Saturday, April 17, 2021

Pet Peeves

Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach

 This space is from the just opened Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach. It caught my eye because this next week I will be putting together my newly tiled lanai. Although my lanai is completely under roof and screened, I have been very sensitive to only using materials designed for the outdoors - resin wicker furniture, Sunbrella fabric, and the like.

I have a pet peeve about designer show house rooms that are completely impractical. Although this space is very pretty, even assuming outdoor fabrics have been used, so much of it is not meant for the outdoors. Especially the wood furniture. With the heavy rains we get and the humidity, this loggia would not look like this in short order. It brings to mind a NSO Decorator Show House in DC years ago where they had put a king sized bed in the living room. A whole new spin on entertaining - LOL.


18 comments:

  1. This looks like an interior space. That table is gorgeous, really gorgeous...for inside. Just doesn’t say outside at all. And the framed artwork hanging on the curtains? Just no.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I completely agree - this space stresses me out. LOL.

      Delete
  2. I've come to view those show house rooms as little vignettes intended to showcase creativity with little connection to practicality. Much like some runway shows featuring outfits so outlandish that no normal person (even with a perfect physique) would ever be caught dead wearing them...except lady Gaga on stage.

    My pet peeves are miles long and usually have to do with perennial practices like coffee tables piled up with stuff so no room left to place a drink (when people visit) and no occasional tables close to aid in that.

    Impractical seating in rooms clearly meant for entertaining--like backless chaises, fainting couches and dainty chairs, benches at dining tables where you are stuck with your seat-mates, and on, and on. Don't get me started.

    But I agree on the above pic if indeed that was meant to be used outdoors. Although, I must admit, I've seen some beautiful furniture used in loggias in Italy that clearly wasn't made of faux materials or water resistant fabrics. What they did when it poured sideways is beyond me (guessing that they covered it in plastic) but it certainly looked beautiful when I hung around. Benign neglect comes to mind. Keep it clean but don't get stuck on it looking perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  3. When I saw your caption, I had to study the photo to see what you were going to call out! I guessed the picture hanging on the drapes; guess I was wrong!
    I consider the drapes to be highly impractical for down here, they’ll be filthy in a matter of months and what a chore to take them down down for laundering!
    I’ve had an Indian rosewood dining table on my lanai for 5 years and it’s fine - it gets dirty but it hasn’t been damaged! I give it a coat of tung oil a few times a year and it’s holding up well.
    When are we going to see your lanai? Chomping at the bit over here 😆

    ReplyDelete
  4. From the days when the servants carried the furniture outside and then back indoors....

    ReplyDelete
  5. That’s ridiculous! Not even attractive to me. A fail by the designer who did this. There are so many other good looking things that could be used.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are so right! I see so many popular photographs (Instagram) that would never work in real life. Function first, then form.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It certainly is not practical, though I have to say I find many of the elements very pretty. Delta's comment comparing rooms such as this to haute couture makes sense - that the designer was showing their creative side. That round table is especially beautiful, and I love the tufted white love seat and the rattan chairs. Anyway, I would be delighted to sit and have a drink on this veranda.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Actually they may look too impractical but the furniture may have been treated with Marine Varnish which will protect them from the elements. I have taken an inside wooden table and put it on our screen porch and it hasn't been harmed at all and my daughter has Pottery Barn sea grass furniture that's been on her screen porch for over 11 years and it still looks great.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Show houses aren't decorated for practicality. The design is for the few months of the show. They are decorated for showcasing all the designer's talent and creativity as well as ticket sales to be donated to local worthy causes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sorry, but with all the wonderful outdoor furniture available, this is silliness. I left off the designer's name purposely.

      Delete
  10. This is beautiful, but I agree with the impracticality. As a Floridian, I just see moldy curtains and rotting furniture. Very fun to look at, though. I’d love to see the show house.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Does anyone know who makes those rattan dining chairs?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa, I saw a similar one at pottery barn (back is a little different) and Serena and Lily also have a design that resembles those in the show house but that was all I found - maybe the ones in the pic are vintage treasures.

      Delete
  12. This would work in CA where it hardly rains but would be a mildewed mess in FL in no time.

    ReplyDelete
  13. That table would look great in someone's entrance hall, along with the mirror. And the little lamps and bar cart could go in the same house, but in the dining room. Then they'd have room to get some outdoor furniture for the lanai!

    ReplyDelete