Elle Decor: Women In Design Night!

Last night I attended the Elle Decor: Women In Design, a celebration of 20 years of Elle Decor and five amazing women in interior design. Among them was Charlotte Moss (who won an award!), Michelle Nussbaumer, Holly Hunt, Kelly Wearstler, and Josie Natori (who couldn't make it). It was amazingly inspiring and the panel discussion format made it a fun and interesting discussion. We were able to see each designers real personality, instead of a staged personality on a reality show (Top Design).

Margaret Russell was monitoring the discussion and she was SO gorgeous. Wearing a little black dress, four inch heels (and an ankle brace), she was graceful and so funny!

I don't know much about Michelle Nussbaumer but from what I learned about her last night she has impeccable style and amazing design. I can't wait to learn more about her.

Charlotte Moss was so feisty and hilarious but beautiful and graceful, as always. She said she keeps a little notepad (or blue leather bound Hermes notepad!) in each purse to write down ideas as they come to her. She also has a blog Tete a Tete that she updates every few weeks.



Kelly Wearstler was quite inspiring, actually. She has such a passion for art and design and beautiful things.



Holly Hunt is another successful entrepreneur and founder of Holly Hunt which started out as a tiny little shop in the Merchandise Mart in Chicago and how she has a huge design empire and amazing showrooms; one in the D & D!

What was the most inspiring thing for me, as a student was that all these women followed their instincts and passions. In school, there are so many rules that often times you get bogged down and inspiration is hard to come by. These women didn't live by a set of strict rules, and though they've made their fair share of mistakes, they live just by their passions. BTW most of the pictures are from Point Click Home. There is a Margaret Russell book signing October 29th at the D&D as well! I can't wait to go.

Alicia B.

Curve-alicious

Kelly Wearstler.

Often times experts claim that fashion leads interior design, or interior design lead fashion and I think in this case, the latter is true! Curves are fantastic and not only are they IN, they've always been in! A beautiful curving winding staircase is a very classical element that can be adapted in many different ways. For some reason curving staircases have always caught my eye.

Marie Claire Maison. The winding staircase has been adapted for a contemporary setting using glass and steel.

James Huniford. I am dying to see this foyer from the other side. Two winding staircases? Could you ask for anything better?

Living etc. These are a tad more industrial. Check out that railing slithering up the stairs.

James Michael Howard. Double staircases. Gawgeous.

This staircase is very nice but what makes it stand out is the way the ceiling curves around it at the top. By Jan Showers.

BCV Architects. I think i might cry tears of joy at this picture. SO beautiful and simple.

Another genius staircase by BCV Architects. This is a wine stockroom for a restaurant that they designed.

Not loving the drapery choice but the architecture here just blows me away. I love the way the light from the doorway shines on the underside of the staircase. Austin Patterson Disston clearly has this down.

Austin Patterson Disston. I've posted this image before but it's so perfect that I don't think it could hurt to post it again.

I grew up with a regular staircase with two landings, but no curves. Certainly not complaining, as my sisters and I used to spend hours on end having jumping contests on those poor stairs, but maybe that's why I love the curving ones so much.


Alicia B.