Here I am enjoying a Sazerac cocktail on the rocks at Galatoire's in New Orleans. Friday lunch on the ground floor at Galatoire's is a Nola tradition. Don't miss the souffle potatoes with Bearnaise sauce. Divine. My diet started today. I look like "un vrai cochon." Oink.
Gang:
I am just back from a fabulous week in New Orleans. I am crazy for the Crescent City, and I think that I might just move down there in 2012 for a few months. I’ll rent an apartment in the French Quarter and see how it goes. Anyhow, I drove down to Nola and back, a long, 21-hour drive each way.
When I walked in last evening from my tiresome voyage, John was busy embellishing the wallpaper on our dining room ceiling.
There’s a lot going on in that sentence, n’est-ce pas?
Our dining ceiling "before" John decided to embellish with wild abandon. The wallpaper is from Laura Ashley. Laura Ashley?! Yes, that tried-and-true brand that once made Holly Hobby-style dresses with floral patterns back in the 80s.
Let’s break it down:
Wallpaper on the ceiling.
Well, you already know that we love nothing more than papering what we call the Fifth Wall.
And then embellishing wallpaper?
Yes, blogerati, we like to take wallpaper and give it even more oomph.
So what exactly was Mr. Loecke doing on the stepladder as I wrapped myself in the blissful arms of a vodka and San Pellegrino Limonata cocktail, my 17 Chester Court go-to libation of late? P.S. I am just crazy for San Pellegrino Limonata packaging, but more on stocking your bar later. I can’t always write about liquor and mixers.
Back to wallpaper: John was applying fabulous rhinestone paisley and flower trim that we had picked up for pennies in the bazaars of India to the ceiling with a glue gun and listening to the fabulous music of the late Amy Winehouse.
Does this sound like a typical Sunday evening activity around your home?
The fabulously colorful embellishments that John and I picked up by the handful at various bazaars in India last fall. Paisleys and florals and starbursts, oh my!
Naturally, I plunked down and gave directions, whether they were wanted or not.
“You missed a spot.”
Or.
“Two degrees to the left, yes, right there.”
Says John, rolling his eyes: “Embellishing wallpaper adds further dimensionality and further visual interest. Punch, pow, pizzazz!”
Notes Jason, “I need another cocktail. Poor Amy Winehouse, so tragic. Remember that time you almost ran her over on Houston Street?”
True story. John almost killed Amy Winehouse a few years back as she was illegally crossing Houston Street in the East Village. She cursed us out and then scampered off into the night. She was whippet thin and had the full-on beehive hairdo and Cleopatra eye makeup. And cursed like a stevedore.
Here's our dining room ceiling after I lent my talents at giving direction to the placement of the embellishments. My role as Creative Director at John Loecke, Inc. is to creatively direct, so that's what I do.
Tags: Amy Winehouse, Before and After, dining room, DIY, Embellishments, New Orleans, Wallpaper
You guys are awesome. I read almost every one of your blog posts and find them very, very enjoying. I just read this one to Carla and she said, “Did my cousin really almost run over Amy Winehouse?” You learn something new everyday. Keep up the good work and the great writing.
In my next life I want to come back as both of you. You guys have the best life, and the most fun (my idea of fun anyway).
I share your love of New Orleans. I’ve been absolutely obsessed with the city since I first visited decades ago. If you haven’t read it already read it you *must* read Anne Rice’s “Feast of All Saints” — it offers a great look into the Creole society of the French Quarter in the nineteenth century.
Lovely post gentlemen and yes, so sad about Amy’s passing. Although an already stunning exit, years in the making, I wonder what a collision with your car would have done for her? Perhaps several weeks in the hospital could have given her some time off from her “hobby” although they probably would have kept her amply stoned. The story could be revised to, “How you nearly saved Amy Winehouse’s life”.
Anyway, back to the bedazzled Snore-a Ashley…. Oh! another woman whose life met a tragic end…. Yes, your nifty project… it’s fun and creative, Bollywood meets Princess Diana. Yeesh, another tragic end. What doe this all mean?
You have given me an idea for all things L.A.. Maybe the now vintage dresses could use a little glue-gunning as well. That leads to an interesting question, “What wouldn’t benefit from a little hot glue really?” I can hear your answer. Trust me.
As you know, I would never do, let alone think, of a project like this. My glue gun is reserved for holiday items, wreathes and such. That, however, does not lessen my enthusiasm for your passionate approach to decorating. In the words of your one-letter-less cousin and the father of liberalism, John Locke, “I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts. ”
Your actions always spell F-U-N. Again, I am thrilled to see your work and to read your blog.
p.s. Clever (n’est-ce pas?) tagging the post with the day’s top news. I’m curious to see how many new readers it will bring? Maybe you should try rub-on sailor tattoos for a wall as an homage?
xx
Also (because I didn’t write enough already), if you are on FB, please “like” me.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/JP-Warren-Interiors/215753515111464