Last year, my husband Mark and I took a long weekend in California’s wine country to meet up with old friends. As we were driving through the Alexander valley, we spotted a huge sculpture of a wild boar that was crazy fabulous. It was a piece that had been at Burning man, and the winery, Soda Rock, was established in an old, 1869 Spanish brick building. The building was granted to the original owners from the Mexican government in 1840 and had records as one of California’s first bonded wineries. But that is not what intrigued us the most…what was intriguing was the floor to ceiling black and white photograph of a woman that was breathtakingly beautiful in the tasting room. It must be 12’ x 16’ tall. It seemed like something Bruce Weber would have done if he were doing some sort of Spanish photo shoot ala Penelope Cruz.
Which brings me to my subject: Sexy interiors.
Given the amount of sex that is used to sell things in this world, I can’t say that I see much “sexy “when it comes to interiors in my realm here in Southern Oregon. And what does sexy mean when considering your home? Everyone is going to have a different opinion, but since I get to write this, I want to take the opportunity to provoke and inspire in this regard. Back in the 50’s and 60’s, the world had icons that oozed sexiness…Sophia Loren, James Bond, Raquel Welch, Steve McQueen… There is just something cool about this era, and it can be a playful and fun direction when it comes to putting a home together. Consider having a bar cart with beautiful aperitifs or a nice scotch and lovely glasses for a beautiful vignette as well as a nice nip before bed. There are so many beautiful bottles of choice liquor these days, it’s a nice idea to have them on display rather than in a cupboard.
Next up, window treatments: Honestly, I know that inset shades are practical for so many reasons, but curtains are sexy. Whether heavy, silky, black out, or breezy summer sheers, nothing is as pretty and frames a window in a way that is beautiful and sexy as drapery does.
Evoke emotion with your art. Rather than choosing an expected choice like a landscape, you can ignite feelings with your art. Black and white photography, charcoal figure drawings, or beautifully colored curves found in paintings (think Georgia O’Keefe) can all add an element of sensuality to your space. I also feel that adding in large scale iconic photography will add a sense of playfulness and fun and that in itself can be sexy!
Black and white interiors are very on trend currently, and perhaps it’s a subconscious ode to the “little black dress”…a black wall or black cabinetry can be a beautiful accent that sits quietly and inflects grace and sophistication to a space.
And it goes without saying that your bedroom is the area that should never be neglected when it comes to the design and all the details to make the space your private sanctuary. Buy the best sheets you can, press your pillowcases, consider your view, and analyze your lighting. A favorite element I impart when designing a bedroom is to always put a pair of soft, fluffy sheepskins on both sides of the bed. There’s nothing better that getting up and feeling that small luxury underfoot. I also feel your bedroom should be a bit minimal and emphasize sleeping, eliminate all your media, condense photos, and streamline your nightstands for a better sleep.
And in closing, when you consider all the 5 senses, maybe that is all you need when it comes to decorating advice? Taste, touch, smell, sight, sound : A home that is firing on all these cylinders with lovely aromas, delicious food, beautiful music, cozy textures, and curated views of art or the outside is all you need!
