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Design Elements We Love: Graphic Floors

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 04:52:07 +0000

Graphic floors

Evoking more than a little of the dining clubs this set so liked to frequent by night, glamorous Hollywood Regency homes were often found to have statement monochrome floors in them. A major proponent of this was Dorothy Draper, regularly named the first professional interior designer in America and the woman responsible for outstanding deco-inspired projects such as the Carlyle and the Fairmont. Her most famous commission, that of completely revamping the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia after its use in WW2 as a military hospital, proves the epitome of her look. Dramatic prints, colorful chintzes, glossy finishes and a chequerboard floor all play a part in its famous staircase, a benchmark for the “Modern Baroque” style that Draper invented.

Photo Courtesy of Museum of the City New York, Tony Duquette

Design Elements We Love: Bar Cart

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 06:46:17 +0000

If the glamour of the Big Band era was to be found in everything from the clothes people wore to the cocktails they drank, then it was also extremely visible in their homes. As Mid Century Modern design took hold and a new era of Hollywood style glamour dawned, home décor was given something of a makeover, one that suited this new, fun loving and opulent way of life. As seen so famously in Sinatra’s own Twin Palms estate in Palm Springs as well as popular haunts of the time such as The Beverley Hills Hotel, The Sands and Dorothy Draper’s revamped Greenbrier, it was a time of lacquered cabinets and chrome accessories, sleek lines and chandeliers, Chinoiserie and chequerboard floors – and it all amounted to one hell of a look. In our Fall collection, we have referenced just this; jewel toned brocades, animal prints, embellishment and shiny metallics all take their cue from Hollywood glam.

We have rounded up 5 key design elements over the course of this week:

The Bar Cart

If there is one item that just about sums up the essence of Rat Pack era interior design, it could well be the bar cart. With its immediate connotations of ‘cocktail hour,’ of a home shaken martini (or perhaps a Manhattan,) a bar trolley adorned with specialist liquors, crystal glasses and silver plated shakers is an instant transporter to an all-together more decadent time. Vintage chrome bar carts by the likes of Milo Baughman are now collector’s items and available via sites such as 1st Dibs, whilst several design blogs have dedicated articles to sourcing the best modern replicas. Whichever you go for, dressing your cart is key. You can see our previous blog by interiors guru Rita Konig on exactly what you need to stock it up with here.

Photo Courtesy of Michael Yarish AMC, entertainmentweekly.com

The World of KOTUR: Bulgari hits Hong Kong

kotur — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 09:33:36 +0000

It’s a happy night when you get to go somewhere off the charts glamorous with your girlfriends. Happier still, when that night features a dinner and dazzling installation courtesy of Bulgari and reminiscent of the just the sort of old world glamour we so love here at Kotur. Throw Hilary Swank and Adrian Brody into the mix as fellow attendees and it’s safe to say this night out was well worth the effort to dress up for.

In town to celebrate the opening of their new and extremely sumptuous Chater House boutique, Bulgari pushed the boat out for a real evening to remember, hosting a black tie dinner in the as yet unopened Maritime Museum on the harbour in Hong Kong. From the guests to the get up, the dinner to the venue, the glamour quotient came only one way – rocket high. Adrien Brody and Hilary Swank had both come to Hong Kong especially for it and proved to be not only completely charming dinner guests but fitting ambassadors for the brand. Both Academy Award winners, their accomplishments and grace spoke for themselves, and much louder than mere celebrity.

Surrounding today’s stars were famous faces of Hollywood Royalty from years gone by, with an installation of black and white portraits decking the halls of the venue. As Liz Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and the great and the good of the golden age of movies looked down on us throughout the evening, they served as a reminder of the timelessness and legacy of elegance. They were helped by a stunning set. Tables that displayed the Bulgari watch faces round their edges, countless beautiful white blooms, flowing Dom Perignon, a set from the extremely talented soul singer Gena West and invitations that had been sent with accompanying bunches of flowers were just some of the touches that made this a really very special night. The icing on the cake? My girlfriends, out in force and doing their bit for the glamour quotient. Really, who could ask for more.

Click through our gallery for more pictures

The World of KOTUR: Hollywood Costume, The Golden Age

kotur — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:56:59 +0000

As minds and eyes turn towards Red Carpet season, a reminder of how they used to do it in the good old Hollywood glory days is really very fitting. Brilliantly, that reminder exists in a stunning exhibition currently on show at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and about to tour the world. Hollywood Costume is a who’s who – or rather, who wore what – of film costume since 1912. From Dorothy’s red glitter shoes to Scarlett O’Hara’s green gown, Marilyn’s naughty pleated dress from that airborne moment in The Seven Year Itch to Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra Robes, John Travolta’s Saturday Night Fever suit to Uma Thurman’s Kill Bill yellow jumpsuit, seminal costumes from characters and film moments printed indelibly onto our minds serve not only as reminders of the films they were so a part of, but also as proof (if it was needed) of the power of costume.

Video interviews and discussions with Directors and Costume Designers throughout the exhibition help explain the ideas behind the decisions that led to some of the most striking visual references of the last century. But, in most part, there isn’t much explaining to do. This is about how fashion and clothing does at the very least as much as words to tell a story, create a character, to form an impression and indeed give personality. As Hollywood lines up for Red Carpet season, it’s a timely reminder of how much you can say without uttering a word.

Hollywood Costume will be on at the Victoria and Albert in London until 27th January. Thereafter it will be on tour, visiting the Austalian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne next Spring, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts next November.

Picture credits: V&A - http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/exhibition-hollywood-costume/about-the-exhibition/