Vignette

I don't believe in "styling" your entire home.  For me, there are simply too many surfaces that have a big job to do (coffee tables to hold up feet and drinks, entry tables laden with keys and mail, bookshelves filled with--gasp!--books), and while I love the pretty look of a surface that has been carefully styled, it's just not always realistic.

There: I said it.

But there ARE opportunities for styling.  The top of the dresser in a little-used guest room is a perfect example.

Statement lamp, layered art (large hung, small propped), a stack of boxes to create another vertical, a bowl to soften the edges, and a little frame covered in bits and pieces for that sculptural quality.

Oh, and my early-morning reflection in the artwork for good measure.

Tell me: to style, or not to style?

Off their rocker?

Is it just me, or has Restoration Hardware completely gone nuts?

I was just flipping through Architectural Digest (thanks again to my Mother in Law, my magazine habit enabler), when I saw these images from the Spring 2011 collection.

Um.  An airplane desk?  Steel patchwork shelves?  A huge silver orb on the floor?

Classic furniture bred with robots?  Corroded school lockers?  Scandinavian-style pendants rolling around on the floor?  (I do think it's interesting that they are including large-screen TVs in their shoots, like a nod to real life.  But weird, when everything else about the shoot is pure fantasy.)

That coffee table is like a spy-movie briefcase on steroids.  And I'm all for overscale lighting and industrial fixtures, but I would feel a bit on the spot under that ginormous spotlight.  And that leather couch--okay, I kind of like the couch--but it reminds me of a grown up version of those silly baseball-mitt chairs that someone thought up for little boy's rooms.

Restoration has been kind of interesting to follow.  Remember in the beginning when it was kind of like Pottery Barn, only they had all those fun vintage gifts at Christmas?  Lacking identity.  A couple of years ago when they went Belgian with all the linen and pretty bleached out wood, they seemed to get a little personality, and I started  poring over the catalog like I do with other stores: even though it wasn't my thing, I could appreciate what they were doing, and even sort of imagine an alternate reality where I would want half the catalog.  Those pretty linen-covered Louis chairs!  Put TWELVE of them at the most giant trestle table you've ever seen!  Yes, please.

But this?  I think they've taken a turn for the crazy.  Who is going to put this stuff in their home?

Now, I know some if it is just the over-the-top styling, and some of these pieces would work when re-mixed with other stuff.  But put together?  It just feels silly to me.  Am I alone in this?

Let's play high school debate team.  Anyone wanna take the "pro" argument?  Even better, anyone want to design a room they would actually live in, based around one of these pieces?  Hmmm.  Now I kind of want to take my own challenge...