Birds of a Feather Living Together

More is More in Hunt Slonem's world!  Best known as a Neo-Expressionist, Hunt's childhood spent in Hawaii and a year spent studying abroad in Nicaraqua had a profound effect on the direction this artist's career would take.  Hunt developed a passion for orchids and owned a menagerie of animals which became influential muses that informed his subject matter, but maybe none more than the rabbit; he having been born in The Year of the Rabbit.

With his aviary of 70 plus birds serving as his inspiration and living and working in his extraordinary New York Studio, (Hunt also has homes in Louisiana and Upstate New York) this man melds many worlds.

When I heard he was doing a fabric, wallpaper, and carpet collection for Groundworks thru Lee Jofa, I was intrigued.  How will all those birds, bunnies, and butterflies translate?  Apparently, beautifully!
Slomen, working with the team at Lee Jofa, experimented for two years to get the exacting color saturation, complexity, and depth of field required to have Hunt's menagerie translate as magnificently as it does.  It is not kitchy or childlike, as one might initially think.  It's quite sophisticated, and in the case of the Hutch Gold wallpaper (below) with its matte background, it is downright regal!

The Star of India fabric, in neutral linen with appliquéd velvet and embroidery, was inspired by a tortoise that was a former pet and a large sapphire jeweled tortoise that was said to have been carried around by a Maharani in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas for good luck.

Frittilery, in multi-colored layers of embroidery woven to mimic a cross hatch technique (which could  be interpreted as the cages these birds and animals might find themselves in), were collected and studied by Slonem as a youngster .

The collection translates beautifully from neutrals to energetic brights.
Monkey eyes and mouths are reduced to an interesting graphic design in the customizable carpet collection that was inspired by portraits of Frida Kahlo, where she often posed with monkeys.  They are also a symbol of protection.  The floor bunnies become more of an art installation.

There is a fluidity to his process.  Everything evolves, as opposed to "being designed."  He is a brilliant colorist with a strong need for a historical connection which led him to coin the term "collectorating."  He is an enthusiastic collector and decorator.  "He is energized by the act of creating settings with his collections which in turn fuel his work."  And I understand he hosts great parties in his studio.

"Bare walls scare me" says Slonem

Slonem's birds and butterflies symbolize the soul and spiritual liberation, as in a metamorphosis.  A fascination with these creatures as well as a menagerie of others captured Hunt's imagination and a spiritual life and visual life collided.  The repetitive imagery is like a mantra or meditative experience.  A stillness sets in.

Steven Gambrel

Jonathan Adler

For a little bit of happiness, check out Hunt's book, Where Art Meets Design showcasing his own homes and the magic that happens when art and design intersect colorfully.

The collection really reflects Hunt's joie de vivre attitude!  How do you want a room to make you feel?  Hunt thinks Happy!



Ph; CLI, Kravet/Lee Jofa, The Selby via NY magazine

The Trends Driving 2013 ~ part 1

Bazaar

The upcoming trends for the new year are exciting ones.  Embellishments are STILL big!  We are seeing them not only on clothing,  they have taken the home front by storm.  Trim, pillows, bedding, and anything else you can think of can be embellished or "glittified."

Donna Karen Home

Aimee Wertepny

Wallpaper has been coming on strong, and the newer materials we are seeing are really exciting. Grasscloths have stood the test of time.  Now they are emblazoned with geometric patterns and overpainted with other designs.  Micas, metals, glass beads, wood veneers, and mother of pearl all make spectacular statements.

A subtle Art Deco influence is being seen on the runways and in the home; double points if it's in the color of the year, emerald.

Jean Louis Denoit

Gucci via Style.com

The juxtaposition of contemporary and traditional elements happily co existing is really more than a trend, it's here to stay.  An infusion of well curated objects from a myriad of periods bring warmth and sophistication to any space.

Thomas Jayne

Ken Levinson AIA

Richard Mishaan

Mirrored furniture and metallics ~ maybe we are being told it is a time for reflection?

via David Jensen Photography

Artisan, hand-made looking, or Americana type interiors.  With an uncertain economy, we want assurances that our home is our sanctuary, and are comforted in a way that best expresses us.

Daryl Carter

Anthony-Orlanow  Design

Next time ~ part 2

Fall Market Round Up ~ Part 2

Celerie Kemble's new wall covering line for Schumacher speaks to classic motifs distilled to basic graphics in a bold, vibrant color palette.  She felt a need was not being met in the marketplace.  Wallpaper was becoming wildly popular again, and the younger customer wanted something that felt fresher, modern. and graphic, but rooted in classicism.  Celerie was inspired by the decorative arts as well as her love of fashion and the natural beauty of nature.

One of Celerie's classic inspirations was the acanthus leaf pattern:

She was working on a project, and as she explained, wanted a narrow stripe, but with a little more decoration and a more graphic quality.  That classic architectural element dating back to the earliest Roman and Greek time turned into this:

A nature inspired motif:  cirrus clouds that also have a great graphic and Asian feel.  Powerful in a bright color, yet easily adaptable too in a soft neutral.  The Tree of Life inspired the Hothouse Flower.  It has a nostalgic feel, modernized.

Celerie's love of fashion inspired the nailhead wallpaper.  She was intrigued by the possiblity of using hardware on the walls.  A beautiful decorative element, not a passing trend, studs have been showing up on the runway for several seasons.  Perhaps she owns a Valentino bag?  The feather blossom wallpaper came from a blown up pattern on a Chanel blouse Celerie saw in a magazine.  Manipulating the size, scale, and color of patterns completely changes the feeling.

We all commented that this blossom print would look gorgeous on a ceiling!

I am a fan of anyone who believes an animal print is a neutral.  I can't think of one area this wouldn't look great.  Again, Celerie thought of the shelf life of the paper collection and its flexibility of use.  Bold color or soft neutral, the texture of these grasscloths with their hand printed quality can take the place of all the geometric patterns we have been seeing over the past couple years.

Each pattern done on grasscloth has a luminosity, matte and shiny quality, is flexible, and is both happy and lighthearted.  That is the way some describe Celerie herself!




ph: Schumacher, CLI

Spotlight On ~ Lulu DK

And Speaking of Lulu De Kwiatkowski, (as in the last post; here or below) Lulu has quite a prolific design business.  Her bold, colorful, whimsical style is widely recognizable and loved by top designers and retailers.

Lulu DK as she is known, is a designer of wallpaper ~

Minerva

Carpets and fabrics ~

Emma Jane Pilkington used Moondance on settee

Bedding, decorative pillows, baby ~

Hepburn

 Lulu also designs furniture for Elite Leather ~

creates beautiful large scale collages ~

She recently published a book;  Lulu, of these collages, representing her far flung travels, life, and loves.


And if all this and raising a family isn't enough, Lulu just designed a collection of table tops and towels ~

Slow down Lulu, you're making the rest of us look lazy!


LuLu has another Tastemaker Tag Sale on One Kings Lane on July 30th, be sure to check it out!