DECOPHILE: All Hallows Eve

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

All Hallows Eve

I love-love-love Halloween! But I'm very particular about my decor. Nothing with blood, nothing that screams, nothing cutesy and nothing gory. I need the Victorian era decorations. They were so caught up in it all, that's why it's so charming. I also like the realistic... skeletons, ravens, pumpkins and tombstones. One of my prized possessions is a paper weight with a black and white photo of a tombstone of the Fox Sisters in Salem, Massachusetts. Amazing. But I want to take the opportunity to share my love of (creepy) taxidermy. OOOH, look at Royal Tennenbaum in the picture below, now that's taxidermy! If you can stomach it, I suggest you get some in your home. It brings nature in and is a daily reminder of our own mortality.

This is an amazing room and I love the shot. A little Goth, a little traditional and a lot of unique crammed into one room. The charcoal wall is a fantastic backdrop to all the animals and antique pieces. The tufted leather sofa also cinches it for me.

MOVIES (and TV Shows) TO WATCH JUST FOR THE SET DESIGN!

MAME...Flamboyant, wealthy, wordly and armed with cutting edge style, Mame's New York penthouse is mind blowing. Constantly being transformed from design genre to design genre on her whims. The story is wonderful, too but you will want to pause it at so many points just so you can soak it all in.

GOODFELLAS...Besides one of the coolest films ever, it takes you on a late twentieth century interior design magical mystery tour. God bless the seventies.

THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS...More of a nostalgic childhood trip (for me anyway). The board game closet is genius. The home has the look and feel of a top-drawer broken in slipper, used and loved to death by it's lifelong owner.

MAD MEN (on AMC) The fabulous fifties (and now we've moved into the sixties) in all it's high moral glory. It's so highly stylized and sexy. From the boomerang patterned countertops to the white leather interior of a Cadillac convertible, just awesome. Mid Century Mod at it's finest. I love this show so freaking much, I can watch it without the sound, a visual treat!

BLADES OF GLORY...Will Ferrel fans will know this one well. Two male figure skaters team up to compete in the pairs division...immature, hormone saturated classic. Watch it for the laughs not the set design, EXCEPT one scene in particular. The competition's lair is modern, frosty and sleek. Complete with Kartell Ghost chairs and flokati rugs. Delicious!

CASINO...I watched this again the other night and was reminded, once again, how much I love a good 70's era mobster flick. Having grown up in the seventies, I was too young to appreciate all the decadent interiors, even if the color pallette was a little offensive. Sharon Stone is fierce in the beginning of the movie with a body to die for and a wardrobe and updo to match. Their first apartment overlooking the strip kills...literally!

BEWITCHED...I loved this show as a kid. Sam and Darin's suburban bliss. Floral drapes, green ceramic four foot lamps and the bar always well stocked for a martini made on a moment's notice. Even the wardrobes were fantastic on this show. Endora's outrageous flaming red hair and dizzying outfits were the perfect compliment for Sam's disco inferno gay uncle Alfred who popped in with a different costume every time. Love it!