Margaret Russell Style and Substance Book Signing At The Decoration and Design Building

This morning I joined Elle Decor staffers and devotees alike to hear Vice President and Editor in Chief Margaret Russell give the book's keynote address. A book signing reception followed. Russell has been a part of Elle Decor since its inception in 1989 and in celebration of the over 156 issues that have been published, she led editors in an exhaustive effort to rediscover their favorite moments and compile them into Style and Substance: The Best of Elle Decor. Russell addressed us, reading from the forward of the 240 page book published by Filipacchi Publishing. "It was twenty years ago that a small team of writers, editors and art directors- a quirky melange of experts and novices, both American and French - banded together to create a new magazine called Elle Decor... it's funny that so much - yet so little - has changed. Clearly, my role is different now, but our editorial mission remains every bit as relevant today as in 1989: Elle Decor celebrates where style lives."

A tribute to Elle Decor outside the D&D Building

She continued talking about the everyday, lived-in-elegance Elle Decor strives to convey to its readers and as she spoke, I thought who better to be the final word in what goes into these legendary pages than a woman who embodies Elle's raison d'etre; Margaret Russell is where

style lives. Switching seamlessly between French and English she never betrayed her "girl next door" demeanor, well, best dressed girl next door demeanor. She said:

The magazine's interiors share a distinct point of view, but we are open-minded in our outlook, embracing sensibilities that range from classic to cutting-edge.  Our most beloved design

characteristics? Personality, passion, joie de vivre and flair.  It's true, our most dazziling stories feature people with fearless style who don't care what others think- and those who are curious, confident and cosmopolitan will always find a place in our pages...worldly rooms never fail to seduce us; they show who you are, where you've traveled and what you love- the perfect formula for Elle Decor."

Russell addresses the audience, which convened at the Astra Cafe on the 14th Floor of the D&D building

And the perfect formula for any well appointed home.  The title Style and Substance is fitting both to this book and Elle Decor as a magazine. Sure, many of us are attracted to the pretty picturesand romance, but it is the text- the useful tips, product information and story behind the pictures that has sustained the magazine through tough economic times when other publications are failing.  It took a reminder from Russell that some of these pictures are from the early nineties; every design looks fresh off the October issue.

Above: People in line to buy Style and Substance The Best of Elle Decor. Below, the scene of the reception which took place at an obliging showroom in the D&D building.

A feature you will enjoy and a key component that makes this Well Appointed House recommended reading is to each picture there is a detailed and conscience description of the room including designer,fabric and furniture information. Sprinkled throughout are little "style guides" which gives a "punch list" of things to remember when creating your personal space. All and all, Style and Substance was not made to sit neatly on your coffee table, but rather to be enjoyed, littered with sticky notes and used, much like the homes Elle Decor looks for. If I had to sum up today's key-note it would be to remember that while you are decorating your house don't forget to decorate your home.

Russell busy signing books. See our autographed copies below.

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J.Crew Spring 2010 Collection + Creative Director Jenna Lyonns' Brooklyn Home

 J-Crew, like The Well Appointed House, is a staple stop when it comes to finding effortless and timeless pieces that ooze style.  What started as a catalog company and a great place to get a pair of khakis and roll over sweaters has now turned into a fashion powerhouse, thanks in large part to creative director Jenna Lyonns. Take a look at the new collection below: 

A group shot from the big Spring 2010 reveal

Love, love, love the styling here; it's great to see all of this color paired with neutrals, which is a staple of J-Crew and not something you will necessarily see in Lyonns' home.  Characteristic of J-Crew and evident here is the layering of different textures and fabrics: sequins paired with industrial chinos and crinkle silk mixed with cotton.  It's such a fresh take on an American classic.

Just some manjoyment for you!

It would stand to reason that Ms. Lyonns, who did some serious demo on the J-Crew aesthetic, would use the same vision and apply it to her Brooklyn townhouse.  Her home was so memorable it stayed with me since Domino photographed it in November 2008.  Domino is no more, however the UK publication Livingetc has since returned to the designer’s home. It's  interesting to see the changes the young mother of one and her husband have made from one shoot to the other and something you all can relate to; when life changes so do the interiors. 

Lyonns on the cover of the then Domino Magazine.  Above Lyonns and her husband, artist Vincent Mazeau, share an intimate moment in the foyer.

The Creative Director at her home.  Melanie Acevedo shot the pictures for both magazines.

This is a great example of using an interesting piece to create a new dimension to a small space.

The backyard

Architect shot of the living room. The architect shots were found on Levenson McDavid Architects

Left, you can see how the living room was styled for Domino.  LOVE that yellow couch and the way it pops against the black and white.  At The Well Appointed House we offer sofas ready for you to customize with the fabric of your liking; it is a great way to put your own spin on a piece you will have for a long time.  Tip: When investing in a colorful sofa, pick a color that, yes, you love but also one that goes with other colors, so when you get sick of your yellow and black combo, you can switch it up and accent it with Navy and when you are over that to brown and so on and so forth.

Throughout, Lyonns exercised restraint when it came to color.  For the most part the yellow sofa above is about experimental as she got, yet her home is anything but boring or monochromatic; the steel grays and chrome add a rough edge to delicate finishings a la J-Crew.  

The kitchen above and kitchen table below

A lovely shot from Domino

The Architect's shot of the dinning room into the living room

Moment of silence for that chandelier above. It is reminiscent of our Grand Estate Chandelier. Below a creative dinosaur vignette 

Architect shot of the bedroom.  She uses strong colored paint, which helps to create a clean minimalist look, especially when paired with luxurious sheets.

A styled mantel 

She switched up the linens for the Livingetc shoot; I like the way this picture is shot so we can see into her bathroom, it shows the open floor plan.

Lyonns and son Beckett, then just a little baby, posing for Domino

Beckett's room for Domino (left) and then months later for Livingetc (right) as a big boy!

Tip: Chalkboard paint (like Lyonn's used here) is a great way to let your kid add character to his or her's own room. Would also look great in an art or play room.

This is a great shot of Beckett's toys and certainly a safe use of a fireplace in a children's room.  Get the look with wall letters paired with free standing whimsical wall art.  Against an industrial, strong paint color it creates a deconstructed children's room and very J-Crew.

Alright, this is where I really start to salivate.  What could be better than a closet full of J-Crew clothes?  A dressing room full of J-Crew clothes.

Above was the dressing room as shot and styled for Domino and below is the room months later, taken for Livingetc. I do have to say I like the sofa better, but the dresser is way more practical.

Jenna Lyonns' home and Jenna Lyonns' J-Crew is a modern, hip re-imagination of American style and we cannot wait to sport the looks from the spring 2010 collection.  Until then, we will be lusting over the looks from fall/winter 2009.  When getting the J-Crew look for your home and closet remember to layer with different textures and styles.  If you are wearing a really femme dress, add some tough leather booties.  If you have a dainty stool, choose thick and dark accents as seen with this Black Zebra X Stool.  Keep these tips in mind when shopping and remember, what made Jenna's house such a design success is that she never lost her self of sense, it is a truly personalized space.

Designer Profile: Dorothy Draper

In celebration of the the Second Annual Elle Women in Design Awards and the designers they honored, we thought it only fitting to look back and recognize the first lady and founder of interior design, Dorothy Draper.  Draper was born in 1889 in the exclusive community of Tuxedo Park NY.  She was a student of the world, never receiving any formal education but rather spending her early days studying until she married President FDR's personal physician Dr. George Draper in 1912.  In 1923 she established America's first interior design firm, Dorothy Draper and Company, Inc; no small feat for a woman of that time.  During Draper's hay-day she designed hotels like New York's Carlyle Hotel, The Drake Hotel in Chicago, The Greenbrier Hotel in West Virgina and restaurants like the one at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  She is also the author of Decorating Is Fun and In The Pink.

Draper's protege Carleton Varney now overseas the firm and has written her biography, The Draper Touch.   Her company's online biography writes:


To Dorothy, public space represented a place for people to come and feel elevated in the presence of great beauty, where the senses could look and feel and absorb the meaning of a quality life. She used vibrant, “splashy” colors in never-before-seen combinations, such as aubergine and pink with a “splash” of chartreuse and a touch of turquoise blue, or, one of her favorite combinations - “dull” white and “shiny” black. Her signature “cabbage rose” chintz, paired with bold stripes; her elaborate and ornate plaster designs and moldings - over doors, on walls and ceilings; her black and white checkered floors (The Quitandinah Palace; Casino Resort, Petropolis, Brazil); her massive, paneled, lacquered doors (Arrowhead Springs Hotel, California), some framed with bolection (Hampshire House, New York) or with elaborate plaster or intricate mirror frames (Camellia House, Drake Hotel, Chicago) – all contributed to dramatic design often referred to as “the Draper touch”.


She was famous for her meticulous design and for holding her own on male dominated construction sites.  Dorothy Draper has forever shaped this design world we all live and work in; her love for the beauty and joy in life resonated in her work and thanks to her mentorship of Varney, it lives on today.  

Dorothy Draper is an inspiration to us at The Well Appointed House and we encourage you to shop for your home, keeping her design aesthetic of bright colors and unexpected touches with you as you peruse our 9,000 products!