Elements of Style Blog » books

Hemingway’s Style

Erin Gates — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:03:31 +0000

I was watching the Today Show yesterday (even though I CANNOT STAND Ann Curry) while moping on the sofa with my Christmas Cold (arghhh) and I saw Muriel Hemingway giving a tour of her grandfather Ernest’s Cuban home. I was so surprised by how stylish it was and how “on trend” with the current styles we’ve seen on blogs and in magazines. While I have yet to read any works by Hemingway (any advice on where to start?) I am enamored with his look! Take a peek:

His home in Florida is much of the same look-

There’s a fabulous bar in LA called Hemingways Lounge that is a homage to his style:

Here’s my take on Hemingway style- vintage posters, Oushal rugs, tropical influence…. and of course, bookcases and a bar cart!

Hemingway Style by elementsofstyleblog on polyvore.com

Contemporary Bar Carts $814 - houzz.com

Decker Bookshelf $698 - anthropologie.com

Z Gallerie – Deer Head – Small 15.75″ $50 - zgallerie.com

1STDIBS.COM – Off The Wall Antiques – Zebra Hide Bench 1stdibs.com

Metropolis Modern – Harvey Probber – Ebonized Mahogany & Cane… metropolismodern.1stdibs.com

1STDIBS.COM – Eclectiques – Midcentury Gilded Tin Palm Tree Chandelier 1stdibs.com

Celerie Kemble: Black & White

Erin Gates — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:56:25 +0000

MY NEW FAVORITE DESIGN BOOK EVA!!!!

For serious, y’all, go get it. It’s so good and chock full of so many ways to use the most basic color combo to make rooms look spectacular. In fact, I have abandoned all ideas previously conjured about my new apartment after reading this book cover to cover last night! It’s amazing to see the variety of styles that can be created using a black and white base- glam to country and everything in between. And of course, a dash of color here and there looks even MORE special when set against a monochromatic background! There is just something so soothing about a restrained palette- after a day filled with paint colors, fabric swatches and patterns I think I would fare best in a space free of ALL that!

With this kind of color palette it’s all about mixing textures! My components for a FABULOUS black and white based room are:

leather + distressed wood + marble + greek key + natural horn + brass/metal + velvet and tufting +sisal + linen + green plants + animal print/hide + black lacquered wood antiques + lucite or glass + skeepskin or flokati + mirror + GREAT ART= FABULOUS.

Judging A Book By Its Cover…

Erin Gates — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:17:19 +0000

Well, after over 24 hours with no internet I feel like I’ve been the friggin’ MOON! It’s amazing how out of touch with the world you feel without constant Wi-Fi in your life! Sheesh!
Anywhoo, I know a lot of you are like me and are completely obsessed with bookcases- I typically tend to veer towards the built in variety, but a well curated stand alone can have me weak in the knees too. After color coding all the spines of my books for a photo-shoot years ago (drawing odd looks from the hubby) I realized that the actual books themselves really make such a difference. A stack of Jodi Piccoult paperbacks just doesn’t aesthetically please quite the same way as vintage fabric hardcovers with gold lettering, huh? Cue Juniper Books where not only will they source amazing books for your collection but also custom cover your tomes in whatever you can dream up! Just look at these amazing options!

Images created along a series of spines…. GENIUS.

Wrapped in print and faux leathers….

Clean and classic with fabulous fonts….

Vintage inspired and bold colors…

Various fabric inspired prints….

Or fabric itself!

I LOVE the colors shown here- varying papers and inks that all coordinate together!

Ombre shades of pink…

Or simulated vellum covers….

And look at some of the installations they’ve done! It makes you want to curl up with a good novel (I’m reading Unbroken right now and LOVE it), doesn’t it?