Ralph Lauren Home's Bohemian Ile Saint-Louis

You know I love Ralph Lauren Home products. I've blogged about them a lot, even cataloging some of the most amazing Ralph Lauren Home collections throughout the years here and here. While they are all outstanding, I tend to truly covet the more bohemian of the collections.

Through the years, we've had La Boheme:

A gorgeous collection of jewel toned, and worldly tribal fabrics mixed with gilded antiques and modern art. Of course, the layering upon layering is what makes this truly bohemian, that subtle mix of color, texture, and style that only the brilliant minds over at Ralph Lauren seem to be able to pull off.

We also had the New Bohemian collection:

 

A dirtier, less refined collection than La Boheme, however still lovely, and still mixing those genres and textures and styles all for that bohemian-glam look that Ralph Lauren has made so covetable. One of my favorites, if not the favorite, St. Germaine:

 



Another lovely collection of things new and old, rough and refined, luxurious and destined for the trash - all paired up together and layered upon layered to create this intimate experience. And really, isn't that what we all want out of our houses? Perfection without having to be perfect?

So, when I popped in on Ralph Lauren Home to see what collections they had for Spring/Summer 2014, I was so happy to see another bohemian space, this time called Ile Saint-Louis:

Gorgeous, right? As I soaked up these images, and looked, then relooked at the detail of each one, it seemed as if all at once, my idea of the Ralph Lauren bohemian "look" shifted. What I had remembered of collections like La Boheme, New Bohemian, and St. Germain, these over-filled, over-decorated, over-layered rooms, so beautifully hoarded - had collectively sealed my idea of what bohemian rooms should look like. Yet here we are, with Ile Saint-Louis, delicately spare in decoration, simply styled, and devoid of overpowering layers, and the bohemian look still rings true, shining through in every image.

Industrial tables mixed with French antiques, linens mixed with cashmere and velvets, found objects mixed with off the rack specials, it proves that often you don't need a room filled with objects for it to be beautiful. More over, you don't need all of your objects to be antique, or unique. Quite the opposite, sometimes you have to break up those antiques with trendy off the shelf specials and visa versa in order for a room to feel truly collected, and ... special.

Yes, indeed, there's always a lot to learn from the brilliant designers over at Ralph Lauren who put these stunning visual feasts together for us every season. For more on this one, and to see the other less bohemian collection for Spring/Summer 2014, go to RalphLaurenHome.com.

Ralph Lauren Home Collections Archive ... PART THREE

Well, this is it. The finale of the Ralph Lauren Home Collection Archive posts. If you missed where this all started, with Ralph Lauren's 2013 Architectural Digest Cover and Story on two of his lovely homes, you can view that post by clicking on the link. Then I tried to catalog some older collections of the uber popular Ralph Lauren Home Lifestyle Collections from the distant past, in PART ONE and PART TWO.

As I put together this post, I keep going back to PART TWO, and my absolute favorite collection, La Boheme: 

I know that this isn't everyone's perfect room. For some the asymmetry is frustrating, and what I call layering is just clutter. But for me, and anyone who has followed along with this blog through all of my many home transformations, you know that this look, is where my heart is. So, I hope, that somewhere in one of these collections that I've searched so deeply across the web for, you've had a similar breathtaking moment where you said, "YES! I found my happy place!!"

Now this time, I'm not posting about a lot of other collections. Fact is, there just aren't many pictures available for the older ones. But in my digging, I did find some clever reuse on the part of Ralph Lauren that just called for feature. Remember the California Romantic Collection from PART ONE? 

It wasn't my favorite - but I do like it. What's great about this collection, is that it's been used before. Before it got it's revamp with neutral Aztec inspired rugs and loosely draped furniture in soft linens ... it was called La Hacienda: 

I think I actually like that one better! Before I move on to the end of this post, I was asked to find the Safari Collection from the 90's. I looked, and found two lone photos. I didn't remember this collection, likely because I was only 8 years old when it debuted, but I sure wish I could find more photos! 

I've had a lot of fun searching for these photos and getting so much Ralph Lauren Home legacy in one place through these posts. As we roll the credits on this series, I can't help but wonder what's next for Ralph Lauren Home. This Fall, he's set to debut what may end up being the most elaborate of collections yet: Apartment No. One. Named for the residence at London's Kensington Palace, which will be home to Prince William and Kate Middleton, who is not yet a Princess - rather a duchess, countess, and baroness. What will Prince William and Kate's Apartment look like in the eyes of Ralph Lauren?

Well, I know this much ... it's inspired by Prince Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor, who served as King of the United Kingdom for a brief period of time in 1936, before abdicating the thrown to marry an American divorcee. His brother, Prince Albert, father of the now Queen Elizabeth, took the thrown. Many of you have probably seen "The King's Speech", recounting in the way only Hollywood can, the life of Albert.

So, adding that to the pot. I ask you this: "What would the apartment of a Prince and Baroness, inspired by the distant philandering, controversial royal relative who abdicated the thrown and avoided Royal life after escaping his destined reality to live a life of peace in France ... look like?"

Well, they've got a great place to start. A recent $19,000,000 renovation of the palace, where Diana raised Prince William and Prince Harry, (Apartments 8 and 9) has updated the livability of the 547 room palace separated into apartments that are occupied by other royal relatives, as they have been for centuries.

The two-year renovation has blended old with new, maintaining the architectural integrity of the palace while making it much more serviceable to today's standards. At least more serviceable than those of the builder's King William and Queen Mary in the late 17th century. The apartment that Price William and Duchess Kate will move in to is known as Apartment 1A, 4-floors, 20 rooms, and prior home of Princess Margaret, Prince William's Great Aunt.

The foyer of the apartment is rich with millwork and a harlequin tile floor:

I doubt seriously that this has changed too much in the renovations. And I also doubt highly that we'll ever get to see much of the finished interiors of Prince William and Kate's home. But knowing that Ralph Lauren, who probably researched the "feel" of this apartment in creating the Fall Collection is using this classic English architecture might help in the vision you're going to create in your head. So will Kate and Prince William's Apartment 1A look like Ralph Lauren's Harrowden Collection:

Or will Baby George, Kate, and William reside at Apartment 1A in something more like Ralph Lauren's Noble Estate Collection?

Well, the creative minds at Ralph Lauren Home will not disappoint us, no matter how they interpret the palace, I'm sure! But I have a feeling that we're going to see a modern mix in the Ralph Lauren Home Fall 2013 Apartment No. One collection. Already, they've marked some accessories on their site with the lifestyle: "Apartment No. One" including:

So, perhaps Apartment No. 1 at Kensington Palace (Ralph Lauren's Interpretation) will look more like his Rue Royale Collection?

I'm sure we'll all be on the edge of our seats, and I will definitely show it off here once it becomes public. I sure hope you enjoyed this last installment and the slight deviation. 

Ralph Lauren in Architectural Digest

Thank you Margaret Russell and AD for featuring, so beautifully, Ralph Lauren in your September 2013 issue. When I picked up the mail today and saw the cover, I couldn't wait to dive inside.

Now, if you know me, or if you've read this blog for very long - you know that Ralph Lauren is indeed, one of my design icons. Maybe THE design icon. His traditional aesthetic and more-is-more cluttered look is what I've used to shape my idea of the "perfect" room. Ralph Lauren of course, is no stranger to the cover of Architectural Digest.

The man is truly a legend. He has reshaped the way that the world views "American" style, both in fashion and interiors. His many homes have inspired designers across the country, and his high-end home division is seen in magazine featured, covetable rooms created by interior designers old and new, and shared across the bloggersphere by just about all of us.

In Architectural Digests September 2013 issue, they captivate the reader with this image of Ralph's office in the Manhattan headquarters on Madison Avenue:

Just amazing to see how he surrounds himself with so much! The same desk was captured by New York Photographer Pieter Estersohn in 2005.

Nearly the same exact display, atop his popular Highbridge Desk. I love the layered framed prints and photos on the floor, the large ranch themed cowboy mural ... totally the All-American Ralph Lauren we've come to know and love. This set up, in the Manhattan Flagship store is even more unique given the stores facade: 

Hardly the manly ranch lovers cabin, right? The flagship women's only clothing store has garnered high praise, and for those lucky enough to live near and visit the store, the collection of furniture and fashion is constantly inspiring. In fact, there are no shortages of interior images of the women's clothing store. In fact, AD featured the space on the cover of their February 2011 issue, above.

But it's not the RL you'll find at Dillards or Macy's. No, here you'll be browsing $20,000 Ricky bags and $3,000 tweed riding blazers.

Of course, although a clothing store, it's filled with the RL collection of furniture, plus vintage and antique items thrown in to create the Ralph Lauren experience. Even full rooms of the most feminine of the furniture collections are thrown in for good measure:

Like these ... from the RL Heiress Collection. I remember when this collection first showed up on the RLHome website. I fell in love with a few of the photos ...

Described as being a beautiful translation of Bohemian romance, this series of rooms, although very "pretty" is layered to perfection, and I find it insanely inspiring.

The next image in the Architectural Digest issue is one of Ralph and Ricky's Bedford Mansion, described by Ralph as part Hunting Lodge part Stately Manor.

 The house has been featured a million times (it seems) and each time that I see it, it appears fresh and new.

When AD featured the house in 2004, cover above - way up there! - the living library looked very much the same:

In fact, with very little exception, the room is exactly the same. The point of decorating your home with things you love ... there's no need to change as trends fade in and out of favor. The rest of the house is equally as beautiful:

Of course, the Lauren's don't simply have one house. Which I suppose makes it easier not to change the decor even seasonally. They just pick up and shuffle to another house ... one of five, each more beautiful than the next. Luckily though, in this September issue of AD, we get to see a few never-before-seen angles of the rooms at Bedford, like this one of the living room: 

And some interior shots of the beautiful pool house ...

Swoon! I could LIVE in this bathroom. Seriously. Ralph's Bedford Estate is clearly large ... perhaps the largest of the all the Lauren's real estate holdings. 

And my most favorite. Ralph has never claimed to be an interior designer. Rather that he knows how enough to visualize how you should live in any particular environment. He decorates and designs for himself, and if 30 years of success and icon status doesn't spell out very clearly just how that vision has shaped the American idea of "classic" interior design ... I don't know what would. 

Of course, if anyone were going to do an expose on Ralph, Ricky, and their homes - they would have to include Double RL Ranch in Colorado. Built using 100-year-old, hand hewn logs from Montana, the ranch pairs Navajo with Vintage Americana ... a far cry from Bedfords Manor meets Hunting Lodge. 

Of course, AD did a cover story on the Ranch in 2002 ... so there are some older photos of the interiors still floating around ... 

The whole ranch, including the exterior terraces and porches are appointed with late 19th century Indian rugs, woven twig chairs, antique and vintage bedding and linens, aged saddle leather, and bespoke pieces. There's even an airstream trailer on the property for guests: 

Can't you just see Matthew McConaughey out there on that planked deck playing the bongo drums?

It's this sort of whimsy, care free design, that makes the indefatigable Ralph absolutely beyond compare. And while AD leaves their September article on Ralph at Double RL, I suppose a good place to leave the reader, I have to show you more! 

Ralph and Ricky have a Montauk getaway, that at one point, was owned by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The 5.5 acre estate, complete with a pool, tennis court, and the bulk of Ralph's impressive car collection. 

When Elle Decor decided to showcase some Celebrity estates in 2005, they chose the pool of Ralph and Ricky's Montauk retreat as the cover. 

Again, you find that Ralph has mixed styles. If Bedford is Hunting Lodge meets Manor, and Colorado is Navajo meets Americana, then Montauk is Beach meets Industrial Modern. With rattan and Barcelona daybeds, 50's era architects chairs and the classic beach directors chair ... it's a lesson in pairing ... and another example of Ralph's ability to make even the most disparate of items come together seamlessly. 

The Lauren's also have a Manhattan apartment. Very appropriate for a Billion Dollar couple ... 

Ralph and Ricky very early on after buying their Manhattan Duplex, commissioned their friend, the late Angelo Donghia to design the house. Here's an early photo of the room above designed by Donghia:

Apart from the very fun art, a Starwars Stormchaser, a painting of Batman ... this space is far too sparse for me. It feels less like Ralph Lauren than any of their other homes ... but I suppose at some point, you have to escape the clutter and just exist with the clean lines. I half expected the Manhattan duplex to be decorated in the same vein as his Brock Street collection: 

Or maybe even his slightly more Donald Trump'ish' collection One Fifth: 

But, I suppose even though it isn't my favorite. If I had to name the pairing, the Manhattan Fifth Avenue Duplex would be Eccentricity meets Austere. And finally, because I can't find interior photos of the private plane ... 

We'll finish up the RL estate tour, started by Architectural Digest with the Jamaican beach house, located in the Round Hill resort of Montego Bay:

Naturally, when the house down the hill went on the market in 1996, Ralph and Ricky jumped at the chance of owning it ... and renovated it, calling it White Orchid. 

Round Hill, the oldest of the Lauren's homes is certainly East Indies meets Paradise Chic, while White Orchid is much more Le Grand Hotel ...

A blue and white masterpiece ... and probably my favorite of the RL Home collections, apart from the very recent Brookfield Collection: 

A collection of all my favorites, gilt, tapestry, seagrass, houndstooth and suiting fabrics ... it's certainly living up to the romantic description: A fresh translation of a time honored thoroughbred estate with an exciting mix of classic motifs and elegantly undone bohemian elements. It sort of reminds me of a much more polished version of the very old St. Germaine collection ... 

Ah, rediscovering these photos has me rethinking my own interiors. Oh Ralph! And just because it's an easy transition, I have to show you photos of the Ralph Lauren store located on Boulevard St. Germain, in the Latin quarter of Paris. 

I mean, if the Eiffel Tower wasn't enough of an attraction ... this sure has me longing for a Parisian lunch, American style. 

Thanks to AD for getting me going on this post, and for all of you for sticking with it to the end! I told you, I love Ralph Lauren, so you knew it wasn't gonna be a short one ... right? I so appreciate your comments!