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Mixing high and low with Katie Stassi

April 29th, 2009 · 23 Comments

I picked up a copy of PaperCity Magazine at Cafe Express (their black bean soup is delicious!) over the weekend, and enjoyed the coverage of Katie Stassi’s latest interior design project. As a former resident of Houston, Stassi still works with clients in the area, including a young family in the prestigious River Oaks neighborhood whose “new” 1930s home needed a revival. Stassi describes her style as, “A minimalist with a discerning eye for the finer things in life but used sparingly in a traditional yet modern way that is light hearted, sophisticated, youthful and fun.”

Katie Stassi River Oaks project in PaperCity magazine

What I appreciate the most about her work is Stassi’s ability to mix high-end pieces with items that are more within our reach. She may pair some silk drapes from West Elm with an Oushak rug from Kuhl-Linscomb or use a Pottery Barn lamp in a vignette of family heirlooms and expensive antiques. Overall her spaces always seem very approachable and delicately edited.

Katie Stassi River Oaks project in PaperCity magazine

This hallway vignette appeals to me where Stassi combined a white storage case from West Elm, a crystal lamp from Target (source is similar to this version), and a series of magazine covers displayed in silver frames (perhaps IKEA’s reslig frames would work here). The homeowners were fortunately related to Dolores Hawkins, a former Ford model who graced the covers of magazines such as Mademoiselle and Vogue, incidentally giving them access to vintage covers that were later photocopied and framed. Similar magazine covers from as early as the 1910s are available at the Conde Nast Store but Tamara from Get It Girl Style recently suggested to frame Chanel ads or photo spreads found in magazines today. One of my favorites from last year was the Elle magazine spread of Jennifer Lopez seen with notable designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Stefano Gabbana, and Donatella Versace. Perhaps a photocopied version would take away the glossy sheen and seem more realistic.

Katie Stassi cabanaLauren from Material Girls has an even more in-depth view of Stassi’s River Oaks project and Paloma of La Dolce Vita spotted Stassi’s Houston residence on the MLS when she sold it last year to move to New Orleans. If you like Stassi’s style then I’m sure you will enjoy their posts too.

Image credits: PaperCity magazine, IKEA, Target, West Elm, Elle, and La Dolce Vita

Tags: For The Home

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