I came across the work of illustrator, Janet Hill today, and it’s hard to not resist her charm, whimsy, sense of nostalgia, and play. I think her Christmas cards are delightful, and gifts unto themselves. Her art prints remind me of scenes from old, romantic movies; The Great Gatsby, Gone with the Wind and Mary Poppins. Have a look –– I think you’ll be quite smitten.
Coral table, Miro and Matisse, and a vase that looks like a pineapple. I love all the mismatched pottery on the 1950s sideboard, and that green picture wall is so rich and playful. Whitewashed floors always brighten a room, the more weathered the better.
Fashion designer turned artist, Rogan Gregory makes furniture and lighting that is as sculptural as it is functional. Wood, bronze, concrete, marble, beach sand, alabaster, granite and semi-precious stones are among the materials he explores. His pendents –– womb like –– are breathtaking. And this one, made from gypsum, looks like another planet. I was taken by this film of REM’s Michael Stipe in conversation with Gregory. “The result isn’t the answer, it’s the process.” Much of his work takes place in and around his home in Amagansett, New York. It’s pretty beautiful to watch him handling rocks down at the beach. “The shapes are dictated by what the material is telling me to do,” says Rogan of the meditative state he achieves while making. Stripe ends with a thought about the 21st Century, and the vastness of material that we have at our disposal. “There’s so much to learn, and so much to know. You have to be very careful about what you want to look at and what you want to listen to. Because we all have finite time here.”
If you have a moment today, walk through Rose Uniacke’s exquisite home. “In the work that I do, I try to create a heart in every room,” says the interior designer. Soaring ceilings, enormous windows and a beautiful domed ceiling give the space a majesty –– “Venetian palazzo meets monastery” is how she describes it. “It’s a very happy house.” The director’s choice of music is quite moving, and renders the whole experience dream like.
This is such a bohemian scene; the mattress on the floor, terracotta tiles, the chinoiserie screen, paisley fabric. It’s rooms like these, a touch makeshift, but warm and romantic, that I adore.
I’m just a little bit in love with this sofa –– the colour, the fabric, the dainty wheels! It’s not a sink-in-and-watch-tele kind of sofa, but it is lovely. I see it in a library of books, retro coffee table, Vermouth cocktails at the ready.
Sometimes, it’s the simplest arrangements that are the loveliest. These olive branches, submerged in a full bodied vase of water, is kind of perfect. I bet they last for yonks, and what more does one need?
Jean Royère is known for his polar bear sofa, soft and round, and boldly coloured. He designed the piece, nicknamed ours polaire, in 1947 while redecorating his mother’s Paris apartment. over half a century later, Ellen DeGeneres has one, and so Kanye West. It looks like the comfiest thing in the world, although my heart is firmly with this ridiculously playful pair of chairs. Maybe not as easy on the derrière, but what a dream to tête-à-tête in.
I love the cabinet in Mimi Thorisson’s kitchen. Nutmeg, all spice, starch, senna, cigars. It’s these charming, warm pieces that give a kitchen its personality. The pots, cake tin, dusty books, and vintage photo are all so lovely. I think all this works as well in an old French, farm kitchen as it would a sleek, modern space.
Tiled floors, weathered walls, tassels, flowers and a chandelier. It’s these warm and eclectic rooms that make a home. They’re decorated over time, with thought and love. They tell a story, better yet, many stories. Yes. these are the rooms that homes are made of.
All rights reserved © La Parachute · Theme by Blogmilk + Coded by Brandi Bernoskie