Christmas gift

Have to admit, I agree Cindi. It's overbearing or just dark. I'd much rather live in Lornas version of the room. But I understand that the style of the house does have to factor into the decor. The photo actually reminds me of rooms I've seen in photo shoots of other wealthy and famous peoples' homes. They all seem to use the same designers! it all looks the same. No personality!

OofOof wrote:Have to admit, I agree Cindi. It's overbearing or just dark. I'd much rather live in Lornas version of the room. But I understand that the style of the house does have to factor into the decor. The photo actually reminds me of rooms I've seen in photo shoots of other wealthy and famous peoples' homes. They all seem to use the same designers! it all looks the same. No personality!

If they're all using the same designer then they should re-think that decision.

I understand that there are tradional ways to design a room for a home of that age. I get that. But there are ways to freshen up the design so that it looks chic and inviting - not dark, drab and OLD.

I look at a room like that bedroom and the I think "must smell musty and old." Which is the last thing you would want someone to think about somewhere you live.

I'm not saying you have to go all modern, sleek and plastic either in the re-design, but certainly much classier and refined without looking like something decorated by someone's grandmother.

I really don't like overly ornate design. Just because you have money doesn't mean you have to regurgitate it into a room by stuffing it with STUFF.

And just because you have money doesn't mean you have any taste either. That's evidenced by all the sheik palaces with their god-awful golden toilets, sinks, etc. Makes me want to vomit when I see stuff like that.

And as much as we rag about Rande with and "e" I like what he did with the redesign of George's kitchen. That kitchen (from when he did that interview for Person to Person - I believe was the name of the show) made you feel comfortable without being overly decorated. The muted tones were soothing and personally, I'd learn to cook just so I could use a kitchen like that!

There are people who can design and make it better - and there are people who should just leave it to others but have some common sense and if your gut tells you it doesn't look or feel right then go with your gut.

Have a feeling you and I probably have the same design sensibility Lorna. I tend to like open rooms free of lots of stuff. My bedroom is a lot like the way you described you would fix that bedroom photo. It's peaceful and I love being in it. Sadly, most of the really wealthy people I know or have worked for have had no taste. They tend to use a lot of gold and gaudy furnishings and fill their rooms with things that cost a lot of money but are butt ugly!

I'll never forget helping a friend of mine years ago in her new gallery. She concentrated on regional artists--it was in the Pacific NW so she had artists from California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, etc. There were some wonderful well known artists as well as many many great new artists. I worked for a non profit at the time and knew several of the city's wealthiest citizens. One of them came to an opening one night. She was re-doing "one of her living rooms." She looked at everything and left empty handed. Several months later I ran into her and she had ended up buying something from a gallery in town that focused on artists from NY, Chicago and Boston. The piece she ended up spending tens of thousands of dollars on was not even an original but it was by someone "famous."

I'm not a fan of Rande's (I find him vacuous and frankly, a famewhore) but I will agree with you that the kitchen in George's house is beautiful.

LOOOL !

no, the decorated ceiling is nice to look at
IMO

it's me wrote:btw some nice vid
(there is the U.F.O. too... )

Lol, I see it!

OofOof wrote:Have a feeling you and I probably have the same design sensibility Lorna. I tend to like open rooms free of lots of stuff. My bedroom is a lot like the way you described you would fix that bedroom photo. It's peaceful and I love being in it. Sadly, most of the really wealthy people I know or have worked for have had no taste. They tend to use a lot of gold and gaudy furnishings and fill their rooms with things that cost a lot of money but are butt ugly!

I'll never forget helping a friend of mine years ago in her new gallery. She concentrated on regional artists--it was in the Pacific NW so she had artists from California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, etc. There were some wonderful well known artists as well as many many great new artists. I worked for a non profit at the time and knew several of the city's wealthiest citizens. One of them came to an opening one night. She was re-doing "one of her living rooms." She looked at everything and left empty handed. Several months later I ran into her and she had ended up buying something from a gallery in town that focused on artists from NY, Chicago and Boston. The piece she ended up spending tens of thousands of dollars on was not even an original but it was by someone "famous."

I'm not a fan of Rande's (I find him vacuous and frankly, a famewhore) but I will agree with you that the kitchen in George's house is beautiful.

Exactly. Reminds me of that old film Pillow Talk where Doris Day redecorates Rock Hudson's apartment in the most awful gaudy stuff she could find. Of course she did that on purpose because she was angry with him, but that's what I mean about people choosing things because they are by some famous designer but that are as you say, "butt ugly!"

Here's an example of the type of design I like. Now obviously, it would not be appropriate for George's villa in Como, I know that, but Ralph Lauren's design esthetic is what I like. (No, not his mountain cabin stuff but the examples shown in his home being featured at the link below).

There are some ads that come up in the slideshow but skip past them.


[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Thanks for that link, Lorna.

I love Ralph Lauren. I saw the name in the link and just had to take a peek :-)

The decorations in the images are bit too masculine for me.
But I love his sense of style.

LOVED the bathroom and lights in the dining room but found the rest not to my taste. The living areas looked too cluttered for me and I like art--all kinds, pottery, paintings etc., and so wanted color brought into the room with art on the walls. The art they had looked contrived to me rather than an eclectic assortment they had picked out along the way. But I love using white and black in rooms and if I had to choose between the bedroom in Como or Ralph's place, I'd go with Ralph.

Maggy wrote:Thanks for that link, Lorna.

I love Ralph Lauren. I saw the name in the link and just had to take a peek :-)

The decorations in the images are bit too masculine for me.
But I love his sense of style.

I agree in the dining room pictures. I would change out the chairs but mostly I like the clean lines, the lack of too much clutter and the lightness of the rooms. I don't necessarily need so much white - I've seen some of his designs that feature tones of grays, browns and muted blues that are quite lovely but just not so ornate.

Another designer that I like that DOES use pattern, but does so in a really chic way is HGTV's Candice Olson. I think she's Canadian and I've seen where she will take even a dark, dingy basement and with the proper lighting and restrained use of pattern and color, transform the room into a thing of real beauty!

too white
too cold... even if with absolutely great pieces...

anyway nice gift to the eyes
thanks

Lighting is very important . The walls need to be warmer . I do not like pretentious decorating . I love the ceiling . I would light it softly .

thanks for the sparkling ornaments!