Sometimes, I give up on being bossy and let other people take over the reins of my life. Hence, my propensity for gathering together a passel of folks throughout history to whom I can look for inspiration and life lessons. When in a bind, I simply ask myself, "What would HelenKeller/CourtneyLove/AynRand/ThomasJefferson/Jesus/
My10thGradeHistoryTeacher/StevePrefontaine/DianeVonFurstenburg/
ParkerPosey/Etcetera do?"
One of the etceteras is Jonathan Adler. I was reminded how much I adore him this morning while perusing Shamu's recent Top Design blob post. His rules for living have been posted up on my fridge forever and I thought I'd post them here in case they give you inspiration for your life. Or just brighten up a crummy grey day.
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JONATHAN ADLER:
Your home should make you happy.
When it comes to decorating, the wife is always right.
Unless the husband is gay.
Believe in carbohydrates and to hell with the puffy consequences.
Handcrafted tchotchkes are life-enhancing.
Tassels are the earrings of the home.
Believe in the innate chicness of red with brown.
Be underdressed or overdressed always.
Dogs should be allowed in stores and restaurants.
Throw out your Blackberry and go pick some actual blackberries.
Colors can never clash.
Blow your nest egg on cooking pots.
Jonathan Adler lamps will make you look younger and thinner.
and finally . . .
MINIMALISM IS A BUMMER.
Your home should make you happy.
When it comes to decorating, the wife is always right.
Unless the husband is gay.
Believe in carbohydrates and to hell with the puffy consequences.
Handcrafted tchotchkes are life-enhancing.
Tassels are the earrings of the home.
Believe in the innate chicness of red with brown.
Be underdressed or overdressed always.
Dogs should be allowed in stores and restaurants.
Throw out your Blackberry and go pick some actual blackberries.
Colors can never clash.
Blow your nest egg on cooking pots.
Jonathan Adler lamps will make you look younger and thinner.
and finally . . .
MINIMALISM IS A BUMMER.
21 comments:
Oh, fab! I love Jonathan Adler, too. And I'm so happy to learn that I don't have to get rid of my vintage ribbon lady collection--handcrafted, puffy, multi-colored, and not minimalistic.
Wish I could afford Jonathan Adler's lamps.
I think it's sharp looking stuff.
excellent ideas...but I thought he was a columnist for Newsweek, oops.I'm not so sure about the tassels...
"MINIMALISM IS A BUMMER."
Bless him for this. I worry I've over dressed parts of my house and this makes me happy to hear. The great thing about Top Design has been hearing him talk/discuss/rip apart the designs. My friend sells his things in his gallery and with the discount... I still can't afford most of his schnizz.
one bit of advice for you moi, never have kids or if you do you'll have to be one of those people who keeps the kids kennelled in a second apartment. because the only design decision you have to make when buying stuff for a house with kids is:
'do we take the black or grey sofa that repels stains?'
and
'how long will this chair last if it is jumped upon every day for five years?'
In ten years or so I look forward to once again having a sylish home. You should post pics of your house some time!
Wendy: In my next life, I'm buying Adler.
Troll: Very. And it goes with just about every kind of decor.
DorisRose: Hush, now. Everyone needs a tassel somewhere in their home. I bet if you looked hard enough, you'd find one, too!
A.B.: Welcome to the Southwest Chapter of Over Dressed Homes Anonymous. Feel free to head over to the sideboard and pour yourself a martini . . .
Emma: Children, schmildren. Try living with three over-sized dogs and incorporating their overs-sized LL Bean dog beds into Mid Century Modern. Nothing scares me!
we have an orange kitchen. i lost the campaign to pull up the lino and expose the old wood which i wanted to stain turkoise. grherhaha i know i spelled that wrong i tried it with the q and spell check said NO!
K9: Turquoise and orange is a popular color combo out here in the Great Southwest. Note Jonathan Adler's rule about hubbys and go ahead and DO IT!
I would like to live life by the Buddhist suggestion that for everything brought into the house, three things are thrown out, but the wife who controls the design decisions wouldn't buy into it.
The big fear of mine regarding death is if my wife and I die simultaneously, our poor teenage sons would have to figure out what to do with all the crap in the house. It's a good thing they never open drawers they don't have to. Does a family really need three or four sets of china? Or even one?
OK my fav is a toss up between the dogs everywhere and picking blackberries.
And boy do I know someone and their love of cooking pots.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Czar: Does a family really need three or four sets of china? Or even one? Only a man would ask such a silly question. Now run along and go organize a tool shed or alphabetize some albums.
Shamu: I think I have recently developed an antique copper cooking pot Jones. Thank God I'm broke.
Now, I don't own any Adler lamps so I will have to watch the carbs to keep from looking too puffy.
The rest of the rules makes perfect sense to me.
Now Moi, don't be too hard on Czar, how do you think some of us acquire those extra sets of china at yard sales while the wife is out of town?
Divine room and wonderful rules to live by.
Heh heh..oh yeah, love the blackberry commandment. But colors DO clash cause purple ain't fittin' fer nuthin' but the blue hairs.
Orange is mah second favorite color Moi!! , well, akshully terra cotta, Green bein' first.
I friend whose kitchen is red and turquoise. Her hubby saw swatches and said "not if I'm payin' fer it." She done it anyway and believe me, it is a smashing gorgeous room.
Nyd: I watch carbs, too. I watch 'em slide right into my stomach.
Shamu: True. One person's tired ol' china is another person's treasure. Been there. Still there.
Pam: It has a groovy vibe without being too retro.
Aunty: I am trying to make peace with purple this season.
Shamu - ahahahah. Or ebay.
AB, another fav is Goodwill Auctions.
Like these shoes
Love that list, with the exception of the item on cooking pots. I'll blow my nest egg on great trips and massages, but not anything that keeps me in the kitchen. Moi *knows* how Wicked feels about cooking.
A.B.: Oh, there are so many ways in which to scout out bargains!
Shamu: Goodwill Auctions rocks! So do those shoes. Dang. Must. Not. Bid.
Wicked: I know, dahlink. You had quite enough of it the other night. You just rest yourself now, you hear?
Moi, think of it as a charitable donation...
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