ELLE DECOR April 2019

STEPHEN DRUCKER, FORMER HOUSE BEAUTIFUL editor (my first shelter-magazine boss!), used to say that when winter ends and it’s time to go back outside, people are starved for color. While the world keeps changing, that fact will never change. In the months leading up to April, muted tones seem to follow us everywhere. I’ve never been shy about my penchant for a preponderance of color, no matter the season, which is why ELLE DECOR is anything but beige. (To the minimalists out there, please refrain from writing in!) With spring upon us, we present our April issue, a love letter to the outdoors and the color wheel. It was conceived during a collision of brilliant projects that were surprisingly in sync with one another. First, there is the apartment of retail…

LAST NOVEMBER, THE Black Artists + Designers Guild launched to much fanfare in the design world. Founded by Brooklyn-based ceramist and rug designer Malene Barnett, the BAD Guild (as its members affectionately call it) is a directory of black creatives, including artists, architects, interior designers, and artisans. As a person of color, Barnett explains, she has struggled to get her work noticed—and many black colleagues had a similar experience. “We want to be part of the industry and the conversation, and to be recognized and respected for our contributions to art and design,” Barnett says. Indeed, BAD immediately struck a chord: Since its launch, 77 members have signed up, including interior designers Sheila Bridges, Joy Moyler, Rayman Boozer, and Leyden Lewis; furniture designer Jomo Tariku; and artist Lisa Hunt. While both…

Malene Barnett The founder of BAD Guild is working on a solo show of her clay vessels, inspired by the mud architecture of northern Ghana and Mauritania. maleneb.com Sheila Bridges The ED A-List decorator and creator of the iconic Harlem Toile fabric has residential projects in Brooklyn and New York’s Hudson Valley under way. sheilabridges.com Lisa Hunt Hunt is a New York fine artist focused on pattern. Her minimalist prints are in Saatchi Art’s latest catalog honoring Women’s History Month. lisahuntcreative.com Leyden Lewis The architect and designer fashions interiors for apartments and houses. He is currently at work on a multifamily real estate development in Brooklyn. leydenlewis.com Rayman Boozer This New York–based decorator designs both residences and commercial projects, including Verizon Media’s executive offces. apartment48.com Alaric S. Campbell A Brooklyn portrait photographer with a bold, dynamic point of view, Campbell is…

What’s your favorite piece from DWR’s spring collection? JE: It has to be the Sommer seating, and we had the pleasure of working on it with Danish designer Chris Halstrøm. She designed a 10-piece outdoor line and wound up achieving a new design goal: taking woven seating outdoors. What’s the secret? JE: A miracle synthetic fiber that, when buffed, mimics the look and feel of paper cord but holds up to rain. It’s also very comfortable. What else are you working on? JE: We’re bringing to life old sketches by the late Jens Risom of outdoor furniture that was never realized. We’re also doing another outdoor collection designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. How tall are you? JE: Six feet, four inches. What’s the best sofa for a tall person like you to stretch out on? JE: Our Lecco sofa,…

Every city in Europe has at least one celebrity-magnet restaurant. In Rome, it’s Dal Bolognese; in London, Chiltern Firehouse; and in Paris, it’s Jean-Louis Coste’s L’Avenue. An applauded hot spot, that chic eatery has been a draw for the likes of Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Rihanna. In February, for the first time, L’Avenue opened an outpost outside France, on the eighth and ninth floors at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. Philippe Starck, who designed the version originale, created a distinct look for each of the floors, which are connected by a staircase. On floor eight is Le Chalet, a den of dim light, log beams sourced in Europe, and warm brown tones where customers can enjoy a quiet drink. Upstairs is, as Starck told us in an interview, “a…

PRESENTED BY BREAKFAST WITH PARIS GRANT REAKFAST IS ONE OF those traditions that I never fully appreciated until I became a wife and a mother. When I was young, my mother would make something quick, and I would sit and eat before we rushed off to school. There wasn’t much talking, but even so, it felt like a moment of togetherness. My 20s were spent rolling out of bed on weekend mornings and into a local brunch spot; on weekdays, I would grab a coffee on the go. These days, my husband has a hectic schedule as a personal trainer, so he’s in and out quickly, but I make sure to feed him every morning. Our baby, Chase, always joins us, of course. Something I insist on, as a self-professed foodie, is…