The Royal Wedding.

Kate and William tied the knot!  Were you inspired by her beautiful Alexander McQueen lace gown or the Royal Wedding?

Interior design and fashion often collide.  Each takes inspiration from the other.  And, what inspiration might we take from the Royal Wedding?

The beauty of lace is utilized in this modern spare bedroom.  An overscaled modern lace design is used as an accent wall behind the low profile bed.  The focus is on texture and line in this almost all-white space.

Beautiful frilly white lace and crystal combine to create a truly feminine retreat.  Fresh and etheral, this room looks angelic, just as Kate Middleton did on her wedding day.

Without the use of color, this pure white bedroom remains stimulating through the use of various textures and finishes. Delicate lace is juxtaposed with a rustic whitewashed headboard and modern slick white saarinen table.  The look is breathtaking!

An all-white bathroom mixes glistening white mosaic tile and a dazzling crystal chandelier with white matte walls and a textural window treatment.  Who said stark white was nothing more than plain vanilla?

Inspired by the British flag, these accessories pop against the crisp white background.  They're fun and cheerful and assist in creating a lively and energetic space.

The British flag is red, white, and blue in color, combining the Cross of Saint George, the Cross of Saint Andrew, and the Cross of Saint Patrick.  This avant-garde dresser, taking it's inspiration from the British flag, is fresh, vibrant and eye-catching.  It surely wouldn't go without notice in any room!

This may be taking British inspiration a bit too far!  While it certainly is dramatic and colorful, I'm uncertain as to the longevity of a sofa with such a theatrical gesture.  When you want to make a statement, don't be timid!  Then again, maybe a simple pillow could suffice.

I'm sure we'll be seeing images of the best dressed guests and their show-stopping hats for days to come.  Did anything inspire you?

Celebrity Homes.

Happy Friday!

Just for fun, let's take a look inside some celebrity homes...

Bestsy Johnson

Betsy Johnson

Billy and Katie Lee Joel

Martha Stewart

Mary Kate and Ashly Olsen

Sting

Sting

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor

George Stephanopoulos and Alexandra Wentworth

Fleetwood Mac musician Lindsey Buckingham

Candace Bushnell

Sarah Jessica Parker

Donatella Versace

Julianne Moore

Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerger

John Mayer

The Inspirational Michael Taylor.

A Tribute to Michael Taylor

Despite passing away almost two decades ago, Michael Taylor's work is still revered by many.

His designs were a mix of eras, styles, color and form.  The most essential aspect was always scale and proportion. The rooms he designed were light and airy, often utilizing varying shades of white.  He is best known for creating the "California Look", which I fell in love with when I first began studying design in California.

Taylor's simplified design palette often risked becoming too sparse which is why he always played with scale.  He believed that when you remove something from a room, you must increase the size of what is left.  This resulted in his famed voluminous sofas and chairs as shown above.  The room's palette incorporates varying shades of his infamous white, then pulls in vibrant color through art.

This neutral living room is warm and cozy.  The furniture and art are large scaled to mimic the stature of the fireplace.  The restrained color palette is infused with numerous textures to add interest.

Part of his design philosophy was to bring the outdoors in through the use of plants.  He believed this prevented the room from looking overdecorated and helped filter the natural light.  The bedroom has a sophisticated and serene vibe.  I love the enormous Venetian style mirror above the fireplace.

Michael Taylor often brought in stone boulders, along with plants, to infuse his designs with nature.  Their texture beautifully plays off the glossy white molding.  The side table also has a lovely patina which adds age and authenticity.  A black and white sketch keeps the composition simple and allows the shapes and lines of the elements to stand out.

I adore this dining room!  It beautifully showcases some of his furniture designs which were always so graceful and elegant.  The look is refined, but not stuffy.  The textures give the room a relaxed, yet stylish aesthetic.  The limited color palette allows the lines, shapes and textures to take center stage.  The chic crystal chandelier is simple, yet luxurious.  There isn't anything I would rearrange or do differently.

The graceful curves of the bed add elegance to this bedroom.  A mirror bounces light from a nearby window around the room.  The look is timeless.

A large four poster bed in the center of the room demands attention, yet doesn't overpower the other elements.  The desk has an organic nature and form to it.  A large tree in the corner blurs the boundary between inside and out.

I couldn't do a post on Michael Taylor without including an image of his Portuguese Side Chair.  I have been in love with this chair for 20 years!  I first saw it in the San Francisco Design Center and have adored it ever since.  The patina is downright gorgeous.  The scale is tall, dignified and statuesque.  The curves are so graceful and elegant.  If I could afford it, I would have a dozen of them throughout my home.

Gorgeous Bathrooms With Ethnic Flair.

With global style gaining in popularity, have you considered adding an ethnic flair to your decor?  Incorporating items from various cultures adds personality to your decorating. A few ethnic pieces can make a bold statement and are much more interesting than generic decor.  Here are a few gorgeous bathrooms that benefit from the addition of various cultural styles.

This stunning bathroom, designed by Michael Smith, infuses a mixture of ethnic styles through the use of a 19th century Chinese cabinet and a stone floor inlaid with a 4th century Byzantine mosaic.  The juxtaposition of the eclectic mix of elements is breathtaking.  I could live in this room.

This bathroom has an asian flair thanks in part to the inclusion of a white chinoiserie bench.  Asian elements work especially well in modern designs.  Adding an ethnic flavor to a room through the use of accessories allows the aesthetic of the room to be easily changed as styles and tastes change.  Does this look appeal to you?

Again, ethnic accessoies add style and panache to a well-designed bathroom.   Creating a sense of history and authenticity, the asian stool and turkish ottoman rest on top of a stunning mosaic tiled floor. A plush white chair cozies up to a roaring fire.  I usually don't imagine myself spending an afternoon in a bathroom, but this one just might be the exception. 

A beautifully detailed ceiling treatment casts beguiling shadows in the bathroom.  An eclectic mix of ethnic details beautifully coexist to create an alluring bathroom design.  It has the feel of a retreat or oasis where you could release the cares of the day.

A white rustic african stool contrasts with slick marble tile and a sleek bathroom vanity.  The rustic and refined meet to create the perfect composition.

Cindy Crawford's rich elegant bathroom, designed by Michael Smith, incorpates an African stool.  I love the natural woven window treatment that filters the sunlight streaming in.  The house is situated on the beach in Malibu so I can only imagine what the view outside the window must be like.

In this elegant bathroom, designed by Michael Smith, an asian stool sits on top of an ethnic rug adjacent to the pedestal tub.

Wallpaper In The...... Bathroom?

Have you considered wallpapering your bathroom?  Most people shy away from it because of the humidity.  It's also a bit of a commitment. However, after looking at these beautiful bathrooms, you may find yourself considering a goodlooking wallpaper for your powder room...  

With a bold checkerboard floor and patterned wallpaper, this bathroom keeps things from being too chaotic with a simple clean lined pedestal sink and mirror.  The black background on the wallpaper adds sophistication.  I love the hefty baseboard.

What could be more bold and dramatic than a gargantuan mural wallpaper? It creates an immensely bold dramatic backdrop and infuses the space with a chic artsy aesthetic.

This glitzy wallpaper adds textural interest and subtle color.  Period lighting and a pedestal bathtub add historical appeal.

 

Creating an accent wall behind the royal purple tub, the floral wallpaper is lively and colorful. I love how the shiny silver pedestal on the tub mimics the glossy silver rim around the mirror and ties the two elements together.

The trellis patterned wallpaper creates the perfect backdrop for a simple powder room.  The simple pedestal sink allows the pattern to shine through with minimal obstruction.  The graceful curves of the Venetian mirror resemble those of the wallpaper. The striking allover pattern draws attention away from the small proportions of the room.

Vibrant and dynamic, this wallpaper infuses the space with an art deco aesthetic.  This isn't my favorite look by any means, but if you're going to go bold, then a powder room is the place to do it.  What do you think?

A sophisticated damask wallpaper lends an aristocratic feel to this spacious bathroom.  I love the wood herringbone floor.  A unique glass chandelier, Venetian mirror and antique furniture further the refined elegant feel.

The bright energetic nature inspired wallpaper disguises the room's boundaries and makes it appear larger than it actually is.  Pedestal sinks provide more visible space and further enhance the limited square footage.  I would have kept the flooring simple and let the grain of the wood shine through.  It would have given the eye a place to rest from all the pattern. What do you think?

Green paisley wallpaper adds warmth and a luxurious vibe. The oversized scale makes it fresh and modern and creates an intriguing juxtaposition with the traditional pedestal sink.  I love the capiz shell chandelier hovering in the corner.

The geographic wallpaper adds a lot of character to a small space.  Personally, I would get rid of the awkward floral arrangement and leave the window uncovered.  The decadent wood mirror and stool add richness and warmth.

This neutral wallpaper adds texture and interest to the bathroom without demanding too much attention.  The beautiful molding and stone flooring details enhance the luxurious and serene atmosphere.  There are enough details to make the space interesting and well-designed, but not too many to make it cluttered.

A pink Mauel Canovas wallpaper brightens up this cheery bathroom.  The silver glitzy ottoman strikes a glamorous note.