Fashionable Living

Call of the Wild
Decorative items inspired by the colors and textures of the great outdoors are Minnesota cottage and lake home staples. The look becomes more city-centric when silhouettes from nature are re-created in modern materials in dramatic and abstract ways. Biology class curiosities meet the new millennium.

Grove driftwood console table ($485) from Great Estate Home and Garden. Cole & Son The Woods wallpaper, from Lee Jofa. Botanical Bark vases (aluminum/$90, copper/$190) and Enchanted Forest candleholder ($180/set of two), all by Michael Aram, from Macy’s. Dolphin tray, hyacnith plate, and passion flower plate (plates/$66 each, tray/$165), all by John Derian, from Ampersand. Crayfish curio ($248), from Anthropologie. Stag’s head ($42, above), from Patina.

Pretty in Pink
Once considered froofy and girly, pink has been declared the Color of 2007 by International Color Trends. Pair pink with a shade of gray for a contemporary facelift. The biggest misconception when purchasing china is thinking you need to buy the whole set to enjoy it. Instead, keep your current patterns fresh by incorporating a few new pieces. Our picks by Missoni add a punch of personality to simple white Wedgwood tableware, proving that something strong looks good with something soft.

Pink paints include the pale Berries, by Devine Color Paints, and the brighter Easter pink, by Benjamin Moore. Pieces from Missoni’s Margherita and Pierrot collections ($62–$165) and Wedgwood’s Night & Day and Etheral collections ($24 a plate), all from Macy’s. King’s Mountain fabric background, from Ambinate.

Reinventing the Flower
We surround ourselves with graphic floral prints and wallpapers, but don’t forget about the real thing. Flowers are an easy way to bring the outdoors in, and when incorporated in arrangements, they become stimulating still life. Queen Anne’s lace and purple flock brighten interiors, while pricier French tulips dress up a home for special occasions. An orchid in an oversized glass vase brings attention to an arrangement.

Black and white, in incarnations big and small, anchor any room and add sophistication. Add instant architecture to a space by painting trims in black, while keeping the walls a matte white. Too much of a commitment? Try black-and-white wall art in varying mediums from oil on canvas to photography. Or use fabrics and papers in large or small ways.

Go Baroque fabric, by Decorator’s Walk, from Schumacher. Kenneth James and York wallpapers, from Hirshfield’s. Vintage table ($195), from Danish Bohemia.

Global Infusion
The hippie generation may have grown up, but a bit of bohemia is still in their hearts. Whether it’s a desire for a completely Moroccan room or just a touch of the Far East, look for luxe offerings at area shops—most hand-selected by boutique owners who travel afar for the best finds, many by world artisans and craftspeople. Just the right piece can work in both traditional and über contemporary settings.

Mulberry Floral silk fabric ($72/yard), from Decori. Vintage sari (far right, $575) and vintage Buddha ($275), from Bjorling & Grant. Striped silk throw ($125), metal table with embossed floral design ($660), chandelier ($345), large tassel ($36), silver-and-glass bottle ($75), and brass rose water decanter ($120), all from Soleil Brule.

Transparency
Popularized in the 1960s and ‘70s by modern- furniture–makers seeking a space-age aesthetic, Lucite and clear plastics are now molded into more classic shapes and forms. But clear needn’t mean cold. When paired with textured pieces—such as a bold silver foil flocked damask wallpaper or the warm tones of a tiger-print cowhide rug—the end result can be downright luxe.

Philippe Stark Louis Ghost armchair ($334) and Karim Rashid Magino acrylic stool ($298), both from Design Within Reach. Peter Stathis for Pablo Pardo Tube Top floor lamp ($499), from Room & Board. Tiger-print cowhide rug ($600), from Soleil Brule. Michael Aram Enchanted Forest candleholder ($180/ set of two), from Macy’s. Lifford damask on silver foil flocked wallpaper, by Cole & Son, from Lee Jofa.

Dramatic Draper
If you’ve had an inclination to coat your walls and furniture in large floral prints and to hang a scroll-framed mirror over a scalloped-edged coffee table, you’ve no doubt come under the Dorothy Draper spell. A new generation is channeling their inner Draper, whose iconic decorating style first took hold in the 1940s. Replicate the look with an emphasis on richly textured carpet, exuberant print wallpapers, and Rococo scrollwork.

Josephine chair ($3,038) and Lotus table ($2,044), both by Jacques Garcia, from Baker Knapp & Tubbs. Pomander fabric, by Nina Campbell for Osborne & Little, from KDR Designer Showroom. Mirror ($290), from Anthropologie. Zebra-print cowhide rug ($549), from Gabberts. Chinese Bouquet teacup ($75) and saucer ($35), by Herend, from Ampersand.

Modern Child
Though sleek and sophisticated, a modern nursery still can be sweet, tranquil, and perfectly baby. The emphasis is on soft textures, clean lines, and cheeky accent pieces. Thanks to trend-savvy boutiques and retailers, trend-right parents no longer need to shop the coasts, abroad, or the Internet.

Moda crib ($799) and Eames armchair rocker ($399), from Room & Board. Garden crib bedding ($290/set), Penguin pillow ($48), and Shaggy rag rug ($129), all from Pacifier. Knappa pendant light ($24.99) and Ludde sheepskin rug ($39.99), from Ikea. Moroccan leather ottoman ($175), from Soleil Brule.