Do You Decorate Fearlessly?

From the book by Susanna Salk (Rizzoli) Decorate Fearlessly, interior design by Valorie Hart, photo by Sara Essex Bradley

As you can see I am trying a new look for the blog. I hope you like it because I cannot figure out to go back to the old one. I thought I would try something new to refresh my spirits and get me blogging again.

Many nice things are happening for me. Alberto was so loved, and it turns out I am loved too, and so many of you have been helping me along. One of the many things I miss about Alberto is that he was my number one fan. He was so proud of my accomplishments.

From Decorate Fearlessly by Susanna Salk, interior design Valorie Hart, photo by Sara Essex Bradley

I have really been doing interior decoration/design for less than five years. Yes, I had a design business in New York for event design, and yes I am art school trained, but I started another chapter with interiors. I keep trying to convince Traditional Home Magazine that I am a young designer to be considered for their annual showcase, but so far they aren't buying it.

I have been blessed to have caught the imagination of authors, editors, and publishers in my budding career, and have been blessed to have gotten my work published. Alberto was so very proud that other people recognized my talent.

So now, the uber talented author and editor-at-large has included me in another one of her books:  Susanna Salk's Decorate Fearlessly (I was included in her Be Your Own Decorator a couple of years ago). It fits me to a T. And I am thrilled in the most geeky star struck way as possible. Alberto would have loved it.

Alberto Paz and Valorie Hart - This was my book launch party last September and someone said we never looked happier - Alberto was so proud of me and I love him so very much - photo by Jessica Hack

You will love Decorate Fearlessly by Susanna Salk

From Decorate Fearlessly - I am over the moon to be on the same page with so many talented people!

Susanna has the knack for gathering images of dozens of designers across the board, compiling a  delicious compendium of images that cannot help but inspire and make you think. Decorate Fearlessly has large scale photos (which I love), divided into to handy chapters organized by rooms (Living Rooms, Entryways, Dining Rooms, Kitchens, Bathrooms, Bedrooms). There is a short quote by each designer.

OMG on the same page as Nick Olsen!

Decorate Fearlessly interior design by Nick Olsen

Decorate Fearlessly interior design by Miles Redd

I am proud to say New Orleans was well represented. Besides myself, New Orleans designers Karina Gentinetta and Melissa Rufty are included, and New Orleans photographer Sara Essex Bradley has her images in the book as well.

Interior design by Karina Gentinneta, photo by Sara Essex Bradley

Decorate Fearlessly, interior design by Melissa Rufty, photo by Ron Royals

So what do you do that is fearless in decorating?

Steven Miller Art You Can Afford! Really!

Decorators like fashionistas jump on trends. Whether it's a designer purse or a Greek key anything, or the same type of art work, there is always something that everyone just has to have. Paloma at La Dolce Vita did a great post on this subject.

Mixing in abstract art with interior decorating is definitely a trend here to stay. From the high prices in the thousands, to Etsy and bloggers making art for sale at more affordable prices, there is something out there for everyone, even if you make it yourself.

The art of Steven Miller as seen in Elle Decor

Elle Decor recently had a feature on the stylish New York City home of Michael Leva. A piece of art jumped out at me, because of the popular motif beloved by many decoristas. The painting was done by Steven Miller. So I went on over to his web site, and loved what I saw. His work is wonderful. As I tooled around I found a link pointing to a place where you can buy prints of his work at Fine Art America!

Steven Miller art canvas print - $207.

Steven Miller art canvas print $207.

How fabulous! It's an art shopping site for the masses! You can get a reproduction of Steven's paintings that sell in the thousands, at very affordable prices. Of course who wouldn't want an original? But in the meantime, here's a way to get something really nice for your decorating dreams. I wish more artists would do something like this, offer reproductions of their work. The art market will always have those valued collectors who will only buy originals, but there is also a market of millions of everyday home makers who would buy nice reproductions like the ones Steven smartly offers.

Artist Lee Krasner - Why do girls love circle so much?

I don't know why circles and scribbles have struck such a note with decorators, both home and profesional. Like it or not, it is a trend that seems entrenched. I have a board at Pinterest with a ton of examples of this type of art. It's fascinating to see all the riffs on the same theme gathered in one place.

Go check out my Pinterest board called Circles and Scribbles

From Southern Accents Magazine - This image started the trend that every decorator an blogger had to do

From The NY Times (photo by Sara Essex Bradley)

I bought this little piece of trendiness three years ago for $75.

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The Circle Game

Who would think that circle paintings would start such a fuss? I got a ton of private emails regarding the I Heart Karina Gentinetta post.

I am the Circle Queen!

There are many. many swell and gracious Southern women I know and love, and who have been very good to me, the damn Yankee interloper. And then there is a group of women here in New Orleans that still think they are in a college sorority akin to what I call the Southern Belle Mafia.

And I am the Circle King and the rest of y'all are copy cats

A certain person called upon her sisters to shun and intimidate the person who dared to paint circles on a drop cloth. There were hate emails and boycotting of the drop cloth painter's shop in New Orleans. She eventually closed it rather than take the hate.

The drop cloth that dropped a ton of hate

How could one know that an eleventh hour DIY project would cause such a stink. The NY Times called without much notice, to do an article about a house, a home very much unfinished with bare walls. So that's how the infamous drop cloth was whipped up for the photo shoot.

Don't hate me because I make beautiful circles

Anyway, in the spirit of fun, and to lighten things up, I am showing you a ton of circle images. It seems it has been a very popular motif since the cave man or cave woman drew on the walls. And it still is. But only in New Orleans.

Another ancient cave drawing

Stop thief! A rubbing taken from a cave drawing

Cave drawing on a rock - Was the cave artist named Keith?

School children in Paris with their paintings of the two hot design trends that every blogger wants

This will soon be outlawed in schools in Louisiana

A child's circle painting - Don't send the kid hate mail

Kelly Wearstler draws on her cave walls, or did her kids do it?

She obvs stole it from Keith Haring who stole it from a cave man

And Nicole stole it from both of them!

A blogger lifted the idea for her shop

And another blogger swiped it from her

And another blogger in New Orleans stole it from her, although he kept it on the down low from the SBM

Look, I appreciate talent, but sometimes you have to know when to give a painting to a sister who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina.

And as I keep telling you, nothing is original, so take inspiration from the best, and pray you have the talent to pull it off and make it unique because it comes through your experience. Talent is forever. That's what I was taught in art school.

And thank you all for your comments and private emails. I am locking those emails in the vault to be published upon my death in a book called "I've Seen Your Blog and I'm Still Laughing".

Please add my NEW address to your blog list:
http://thevisualvamp.blogspot.com
And please become a Follower again (or for the first time) on this new blog