Design: Warren Platner

Hello again! It's Brooke from the Modern Sophisticate.  

Lately I have developed a crush on architect turned designer, Warren Platner. You may not recognize the name but I'm sure you design gurus out there have seen his work before in magazine like Lonny, Architectural Digest, Dwell, etc. Platner developed nickel-plated steel wire furniture in the 1960's and his pieces have been in production ever since.  Talk about timeless style!

"I felt there was room for the kind of decorative, gentle, graceful design that appeared in a period style like Louis XV." -Warren Platner

Here are some of my favorite Platner-style objects from every price point:

1. 1960's White Wire Ceiling Pendant from High Street Market

2. Silver Plated Wire Basket from High Street Market

3. Warren Platner Occasional Table from 1st Dibs

4. Modern Silver Wastebasket from High Street Market (this is the piece that made me fall in love with Platner's style. Who knew you could fall in love with a wastebasket?)

If money was no object, I would personally buy a vintage Platner for Knoll Carrera marble dining table. It may just be the sexiest dining table ever created. Here is my dream Platner inspired dining room:

A. Carrera Marble Topped Dining Table by Warren Platner from 1st Dibs

B. Louis Side Chair from Jonathan Adler (every modern room needs a dash of tradition and vise-versa)

C. Ikat Links Rug from West Elm

D. Michael Bang for Holmegaard Ovoid Lamps from 1st Dibs

E. Reflections Print from Crate&Barrel

F. Vintage (similar found here and here)

G. 36 Light Chrome Sputnik Light Fixture from 1st Dibs

-post by Brooke Jones

Design: Top Ten Christmas Decorations...

Hello I'm Brooke Jones from the Modern Sophisticate Blog & also an Interior Design contributor here at Made By Girl!

Top 10 Christmas Decorations (That May or May Not Be Christmas Decorations) Let's face it, Christmas decorating can get expensive.  From garlands, to ornaments, to tree skirts, to lights, the final tally can really add up. Even worse, the decorations you are investing in can only be seen for less than 1/6 of the year!  I would much rather invest in a pretty piece that can be construed as "festive" during the holidays yet "chic" and "glamorous" the rest of the year. 

Here's an idea......Instead of a tree skirt, why not buy a foxy fur throw to wrap around the base of your tree in December then drape it across the foot of your bed in January? 

Or how about gilded leaf trays to hold simple tea lights through New Years then use them to drop your keys and change in for the remainder of the year? 

1. Christmas Tree World

2. Suzanne Kasler for Ballard Designs

3. Crate&Barrel

4. West Elm

5. Etsy Vintage (view similar here)

6. Jayson Home

7. Crate&Barrel

8. Modern Rugs

9. Calypso St. Barth

10. Crate & Barrel

 

Do YOU decorate with anything that is not a 'Christmas decoration' per se? Share your ideas!

-post by brooke jones