If you are a fan of Mad Men’s Bryan Batt, you will enjoy his new book: Big, Easy Style: Creating Rooms You Love to Live in. Batt is the co-owner of a New Orleans store called Hazelnut and brings a theatrical approach to home décor. And his flamboyant enthusiasm is catching. With Batt leading the band, decorating is a lot of fun.
The use of colour is a main theme of the book: “Don’t be Afraid of Color,” he says. “Honestly, what did color ever do to you?” A living room with lacquered, peacock-blue walls positively sings.
Batt shares his emotional response to colour and offers a list of his favourites from well-known sources like Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams and Ralph Lauren. You can bet that I’m adding this book to our reading list on the topic.
Style: Easy Updates, Room-by-Room Guide, Inspired Design Ideas published by Southern Living features lushly decorated rooms with lots of stuff.
As well as glorious collections, see details like monogrammed linens and slipcovers, billowy draperies, and antiques and portraits that reflect a “penchant for the past”.
Rooms bring in the garden with furnishings in wicker, rattan, cane and bamboo.
The book has a good section of DIY projects that include photo arrangements, gallery-style art walls and furniture face-lifts.
If you want a soundtrack while you’re flipping pages, try the keyword search, “New Orleans jazz” in our catalogue for an interesting list. At the top is For True, the newest release by Trombone Shorty. “Grammy nominee Trombone Shorty follows up the success of the critically acclaimed Backatown with a new album that showcases his mix of jazz, funk, and rock.”
I remembered an older, eponymous CD by Po’ Girl with a sly and languid bonus track of “Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans”. Good stuff.