The Cullen

The Cullen

Melbourne

Affordable boutique hotel option in bustling Prahran

The Cullen

Featuring art by the late contemporary Australian artist

Adam Cullen 

1965-2012

Words & Images by J Watson-Evans

Very Naughty Blogger Award

Been a long time...

It's been a while......

so sorry for my tardiness!

Currently decorating 'on location'

We will soon meet again....................

posted by

The Decorator

Beverly Hills Hotel: Tropical Modern

Back in 2009 my family and I visited the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel, and witnessed something which has stood the test of time.  As you walk towards the Polo Lounge where Richard Gere and Lauren Hutton so memorably first lay eyes on each other in 1980's American Gigolo, you are inextricably pulled like a magnet towards the curved staircase which leads to one place.

This icon of the 20th Century, which has been in situ since the 1940's

 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, 

and is part of the decor leading down the stairs and inside the small deli style eatery, 

with its curved bar and wrought iron stools, 

where infinite intimate burgers, fries, Caesar salads, 

all day breakfasts, and anything which comes under the banner of classic American cuisine,

 have been enjoyed daily since the Hollywood hey day, 

so intimate that eaves dropping on the various conversations taking place

 around the bar, is truly unavoidable.....

conversations that seem to centre around who directed what and how the latest screenplay is going,

 and what project has been green-lit......

but there is one thing which cannot be ignored....

something which evokes for me such an incredible feeling of nostalgia, well being, and desire.....

something which continues to be relevant.......

something which is now experiencing somewhat

 of a hot revival........

something which we have glimpsed from time to time again in the decor of a few of our bravest and

more interesting taste makers.....

something which has now found its way to the cover of the latest catalogue of

 New York's Bergdorf Goodman.....

I am of course speaking of the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel Banana Leaf wall paper........  

What can I say about this which probably has not been said by so many before me? 

 And I know some of my fellow decor addicted bloggers have acknowledged this amazing

piece of 20th Century iconography,

and it would be remiss of me to not mention the Golden Girls connection...

yes Blanche had the wall paper behind her bed and matching banana leaf fabric!

I think it's the recognition of the popularity of terms such as:

Palm Springs Modern; Tropical Modern; Miami Modern; 

Palm Beach Modern; Tropical Vintage

Bergdorf catalogue

The Fountain Room

Nikki Hilton's dining room

Stairway to Heaven!

It just makes me feel good!!!!!  And it will never go out of fashion!!  

Posted by The Decorator

words by
J Watson-Evans

Maximalism on Acid....

The Work of Brazilian Designer Sig Bergamin

The Murano collection looks amazing
 on these custom glass shelves

Ikat Heaven

The ultimate garden room

Being a collector of vintage glass myself, I really like the fact that purpose built shelving has

been installed in the living area to display this wonderful collection. 

In my view, a collection always looks best in an en masse display. 

And the mirrored back just adds to the sparkle and reflects beautifully to create the illusion of more....

And as Tony Duquette (no doubt a huge influence on the work of Bergamin) would say

MORE IS MORE! 

words by J Watson-Evans
Posted by

The Decorator

wonderful images from AD

Trina Turk Colours My World

Hawaiian Haven

Wow, I have to say that I was invigorated to see this image today.

  An uncharacteristic Gold Coast day of clouds and drizzle

 albeit a welcome drop in temperature, found me drawn to this
pretty as a postcard picture. 

 In fact, the background showing the tropical, volcaneous 
landscape of Kaui, almost looks like a painting.

But what puts a smile on my dial is the intensely saturated colour
 of Trina Turk's beautiful fabrics. 

 american fashion designer Trina Turk, whose name I first 
encountered in the Kelly Wearstler book 'Modern Glamour' a 
few years ago has a range of outdoor fabrics
 which are showcased in this picture. 

St. Regis Princeville resort cabana designed by Trina Turk, is 
located on the island of Kaui in the 50th state Hawaii. 

Relaxing in the cabana, Mai Tai in hand, 

I can almost see George Clooney's 'The Descendents'

character running up the sand from behind the umbrella!


words
 J Watson-Evans
image elle decor.com


Posted by
The Decorator

Prahran Protea

King Proteas

Recently on a trip to the Prahran Markets in Melbourne,

 I spotted the flower which I call

 my 'go to bloom'

.............  the King Protea 

the South African native
 and a cousin to Australia's beloved Banksia,
  it's spectacular size, colour and structure, 

 is always a lovely and unexpected floral option for any interior.

words and images

J Watson-Evans

Posted by

The Decorator

Red!

Red, White and Blue 

Vintage & Now

I just love the classic combination of red, white and blue. It has such cultural and historical significance with the obvious connection to the flags of the world, and continues to pop as a timeless decorating and fashion option.

Wonderful red & blue canopy bed 1970

TV room by contemporary American decorator  Jonathan Adler

The French made navy blue, red and white their fashion statement in the early 19th Century and red and white was seen in Edwardian parlours.

.

Canopied opulence in navy & red silk and suzani by Kelly Wearstler

Pop iconography with Mickey and psychedelic upholstery popping against navy walls

 Throughout the sixties and seventies red, navy and white continued to star.

Loving the nautical nod in the bedcovers and Joe Columbo chairs

Red and white Louis and abstract area rug

Fab red chairs against navy walls

Red, white, and gold as an unexpected foil

Like the gold buttons on a navy blazer, the gold and red sing in this vignette by Kelly Wearstler

Love the red daybed against the blue architectural detail

Why don't you try this wonderful combination?  
To my mind red white and blue never disappoints!

vintage images

via

House & Gardens Complete Guide to Interior Decoration 1970

Decorating American Style by Jose Wilson & Arthur Leaman 1975

contemporary images

via

'Domiicilium Decoratus' Kelly Wearstler

Jonathan Adler.com

words by J Watson-Evans
Posted by
The Decorator

Vintage Garden Rooms

House & Garden's Complete Guide to

 INTERIOR DECORATION

It is so interesting to look at what my readers really enjoy.  

To date my most popular post is

Love American Style:  the decorating episode

 which includes the inclusion of iconic 20th Century art
 from the likes of Jackson Pollock and Jasper Johns

and work from the Prince of American decorating, Billy Baldwin!

 In this post, these wonderful decorating images come from a favourite book entitled

 Decorating American Style by Jose Wilson & Arthur Leaman, published in 1975.

It seems you are all as fascinated as I am with vintage style and vintage books.

This reinforces the fact to me that we love to see classic ideas from the past, and we also enjoy seeing where certain looks and styles originate and how they are reinvigorated and rehashed

 in a contemporary post modern world.

These images also illustrate to my mind how important the addition of greenery (real please) makes to the life and vibrancy of any interior.

I hope you enjoy these 'Outdoor or Garden Style Rooms' I have selected from

 House & Garden's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration 1970.

This lovely edition has this handwritten inscription on the first page:

I wonder where you are now?


words 
J Watson-Evans


posted by
The Decorator


images 
House & Garden's Complete Guide to Decoration 1970
Simon and Schuster

Love Cats

+

=

One of the stunning abstracts created by the cats 

what an ingenious idea......L.A. animal shelter gets some pussy cats to trip over an ipad app and create art....all in the name of raising money for the prevention of cruelty to animals.....

via Art Daily

Ilona Staller

You may remember the outrageous and enigmatic Italian porn star La Cicciolina who was famous for not only her exposed one breast salute

 but for also marrying American artist Jeff Koons back in the 1990's.

Well I recently had the pleasure of lunching at her namesake restaurant....her real name....

Ilona Staller.....

some lovely Melburnians who for many years have had La Cicciolina part of St Kilda's dining experience, have now added another offering..... this lovely digs in Balaclava named what else but

Ilona Staller.

Located in a building which was not only an old bank, (the bank vault is now the wine cellar), but also a Red Rooster!

the interior is cosy and welcoming.  I adore the beautiful caramel leather banquettes, the wonderful Rooster tapestry (a nod to the former tenant), the opulence of the old bank doors with wonderful bespoke handles at the entry, and the interesting yet restrained inclusion of a mirrored, perspex art work by Melbourne artist Constance Zikos.

the day we were there it was wonderful to spot comedienne Judith Lucy enter the building.

We had a lovely lunch adults and children, and were entertained by the mischievous waiter

 ( you know who you are!) and his friendly colleagues.

  art by Constance Zikos

rabbit parpadelle ragout for Easter lunch

risotto with chanterelle mushrooms, spinach, & Persian fetta

kid's menu aims to please 

sirloin on the grill with kipflers & spinach

pink roasted veal wrapped in pancetta & fontina risotto cake

a salute to Red Rooster

  words & images by

J Watson-Evans

(Cicciolina/Jef Koons images via Artvalue.com & Miniwiki)


posted by

The Decorator