"My Favorite Things" with Miles Redd

For those of us who are passionate about design (and I think that's most of us who read design-oriented blogs), it seems that we can't consume enough information about interior decoration, decorative arts, and most especially interior designers. That said, I am introducing a new feature today that I hope to bring to you from time to time. I've chosen to call it "My Favorite Things", and the idea is to have an interior designer list his or her ten favorite things. The "favorite things" can range from something decorative to one of life's little pleasures.

For the first featured designer, I chose Miles Redd, a decorator (and fellow native Atlantan!) who is taking the design world by storm. Miles' interiors are always chic and glamorous, yet they are also very comfortable. Miles (with the assistance of Nick Olsen) was kind enough to provide us with his ten favorite things, and as you can imagine, it's a stylish and inspiring list! Here it is, and I hope you enjoy it!


Miles Redd: My Favorite Things


1) Ice tinkling in a heavy crystal glass

2) Odd colored lacquered lamp shades, like Yves Klein blue and emerald green

3) Beginning a day with a BATH

4) TiVo

5) Sleeping in on a snowy Sunday

6) The documentary "Signe Chanel"

7) Low upholstery and beds for sexy slink

8) The photographs of Bruce Weber and Richard Avedon

9) Furniture covered in sheets of mother of pearl

10) Painted patterned floors

(Photo above courtesy of New York Social Diary)

Interior Design in Film

A few months ago, House and Garden featured a list of the most striking interiors of cinema. Many of the movies that were mentioned were favorites of mine, while others I was not familiar with. I adore old movies for many reasons: the suave actors and glamorous actresses, the gorgeous costumes, and of course the scintillating dialogue. But what I love most about movies are the interiors. Many times I catch myself focusing on a character's home rather than on the plot.

I thought I would make a mini-list of some of my favorites as my complete list would be far too long. I tend to gravitate towards the movie sets from the 1930s and 40s. I love the glamour of it all. What would really be interesting, though, is to hear from others- what are your favorite movie interiors??

(And please forgive me for the quality of the photos- it is very hard to find decent film stills of interiors!)



"Dinner at Eight" (1934). This comedy with a cast of characters that included Jean Harlow, the Barrymores, and Wallace Beery has fantastic Art Deco interiors. Jean Harlow's bedroom is so over the top, but it's perfect for her character. Art Direction was by Hobe Erwin and Fred Hope.

"The Thin Man" (1936). The Art Director was the legendary Cedric Gibbons. I adore Nick and Nora's apartment in this movie. It's quintessential Manhattan of the 1930s.

"Top Hat" (1935). What list could not include a Fred Astaire movie? It was actually hard for me to pick one Astaire/Rogers movie, but this one is fun to watch. Art Direction by Van Nest Polglase.

"My Man Godfrey" (1936). Yet another screwball comedy, this time with William Powell and Carole Lombard. Fun (and a bit theatrical) art deco/ Hollywood regency interiors.

"Rope" (1948). This is one of my favorite Hitchcock movies, and the plot was so creepy that I actually had trouble concentrating on the set. The entire movie takes place in a bachelor's Manhattan apartment, and although the apartment is very elegant, sinister things occur!

"A Perfect Murder" (1998). Ok, so I'm the only person who seemed to like this Gwyneth Paltrow movie. I loved her Fifth Ave. penthouse- quiet chic!

Beautiful Embroidery

Embroidery is becoming a lost art, but fortunately Jean-Francois Lesage is continuing his family's tradition of fine needlework. The House of Lesage has been the preeminent French embroiderer for much of the past century. Lesage is best known for its work for France's leading couture houses- Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and Christian Lacroix, to name a few.

Jean-Francois has chosen to focus on embroidery for interiors rather than for couture. His main workshop is in Madras, India, where skilled craftsmen work with such fabrics as silk, wool, leather, and velvet. The embroidered fabric can then be used for upholstery, curtains, bed linen, or anywhere else one might want to use the stunning fabric. For a more affordable piece of Lesage's work, Vivre is carrying silk fuchsia pillows with a copper-thread embroidered lizard on them. C'est magnifique!

Billy Baldwin: The Master

Billy Baldwin. What more do I need to say? Very few decorators can hold a candle to this master of interior design. His style could be quite contemporary, but he was just as comfortable with the traditional idiom. Many of his interiors were masterful displays of bold color, while others were outfitted in chic beige. I think the greatest compliment that can be given to Baldwin, though, is that his rooms were timeless.

I consistently leaf through "Billy Baldwin Decorates" for inspiration. I can see myself living in so many of the interiors, especially those that still seem so fresh today. Part of me leans toward his colorful interiors, such as the rooms of the legendary La Fiorentina or the pink living room of Mollie Parnis Livingston. My minimal side is drawn to the quite chic of Mrs. Gilbert Miller's living room. And what about drama? Well, Baldwin accomplished that too in the living room of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Eastman. Is it any wonder why Billy Baldwin is still so au courant today?



Blue and White Living Room at "La Fiorentina"

Snappy pink and white living room of Mrs. Mollie Parnis Livingston



Chic, chic, chic living room of Mrs. Gilbert Miller (my favorite!)

Deep, dark drama in the living room of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Eastman

Classic Carpet

Have you ever noticed that there are design elements that pop up over and over in interior decoration? Certain books ("Cabinet of Natural Curiosities" and "Best of Flair" ), fabrics (Lulu DK's "Chant" and Clarence House's "Tigre Velours") and furniture (Frances Elkin's Loop Chairs and Billy Baldwin slipper chairs) have all joined the pantheon of classic design.

There are also classic carpet patterns, too, that are favored by many decorators. One such pattern (and also one of my favorites) is "Antelope" by Stark Carpet. The combination of the subtle animal print and the neutral colors makes it a winner. Todd Alexander Romano learned about the pattern from C.Z. Guest, who told him it was perfect for hiding muddy paw prints.

Room by Todd Alexander Romano



Room by Jan Showers

Leopard print carpet is another classic. Stark makes a great one, although other carpet companies have leopard prints as well. Makes me think of Elsie de Wolfe!

Worn leopard print in C.Z. Guest's estate.

And finally, no post about carpet would be complete without including David Hick's designs (such as those at top). These geometric prints have graced many a floor and are always the focal point of a room.

David Hicks rug in a Steven Gambrel room

Chic Color Combos

In the current issue of House & Garden (March '07), there is a great article about color and how to use it. While bold and bright colors are the current trend, many people are very uncertain about how to incorporate it into their rooms. In fact, San Francisco designer Steven Miller warns that bright colors used with reckless abandon can look like "an angry fruit salad".

The editors write that the safest way to introduce bold colors to one's design scheme is by juxtaposing them against neutral colors and natural materials (shells, plaster, old leather). They also suggest the following color schemes: tangerine and stone; green, black, and white; pink and brown; chartreuse and silver; purple and gray; and orange and gray.

I think it's safe to say that pink and brown has been a perennial favorite amongst decorators (and us bloggers!) for a while now. H&G uses the photo at top (room by Tom Scheerer) as a great example. And I adore the combination of orange and gray- so clean and chic. There are certainly other color schemes where the bold color/neutral contrast would apply. What about bright yellow, black, and white? Or turquoise blue and white? I even think that chartreuse or apple green looks great against a very soft blue/gray. I would love to hear what others think about these color combinations. Which one is your favorite?


Bedroom by Albert Hadley- tangerine/coral walls and headboard with neutral trim, floor, bed linens, and furniture


Nick Olsen's command of the green, black, and white color scheme

Bright purple accents against a soft background by Jamie Drake


Bedroom in yellow, black, and white by Jamie Drake

Threshold by Kendall Wilkinson

Threshold is a fabulous design shop located in San Francisco. The spacious shop, owned by decorator Kendall Wilkinson, consists of lively tableaux that feature furniture (both antique and new), accessories, candles, books, and other chic items for the home. Wilkinson has a knack for mixing the traditional with the contemporary, but her real forte is her use of boldly colored accent pieces. Fortunately, much of the shop's wares are available for purchase on the website.

Town Toiles

Have you always wanted to see your hometown or favorite city immortalized in fabric? Well, Town Toiles may be just the thing. The Florida based company has created a line of toile fabric and wallpaper that celebrates such cities as Charleston, New York, and San Francisco. Other cities that will make their design debut this year include Atlanta, Palm Beach, and Philadelphia. In addition to fabrics and wallcoverings, they also sell home accessories made from their toiles.

"New York" Toile


"Charleston" Toile



"Nantucket" Toile

(Fabric at top is "Beach" toile)

Valentine Wishes

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and so is the stress of trying to figure out what to get one's significant other. I personally think that a beautiful and heartfelt card is one of the best gifts you can give. Here are some cards that hit a sophisticated yet romantic note!

Bernard Maisner "Love" Card


Bernard Maisner "I Love You" Card

Mrs. John L. Strong "Sugar or Spice" Card

Mrs. John L. Strong "I Only Have Eyes For You" Card




Kate's Paperie "Hey Hot Stuff" Card

Tyler Hall Wallpaper

Tyler Hall is a small wallpaper line that may not have the name recognition of Brunschwig or Scalamandre, but what it does have are some knock-out designs. Some of their patterns are document prints which are sure to impress the traditionalists out there. But what the line really excels at, in my opinion, are prints that are graphic and colorful.

I love the pattern "Exeter" above. I used this wallpaper in the black/graphite colorway in my powder room. It is the perfect backdrop for bold accessories which is the reason why I chose it. If you would prefer a bolder pattern, perhaps some of their other patterns might suit you.



"Casa di Whitney" in the Red/Coral colorway

"Villaggio di Cina" in the Black/Taupe colorway

"Gallery Gardens" in Coral colorway




"Esplanade" in the Wrought Iron colorway (yellow/black)



"Summertime" in Honey



"Cottage Gate" in Perennial Blue