Elements of Style Blog

Reader Home: Single-Handedly Fabulous.

Erin Gates — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:16:04 +0000

Colette and Madeline in their home

Chicago based reader Colette May contacted me with pictures of her self-designed town home last week and I had to do a serious double take with the whole “self-designed” bit, since her space looks more professionally done than my own, and I claim to be a designer! Colette’s story is even more inspiring than her space though, so I wanted to share both with you today.

When not busy finding gems for her home, Colette is a partner at Kindle Communications and single mom to 8 year old daughter Madeliene. At 38 she decided to have a child on her own after continuously picking partners who already had children or didn’t want them. It was “the best decision she ever made”, she says, and I for one admire her gumption in taking on such a huge responsibility on her own! A former model, Colette was tapped as one of Chicago’s best dressed women and has passed along her love for fashion to her daughter, who is already hoping to become a clothing designer. With only their new dog Oliver to add a little testosterone to the mix, Colette has created an utterly feminine space rich with textures that celebrates all things girly! Recounting her days of playing with Barbies and designing their “dream homes”, she feels a bit like this is her real life “dream home”!

Colette bought the town home three years ago, and says it was quite bland initially. After renovating the space previous to moving in, the first aesthetic choice she made was to paint all the window frames and railings black (which I LOVE). Looking at these pictures it’s hard to imagine what would be lost if they were white! She scours flea markets for vintage finds and mixes high and low throughout the space. Wanting a new palette but still loving her existing furniture, she decided to reupholster everything instead of start over. What’s so great about this space is that is entirely crafted out of neutrals, yet is not one bit boring. Colette’s used so many wonderful textures on each surface that your eye is delighted to dance from one to the next finding interest in each variation. Adding a knockout punch of black was a genius decision, and only reinforces my commitment to using copious amounts of black in my next home! I absolutely adore her glamorous yet grown up space and feel pretty lucky to be the first to share it with the blog world!

Now, if anyone knows of a fabulous single man in Chicago who might be worthy…. :)

New Column in Stuff Magazine!

Erin Gates — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:15:41 +0000

In an effort to completely overwhelm my brain I’ve taken over writing the Reside column in Boston’s local Stuff Magazine! The first one is up online now, with some local designer picks for best design books to complete (or craft) your design library! If you live in Boston, be sure to pick up a copy an tune in for more upcoming fun features! I’m on my way to becoming the next Margaret Russell (ha- that’s hilarious, but I can dream!)

Schumacher for Dempsey & Carroll

Erin Gates — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:15:16 +0000

This partnership between Schumacher and Dempsey & Carroll makes me bounce up and down in my desk chair! Three of my most favorite patterns of wallpaper/fabric from my favorite fabric house in combination with stationery, my other well known weakness?? Did someone read my mind?

Windy City Wonder

Erin Gates — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:48:24 +0000

The second I saw the cover of the March issue of Elle Decor I fell in love. The dark navy walls and trim offset with pops of pink and gold had me swooning all over the place. The rest of the home that room came from did not disappoint either (don’t you hate it when there is one stellar room and then the rest of the home is a let down?) The space in question belongs to Oprah producer Ellen Rakieten, who got help from fellow Oprah guru Nate Berkus and designer Anne Coyle in decorating it.

Can I just say, I LOVE THIS SPACE!

From the antique meets modern living room, to the chinoiserie wallpapered dining room, to the clean, crisp kitchen to the perfect home office (inspiration for my own) to the dreamy dressing room and serene all-white bedroom. I could move right in and not change a thing and be a happy girl.

photos by William Waldron

For A Good Laugh.

Erin Gates — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:28:01 +0000

Check me out, I’m a triple threat today with three posts! This was too good not to share though. My brother posted it on Facebook and it’s so appropriate for this blog I had to leap over and show you all! No matter where you go in this country, there are those local furniture store ads that completely horrify you and make you wonder “who shops there?” Well, here’s the best version of one I’ve ever seen. Be sure to watch the whole thing- it only gets better. HAPPY FRIDAY!

Fashion Friday: Military Chic

Erin Gates — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:59:14 +0000

The Spring 2010 collections clearly show that military inspired styles, particularly jackets, are going to be BIG. And I mean BIG. It can be tough to picture rockin’ a military jacket if you instinctively feel like you are going to look like a total poser in one. So I put together two looks, one for colder temperatures, and one for the warm breezes of spring to show you how you can wear it without looking like you were given marching orders.

NOW

Military Chic 2 by elementsofstyleblog featuring Crumpet sweaters

THEN

Military Chic by elementsofstyleblog featuring Splendid tops

A few jackets that won’t break the bank and allow you to try this trend without feeling like you’ve committed too much to it. Because you know next spring this style will be on all the “Don’t” lists. (CLICK pic for link)

A few shots from the runways- everyone was showing military styles, from Balmain to Louis Vuitton.

Introducing: Spanx for MEN!?

Erin Gates — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:03:53 +0000

Does your guy’s gut runneth over from a few too many beers and pizza? Well, it appears that Spanx has come out with a line of compression undershirts for men! I think we should call them Manx and I find them positively HILARIOUS. I also love that they have this dude, with his rippling abs, modeling them. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE me some Spanx and I know that 99% of my girlfriends do too. In fact at a wedding recently my friend and I both realized we forgot to pack ours and we were all “OMG- this is a disaster!” Seriously. Even Andrew knew this was a PROBLEM, so he offered to go out buy me and my friend some (the sign of a keeper, no?) However, I don’t think men will be as addicted to their own Spanx- what do you think?

Before and After shot that I call bullshit on.

A Dream Apartment

Erin Gates — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:18:48 +0000

As soon as I saw the title of Paloma’s post yesterday, “Lucky Lady” on her Facebook feed I thought “it MUST be the Anna Kohler apartment”. And I was correct! Over the weekend I was perusing my dad’s copy of Renovation Style while out in CT and when I saw this apartment I began shrieking out loud. I may or may not have used expletives (which clearly is of some debate for me to use here) and flipped through the story about 50 times thinking “what does this girl DO for a living???” Without further ado, I present you one of the coolest bachelorette pads I’ve seen in a long time:

To get Anna’s look here are some items that might be of interest to you:

Louis XVI dining chairs from Ballard Designs and a white glass chandelier from GreatChandeliers.com

Modern floral wallpaper from Design Your Wall:

David Hicks fabric pillows from eBay and Kelly Wearstler pillows from Etsy

Acrylic bar stools

With a couple coats of glossy white paint and new hardware, this eBay desk could be just like Anna’s.

Beach Babe

Erin Gates — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:58:28 +0000

These delightful ikat-ish zig zag beach towels from Peacock Alley for sale on One Kings Lane today are simply fabulous. In fact, they are so fabulous I’d probably have to coordinate my bikini with them.

Obsession: Skirted Tables

Erin Gates — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:38:55 +0000

I am currently totally and fully obsessed with skirted tables- particularly desks and entryway consoles. There is something so crisp and elegant about them. I plan on skirting a cheap Ikea rectangle desk when I move into my new office space for sure. Here is a DIY no-sew table skirt guide from Newlywed Diaries for those handy with a staple gun and plywood.

This Tom Scheerer table is the ULTIMATE.

Loving Michelle Adams’ desk/console. I’d add a nice strip of greek key trim to the very bottom hem for myself.

Little Green Notebook’s amazing entryway

Palmer Weiss certainly knows how to get it done.

Another DIY version found on Urban Grace