the past alive. Purchase them here.
I would love this as a gift. I miss sitting down and talking on an actual phone and having an actual conversation. The truth is I never did that and I'm quite a fan of "don't ruin this text marathon we're doing right now by calling me." Click here.
For The Person You Don't Like
So this is a fox hat made of felt and comes with a stand. Ummm, I personally don't know and have never met someone who likes to wear a felt fox hat or would they want to display such a purchase. Maybe I'm just hanging out with the wrong people. So if you don't like someone but need to buy them something for the holiday season maybe this item, which purpose is still a mystery to me, is a good choice. Dare to buy it here.
Gift card to the dollar store. Make sure not to be around when they open this gift; it wont be pretty.
I'm assuming you wouldn't want the person you like to drink espresso out of these coffee pots. I guess it's cute for someone who likes holding a tiny coffee pot attached to a branch first thing in the morning. If I was handed that to make my coffee, I would take it and use it to bang the person who handed it to me on the head. Find this gem here.
For The Husbands
This is a really practical gift for the husband. After this there wont be any excuse for balls of shirts in the corner of the room. You can find it here.
This is perfect to give to any husband. It's direct instructions for them to follow. I don't think they know how to communicate any other way. They're over here.
For The Moms
This is a perfect way for a mom to send her kids off to school in the morning. Perfect for the moms not so perfect for the kids. You can find them here.
"Overworked/ Underpaid" Every mother should drink out of this mug in the morning. Find it here.
I love this Rebecca Minkoff diaper bag. It's large and roomy, but it's cool enough to be used as a regular bag. It's over here.
For The Kids
These are really cute for kids, they can draw or write away while you're preparing supper. Even though the kids will probably be too busy calling your name ninety times to notice the place mat. Buy them here.
You wouldn't be able to stay mad at your kid for long when they're wearing this sweater....uhh, maybe that's debatable. You can find it here at Zara.
For the Bohemians
A gorgeous organic jewelry holder. I love this, find it here.
This clutch is perfect for a free spirited woman. The gems and colors with the fringe make it so pretty. Buy it over here.
I love this bangle, it's such a statement. It's also a good color combination, I think this is the bangle Cleopatra would of worn had she been around in the sixties. It's over here.
I just want to personally apologize to all the boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, wives and parents out there. I just made a blog post dedicated to how and where the people in your life should spend money. Happy Holidays and good luck with that.
When designing a room the first thing to consider is the color scheme. The colors are the starting point of a room and help create the feeling and message of a space. Limit your color choices to 8, otherwise it wont really be a color scheme, just a bunch of different colors. Start off by choosing the neutrals and work your way into color. When I look for inspiration I turn to the past. I look for new ways to interpret what has inspired me. In this case, I'm turning way back to Disney classics like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and Tarzan. FYI I think Rosie O'donells best role was playing the baby gorilla in Tarzan. So for those of you who feel uninspired, let's start with my all time favorite:
The Little Mermaid
At first glance this is Ariel talking about how she's falling in love with a man she saw through a hole in a boat, a true depiction of reality. But at a closer look, this is a really soft & feminine color palette. You start with the blues and lilacs which are soft cool tones and add the warmer textures. This is how I would translate the picture above into a color palette:
So I've used five colors, the lilac pink, maroon red, lavender blue, a baby blue and aqua green. These colors set the tone for this soft, feminine and sophisticated palette. The chandelier, the plant, the paintings incorporate the colors and bring them together. It feels organic and delicate, and I like how the red and green feel against the soft cool colors. This would be really pretty for a dinette in a kitchen with natural light. So if anyone ever comes over to you and asks for a color palette inspired by the little mermaid, have confidence in knowing you can make it happen :)
Looking back Ursula got a lot of slack because she was the "sea witch" and wanted to trick Ariel into being her slave for life, yadda yadda yadda... From her perspective Ariel was a 16 year old princess who spent her time talking to a Jamaican crab and combing her hair with a fork. Doesn't sound like someone I would spend my time with.
Ursula had her own den, she had powers and she was rocking the flipped mohawk way before Pink or Miley Cyrus.
This color palette is dark, deep and sensual. Here's my interpretation:
I chose purples and black with some grey. This is mysterious and dark like Ursula.The plants remind me of Ursula's eel side kicks so I added them, they also look really good. This color palette would be suited well for a dining room where there's intimate dinners and some drinking. It would also be a good match for a master bedroom.
Aladdin
Jasmine with her pet tiger Raja and her father, the sultan; such a cute little man. But ultimately jasmine wanted a man unlike her father- homeless barely dressed and best friends with a monkey.
This would be a place for the modern day jasmine. The palette has a lot of blues with white and gold. This feels elegant and young. Instead of going all out with the expected, I used some restraint. I like the softness from the colors and textures mixed with the toughness of the gold and tiger. (I couldn't leave the tiger out.) This palette would be good for a home office or a teenager's bedroom because it would transition well into adult hood.
Beauty and the Beast
So I'm sure this has happened to many of us. We go on a horse ride, end up trapped in a castle with a beast and fall in love with him over a snow fight. I can't tell you how many people I know with stories like that. The thing to do after falling in love is attend a ball in a castle and invite no one else- obviously.
Beauty and the beast is romantic, dark and traditional.
This feels regal and rich, by adding the Rothko there's a darkness that reminds me of the castle. The colors are blue, deep red and gold. I love the mix of pieces, the chairs are very ornate and detailed while the Saarinen table is pure and simple. The candlesticks give a nod to the past and the chandelier is more present. This is a good palette for a more grand dining area, one that's used once a year for Thanksgiving.
The Lion King
How good was this movie? It was so touching and funny and entertaining, I fell in love with Simba. I don't know how that would work but I did have a crush on a cartoon lion cub for a while.
I used a soft natural color palette. This feels tribal and earthy but it's not in your face, it's more of a feeling. The peacock mirror is glamorous and still feels undone because of the mat finish. I love this palette because it's so versatile. You can use this in a nursery or a den; it would work perfectly in both.
Tarzan
Ah yes, the swinging, undressed man. This palette is light and natural. It feels exotic and exciting. There's a man getting around using a rope miles high in the air, of course it feels exciting.
This palette uses mostly natural colors, the tan leather chair, banana leaf wallpaper, wood side table. This would be so cool for a library. Do people still have libraries? So if you don't have a library (I don't even have a shelf dedicated to books) you can use this palette in a living room. It would definitely work well.
If you weren't inspired when you started reading the post, I hope you're inspired now. Good weekend to all.
