Monday, May 4, 2020

Chinoiserie Gone Wrong

Miles Redd - House Beautiful

Can a room cause vertigo? I have a physical reaction to the wallpaper on the ceiling like the room is sideways or topsy-turvy. I feel nauseous. I literally can't look at it for very long.

But I also just don't get it visually. I like a room where the entire room in papered, including the ceiling, but with the same paper on the ceiling as the walls. White walls with a dark wallpapered ceiling is beyond me. The room is top heavy. Do you feel like interior designers sometimes try to be unique and it just doesn't work?

It really annoys me, because Quadrille China Seas Lyford Trellis is a favorite Chinoiserie wallpaper of mine.

And the staging is so funny. How do you get in and out of bed - crawl in between the table and chair?

I also must say that purple is my least favorite color in the world. I do not have a single purple item in my home or wardrobe. I love a soft lavender, but not this color. I also dislike the purple trim in the corners. Gimmicky.

So I guess I hate the white walls, the papered ceiling, the trim, the staging, and the color palette. And as for the art.....

I do love the Paule Marrot piece of art, but don't get it used here at all. Not sure how those colors work in this room. It seems out in left field.

I adore Paule Marrot art. I wish I had a place for her "Feathers," but I don't. I have so much art I love and with an open floor plan and tons of windows and sliders, wall space is at a premium here.

Update - I just found this photo of the same room - I dislike the door and the curtains as well. Yikes. And the photo on top appeared on the cover of House Beautiful - June 2016.


So guys, weigh in. Love it, hate it? What works for you, what doesn't? To me, Miles has missed by a mile.

24 comments:

  1. Beth, you and I are usually sympatico on design, but I confess I love this room. I also love purple, and have used it a lot in my own spaces ever since I was a child. (I was a big Donny Osmond fan. . .) I normally don't care for wallpaper on ceilings, but in this room, I feel like the purple lines in the corners cleverly create an effect like you're sleeping under a pergola; I love it. I'm glad Redd used silver accents vice brass, as it creates a nice calm feel. I agree the table should be closer to the wall, but I'm guessing the photographer moved it. The chair implies a small pet shares the bed. Nice insinuation! I will say, it's interesting to see Miles Redd do a paired down room. I wonder what the window treatments are like?

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  2. Not a fan of the ceiling, not a fan of the corner stripe, don't think the artwork is right for the palette in the room. The little side table and a doll sized armchair is also out of place.

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    1. We are on the same page - not much works here. The emperor has no clothes.

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  3. I think once a person becomes famous in their chosen profession, they seem to believe they can do anything and it will be applauded. I agree with you, the wallpaper on the ceiling is horrible. Why not on one wall behind the bed? And maybe the bed should be on the wall facing the camera? Why is the bed shoved in the corner?
    I'm not fond of purple either... But the use of the art clashes with the purple.. He tries to bring it together with the trim color on the sheets, but... no, it just doesn't work.I like the art, but not against the purple. Why,oh why do some people insist on clashing colors?
    I have to admit, Beth, this is bringing out my love of decorating even more.. Thanks for these "challenges"!

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    1. The infallibility of the pope. I agree with all of your points and I am so glad you are enjoying these posts.

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  4. And no one has mentioned the maroon lamp shade...

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  5. The bed in the corner is the only part of this room that bothers me, but I'm assuming it's for a child. I agree with you about the staging. I hate it when night stands are too far from the bed! I also don't like the blue in the bedding. A lavender or red would have been better.

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    1. That table, those curtains, an antique Chinese rug, and an antique Louis XV velvet chair from Christies are odd choices to me for a child's room. Not very kid friendly.

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  6. I don't hate this room. The maroon lamp shade bothers me but for a small guest room overall it's okay. I wouldn't have used that bedding but again, I think it the room is not horrible. You've shown much worse examples.

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    1. For what an interior designer likes Miles Redd charges, the bar should be a whole lot higher than "not horrible" and "you've shown worse."

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  7. I'm not a purple person either, however there are certain elements of the room I like. I do like the Paule Marrot, and the bedspread, (at least what I can see of it), looks pretty to me. I was surprised to see that this is a room by Miles Redd. This does not look like his work at all.

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    1. I like elements but not his design which is his role after all.

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  8. I disagree with Jana that Beth has shown worse rooms! That would be impossible, imo.... But I am glad Beth didn't have room on the walls of her beautiful house for an 'art' (ugh) work by Paule Marrot. Talk about Emperors with no clothes...I think even that preposterous ceiling is a work of art compared to that painting....which would drag down a funeral home imo....
    Thank you for another great post in your Chinoiserie Gone Wrong series!!

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  9. You are hysterical. Thank you so much for a good laugh!

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  10. This is like letting your four year old daughter pick her own outfit. The pieces are fine on their own and she sure enjoys it but you know it's a bit of a mess.
    For such a beautifully tailored and upholstered bed I think the bedding is far to casual.
    So many designers have a signature trick-decorated ceilings and doors for instance. Then they don't know when not to do it.
    And the first time I bumped my head on that wall mounted lamp would be the last time.

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    1. You are the best. Always love your comments.

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    2. Thank you for keeping your blog so current during these highly unusual times. It is a most welcome diversion.

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    3. I'm so glad you are enjoying it.

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  11. Beth, this room looks like a hospital room set up for an aging Hollywood diva convalescing after back surgery. Like the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's "weird ask." Its horrendous! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. You are hysterical. After some research, I discovered it was done by Miles for a seven year old girl. That poor child!

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  12. I don’t dislike this room but I agree there are a few weird choices that I certainly would not have made. The wallpaper is beautiful but it needs to be on the walls and not the ceiling. Not a fan of the shade of purple used for the drapes. He could have chosen a better rug and the position of the bed is awkward. That said, love the green chair and the use of purple.

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