Comments on the style saloniste: The Triumph of Beauty

Beautiful post. I love the bathroom.

2010-08-05T20:48:38.231-07:00

Beautiful post. I love the bathroom.

Such greatness. Once again I am in awe and blown ...

2010-08-04T05:32:00.944-07:00

Such greatness. Once again I am in awe and blown away.

Hi Diane - Thanks for introducing us to the work o...

2010-08-03T04:51:40.616-07:00

Hi Diane - Thanks for introducing us to the work of Stepen Schubel whom I knew so little about. The only example of his work I'd become aware of was his San Francisco terrace (as you know!). I thoroughly enjoyed this inspiring post and interview.

Deborah

Dear Friends-Just back from a weekend in the Napa ...

2010-08-02T21:20:33.033-07:00

Dear Friends-Just back from a weekend in the Napa Valley (glorious, sunny, lots of friends and parties, fresh peaches from the orchard, lovely).
So happy to hear from you!

Dear Carla- Thank you so much for your insight and lovely comments. I am delighted to have many many readers in Texas. I love Texas. As you most likely know, I am a contributing editor with PAPERCITY magazine, with the great editor in chief, Holly Moore, one of the most brilliant editors on the planet. Please stay in touch--I am always happy to hear from you.

Dear Elizabeth--yes, as you noted, Steve's decor is naturally easy and calm and chic and comfortable. It might surprise everyone to know that Steve does not have a design degree, and as far as I recall did not attend any design school. He apprenticed with several top, classic, old-school 'lady' designers and learned a lot from them--and then embarked on his own around 30 years approx ago. He has had a great career because he is a natural designer...loves decorating and likes the whole process. He has done several houses, sequentially, for several clients. I always think that says everything about a designer.

Hi Claudia--thank you so much for your comment. Yes, Steve is rather a genius with color. I've always though my favorites of all his rooms are those that are white with a jab of color, or all neutral...and then he does red or taupe or a bold color or orange--and it is great.
By the way--the first images on the story are his loft--all white, natural linen, white plaster.

Hi Ingela--You must know--I love Sweden and especially Stockholm in the summer. I love getting on the ferry and going out into the archipelago. I love walking around the city, and then taking the ferry to Drottningholm in the late afternoon, eating cloudberries and icecream on the ferry, and then going to the opera...walking to the Chinese Pavilion during intermission. It is divine.
I love your blog...so great. Thank you so much for your charming comments. Do stay in touch.

Hi Square with Flair--your blog is terrific and I will add it to my favorites. Now you must work to get more readers for your wonderful text. All the best with this great enterprise.

Hi PVE--I love seeing your work on all the top blogs...so witty and fresh and bright and full of charm and chic. Thank you for your lovely comments (I thought ague was an arcane color you knew about)...and thank you for your great art. I am going to add your blog to my favorites list. I hope to be on yours...would be honored.

Thank you everyone--have a delightful august and do stay tuned.
cheers, DIANE

Diane - thought provoking interview with Stephen. ...

2010-08-02T17:29:30.762-07:00

Diane - thought provoking interview with Stephen. He is a true artist.
Many thanks for your time and writing.
Helen Tilston

Loving all that white and then the profusion of al...

2010-08-02T02:42:17.250-07:00

Loving all that white and then the profusion of all that color. I feel like a kid in a candy store.
Off to look at Stephen's site.

Oh ague was mispelled - I meant to say "argue" -
You had asked me what that meant. (who could argue)
pve

Hi Diane, I believe Shubel's design works ver...

2010-07-31T08:34:48.405-07:00

Hi Diane,

I believe Shubel's design works very well here Scandinavia....white shades mixed with antique French and Swedish design is very popular.

Further I had a huge delivery from Amazon.fr and uk delivered te other day including two of your books.
I'm looking forward exploring them deeper.

Ingela

P.s. Our son made it into AAU's bachelors program in San Fransisco. He just had the news....

I like the fact that the designer uses a lot of cl...

2010-07-30T20:39:38.537-07:00

I like the fact that the designer uses a lot of classic elements in his rooms and that the rooms are comfortable, light, and airy.

I've grown weary of the designer statement that says more about the decorator's taste than that of the client.

I am especially intrigued by the personal interiors of designers. Are any of these rooms his own? I find that inevitably designers choose neutral colours, the simplest of window coverings (if any at all), and often simple beige slipcovers for themselves.

He said, "I always play down the idea of grandeur." This is most important in thse casual, less formal times. Elaborate and formal things can look pretentious, especially in many modern settings.

Enjoyed the post very much.

Great post on one of our most talented and nicest ...

2010-07-30T20:24:58.711-07:00

Great post on one of our most talented and nicest designers. I have always loved Stephen's style, and I wholeheartedly agree with his comment about bad color combinations.

Cheers,

Claudia

Stephen's work certainly WOWs me!!! Thank you ...

2010-07-30T15:06:58.548-07:00

Stephen's work certainly WOWs me!!! Thank you for this wonderful interview.

Elizabeth

Oh my gosh,Bedrooms are great,the draperies,furnit...

2010-07-29T22:53:07.560-07:00

Oh my gosh,Bedrooms are great,the draperies,furnitures,designs...well that's just about everything!they are all looks so elegant,airy feeling and understated peaceful rooms and I think Mr. Shubel's work is a great example because everything he takes, whether it be old or new ends up looking amazing!!!thanks, its a Nice Blog indeed. xoxo Victoria

Wonderful post. His work is exquisite.

2010-07-29T18:40:48.197-07:00

Wonderful post. His work is exquisite.

Hi Meroe- I love and highly recommend your blog, ...

2010-07-28T09:50:23.386-07:00

Hi Meroe-

I love and highly recommend your blog, MOET. Cheers to you in Adelaide! I love Australia.
You'll find lots of Paris features and tips and notes and journals on THE STYLE SALONISTE...just right for you, a Francophile in extreme. Yes, Steve Shubel's style is very French-influenced...he has a country house in northern France.

Hi Allyson--Thank you so much for your comment. Yes, Steve is very informative and does not believe in designer 'secrets'. He loves giving tips and advice to all. Note how varied his rooms are--from all white, to red and black and white. He is very versatile and his clients love him.

cheers to all, DIANE

Thank you for this inspirational post. I have been...

2010-07-28T07:18:47.899-07:00

Thank you for this inspirational post. I have been swooning over his rooms. What a great way to start the day.

Hello Diane! What a wonderful blog - very jealou...

2010-07-28T01:39:41.224-07:00

Hello Diane!
What a wonderful blog - very jealous to read about your private visit to Chateau de Haroué which would have been a wonderful experience.
And, your post on Stephen Shubel - magnificent. I share his love of French antiques, and adore the cream white room with Eiffel Tower figurine and devine Hermès rug. Swoon! I have def added you to my blog roll.
Meroe -x-

Dear Friends- Thank you so much for your swift and...

2010-07-27T23:22:35.740-07:00

Dear Friends-
Thank you so much for your swift and very enthusiastic comments. Much appreciated--and I would tell you that the story bought tears to Steve's eyes. He was most delighted.

Dear Jennifer-Thank you for your kind note. I so appreciate it. Stay in touch.

Hi Terri--I like your words of wisdom. I agree with you that though Steve's work is very carefully planned it does not look stiff or too-too- much. His use of red with black and white, and of yellow with orange, is quite dramatic. In the bright San Francisco light these rooms look cheerful and welcoming--and certainly a dramatic change from white.

Dear VV--Loved your message. These rooms demonstrate his range--and his variety of clients and houses. I look at the pictures, above, of his tiny tiny Paris apartment--crammed with pictures and gold frames and two banquettes/beds and a little Ikea kitchen with some nostalgia. It was so totally charming and free and enthusiastic in decor--and alas is no longer.

Dear Denise--This is wonderful to hear from you. I adore to hear from young designers who have been inspired by a seasoned and experienced designer. Best of all--you learned all the right things, and you studied and focused and got it all correct. I could not be more pleased. This is marvelous.

cheers to all, DIANE

Hi Diane, Stephen Shubel has had a major impact o...

2010-07-27T12:59:41.441-07:00

Hi Diane,

Stephen Shubel has had a major impact on my decorating style. I love using Louis XV and XVI-style pieces with furniture from Oly, modern art and objects from nature. I use reasonably-priced, hard-wearing fabrics for big upholstered pieces and splurge on luxury fabrics for my Louis chairs and pillows. And I just adore bare wood floors.

Thank you, Stephen, for all your design help! And thank you, Diane, for featuring him today!

Another insightful look into a designer's proc...

2010-07-27T12:31:11.580-07:00

Another insightful look into a designer's process, and a treasure trove compilation of his work.
Thanks!
xo xo

I think Mr. Shubel's work is a great example o...

2010-07-27T11:34:01.932-07:00

I think Mr. Shubel's work is a great example of what represents good 21st. century design. Nothing is pretentious. And whether he uses a neutral palette or one saturated with color, they are fresh and livable.

Love the blog Diane! Wonderfully written and beau...

2010-07-27T11:18:51.835-07:00

Love the blog Diane! Wonderfully written and beautifully arranged.