Go Fug Your Room (and Yourself) - Kelly Wearstler

Or, Kelly Wearstler - WTF?

I know that American design sensibilities are different from European ones.  Americans seem to like more fuss, clutter and ornamentation than Europeans are used to. I think this is because minimalism was a European thing and its philosophy of clean lines, simple shapes and less clutter seems to have permeated our culture a lot more, even if we wouldn't consider ourselves minimalists.

Having said all that, I just can't understand the American adoration of interior designer Kelly Wearstler.  An ex-topless model, champion of Hollywood Regency style, author of many books, and judge on interior design reality pogramme Top Design, she's probably the equivalent in status to a Kelly Hoppen or Tricia Guild in the UK (though with very different design sensibilities) and very much admired.

But I. just. don't. get. it.

Here are pictures from her recent spread in Domino magazine.  Am I really the only person who thinks this looks like a wealthy Arab just ran amok in an early 80s motel? (With apologies to all wealthy Arabs with taste). Isn't all the gold and shiny stuff and horrendous layered pattern and blocks of marble and overstuffed leather and fussy knickknackery just, well, hideous?  Can someone please explain what I'm missing here?

 

 

All images from Domino 

By the way, these are the ways she chooses to wear her hair, in public, nay, even on telly.  There doesn't appear to be any coercion involved. Thank goodness she's beautiful.

 

Image from www.tomandlorenzo.blogspot.com (the amazing Project Rungay boys also blog Top Design).

 

Comments

[corine]

I am known to love gaudy with a touch of ugly. But this feels to me like an accumulation of stuff.

[ian_d_thomas]

I am known for my ability to ignore less than ideal surroundings (orange and green bathrooms, for example) for extended periods of time. But that 'mountains' wallpaper is absolutely HIDEOUS. She should be outlawed.

[dana]

I never heard of her before, but she looks like someone who takes her own idiosynchrasies too seriously. And if these rooms reflect her usual work, her taste is all in her mouth.

[christine]

Don't trust anyone with bony knees.

[paola]

Hee Christine! That sounds like a good life lesson. Dana, I like your turn of phrase...

[becky]

I like her. Sometimes her hair is the most creative thing on Top Design. Anyway, I didn't get the Domino spread at all. I like that she's moved on, and perhaps it's before it's time, or over my head, but the only thing I liked about it is that amazing screen, and the rug that looks a lot like the one in this Billy Baldwin room:

http://flickr.com/photos/71696744@N00/2885731288/

Does anyone else know "bravura modern" as a reference? It was the first time I'd heard of it, but that's not really saying much!

[paola]

The screen is nice, but not in that room. I too liked the carpet, though I think Billy Baldwin is another designer I don't really get.

Perhaps 'bravura modern' just means 'crap'?

Corine, I think I'm going to adopt 'gaudy with a touch of ugly' as my new design mantra.

[Elizabeth Mackey]

I totally agree with you on Kelly. I gave up on even watching that show last season. Do you remember how annoying Todd was??? It sent me over. I don't like any of the designers on the panel,so it is a miss for me. The pictures that you showed of Kelly's spread in Domino are hideous, and gives me a very depressing feeling.

[illahee]

oh. my. god.

(sorry, i think i'm struck dumb.)

[Paula]

I don't get her either. She is one of the first to complain about lack of editing on Top Design. Go Figure!

[mary]

I only know of her via spreads like these. Personally, her decorating style is not my taste at all. But she certainly is well-loved!

[becky]

Oh my god, cracking up at "bravura modern just means 'crap'"!

Have you been watching Glam God on VH-1 at all? Philip Bloch has worse hair iterations than Kelly! He needs a stylist of his own! I do like it when people are at least original without the help of a stylist, which I think has become rare these days.

[So Lovely]

I just came across your blog - you are FANTASTIC! KW's husband developed the Viceroy in Santa Monica and thats how she got her start. I don't get it either. Look at any David Hicks books from the '70's and then you can see where her "designs" have come from. I agree that there aren't really any "new designs" but don't you agree that we have to give credit where credit is due. You are first person in the blogging world that has been honest enough to post your opinion.

[paola]

Becky, stop it! I can't watch ANY MORE reality TV...

So Lovely. I agree, from what I know of her she's very David Hicksian. Jonathan Adler also has his David Hicks moments as well. I also think David Hicks did it better than either of them, certainly better than KW.

[Julia]

I'm so glad you blogged about this. Even though I'm not the super into design, a dear friend of mine sent me gift subscription to Domino Magazine earlier this year (hmm, maybe she was trying to tell me something?). Anywho, when I was flipping through this month's issue I was laughing out loud at this shoot. It was just silly. It reminds me of my sister's room when I was little, except I think hers was a bit nicer. I just figured I wasn't hip or in touch enough with what is considered trendy in the world of decor. It's nice to know I wasn't the only one reading this and scratching my head.
It makes me wonder though how much she paid for some of these hideous finds. Oh and seriously, I think Kelly is quite pretty but she really need to eat a sandwich.

[Mary T]

I blogged awhile back about how I literally decorated with actual HOTEL ART that was salvaged from a 1980s hotel in my confused youth. That wallpaper/brass fixture combo reminds me of that art.

[Caitlin B]

Before I started watching Top Design this season (I never watched the other seasons, I don't know if she was on it...) I had never heard of her.

And, the only picture in this series of photos that hits any positive chords with me is the vignette with the lamp and pink painting. Not my style, but I could see how someone else can appreciate it.

The rest look almost silly - but, more dated and messy.

[HazelStone]

I love some of the individual items in the Domino spread (blue and gold screen? yes, please). The whole effect is NOUVEAU RICHE EXTREEEEEME! It's like you took a 15 year old heiress, fed them 25 cokes and set them loose with as credit card.

[Uyek]

Some of her work I find to be fun but this is the ugliest stuff I've seen by her to-date. Yikes.

[Rebecca]

Well, I'm an American....and I think this is hideous. I was hugely disappointed with Domino for publishing this story. I can only imagine that their target demographic grew up in the late 70s and 80s. Having lived through this look, there's no need to emulate it, now or ever.

[K.Inez]

I dig it. :D

[Miranda]

Clearly she's into 70's playboy mansionesque kitsch, and is trying to usher in a newish look, probably already popular in LA. But, noone would want to live here.

[Uncle Beefy]

I'd write more but I must admit to finding it rather difficult typing when one's mouth is full of vomit.

(And this whole multitude of looks that she's sporting on Top Design is such contrived eccentricity! Drives me batty!)

[casinocon]

I watched two episodes of Top Design last night and I could not believe how UGLY and OVERWROUGHT everything was . . . and, I LOVE clutter, kitsch, and eclectic rooms. What is wrong with these "designers" and judges???!!! Do they not have EYES!!! I guess after all the design eras we've been through, there is nothing left to do, but mix them all up and throw them on the wall to see what sticks. That is literally what these folks are doing. Throwing stuff on a wall, it makes me want to throw up. The problem is, these people will be designing for other people... and that is just wrong. To force someone to live with bad, bad design that has nothing to do with their own tastes and lifestyle is so, so sad. Any regular Joe or Jane could do better decorating themselves.

[e.varden]

Baldwin's room: Just spill a pint of blood on the carpet and I could snuggle in quite nicely...

[Gail]

These rooms are beyond hideous and her hair is in dire need of a hot oil treatment.

[Sean]

Yes WTF. I'm American and completely agree with the Blogger. I think Margaret Russell secretly wants to bitch slap Kelly. Go Margaret... Kelly's voice is annoying as Fug. Ever since Goil left on the first season it's been bland and the same old design recycled. Yawn. Jonathan Adler should reconsider his contract.

[Astroboy]

Is she perpetually on LSD?

Or does she wear kaleidoscopic contact lenses?

It seems more is more with her.

I bet she $hits potpourri.

[Kimber]

Hugh Hefner meets Adnan khashoggi circa 1975 with a splash of elderly Floridian and a pinch of Miami Vice hotel suite - truly hideous.

[Elizabeth Richardson]

My assessment: The emperor isn't wearing any clothes. I hated her stuff the first time I saw it, and just to verify my first response, given all the fuss about her designs, I checked her book Domicilium Decoratus out of the library. Verdict: Her house looks horrible. All that hideous Chinese crap, and what an unappealing palette! The only room I can remotely tolerate is the kitchen. She is a hack. Thanks for giving me room to vent.