Exotic room

I was feeling inspired by Tony Duquette's over-the-top exotic rooms and decided to try to conjure one of my own.  I'm feeling the need for a lot of color, texture and pattern with a few more modern pieces to keep it playful.

I've long had a fascination with cork wallpaper.  Not the thick chunks that used to line walls in the 70's, but thin paper-like sheets with interesting colors peeking through the crevices - or, better yet, a metallic bronze twinkling just enough to keep it from feeling too rustic.

from designyourwall.com, $24/yard

But I am also in love with all things Gracie - this hand-painted wallpaper is decadently beautiful (and expensive), and I might have to sideline the cork dreams for this.  An entire room wrapped in this orange would feel just magical.

Gracie wallpaper SY-233, $1,275/panel 

This carpet is totally '80s Dynasty and borderline ugly, but I think the bold emerald is fabulous (especially against a dark wood herringbone floor...sigh) and it is such a good quality piece that it will fall into the kitschy-cool category rather than the kitschy-crappy one.  Plus, it just makes me smile.

Climbing Leopard, Diane Von Furstenburg, The Rug Company

By all rights this belongs in a bedroom, but I love the idea of using this marble-topped masterpiece as a bar during a party or a station for hour d'oeuvres. 

Syrian chest of drawers, $6,500, 1st Dibs

The mix of classic Louis XVI and bold zebra stripe have great tension.  It feels wild, but stuffy/proper at the same time.

Sophie lounge chair, $2,750 Oly Studio from Tonic Home

A kilim is a must in any 'exotic' room, but it gets new life when repurposed on a sofa.  Though I'm not sure how comfy this would be with all of the scratchy fibers...just another excuse to buy lots of soft and cuddly throw blankets!

Kilim sofa, George Smith

Stuffed with pillows draped with fabric, this wedding bed becomes like a hidden cocoon, a room within a room.  I always wanted one of these for my bed when I was a little kid in Singapore and now I feel like it would still be the coolest addition to my grown-up living room.

Chinese wedding bed, Black Zebra

This table is intricately carved and totally unique - the little drawers open all the way around and are the perfect totally decadent place to hide keys, sunglasses, you name it.

Camel bone console table, 1st Dibs

I would pair these two tray tables side by side as an oddly paired coffee table or flanking the sofa as playfully mis-matched, but stylistically similar pieces.  The python piece seems to define 'exotic' and would be great as extra seating and the vibrant lacquer adds a nice modern punch to the room.

Faux python bench, $475, Two's Company from Tonic Home

Antelope tray and luggage bench, Dransfield and Ross

Moroccan poufs are a must and this lovely turquoise hue adds more great color to the room.  Maybe a cluster of three would be pretty - turquoise, metallic gold and a pink shade?  Amazing.

Moroccan pouf, about $140, Kazzbar

I saw a mirror just like this in one of the Ralph Lauren stores and wanted it immediately.  I will admit the bit of zebra mane at the top is a bit macabre, but it's mitigated by the clean lines and seemingly mitered corners.

Zebra mirror, $1,850,  Jayson Home and Garden

A wall of odd and interesting prints lends a certain museum-like quality to the room.  Plus, who doesn't like to check out pictures of Narwhals?

Prints, from $145, Panteek

I'll add these to the mix just because I love the color and because they feel like a new adaptation of the ubiquitous, but still cool, foo dogs.

Pair of 1940's ceramic cats, $1,200, 1st Dibs

Ikat is madly trendy right now (actually, it may be waning...), but I think used well, this fabric is a luxurious staple that never goes out of style.  I would layer these on the Kilim sofa (I think the crazy patterns would actually be really cool together) and carry them over to the zebra chair as well.

Ikat pillows, $56, Pillow Pagoda

Hand-painted and beautiful, this cushion feels regal but is toned down by the simple canvas fabric.

Painted elephant pillow, $218, Anthropologie

This mammoth lantern would only work if I had a towering ceiling (it's around five feet tall!), but imagine the statement this would make hanging in the center of the room.  Or positioned in a corner like an unexpected floor lamp.

XXL Rustic lantern, $1,400, Just Morocco

Tony Duquette

I'm finding iconic interior designer Tony Duquette's over the top nouveau-Baroque style really inspirational.  It's way to embellished for my taste, but it's total eye candy to see such dense layering of textures and materials and rich colors.

Tony Duquette

Bedroom at his home Cow Hollow

Bedroom at Horntoad

Drawing room

Drawing room at Cow Hollow

Dressing room at Cow Hollow

Formal dining room at his studio

His "Little Thai House" in the Dawnridge garden

Office at Dawnridge

Office in the Dawnridge garden

Kitchen at Frogmore

Renovation of a 12th century palazzo in Venice

Vignette under the stairs in his studio

all images from tonyduquette.com

Afghan War Rug

My mom collected antique Afghan war rugs like these when we were living in Singapore.  For the most part they are wool, roughly woven, prayer rug sized pieces depicting images of conflict.  The craft started during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in 1979 and continues until today with many rugs appearing on the market that reflect the current conflict with the US.  Just one of these tiny rugs in a corner (yes, they are sturdily woven and meant to be walked all over) makes such an interesting statement and is an instant conversation piece.

from Dirt Gallery

for more information

Brooke Duchin

Writer and New York fixture Brooke Duchin's home is an incredible hodgepodge (I mean that fondly) of objets d'art, furniture, fabrics, textures, finishes and colors.  While certain items may seem jarring, they all work in the grand scheme of the eclectic apartment - a dark, oversized painting against an icy blue wall, an alligator scaling a bookshelf, a dove hanging from the ceiling . . .  crazy and fabulous.

from New York Social Diary

Figural Napkin Rings

My grandma has a spectacular collection of silver napkin rings - not just the typical circles, but the most intricate and fanciful figures.  We spent hours polishing them together when I was little and they still hold a very special place in my heart.  I can't wait to use them all the time when she passes them on to me.  Like my grandma, I think they are best enjoyed as part of a table setting, not just stored in a cabinet.

Rip Van Winkle, $2,200, liveauctioneers.com

from 1885, $695, solvangantiques.com 

from 1885, $650, solvangantiques.com

$425, burchardgalleries.com

$300, liveauctioneers.com