Sproost Blog

Welcome to Hollywood, fellow Sproosters! Its time to roll out the red carpet, glam it up, and get ready for the sparkle of crystal and all things flashy that make up the next installment of our awesome design style school: Hollywood Couture. (Applause is necessary.) And remember to check out our nifty design style quiz to find out what style suits you best.

Today we have a ton of pictures to show you and we hope you enjoy. So, grab a martini, slip into something a little more comfortable, and scroll on down.

For you history buffs, Hollywood Couture style originated in high-end lifestyles that made up the years between the roaring 20s and the swinging 40s where it was important to bring a feeling of glamour to the home when the world outside may have lacked it. Thanks to Living Etc.  for this great room.

Nowadays it’s scratching a similar itch in that it’s bringing a sense of opulence to a world that seems to have forgotten just how much fun it can be to be…well, Fabulous! Here’s a great room from Apartment Therapy.

The great thing about the updated version of the style is how versatile it is. You can really take it in any direction and add almost any style into the mix, say perhaps a contemporary leather sofa paired with lacquered Louis XIV chairs that have been upholstered in lush velvet. This is a great Greg Natale room.

The key is that each item feels as rich and over-the-top as possible and yet everything still seems livable. It’s not a space that screams “do not touch,” rather it almost dares you to experience its luxury. (More like, please touch me!) here’s some black and white goodness from Desire to Inspire.

The material palette you are drawn to is wonderfully extravagant. And you love the contrast between something as cold and sleek as glass or acrylic to something as lush as faux fur (note the emphasis on the faux here! It’s easier to be guilt free about your lavish decorations if you don’t have to mentally block the fact that your throw was once a gaggle of cute bunnies or a swarm of minks). We love this room by Jeff Andrews.

Striking textures are found throughout the rooms, from leather (and don’t forget the patent!), silk, mohair, velvet, and satin. Each of these materials in another style could seem subtle or boring, but not in your home. However, please note that we here at Sproost discourage the use of a Velvet Elvis, even if it fits the color palate. We DO approve of anything Marilyn. So does Apartment Therapy where we found this fab room.

And oh how you love mirrored furniture, ceilings, sculptures, and walls! The lighting is key for both its mood (think sexy…grrrr) and its sculptural beauty. You love chandeliers with glass crystals or high gloss lacquered finishes on table lamps. This room is in Dallas and to see more pictures of the house, click on the photo.

For colors, the sky is the limit but drama is essential. If you prefer a lighter palette, think silver and grays with white accents, or go white on white, with only the gloss to separate surfaces. I can’t pronounce the designer’s name or the site this picture came from, but it’s cool.

Warmer tones work well in light colors too, only this time, envision gold (talk about opulent!) and warm pinks, yellows, and greens. The yellow room is another by Jeff Andrews and the green is Greg Natale.

Or go bold! Try a high contrast of bright white against dark blues, grays, purples, magentas, and even black. The great thing about Hollywood Couture is you can take it anywhere! Blue room and cozy feeling, compliments of Andrew Suvalsky Design.

When it comes to arranging your rooms, think martini party. Rooms should encourage both lounging (I see a chaise in the corner, you with a martini glass, and the lights turned low) and socializing. Perhaps a little slap and tickle if you’re lucky. This Desire to Inspire room by Kwinter & Company is fit for a princess.

Above all, Hollywood Couture wants people to come in, pour a drink, take a seat, and spend the night chatting away. It should encourage conversation as much as it highlights the amazing pieces in the room. The first is from Design Sponge and the second is Made By Girl.

If you tuned in last week you know that we are all about ed-u-cay-shun. So we’ve decided to give you the down-low on different design styles. This week we’re focusing on the Contemporary style so pay attention! You might just learn something you can apply to your own home. And remember to check out our nifty design style quiz to find out what style suits you best.

So fresh and so clean! Antiques? No thanks! Vintage collections and clutter of any type? Not for you! You like your space new and sleek like this room by Christopher Dezille.

Each piece is chosen carefully as if it was a piece of art, and your love of minimalism is expressed throughout each room. This one is Matt Eastwood’s Pad in Sydney.

Now, since each piece of furniture is like a piece of art, you can expect to pay a pretty penny for some of your pieces. Contemporary ain’t cheap, my pretties. However there are some great manufacturers out there these days that have found a way to bring you cool pieces for less (think cb2, west elm, eurway, chiasso…).

Your furniture has clean lines and geometric shapes are preferred. You may also accent your furniture with any small white fluffy breed of dog, imported from Europe. Here’s another great room from The Contemporist blog.

Even though your room appears to be mostly neutrals, you’re not afraid of color. In fact bold color options only highlight the minimal items you choose for your home. But, the key is keeping it clean! This room by Roche Bobois is amazing.

To master the minimalist interior you not only have to be selective in the few furniture items you bring into the space, but you must also find a way to hide all of the real life items as well. This means you need hidden storage for things like toys, food, and the pool boy. This room is by Italian manufacturer Poliform.

With contemporary design, the material of the object is nearly as important as the object itself. Manmade materials such as acrylic, steel and plastic are often found in your spaces and chrome and glass can also fill prominent roles. These materials can often be cold to the touch, so adding plush carpets and soft accessories helps balance the space. Too bad your Contemporary style forbids you from owning a Snuggie. Another Roche Bobois room. (Does anyone else think that sounds like a French version of Ricky Bobby?)

Wood is also used, though the nature of the wood is rarely highlighted. Stains tend to be either very dark or very light so that the grains of the wood are minimized and only the color remains like these nifty shelves from Mobileffe.

Colors range dramatically from subtle neutrals to bright colors, though the one consistent element is the lack of clashing patterns and busy color palates. Good lord, it’s pretty.

Bright colors are used sparingly and intended to create drama and highlight a wall or piece of furniture. Many times the entire space will be neutral in palate and it is only the art and accessories that bring in color and drama. Ooh. Ahh. (That’s my drama face, folks.)

In this sense, the space literally acts as an art gallery intended to highlight only the items of utmost importance. I love the bold black and white. Very cool.

The feeling your rooms evoke should always be one of “less is more,” and your furniture tends to appear more as works of art than simply as a sofa or a chair. I could use a nap on that comfy leather couch now and I bet that rug would feel awesome on the naked toes. Actually, I’m all for running around the house completely nude at all times. Spectators be damned.

When planning a space, the focus is placed on finding the right pieces to give you enough seating for entertaining but never so much that the room feels cluttered. Who wouldn’t want to come home to this gorgeous sight every day?