THE HIGHLIGHT REEL: FRANK FEATURES

Last week, I fell in love. Seriously in love. I discovered the portfolio site for Frank Features - a South African editorial content company - and found myself impressed more and more with each inspirational image...

The glamorous details captured in crystal...

Old world dining rooms and sleek, modern bars...

Dark and dramatic or fresh and light...

Every single one is absolutely perfectly stunning!

FRAME IT IN RED...

The boy says no. I say yes. Yes, yes yes!
What do you think? Would it work if the the photos weren't all in black + white?? I'd love to do this on a much smaller scale in our entryway...

*photographed by eric piasecki, design by steven gambrel for elle decor - quite possibly my new favorite home they've featured recently!

Never Say Never?

Just a week or two ago I was mentioning to a friend how I "don't do" cowhide. Can't stand it. It reminds me of bad kitchy country or attempts at mixing up ultra modern designs. Until this day, an interior containing cowhide has yet to grace the pages of coco+kelley. But... never say never my dears.

While I've been questioning some of the choices of Kelly Wearstler these days, this space is not one of them. I really like the mix of objects here. True to her style, there's a touch of glam with a vintage vibe, and she keeps it simple, which is when I like Kelly best. And, the cowhide? Well, I think it's an unexpected choice and a perfect way to compliment all the gold accents in the room - is it working for you?

And then, I stumbled upon this photo by Erik Johnson. Maybe its just because it's a detail shot done so well, but I actually like, again, the unexpected use of cowhide on the antique chair. A great contrast to the modern clean lines of the funiture (and how killer is that lucite table?). Note: Am also loving the red door and the touches of red carried into the living room.

While I'm still not convinced I'll ever make this textile my first choice in an interior design project... I guess these spaces teach us to never rule out the possibility of using materials we may not immediately be drawn to. What about you? Do you have a "never" on your list?

Trim It In Grey

LOVE this.

The way the grey contrasts the warm wood tones is so yummy. A cute little vignette instead of those chairs, and we're all set.

*image by mark lund

More Couture Details

A few weeks ago, I shared a few of my favorite details from the couture shows... well, I had to add a few more, because there was so much yummy goodness going on...

While we were all completely enthralled by the paper flowers at the Chanel show, there were a few other magnificent details to fall in love with too.

My favorites? The chic black and white pattern above and the totally 80's gloves below. Only in Chanel could you combine the two and get away with it!

For the record... I can't believe more actresses weren't sporting some gorgeous Elie Saab designs at the Oscars. But, in keeping with the very white trend we saw, these two would probably have been my picks... (Oh, and since you asked, loved Natalie Portman and Anne Hathaway. And Angie's green jewels. Of course.)

Another look I'm loving? Black flowers. While floral patterns are popping up everywhere for spring, us girls who look best in black can still get away with the trend... a little goth style.

And finally... this dress from Dior had me thinking of teacups the second I saw it. Such a fun little detail to have the underside of a skirt displaying a beautiful pattern.

Still trying to catch up with all the Fall'09 shows! You can expect some posts on them in the next few weeks... from what I've seen, there's lots to love!

Screen Time

Requirement for my dream home #1: Light airy spaces. Preferably with elements to keep those spaces feeling even more open, like these fantastic screens...

As you can tell just by looking at my banner, I love simple repeated designs like the screens used in this home by Philip Galanes. Much more visually interesting than a wall!

While many cultures use this concept in their own traditional styles, the funny thing is that I'm drawn to them because it's such a Southern California thing (like the entrance to the Parker in Palm Springs!). The designs remind me of the cinder block fences and entrances around the neighborhood in Venice Beach where I grew up.

So, maybe it's an element of nostalgia that makes me really love this look? What do you think? Is it too retro for you, or just as cool as ever?