11.11.2009

These Walls Don't Lie, Or Maybe They Do

"Everything is honest; we hate fakery and pastiche." - Kozerski on Donna Karan's British West Indies retreat, Architectural Digest, Dec 2009.

Kozerski and Donna Karan might hate fakery and pastiche, but personally, I loathe the implication that certain designs are morally inferior to others.  "Honesty" in design? For real? What's next, chairs that go to church?


I suppose, according to Kozerski, I partake in a whole lot of "dishonest" design.  And you know what? I have fun parading form without function, faux finishes that pose as organic material, new furnishings that look like antiques. Furthermore, there's nothing I relish more than the confrontation of all of these elements— antique, lookalike, and contemporary— all mashed up in one happy, confusing sea of loveliness.  Especially when it's confusing.

But really, who doesn't relish that moment when someone has to touch the flower to see if it isn't wax, or caress the table top to assess it's status as marble? Does knowing the secret ruin the decorative effect?  Worse yet, is it somehow morally inferior to a "genuine" counterpart? Come on Donna, a little game of decorative tromp l'oeil can be exciting.

Is it pastiche? Who knows. You might call it that, but I prefer to think of it as high-low decorating.  And in a time of economic crisis, it's never seemed more appropriate.





Scans from Architectural Digest, Dec 2009. Photography by Durston Saylor.

7 comments:

Beth Connolly said...

I hate Architectural Digest. And "we" don't seem to consider Botox and plastic surgery to be fake, do "we"?

home before dark said...

I believe in magic. In genius. In the act of creation. I believe that life is real but theater is more fun. All that glitters is not gold and aren't we glad for that?

Jill said...

I'd like to hear what Tony Duquette would have to say on this subject!

(IN)DECOROUS TASTE said...

Style Redux- Ha! Guess that escaped the "fakery" category? Lately, it seems that AD is more like a "lifestyles of celebrities" magazine than anything else. When did this happen?

home- Very well said. I agree.

Jill- Or worse, what Donna Karan and her designer would say about Tony!

António Erre said...

Eheheh good point, yours. What a uglly and vulgar Donna's retreat. Everything seems gotten in mainstream wharehouse...

Greet Lefèvre said...

I don't know what to think!

Greet

KP said...

I flipped through these pics, looks like a dream xo

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