Thank God for Margaret Russell and Elle Decor!

Thank God for Margaret Russell and Elle Decor!

 

 

No that beautiful, sexy woman isn’t Miss America – she’s Margaret Russell, the brains and creative force behind Elle Decor Magazine.   Margaret came to The Skirted Roundtable this week to talk with Linda, Megan, and me about magazines and blogging and her new wonderful book Style and Substance, a compilation of the best of Elle Decor from its heralded 20 year history.  

When it was announced today that Metropolitan Home was closing shop, yet another magazine failure in a long line, everyone said - “Thank God for Elle Decor.”  Thank God indeed, but really Thank God for Margaret Russell.  I wonder if there would  still be an Elle Decor if it wasn’t for her keen intellect and steady leadership as Editor-in-Chief.    It’s no coincidence that Elle Decor is the leading design magazine.   If only Margaret had been Editor-in-Chief at Cottage Living, House and Garden, Country Home, Western Interiors, Home, Vogue Living, and on and on – under Russell’s guidance they might still be publishing today. 

 

Russell’s newest book – it is quite beautiful and wonderfully edited.  Available at Amazon HERE.

 

If you have the new book Style and Substance – get it out before you listen to the podcast.  Margaret picked her three favorite rooms from the book and we discuss them in depth.   It’s a great interview, if I might say so myself!    Russell is strong, vibrant, sharp, and witty – so any interview of hers is great.    To listen, go HERE.

In other news today, Thank God for Elle Decor!  The December issue is now out with a spread by Miles Redd (who is always fabulous), another by Philip Gorrivan, and then there’s my favorite story – Miss Charlotte Moss’ new Aspen House.  We all remember the book The Winter House – the story of her house in Aspen which was sold soon after the book came out.   Now, after a few years of waiting, we finally have the first glimpse of her new Colorado vacation house.  Worth the price of the issue for sure.

 

The Winter House by Charlotte Moss (doesn’t she have the MOST beautiful name?) available at Amazon HERE.

 

 

OK, OK – here’s a sneak peak at Charlotte’s new Aspen house from the December issue of Elle Decor.  To Die For.   Lushly photographed by her favorite, Pieter Estersohn, of course and written by the best in the business, Mitchell Owens (who has his own new book out HERE.)

 

 

Mitchell Owens, resident scholar on everything design, shares credits with Derry Moore – one of the most talented photographers in the business.   My book is coming tomorrow and I can’t WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Lots of reading, lots of thanking God for Margaret Russell, lots of praying that Elle Decor and House Beautiful and Stephen Drucker are safe from the magazine zombies who keep killing off the best of best while leaving the worst design magazines standing – like, well, I won’t name it, but you can only guess who I mean!!

To listen to Margaret Russell on  The Skirted Roundtable, go HERE!  It’s a good one, I promise you!!!

Read More

Thank God for Margaret Russell and Elle Decor!

Thank God for Margaret Russell and Elle Decor!

 

 

No that beautiful, sexy woman isn’t Miss America – she’s Margaret Russell, the brains and creative force behind Elle Decor Magazine.   Margaret came to The Skirted Roundtable this week to talk with Linda, Megan, and me about magazines and blogging and her new wonderful book Style and Substance, a compilation of the best of Elle Decor from its heralded 20 year history.  

When it was announced today that Metropolitan Home was closing shop, yet another magazine failure in a long line, everyone said - “Thank God for Elle Decor.”  Thank God indeed, but really Thank God for Margaret Russell.  I wonder if there would  still be an Elle Decor if it wasn’t for her keen intellect and steady leadership as Editor-in-Chief.    It’s no coincidence that Elle Decor is the leading design magazine.   If only Margaret had been Editor-in-Chief at Cottage Living, House and Garden, Country Home, Western Interiors, Home, Vogue Living, and on and on – under Russell’s guidance they might still be publishing today. 

 

Russell’s newest book – it is quite beautiful and wonderfully edited.  Available at Amazon HERE.

 

If you have the new book Style and Substance – get it out before you listen to the podcast.  Margaret picked her three favorite rooms from the book and we discuss them in depth.   It’s a great interview, if I might say so myself!    Russell is strong, vibrant, sharp, and witty – so any interview of hers is great.    To listen, go HERE.

In other news today, Thank God for Elle Decor!  The December issue is now out with a spread by Miles Redd (who is always fabulous), another by Philip Gorrivan, and then there’s my favorite story – Miss Charlotte Moss’ new Aspen House.  We all remember the book The Winter House – the story of her house in Aspen which was sold soon after the book came out.   Now, after a few years of waiting, we finally have the first glimpse of her new Colorado vacation house.  Worth the price of the issue for sure.

 

The Winter House by Charlotte Moss (doesn’t she have the MOST beautiful name?) available at Amazon HERE.

 

 

OK, OK – here’s a sneak peak at Charlotte’s new Aspen house from the December issue of Elle Decor.  To Die For.   Lushly photographed by her favorite, Pieter Estersohn, of course and written by the best in the business, Mitchell Owens (who has his own new book out HERE.)

 

 

Mitchell Owens, resident scholar on everything design, shares credits with Derry Moore – one of the most talented photographers in the business.   My book is coming tomorrow and I can’t WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Lots of reading, lots of thanking God for Margaret Russell, lots of praying that Elle Decor and House Beautiful and Stephen Drucker are safe from the magazine zombies who keep killing off the best of best while leaving the worst design magazines standing – like, well, I won’t name it, but you can only guess who I mean!!

To listen to Margaret Russell on  The Skirted Roundtable, go HERE!  It’s a good one, I promise you!!!

Read More

Women in Design

Women in Design

I had the pleasure of attending Elle Decor's annual salute to Women in Design and thought I would share a few of the highlights with you. After Charlotte Moss was presented with the Vision Award from Margaret Russell they joined interior designers Michelle Nussbaumer, Kelly Wearstler and Holly Hunt for a panel discussion. A few of my male friends joked that a women in design event seemed a bit sexist but design is very important in the world of women since it was one of the first places that it was not only acceptable for women to work but to own their own businesses. When I look around now and see so many of my female friends who own their own firms, it's really amazing. We owe a lot to those designing women who paved the way such as Elsie de Wolfe, Sister Parish and Dorothy Draper.

The first question to the panel was what advice they have for design students or those who want to work in design. All of the designers had similar suggestion, such as reading, traveling, visiting museums, interning, and working for someone who you admire. Kelly Wearstler also suggested visiting antique shops and art galleries, anything to "fuel your vision." She also suggested never following trends or buying something because it's the hot new style.

Getting out to be inspired is something that they all practice in their own life. Michelle Nussbaumer had just visited the MoMA and Kelly Wearstler is often inspired by art and also jewelry and fashion. Kelly also has a large library of vintage books that she often consults. They all agreed that it's sometimes good to get away from a design dilemma and come back to it and for Holly Hunt, that means going out into nature and taking a run. I actually took a walk through Central Park with a friend last week and we ended up at the Met where we viewed the new Vermeer exhibit and Roman sculptures. I can attest that it's good to leave your desk sometimes!

One of the biggest challenges for women in design is balancing their family life and work. Michelle Nussbaumer said she tries not to bring work home at night or work on weekends. Easier said than done as we all know but you need to make time for the important things in life. Charlotte Moss also talked about having to make hard decisions such as when she decided to close her store which was taking her away from her family and taking the joy out of her life.

Another interesting question that was posed was "what makes a timeless room?" Charlotte Moss said that it's not physical and not an object but what designers get paid to create which is ambiance and atmosphere. They all agrees it's nothing you can put your finger on but you know when you walk into a room and it just feels right. Kelly Wearstler compared it to a painting that you can go back to time and again and see new things and never get tired of looking at.

A question from the audience that resonated most with me was "how do you stay organized, especially with multiple clients?" I struggle with keeping on top of my paperwork and organizing my tear sheets so it was good to hear someone like Holly Hunt admit that she never quite feels organized and the sorting can take the most time! Like me, they all carry notebooks and write everything down and also take lots of photos. Unlike me, they have a staff of very organized people who work with them and keep them organized! I'm going to have to work on that!

One of the last audience questions was about how they present to a client and their best advice is that you really have to tailor your presentation to the client. Charlotte Moss stated that, "there is no formula because every client is different." Kelly Wearstler called it "an organic process" and I agree. Sometimes you buy something for one room and realize later that it belongs in another. You can't be so tied to the furniture plan and you need to be flexible.

All in all, it was a wonderful event and a very inspiring one! If you ever get the chance to hear any of these women in design speak, I highly recommend making the time to attend! And I can't think of a better way to end than with a quote from the original designing woman, Elsie de Wolfe, "I am going to make everything around me beautiful. That will be my life."

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Charlotte Moss

Charlotte Moss

 

The gorgeous back terrace at Charlotte Moss’ NYC apartment.  Look at that lantern!  And the fireplace!  And the dog!

 

Just a reminder – Charlotte Moss visited the Skirted Roundtable last week.  The three of us recorded a new show tonight and I just wanted to let you all know you can still catch the Moss interview HERE in case you missed it.  In fact, all of our past shows are still available at the Skirted Roundtable blog AND on I-Tunes.   As the weeks since the launch of the Skirted Roundtable have added up, so have the shows, of course – and there is a wide range of topics covered.     One day I went back and listened to a few of the old recordings and they sounded fresh to me – so much time had passed by, I could barely remember recording them. 

 

 

Miss Moss shopping in Europe.  How chic is she!?!!

 

 

 The salon in her NYC townhouse.  I think this is my favorite room in her house.  I love the pinks and greens – the painted consoles are to die for!  In the interview, Charlotte more or less admitted she was not going to be changing her decor to the ultra trendy Belgian design any time soon.  That really wasn’t surprising to hear!

Photo courtesy of Newyorksocialdiary.com

 

The Skirted Roundtable Charlotte Moss interview, HERE.

 

As always, thank you so much for listening!!  We can’t tell you how much your support means to all three of us – and I say that from the bottom of my heart.    The new show recorded tonight should be up in just a day or two.

Read More

Charlotte Moss

Charlotte Moss

 

The gorgeous back terrace at Charlotte Moss’ NYC apartment.  Look at that lantern!  And the fireplace!  And the dog!

 

Just a reminder – Charlotte Moss visited the Skirted Roundtable last week.  The three of us recorded a new show tonight and I just wanted to let you all know you can still catch the Moss interview HERE in case you missed it.  In fact, all of our past shows are still available at the Skirted Roundtable blog AND on I-Tunes.   As the weeks since the launch of the Skirted Roundtable have added up, so have the shows, of course – and there is a wide range of topics covered.     One day I went back and listened to a few of the old recordings and they sounded fresh to me – so much time had passed by, I could barely remember recording them. 

 

 

Miss Moss shopping in Europe.  How chic is she!?!!

 

 

 The salon in her NYC townhouse.  I think this is my favorite room in her house.  I love the pinks and greens – the painted consoles are to die for!  In the interview, Charlotte more or less admitted she was not going to be changing her decor to the ultra trendy Belgian design any time soon.  That really wasn’t surprising to hear!

Photo courtesy of Newyorksocialdiary.com

 

The Skirted Roundtable Charlotte Moss interview, HERE.

 

As always, thank you so much for listening!!  We can’t tell you how much your support means to all three of us – and I say that from the bottom of my heart.    The new show recorded tonight should be up in just a day or two.

Read More