At home, our “White Room” is a chameleonic space—it’s part living room, part work space, and sometimes a sort-of wellness space (we’ll often sit there to do our red light therapy). And now: it’s the backdrop for some new art I picked up on a trip to Madrid in May, at LLOP.
There’s something about the act of hanging stuff that feels both easy and transformative. Art—the obvious one—can change the whole tone of a room, and it’s so simple to switch out. And, a bold, very directional pendant lamp gives off so much energy, and commands so much attention compared to a lamp sitting on a side table.
But, I have some other ideas for how to elevate your Hang game (including some simple ones!):
The best of sconces Paul Smith’s approach to wallpaper The sculptural coat rack And, for the women: bras 🖤
So, let’s dive into the thrill of being well hung.
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MODERN COURTSHIP
In 2021, I designed the interiors for the Downtown Proper Hotel in Los Angeles, and I wanted to talk about one of my favorite Hangs there—this basketball net:
The net is by Killspencer, in a custom color. It’s not on a court, or in some rec room, though.
It’s in a suite.
The hotel had been a members club, The Commercial Club, and also a YMCA, and this space had been used as a basketball court. And that history really influenced a lot of the design work, very subtly—some details which were already there, and we kept: the double-height ceiling, the original wooden floors. But, others were added: the color blocking and a fabric pendant by Pinch both echo some of the visuals of a “basketball court”, its lines and its basket.
But, by hanging the Killspencer net, it makes those details so much more clear. It sits right about the entranceway, so it’s hard to miss—and something about the protrusion into the space makes it way more playful and fun compared to some encased paraphernalia, stack of basketball books, or photography which are more about the past, and don’t seem as active and present.
UP THE WALL
Hanging art is an art in itself—it's about creating balance, rhythm, and energy in a space, whether you're mixing frames, layering textures, or anchoring a room with a major statement. The key is to trust your instincts and make it personal—your walls will tell a story, so you should probably make it one about You.
My tips on perfecting the Gallery Wall, if that’s what you’re after, were all dished to the New York Times last year. Find it here.
“UNFRAMED”
It’s not just framed art that should be hung—far from it. Making sure a space has a real variety of art is what will help ensure you, and others, really notice and pay attention to what is on the walls. That means: different media and materials.
This tapestry, which I got at a vintage shop in the UK, hangs in the stairwell of my home in Malibu. It really vibes with the bleached walnut, but just as importantly has the same sense of tactile immersion as the sandy beach just outside our windows.
And, then, perhaps plates could be given another shot. Maybe you think of a display of porcelain as a little dated, or maybe a little “quaint”—but there is always, always a way of doing something that feels fresh and modern.
A couple of years ago, Paul Smith art directed a show at the Musée Picasso in Paris that has really stuck with me. And, he selected some of Picasso’s decorated earthenware plates to display—which all feel still so contemporary, and the arrangement feels super fresh.
(Paul also did some great things with wallpaper for that exhibition, which we’ll get to.)
And, a final consideration: the sconce. Double-duty as a very pretty, flattering source of light, and also as something very three-dimensional to hang on your walls. I include sconces a lot in my design work, for both of those reasons, and for how they help to move your eye around a room, particularly at night.
I am a big fan of Pierre Chareau—a French designer, who had fled Paris (where he’d had a hand in the incredible Maison de Verre) to Morocco during WW2 and eventually ended up in New York. He died in 1950, as sort of an unknown, but his work feels so relevant, and still so exciting, that he’s developed quite a cult following—me among them, of course.
I used his ‘Grand Mouche’ (‘Big Fly’) sconces for the Proper Hotel in Austin:
But, let me give you a selection of a few additional favorites—the Shogun sconces I’m hunting for to put in a current projects, if you know of a good source that has four in top condition. And, very interested to know what new things in the sconces-world have caught your attention—drop those in the comments!
They are (1) the bronze and alabaster Melange Pill Form sconce from my studio; (2) Shogun sconces, by Mario Botta, that have such a nice projection and give a room so much depth of field—these are never going out of style; (3) more from the Pierre Chareau “Mouche” series—alabaster again, this time with wrought iron; (4) the classic and artful Foglio by Tobia Scarpa; and a newcomer, (5) the cymbal-style Shade sconce by Blue Green Works in New York.
PAPER TRAIL
For the Picasso exhibition Paul Smith, also used a series of vintage wallpapers to create stripes—and if anyone knows stripes, of course it’s Paul Smith. And, the effect is to make these very outmoded patterns seem very modern.
I think they sourced them all from Vintage Wallpapers, a project by Delphine van der Klooster, who has been selling dead stock wallpaper for twenty years. There are some wonderful gems.
And it does feel like wallpapers are having a major comeback—and I’m officially on board. We use it a lot and I’m excited to share some upcoming new projects. (We went pretty heavy with them for Goldie’s, in Austin, in 2019.)
Here’s where I look for exceptional wallpapers:
Twenty2,in Connecticut, who are simply incredible sleuths when it comes to sourcing—if it’s out there, they’ll find it for you. And if not, I have done some really beautiful custom work with them. I’ve even come to them with fabric, and asked them to paper-back it, which they did expertly
Fromental,based in London, for whom really anything goes: they have such an incredible range of styles, all beautifully executed that really show the craft of wallcoverings
The French:Pierre Frey, who do some great paper-backed fabrics; and Élitis, with its very bold tendencies
Adelphi Paper Hangings, who reproduce historic papers from 1750 until 1930, with just incredibly accuracy (and it’s even just fun to read their stories)
Gregorius Pineoand Kufri, both of whom go from papers to fabrics and even into wood veneer wall coverings, so really a lot to explore
Some from Adelphi that I’ve had in mood boards recently:
Top to bottom: Wheatlands Volute, American, circa 1850s; Blanchard Ashlar, probably French, circa 1810-1825; and Grove, French, 1930.
Any other favorites, or top sources? Or favorite installations of wallpaper? Let me know, I’d love to see.
And, as you dive in, I would also ask you to consider using wallpapers, or fabrics, in some of the lesser-expected places, or in lesser-expected ways. We recently did a project with four different wallpapers on each wall of a room, and it looked fantastic.
I also love it on ceilings, and for the pattern-shy, doing the interior of a closet can be a way to have the best of both worlds. A private place to experiment and get a dose of the maximal.
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HOOK UPS
Here’s a tip, just about the ceremony of getting dressed.
A lot of us, I think, spend real time looking for a perfect dress (or suit or whatever else)—maybe a week or two. And, so for me its important to cherish the moment of finally putting it on. And, though this set up above is from an Alaïa shop (and their beautiful custom clothes rack, in iron and a patinated brass), the same goes for home: a place to hang up whatever it is you’re going to wear, and letting yourself appreciate it for a minute.
Consider a nice hanger. The Cadillac of hangers is Lou Hansell (but at home, I use affordable skinny felted ones from The Container Store, which are soft on clothes). And/or a beautiful hook—I’ve just installed the Empire Hat Pin hook by P.E. Geurin at home (who also do incredible hardware for the bath).
And, a place you can really go a little wild is in the world of coat racks. Some just have a little tweak that makes them interesting, like the S-curved ‘Color Rack’ by Hay (and it comes in a eggshell and jungle green, which are beyond the norm of black, white, or chrome). But others are like art pieces:
I came across this 1980s rack in Brussels at a vintage market a couple months ago, which I’ve picked up for a project (designer unknown). But a not-too-disimilar energy in the The Sciangai from Zanotta, which has a sort of tree-like essence, too; or this one by Olaf von Bohr for Kartell.
WELL SUPPORTED
And, to round this out—a little for the ladies, and their hangers.
My bra fixation right now is squarely on Eres, and in particular the Cluny bra, which is so sexy and comfortable. Or the Hanky Panky signature bralette, which doesn’t have an underwire.
And, amped up a little is the Agent Provocateur Buffie—with its skinny straps that sit across your chest, it looks great when you have a shirt open.
Let me know the best Hang you know of, or what you’re doing in your space. I’d love to know what stories your ceilings, walls, and racks are telling.
CMO Paris has some amazing textured, and woven wallpapers. Their raffia collection I think you’d love!
Those wallpaper stripes! 😍 Perfect for my indecisive brain 😅