Ok, ok. From all the emails - it's clear that we're all about glamor right now. Isn't that curious? We love a great escape, and today's post should be a mini-retreat just before this spring weekend.
Bold patterns, dramatic color, exotic accessories, hand painted wallpapers, reflective surfaces, oh- and luxurious lighting- are all key elements of the consummately glamorous expanse.
AND, it should be noted, the possible making of a design disaster.
See that's the thing about glamor and probably why the designers that are most celebrated are the designers who've been able to get the glamorous "look" right. Glamor definitely rides that fine line between genius and catastrophe.
And though glamor got it's start as the stage for all things opulent, the evolution of this look no longer relies on a dollars vs. cents criteria. It can certainly be argued that the bigger the budget the easier it is to pull off this trickster of design styles. But these days- there is a new wave of design genius that is turning flea market finds and a good coat of paint into - viola - glamor for days. I'm very partial to both looks - some are indistinguishable.
But for this post- I'm mostly going to throw caution to the wind and have a fantastical journey through glamor as though money were no object. Let's use our rich uncle's credit card (oh if I only had one!) and go for the best. So the following images feature mostly the "real deal" - the Chanel's of the design world. I figure if you have at least one fabulous piece to guide you the rest will follow. And besides this IS my fantasy shopping spree!!!
Bold Patterns-
Glamor spaces love bold patterns and black and white patterns can draw any space out of the doldrums.
Dramatic Color-
Easily found in an accessory or perfect can of paint.
Exotic Accessories-
I've never been one for a ton of accessorizing, though have been known to be partial to a good set of antlers!
Hand painted wallpapers-
How convenient that our friends at Gracie Studio are just about to open their new NYC showroom at the D&D building this coming Monday, just in time for this post! I can't wait to check it out. For those of you who don't know about Gracie Studio- here's a wonderful interview with Mike Gracie from Patriciagrayinc.com. There will be a day when I have my very own Gracie wall or walls, but until then- here are some exemplary images of some of those more fortunate than I.
Reflective Surfaces-
If it's simply a convex mirror accent or shiny white marble floors- reflective surfaces are sometimes about sparkle and other times about "glow'. I've decided to focus on my newest favorite surface - Mercury Glass. And here, it should be pointed out, is exactly where you need the real deal to save from looking like a less fortunate 60's living room.
Luxe Lighting
Wow- if you're not ready to get your glam on after all those images- glamor's probably not your thing. However, since researching all the super-amazing images for this super-glamorous post I'm HOOKED! Planning to get some of my own glamor happening in my own shabby shack. Curious to hear if I've managed to inspire any of you -
(and for more great glamor shots- check out www.cocokelley.blogspot.com!)