Light Me, Darling

As Patsy from Ab Fab used to say - Light me, darling. And I have some Absolutely Fabulous fireplaces lined up that will astonish you. You know what I like - glamor, daring, color and creativeness. Definitely fulfilling those briefs today. 
Round about now is when the mulled wine starts making an appearance in venues and it really is my favorite drink in the world. Last year saw me getting my fix in a 15th century pub overlooking the glorious Thames and St. Paul's, with London aglow in the dark after a day at the Tate Modern. I'm still wondering how to top it this year. If you know of somewhere, take me with! 
Meanwhile I'm in front of the fire, and it had better be a Fabulada one. Here's some! 
Justen Ladda has taken the concept of burning building into a fireplace with Swarovski Crystal curtains. I bloody love this one! 

Just about the most wonderful Art Nouveau fireplace ever designed. By Alphonse Mucha, naturellement.

 

In Malibu, creations with shells by Mili La Conche.

Here's a close up detail of their work:

Deco chrome glitz. Love it.

Winter owls. Nice festive display.

Chromed carving complimented by high polished tile. Uberglam.

 

It doesn't get much more Fabulada than tufted surround and fluffy everything covered in roses. Or does it?  

Mosaic Mary.

Frank Lloyd Wright mosaic tile surround, Los Angeles

Glitter walls. Now you're talking.

Pink crown over the mantle. I'm moving in. So great. 

Elements of pink brought in by a Dale Chihuly chandelier. Drama!

Campest of all: The Entry hall of Eaton House Studio:

Dressed To Kill

Edith Head was an American costume designer who was nominated for 35 and won eight Oscars starting with The Heiress (1949) and ending with The Sting (1974). This is still a record in its category and the highest amount by any woman. 

 Along the way she had more influence over fashion and the design zeitgeist than any couture house on the planet. You've seen her work. You might not know it but you have. She worked for the Hollywood studios from 1924 all the way up to 1982, dressing icons and creating iconic images in every decade. Difficult to pick a few from her incredible body of work, but I've tried to narrow it down as much as I could! I think my favorite pieces are from What A Way To Go (1964) and everything she ever put Mae West into. Recognize and enjoy. 
Gloria Swanson, Sunset Blvd. 

Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen, White Christmas

Grace Kelly, To Catch A Thief

Costume for Ginger Rogers, Lady In The Dark...thousands of sequins, trimmed in mink

Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina

Grace Kelly, To Catch A Thief

Hedy Lamarr, Delilah

Norma Shearer, Marie Antoinette

Liz wearing Edith's periwinkle dream, Oscars 1970. The dress that matched her eyes.

Grace Kelly, Oscars, 1955

The famous gown of Bette Davis from All About Eve, mink trim

Barbara Stanwyck, Ball Of Fire

Natalie Wood, The Great Race

Janet Leigh, Oscars 1960

Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast At Tiffany's

Mae West...inimitable in Edith Head

Mae in Sextette (1978) her last movie. She was in her 80's!!! Look how spectacular Edith Head made her appear.

Shirley MacLaine, What A Way To Go (1964)

Saving my favorite gown of all time until last: You can see Edith's legs holding up Shirley's pink mink. 

Blue Rondo a la Turquoise

So retro and so contemporary at the same time - turquoise, and lashings of it. You can pick out the exact vintage influences whenever the color is put to work, there's a direct ancestry. However, I really adore the way it's being blanketed and reinterpreted in rooms and objects. No vintage shots this time, everything you see is brand new, even if it looks authentic. If you want the short cut, turquoise is your man. Or woman.
Loft lunacy:

 Ball out blue on walls and cabinets

 Vivid velvet

 Fabulada hair

 Anna del Russo's turquoise suitcase

 Craig Bragdy creates a Persian rug at the bottom of a pool

 The Ice Hotel, Quebec

 Isabella Tuch

 The Jam Factory pale turquoise velvet, London

 Kam Tin's cabinet of turquoise stones

 Porcelain sculptures by Kim Joon

 Leandro Elrich creates an 'underwater' room with glass topped water illusion

 Martin Margeila's face of Turquoise

 Teac Retro style Radio and CD player, £199.