Friday, September 02, 2011

A New Bohemian Vignette





Earlier this summer, I was asked by Lauren Ralph Lauren and Bloomingdale's to participate in a marketing campaign to celebrate the new Fall 2011 Lauren Home bedding collections. Michelle Adams, Marisa Marcantonio, Eddie Ross, and I were each assigned one of the new bedding ensembles and given the task of styling a room using the selected bedding along with furniture and accessories by both Ralph Lauren and Lauren Home. The results were photographed for a feature article that will be published in the upcoming Bloomingdale's September Home Book.

The bedding that Lauren Home chose for me was "New Bohemian", a collection that includes leopard print sheets, paisley duvet and pillow shams, and black and purple accent pieces. I was also assigned a Queen-size Brook Street Bed as well as the Brook Street Chest, a black piece with faux-croc drawer fronts and very cool antiqued silver pulls. (It looks terrific in person.) I also selected a few accessories from their line, including a lamp, crystal barware, and a jewelry box.

After I was told that I was to style the "New Bohemian" collection, I really debated about how far to take the eclectic look. As you have probably figured out by now, the words "bohemian" and "eclectic" have never been used to describe me. Ultimately, I decided to create a space that reflected my personal style. Of course, I also wanted the vignette to tell a story, so I decorated the room to look as though I was preparing for a formal night out on the town, hence my use of an evening dress, jacket, opera glasses, and a flute of champagne. I pulled in accent furniture from my home, artwork that hangs on my walls, and accessories that are usually scattered throughout my apartment. I think (or at least I hope) that the result is a refined sense of eclecticism.

The shoot took place in a private home here in Atlanta, and I had such fun decorating and styling my space. The people at Ralph Lauren even styled me with an outfit as well as a pair of amazing shoes from their Fall collection. I often wear heels as high as this pair, though I will admit that ballet flats were worn while styling the space.




The vintage toffee leather screen, the corkscrew drinks table, the ballroom chair, and the brass bench at the foot of the bed were all pieces that I brought to the shoot. The black velvet and red plaid evening gown hanging from the screen is an early 1990s Ralph Lauren gown that I wore to a Christmas formal. I also hung a vintage Chinese table screen above the bed for interest. Of course, I couldn't resist bringing in books from my library to display on the small bench.





I peppered the space with paintings done by my sister. In this shot, we switched out my lucite lamp that was featured in the previous photo for this crystal Ralph Lauren lamp. The cream ceramic compote was a wedding gift given to my parents, and Lush Life created a stunning arrangement of succulents for it.




What I would give for that gorgeous Ralph Lauren shagreen jewelry box! I added a few of my necklaces to it. The small silver plated pail was once a Ralph Lauren candle votive that I bought from Owen Lawrence. I usually keep it on my bar to hold swizzle sticks, but here I added dark purple Lilies and green Hydrangea to it.





The Broughton champagne flute and Niles nut bowl are both by Ralph Lauren Home and were borrowed for the shoot.






My Chinese Bird book about which I've written before was placed on the floor. A Ralph Lauren Home Warren standing magnifier rests on top.


28 comments:

  1. What a great vignette! And you look lovely, too. Also, that looks like quite the house with those mirrored pocket doors.

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  2. Truly magnificent. I love how you created an elegant and comfortable layered look, filled with beautiful objects and gorgeous colors.
    A bedroom to behold...

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  3. Thank you Columnist, Classicist, and VictoriaArt!

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  4. The big reveal! I love the plum colors in the bedding and the room looks great! SO chic and Parisian. Plus the light is great. Love it

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  5. Thanks Marisa! Can't wait to see your room!

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  6. What an interesting color combination! Nice job...what a treat to work with such lovely goods.

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  7. Beautiful! I can't wait to see the Fall Book from Bloomingdale's.

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  8. Gorgeous... and the room, too!

    You did a beautiful job! I love your little touches.

    xo

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  9. Thanks so much Jane, Newell, and Meg!

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  10. What a grand job you did! How wonderful that they asked you to participate. Luck for them, luck for you, xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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  11. Jennifer, terrific! I could move right in.

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  12. Wow, gorgeous! And not easy to slide the aesthetic, I would imagine. I want your shoes! :)

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  13. Knockout! Congratulations!

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  14. Thank you all! I really appreciate the kind comments!

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  15. The peak of chic!! What a treat! Congratulations on being chosen and for presenting a room with elegance and personality.
    Sami - the keeper of the pig who thinks Shagreen frightens him. *grin*

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  16. CharleAnne11:42 PM

    Jennifer,
    I'm so proud of YOU!
    You have your mother's smile and beauty.
    If you ever need vintage Life magazines for a shoot, we have lots.
    CharleAnne

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  17. Perfection!! No other words fits. Mary

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  18. Your touches just make the scene, the essence of chic, understated elegance. Makes me want to redo the website pictures of our rooms with you!

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  19. I like the way the hundred-boys screen ties together the dark bed and dresser, while also moving the eye vertically.
    --Road to Parnassus

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  20. What a fun assignment!! You did a great job Jennifer - it looks lovely. Wish I could see your outfit closer - you look beautiful! Love the shagreen box too - it's always those little vignettes that I gravitate to!!

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  21. Thank you, thank you Sami, CharleAnne, Mary, and Marnie!

    Parnassus- Perhaps I'm showing my ignorance, but I did not know that the screen was called a "hundred-boys" screen. That said, I added it to balance out the dark elements on the floor. You totally understood what I was trying to do!

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  22. Simply exquisite! The perfect tone! Such beautiful work! Thanks for sharing and I can't WAIT to see Bloomingdale's September book!

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  23. Hi Jennifer,
    what a cool job to do! I like how you added your personal touch. So, you really drink Champagne when preparing for a night out?! I like that!! :-))

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  24. Beyond fabulous!! I love all the personal touches.

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  25. Suzie,I do have a weakness for Champagne, although many times it's the inexpensive stuff from Whole Foods!

    Thanks Nick! Means a lot to me coming from you!

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  26. Forgive forgive my impertinence. I say those only because I know you work enough to know that you made a very stylish room at the hands of Ralph's furniture. I'm not a huge fan of whine work, too contrived or pretentious. A few items here and there are great - but a whole room looks like a RL showroom. I knew, even before reading the posr that that you added your own touches that elevate above a mere RL room. Th leather screen, and accessories. Id the chinese screen above the bed your touch - I'm thinking it is. The room is grew, but only because of your touches. PS you look great in the picture too. Great job.

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