Wired + Inspired: Behind the Scenes of a Virtual Showhouse

I've done four actual designer show houses.  But when the opportunity arose to participate in a virtual show house sponsored by DeringHall.com -- entirely digital and only viewable online -- I jumped at the chance.  After all, participating in a designer show house costs big bucks: there is the investment in carpentry, electrical work, custom furnishings, etc. that is borne, to a large degree, by the designer.  But here was an opportunity to create a space that only involved an investment of time. 

Dering Hall set the parameters: create a room inspired by a movie with furnishings sourced from the Boston Design Center.  Dering Hall assigned me the Entryway.  I completed the project in May, and Dering Hall just launched the project to coincide with Boston Design 2015, a two-day event at the Boston Design Center.

 

When I selected the movie Shampoo as my inspiration, I thought it would be in keeping with a trend toward 1970s decor that I've been seeing.  I expected to see high gloss and mylar finishes, polished chrome and glass.  But the interiors in the film were nothing like what I expected.

The photo below is the home of Julie Christie's character in the movie.  It's very traditional with large-scale continental furnishings and stark contrasts of darks and lights.  Hardly the 1970s decor I envisioned.  How I would furnish my virtual show house room would have to change dramatically.

     

Luckily, the salon where Warren Beatty's character worked gave me a starting point.

     

Notice the latticework . . . An opportunity to use one of my favorite wallpaper patterns: Lyford Trellis Wallpaper from Quadrille.  The contrast of darks and lights and merging of interiors and exteriors so prevalent in California design at the time were my further inspirations. 

Here are the furnishings with quotes from my Wired + Inspired page from Dering Hall.

Balustrade Console by Formations

Marlboro Side Chair by Hickory Chair in White Cotton Duck Fabric by Kravet with Samuel & Sons blue cording

Portico Lantern by Powell and Bonnell Home

Taj Brown Rug by Bunny Williams Home

Forbidden City Mirror by Bunny Williams Home