Style de Vie Blog

Last weekend I, along with thousands of art enthusiasts, vacationing visitors, and a Hollywood celebrity or three, all gathered at the Paramount Pictures Studio Lot for the very first American edition of the Paris Photo fair.
Over the last 16 years, the French event has brought together prestigious exhibitors and artists all over the world to [...]

 
 
 
 
Who knew the man cave could make such a refined, sophisticated statement!  Classic prints such as pinstripes, plaids, and houndstooth are prominently upholstered on seating and showcased in accessories to illuminate a sexy, yet cozy vibe. The monochromatic textures of leathers, wool, and reclaimed woods grounds any design scheme. Whether it is a classic English [...]

Loving every color in sight??
Color blocking is making waves- Oranges, pinks, yellows, reds, blues- all in one setting. Why not? If you are looking for drama, fun and eye-popping excitement in interiors, well here's the solution! Amazing artwork and bold accents are a great way to get your color juices flowing. Many people shy away [...]

Dorothy Draper, 1930s. Courtesy Collection of Dorothy Draper & Co. Inc.
The Carleton Varney Design Group.
 
I've always loved quotes/quotations -- I've been collecting them in notebooks since I was in 5th grade when my English teacher would write a new one on the board every day before class. I also love passing along this habit to [...]

The recession definitely makes you rethink your priorities.  Look at these, er, challenging times as an opportunity to focus on how you want to live, and what you can live without.
“Style helps you get up in the morning.  It’s a way of life.” — Diana Vreeland
A well designed room is not, I repeat is NOT [...]

audrey hepburn + george peppard in breakfast at tiffany's {paramount studios}
1.  Go with someone you trust
 They will talk you out of a bad decision and it is always good to have someone to bounce ideas off of.  Plus, they might see something you missed.
2.  Test a palette.
Tack up paint samples and fabric swatches, then stand [...]

Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or disgraded products into new products of better quality at a higher environmental value. In other words, one person's trash, is upcycled into treasure.
It is believed that the first use of the term "upcycling" was by Reiner Pilz of Pilz GmbH. In an interview [...]

Color plays such a huge role in our lives, in general and our trade in particular. I felt we should dedicate a section uniquely on the subject. Every month I will give you informative and fun facts about how important and influential color is.
Although color is not quite a “science," it could almost qualify [...]