Innehållsförteckning för September 2021 från ELLE DECOR

MONTHS AGO, AS WE started putting together this issue on style and entertaining, I did something that gave me a real thrill: I went to a dinner party, indoors. It was small, but it was the first gathering like it that I had attended since the start of the pandemic. I noticed a few things, as have all of the editors of ELLE DECOR as we’ve enjoyed the return of socializing in these past summer months: People are getting their homes ready for guests with less fuss and preciousness than they used to—and dressing their tables with more intention and freedom. Bring on the reunions with friends and family, the birthday parties, the long-delayed weddings! On that last subject, author and essayist Roxane Gay writes movingly in this issue (page 29)…

THERE WE WERE, AT A SMALL GATHERING OF friends after my wife, Debbie, and I eloped in an office park in Encino, California. I had barbecued steak with homemade steak sauce, made a pasta salad, roasted some fingerling potatoes, and sautéed pea pods with a sprinkling of cracked black pepper and Parmesan. I baked a three-layer strawberry shortcake, and we set everything out on a table. We arranged a basket of plastic plates and cutlery and sat outside to eat, everyone six feet apart, wearing masks when we weren’t eating. It was all very festive—June 2020, three or so months into a very long year-and-a-half of isolation and worry and waiting. Debbie and I had not imagined we would have any opportunities to socialize until there was a vaccine, but…

AS THE PLACE WHERE MUDDY jeans, sauce-splattered shirts, and fragrant socks go to get cleansed, the laundry room has long been perceived as an unromantic space barely worth a second thought beyond basic function. But not anymore. Just as the kitchen has evolved from a hidden service room into a showpiece gathering place, many designers are now conceiving laundry rooms as statement-making destinations. “People are realizing that these functional rooms get so much of their time,” says Nathan Turner, a West Hollywood, California–based interior designer who has recently been lavishing as much attention on laundry rooms as kitchens and bathrooms. “So why not make them something special?” When you put effort into the design of this functional space, laundry can feel less like a chore and almost a cause for celebration.…

MAKE IT PERSONAL Scale the size to your space and match the firmness to your sleep style. Map out your bedroom to determine whether a king or a queen would be the best fit. If you sleep with a partner (or pets!), it may be worth sizing up. Find the right feel—Firm, Plush, or Ultra Plush—based on your usual sleep position. THINK LONG TERM A high-quality mattress should last up to 10 years, so invest in comfort, durability, and support. Research how it’s made—the materials used for the interior and the exterior can have a major impact on comfort and durability over time. TRUST THE LEGACY Seek out a brand with a proven track record. Stearns & Foster mattresses are crafted by hand, not mass-produced. So much care is put…

Brighter Days Ahead Ever since the fashion icon Iris Apfel, who turns 100 on August 29, left the interiors world in 1992—after cofounding the fabric brand Old World Weavers and working as a textile designer for more than 50 years—top companies have been banging down her door. But she was done, she said, until Fabricut called. “I said, ‘You know what, it’s time to go back to my roots,’” Apfel explains. Her new collection of upholstery fabrics and trims ranges from a solid satin to striped velvets to embroidered linens, true to her maximalist personal style. And the inspiration was as simple as absorbing the sights and sounds of her hometown, New York City. “People needed joy, and that’s what this collection is meant to provide,” Apfel says. “I just…

1. Beaumont Dresser by RH, Restoration Hardware JEAN LIU: The mirrored finish is great for reflecting light in smaller spaces.  JAMES HUNIFORD: The piping along the borders adds visual interest. Lean into the design of this piece with an upholstered white bed and white curtains. 60′ w. X 20′ d. X 36′ h.; $2,699. rh.com 2. Wood and Brass Sideboard by Michele Bönan for Chelini JH: The wire brushing of the wood to showcase the grain is really special. Pair it with a large gold mirror.  JL: All the right angles of the hardware will balance a room’s softer pieces. 54′ w. X 20′ d. X 31′ h.; $17,570. artemest.com 3. Amalfi Three-Drawer Chest by Arhaus JH: Replacing the wooden top with stone or upholstered velvet would add a twist.…

IN THE 1950s, SPURRED ON BY THE POSTWAR revival in Rome and by the American movie stars flocking to the local Cinecittà Studios, the Italian luxury house Bulgari seized the moment to reinvigorate its approach to jewelry-making after more than six decades: Traditional diamond settings made way for a vibrant palette and an audacious scale. The fervent appetite among clients for the resulting turquoise bib necklaces and extravagant sapphire brooches confirmed that Bulgari’s new designs were the ideal accompaniment to a dawning optimistic age. Full-tilt color has been one of the house’s aesthetic hallmarks ever since. Now with another global reawakening on the horizon, Bulgari is pushing the boundaries of its vision once again. The brand’s Magnifica collection features 350 pieces of high jewelry and watches heaped with gemstones that recall…

We’ve come a long way since the days of laundry tubs and washboards, but manufacturers are continuing to invent new ways of getting our clothing cleaner faster and with less fuss. The Samsung AirDresser can refresh, sanitize, and smooth out delicate wrinkled items with a spray of steam and air, instead of a flood of water and detergent, in a unit that doubles as a slender wardrobe. LG’s SideKick replaces a front-load washer’s pedestal to add a second drum for tackling separate smaller loads—ideal for days when you need to wash those bright T-shirts. Automated detergent dispensers like Whirlpool’s Load & Go allow users to preload dozens of washes in a single pour, eliminating the need to measure individual quantities.…

THE SILICON VALLEY TOWN OF WOODSIDE, California, is not lacking in unicorns. Nestled in the foothills of the mountains just west of Stanford University, the woodsy enclave is teeming with tech billionaires, including Laurene Powell Jobs, Larry Ellison, and Soft-Bank founder Masayoshi Son. The unicorns at this residence are slightly different. Fashioned of chrome and as shiny as disco balls, the mythical creatures ringing the chandelier in the front entrance set the stage for a home whose spellbinding eccentricity only intensifies upon further exploration. Stocked with a to-die-for modern art collection and auction-worthy pieces created by a who’s who of the furniture-design world, the house is a cabinet of curiosities. It’s also proof that the pushing of boundaries and the primacy of comfort can, in fact, live in equal balance.…

Items pictured but not listed are from private collections. CONTENTS PAGE 12: Ottoman fabric: Dedar, dedar.com. Artwork: Damien Hirst, damienhirst.com.  PAGE 14: Sofa fabric: Jules & Jim, julesetjim.fr. Fabrics: Fabricut, fabricut.com. TRUTH IN DECORATING PAGES 32–33: Jean Liu, jeanliudesign.com. James Huniford, huniford.com. SHOWCASE PAGE 42: Nur Ceramics, nurceramics.com. INTO THE GLAMOUR GARDEN PAGES 54–55: Gown: Christian Siriano, christiansiriano.com. Mask: Monvieve, monvieve.com. Gloves: Wing & Weft, wingweft gloves.com. Necklace: Erickson Beamon, @ericksonbeamon. Bag: Judith Leiber, judithleiber.com. Jacket and pants: Casablanca, casablancaparis.com. Shirt: Canali, canali.com. Sneakers: Gucci, gucci.com. Flower: M&S Schmalberg, customfabricflowers.com. Hat: Ayuko Hishikawa, ayukohishikawa.com. Necklace: Roxanne Assoulin, roxanneassoulin.com. Ascot: Alias Costume Rental, aliascostume rental.com. Jacket, shirt, pants, ear cuff, and shoes: Alexander McQueen, alexandermcqueen.com. Flower: M&S Schmalberg. Dress: J’Amemme, jamemme.com. Gloves: Wing & Weft. Bag: Judith Leiber. Earrings: Erickson Beamon. Shoes:…

WHEN YOU THINK OF RATTAN IN DESIGN, your mind’s eye likely conjures a rustic country estate or a tropical retreat. Designer David Netto has an altogether different slate of references for the palm material: Interiors by Marella Agnelli, 1930s airplane seats, and vintage furniture by Michael Taylor and Isamu Kenmochi all influenced his new collection of wicker lighting, produced in collaboration with Soane Britain. “I have always revered Soane’s taste,” says Netto of the artisan-focused London-based brand, known for highlighting British crafts in danger of extinction, among them rattan weaving. “And using rattan guarantees that something will have a young energy and informality.” “When David sent his initial sketches, it was clear that he understood the sculptural potential of working in rattan,” says Soane Britain cofounder Lulu Lytle. Certainly, Netto had…

AS ANY HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTest knows, the trendiest tables are covering up this season (but still showing a little leg). With restrictions on head counts lifting and vaccination rates on the rise, we’re all eager to welcome with open arms the return of tablescapes. And what better way to prepare for the coming partypocalypse than with a few of our favorite linens? From cinnamon-hued solids to tapestry-worthy wildlife scenes, options abound for revenge dressing your table. Also this month: We talk to three tastemakers about what makes their tabletops pop, spotlight two collections that put the art in the Art of Entertaining, and scout out the new companies taking the pain out of partying—assuming you want them to, of course. Bon appétit! “Talk about decorating your table—I have six wigs on…

IT STARTED AS SO MANY collaborations do these days—with an Instagram follow. Interior designer Kerry Joyce was drawn to the artistic collages posted by @gustthepoodle: natural elements like hand-pressed leaves layered over bits of cork and rocks. After doing some homework, he discovered that they were by none other than Marian McEvoy, former editor in chief of ELLE DECOR and House Beautiful and a former editor of Women’s Wear Daily and W. A visit to her home and studio in Wappingers Falls, New York, ensued. “I am always drawn to people with undeterred creative energy, and when I first saw Marian’s designs, I knew they should be turned into fabric,” says Joyce. He and McEvoy decided to translate five of her black-and-white botanical watercolors onto printed linen in 10 colorways. Dotted…

At Stearns & Foster, we believe that exceptional design lives in the details. This is why we have spent every day of our 175-year legacy committed to refining the details that make Stearns & Foster distinct. From velvet trim to hand-tufted top layers, our mattresses are meticulously crafted to look as good as they feel. Use our tips to help you choose the perfect mattress to complete your bedroom sanctuary. Designer Spotlight Joy Cho @ohjoy Joy Cho, founder of celebrated lifestyle brand Oh Joy!, shares how to make the most of your bedroom. No bedroom is complete without… Cozy bedding, the perfect set of pj’s, and mood lighting. What helps you sleep better? I love tweaking the design of my space to foster sleep and comfort. Also, a calming spritz…

CAN YOU STYLE A BEDROOM AS YOU WOULD A pair of old Levi’s? Fashion designer Chris Benz thinks so. “Color, proportion, the combination of things—building a look is a lot like layering a room,” he says. “It’s all about that mix, and making it feel authentic and pulled together.” Since purchasing a 19th-century farmhouse four years ago in Bellport, New York, with his partner, lawyer Peter Toumbekis, Benz has been renovating and outfitting its many rooms with aplomb. You could say that his fashion background has served him well. Even without any formal training in the home decor space, the former senior vice president of design for womenswear and Crewcuts at J.Crew has always found a delightful ease applying his aesthetic vision to interiors. Throughout his various roles in fashion…

It should come as little surprise that when describing the silhouette of this elegant carafe, Dior Maison artistic director Cordelia de Castellane invokes the runway. “Its shape was inspired by the movement of dresses,” she says of the borosilicate glass creation, which was mouth-blown in Italy. The vessel’s surface features a hand-painted ladybug and fern, two signature motifs inspired by the garden of the brand’s founder, Christian Dior, at his country home in Milly-la-Forêt, France. And while the bucolic imagery might suggest that this is one piece best used en plein air, de Castellane insists that it’s an appropriate accessory for tabletops year-round. “Objects should live with us and bring beauty into our everyday lives,” she says. “This carafe can be used anywhere and anyhow, as long as it brings…