Friday, July 2, 2010

Tiny Chinoiserie Chic


The new July/August issue of House Beautiful "is small THE NEW BIG?" is one of the best in eons, the antidote to the constant parade of ostentatious monstrosities in Architectural Digest. The bedroom above is the only bedroom in a 390 square foot apartment in Manhattan shared by interior designer David Kaihoi, who works for Miles Redd, his wife Monique Simard, a visual merchandiser for DKNY, and their three year old daughter. I have spent two days wondering how three people can function in such a tiny space, especially with such great style. For their incredible Chinoiserie bedroom, David found a pile of dilapidated 18th century wallpaper at auction that nobody else wanted. A former studio artist, he used the pieces like collage, putting together this incredible wall. Run out and get this issue if you don't subscribe (and you should). The entire apartment and the entire issue are quite wonderful. It is great inspiration for the fact that style and creativity have nothing to do with size and money.

18 comments:

  1. This is incredible sweet and you can see the love attached to it.
    There is warmth and grace, serenity and dignity attached to this place, something that many of the "monstrosities" you mentioned completely lack of.

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  2. My friend Camille gets me a subsciption every year and when mine arrived and I read this I was simply astounded. Could not be any more wonderful!

    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  3. I am about to sit down with this magazine tonight and did a quick flip through last night and was drawn to the home in Birmingham(?) too. As we are in the process of relocating to Dallas this issue is an affirmation that we really don't need the 7000+ sq foot house anymore....and that I will survive with half the size (or less) that I've committed myself to! It almost feels liberating already!

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  4. Just a beautiful room! Cannot get over how small the apartment is, but so large in style.

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  5. Oh I love this and I will get the issue. My home is small and so many things won't work in small spaces. I love the pink walls, bien sur!
    Marie Arden Pink Living.blog

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  6. It is so bad that House Beautiful is not to find in Belgium! It is a wonderful picture and I am totally agree with you that style and creativity have nothing to do with size of money!
    Have a nice Sunday!
    xx
    Greet

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  7. I thought of you, Beth, when I saw that spread!
    Unbelievable what people can do when they think outside the "white box!"

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  8. Susie-Half that size is still big.

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  9. Marie Arden-I think it's far easier to decorate small than big and that you have more options, not less. Keep experimenting.

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  10. Alison-Thanks for thinking of me.

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  11. This the most exquisite tiny room on earth,I'm sure of it.

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