"Decorating Is Fun!"

After my Hollywood Regency post, I couldn't resist ordering this fun little book by one of the era's most influential designers, Dorothy Draper.  A delightfully lighthearted read, it is the product of Ms. Draper's belief that everyone can be a successful designer by implementing her principles.   

Originally published in 1939, it features a forward written by Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr who reveres the designer for empowering the average woman to gain the confidence to move beyond a "good neutral tan" and "the drab and mediocre." 


And while much of her advice is timeless, such as her seven design "building blocks," the book is still very reflective of the time in which it was written.  Sure to make you smile is her list of new bride essentials, which includes such items as "three handsome ornaments for the mantelpiece," "four candy or nut dishes," and "doilies and lunch mats."  


I ordered my copy at Pointed Leaf Press, and you can imagine my delight when it arrived wrapped with paper, ribbon and even a handwritten note!

Luxurious Laundry.

Clearly procrastinating the fluffing and folding that awaits me in my own uninspiring laundry room, I look for some spaces that might actually make me look forward to one of my least favorite tasks. 


Nothing not to love in this blue-hued laundry:  

Photo Courtesy of Donna Griffith Photography for House & Home via Decor Pad 

Sporting a crystal chandelier and golden wallpaper,  this laundry defines luxe:

Photo Courtesy of Decor Pad

Cute, but hopefully there really isn't laundry that needs to be dried in the upper cabinet:

Photo Courtesy of Decor Pad

A sincerely sweet, French-inspired retreat:

Photo Courtesy of Decorology via Decor Pad

And here, retro style meets modern living.  Loving the floral skirted sink...

Photo Courtesy of House & Home via Decor Pad

A Break Through.

I am officially praying to the weather gods, that the sunshine we have been experiencing in Northern Virginia for the past couple of days, holds out for at least the next oh, three to four weeks.  Today, the first of the exterior walls came down, and several more have been slated for demolition tomorrow. Safe to say, with a building permit in hand, we are moving forward with gusto.


A few short weeks ago, the view from the back was this:

And here it is today:

323...to be continued...

Hollywood Style.

No, this isn't a red carpet fashion review or a post about the latest outfit Suri stepped out in.  That said, a quick detour to call out the high-heeled kicks she was spotted wearing recently in Vancouver probably wouldn't hurt anything:

Photo Courtesy of a11news

Clearly, Hollywood glamour transcends the ages, even when it comes to a four-year old's footwear. And while I love a good shoe/celebrity gossip discussion, my true inspiration for this post is the decidedly glamorous decorating style known as Hollywood Regency.

Hollywood style can be trendy and fleeting, but Hollywood Regency has proven its longevity.  Steadily evolving since its debut in cinema's golden years of the 1920s and 30s, it is still revered by today's top designers including Jonathan Adler and Kelly Wearstler.  

Jonathan Adler; Photo Courtesy of House Beautiful

Kelly Wearstler; Photo Courtesy of Canadian House and Home

A luxe decor that evokes images of "old" Hollywood, the Hollywood Regency style is often credited to such design icons as Dorothy Draper and William Haines, among others.  For decades, it has been a well-know favorite among many celebrities, including Joan Crawford, Carole Lombard  and former First Lady, Nancy Reagan.

Joan Crawford (above) and Carole Lombard (below) at home
William Haines Design; Photos Courtesy of Cinema Style

Though diverse, Hollywood Regency is clearly defined by a specific set of elements.  Here are a few of the finishes that are characteristic of this eclectic, yet carefully edited style:


Lacquered Furniture
High-gloss pieces add to the glitz of Hollywood Regency, and these shining sensations are a perfect example.  Scheduled to debut this summer, Lily Pulitzer and HFI Brands have collaborated to create a new home collection which will feature their signature fabrics and lots of colorful lacquers.  

Photos Courtesy of HFI Brands/Facebook

Lucite
Clear, but hardly transparent, Lucite is a stark contrast to its showy lacquer counterparts, but in Hollywood Regency design, they get along beautifully. 

Kartell Louis Ghost Chair at Unica Home 

Photo Courtesy of Inspired Decorating

Faux Bamboo
Accents of faux bamboo are often incorporated into the furniture finishes and accessories.   These bamboo-backed Chippendale Chairs by Jonathan Adler, available at Horchow, are the perfect addition to a Hollywood Regency dining room.

Photo Courtesy of House Beautiful

As would this bamboo-embellished dresser from Williams Sonoma Home be as a sideboard or in a HR boudoir:

Hamstead Dresser by Williams Sonoma Home

Tufted Upholstery

Button-backed couches, tufted ottomans, and upholstered headboards are quintessential components of  Hollywood Regency.  The appropriately named Bel Air, an iconic sofa created by William Haines in the 50s, is still in production today.

Photo Courtesy of Edition20

A similar, but more budget-friendly option, is this Ecru Sofa by Old Hickory Tannery: 

Interested in bringing some Hollywood glam to the bedroom?  Serena & Lily has your headboard covered...in a wide assortment of customizable fabrics, that is.  I adore the way the geometric pattern of this fabric contrasts with the soft sweeping curves of their Pondicherry Bed:

Photo Courtesy of Layla Grayce

Reflective Surfaces
Gold, silver and mirrored surfaces take the glitz factor to a new level and lavish lighting sets the mood.  

Photo Courtesy of Decor Pad

Home Decorators Collection has a wide offering of reasonably priced, HR inspired pieces that are sure to brighten any space:  

Reflections Mirrored Three-Piece Cabinet Set

Borghese Mirrored Hall Chest

Antoinette 5-Light Chandelier

Whistler Pendant Light

Bauble Table Lamps

Worldly Influences
Moroccan and Asian-inspired Chinoiserie decor give Hollywood Regency its signature well-traveled, evolved-over-time aesthetic.

Mary McDonald Interiors

Photo Courtesy of LA Times

And in the end, all of these seemingly unrelated objects come together to form a thoughtful (and often thought-provoking) space that despite being quite contrived, seems rather effortless...a feat only Hollywood could dream up. 

Plumb Enthused.

And with this picture of the view from my computer, I dedicate the week to 323's pipes.  I forgo my preference for tidy stacks of paper held together by color-coded fasteners and coordinating sticky notes, in favor of a mess that seems like a far better depiction of my fixture frenzy. 

With LEED established water usage thresholds to guide me, I anticipated having limited options when it came to outfitting 323's loos.  I was [pleasantly] surprised, however, to find myself overwhelmed by the exact opposite.  Over the course of the past few weeks, an aggressive fact finding mission (including a pilgrimage to Kohler, Wisconsin)  put me in contact with several of the major plumbing manufacturers.  As it turns out, almost all have a plentiful selection of water conscious options that are designed for even the most discerning of tastes. 

Winner of three straight EPA Water Sense awards, Kohler maintains the motto of "saving without sacrificing."  And despite my home-state bias, they prevail in combining water conservation with innovative design.  From dual flush toilets, to the low flow aerators available on almost all of their faucets, they offer several ways to save water and money without compromising aesthetics.  Their website also offers water calculators, helpful water saving tips, and even a tool to find rebates that are available in your area. 

All of the toilets at 323 were selected from Kohler's high efficiency line.  Hopefully, I will have gotten this song out of my head by the time they are installed...

Click here to watch video: Flush and Done

Showerheads and handshowers present another opportunity for saving, and we have opted to install Kohler's Forte 1.75 gpm Showerhead in our showers.  The faucets, with the exception of those located in the kitchen, will all be equipped with aerators that will reduce their flow to 1.5 gpm (gallons per minute.)  

Kohler is not alone, however. Several of the other manufacturers I was in touch with had, at the very least, low flow aerators included or available for purchase with their faucets.  Of them included, Moen, Rohl, Grohe, Delta, and Mirabelle .  This automatic model by Toto, not only reduces water use to 1.0 gpm, but uses water to generate the power (most sensor faucets I found use batteries.)  I also like its Jetson-esque appeal: 

Gooseneck EcoPower Faucet by Toto

Now if only I could find a Rosie.

.

Sound of Silence.

It's crickets around here.  All "non-structural" demo has been completed, and we are sitting steady until the final building permits are approved.  As I walk 323's hollow interior, I think of how my mother started every project with the proclamation, "things have to get worse before they get better."  And then, she'd simply dig in.  We certainly have dug in this past month, and I'm definitely looking forward to the "getting better."  So, with forward thinking in mind, I recover the piece of printer paper I scratched my "vision" on shortly after I toured 323 for the first time.  Don't worry...we hired a professional to take it from here.

Reduce, Reuse, Redecorate.

I love the idea of creating something new from something old, especially when it comes to home decor.  Whether as simple as giving a piece of furniture a fresh coat of paint, or an entirely new purpose, the results are always rewarding and decidedly one-of-a-kind.  Still thinking about yesterday's trip to a vintage furniture store (and a bright orange set of lockers I think would make totally hip playroom storage,) I turn to my favorite homemade haunt, Etsy, for more "upcycled" decor inspiration.


This funky wall shelf was created from an old coffee table, and then doused in a shade of sweet pea pink:

Display Shelf by SavvyShopper1

Repurposed seems like a  bit of an understatement when it comes to this tub turned couch.  I would call this cool seat a reinvention:

Cast Iron Bathtub Couch by ruffhouseart

Charming is the only way to describe this tree swing created from a castaway dining room chair:

Dining Room Chair Tree Swing by MyAppleTreeAndMe

This show-stopping chandelier is made from hundreds of Italian mineral water bottles collected from a restaurant outside of (sigh) Rome: 

Ice Clear Ecological Chandelier by Metamorphosi

Retired suit jackets adorn these adorable alphabet pillows:

Alphabet Pillow by HilaryCosgrove

And, soda bottles are given new life as delightful drinking glasses:

Soda Bottle Glasses by YAVAglass

My takeaway?   I am motivated to continue to find ways to rethink home decor.  Whether reclaimed, repurposed, or reused, there are so many ways to think outside the recycle box.  

Shiny, Happy, Refrigerator.

Early on, I resolved to spare you the details of appliance selection.  I even managed to maintain my stand after a blog-worthy trip to an appliance warehouse where Chris, our well intentioned, early twenty-something sales associate, attempted to sway my oven choice based on its ability to a) produce absolutely perfect Bagel Bites and b) do a "super great" job reheating his Mother's Day lunch leftovers from Carrabba's Italian Grill.  Oh, and in case you were wondering, he highly recommends their Filet Fiorentina.

The main reason for my omission, however, is I simply find appliances uninteresting.  Too much function and not enough form.  But then, a chance encounter with a refrigerator of a different kind changes my tune.  In fact, the thought of storing my cold cuts in one of these beauties makes me feel downright joyous.

Big Chill, offers an entire line of refrigerators in a host of happy colors from Beach Blue to Pink Lemonade.  And despite their retro appearance, they are Energy Star rated and designed for modern living.  Umm...hi, Barbie Dream House??  Your refrigerator called, and it is a pleasure to finally make its acquaintance:

20.9 cu. ft. Original Refrigerator by Big Chill in Pink Lemonade

In addition to refrigerators, they also offer equally stylish stoves and dishwashers.  Here are a few photos from their online Kitchen Gallery:

Big Chill is hot in Hollywood too.  Basic White for Drew Barrymore...

and Buttercup Yellow for Scarlett Johansson.

I'm afraid no matter how deep my fridge love, this colorful concept just isn't going to fly with the Mr. Unless I can find a spot to sneak in one of their under counter models, I am going to have to wait for my girls-only fantasy club house.   In the meantime, perhaps my fifties fix could be remedied with one of these...