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- Nate Berkus

Cicero, one of Rome’s greatest orators, just might have been onto something when he proclaimed;

A room without books is a body without soul.”

Like an old favorite blanket, books provide comfort and lend personality to a room, and the many ways we display our well-read ‘friends’ are as uniquely individual as the people who collect and love these bound treasures.

A display of books in a living space can be as simple and seemingly random as stacks on a floor or, as unique and thought out as repurposing them to create tables, vignettes, even framing worn covers like works of art to hang in a place of honor.

The editors at A Life Designed have pulled together a handful of inspirational examples of ways books have been used in home decor in hopes it sparks some ideas for you as you create your own displays.

Remember, whatever your tastes and end goal, just let your imagination run wild and have fun as you come up with ways to use books to add some economical, (and beautiful), design pizzaz to your home. Happy reading and decorating!

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The WSJ once described the Rough Luxe Design movement as; “…at first glance, “a study in contradictions, an attempt to reconcile the antique or the just plain old with the contemporary, the accumulated with the newly acquired, the decrepit with the pristine. It’s artful dissonance.” We call it a beautiful mash-up of weathered and worn items that tell a story and keep secrets, mixed with the contemporary, adding novelty and surprise.

Whatever you call it, A Life Designed will soon be your ‘go-to’ source for all things Rough Luxe! Above is another advance sneak peek at  just a few of the items you’ll find in new our online store coming in July.

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Sometimes, after a long hard day in the salt mines, the only thing a tired mind & body needs, (craves), is some quiet downtime in that one special, comfy chair… the throne of the home. Now, if said chair happens to wrap you in high style, so much the better!

We’ve collected seven knockout chair choices for you to ponder, some, icons of furniture design history. Beware however, as you start shopping for these beauties you may be in for some sticker shock. Originals of some of these historic pieces such as the Eames lounge or Corbusier could have you dipping into the kid’s college fund to pay for them. Luckily, with a little online research you can find some high-quality reproductions at more manageable prices. Now that’s something we can sink into! 

1.) Le Grand Confort Spéciale

Few designers have been as influential as Le Corbusier. Primarily an architect, Le Corbusier believed that the correct application of modern materials and building methods could deliver better living conditions, and ultimately a better quality of life for the residents of crowded cities. His enduring design influence proves without a doubt that he was on the right track.

2.) The Barcelona Chair

When it comes to the big names of twentieth century design, they don’t come much bigger than Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Aside from designing iconic furniture,  Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was a hugely influential architect, and a dedicated and passionate educator. Of all of his furniture, we love the Barcelona chair the most… The perfect choice for loft-style, urban living.

3.) 1950s Leather Copenhagen Chair – (Egg Chair)

The Egg Chair was originally designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1958. While originals may be hard to come by, several retailers have some great takes on this fantastic chair such as Restoration Hardware’s version shown above.

4.) Eames Style Lounge Chair & Ottoman

From the dynamic design duo Charles and Ray Eames, comes this enduring and iconic lounge chair, a true masterpiece in furniture design.

5.) Chesterfield Leather Chair

All hail the mighty Chesterfield, the more worn and distressed the better!

6.) RL1 Chair

Taking its cues from the Bauhaus era, this modern marvel is available in the Ralph Lauren Home Collection.

7.) The Aviator

Go all ‘fly boy’ in this man cave worthy, metal-clad chair from Restoration Hardware.

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Vintage techniques + modern ingenuity combine to create this charming John Mayer music video.

Utilizing a pre-cinema technique called ombro cinema, director Virgilio Villoresi brings to life the whimsical illustrations of Virginia Mori in this highly creative music video for the John Mayer song Walt Grace’s Submarine Test January 1967. Isn’t it amazing what can happen when creative minds come together?

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The worker bees have been busy at A Life Designed carefully curating amazing Rough Luxe Design-inspired items to offer in our brand new online store set to debut in just a few short weeks. Pictured above are a few of the newest additions and the list is growing everyday.

You can learn more about our new exciting venture here; Big News! ‘ALD’ is Growing! And be sure to check back for updates as we get ready for take off. This is going to be BIG fun!

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Anyone who follows A Life Designed even a little knows we have a big love affair going on with the bicycle, especially the slow and steady beach cruiser variety. With summer in full swing, more and more people are dusting off their trusty steeds and taking to the pavement and cobblestone, and if the cyclists pictured here are any indication, they are doing so in fine fashion. The ten biking enthusiasts shown here from all over the world, captured by the lens of Scott Schuman for the Sartorialist, give new meaning to the phrase ‘riding in style.’

(all images – Scott Schuman/The Sartorialist)

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For this, our latest installment of Men of Style, a more apt title might be, ‘Real’ Men of Style. Often we find examples of men who have carved out a unique look and style for themselves on the silver screen or from the pages of the tabloids and fashion rags. Yet sometimes, men who pack sartorial star power are right under our noses in our very own backyards. Such is the case with Vince Brown, an incredibly talented musician residing in the Pacific Northwest who has refined both his guitar technique and personal style to a fine art.    

A well-known and highly respected musician, Vince has been performing and teaching acoustic music on guitar, tenor & 5-string banjo & uke in a variety of styles for over 30 years. Adept at a multitude of styles; 30s jazz, Swing, Old TImey, Hawaiian, early C&W and more, Vince’s personal style is simply a natural outgrowth and reflection of the music he loves so much.

Looking more at home in the pages of a Mark Twain novel or steamy Parisian jazz clubs of the 1930s than the small town of Olympia, WA where he lives, Vince rocks a Fedora and pocket watch like nobody’s business. Now, add to this the fact that Vince also tools around on an amazing retro motorcycle complete with sidecar and, well… Clearly this man is playing on a whole ‘nother fashion level!

If you ever find yourself in the state capitol of Washington, do yourself a favor and catch a Vince Brown set. Truly one of the nicest, most talented and stylish guys you’ll ever meet!

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Previous A Life Designed ‘Men of Style’;

Mickey Drexler

Brunello Cucinelli

Chet Baker

Redefining 50+