Viva Los Muertos

Mexican decor is saturated with two things: Symbols and color. In religion, saints, crosses and The Sacred Heart feature predominantly. They do make for potent decorating! The other thing they are famed for is the Dia de los Muertos - the Day of the Dead. Celebrating ancestors with vivid and highly ornate tokens of the dead has become an art form in itself, most recognizably with the sugar skulls. They are fabulous.

Cushions...

Wallpaper! Completely Fab.

Love this little vignette:

Love that this room managed to get the Sacre Coeur, skull AND Lucha Libre (wrestling with masks) all in one spot and still look cool:

Saintly Technicolor:

And just glorious, unabashed, strong hues

Blooming marvelous. Which leads me to my current obsession with Oaxaca roses:

with a bit of traditional Serape thrown into the mix. Viva Zapata! 

Retropolis

I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to retro style, as are many of you that do it so well. Whether it's Deco, Mid-Century, 40's, 50's, 60's or 70's I'm not alone in having a preference for authenticity. It's interesting to watch what the revivalists have been doing recently with the Seventies, but I have to admit I'm a wee bit overdone with the same old Kelly Wearstler/Jonathan Adler geometric patterns that are so prolific currently. What I do like though is a rash of fresh takes cropping up that are all about twee and brightly colorful rooms, mixing actual vintage pieces with mint new versions of objects, soft furnishings and wallpaper.

Brilliant new rugs by Tuleh parody the best with their tongue-in-cheek Tom Jones and Maison floor coverings:

The designed Jonathan Fong has been doing some great, inventive stuff; here in his own home he goes mad with ideas:

And also created this Warholian kitchen for a client:

I love that this could be any cheapo boring kitchen cabinets. Think of the possibilities!
Some couch magic with lovely touches of retro here:

And some neon glitz with custom retro tapestry cushions at Admiral

My friend the multi-talented Allee Willis, apart from being a Grammy and Tony winner, happens to be the Queen of Kitsch in Burbank and my favorite part of her astounding house is the pink breakfast booth:

My guilty secret is hanging on still to a 400 strong cassette collection, even though I have nothing to play them on, but they really should be in a room covered with this wallpaper by Rose & Grey UK:

Vive La Vintage! 

Moroccan Roll

Very in, right now, is Moroccan decor, only now it falls under the umbrella of 'Bohemian'. However, it was chic long before the likes of Elle Decor got hold of it and that all started in the Sixties, when YSL spearheaded the exodus to Marrakesh and made it the place to be, whether it was for the handy supply of youthsome loiterers, the fabulous colors or maybe both. We won't go into that. 
There is a village called Chefchaouen which is almost entirely painted this color, where Smurfs go to retire. 

Marvelous, innit? Perhaps it inspired Yves himself towards his own vivid house color:

And it is an effective combination.Wow.

Moroccan doesn't stop at blue though. The famous tiles are used to great effect in any combination - they're not afraid of being drenched in color. 

And the details, the details! Incredible. 

It can be restrained if you like, here:

Or just a touch of it could liven up anything and eclectically go with a myriad of styles:

But here is where I'd like to spend the week...with this impossible loveliness.