The Decorator Archive

Hello!

If you happen to land here through Instagram/Facebook/Pinterest you will realise that this is an archived collection of my writings from 2010-2013 during what I like to call the 

Golden Era of Blogging.

Many bloggers like myself fell by the wayside into a sort of Blogger abyss. Work life and family somehow just took precedence over some creative pursuits.

However, so many more kept the faith and continued 'blogging' with that steely resolve of routine until the lure of the social platforms such as Facebook and Instagram with their amazing speed and efficiency were just too good to resist.

The synergy of all these platforms have enabled so many of the original Bloggers to build incredible brands, content and followers and become the INFLUENCERS that they are right now.

It is nice to remember where much of it all started. My writings on decorating, art, design and pop culture that exist here floating around in cyberspace are just a spec of creative content that continues to, I hope be of interest, relevance and a snapshot of a particular period in time.

Happy decorating, collecting, and curating!

J Watson-Evans

Dexter!

A fab new piece by WWID

I see red with this beautiful vintage Windsor

I'm calling him...... 

Dexter

The Decorator

words and images

J Watson-Evans

Pretty in Pink

I am feeling the love for pink! 
Since first visiting the
 Royal Hawaiian in 1978, 
I have had a special place in my heart for this rosy hue. 




It is a particular shade of pink that gets me going. 
 I'm not talking Barbie, it's more Pink which
 has a
 suggestion of coral. 
The one that looks fabulous with chartreuse,
 palm green and of course, chocolate brown.

  The pink that makes you look well rested. The pink that makes even the most hungover specimen look downright peachy!

This is surely why the Royal Hawaiian Hotel 
in Waikiki and the Beverly Hills Hotel 
chose as their signature colour .... Pink! 

They knew that after those late night and morning breakfast
 gin fests,

 as legend has it, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton

 needed to look their best whilst basking poolside,

(dark glasses on)

 in the glow of the

pink!

words and images
J Watson-Evans

The Decorator

Blogger Blues

Diamond Head

After what can only be described as Blogger Burnout,

 I am back!

It seems like I was not alone. Landing on some favourites and noticing many of my fellow bloggers had also fallen off the sphere.  Blogger fatigue was spreading...... fast!

 I started to think about these wonderful deserted blogscapes floating around cyberspace just waiting for their owners to one day return and breathe new life and inspiration into their virtual spaces. 

Life, work and family commitments just happen leaving you time poor and the last thing one has time for is writing the daily post.

I was extremely naughty and did not even write a 'goodbye for now' post which I noticed many of my fellow 'Professionals'  had done. And for that, I apologise.

I was lucky however, to be busy with work projects and travel to my beloved

  New York, Honolulu and even Melbourne during this time.  These places never fail to inspire.

I look forward to posting more thoughts and inspiration on all things DECORATING.

J Watson-Evans

The Decorator

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