Emerald City: My Love Affair with Malachite

Source: artstheanswer.blogspot.com

They say your favorite color says a lot about you: your preferred moods, general equilibrium, state of mind, etc. Well, I know next to nothing about that, but I do know that my favorite color has always been green (hence it shows up in the blog title :). I love that pale spring green when the trees start budding this time of year, as I adore the glow of jade beads and a rich jolt of kelly green.

Sources: Poshmark, Mountain Shadow Beads

One of the most dazzling green materials out there is malachite, an opaque, hard mineral that is typically found in masses deep underground. The name traces back to its Greek precedent malakhe, in reference to the color of the mallow plant.

Even as a child I was fascinated by malachite, with its rippling green-black veins and exotic, sensuous patterns. I find it incredibly alluring but also intimidating because of how otherworldly it looks. It reminds me of how much life and mass there is deep inside the Earth, and how much of that goes unseen and unknown by all of us...

Sources: Pinterest, Saks Fifth Avenue

Maybe it's the fact that I've mostly encountered malachite in decor or jewelry, but it's always struck me as having a particularly regal quality. Clearly I'm not the only one who feels this way, as artists and designers were for centuries using it in palace interiors. Take the malachite rooms at El Castillo de Chapultepec in Mexico City. At one point this site was the residence of Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Carlota, and it possesses a truly monumental doorway made of Russian malachite and gold--a good fit for royalty!

Sources (LTR): a-l-ancien-regime.tumblr.com, Twicsy.com, Pinterest

Not to be outdone, the Russians themselves have an even more opulent "Malachite Room" at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, for which they used over 2 tonnes of malachite. Although I sometimes find the combination of malachite and gold too rich, it infuses drama into the rooms, especially through those massive, glowing columns. Russian royalty certainly had a knack for using malachite's rich hues to arrest the eye.

Source: Flickr

Sadly, most of live in a world far removed from that splendor. Today, you'll mostly find malachite as an accent piece that elevates everyday objects such as tableware, office accessories, and jewelry to a state of accessible luxury.

Sources (clockwise from top): Barneys, Etsy, L'Objet, Anthropologie, Tony Duquette at 1stdibs, OKL

Although the pieces themselves are pretty distinctive, one consistent theme is the artist's effort to capture malachite's mutating, sometimes flame-like patterns. The color palette is enthralling: from near translucence to almost black, stimulating our eyes constantly and pulling us further into the object.

But it's the irregular, organic shapes that really capture our attention. If there's one thing malachite isn't, it's demure. To me, this is an inherently dramatic stone, and the best artists are those who can capture its drama and freeze it into stillness. In that way there's a paradox to everything made of malachite: the object itself doesn't move, but you can't help but feel that the stone is still alive. 

DIY: Marbling a Side Table

If you've been a regular reader, you'll have seen my recent post about the marbling trend that has taken design by storm over the past year. While I'm hesitant about a heavy use of marble at home, as an accent I think it brings unparalleled sophistication and elegance to a space...

...which is what led me to try a little 'marbling' of my own at home! A few weeks ago I found a rather sweet little side table at Goodwill for $18 and immediately dashed it home, brewing different ideas for how to spruce it up. This is the naked beast:

For those of us who can't quite spring for marble tiled countertops or backsplashes, there is an alternative: marble contact paper! It's the master of illusion, but this self-adhesive vinyl (it's not actually paper) can be incredibly convincing, when used in the right way. It's even easier to use than wallpaper, in that it comes pre-glued. All you have to do is to apply it directly to the surface of your choice and voila.

In addition, the marbling trend is so embedded that you can buy contact paper both easily and affordably. At the higher end is this grey-hued number from Design Your Wall, which I've seen turn up on quite a few DIY projects. Since I way experimenting and didn't want to spend too much, I opted for this version, which I got from Amazon. I'm sure if you look at them in person, there may be a difference, but online, they really look comparable:

A few weeks later, my product arrived directly from the manufacturer in Germany, and I got down to work. If you're not familiar with using contact paper (as was my case), you will need the following tools:

1) Scissors to trim the paper to the shape/size you need
2) A ruler or something with an equally firm, slim edge that you can run along the paper without tearing it. You'll need this to smooth the paper out as you go along.

My technique was to peel off one edge of the paper and start pressing it down onto the table with the ruler. The ruler helps eliminate bubbles and allows you to move at your own pace. Because my surface was rounded, I decided to trim the paper into sections and lay it down piece by piece. The first section is below:

The tricky part was then lining up the remaining section so that they didn't overlap. I had to keep repositioning the paper to avoid overlays, but the contact paper allows you to do this without losing its adhesive. As you can see below, I didn't get everything to line up perfectly, but the nice thing about marble is that the pattern is irregular anyway, so it's more forgiving of mistakes!

I confess that I did suffer the occasional bubble, despite using the ruler. There are different approaches to handling these: some say you should start over, and others advise treating the bubbles directly. I opted for the latter, given that this was just a fun project. So I took a box cutter blade and made a small slit in each bubble, almost immediately smoothing it over with the ruler. This helps knit the edges back together. You can go a step further and use a hair dryer to heat the vinyl, so that the edges soften and bind together. Don't forget, it's called "paper" but it's actually more like a plastic surface so you can manipulate it differently.

Anyway, after much fussing over the bubbles, I finished up! Doesn't it look nice with the gold edges, and more elegant than the wood?

I decided to leave the top surface as is for now, though I plan to finish that too because I love the contrast of marble and brass. But it's a nice reminder of the "Before" and the "After" effects. Here's the final product, in all its glory!

Phillip Jeffries: These Walls Can Speak

Source: blog.rethinkdesignstudio.com

While flipping through a recent issue of Elle Decor, I stumbled on a gorgeous ad (yes, I actually stopped to look at the ads!) featuring Phillip Jeffries Spring 2014 collection. If you don't know Phillip Jeffries, let me sum up their brand in one word: texture. I could also rhapsodize at greater length with these descriptors: raw, fiber, natural, tactile, sensual, moody, etc. etc.

Why all this fuss about wall-coverings, you say? Well, think about it. A room is no more or less than the sum of four walls, and all that resides within. Most of us congratulate ourselves if we get around to hanging our pictures, and even homeowners typically limit wall treatments to a coat of paint.

But the fact is that wallpaper has had a HUGE - huge! - comeback in recent years, and has much more to offer than the acres of tiny flowers a la Laura Ashley. What's more, as you can tell from the term "wall-coverings," we're not just dealing with paper anymore. Nowadays, you can bedeck your walls in grasscloth, silk, raffia, you name it. Suddenly walls are being allowed to take center stage, attaining a character and presence of their own. Phillip Jeffries have a marvelous sensibility for dressing walls in luxe textures and materials. They employ a variety of textiles that span from the extremely fine (silk) to the richly textural (grasscloth and hemp).

Source: Phillip Jeffries

This is not to say that hue and paint alone can't make a room--they absolutely can. But a textured wall-covering takes it to the next level; has a sensibility of its own. Rooms with wall-coverings seem to reverbrate with their own pulse and to actively cast a mood onto their surroundings. Below you can see for yourself the different effects of paint (left) and grasscloth (right).

Sources: Apartment Therapy, homeshoppingspy.com

The challenge, of course, is that these options don't come cheap. Phillip Jeffries is not sold through its own retail channels, for example, but rather through "trade" channels. What this means is that they sell directly to designers and distributors, so you have to buy their products through a third party.

That said, if you ever find yourself flush with cash and considering a redesign project, you could rethink the paint swatches and invest in some luxurious wall-coverings. Check out what Philip Jeffries has in store for this season:

Source: Phillip Jeffries

My absolute favorite, however, is the Enchanted Woods line. Like the bark of birch trees, these wall-coverings have a peeling, rough-hewn texture that belongs in the untamed natural world. I love the organic and asynchronous 'tears' in the fabric, which reveal metallic slivers that peep out like fragments of mirror-glass. 

Imagine a room or even just one wall paneled in this paper, with shards of gold beckoning us to an "enchanted" place just behind the wall; almost within our reach. Wouldn't it be nice to bring this promise of Wonderland into our homes? 

Trend Spotting: Lotus Flowers

Source: Pinterest

Let us swear an oath, and keep it with an equal mind,

In the hollow Lotos-land to live and lie reclined

On the hills like Gods together, careless of mankind.

--Tennyson, "The Lotos-Eaters"

I scout so many different design blogs and home furnishing websites, not to mention Pinterest and Twitter, that it's easy to spot a trend in the making. In this case, it's a sudden surge of using lotus flowers as the inspiration for design.

In the past, I've seen lotuses depicted in traditional paintings, such as this...

Source: artchive.com

...and also in outdoor displays, to great effect

Source: traditionsweddingblog.wordpress.com

But now, lotuses have become the inspiration for interior design, spanning a range from highly traditional woodworking designs to stylized, modern depictions. Although they belong to different aesthetics, what I love is that you can see how each piece uses the lotus as its inspiration--sometimes literally replicating the flower, but often also alluding to it in a subtler way.

On the more traditional end are some truly stunning teak wood lotus panels that are hand-crafted in South East Asia. Look at how these artists have cleverly reimagined the lotus flower into a mandala, making a play on the way the petals spiral outward into a lattice-like framework. They capture the geometric and sensuous quality of the flower, freezing it for posterity.

Sources: karmajello.com, kanthaidecor.com

The nice thing is that you don't have to travel to Thailand to nab one of these panels (though why wouldn't you want to go anyway?). Overstock, Rakuten, and Bellacor all carry them in stock, and as a result, they're increasingly spring up in the home--particularly as bed frames, and on one clever occasion, as the base for a lamp.

Sources: Pinterest, nongnit.com

On that note, table lamps are another area in which the lotus is flowering (had to say it!). There are some very literal uses:

Sources: Pinterest, World Market

As well as some gorgeous lamps that play upon the lotus flower's elegant, cup-like shape. To my mind, these (especially the pendant lamps) come closest to replicating a flower's delicacy and grace.

Sources: Pinterest, Etsy

Further along the spectrum are decorative elements that allude to the lotus flower, or that heavily stylize its petals. Some of these are incredibly imaginative (see the two vases below), and what I adore in particular is how they produce a truly tactile sensation, as though you could simulate stroking a lotus petal. It's the world of flora, sculpted in metals and ceramics.

Sources: Pinterest (antique vase, celadon craquele vase made in Korea), Etsy. 

At the far end of the design spectrum are even more modern, stylized renderings of the lotus. The pieces I'll point you to don't even attempt to recreate the flower; instead, they reduce it to its elements and flatten these onto a two-dimensional plane. What you get, as a result, is an evocation of the lotus rather than the lotus itself.

Sources: Farrow and Ball, DecorPard, Catherine Holm

Somehow I can't help but find these last few design concepts pretty spectacular. True, they are extremely stylized. But they've taken the lotus' grace and beauty, and fashioned something new into being...not unlike the teak panels that began this post. You don't buy these pieces because you like lotus flowers. You buy them because of their cleverness, because they were designed with nature in mind but were fashioned into something original--into art. 

Style Guide

I love 'style type' quizzes, and couldn't resist taking this one, from my favorite Lonny Mag. I got "The Professor," which, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure about. I do like an edited, streamlined style, but I also have the occasional weak spot for some Kelly Wearstler-style decadence. The image below is the bedroom style they've envisioned for me.

Anyway, take the quiz and see what you get!

Playing with Marbles

Source: Pinterest

Did any of you grow up with those old-school book jackets that had a crazy marble pattern on the cover? I have vivid memories of blowing the dust off such books during bygone visits to India, when I would browse my aunt's novel collection to stave off afternoon boredom.

Marbling has been terribly en vogue for the past year. I'm late to the game, in part because at first I couldn't take it too seriously. Having grown up in India, where marble seemed ubiquitous, I couldn't help but laugh at this new "luxe" trend. Yet, now that I'm a renter, and have lived with everything from cinderblock to bubbled plaster and beige carpeting, I can appreciate the presence of a beautiful marbled surface.

One of the coolest things about marble is that no two pieces appear alike--the striations and hues ostensibly shift and turn of their own accord, lending an incredible organic quality to each surface. With marble you really feel that you have a bridge between a living organism and a piece of art.

On the flip side, I do believe that marble can be misused and quickly slide from luxury into insipidity, or worse yet, garishness. The biggest perpetrators are institutional lobbies for banks, hotels, etc. More often than not, you either barely notice the marble because it's so blandly used, or it assaults your eyes (as in the case below).

Source:  State of Connecticut Legislative Building in Hartford 

That said, there have been many incarnations of marbling since it popularized as an art form in 12th century Japan. I did a little digging and found that it was/is called "Suminagashi," and originated as a technique of decorating paper with 'floating' inks. Apparently it was a highly prized and protected technique in 17th century Europe, until it was given the Edward Snowden treatment by Charles Woolnough, in his book The Art of Marbling. Since then, Woolnough's rivals flocked to uncover additional details, and thus we learned about the secret science of marbling. Design*Sponge has a great article on marbling's history and its many manifestations.

From my perspective, the last two points at which I can recall seeing this much marble -- or 'marbling' of materials -- were Art Deco-era interiors and (in a complete 180) the occasional tie-dye revival. ;o)

Sources: Michael Kors, LR Antiques 

Of course, nowadays, you can 'marble' just about anything: food, nails, you name it--below is a roundup of some fun inspirations from Pinterest.

As you can see, marbling can literally take over every possible surface. What I love, however, is that there's nothing commonplace about the results; they are ingenious and extraordinary, making a marvel of everyday things. That's the testimony of a truly inspiring form of art.

Oscar Fashion Fun

I don't always watch the Oscars, but this year I happened to catch a lot of the pre-show fashion reviews as I was heading home. Trying to drown out the constant chatter by E! commentators, I was struck by the echoing hues that showed up on the red carpet: lots of neutral shades (black, white, metallics, nude) and powdery pastels, with the occasional pop of highly-saturated color (a la Jennifer Lawrence or Amy Adams). Ostentation largely came in the form of some truly exquisite jewelry, which was, I'm sure, pursued by a heavy security detail. My favorite is Naomi Watt's Bulgari necklace, which is like some gorgeous Art Deco-y spiderweb.

Source: Citizens of Fashion

I love watching and admiring fashion on display like this, and I had particular fun trying to imagine ways to incorporate all those dresses into home design. I envisaged Lupita Nyong'o's duck-egg blue dress as a gorgeous, ruffly bedspread, and Charlize Theron's sculptural ensemble as a geometric lamp. Below are some of my inspirations for translating fashion into decor. Hope you enjoy the parallels as much as I enjoyed dreaming them up!

Sources: Jason LaVeris/WireImage/Getty, Etsy bedspread

Sources: perezhilton.com, Possini Obelisk Lamp

Sources: hollywoodtake.com, bedding.com

Sources: popcrush.com, Urban Outfitters

Sources: eonline.com, houzz.com, 1stdibs.com

Spirit of Winter

I’m heading back to San Francisco, after an all-too-brief visit with Jon. The East Coast was a patchwork of brown, white, and gray: a true winter palette. To counteract the dismal weather, we made sinfully rich oreo chocolate truffles and went bowling. It was lovely.

Moving to the West Coast has made winter a faint memory, but the past few days reminded me of how strongly color can evaporate from the landscape. As I cast my eyes around, I was dismayed by the lack of visual stimulus. Each color has its peaks—think of how gray can shift from a deep, charismatic charcoal to an alluring dove hue—but also its troughs (soulless cement gray…). As far as I was concerned, there were only troughs in sight.

Source: www.allaboutwalls.org

What did occur to me, however, was that in the absence of color, texture took center stage. I began to notice the severe angularity of tree branches, and rough clefts formed by rain and ice beating against tree trunks. Snow either sat in impenetrable mounds on the sidewalks or misted the air like sawdust.

Source: thecalloftheland.wordpress.com

Maybe this is why winter, more than any other season, brings to mind textural depth and richness. As the chill sets in, I dust off my wool tights, ribbed cashmere sweaters, and heathery faux-fur scarves (yes, faux is sometimes better). They give me the necessary line of defense to a world that is otherwise frozen and bare to the bone. Metallic accents and jewelry lend notes of crispness and luxe. 

Dressing a house for winter is no different. In my mind’s eye I envision living rooms swathed in base shades of grey, palest blue, nude, white, and wood.

Source: crinapopa.wordpress.com

This isn’t to say that color isn’t welcome--think of those pine greens and poinsettia reds that are the hallmarks of Christmas. But a home can also reflect and respond to the mood of its surroundings; in this case, a world of muted color and extraordinary texture. Why shouldn’t we bring that indoors?

Source: homegirllondon.com

If you're looking for inspiration to bring texture and warmth into your house, seek out materials that have a physical, tactile impact: suede, felt, leather, faux fur, sheepskin, wool, and silk are just a few. Below are some fun ideas!

Sources: West Elm, Restoration Hardware, Horchow, Land of Nod, Pinterest, Houzz.com, Real Simple.

Admittedly, given that I now live on the West Coast, I don’t have to “cope” with winter quite as much. It’s February, but there are palm trees on Dolores Street and avocados are always in season. I don’t miss the frigid cold or barren landscape one bit, but it is amazing how even a brief encounter with freezing temperatures can reaffirm your love of “home.”

Back at Jon’s flat, I had fun pulling on some thick, hand-knitted socks gifted to me by a Finnish friend. They aren’t the most fashion-forward items I own, but they are everything a winter homescape calls for: thick and cozy, deeply textured, and perfect for cuddling during Lost reruns (which engross me, despite my telling Jon that it's a terrible show and he shouldn't let anyone know he watches it).