Asian Influence

I have noticed lately that many spaces featured in current decor magazines have an Asian/Chinoiserie vibe to them. The more I see this, the more I want to incorporate such pieces in my home. It is a sort of ethnic take on modern glamour. Modern can often feel cold and static - add some Asian influence and it becomes warm and dynamic. This look can be achieved on a small or large scale, but I think small scale works best. Mixing Asian with modern or classic pieces is just so much more unexpected.

How about simply a pair of Buddha bedside lamps.

House Beautiful

If a subtle look is what you're after, perhaps a ceramic stool and a piece of Asian-inspired artwork.

House Beautiful

Typical Asian colours of red and black applied in wallpapers and accessories makes a bold statement.

Sköna hem

Betsy Burnham

Asian furniture has such beautiful lines and can make a big impact.

Sara Story

Sköna hem

Betsy Burnham

Sometimes maybe bolder is better. Asian ceramics are stunning, and make quite a statement placed in an entryway to an even bolder statement - a room swathed in reds and blues.

Jack Levy

(Thanks Mark for asking Jo and I to guest blog for you! Kim @ desire to inspire)

Doyenne of Design

As some of you may know Mark and I come from not only the same country but the same city, Brisbane. Although we never knew each other in Brisbane we both have a passion for design and an eye honed by Australian experiences. So I thought while Mark was away I’d share with you the doyenne of Australian interior design, the grand dame who started the modern design revolution in my country, Marion Hall Best.


Kim and I love showcasing the best in interior design, or as we call it, room porn from around the world. When we first started Desire to Inspire I knew that I would definitely be featuring Australian design on the blog. Not only are Australian interior design and architecture world class they’re so little known in North America and Europe (from where most of our readers hail) that I knew they would be something fresh and fun to most of you. Names like Dorothy Draper, Billy Baldwin, Sister Parish and Eames are iconic in the States. David Hicks and a stampede of Scandinavian designers including Saarinen and Alto are worthy European representatives but how many of you can name an iconic Aussie designer? Florence Broadhurst comes to mind and America and Europe are finally recognising her great talent for pattern. Marion Hall Best deserves the same sort of recognition for her even now outrageous use of colour and glazes. She detested beige and was responsible for introducing Australians to Marrimeko, Scandinavian glass, Eames furniture, Noguchi, Bertoia and providing a platform Australian furniture designers such as Grant Featherston.


Best developed her love of fabulously saturated colour in the 20s and 30s while studying and moving in the bohemian art circles of the time. She was drawn to interior design because she “knew that she wanted to work in big areas of colour in a three-dimensional way which belonged to living spaces.” From 1938 until its closure in 1974 her shop stocked local designers and the best of European and American imports. In the 60s at the peak of her career she was the designer of choice for major corporations and the Sydney society set. She became the arbiter of the latest styles. Her interiors showcased the best of what the design world had to offer. It helped that it was often exclusively available in her showroom. In a post war world of “porridge” colours Marion is probably best known for her vivid glazed walls, colourful undercoats with contrasting translucent glazes; yellow over red, pink, black, blue or green producing intriguing tangerines, olives, aquamarines and chartreuses.


And the lessons to be learned? It isn't about the retro. It's about the colour. Be bold, have fun. Explore the international design classics but support your local emerging furniture and fabric designers. Be outrageous if you dare. Look to those who have gone before you and take inspiration but make it your own. Oh yes ..... and Aussies are pretty hot stuff when it comes to design! If Marion Hall Best’s work intrigues you I recommend Best Style: Marion Hall Best and Australian Interior Design 1935-1975 as very little exists on the internet. Thanks Mark for the opportunity to share! Jo

Wherefore ART Thou?

The First Lady of Interior Design, Ms Elise de Wolfe, insists that "a person of sincerity of purpose" would never hang fake "works of art" on their walls and although I disagree with her severity, I do believe that she has a point. But I have gotten ahead of myself. Firstly, may I introduce myself? My name is Ashleigh and I have had the great privilege to work for Mark for the last year. I was greatly complimented by his suggestion that I "Guest Blog" for him while he is on vacation, so Thank You Mark for the opportunity! I wanted to take this wonderful chance to blog about a topic which is quite close to my heart---The Accessibility of Art to Everybody.

Several years ago, I was at the office of Charles Tyrwhitt when my eye was caught by a beautiful and unique work of art. I asked my friend if he knew anything about it and he told me that he was friends with the artist. Long story short, I purchased several pieces from her and have been in love with them since. At that time in my life I was a bit short on cash, so I bartered with her and we both walked away happy. Since then I have added to my collection--Vintage Vogue Magazine Covers purchased in Portobello Market, a burgeoning collection of Butterflies from all over the world and even a line drawing my Boyfriend drew last year. Many times I have been questioned as to how I could possibly afford to collect such an interesting array of art and I am always astounded by the questioner's disbelief that most of what I have was under $300.

It has been many years since I left college but when I visit the homes of many of my friends, they still have those old posters, albeit in new frames, on the walls. Their excuse for these shabby representations of taste and style has always been the same. Art in Expensive. NOT SO!


There are many wonderful ways to create a beautiful collection but, as Troy from TKO Art (www.tkoart.com) so bluntly said to me, the first place to start is to discover your own taste. Not what Tom Dick and Harry like but what YOU really love. Visit galleries and educate yourself, spend some time looking at art--highbrow or not, and then go out there and find the perfect thing for you. Some great suggestions of where to start, at least here in LA, are the Venice Art Walk (www.venicefamilyclinic.org/index.php?view=art_walk_auction), the Art District in Culver City (www.ccgalleryguide.com) and the Brewery Art Walk (www.breweryartwalk.com) which has an event this October. I am sure that there are similar events and districts everywhere! My mother lives out in "Cowboy Town" Arizona but she is not far from Jerome AZ and so if she can find an artist's colony near her than I dare anybody to claim that there is nothing near them!

Finally, let me say that if you insist on having Monet, Turner or Klimt, PLEASE put them in a lovely frame, with matting, WITHOUT the name of the Museum you picked it up at listed across the bottom and maybe try to find something a bit more unique by that same artist. Just for me...please :)

Happy Hunting! Ashleigh

Resource Day: FLOR

I know I say this every week, but I love Thursday's and today is no different. I spend all week trying to decide what great resource I should talk about from one week to the next. Today I chose FLOR carpet tile. Well, it's actually a lot more than just a tile, it's a whole modular floor system, that can be used for area rugs, wall to wall or just as an opportunity to add a bit of spice to the floor.

I really like to use them in areas where it is difficult to imagine using a regular carpet, like in the children's playroom above, it's the perfect solution. If one of the kids spills paint or whatever, you don't have to freak out, just pull up the offending tile and replace it with a new one! Or for that matter you can take the dirty tile outside and hose it down.

I am currently using them in an office remodel we are working on, where the owner has dogs. So should there be any accidents or whatever it's easy to replace one tile at a time.

Installation is easy too, there are these nifty little adhesive stickers that hold them all together, that makes keeping it all straight and together a breeze. Speaking of breeze, they now offer an exterior collection too, which I have yet to use, but think is such a natural extension of the brand. As you can create very fun, interesting rugs for the outside that are easy to keep clean and move around.

One of the problems with a system like this, is that with so many choices it's hard to make a decision about anything. Well if you go to the FLOR website, they have a whole section dedicated to ideas for rugs etc that you can just download, so it makes it a lot easier. You can tell, I love these guys, I thinks it's a great product, that's not expensive and made really easy to use. Let know if you think the same!

EXCITING NEWS!!!

Today I have some great news! I will be out of town, at the end of this week, and part of next (that's not the good news). I have asked a few of my favorite bloggers to do guest postings, so there will be some fresh voices to look for. I just heard from Jo and Kim over at Desire to Inspire, an amazing site, who have agreed. Unfortunately Peak of Chic had to decline, but with an excellent reason, so you should go to her site and ask her why, I am sure you will be as excited for her as I am.

Also a few surprises from some of the folks at my office will be appearing too, so look for those, it is bound to be an interesting week.

Once again, thanks to those of you stepping in to fill the void, I think it will be a week of great reading.

Fireplace: Keep it Simple

One of my biggest gripes I have when I look at the interiors of most homes is too much clutter. Sometimes more can mean better, but it is more the exception than the rule. This can be seen more often than not when it comes to fireplaces. I am as big a fan as anyone of making them the focal point of the room, I think that the warmth and visual weight that they add, can often only be done using a fireplace, however, this should not give license to create havoc!

So many times you will walk into a room and there will be a huge mantle, with art above, lighting, maybe a plant....enough already! sometimes, a more restrained approach will give a more sophisticated, elegant approach. For the fireplace shown above, I used a simple precast trim, around the inside edge to softly delineate from the plaster wall. I also inserted a wrought iron plaque to help the proportion of the opening, creating the illusion of a larger firebox. I think it was pretty successful in making a quiet statement. I deliberately under scaled the art to encourage people to approach, and then added old world sconces on either side for a flourish.

If you are dealing with an existing fireplace, here are some thoughts about how to create a simpler presentation:

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  Try removing the mantle all together, it will really open up the wall. If considering this, make sure you have a firebox opening that is in proportion to your space, or else you may just create more problems for yourself.


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  If removing the mantle is not an option, you can paint it the same color as the wall, it will then become much less dominant in the room.


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  Try not to clutter up the space, use only one or two accessories, or try using an art piece that is a little under scaled.

Great New Images

Today I am excited to premiere a few new shots of a project that I just finished. It is a house in Newport Beach, California. I particularly like this project because I think it has such a great sense of relaxed elegance to it. It's the sort of place where you would feel comfortable sitting and reading a book on a Saturday afternoon, but then with some fresh flowers and candles, you could host a formal party in the evening.

Today I am just posting three shots of the Living Room. I am sure the other shots will turn up in other posts in the next week or two. A big Thank You to John Ellis, the photographer who created the beautiful images.