Double RL and O

I have appointments and client shopping to do today but I hope I can make it home by 4:00pm to watch Oprah.  She'll be interviewing Ralph Lauren at his Double RL ranch in Telluride, Colorado, pictured here.  Apparently, it's his first television interview in 20 years and quite a coup for Oprah's final season.  Enjoy!

Photos by Gilles de Chabaneix for Architectural Digest 2002

THE GOODY BAG: RALPH LAUREN

It's Alissa of The Goods Design here, bringing you the best of the best of Los Angeles' interior design events, people, places and things. This week I popped into the Kravet showroom for a little Ralph Lauren Home fete. Delicious food + gorgeous fabrics = a designer who loves her job.

It seems like the next big thing these days is taking a step away from the very "designed" interiors, and moving more towards a layered look - as though it was collected over time throughout your travels.

Love it. Please sign me up immediately.

Gorgeous inspiration image from this season's Ralph Lauren Home collection. I'm obsessed with that leather chair (if you are looking for something to buy me).

The event was focused on debuting some of their new fabrics, and I fell for a few of them... like this brown zebra print (but let's be honest, I never met a zebra print I didn't love).

Believe it or not, this is a silk. It looks like something you might have picked up on your travels in India, but soft as a baby's you-know-what.

RL also revealed their upcoming outdoor collection, and that's when the oooh's and ahh's really started to happen. Their outdoor fabrics are amazingly soft and this inspiration image has me ready to throw a garden party. Now.

More gorgeous (outdoor) fabrics included an embroidered sheer based off the African kuba-cloth.

This blue ikat (on the right) combines everyone's favorites - an exotic ikat AND a chevron. Win-win! And the blue paisley on the left would be an insane outdoor drapery or banquette cushion.

I loved hearing about the design process (they create a fictional character and create an entire collection around that person) but once the fabrics were passed around, I really started to swoon. Linens with a gorgeous gold sheen, luxurious silks, timeless animal prints. So many of the fabrics came with a patina - already sun-kissed or tea-stained. I was in decorator heaven.

*all inspiration images from the Ralph Lauren Home website, all fabric photos taken by Alissa Swedlow

Ralph Lauren Home: Part Deux

One of the other Ralph Lauren Home rooms in the ladies mansion was devoted to a more modern, masculine and metropolitan design aesthetic.  That is the reason why I chose to post the photos separately.  It reminds me of Ralph's own Manhattan apartment and his car collection with very sleek lines and shiny surfaces.  It also makes me wish I had a room big enough for the chic Cube Bed.   Obviously, this complete look isn't for everyone but there is no reason why you couldn't add a few of these pieces into your current decor.  Enjoy!

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

Chic Soiree and Spring at Ralph Lauren

I had intended to post these photos of the new spring Ralph Lauren Home rooms at the Ladies Mansion yesterday but my computer had other ideas.  It actually worked out perfectly because now I can not only post photos of the gorgeous rooms but tell you about the chic soiree I attended there last night.  Ralph Lauren, the man and the store, graciously hosted a lovely cocktail party to celebrate editor in chief Margaret Russell and the new Architectural Digest and it was definitely the party of the year so far.

Not only was everyone in the design world of New York in attendance but many came from out of town to celebrate with Margaret.  Some of the attendees included Charlotte Moss, looking beautiful in black Ralph Rucci; legendary decorator Mario Buatta; architect Richard Meier; Jesse Carrier, who as I suspected will be decorating Jay Fielden's new office at Town & Country magazine; chic party planner and shop owner Antony Todd, Suzanne Kasler, the sweetest designer ever in town from Atlanta; Darryl Carter in from Washington, DC; and Nathan Turner from Los Angeles.  I did not get to meet Nathan when I was in LA last year so it was a treat to finally meet him in New York.  His new design reality show will debut this spring on Bravo and I can't wait to watch.  My friend Jessica and I couldn't let style icon Iris Apfel pass us by without telling her how much we love her style and I couldn't resist telling Zezé how much I love his flowers.  I think a field trip to his shop is in order soon. 

So, I can tell you a good time was had by all especially since my head is still pounding today.  But more importantly, make sure you stop by the 4th floor of new ladies Ralph Lauren mansion to check out the gorgeous new spring collections for Ralph Lauren Home.  It's like visiting the chicest home where you can actually buy everything you see.  What could be better than that?!  Bon Weekend!

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic