Elle décor...
When I first moved
to New York in the early nineties, I worked for Elle Macpherson as her personal
assistant. It was a plum job and she was a genuinely kind and thoughtful
employer. During this time, she was in the process of moving into and
redecorating a new home and I had an opportunity to witness her elegant design
aesthetic in action. Elle had great personal style back then, and still does. She understood how to mix casual and refined elements and of course, had a wonderful collection of photographs from her life in front of the camera. Hers was an artful and cozy home. I'll never forget some of her bold, creative choices -- a hand
painted gold-leafed ceiling in her entry, a sexy little dining nook with jewel toned mismatched velvet chairs and banquette, gold leaf-motif kitchen cabinet knobs and a copper wire
chandelier with colored glass fruit dangling from it. I loved those leaf knobs
so much that I saved my pennies and bought the same ones for a dresser in my bedroom. And
that chandelier with the fancy fruit -- she gave it to me and it hangs in my
studio to this very day. On a recent flight to London, I was flipping through a magazine
and came across a feature on Elle's new home in the Cotswolds in England. The minimal design is comfortable and inviting, and not unlike her NYC digs, the palette is neutral with bright pops of color throughout. Soothing blues and yellows against rustic wood textures and earthy muted tones echo a tranquil lakeside setting perfect for a woman known to have a great love of the beach and the
sea. Not surprisingly, the home is lovely inside and out -- just like
its owner.
The home and its developers are getting a lot of attention in the press. You can read all about it here.
