ELLE DECOR October 2021

SPRING MAY HAVE A reputation for being the season of renewal, but, for me, autumn—with its back-to-school, new-year-new-me energy—has always been the best time for a reset. Fittingly, our October issue embraces the themes of change and reinvention, with close looks at design’s complicated past, dynamic present, and ever-changing future. Our cover this month features a 1960s house in Beverly Hills intelligently reworked by architect Luis Fernandez for himself, his partner, and their son. Legendary Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek once lived in the house, when its decor was more swinging ’70s than haute family crash pad. The changes Fernandez has made pay homage to that history while bringing the interiors into the 21st century. In the pages that follow, you’ll find fresh takes on classic furnishings and accessories for every…

SKILL SET History in the Making In honor of the 10th anniversary of its Islamic wing, the Metropolitan Museum of Art worked with designer Madeline Weinrib to launch the Heirloom Project. Weinrib tapped 16 brands to create handcrafted products inspired by the Met’s collections of Islamic art and heirlooms, employing artisans from Afghanistan to Syria for whom the opportunity would be most impactful. Poppy cotton pillow by Good Earth from Madeline Weinrib for the Met, 20˝ sq., $150. store.metmuseum.org…

BORN OF THE 1970s, ROCHE Bobois’s Mah Jong sofa is an iconic totem of informality. Named for the Chinese tilebased game its unique compositions call to mind—the “domino” sofa doesn’t have quite the same ring to it (nor does it sound especially stable)—the low-slung seating system comprises three upholstered bases that can be configured in a myriad of ways, easily morphing into an armchair, sofa, or lounge chair. Entirely handmade in Italy since its introduction, the Mah Jong remains synonymous with freedom of expression, an accommodating domestic canvas that has begotten couture collaborations with fashion designers like Sonia Rykiel and Jean Paul Gaultier and has popped up in the homes of celebrities like Norma Kamali and Gwyneth Paltrow. To celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, Roche Bobois is offering two…

FOO DOGS. GINGER JARS. YIN-YANG TABLES. Pagoda motifs, fiery dragons, and bamboo stalks. See it in architecture, gardens, interiors, furnishings, products, graphic motifs, and at just about every scale of design. Chinoiserie, a genre of reproduction design dating back to 17th-and 18th-century Western Europe, has had a long history. From Louis XIV’s decor at Versailles to Ettore Sottsass’s pagoda-topped postmodern shelving, westernized versions of Asian motifs have long been a mainstay of interior design. These days, chinoiserie is regaining popularity as part of an Instagram-friendly, “grandmillennial” lifestyle aesthetic based around a mix of shabby-chic decor that harks back to its last craze in the 1930s. You can find vintage and modern mass-produced examples from retailers like One Kings Lane and Chairish. On the higher end, wallcovering firms Gracie and de Gournay…

WHEN LOVE HOUSE FIRST OPENED its doors in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in 2018, the showroom felt primed for social media ascendancy, stocked with choice midcentury pieces that were smartly arranged and bathed in natural light on Instagram. That was no coincidence: Founders Jared Heinrich and Aric Yeakey both have a background in photography—and great taste to boot. With an eye toward compelling juxtapositions of old and new, Love House quickly manifested as a design destination, peaking with the November 2019 launch of designer Eny Lee Parker’s “Internal-izing” collection, with a guest list stretching into the hundreds. Its new home base, open by appointment in New York City’s Greenwich Village, leans much harder into what’s contemporary, collectible, and cool. Love House’s evolved approach to curating reflects a sea change in both popular tastes and…

1. Collin by MGBW BROCK FORSBLOM: The inset-corner leg is an interesting detail. It elevates the table from being just a square of marble. VICTORIA HAGAN: The classic lines and material will never become dated. 42˝ w. x 42˝ d. x 14.5˝ h.; $3,327. mgbwhome.com 2. Coffee Bean by Nada Debs VH: The lacquered finish and stainless steel have a very playful quality. BF: If you have enough friends, it’d make a chic dining table. 94.5˝ w. x 55˝ d. x 16˝ h.; $6,500. nadadebs.com 3. Low by Hun-Chung Lee BF: It’s so exciting as a sculptural piece of furniture. I’m obsessed with it. VH: I love the patina of the ceramic and its organic design. 40˝ w. x 24˝ d. x 7.5˝ h.; price upon request. r-and-company.com 4. Murano by Francesco Balzano VH: Its slim width would work well in a tight…