Stripes

I LOVE STRIPES!   All stripes.  For this post, stripes in two colors of equal size are featured.   I love color, however, there is a preponderance of black and white stripes to come.  Stripes are an effective way to add excitement to interiors and to your wardrobe.

Classic and quintessentially French.  Think of the classic sailor t. Busty babes beware of horizontal stripes in form fitting tops, wonky opticals create obstacles to chic.

 

When possible, I like to incorporate stripes into an interior design scheme.  Some clients are stripe averse.  Often clients will like a geometric, but not a stripe, it’s interesting to find out what turns people off.  I find men are more attracted to paisley patterns than women.  A few interiors, exteriors, and miscellany enhanced by stripes follow.

Exterior & Interior Architecture

In architecture “stripes” are incorporated into building construction.  In the entrance court to the Hofburg Palace below the striped columns balance the heavy over door ornamentation.

 

Located in Cordoba, Spain, the Cathedral or Mezquita houses the original Mosque of Abd al Rahman I begun in 785.  Remarkable repetition of form and balance.

The Mosque is a definite bucket list destination for history and architecture lovers.  For more information click here mosque

 

Jumping ahead a few hundred years…to Portugal’s amazing striped beach houses.  I hope the residents wear striped bathing suits and sit under striped beach umbrellas.

 

Now to Northern Italy…and a fabulous Gothic church located in Monterosso al Mare.  The exterior facade is faced in white marble and (green) serpentino.  The facade dates to 1307.  So incredible.

 

 

I’m starting to feel like a travel agent, let’s get on to the furniture.

Stripes on furnishings

Wide stripes work wonderfully in contemporary interiors.   In traditional interiors, stripe width tends to be thinner.   If you want to incorporate an antique settee or chair into a contemporary setting cover it in a bold colored stripe.  The bold stripe will bring your antique new life and into the 21st century.

The yellow and white stripe chairs above are in the same space.  There are two schools of thought here.  Usually, I wouldn’t  upholster two chairs of  different styles in the same upholstery unless it read as a solid.  I would forever be comparing them and thinking “who wore it better”.  On the other hand, upholstering varying styles, here French Art Moderne and Louis XVI, in the same fabric is a way to unify.

 

 

Georgia O’Keeffe is an absolute favorite of mine.  I had the pleasure of touring her home in Abiquiu.  Her austere interiors were beautifully curated with simple objects of great meaning.  I would call her style – adobe meets mid century.  Here a simple throw brings a graphic punch and plays well with the pillows.  We see the colors of her home repeated in her Kachina watercolor below.

“Kachina (Blue Headed Indian Doll) ”  Georgia O’Keeffe  1935 watercolor and pencil on paper

 

A magnificent set of drawers in alternating woods serves as storage and sculptural art in this space designed by Kit Kemp.

Bespoke set of drawers by Rupert Williamson.  All drawers open and swing out independently.  “Kit Kemp, A Living Space”

 

A striped pillow is attractive in itself.   When it relates to something else in the room, like the black and white in the large art piece, the elements come together to create a cohesive look.

 

You can’t go wrong with striped duvet covers, especially on twin beds.  More visual fun. Usually seen in children’s rooms, this definitely adult bedroom looks smashing with the peach and white striped coverlets.

 

The bachelor pad below has drama for days.  Anouska Hempel, designer extraordinaire, found her inspiration for the design in a Russian Biedermeier desk of mahogany and ebony.

 

A little more relatable is this eclectic living room with a super comfy looking striped sofa.  The neutral sofa tones let the owner’s collection of art, accessories, and interesting furniture pieces take prominence.

 

On the walls

Really, really, really digging pink right now.  Future pink post is in the works.

 

The room below is painted in a brown and white Bendel’s box stripe.  The fabulous bed dates from the 1940’s with fresh tufted upholstery.  The mirrored chest of drawers adds glam.   The tapestry back chair is by Art Deco master Jules Leleu.

 

On the floor

A sisal rug would have looked great in the living room below, but the striped rug brings  energy to the space.

 

Kelly Wearstler is a design genius.   She always creates phenomenal floor designs in her projects.

 

On Ceilings

 

On Window Treatments

Stripes play well with patterns.

 

Bathrooms

 

Love the mid-century cabinet converted into a vanity by adding a limestone top.

 

In Art

The incredible Frances Stark exhibit at MFA in Boston really caught my eye.  Stark uses the collage to express her unique voice.   Its best not to analyze, just enjoy.  Stark uses words that create stripes.

 

Another Stark collage, this one is my favorite.  Love her successful mix of stripes, geometrics, and squares in the subjects clothing.

 

On Clothing

Marie Antoinette’s Lady of the Royal Attire, the Comtess d’ Ossun assembled fabric  records of the Queen’s gowns for the household accounts.   Below are actual clippings of fabrics from the volumes in the Archives Nationales.  Stripes and florals were favorites.

 

These bad boys are from Fendi’s Spring 2017 collection and they’re spectacular!

 

Stripes are everywhere!   5 layered sponge cake with rich chocolate cream topped with caramel.  Yes!

 

 

And a nice cup of tea to go with.  TG Green’s iconic striped cornishware from England.