cool

Whenever people ask me, “What’s your style?” I say, “My style is cool. I help you find your own style – your own cool.” People give me a hard time for being enamored of the word “cool” – try to get me to replace it with – “hip” or “trendy” (ack!) or – some word more du jour. But I keep coming back to the world “cool”…..

I was intrigued when I came across this Time article on the “Coolest Person of the Year”. Even though I don’t know who Ryan Gosling is (if Netflix doesn’t pick it for me, I don’t know it), I could tell he had that “cool factor” – at least for a guy…..

(notice the article defines “cool” as the “Marlon Brando way – an unshakable calm mixed with a confidence that comes from not needing others”…..

Although the basic insight is there, I don’t think that is the cool I aspire to…..

…..I think of my sexy, bold, wild-haired philosophy professor Yifat, whom I admired, and all the boys were in love with…..

This cool chick kind reminds me of her. And she reminds me of what I endeavor to find in my clients, and help them express in their home interiors…..

So I take this New Years moment to ponder the meaning of the word “cool” as it relates to interiors…..

Henry Winkler put his finger on it when he said, “Cool is being comfortable in your own skin. Everything stems from that.” So let’s look at a few “cool spaces” – and see how they’re cool…..

…..This built-in window seat looks like it could be Yifat’s: The huge view outdoors streaming into this library nook is unexpectedly exciting. The window seat is so natural feeling, the slouchy pillows sexy and inviting…..Perfect for reading philosophical books and contemplating the New Year…..

…..but coolness doesn’t just come in casual forms. Understated glam is cool, especially if it doesn’t sacrifice luxury or utility…..

To me it is harder to be cool and be “dressy” at the same time. But this living room, although it is fancy and dressy, presents itself as cool…..I think it’s the disheveled pink velvet couch…..

…..Spontaneity and ease is always present in coolness, as with this outdoor lounge…..

…..But coolness – and its requisite spontaneity – can come in a highly “designed” form – as with this utterly cool shower, with (I would imagine) a gorgeous view of the Alps or something, an inviting wooden bench offsetting the pale blue arabesque tile, handsome spa-like cabinetry, and a luxurious oriental rug…..You could really take a long, comfy shower in here (and I am a bath person) and watch the sun set over the Alps or something…..

Adaptive reuse of cool buildings is way cool…..as with this 50′s era ferry converted into a spa in Montreal…..

…..or this 60′s waterfront restaurant converted into a chic clothing store…..

But adaptive reuse can be very simple, and still be way cool – as with this turn-of-the century warehouse window serving as a headboard. The yellow trunk and bedspread and blue lamp are playfully offset by this “chill” glassy backdrop…..