Master Michael Taylor

One of our favorite California decorating influences is Michael Taylor. He was dubbed the "James Dean of Interior Design" by Diana Vreeland and "the best decorator in the United States " by society and fashion photographer Cecil Beaton. Michael Taylor revolutionized interior design in the 1970's and 1980's with the "California Look".

He was also very well known for his exquisite taste, extravagant shopping trips and ability to transform beautiful spaces using antiques and odd objects.

Michael Taylor ~ "People should have the satisfaction of developing their own personal tastes and of expressing themselves in their own homes with originality."He could do it all, even though most of his famous spaces were white on white. He was fantastic at mixing it up (which we love) shown here - 17th-century Italian chairs join a 19th-century table inlaid with pietre dure. A divine vigniette.
We recently met the author of his tribute book "Michael Taylor Interior Design"
Stephen M. Salny at the PDC. What an interesting design enthusiast and conversationalist!

I so enjoyed this excerpt from a House Beautiful article
interviewing his employee Suzanne Tucker:

"There was one moment that endeared him to me forever. We were driving to an installation and he pulled up in front of the house. I was gathering my things to get out when I realized he wasn't moving. He was still holding on to the steering wheel, staring straight ahead. I said, "Michael, what's the matter?" He took a deep breath and said, "Do you think it's going to look okay?" I said, "Michael, it's going to be fabulous. As always." He looked at me, winked, and said, "Okay, kid. Let's go."

Interview by Christine Pittel

Thank you Michael Taylor.

Dreamy Scapes

We recently swapped our designer hat to artist beret ~ in a collaborative art installation with the infamous "tar artist" Mattia Biagi. What a wonderful exhibit for art's sake at the LAMART!

Dreamscape concept Woodson & Rummerfield’s with artist Mattia Biagi ~

Vecchie scarpe: Old shoes

Old shoes raise the ground behind them in hurried steps in the cold winter. Torn from the road used from the time, they accompany our future. Old shoes, lead us into tomorrow's mysterious street. Old shoes portrait of personality, high, or low-cut, in leather or satin. Some people have many, and unfortunately there are those whose feet have none. Old shoes as a story suggest the fate of the soul.

Poem by Mattia Biagi
Sketch by Jaime Rummerfield

Mattia Biagi

Ron and me at the LAMART, Dreamscape opening event

Fashion Designer Valerj Probega, Mattia Biagi and me

Valerj and Ron
The installation was on display at the LOOK gallery in the LAMART downtown Los Angeles.
Space photos by Grey Crawford. Thanks to everyone who came out what fantastic installations!

Behind Wonderland

October's magazine issue of InStyle Magazine features one of our favorite projects. Christina Aguilera's residence. We had the unique opportunity to work with her and her husband to create their dream space. With them, we created a fantasy , wonderland of a place to call home. Rich with stylish details, noteworthy artwork, pedigree furnishings and an eye for high style. This is truly an exquisite residence that compares to the hey day of Beverly Hills design projects nodding towards the schooling of Tony Duquette and Dorothy Draper. The torch has been passed into the 21st century.Original rendering for Master Suite concept. Platform for bed with up lit steps.

Tester surround with bustled black lace sheers.

Sitting Area in Master. Custom wallpaper. Imported fireplace mantle by the Osborne's.Concept for beauty salon in her closet. Salon style mirrors in our signature Sunset mirror.

Her office and lounge concept in closet.Entry foyer with D*Face artwork, William Swietzer console with pink top, custom wall reveals with red outline and David Hicks inspired wallpaper.

Fabulous French vintage side chairs.Neo-Gothic dining room coupled with a TH Robs-John Gibbings china cabinet.Game Room with smoked mirror ceiling and walls. Custom millwork and moldings .Hand & arm sconce by Pegaso.Original concept rendering for Game room.Rendering look and feel for kitchen.

Outdoor Balinese Pavilion custom built. Featuring antique and vintage colored glass light fixtures. Black and white striped outdoor drapery. And fountain wall with dancing Shiva sculpture.

Hey there's me styling the shoot.

What a wonderful retreat. Custom outdoor table with vintage benches and chairs.
The pavilion is stunning.

A special thanks to the Bratman family for being such a delight.
For the full interview and interior layout with Christina. (We are in it too!) check out October's issue of InStyle magazine!

Happy Menagere

Jonathan Adler is such a doll, literally. So talented with endless whimiscial, fantasty like ideas. It is no wonder we love him. We have so enjoyed working with him and his team . Recently, we customized a couple chic pieces for JA's Barbie closet in the Malibu Barbie house. Oh how FUN! Here is me and Buddy with Jonathan. Where's Liberace? Buddy wants to know.

Malibu Barbie Living Room - POSH

JA's conceptual rendering

Check out Jonathan's new utopia collection http://www.jonathanadler.com/

All the models in this line are hand-made in Jonathan Adler's Soho studio and then the pieces are produced in Peru from brown stoneware which peeks through the sheer white glaze. Adorably reversible, boys on one side, girls on the other! Flip it over, the bottoms are as cute as the tops! 3.75" wide x 4.5" high.

WE love the Lord and Lady cups. Quite fitting for Ron and me.

Bunny Blue!

Designer Matriarch Bunny Williams created a delightful space for the Kips Bay Showcase House. What a Breath of fresh air! Bunny goes down as a legend in our Style File. She has mastered the elements of a tastefully decorated room. Thank you Bunny for being such a classic and bright inspiration!

BUNNY WILLIAMS interview with Douglas Brenner featured in House Beautiful Magazine:
"I just wanted to be happy — and color makes you happy. Turquoise is intense and exciting. But you have to balance strong colors with neutrals. I always stand in a room and think about the balance — you've got to get your proportions right. I say, "Okay, where's the furniture going to go?" I had the fireplace and the big strong botanicals, so I wanted the other end to have the big strong bookcase. But I didn't want it obviously balanced. I broke the symmetry so it doesn't get boring. You have to throw it off a bit."

And you scaled the pattern to hold its own.
I learned all about scale in my 22 years working with Albert Hadley. In a high-ceilinged room, it's exciting to feel the height. You also want intimacy, but if you keep everything low, you throw the excitement away. That's why I used those big, tall planters on the table and the pedestals with the urns in the windows — it makes you notice the height of the window. And the folding screen takes your eye upward. But I tilted the mirror over the mantel downward to reflect the room and the people — not the ceiling.

Why did you paint the ceiling gray?
White ceilings are boring. This one is not just gray, but shiny, which gives it a lift. It makes it ethereal, airy, almost skylike.

Just dreamy.