by hookedonhouses on February 9, 2010
Do you remember the first time you saw a room painted black? It seemed kind of shocking back then, didn’t it? When someone sent me photos of a luxury condo she had stayed at with glossy black bedroom walls, I thought it was one of the wildest things I’d ever seen. I was kind of appalled at the time and thought, “I hope that doesn’t catch on.”
It did, though. Black rooms started popping up in magazines more frequently. On HGTV’s Design Star, several of the designtestants painted rooms black, and the judges flipped over them. (Remember when I was recapping those episodes?)
Then the October ‘08 issue of Domino (RIP) arrived with Jenna Lyons’ black bedroom on the cover, and there was no turning back. It was a trend that had officially gone mainstream. People we knew started trying it at home and it was popping up all over the blogosphere.
I wrote a post about it at the time and pondered whether we’re all so depressed about the state of the economy that we’re painting our walls black? Or maybe we all want to be in the black? (You can see which way the poll went in November ‘08 at Trendy Black-Painted Rooms: Hooked or Hate ‘Em?)
(Photos: LA Times, Domino.)
As with all trends that start out “shocking” and strike us as bizarre, this one started to grow on me a little over time. I saw some rooms that really pulled it off, even if I’d never want to do it myself. I could appreciate the drama and daring that went into a great black room.
Some people are predicting that the black-room thing is waning now, so we won’t be seeing as many in the new decade. What do you think? Have black rooms gotten too trendy, or are they timeless?
Check out my other “Trendwatch 2010″ posts:
by hookedonhouses on February 8, 2010
If you follow me on Facebook, then you know I’ve been in Nashville for four days at the BlissDom Blogging Conference, rubbing elbows with 500 other women bloggers who drove and flew in from all over. We stayed at the ginormous Gaylord Opryland Hotel, which is like a city under glass. Rhoda and Kate both posted some fabulous photos of it if you want to see more.
Besides the great digs, the Harry Connick, Jr. concert was definitely a highlight. We got our photos taken with him backstage, but I haven’t been able to track them down. (If you see me with Harry somewhere on the Internet, please let me know!)
Here are some of the beautiful bloggers I had a chance to hang out with: Rhoda, Kimba, Kristen, Kate, and Jessica (above). Emily, Emily, Lindsay, and Kimba (below).
Here I am with Melissa and Nester, whose real name is Ermintrude–don’t tell! (*kidding*)
Outside the Fuse nightclub, waiting for Harry to serenade us–J.J., Emily, Amy, and Lindsay:
I took lots of photos, but my camera was apparently on the wrong setting and the rest of them turned out fuzzy. Can you believe that? Just my luck.
Here we are inside the nightclub–Sarah, me, Kaley, Beckie, and Rhoda:
I’ve been trying to decide how honest to be about the weekend and have rewritten this paragraph about 100 times. All the other posts I’ve seen about BlissDom have been upbeat, happy-happy, everything was wonderful, etc. But I’ll admit I had mixed emotions about my experience.
It was a lot of fun. But I also came home feeling kind of sad and frustrated. Sad because I was feeling “stung” by some things that happened and frustrated that I didn’t learn more in the sessions.
I think I’ll leave it at that. I want to focus on the positive! I’m glad I went because of the wonderful new friends I made, and if I go back again next year it’ll be to see them again. There are truly some amazing women in the blogosphere, and it was a privilege to meet them!
Here are a few more of them: (me), Sarah, AnNicole, Beckie, Melissa, Kimm, Kimba, Sandy, Rhoda, Layla, and Kate.
Were you at BlissDom? What was your experience like?
by hookedonhouses on February 7, 2010
Valentino: The Last Emperor is a fascinating look inside the legendary fashion designer’s final year before retirement. I was excited to see the documentary for the clothes. What I didn’t expect was the glimpse into three of his six beautiful homes. The DVD provides a special feature that shows how it takes dozens of staff members to keep his various residences running smoothly–and up to his exacting standards.
Chateau de Wideville, Valentino’s Home Near Paris:
Valentino Garavani walks through the house with his staff before the party begins to be sure everything is perfect:
In the special features, we’re treated to outtakes like this one, where Martha Stewart decides to give herself a tour of the house. She visits the laundry room and kitchen below the main house and introduces herself to the chef, saying, “Hello, I’m Martha Stewart. I write cookbooks.” Cracked me up. (The French chef nods and says, “Yes, I know.”)
The groundskeepers painted brown patches in the grass green before the party. One says, “Don’t tell Mr. Valentino. He doesn’t know we’re doing this.”
The back of the house with a tent set up for a party:
Valentino’s Apartment in New York City:
Valentino’s majordomo (the “major” person on a household staff) is Michael Kelly, who follows him from house to house and makes sure that everything runs smoothly for him. He supervises 30-40 staff members at each of the homes. Here he arrives a few days ahead of Mr. Valentino to get the New York City apartment ready for his visit.
After Kelly has removed all of the dust cloths, including the ones protecting the drapes, the room is ready:
Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti leave the apartment for a night out:
Chalet Gifferhorn, Valentino’s Home in Gstaad, Switzerland:
The table is meticulously set for Mr. Valentino’s lunch at the chalet:
Michael Kelly says the important thing is that the napkins should be handled as little as possible, so they keep the napkin folding simple:
Heather posted some gorgeous photos of Valentino’s ski chalet over at Habitually Chic that were taken for British Vogue.
Forget what Us Weekly says–famous people are not just like us. I can’t remember the last time I was served tea in my chalet in Gstaad.
Valentino’s pugs go everywhere with him and steal every scene they’re in. So cute. Here they’re wearing little black sweaters to go out in the snow:
Love the green shutters on the chalet:
Valentino has been with his partner Giancarlo Giammetti for 50 years. Giammetti took care of the business side of things so that Valentino would be free to create. It became one of the most successful long-term collaborations in fashion history.
They were young men when they met. Giancarlo was still a student who had no business experience at all, but he was determined to help Valentino–whose first business had gone bankrupt–anyway.
Have you seen the movie? Fashion and real estate aren’t the only reasons I enjoyed it. I thought it was really inspirational and touching. When Valentino retired in 2008, it was the end of an era.
P.S. I’m home from BlissDom ‘10 and will try to post some photos later this week. I had a great time meeting so many of my blog friends in real life!
Visit my TV/Movie Houses page for links to all of the onscreen houses I’ve featured, from Brideshead Revisited to Under the Tuscan Sun.
by hookedonhouses on February 5, 2010
by hookedonhouses on February 4, 2010
Remember when I took a poll a couple of weeks ago and asked you if you thought turquoise has gotten too trendy? Well, I kind of had a personal reason for wondering what you thought. I had gone shopping with my mom–ostensibly to help her find a couple of chairs for her living room–when I spotted this Bombay Chest at Arhaus. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I even snapped that picture of it before leaving the store.
My mother thought I should get it for my dining room. When I said I didn’t think I could spend that much right now, she said, “Well, your birthday is coming up. Let me buy it for you!” My birthday isn’t until the end of April. By that logic, everyone has a birthday coming up. Ha. I protested, but she insisted, earning herself the title of The Most Generous Mother in the World.
It recently came home to live in my dining room, and I love it! I have to admit I did a little “happy dance” when no one was looking.
I haven’t figured out how I want to decorate the chest yet, but I’ve been playing around with a few things like this white elephant that I’ve had for years–it goes all the way back to my dorm-room days.
I got this mirror in an antique store years ago and it’s been sitting in my basement, waiting for something to do. I dusted it off and hung it over the chest. I think it works!
I have already rearranged the top of the chest five times since I took these photos yesterday. It’s so much fun to have something new in the house to play with! Thanks, Mom. You’re off the hook for the next five birthdays, at least.
P.S. Are you going to Nashville for the BlissDom blogging conference? I’m all packed up and on my way. Hope to see you there!
