Mini Quandary -- Patterned Sofas, Yes or No?

I've kind of always wanted a crazy, patterned couch in colors that would make grandma blush. But would today's favored pattern become tomorrow's mauve and teal flamestitch? Oh wait... that's coming back, right?

Hot damn, not bad. I think I'd even like it in teal.

Anyway, what do we think? Balls out, all over upholstery, like only Miles Redd can bring it:

Or could we cheat a bit and maybe just tuck a blanket into the seat cushion to create some interest:

Can I tell you how much I love everything in this picture? Love. This is my Acid Wasp wet dream.

I may or may not be obsessed with contrasting patterns. Am I? Do you feel the need to save me from myself, or to egg me on?

So is the blanket thing too messy? Or is it ever worth the splurge to just upholster the whole couch in a pattern? I'm a little scared things could veer into Buatta territory. And expensive, I-redecorate-every-five-minutes territory. Still, wouldn't it be fun to do it up righteous?

Can you tell I'm super sick of having leather couches???

Happy Monday, folks. It's going to be a good week. Or else.

[1st Dibs, House Beautiful via, AD, Lonny]

Acid Wasp

Continuing on yesterday's theme, I finally registered for Olio and started moodboarding away. For some reason, Olio is getting glitchy on me, so I only finished got to a stopping point on one of the umpteen boards I started. This is probably for the best since I need to focus (like, bad). I've already been wrasslin' with the computer for hours this morning and I have a mountain of paying work to do. Sadly, I can't sit around shopping the netz all day long, so this is what you dudes get for today. Maybe I'll finish the other ones I started... maybe not. You tell me.

It's not the most fully fleshed out space and it's definitely the most subdued room I worked on, but you get the drift. Sofa is Mitchell Gold, rug is an antique Persian from 1st Dibs (I am now totally obsessed with bleached out Persians), coffee table is from 1st Dibs (also obsessed with anything Egyptian), chair is by Soane, art is by Andy Gilmore, the chandelier is Anthropologie, and I stole the pillow from Olio.

Time to work for real. Le sigh.

Later, pals.

Would You Like Some LSD With That?

Whip out your empire shades, rolled arm sofas and deco breakfronts, because neo trad is all the rage. I saw this coming a while ago and had no problem embracing the equestrian chic aspect of Waspy decor -- mile high hundred year old paintings of daddy's hunting dogs? check. Tobacco stained chesterfields lodged deep within hazy, dark paneled libraries? check. And then there is the toile... times a zillion.

However, I suppose I've generally maintained a sense of irony regarding traditional decor -- if done it must be done to the maxxxxxx. I mean, I'm young... ish. I even used to have a nose ring (it was the late 90s... ok, maybe I'm not so young anymore). Anyway, I don't do stuffy. But I do see a new path for me in the neo trad world. It's still crackers, but far more achievable than adopting an overblown, waspy ritalin chic aesthetic.

I shall dub this Acid Wasp.

This is the gist: furnishings are pretty and traditional/transitional. Candelabras are welcome. But if the furnishings are safe, the art must be risky. Crazy. Downright psychedelic. More like this:

Yes.

Andy Gilmore, you have obviously indulged in the wide world of psychotropic drugs and I think your Vasarely-ish art would be supah floss with a poufy skirted sofa and a fringed lamp. Throw in an antique curved burlwood coffee table and I am in love.

As much as I would love to make this moodboard (can you dig it?), I have to put away my acid dreams and do some real work right now. Also, today is Ike's first day at daycare preschool, and I need to pull myself away from the hypnotrance inducing insanity of these pictures.

It would not do for mommy to arrive at the center with swirly eyes and drool caked at the corners of her mouth. That would not be traditional at all.