Beige ~ Anything but Boring

Neal Beckstedt

I unapologetically love beige.  All hues; from the ever so slight ivory to a creamy tan to a warm honey, caramel, greige, and every permutation in between.  It's quiet, subtlety whispering for your attention in its shape, texture, and tone.

BM Simply White

It's easy to make it crisp and modern but not stark, like white may have a tendency to do

Full Spectrum Mushroom

or old world warm and cozy

The color (or lack thereof) sets off beautiful wood, architectural elements, and trim, while other colors really pop against it.

BM Bleeker Beige

It's blissfully neutral, which calms the senses and makes the perfect color for a room of respite

The key to keeping it beautiful and not bland is texture, texture, texture.

But make no mistake, when paired with white it is striking and rich looking.  It is also a great foil for any and every other color

Brandon Architects

BM Grant Beige

Beige is elegant and rich, it's steadfast and enduring.  When you are investing in pieces that may have to last a lifetime, a neutral makes the most sense.  It's a workhorse color, but it's also a chameleon.

You can shake things up using beige by carefully considering its undertones:  pink, gold, and taupe that leans towards grey.  Think light to dark when working with tone on tone.  I love the addition of brown:  it just makes sense, as it is the darkest valuation of beige.

Munger Interiors vias Cote de Texas

BM Natural Cream

Think shiny, matte, furry, consider a little linen, jute under mohair, cotton resting on silk velvet.

I do love color ~ but my heart beats a little faster for a room full of beige

Jeff Koons Takes Manhattan

Have you seen the giant rocking horse/blooming head perched in Rockefeller Center?  It certainly takes center stage at 30 Rock to announce the Whitney retrospective featuring this prolific artist's work.  The 35 foot, 150 ton "Split Rocker" topiary is a living sculpture made from among other things, begonias, marigolds, petunias, and impatiens.  It sits on the same site as Jeff Koons' "Puppy" from the summer of 2000.  One half was inspired by a toy dinosaur, the other a toy pony that belonged to his son.

  Popeye Series juxtaposed with Moustache Lobster

This historic, massive undertaking backed by Gagosian Gallery and The Public Art Fund is the first retrospective for Mr. Koons and the first time the Whitney has given over 27,000 square feet to a single artist.  This also signals the end of the Whitney's run at  75th and Madison.  It will reopen in its new home on the Southern end of the High Line in the Meat Packing District.  The building designed by Renzo Piano will debut in the Spring of 2015.

One Ball Total Equalibrium , 1985

Growing up in South Central Pennsylvania, Jeff is described as a natural salesman.  It came easily to the son of  interior decorator Henry Koons, whose clients where the wealthy of York, PA, an industrial hot spot at the time.  Jeff's earliest hero was Salvador Dali whom Jeff tracked down to meet, often referencing that signature mustache in his work.

Many of his works that include (non)inflatable toys are harnessed or tied to something.  This supposedly references "middle class dreams caught in an economic crisis"

Mustache, 2003

" An object is an abstract thought that becomes a life energy"

Balloon Dog

Koons has been called controversial.  He has been accused of repeating himself.  He has been sexually explicit.  He has been called a sell out.  However, his often banal objects made from mirror finish steel have turned whimsical things into cult status pop icons with a global appeal and recognition from a mass market.

Four years in the making, it was a Herculean task making room for the huge installations.

Michael Jackson and Bubbles, 1988

Jeff said he finds inspiration from his 8 children and "embracing the things we love and enjoy"

Cake 1995-97

At 59, Mr Koons is having a "Warholian" moment.  See this over 3 decade retrospective featuring over 150 works from 1978 to the present through November.

The Koons Family

The exhibit travels onto the Centre Pomidou, Musée National d'art Moderne, Paris  Nov. 2014 through April 2015. then to the Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain June 2015 through Sept 2015

Knotty and Nice

French for false wood, Faux Bois gets me every time.  Faux or real, I love the knotty nature of the texture, the irregular pattern that somehow always has an elegant visual appeal.  It's timelessness lends itself to any look, any pairing, because trees aren't trendy and nature has no boundaries. 

It is obviously at home in the garden

but when brought inside ~ it unexpectedly sings

Christopher Spitzmiller added an element of surprise to his collection of gorgeous handmade ceramic lamps with the addition of the faux bois line, including cachepots.  Each comes in white, brown, or platinum:  Yes please!

It's roots date back to the French Renaissance.  Concrete, mortar, and chicken wire were first used to create that log look that could very well be considered a form of 3 dimensional trompe l'oeil.  Haughty or humble, going against the grain makes for a more interesting composition.

George Sellers, a dallas based artist  casts "other wordly" faux bois sculptures with grace and wit.  A polymer material makes them suitable for outdoor as well as indoor use.  "I wanted something to be fantastical, but I didn't want it to be cartoonish."  The crape myrtle inspired designs were pushed a bit for a somewhat surreal quality.

The printed or silkscreened wood grain design is wonderfully whimsical.  It's irregular grainy nature conjures images of walks in the woods or a rustic garden party.  At home in an elegant domicile or industrial loft, 18th century Asian or mid century modern interior, this warm, gnarly design is well, gnarly.

Rodarte

Ross Sveback

Curry and Company has a plethora of great pieces.

Richard Woods works his faux bois magic and turns anything into a wooden like wonder.  His eco natural art installations question the plasticity or artificiality of the world around us and how the environment can slant to meet the work.  Richard seems to be making a real statement in the UK, I just see one man's take on elevating an everyday material into art; high art, pop art, interpretive art.

Sonya Winner Rug

Celine

Aluminum and porcelain get in on the act ~ beautifully

George Sacaris

I used these in a client's non working fireplace and they're amazing!

Reid Klein

Many textile companies do some form of the popular pattern.  Crazy colors or neutral realism, there's something for everyone, and it infuses a hipness into an environment.

Old World Weavers

Carrier & Co.

and the ever popular, always fabulous, never trendy  Nobilis wallpaper

via la Dolce Vita

It's a great way to bring a little of the outside in!