Margaret Russell ~ Elle Decorama!

We are major devotees to the wonderful worlds of Elle Decor and Met Home. It was an absolute pleasure to meet Margaret Russell, editor and chief of Elle Decor during the La Cienega Design Quarter gala (at Therien & Co).

Yes, my eyes are shut in the photo (I am known for always blinking), but we were having a moment! She is both charming and so warm spirited! (And absolutely cute as a button!)

For the whole documentary of the LCDQ weekend check out:
La Cienega Design Quarter: ELLE DECOR Presents Legends of La Cienega Design ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boa5fmwCBts

You can catch Ron and me during one of our book signings at minute 2:25 on the film!


Our window designed by our pal and the ever talented Martyn Lawrence-Bullard.
ROAR! Love the new zebra textiles Martyn! Thanks for the beautiful installation.

Yves Saint Laurent ~ with appreciation

Paris’ Sale of the Century

Inside the Christie’s Auction of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé’s Collection, with Exclusive Photos from the Architectural Digest Archives

Text by Mark Ginsburg Published July 2009

1. Italian (18) $1,238,849

2. Attributed to Maison Bagues $128,139

3. Gobelins $712,886

At the presale exhibition, held over the course of three days at the Grand Palais, more than 30,000 people visited the treasure trove of paintings, sculpture and furnishings that Saint Laurent and Bergé had amassed.

1 to 3. Italian $109,576

4. James Ensor $6,436,600

GRAND SALON, 1976

Architectural Digest shot the couple’s apartment in 1976.

1. Italian $109,576
2. Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann $202,393
3. Jean Dunand $418,966
4. Armand Albert Rateau $1,455,422
5. French (pair) $125,045
6. Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann $94,106
7. Jules Leleu $44,604
8. After Giambologna and Pietro Tacca (pair) $388,027
9. Pierre Legrain $589,130
10. Armand Albert Rateau $388,027
11. French $148,249

12. Eileen Gray $28,238,277

GRAND SALON, 1976

Architectural Digest shot the couple’s apartment in 1976.

1. Jean Dunand $81,731
2. Attributed to Pierre Reymond $137,421
3. Jean Dunand $125,045
4. Jean Dunand $66,261
5. Albert Cheuret $403,496
6. Sir Edward Burne-Jones $774,764
7. Alfred Porteneuve (pair) $155,984
8. French (four) $132,780
9. Ernest Boiceau $774,76

GRAND SALON, 2008

When Christie’s photographed the apartment in the fall of 2008, the grand salon remained mostly unchanged, although the walls were now lined with paintings.

1. Giorgio de Chirico $14,233,226

2. Augsburg $233,332

3. Fernand Léger $7,158,509

4. Fernand Léger $4,559,634

5. Augsburg $233,332

6. Nuremberg $148,249

7. 19th century $140,515

8. Fernand Léger $4,848,398

9. Thomas Gainsborough $2,827,050

10. Henri Matisse $10,623,677

11. Juan Gris $1,383,231

12. Probably Italian $47,698

SALON DE MUSIQUE

Hall of Mirrors

Saint Laurent and Bergé were patrons of art and design as well as collectors. In 1974 the couple commissioned a pair of mirrors from Claude Lalanne for the music room of their rue de Babylone apartment. Ultimately, 15 bronze mirrors with foliate motifs by Lalanne covered the walls. Visible through the space is a Roman torso in the entrance hall.

1. Claude Lalanne $94,106
2. Roman $1,671,995
3. Claude Lalanne (15) $2,393,905
4. Jean Dunand (pair) $808,660

BIBLIOTHÈQUE

Light and Bright

“There is a theme and a continuity to my collections. Of course, there are always fantasies, but it is the base that counts,” Saint Laurent told Architectural Digest in 1976. During AD’s visit, a Joseph Csaky bas-relief was on the fireplace.

1. Joseph Csaky $186,923

2. French $32,228

3. Vilmos Zsolnay $44,604

What a legacy! A shining example of good taste and well spent investments towards a wonderful living environment. YSL understood the value of investing into one's lifestyle. Well done! It is paying back ten fold.

Givenchy Provocateur

Just watched "How to Steal a Million" with the divine Audrey Hepburn and handsome Peter O'Toole. Astonished with her complete Givenchy wardrobe! But this Lace mask and headband takes the cake. I need someone to make this for me! It is so stunning and mysterious!

Pretty Palettes

Here are some highlights of a delightful project in the works! Would you dine in this fabulous room? Yum.

Entertain in this dynamic setting?

Relax with these soft, yet fresh colors and textures -- feel the ocean breeze yet?

Figuratism Fascination

LUCIEN ROUDIER ELLER

"AU BAR DE PARIS"

OIL ON CANVAS, SIGNED

FRANCE, C.1925

25.5 X 21 INCHES

Figuratism paintings of the turn of the century tell the haunting and mysterious stories of days gone by. So sexy yet dramatic and dark. Papillon Gallery, here in Los Angeles, specializes in European and American paintings and sculpture from the period 1890-1950, with emphasis on the School of Paris. Modernist figurative works that capture the ambiance of the period of particular focus. As avid art enthusiasts, these are splendid additions to any eccentric home.

RAYMOND FEUILLATTE

"FEMMES AU BAR"

WATERCOLOR, SIGNED, C.1930

Julius Shulman Part III

Julius Shulman is one of our legendary mentors. He joined us at our "High Style" book signing and signed the his featured pages. Yes! Julius has made a cameo in our design book.


He photographed my residence in Palm Springs by architect Donald Wexler. A historic 1960's steel framed home, now on the historic register. Julius came to us and said, "there are some homes I never had a chance to photograph in Palm Springs and I would like to now". We had a memorable day of photography, I felt so lucky to share in his creative process. The Palm Springs Museum had an epic exhibition of all of his Palm Springs images and can be found in this wonderful book "Julius Shulman: Palm Springs"Julius Shulman: Palm Springs focuses on Shulman's extensive and historically lengthy documentation of the modern architectural movement in the Palm Springs area. This exhibition will mark the seventieth anniversary of Shulman's first photographic assignment in the desert (Richard Neutra's Grace Miller House, photographed in 1938).

Home to movie stars and celebrities (featured projects include E. Stewart Williams' Frank Sinatra House, and Paul Williams' Lucille Ball/Desi Arnaz House), the Palm Springs area contains some of the movement's finest buildings. In fact, one of Shulman's most famous photographs (and one of the most famous photographs in the history of the medium) is of Richard Neutra's masterpiece, the Kaufmann House, located in Palm Springs. Many of the photographs in the exhibition have never been previously shown.

Twin Palms Houses, Palmer and Krisel, 1957. Photo: 1957
Copyright J. Paul Getty Trust. Used with permission.
Julius Shulman Photography Archive
Research Library at the Getty Rese

MET HOME NOD

Thank you Metropolitan Home Magazine for adding W&R to your Design 100! We are truly honored for the kiss on the cheek! Our Beverlywood chair was inspired by the bygone days of old Hollywood, yet maybe a bit campy. ALA ~Lucille Ball. Hey we all need a little beauty + whimsy!
Thank you High Fashion Home for mentioning us in YOUR Blog as well ~
blog.highfashionhome.com/2009/05/metropolitan-home-design-100

HD Magazine ~ Vegas Fun!

Ron and I graced the pages of Hospitality Design Expo magazine ~ Vegas Design Conferences + colleagues from Gensler, Carrier Johnson and states like Arizona, Hawaii = Great Event

LA Oddities

Ron and I love shopping for treasures.
The city of Angels has much to offer when it comes to odd, strange and wonderful curiosities.
These shots were snapped at Chris' curio shop in Echo Park -

Kohlman Quinn
2203 Sunset Blvd.

More Shulman

OK - So we like him. He was at our shop and the music was too loud. He said, "what is all that banging?!"
Another fabulous picture (and probably the most famous - Case Study 22) photographed by the legendary Julius Shulman: