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.

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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Elle Decor's 2011 A List - Designer #2: Alessandra Branca

Last week, I wrote my first post about Elle Decor's "A List" of designers for 2011 (see details there).

And today's spotlight is on Alessandra Branca.

Here is what Elle Decor says about her:

Call her a passionate neoclassicist. Born in Italy, Branca developed an aesthetic steeped in antiquity. Nonetheless, she’s a woman of our times. She likes comfortable rooms and the color red—also stripes that recall vintage mattress ticking. Expect plush upholstery and fabrics, as well as shapes you’d find in a museum’s Greco-Roman hall, accented with anything from Moroccan mirrors to Chinese foo dogs.

Here are some pictures.

There are a number of things that I like about Branca's designs. First and foremost, the focus on comfort and seating. All of the living room/family room spaces have been arranged for conversation. Since these are rooms where people gather, it seems like an obvious priority - but I'm often surprised by how often rooms featured in magazines seem far more conceptual than livable.

Branca's designs also have a lot of personality. The art, the textiles, the whimsical details... They all give me an impression of the person who lives in those spaces. I want to explore the rest of the house outside of the frame.

Finally - I love the fact that these rooms don't have to be perfectly staged to have the same impact. The beds don't have to be perfectly made (as pictured above), you can take away every floral arrangement...you could kick your shoes off and curl up in a chair. The detritus of life doesn't take away from the overall effect. These rooms were designed for people, not cameras.

The elements that don't appeal to me are more prevelent in pictures that I didn't include here (though picture #4 is a pretty good example). I really don't understand the  heavy burgundy and yellow/gold  palette. I reminds me of professionally decorated Federal homes that some of my friends lived in during the '80s. It's so dated - I feel like I just stepped into an apartment in the Watergate from twenty years ago (remember, I live in the DC area). Anyway - I won't harp on that. It just strikes me as odd.

And what's going on with all of those shaded sconces? They're featured in a lot of the images on her website - and they seem a bit superfluous to me. They add an element of clutter to rooms that are already richly layered with antiques and objets.

Many of her bedrooms (none pictured here) have the matching wallpaper and bedding style that I also remember well from the '80s. And when done in a floral or a toille, it can be a bit overwhelming. So that wasn't my favorite either - though I do love it for the daybed featured above.

The last three images appeal to me most. They are fresh and bright, with a great mix of modern and traditional elements. And strangely enough - none of them are on branca.com.
While I may not love all of Branca's designs, I'd prefer to see a range like this in a designer's portfolio. And all of these images convery a sense of comfort and personality, with an emphasis on bold textiles, unique accessories and art. It takes some serious talent (and experience) to bring all of that to the varied personal styles of her clients.

What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear them (especially if you have some in favor of the burgundy and yellow...)

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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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