Comments on the style saloniste: Bravo, Gary Friedman

I have felt so inspired with the new look at resto...

2011-06-12T22:36:35.059-07:00

I have felt so inspired with the new look at restoration hardware, and I just read an article in the WSJ magazine about him just left me wanting to learn even more about him...how I ended up finding this post!

Wonderful post. Gary Friedman has really taken on ...

2011-04-27T09:57:24.263-07:00

Wonderful post. Gary Friedman has really taken on every aspect and create something beautiful.

oh dear..It's late and I'm tired. "I ...

2010-10-09T23:19:35.124-07:00

oh dear..It's late and I'm tired. "I feel a sense of loss"...thank you.

At first I gasped with admiration. Then felt empty...

2010-10-09T23:12:18.461-07:00

At first I gasped with admiration. Then felt empty. Those great Belgium flea market finds loose their magic/history if it's just a reproduction. I'd be embarassed trying to explain to my house guest it's not real.
As for anyone who speant BIG bucks on original items such as the classic framed maps only to find them on the wall of every surburban house wifes wall, must be a little peaved.
RH is turning items that could be forever classics into trendy fads.
I feel a since of loss.

I think the marriage between Ed Hardy's eye an...

2010-09-28T21:10:18.517-07:00

I think the marriage between Ed Hardy's eye and Gary Friedman's vision will be a blissful one. The opening party was a wonderful introduction of what RH will have to offer in the future.

Diane, I like your coin phrases for the new look of RH.

Cheers,

Claudia

What serendipity - hearing about todays opening of...

2010-09-23T11:32:46.243-07:00

What serendipity - hearing about todays opening of Restoration Hardware's showroom and finding your blog at the same time - remarkable. And that's just what I've done, I've remarked about it. Thank you very much.

Any company that brings more people and business t...

2010-09-23T10:02:25.729-07:00

Any company that brings more people and business to the area is a welcome addition to the Design District, to be sure. Let's hope they do better going forward than their "exclusive" opening party last night.

We arrived at 6:30 to find a line of guests stretching around the block, shivering in the chilly evening air. We looked at each other and said, "Oh hell no!" We went across the street to Perry's and had a cocktail, thinking if we gave them some time, they'd get everyone inside and we could just walk in. As we sat there sipping martinis and talking, we saw several people who had been in line come in looking rather annoyed. 45 minutes later when we left Perry's, that line was still there, and just as long.

We left feeling we'd answered a cattle call rather than a welcome from a new neighbor.

What a comprehensive article and interesting compa...

2010-09-22T18:05:34.617-07:00

What a comprehensive article and interesting comparison of Restoration with Vervoordt (wish I knew how to pronounce it).

I love neutral, light rooms, but I’ve heard some criticism of the colourless Belgian look. Personally, I feel that Vervoordt’s interiors necessitate the neutral schemes because very bold pattern and colour can overpower superb antiques, and he has many of the very finest available. The only problem I see is that to some extent the work becomes watered down, when dramatic pieces are reproduced. The copies lack soul, especially if they are of very unique and distinctive pieces. The overscale vintage clock faces are now cliché, and I don’t think they are appealing when faux distressed and made in Asia. Same goes for Paris street signs, and such. In these instances, where superb antiques are lacking, and repros take their place, neutral rooms look exceedingly dull and trite.

I greatly admire Restoration Hardware but have a few reservations. Firstly, the Toronto location is poorly stocked(lots of bedlinens, throw cushions and patio accessories like lanterns), and little of what is available in the catalog is there. I want to see the pieces of furniture or large items before buying, otherwise why have a bricks and mortar store? Secondly, I feel they should stick to their strength; hardware, fixtures, lighting, and similar products. We really don’t need another store selling high thread count solid colour sheets; those are everywhere.

Lastly, I find that while many of their furniture designs are excellent, of very good quality, classic, and priced to offer very good value, they are overscaled. Many of the pieces such as giant harvest tables, and huge heavy chaise lounges for out of doors are really scaled for suburban monster homes. Their designs are so good, but if only they had some lines with more diminutive proportions for city apartments and little terraces. I’m surprised they’ve not addressed this need.

i appreciate this collection, but I have to say, I...

2010-09-22T16:42:03.165-07:00

i appreciate this collection, but I have to say, I love color and I find the Belgian look too wintry, cold, bleak and depressing. Sunny colors and climes for me. :)

These are incredible spaces. Love the Aviator Chai...

2010-09-22T09:46:42.998-07:00

These are incredible spaces. Love the Aviator Chairs!

Great post!! Although I love Belgium style and som...

2010-09-22T07:38:18.378-07:00

Great post!! Although I love Belgium style and some of RH hardware inventory, most of all I appreciate the fact that the American level of taste will be elevated to a new level, where authentic antiques and good design will be appreciated by a wider range of buyers. Thanks for highlighting this visionary.

A great post, my dear. Now, the interesting thing ...

2010-09-22T04:19:03.707-07:00

A great post, my dear. Now, the interesting thing about biege colour is that I've always associated this colour with grandma's colour. But this colour work so well here when it's been used as netural colouring. It's really interesting.

Great post. I can't wait to see the new space....

2010-09-22T04:02:29.093-07:00

Great post. I can't wait to see the new space. I love RH's look and have a number of pieces in my house but would really like them to consider scale with some of their pieces a little more carefully. For instance the super large chesterfield style sofa, even 6'2" men can't sit in it comfortably, it's too large. I can't tell you how many women I've seen sit down on it in the showroom and hop out if seconds later unable to feel comfortable on it. It's too bad as I think it's one of their only rough spots that really needs addressing.

Diane, Excellent and well researched posting. I l...

2010-09-21T18:36:31.259-07:00

Diane,

Excellent and well researched posting. I love the new mix of furnishings and the great lighting is a wow! I too would like to see an assortment of smaller scaled pieces.

Karena
Art by Karena

HI DEAR FRIENDS- I love all your comments. I exp...

2010-09-21T16:52:38.090-07:00

HI DEAR FRIENDS-

I love all your comments.
I expect that Resto will leap forward now.
I hope they will vary the look--a lot of beige--and add to the mix. I am sure they will.
I'd like to see some refinement in the collection, too, and perhaps fewer of those great big whacking beds, so massive.
Thank you all so much for your wise words.
Refinement--I'd like to see it more in design now, and perhaps some smaller scape pieces, transitional and elegant.
cheers to you all..brilliant ones, DIANE

Well said as always Diane. I think I would have ma...

2010-09-21T15:25:26.672-07:00

Well said as always Diane. I think I would have made the same Belgian/Axel Vervoordt connection as well. At any rate, Gary has done a lovely reinterpretation at RH. I wish them luck in their beautiful new location at SFDC. Shiree'

so much I didn't know - thank you!

2010-09-21T15:25:08.025-07:00

so much I didn't know - thank you!

I just visited a few days ago the renovated RH sto...

2010-09-21T13:22:37.397-07:00

I just visited a few days ago the renovated RH store in Vancouver, so different display from before, definetely more like a furniture store. You are right, Vervoordt houses are uniquely refined. Restoration can give some refinement to a "normal" house if not over-used, otherwise the space can become just boring or looking fake. A house needs personality.

I've been to the showroom store in Palo Alto, ...

2010-09-21T11:25:39.104-07:00

I've been to the showroom store in Palo Alto, CA and my mouth was agape the entire time. I really love how they went directly to the artisans, and cut out the middlemen. It really shows in the details and quality of the pieces.

Really VERY beautiful. I am looking forward to se...

2010-09-21T10:27:37.178-07:00

Really VERY beautiful. I am looking forward to seeing the revamped space, which was great before. Those chairs are a hit. Incredible resource! Nice post