Elle Decor's 2011 A List - Designer #4: Mark Cunningham

*Each week, I'll be looking at Elle Decor's "A List" of designers for 2011. See full details on here.

Today's spotlight is on Mark Cunningham.

Here is what Elle Decor says about him:

As you might expect from a Polo Ralph Lauren alumnus, this New York designer’s rooms tend to be masculine, well tailored, and timeless. He likes his palette neutral, but the Florida-born designer isn’t afraid of shades like light blue and royal purple either. He mixes crisply upholstered custom-made pieces, American antiques, and accessories ranging from Coromandel screens to rough-hewn doors set into pristine white walls, all resulting in a quietly invigorating look.

Here are some pictures.

I can't believe I'm saying this - but his work really speaks to me. Or - since that sounds a bit dramatic - I was really drawn in while going through his portfolio. I find his designs kind of fascinating. They're generally contemporary - but never have a spare or cold effect. They're actually very warm and inviting - and even offer some surprises and personality.

But let me backtrack a little. At first glance, this is not a designer that I would expect to appreciate as much as I did. He incorporates very little color in these spaces, which is one of the first things that I consider while getting the feel of a room. He also uses a lot of contemporary furniture, and antiques and older pieces are often of such similar style, that they don't provide very much contrast. I on the other hand, prefer a more eclectic approach to decor - with rooms that look like they have evolved over time. Finally, there is very little focus on art (or the wall decor is so subtle or unmemorable that I didn't really register its presence). And the art that does appear in these images looks more like it was placed there to compliment furnishings after the design was completed. Nothing is wrong with any of that, but none of it falls in line with my own preferences.

Regardless of my personal taste, these are pretty great rooms and I can't imagine many would disagree. Somehow, he manages to give very specific styles universal appeal. And one obvious reason is that he is a master stylist. His resume really shows in his work.

When you click through his online portfolio, the one consistent theme is impeccable, yet seemingly effortless styling. The last six images display this best. Probably because some of them were shot for ad campaigns...but they really do encapsulate the elements of styling that he brings to interiors.

It's the styling that takes what could have been pretty boring, masculine rooms and softens them. He can even "do" feminine...and well (see images 4, 8 and 9). I honestly think he could take any half-hearted bachelor pad with good furniture, rearrange things, add some accessories, pop a few lilies in an organic looking bowl, possibly slap a little textured paint on the wall...and voila! it's a spread in Elle Decor!

How about that last image? Is that a photograph or a painting? Something about the wall, the orchids...even the angles of the furniture and lighting... I can't stop looking at it.

So yeah - this was a surprising one for me. And a perfect example of how looking for what you DO like in all design will open your mind, make you think and possibly compel you to reconsider previously held notions about your own personal style.

What about you? Have any thoughts to add?

all images via Mark Cunningham Inc.

Pretty Powder Rooms

I've never wallpapered a room before. But my first attempt would definitely be the powder room:

Love wallpaper in small spaces.

image via Bonesteel Trout Hall

Blue and Orange on a Rainy Tuesday

I'm serious - it's coming down outside! It's looked like evening all day.

Anyway... With Thanksgiving day fast approaching, the blogging week looks very short... I'll be back tomorrow with another A List designer from Elle Decor's 2011 list. But in the meantime, here are some pretties in the way of blue and orange:

I think I like the aqua combos best. You?

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Elle Decor's 2011 A List - Designer #3: Sheila Bridges

*Each week, I'll be looking at Elle Decor's "A List" of designers for 2011. See full details on here.

Today's spotlight is on Sheila Bridges.

Here is what Elle Decor says about her:

This New York decorator is known for her savvy updates on traditional Americana—from her handsome design for Bill Clinton’s Harlem offices to the spirited interiors of her own Colonial weekend home in New York’s Hudson Valley. She has a fashionista’s sense of pattern and color (yellow is a favorite) and an eye for the standout element—a Fornasetti rug, a Frank Gehry cardboard chair—that makes a room click.
Here are some pictures.

This was an easy one. I really like Sheila's work.

I love her subtle use of color and eclectic mix of furniture and accessories. And of course, yellow is my favorite...

I keep coming back to the first room above (also shown from a different perspective halfway down). I would never think to upholster all three pieces of furniture in the main seating area in the same fabric - especially one that matches the wall color. Now I want to do that in every room of my house. Okay - that would be excessive - but I'm crazy about that space!

Other thoughts: I like that the rooms are full of art, books, and personal objects, but they don't seem cluttered. The general impression is clean and modern, but the elegant furnishings still convey a sense of home and comfort. Traditional pieces and design elements give balance to some of the whimsical touches and the effect is that of warm and welcoming sophistication.

What do you think of this designer? Any differing opinions?

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Blue + White 4 Ever

Today, I'm thinking about blue and white...

I love this simple combination. When in doubt - you can never go wrong with blue and white. Fads come and go (didn't we all hate brown and orange in the '80s and '90s?) - but this palette can be easily updated with accessories and splashes of color like the yellow and green in image #1.

Chic. Effortless. Timeless.

Now - off to carve a heart on a tree: Kate + Blue & While 4 Ever.

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Elle Decor's 2011 A List - Designer #1: BassamFellows

Last year, I thought it would be fun to write about Elle Decor's "A List" of designers. And it really was.

Here is the first image featured in what ended up being months of posts:

Jeffrey Bilhuber

Pretty right? I and when I started, I thought it would be all about my preferred "pretty."

Not so much.

So in addition to being fun, this exercise was also somewhat of a learning experience.

I challenged myself to focus only on what I DID like about the designs - and to then write about it. This is counter intuitive to my usual "in or out," "yea or nay" approach to finding beauty in the world.

And I would assume that most could say the same. Do you love every designer's personal aesthetic? I don't. In fact, I often exclaim things like, "that's hideous!" and "why would anyone want to sit in a giant brass hand?"

But in trying to find at least one appealing element in some images that seemed custom tailored to make me gag, I experienced something rather extraordinary. I started finding myself drawn to new designs and ideas that I would have once labeled: "not my style."

And since I've been making a lot of "not my style" statements lately...I think it's time for another round of "what DO I like about this?" And what better place to find designers and perspectives than Elle Decor's 2011 A List?

So without further ado, today's spotlight is on BassamFellows.

Here is what Elle Decor says about them:

Handcrafted, organic, and rooted in nature: Australian architect and designer Craig Bassam and Scott Fellows, a former creative director in fashion, describe their style as “Craftsman modern.” A gorgeous wood grain is often all the ornament they need, whether they are designing spare interiors for the James hotel in Los Angeles or renovating their own Philip Johnson house.

This is already making me feel uncertain. While I can appreciate beautiful wood grains and organic elements, the description very clearly omits any reference to color. These are not going to be colorful spaces, are they? Also? "Spare" is not an adjective that describes most of the interiors that I love... So the challenge begins!

First - some pictures.

There aren't exactly tons of images out there for BassamFellows, and their own site only features one residential project (the rest are office, retail and hotel spaces). So to say that there wasn't a lot to choose from would be an understatement. On the upside, it certainly streamlined my photo selection process.

The first thing that strikes me about all of these spaces is the focus on bringing the outdoors inside. And oddly enough - this is very similar to the Key West culture of outdoor living. No - you won't find many Conch houses with glass walls - but it's not uncommon to see walls of French doors leading out to patios and porches.

I love the way the rooms are filled with light. And I can easily imagine spending a quiet afternoon reading and sipping tea, glancing up to see that I'm surrounded by trees.

While this definitely isn't the decor that I would want in my own house, I would thoroughly enjoy visiting those rooms. And I think that may just be the core of this challenge: being able to appreciate and enjoy spaces that you wouldn't necessarily choose for yourself.

One thing that I'm going to do a little differently this year, is that I am going touch upon elements that don't appeal to me. Just a little bit - and primarily because I would LOVE to hear your thoughts too. Tell me why I'm wrong - or just offer another perspective. Help me broaden my decor horizons.

So here is a bit about what I don't like:

The lack of art. Whenever I visit a home, I love to look at what the owners choose to put up on their walls. It's such a personal element of decor. Not just anyone could live in that house.

And while I have learned over the years that contemporary furniture can be very comfortable...those hard benches and backless stools are probably better for looking than sitting.

Of course, an architect and a furniture designer are bound to be far more conceptual than most when it comes to interiors... So I understand that the structure of the rooms themselves and the pieces of furniture within are an expression of art. Still - it feels a little impersonal to me. A little cold. And honestly, I wonder what those rooms really look like on a random Saturday afternoon.

Thoughts?

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