Guest Blogger: Patrick J. Hamilton on Avoiding Design Clichés at Holiday House (Part 2)

Guest Blogger and AskPatrick writer Patrick J. Hamilton recently had the opportunity to attend this year's Holiday House 2011. Yesterday, Patrick began telling us about the fatal flaws of designing clichés and today, Patrick is sharing with us how designers at Holiday House pulled all the right stops to avoid them.

By Patrick J. Hamilton

Holiday House veteran James Rixner took a sweet route for Valentine’s Day, pulling his palette from what he calls “the real reason we all love Valentine’s Day: chocolate!” With nary a heart or cupid to be found (although the large painting could indeed depict a stylized engagement ring), Rixner ran the room through a chic Willy Wonka filter, with milk chocolate walls and white molding that looked like it had been piped on by a cake decorator, and a vanilla-on-chocolate rug, filling the room like frosting.

James even drew from the iconic box of chocolates without getting all saccharine with a sweeping tufted chairs, also evoking a perfect pair of chocolate-covered cherries. James steered clear of the obvious by veering away from construction-paper-red, adding a bit of orange to end up with a deep and fiery color, one notch past coral. (Above)

Andreea Avram Rusu of Avram Rusu Interiors took an even more subtle approach to her holiday’s theme. New Year’s confetti, fireworks, glitz and glamour are all here, but stylized and tempered in a curated mix of antique, vintage and modern, with a dash of organic inspiration. Elements throughout, like the artwork and her custom overhead lights— brass disks shimmering like a party-ready Sputnik— are a nod to sparklers, special occasion jewelry, champagne bubbles, and the Times Square ball drop, but without the slightest tack.

Pieces that shouldn’t work together, do… the DESIGNLUSH Waterfall Writing Desk with French Deco chairs and vintage radio, their three-part harmony facilitated by shared wood tones and elegant curve. Rick Lee’s Media Group sofa (also courtesy DESIGNLUSH) shares an almost 70’s glam vibe with the brassy (in a good way) Carini Lang carpet, looking like slices of geodes or super-sized confetti. All glowing against a moody gray wall paper and floors darkened by the designer, it’s a move-in ready, collected-over-time room that would be a marvelous way to start any new year.