Decorating Guides
Decorating Styles
New 'Anna Karenina' Sets Inspire Aristocratic Design Twists
What better time than winter to revisit the luxurious, plush design elements favored by fictional Russian nobility?
Yesterday I needed to push my creative refresh button, so I hopped over to the Tara movie theater for a matinee of the new Anna Karenina movie, starring Keira Knightly and Jude Law. Set in 1870s Russia, the film is a visual feast; the opulent sets and costumes stole the show. Most of the film took place on a constantly transforming stage set, which meant that fabrics, floors, light fixtures, carvings and wall treatments had to make a strong impact. Here's a peek at 11 ways the film could twist current trends.
Trend twist: Candelabras instead of single candlesticks. Hefty and ornate candelabras were once a lighting staple, now often thrown by the wayside.
Trend twist: Fur throws go gray. Bye-bye, deep chocolate brown; Anna's coat can inspire a range of luxe grays and silvers. While a 19th-century Russian aristocrat would have worn real fur, we'll take ours faux.
Fairford Blue Damask Fabric
Trend twist: Damask in brilliant blue. I left the theater with brilliant blue damask dominating my thoughts. We tend to see this pattern in tones like gold and cream, or black and ivory.
Trend twist: Multiple crystal chandeliers. Similarly, 19th-century folks needed groups of chandeliers for light; perhaps those groupings can inspire us to think beyond the single statement crystal chandelier.
See how to use double chandeliers
See how to use double chandeliers
Trend twist: Gold and ivory harlequin floors. Instead of the usual black and white harlequin, the floor at the ball in the film was a striking oversize gold and ivory pattern.
Trend twist: Mirrored screens. One way the stage sets were transformed was with ornate screens covered in mirror and upholstery.
Trend twist: Needlepoint chairs are elegant again. Needlepoint has been back awhile, in the form of pop graphic prints by Jonathan Adler on throw pillows. The movie turns the spotlight back to the original patterns, elegant florals that covered French bergère and Victorian wood-framed chairs.
Trend twist: Decorating the doors. Whether with carvings, door knockers, leather or upholstry nails, doors make a strong statement in the film, and the same pair of doors helped us make the jumps from set to set.
Trend twist: Black velvet is back. Drape it on whatever you want, from sofas to your shoulders.
Bonus for George Costanza fans
Bonus for George Costanza fans
Alphabet Wagon
Trend twist: Say it with blocks. If you watch the scene between Konstantin and Kitty with blocks, you'll recognize a timid percursor to texting love anagrams and emoticons.
Have you seen the new Anna Karenina? What did you think? Let me know in the Comments section; none of my friends have seen it, and I'd love to chat about it!
Have you seen the new Anna Karenina? What did you think? Let me know in the Comments section; none of my friends have seen it, and I'd love to chat about it!