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

FYNCT

We decor addicts do take ourselves far too seriously at times!
Very rarely do you come across something
 that makes you laugh out loud and smile all day.........

Brooklyn blog
Fuck Your Noguchi Coffee Table
 put a smile on my dial this am
 with their wonderful irreverence
 and equally as wonderful decorating pics!

Limited edition screenprint from FYNCT

Just love this screenprint don't you?
 available to purchase from

 Fuck Your Noguchi Coffee Table


Please pay them a visit.......super stuff!

words by J Watson Evans

Posted by

the Decorator

image via FYNCT

Dino's Melbourne

You just know that when you arrive at Dino's on Chapel Street, the Windsor end, after passing a plethora of other offerings, that you have made it to the right place.....

A cafe, bar and eatery which has a suitably Spanish style......from the pastries and omelette for breakfast to the tapas, the meals, and the wine to the beautifully crafted Toby's Estate coffee.....

Dino's was my home away from home during the Easter break in Melbourne.....

Karen Martini (celebrity chef) who popped in with her little girls for a restorative coffee, hot chocolates, and pastries on Easter Sunday morning

 obviously feels the same way.....

Dino's for breakfast lunch dinner

 34 Chapel Street, Windsor Melbourne

Words and pics

 by J Watson-Evans

posted by 

The Decorator