Archive of ‘Decor’ category

HOW TO USE THE LATEST FASHION TRENDS FROM PARIS IN YOUR HOME

As Fashion Week events around the world come to close, editors and influencers have headed home, filing articles and booking photo shoots. While I do this too, I also spend a great deal of time thinking about how this will impact interior design and home trends. I was in Paris during some of the hottest shows this year and left with a lot of inspiration.

What does runway fashion have to do with our homes? 

A lot, actually.

Fashion has a major influence on interior design products in every sector of the market from luxury brands to Target. The style trends for Fall 2019 that are making waves on the runway, will trickle down to home decor everywhere from color choices and textures to style and form. 

Since fashions change seasonally, incorporating current trends into your home is a little trickier and some might argue, unrealistic. I disagree and think ideas widely considered unrealistic are usually the most fabulous.

But, how do you do it?

The answer is quite simple, actually. I follow the approach French women take towards fashion, having had it drilled into me since I was a child by my very French father, Marc. Following these guidelines, will leave you with a home that is stylish, but also elegant and timeless.

CLASSICS BEFORE TRENDY

First, start with timeless classics.

French women always stick to classics as their base in fashion. They work trends in with small details. Doing this in the home creates an equally elegant look. Start with classic neutrals you can play with. A neutral sofa, paint color, etc. Unless you use $100 bills for firewood, stay away from trends for major renovations like kitchens and baths.

Example: Marble is classic, blue kitchen cabinets are trend

CLASSIC LUXURY KITCHEN DESIGN BY COURTNEY CACHET

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full disclosure, I designed this kitchen in classic white and marble because I felt it was stylish, but timeless and that’s my personal preference for kitchen design. The blue kitchen, while striking, is more trendy and mightn’t be ideal for many homeowners. Unless you love (and I mean LOVE) blue. See where I’m going with this?

Photo Credit: Pinterest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

The best piece of advice my father ever gave me was, this:

“When you buy quality it only hurts once. When you don’t, it hurts over and over again.” Case in point, think about something you bought at a budget big box store because you wanted something affordable. How’d that work out for you? Exactly. Buy the best you can afford and you’ll spend less in the long run while simultaneously looking much better.Example: Three cheap sofas vs one good one you’ll have for twenty years.

QUALITY SOFA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FASHION TRENDS ARE YOUR DETAILS

Some of the standout trends were suedes, patchwork, lace and highly saturated color. No doom and gloom vibes of last year, thank goodness.

I was invited to Patrick Pham’s show in Paris this January and he had lots of bold colors and patterns that would work into the home nicely in small doses, like these pillows. They also overlap with he patchwork trend, adding a modern spin.

 

Photo Credit:Patrick Pham

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another designer showing in Paris while I was there, Ziad Nakad creates luxurious, over the top gowns that were a vision to see. If you like this, then I say go bog or go home. Exhibit A, courtesy of Horchow.

Photo Credit: Ziad Nakad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Horchow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOLD PRINTS

Certain French and Italian luxury brands, however bold in their year to year designs, remain classics. Hermes is the perfect example. Here is the Super H Hermes scarf, which I upholstered an antique chair with. I may miss my scarf, but tI think hat chair is pretty fabulous. I used an Hermes, but you could use any print that suits your taste and budget. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Courtney Cachet Custom Designed Hermes Chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, remember. Start with neutral classics, add your fashion items in the details and always buy the best you can afford. Et voilå. 

XO,

Courtney

 

 

 

 

MAISON&OBJET Honors 6 Lebanese Designers (You Really Need To Know)

 

If you love design and you’ve never been to MAISON&OBJET, you’re really missing out. I mean, really missing out. I don’t go to most American design shows anymore for a few reasons. With a New York home base coupled by my media access, I’ve seen a lot of this stuff before the general public. More importantly, the majority of design and decor coming out of the U.S. the past few years is everyone’s ever-so-slightly tweaked version of “what’s trending” stateside. Essentially, it’s all the same stuff. It’s boring, less relevant and one step away from tacky.

There are exceptions to my massive generalization, of course. Kelly Wearstler, Miles Redd, Martin Lawrence Bullard (um, not American) and Jonathan Adler are just a few major talents  that come to mind. You have incredible artisans, craftsmen and designers throughout the U.S., but very little attention is paid to them beyond the high design circuit. Instead, we are in a sea of cliché patterns, shapes and finishes that you can find at Target or Home Goods on a good day. Design Bloggers (does that even still exist?) and influencers-whose primary job is commentary-are revered more than the actual designers themselves. It takes courage to design something. You never know how it will be received, but you do it anyway. It is a long process of education, experience and labor. Simply commenting on what someone finds “so pretty” or Instagram worthy is neither journalism nor design. I don’t see a lot of courage in that.

Yeah, I totally went there. Let’s move on, shall we?

In stark contrast, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the U.K. and Lebanon are designing rather than manufacturing and could give a shit about Blogueuses. France has a large Lebanese community and many of them are separated by six degrees or less from the Armenian community. Since I am French-Armenian (by way of Marseille) and the majority of my paternal family lives in France, I am very familiar with the design scenes in both France and Lebanon. I’ve been chatting up Beirut for years, but since many Americans have a paltry understanding-or more appropriately, misunderstanding-of Lebanon and it’s people, they have remained somewhat under the radar. France, on the other hand, has taken notice. Bravo, France!

This year Maison & Objet awarded six Lebanese designers some well deserved props. The annual ‘Rising Talents Awards‘ is a platform that promotes young designers by giving them a chance to exhibit their work for an international audience. This month, it was Lebanon’s turn to present its talents. Yella!

Carla Baz, Caramel Studio, Paola Sakr, Anastasia Nysten, Carlo Massoud, Marc Dibeh  are talented, cutting-edge and fabulous. They represent the future of Lebanese design.

Here’s some of their work:

Carla Baz is French-Lebanese, has a Master’s in Product Design for the Luxury Industry from ECAL Lausanne. In London, she trained with  Zaha Hadid Architects and went out on her own shortly thereafter- a move swiftly rewarded by the Boghossian Foundation. Armenians know good design, thankyouverymuch.  Image: Borgia Candelabra product by Bonadea. Photo © Bonadea; website: http://www.carlabaz.com

Caramel Studio – Karl Chucri and Rami Boushdid met at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts in Beirut. After earning their master’s degrees in Europe, they reconnected in Lebanon and founded Studio Caramel in 2016. Their dual architecture experience has clearly influenced their approach to furniture design, usually with a nostalgic nod. Image: Mirage music box, photo courtesy of Caramel Studio.website: https://studio-caramel.com/

Paola Sakr studied product design at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, but talented in other disciplines that are evident in all of her work. This multidisciplinary approach to design is both innovative and artistic. “Impermanence vases”, Collection of 7 concrete vases made of abandoned pieces and material scraps, photo courtesy of Paola Sakr. website: http://www.paolasakr.design/

Anastasia Nisten – Born in Ottawa, Canada, Anastasia Nysten grew up in Finland, France and Lebanon. After studying Industrial Design at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, she started her career with Karen Chekerdjian. Shout out to my fellow Armenian designers! After spending a few years in London working with Michael Anastassiades, she opened her own studio in 2015, making her mark in Beirut and Dubai.  image: Troll chair, courtesy of Anastasia Nisten; website: http://anastasianysten.com/

Carlo Massoud   After graduating from the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts and ECAL Lausanne, Carlo Massoud moved to New York, joining Nasser Nakib Architects to oversee bespoke furniture design for their top clients. His projects fluctuate between functional and artistic, often containing political messages. Image: Mar Mikhayel, photo © Filippo Bamberghi. Website: https://www.carlomassoud.com/

 

Marc Dibeh – After studying at the École Nationale Supérieure de Paris Val De Seine, Marc Dibeh returned to Beirut to pursue a Master’s in Product Design at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts. After working alongside Marc Baroud for three years, Marc opened his own studio in 2009. Still collaborating today-Dibeh’s Wires series took him to DesignMiami in 2013.  Image: Camille Cake Stand, from ‘a narrative selection of stolen products’ ; photo © Marco Pinarelli. Website: http://marcdibeh.com/

 

Voilà!

Gros Bisous/Bacheegs,

Courtney

 

 

Fork It Over: Karl Lagerfeld + Christofle Cutlery Collab Launches In Paris Next Week

Karl Lagerfeld for Christofle

Karl Lagerfeld can now make an appearance at your dining room table. Sort of.

The iconic designer has teamed up with French brand, Christofle on a limited edition cutlery set as a part of their Mood collection. In a not-often-seen departure from their Traditional European Luxury vibe, the capsule pays (a slightly edgier) homage to architecture and Art Deco,  with details throughout. Each 24 piece set is housed in either a shiny steel or black lacquer finished egg, numbered and bearing the engraved signature of Karl Lagerfeld. Taking it even further, each piece is stamped with his logo, in case you forgot.

It’s hard to overlook the irony of a logo stamped cutlery collection, given his widely known aversion to women who like to eat and fashion “vulgarity”. Um, remember those comments he made about Adele? *Cringing*  I know, I digress.

From a design perspective, the look seems fitting, given Lagerfeld’s love of Art Deco furniture, cultivated by longtime friend and legendary French designer, Andrée Putman. The streamlined aesthetic is in everything he does from clothing to accessories and now forks and knives. Priced at a cool 2490 Euros, The buyers will likely be a garden variety of Chinese logo lovers, Saudis who can burn $100 bills for firewood and collectors.

Available for preorder on Karl.com. The collection launches exclusively at the Christofle store on Rue Saint-Honoré and the Saint-Germain KL boutique on September 25th, followed by the worldwide launch October 1.

I don’t think of this as a “Must Have” Luxury. At all. But, I do love design and  “off-brand” collaborations. It will be interesting to see how this performs.

What do you think?

“Mais Oui!” or “Fork you, Karl?”  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Gros Bisous,

Courtney

 

Five Ways To Add Chic Tropical Style To Your Home

Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you’ve seen tropical themed everything..from Dolce & Gabbana to paper plates, it’s everywhere! The tropical trend is hotter than ever. I’ve been a fan of it for quite some time and don’t think of it as a trend, but rather a classic and very chic look in both home and fashion. When some people hear “tropical”, they immediately think of Jimmy Buffet and  piña coladas, which makes me cringe. But when done right, the tropical decor look can be luxurious, chic and very sophisticated.

So, how do you do it? The key is unless you are a professional, it’s best to stick with a “less is more” approach since it can be a pretty bold look. That said, one of the best ways to start is with lighting and accessories for the right balance with the rest of your home.

Just remember, It’s not about making your home feel like a luau. It’s about adding natural elements, rich color, texture and a laid back vibe that can work in several decor styles.

Here are some of my suggestions from Bellacor that I love:

Gold Leaf + White Lamp

Say hello to the your new favorite table lamp..It has a chinoiserie vibe, which is also somewhat tropical. So, you get two fabulous looks for one! Remember, you can always switch out the lampshades down the road and change up the look entirely. I have a pair of these in my Miami home. They came with navy blue shades and I used white instead in my very tropical bedroom.

Veraluz One Light Sconce

 

The Veraluz Banana Leaf One Light Sconce is subtle, sustainable and sophisticated. This sconce is perfection. The milky white hue is so elegant. A pair of these would look amazing in a bathroom, a hallway, a bedroom or even an office.

Banana Leaf Pillows

No tropical look is complete without a few of these iconic banana leaf pillows from Surya. You really can’t go wrong. You can pair them with a white chair or a black and white stripe and they look chic. I like the 20” x 20” for the drama.

Abaca Accent Table

Tropical decor is really all about natural elements and this piece is called the East at Main Merriam Brown Abaca Round Accent Table and adds that perfect island touch to an awkward corner or even as a side table. And at a little over $100 it’s a no-brainer buy!

Veraluz Banana Leaf Mini Pendant Light

This Veraluz Banana Leaf Mini Pendant is the perfect touch for an all white kitchen. It adds a freshness, color, just enough of that fabulous tropical vibe and you don’t have to water it. Score!

Whether you live in Miami or Montana, a tropical decor look can work for you. Get out of your comfort zone, have fun, take chances and be sure to share your experiences with us. I would love to see how you made this enticing and stylish look work for you!

 

10 Chic Ways To Use Books As Decor

Photo Credit www.BoothandWilliams.com Photo Credit http://www.BoothandWilliams.com[/caption%5D

 
We’re always talking about how your home is your sanctuary, so why not make it a place that reflects your unique style? Using books as décor can be a fun, easy and creative way to personalize your home. Books—vintage or contemporary, oversized or small—add individuality and pizzazz to any room. Whether you want to add a pop of color, make a striking statement or create a theme, books speak volumes. (No pun intended)

“We encourage homeowners to ‘think beyond the bookcase’ when it comes to books,” said Justin Krewatch, founding partner of http://www.BoothandWilliams.com, an online portal and resource for designers and homeowners interested in vintage and modern book décor. “Books are a great way for homeowners to creatively express themselves through the colors, eras, topics and textures…and we’ve made that process incredibly easy and affordable.”

Indeed.

Here are a few tips on how you can use books to take your space to the next level in your home, office, or any cherished space you call your own:

1. Inspire early readers
Vintage children’s books add charm and style to a nursery. Choose traditional fairy tales or your favorite stories from when you were a child. From Nancy Drew to the Hardy Boys to Beatrix Potter, you can pass down your love of literature by surrounding your little one with books.

2. Clearly literary
Take advantage of a Lucite or glass-topped table to showcase books stored on top or underneath. It maximizes unused space and creates a visually striking tableau.

3. Chic page-turners
Weall know, chic is my jam..Books on style and beauty are a natural for a dressing table, boudoir or powder room. Select biographies of fashion icons, photo books of jewelry or gowns, or coordinate by color.

4. Let it grow
Pair your love of gardening or flowers with books that complement the décor of a sunroom or balcony.  Create a pedestal for a vase of fresh cut flowers with a stack of books with botanic prints or show off your sunflowers next to books on Van Gogh.

5. Add sophistication to a man-cave
A man’s room is a place to relax and enjoy himself, and what better way to relax than with a library of well curated books. Besides, man-caves can be so much more than oil cans and footballs..You can stock them with volumes about vintage automobiles, classic sports or history. The right books can enhance the masculine appeal of the man’s retreat and add elegance at the same time.

6.  Fuel the fire
Create a cozy library-like nook for a collection of books on top of a working fireplace or even within a non-working fireplace. Stacked vertically or horizontally, it’s a creative way to store books, adds a nice design element to the room, and best of all, all the books are easily accessible should you want to cuddle up to one on a stormy night.

7.  Table it
Stacked high next to your sofa, or atop your favorite suitcase or other prized possession, books can serve as an enticing focal point or double as a functional end table or place to display your favorite lamp or other objet d’art.

8.  Tell your color story
Just like paint to make an accent wall pop with color, books can have the same effect. Vibrantly hued books will stand out against a white or taupe wall, and a soothing palette of neutral books can do the same in a brightly colored space. You can even buy books “by the foot” in the exact color that complements your décor!

9.  The luxury of leather
Leather-bound books, with their gold-embossed spines and cloth bindings, are the epitome of old world elegance, and add an air of sophistication to any library, study or home office.

10. Coffee Table Books
Are you an art history buff? A gourmet baker? A world traveler? Assemble a group of books on subjects that hold a special place in your heart and make them the focal point of your coffee table. Not only do they look great as living room décor, but they can also be great icebreakers with your guests. I only like coffee table books if they lend some authenticity to who you are, so keep it true.

For an easy one-stop-shop, try http://www.boothandwilliams.com where they have basically systematized the book as a decorative medium.  Books are carefully arranged by color, subject and style, giving homeowners a simple and gorgeous way to customize, enhance and create excitement in any space.

Give it a try and be sure to let us know how it works out!

XO,

Courtney