One of my favorite books concerning design and decorating is, In With The Old …Classic Décor from A to Z by Jennifer Boles. It is filled with design elements from years past that have withstood the passage of time, yet are still relevant today. Ms. Boles, like myself, is intrigued and inspired by Dorothy Draper, Billy Baldwin, Sister Parish, and other great names in the early age of design. Her book is filled with items that are as easy to incorporate today as they were 75 years ago. She writes, “Classic design never goes out of style, whether in fashion (think of Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s) or interior decorating”. She is so very right…
Take for example, the banquette. Banquettes are featured in most of the top home design magazines today. Banquettes are a sophisticated and ingenious way to seat additional people in a tight space without looking crowded. A great example is the banquette pictured above, circa 1950s from An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant, the epitome of sophistication. To the left is a current interpretation of a banquette. Same idea just re-imagined for today.
Dust jackets for books are another great example. I have a talented vendor, E. Lawrence Ltd., of Atlanta, that creates wonderful dust jackets for old books. An entire cabinet of his beautifully covered books is a sight to behold. Whether you use an entire bookcase or just a few “statement” pieces, they make a welcome addition to your décor.(You can visit his site to look through his collection at www.elawrenceltd.com)
One of the reasons I wanted to share Jennifer Boles book in my first blog is that it goes hand in hand with my mission statement for Interior Elements Designs. I discovered my mission statement in a book called Discovering Joy, by Marie Chapin. She is a favorite devotional author of mine. “Originality is not doing something no one has ever done, but doing what has been done countless times with new life, new breath, as only you can bring”. That is my goal with Interior Elements Designs. Creating peaceful, restful, beautiful spaces with imagination is my joy.
Remember, design trends come and go. Good design stands the test of time. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you and I hope you will share yours with me here or on my contact page at Interior Elements Designs.
Let’s stay in touch,
Ann
