Showing posts with label Kelly Wearstler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kelly Wearstler. Show all posts

Sunday, December 26, 2010

How to get Published in 2011, 5 Rules to Follow

Colour me Happy Blog 1179 Interiors by Kelly Wearstler

Ever wondered what the definition of News is?  Years ago I read a book called Feeding the Media Beast written by Mark Mathis where I learned what it was. And this morning I opened the latest Veranda magazine for January/February and one of the first stories in the ‘New & Noteworthy’ section was that Kelly Wearstler had re-done a Viceroy hotel and the headline was ‘Shocking Neutrals at the Viceroy Hotel’.

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Okay Neutrals?  News?  Since When?

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‘. . . without a lipstick-pink or lizard-green anything in sight. . .’ said Veranda. In other words, neutrals are not new. But when Kelly Wearstler--who is otherwise famously known for dramatic colour--does them, it’s new.

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Have you figured out what the definition is yet? In a single word?  NEW. “There is nothing that newsworthy’ says Mathis, ‘about a headline called ‘Dog Bites Man’, such incidents are all too common.  But how about this one (true story) ‘Woman, 73, bites pit bull’s neck to snatch own Scottie from jaws’.” It’s why news in general is so sensational.  If it wasn’t structured that way, we wouldn’t be interested. It’s also why blog headlines are so important, as I’ve mentioned in this post.

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It’s the same for shelter magazines.  Ever noticed how rare it is to see ‘matched furniture sets’ in ‘high end’ designer magazines?  A matching set of bedroom furniture? Three coffee tables in the living room that match? Matching dining room furniture? Because you don’t need a designer to help you run out and and buy a ‘matching’ set of furniture.  You can do that on your own. So here is Rule #1:

Create a space that looks ‘collected’ and then that becomes ‘News’ for a magazine.  That’s when they might deign to take a look at your photos.


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The second Rule about getting published (not like I’m some big expert, my work has been in BC Home here and here—not National yet :) is:

It’s who you Know.


At High Point in October, I attended a luncheon (on how to get published) which included an editor from Veranda Magazine who confirmed this. It’s why we see the same designers over and over in these magazines, because they are in the inner circle already. And obviously they continue to deliver in terms of creating beautiful, show-worthy interiors.

So that takes us to Rule #3,

Your interiors must be NEWSWORTHY. Which includes new colour combinations, a creative do-it-yourself project, a creative mix of high and low and above all collected looking. Then you can go about getting yourself KNOWN.

And the most obvious (but not to everyone) Rule #4;

They MUST be Professionally Photographed & Styled. Here’s a post that outlines the difference.

image Interior Design by Kelly Wearstler

I still cringe when I think about the first set of photos I ever sent to a magazine to be considered. Not taken by a professional photographer and not even remotely styled. Oh well, live and learn.

Rule #5. A Fabulous Client is also a must-have.  A space that is not ‘finished’ is obviously pretty hard to photograph. Recently, I showed you a living room that I decorated for a client  (who was on a budget); however if she had not sprung for custom toss cushions, I would not have photographed the space because it was that finishing touch that turned the room from ho-hum to Hollywood glam.

Will you get published in 2011? 

If you would like to have a Collected Interior to fill you with happiness when you walk in the door, contact me for on-line or in-person decorating and colour.


Related posts:

10 Things Every Blogger should Know
Styling for Photo Shoots
4 Interior Design Blogs I Wish you would Write
Do you Follow the 10 Year Rule? (or How to have a Timeless Interior)

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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Kelly Wearstler


Like it or not, she's got style.


Despite being from Myrtle Beach (sorry).



And here is where her wardrobe lives...


I am experiencing what one might call Envy.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Inspiring Offices



Designer, Kelly Wearstler's Office
Designer, Mary McDonald's Office

Designer, Celerie Kemble's Office
Designer, Laurie Smith's Office
Bare with me...I have been going non-stop since the beginning of December. I am behind in every aspect of my life right now-work, blog, gym, mail, laundry, grocery shopping, catching up with good friends, you name it! I am excited for the cold weather and impending rain this weekend so I can nest and get myself back on track. After seeing two of my organizing clients today, I am motivated to get myself all neat and tidy too. So one of the items on my massive to-do list is to clean out and re-organize my office. I do this every January and it feels...well, as Monica (from Friends) would say....orgasmic! Anyhoo, here are some photos to inspire me (and hopefully you!).
~Images: 1) via decorpad 2 and 3) Kelly Wearstler 4) Domino 5) Pottery Barn 6) Celerie Kemble 7) book Discovering Home With Laurie Smith 8) Unknown

Monday, December 28, 2009

Maria Killam Colour & Design and Kelly Wearstler

Update on the Homies Awards at Apartment Therapy - thank you so much to all of you that have voted for me, I am honoured!! Click here to vote if anyone else feels so inclined :)

Kelly Wearstler and I now have something in common besides that I love her style! I now have a Facebook Fan Page, click here if you’d like to follow me. When I found Kelly’s fan page today I read that she has a new website, so I found some new images to share with you!

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image Look at the way this image is styled to the hilt! It’s too over-the-top for my taste but I appreciate a creatively styled room for the camera!

image Yellow, orange and pink—all three colours are found in the images above and below, they really bring gray to life in my opinion!

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All images from Kelly Wearstler, Inc.

Okay, anyone that wants to play, I have a question: What is the undertone of the area rug compared to the walls? I’m guessing it just shows up this way on camera but it’s a good opportunity for a colour lesson!

**Thanks to everyone who guessed and here's what I see. The area rug has an orange undertone which I technically consider to be the 4th undertone of beige--some might argue with that but when you hold up all 4 paint chips to compare it's in there too. I just don't talk about it because it's rare that someone will paint their entire house in a shade of butterscotch beige (which basically end up on maybe 2 strips in the entire paint deck, one is BM Boardwalk, Roxbury Caramel, Richmond Gold, etc)

Related posts:

What’s an undertone?

What Everyone should Know About Beige

Clean vs. Dirty Colours

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Displaying Books

I am a huge fan of big, fat coffee table books. I have a ton of them, most on interior design, that are scattered throughout my house: on tabletops, under benches, in baskets tucked into nooks and of course, on bookcases. I recently told a client that she needed to buy some coffee table books and she looked at me with a puzzled expression. I defended my statement by saying that I think books are a great way to express your personality. Walking into my house, you can tell instantly that I am into interior design, architecture, Charleston history, art, photography, fashion and cooking (although those books are rather dusty these days). I suggested she spend an hour or so on Amazon researching her favorite subjects. You can oftentimes find slightly used issues at a discounted rate. The bargain table at Barnes & Nobleis another great spot to pick up some good quality books for a steal. Artbook.com is also a great resource for all things design related.

I especially love them stacked on coffee tables like this...



Or use them AS your coffee/end table/nightstand!



Or try one of these creative book displays...


You can get a spine bookcase similar to this from WestElm.

I love the idea of covering them in craft paper or wallpaper for a more unified look.
[I know I have seen them also with the titles handwritten in caligraphy on the spines. Can't for the life of me remember the magazine. Anyone? Anyone?]

Or arrange them by color...




Need some more inspiration? Check out this book by House Beautiful.

~Images: 1) Ruthis Sommers home in Domino Spring/Summer 2005 2) Domino Nov 2005 3) Domino May 2007 4) Courtesy of Apartment Therapy 5) Domino Nov 2006 6) KWID 7) Unknown 8) Ad for Briger & Briger 9) Domino April 2007 10) Domino April 2006

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Black and White











Who says black and white has to mean bland? Check out these beautiful rooms decorated primarily in a black and white scheme. Being a fan of color, I don't think I could do this in my home however I can appreciate the look. What do you think?

To avoid having the room look "flat" be sure to vary the textures of fabrics, rugs, art and accessories to add some interest as they did with the grasscloth
in this dining room.


And if ALL black and white is too much try adding
an accent color for some contrast.


~Images: 1) Porchlightinteriorsblog 2) Apartment Theropy 3) NJ 4) KWID 5) Elle Decor Oct 2007 6) Cottage Living Sept 2008 7) Cottage Living March 2006 8) Unknown 9) Freshome

Friday, August 7, 2009

You Are My Sunshine...





These rooms really do make me happy! The weather forecast for this weekend in Charleston is nothing but a big, round sun! I love that! Hence these images of some bright, cheery interiors in the succulent shades of lime and yellow. Accoding to Google, there are hundreds of songs with "sun or sunshine" in the title. Some of my favorites are Aqualung's "Brighter Than Sunshine," Slightly Stoopid's "Sun is Shining," and when Sting covered "Ain't No Sunshine." Hot! What is your favorite "sun/sunshine" song?
~Images: 1) Phoebe Howard 2) Kelly Wearstler 3) Jonathan Adler 4) House Beautiful June 2001 5) Elle Decor 6) Unknown 7) Unknown

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