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

Yellow & Blue Make Me So Happy!

You know how I really do rate the Series 7 chair by Arne Jacobsen, as the most iconic chair of the 20th Century?

Floral throw by Olivier Desforges

  Well here it is in my daughter's room in white against the dark navy blue walls. I have a number of these chairs used for dining and occasional chairs all over my home.

 I have dark brown stained ones from the early 1970's, white ones from the 1980's and cherry red gloss examples from this decade. 

 They are unbeatable for their comfort and practicality.  In my view the Series 7 will compliment any interior, and can be stacked for easy storage.

  I am also obsessed with yellow and the yellow ceramic piece on the bedhead is one of a pair of wonderful 

Italian 1970's pendant lights which have since been installed as hanging bedside lights.

Australian stylist Marcus Hay obviously feels the same way about the chair and the colours....yellow and blue. 

 Below are a few pics from his Manhattan apartment as featured in Elle Decoration.

Salon hang of 1950's & '60's  pieces including Italian calendar and metal fish sculpture.
The empty frame is also an interesting addition.

Interesting salon hang of found objects

Vignette with found objects and pieces of Italian Bitossi Pottery

Love the way the old doors have been used as a way of delineating a dining area by providing a back drop in a very small space

images via Elle Decoration

&
J Watson-Evans for WWID

Wilton Residence - Hunting Lodge Chic!

the orange pop of the iconic Jacobsen classic...

against the ethereal silhouetted tree lined wallpaper

 and baby grand

charcoal sofa by Vitra

opening the space with room divider display shelving

neo-classical head with modernist pendants against traditional architectural detail

Dear Ingo light by Moooi suspended like a UFO

 about to land against the blue entry walls

approaching the blown out white casual living space ....

traditional stone hearth beautifully emerges 

from the all white surrounds

revelational hand painted landscaped vintage chairs

 by Leslie Oschman

Sky Garden light by Flos

provides the 'cone of silence' over the recycled timber table

Loving the serenity.....
recycled timber feature wall texturises the monochrome bedroom

what lies within?

This 1930's Connecticut Hunting Lodge
 has been thoughtfully transported into the now
 by Uxus Design


words by J Watson-Evans

via Interiors

photos Dim Balsem

Found object of the day!

Model On the Beach, Deauville, circa 1950 by Mark Shaw

Never published outtake from a Life Magazine shoot.

American photographer Mark Shaw (1922-1969) best known for his iconic Kennedy family

photos during the White House years.

This photograph and more available for sale from

Svenska Mobler/Andrew Wilder Galleries  Los Angeles

Image via 1st Dibs

Vintage Fashion Pics Extroadinaire!

I was lucky enough to spy over at the wonderful

Classic Style - In the City - Dream Life Blog....

All the way from Scandinavia, these incredible vintage European Fashion shots!

Thank you to Marie Soderberg for digging these ones up, and please take the time to visit Marie's blog Classic Style - In the City - Dream Life.

Barbara Bach in Halston circa 1966

1962 in Turkey

1966 in Turkey

1968

Sublime! Gown by Tiziani circa 1966

All images via   Classic Style - In the City - Dream Life

Vintage Chair Garden 'Love In'

This past weekend we had a little 'chair fest' in the garden. 


 We dragged the old Persian rug out to the courtyard, placed a few old chairs around...the 'old chairs' being part of my collection which include a Vico Magistretti 'Gaudi' chair,
 an originial Eames 'Bikini' Chair, a red lacquer Arne Jacobsen 'Series 7' chair, a Douglas Snelling webbing chair,
  a 1970's mass produced fibreglass chair, and a lovely 1950's occasional chair.

My husband made wonderful cucumber gimlets, which we enjoyed in the garden.

We first enjoyed these lovely cocktails poolside at the Chamberlain in West Hollywood,
 and I am pleased to say he was able to duplicate the recipe beautifully!

I also brought my Scott Redford Polar Bear out to play,
 and my lovely Louis repro chair also joined in for an airing!

A splash of Marimekko, Hirst, and Bombay!

Do these chairs know how to party or what?
Party of 5 including Jacobsen, Magistretti, and Snelling

Pretty Bromiliad, bergere and the Bear!

Magistretti, Snelling & Eames

What's that  Bear? You want more gimlet?

all images by Janelle Watson-Evans

The Decorator

Marcelo Lucini's Buenos Aires Apartment - So Chic!

Architectural Digest Espana and Architectural Digest France have both recently been compelled to present an interior that I first saw in Vogue Living Australia back in Sept/Oct 2009 issue.

This wonderful home in exotic Buenos Aires, Argentina owned by designer Marcelo Lucini, impresses me for it's discerning choice of art, vintage pieces from the 1920's through to 1970's, and the unusual colour palette used throughout this 1930's apartment.

I am particularly enamored with the Expressionist seascape painting by Argentinian artist Felipe Noe hanging above the 1960's console and the empire furniture in the dining area with the walls which are painted in a soft muscatel.

Wonderful empire furniture contrasts wonderfully with the abstract painting and 1950's atomic light

Loving the expressionist art with the 1960's console and industrial stools from the 1920's

Unusual choice of pale grape/muscatel wall colour with the pale honey parquetry floors

Another great painting!

Great pop floor sculpture and Fornasetti chair

Loving the grey and gold palette.  Crazy fringed stools look fab!

Marcelo Lucini sources objects and homewares from around his country Argentina. The range can be seen at Couture Lab

Images from Architectural Digest Espana & Architectural Digest France & Vogue Living