Our Style According to Those in the Know...

Since we respect Elle Decor and since they named 25 designers as the best in the industry for 2010, we read all the room descriptions very carefully to see how we, as designers and as a shop measure up. Here's a list of our favorite descriptive phrases and how they relate (or not) to Style Key West:

1. "...posh-trad..."
Not so much. We're grounded in traditional but far too simple to be posh.

2. "...Francophile flash..."
Don't think so. We're more whimsical than flashy.

3. "...tawny masculinity..."
Um...sounds very sexy, but, no, not us.

4. "...suave and swank..."
Very Vegas--definitely too slick for us.

5. "...70's funk, 40's Hollywood..."
Nope and nope.

6. "...a cheeky spin on tradition inspired by the saucy elan of American design of the 1930's..."
This really sounds like fun, but I'm afraid it doesn't describe us.

7. "...fanciful wild-child interiors..."
No. We're known for colorful but serene.

8. "...quiet style with legs..."
Maybe--but what does it mean?

9. "...global glam..."
Don't think so.

10. "...masculine rigor..."
No.

11. "...headspinning, high-energy chic..."
It's exhausting just to read.

12. "...high-low aesthetic..."
Not sure what that is.

13. "...Euro-chic crossed with Southern charm..."
Now here's a possibility. Both Caroline and I are half Italian and half Southern. I lived in France for a year, and she grew up in the South. So I think that qualifies.

14. "...cocktail-ready interiors that sparkle, shimmer, shine and seduce..."
This is absolutely perfect for some Key Westers, just not us.

15. "...Cheerful worldly boho-chic spaces saturated with color and whimsy..."
Sounds fabulous but doesn't describe Style Key West. It is, however, a perfect description our friends' Michael and Meredith's shop Besame Mucho on Petronia Street.



16. "...history energized with a dollop of swagger..."
Nope, we don't have any swagger, not even a dollop.

Well, there it is, and unfortunately we don't measure up very well to the decorista-speak of today's good design. We did, however, find one recurring word that we definitely live up to: PANACHE. In fact, that word describes Style Key West really well.

Yes, we have style, color, energy, whimsy--Cottage style with panache!

And Now - Caroline's Favorites...

[Continued from last week's post with Jo's favorite designers featured in Elle Decor's "top 25" for 2010.]

For the most part, I agree with Jo's favorites from the Elle Decor list of designers. I think most people prefer their surroundings to be comfy and and inviting. It's one thing to look at photos of a "perfect" room, but you have to be able to imagine actually living in the space.

This photo of a Victoria Hagan interior caught my eye when I saw it in Elle Decor. I think it's a dramatic take on basic blue and white, and I just love it.


My coffee table would never stay that uncluttered, but a girl can dream.

This photo of a Madeline Stuart interior is my favorite. First of all, I love that it's a barn...I've always been a fan of adaptive re-use. Secondly, her mix of rustic and contemporary harmonizes with the architecture perfectly.


I could totally see myself living there, and I just wish we could see the rest of the house.

Well, I guess I'm drawn to "fanciful wild child inteiors" after all. This room of Kelly Wearstler's has a lot of personality...it makes me want to get to know the person who lives there.


I love that the room is fun and looks uncontrived, and I love that smoky blue wall color. It's a far more interesting backdrop for the colorful furniture that a typical neutral.

And finally, I love this bathroom of Marie Turner's.


What a cool space! I'd be late for work every morning because I couldn't bear to leave the bathroom.

So those are my favorites.

We'll have ONE MORE post about this Elle Decor list later in the week, but it won't be about the designs...it will be about the language used to describe them. Until then!




*Unless otherwise specified in the original posts, all images procured directly from the designers' websites.

Now that We've Heard What Kate Had to Say.... Jo's Favorites from Elle Decor's Top 25 Designers

Caroline and I have really enjoyed all of the posts on the designers featured in Elle Decor's "top 25" for 2010. We pay a lot of attention to Kate's comments since she brings the youth factor to our team. Her observations encourage us to be open to new creative ideas and to go outside our own comfort zones. And, yes, Kate, being inspired and sometimes even delighted by the unexpected is a great way to live! These are my favorites.

I was first introduced to Victoria Hagan at a seminar about the direction of design. I've always been drawn to her elegant serenity and sense of symmetry and proportion. Her rooms are calming and comfortable, and I love them.


Charlotte Moss's designs never cease to charm me. They embody a lifestyle of elegance filled with all the little niceties of life. This bedside table is equipped with great reading light, a selection of favorite books, notepad and pen, sweet smelling hyacinth, water carafe, and drinking glass on a tray. Add to that the comfy pillows and lovely linens...who wouldn't be happy to settle into this room? And best of all, these details can be translated into any style and price point.


Thomas O'Brien is to me the seminal designer who veered away from the dominance of English Country inspired rooms layered with fabric, cushions, patterns, and accessories. At the time, I resented his intrusion into this style which had been the foundation of my work. In retrospect, I see how clever he was adding straight lines to hone the cushiness without forsaking comfort, symmetry, or balance; lightening the color schemes while remaining warm; and editing out the tassels, swags, and furbelows but not neglecting attention to details.



Stephen Sills' interiors draw you in with contemporary comfort and richness. I love the inviting upholstered pieces, mellow colors, and rich wood patinas. My favorite is this elegant sitting room with gently curved seating, creamy backgrounds, and luscious yellow draperies.


I also love Robert Stilin. His interiors have a clean, fresh, and comfortable combination of modern and traditional with a little touch of ethnic within a frame of soft color. These are rooms I could imagine myself living in.


Did you have any personal favorites on the list? Did any surprise you?

Next week, Caroline will weigh in. Until then - have a fabulous weekend!






*Unless otherwise specified in the original posts, all images procured directly from the designers' websites.

Elle Decor's A-Team (Part VIII)

It's hard to believe it - but we've finally reached the end of the list. Elle Decor's top 25 included a vast range of design aesthetics. From the traditional to the cutting edge, there were a lot of different points of view. And I have to say, we were surprised by some of the styles that appealed to us most.

While I can't say that I love every single designer in this list (and a few leave me nonplussed if not cold), I think there is a lot to be said for actively seeking common ground, or at least keeping an open mind and appreciating the small details if not the big picture. It generates new ideas, encourages creativity and may even be the catalyst for a little risk taking. All important things to keep in mind when it comes to designing living spaces. And an evolving design aesthetic helps to keep life interesting.

I may make a general practice of this - being inspired by the unexpected. Seems like a good approach to life whether design is involved or not!

Here is what we think of the LAST three designers...

(If you're new to this, you can catch up with: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI and Part VII.)

Kelly Wearstler

ED (Elle Decor) describes Wearstler's work as "fanciful wild-child interiors, which, in addition to private homes, include such influential hotels as the Viceroy Santa Monica and the Tides South Beach and the BG Restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman in Manhattan. Brash, graphic, theatrical, and skillfully layered, her rooms blend echoes of everything from 1970s funk to '40s Hollywood into head-spinning, high energy chic."










Obviously, the images I selected are some of the less, um...head spinning designs. She really does cover a lot of ground. The rooms I liked best were definitely on the more conservative side of the spectrum, but all of her spaces hold their own when it comes to a sense of personality. They also look like real people live there, and livability is high on our list of priorities. The last few images show some commercial work that we particularly love. The BR Restaurant is gorgeous and that Schumacher wallpaper has a universal appeal for which were are no exception.

Bunny Williams

ED describes Williams as"the undisputed doyenne of aristo-American decorating as well as a garden-design aficionado. For her, it's all about classic comfort, an informed eye, and a bit of fun. In her rooms, fine European antiques meet mirrored walls and gutsy artwork. She uses intense colors and delicate patterns with equal panache."









This opulent decor suits the gracious rooms obviously found in homes of the rich and fabulous. But instead of looking cold or intimidating, they are surprisingly warm and inviting. We love the coral prints covering the bathroom wall like panels (an intriguing alternative to wallpapering small spaces). And I can personally say that last picture of the kitchen makes me want to take up cooking.

Vincente Wolf

ED (Elle Decor) describes Wolf as "a designer who is also an admired photographer and style blogger...[He] brings a focused approach to his interiors, conjuring airy, modern-minded spaces ready for their close-up. Many of the finest have global-glam attitude, featuring blue-chip 20th-century furniture icons, a sprinkling of baroque antiques, Asian elements, and ethnographic treasures."







Wolf's website didn't feature a portfolio of design projects, but all of the images I found on other blogs were very much in line with the Elle Decor description. The muted colors of the textiles and paint are very soothing and direct attention to the exceptional furniture and art. These spaces are styled to perfection but still look comfortable and livable (there are those words again!) He brings an artist's eye to decorating and somehow makes it look effortless.

*images from: Designista, Velvet & Linen, Plush Palate, Patricia Gray, Desire to Inspire

So what do you think of Elle Decor's selected designers? Did you think anyone was missing? Next week I'll cover their "5 Designers to Watch" - so omitted favorites may be in that list...




*Unless otherwise specified, all images procured directly from the designers' websites.

Elle Decor's A-Team (Part VII)

I'm seriously running out of intro ideas for these Elle Decor's top 25 interior designers posts... How many more ways are there to say the same thing? It's now clear that we're going through the 2010 list and talking about what we personally find appealing about the designers...right? Anyway - just a couple more weeks to go in covering the rest. It's been a fun summer project!

Here is what we think of the next three...

(If you're new to this, you can catch up with: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V and Part VI.)

Robert Stilin

ED (Elle Decor) describes Stilin's work as "carefully edited, serenely contemporary settings that invite laid-back living...His fuss-free projects are finely tailored and warmly textured, incorporating clean-cut fabrics, strong lined vintage, antique, and modern furniture..., dark metal, natural woods, and grandly scaled art with a compelling graphic presence."








Stilin's work leans more toward contemporary than the Style Key West look, but if there is one thing that we absolutely agree upon, it's a well thought out room that maintains comfort and functionality regardless of aesthetic. The images we selected are those closest to our own style and feature very livable spaces with the perfect balance of universal appeal and individual personality.

Madeline Stuart

ED describes Stuart as "funky, classic, elegant - Stuart produces them all, imbuing her work with romance, history, and a sense of expansive ease. The interiors...can be appropriately dramatic or restrained depending on whether she's designing a Georgian manse or a sleep contemporary beach house...Whatever their style, her rooms usually feature a compelling mix of antiques and bespoke pieces."







This was a hard one to go through since Stuart's range of work is pretty epic. It covers Spanish, Modern, Ranch... But antiques, vintage styles and rich textiles figure prominently in her work. One theme of the portfolio that greatly appealed to us is the attenion to personal spaces such as dressing rooms, bathrooms and bedrooms. There is a level of decadence to styling fantastic spaces that are rarely seen by visitors.

Steven Volpe

ED (Elle Decor) describes Volpe's interiors as "ranging from lusciously palatial homages to the past to edgy exercises in modern living. The San Francisco-based designer was strongly influenced by his years in Paris and is known for a spare sensibility that never forgoes luxury or richness, juxtaposing strong colors with refined detailing, modern works of art, and subtle doses of glamour and shine."







I'm finding myself at a loss on this one... I selected images that I found appealing for their composition, fine art and obvious taste level, but none of them particularly speak to my personal taste. I think the last two images come the closest, but there is little here that reflects the Style Key West design philosophy. Volpe's work is probably best appreciated from afar. It's hard to imagine people living in these rooms. Maybe entertaining...but not sitting around with a cup of coffee and the morning paper. I would find it hard to feel comfortable in these spaces. Everything is "just so". But then again - the images were pulled from a portfolio, and room styling plays a role in this perception.

So what do you think? Any opinions so far on Elle Decor's selected designers?




*Unless otherwise specified, all images procured directly from the designers' websites.