Home, Sex and the City

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Today we launch our new column, in the Ermoumag helps you category, with suggestions and tips about our home’s… styling, by Eva Topalidou (blogger and civil engineer+interior designer).

Hi there, my name is Charlotte. Me and my friends, you know we spread the names of the four SATC girls among us. That’s why I am Charlotte with the slight difference that I am not so obsessed with weddings. Anyhow I am here today to try to figure out with you –and of course you have to tell me your opinion too, that means that like comments- why the SATC series is that famous. I am sure that is the truth of the story that counts. It’s all about a true city, true best friends, lives full of success, disappointments, loves, problems and real tears. The set designers Jeremy Conway and Lydia Marks said to Spanish Casa Sugar that in order to have a true story they had to make real homes. They even brought to set the fridge magnets from Carrie’s house. The homes that real Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte (that’s me) would choose to live in. Today we are going to analyze the Carrie Bradshaw home.

The home is the mirror of the owner and his habits. Carrie is a writer and a fashionista. She is the “leave ‘em where they fall” woman. A Carrie house –before and after renovation- should be cozy, comfy, full of fashion magazines and books placed everywhere, clothes, accessories and cosmetics from Kiehls, Bobby Brown and Christian Dior. What else? Shoes from Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik.

Art is not an issue as long as is not related with fashion. The exception is only some botanical images from Harriet Zucker. Beside that if Carrie wanted to deal seriously with art she would have hanged her cloths on the wall. The kitchen is not a place to be and that’s why she’s keeping sweaters in the kitchen’s oven. She is not a big spender for home items. The most precious pieces she has –beside shoes- is the Macbook Pro, the one that now is being exposed in National Museum of American History.

Before…

The first house, long before Big messes her life, was off white painted with brown mid-century furniture that she bought mostly from the 26th str. flea market she and the other girls were hanging out on Sundays. Paper bags from Barney’s, Bergdorf’s and Bendel’s used to be on the doorknobs. The picture was full with the famous Marimekko curtains, the Aidan chair and sepia or black-and-white photos over the bed.

…and After

The movie house is renovated because she wanted to put a dining table for her and Big. Basically she didn’t changed the organized chaos she was living in, but she grew up, she had a serious relationship, she was not so childish any more and a woman of this status needs a more glamorous and mature home. So beside the dining table, she painted the whole house in Benjamin Moore’s Eclectic Blue with white accents. The lighting is exactly where she needs to be and that means only sculpture like lamps on bedside tables and credenza. These lamps were also chosen from auction shops, with Charlotte’s help I imagine. Blue vases from flea markets, an upholstered bench and the same kind of frames filled the image again. She also put a frame by Chesley McLaren perfume on the wall. The linens are Calvin Klein in brown color.

Order of an organized chaos home:

• Sculpture like lamps that they are not necessary pair.
• Paper bags from stores hanged on doorknobs.
• Sepia or black-and-white photos in mat brushed aluminum frame.
• Mid-century like furniture bought from flea markets.
• Anti-smoke candles from Rigaud and Diptyque.
• Cushions and throws around in many qualities.
• Fridge magnets and many personal items to keep her emotional.
• Fashion magazines again but not everywhere this time.

Neat places inside this studio:

• Her office with the laptop and a lamp.
• Walk through closet.
• Bookcases in better order.

The Carrie’s house method:

• Light with lamps around the house, no need for main lighting, no need to be pairs.
• Paint with Benjamin Moore’s Eclectic Blue color, the most easy and economical way to freshen up your place.
• Keep warm with cushions and throws everywhere, in many fabric qualities.
• Surprise the place with the use of your own accessories for home purpose. Imagine old necklace for curtain holders.
• Furnish with not expensive pieces and mostly from flea markets.
• Last but not least, keep many personal items and family memorabilia around to keep the place homier.

Photos: Casa Sugar

Photographer: Craig Blankenhorn

// That was Eva from Rdeco