Long ago, in a far away time, I bought my acid washed, peg legged pants from Esprit. Now I buy them at Urban Outfitters. In case you haven’t noticed, the crazy 80s are back in a big way. Of course the wide world of interior design isn’t immune to the vagaries of trends, which seem to progress through the art-fashion-pillow life cycle until they die a gasping, lonely death on the clearance shelves of TJ Maxx. Short lived though they may be, I like following trends — although I have to say I felt a little green at the gills when I first saw the new slew of statement making brights and strong shapes. The 80s were not kind to me, with its broccoli bangs and crop topped warfare, and those linebacker sized shoulder pads that required nothing less than an absolutely unwavering sense of self confidence. Should I admit that confidence was not a quality I was born with? I still have to work for it. Every day.
Maybe my hard work is paying off, because I’m starting to move beyond my own crippled sense of nostalgia as I approach this second wave of 80s inspired wares. I’m even setting my jaw and looking deep into the neon heart of the past, to primary sources like Italian designer Ettore Sottsass, who is looking more and more like a straight up genius when viewed through my new confidence goggles.
Ettore Sottsass
One part Beetlejuice, one part Bauhaus, and one part boozy good time, Sottsass set the tone to angular and primary as founding member of the Memphis design movement. Though his work should never be confused with the current, flimsy iterations of post modern furnishings typically found at Eurway, they do take up some majormajor visual space. As even Sottsass acknowledged, a little goes a long way.
Though I can finally look at his high Memphis work without enduring painful flashbacks, I was still jazzed — and relieved — to see this house he designed near the end of his long life:
Working into his 80s, Sottssass’ mellowed out architectural effort looks to the past while also giving me something to look forward to. Within it, I see the seeds of a more mature Memphis inspired design aesthetic. And I like it. A lot.
Spare but warm, angular but not wildly so, this house is eminently livable. And of course the acres of glass, stunning reflecting pools, and luxe finishes don’t hurt. It’s obviously the refinement of a life’s work.
Sottsass died at the tail end of 2007. I suspect that the scope of his influence is only beginning to surface, but don’t think that other designers haven’t already begun mining. Kelly Wearstler’s beach house and Avalon Hotel have obvious smart references to Sottsass’ late work. Expect to see a lot more of the Memphis master, but not the kind that demands confidence.
The kind that inspires it.
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Wow that exterior is AHMazing!
And I bet those blue granite (?) tiles cost a bajillion dollars per square foot. Pretty, but very costly to mimic!
Being a child (OK – teen) of the 1980s, I have too many flashbacks when I see Memphis.
I am diggin’ that blue stone in the worst way.
some of this i love: the architectural views from outdoors, the wood, the glass, the lighting.
some of this i hate: ALL of the furniture, and the flooring + giant salt and pepper shakers in the last two pics make me want to scream.
This is such a well-written post and I think you are dead on about his influence. But I got stuck way back at your reference to Esprit. I used to spend hours poring over their oversized catalogs – remember those? Good times.
Like Ally, I too was stuck at the Esprit reference! These interiors do not necessarily scream eighties to me, b/c for me the eighties was a lot of mauve and gray and awful Aztec “things”. This, while not really my aesthetic, seems much more sophisticated than whatever I was exposed to in that crazy decade! Love …”inspires confidence” so well written!
broccoli bangs-too funny! i love the last (4) images-the amazing floors, can’t complain. totally just bought my skinny white jeans from the gap last night and i love. the 80′s are back but much better…can you imagine if you saved your slim jeans from the 80′s-just not right and they wouldn’t fit!
Alison, hello and welcome!
Oh how I wish my 80s jeans would fit, but I was 10 so not much chance of that…
Ally, I grew up in a tiny town, but whenever we got to go on a big trip to Dallas, the first store I headed for was Esprit. I still chuckle to myself whenever I see their stuff in stores today.
Erin, this is a brilliantly written post! (not that your others aren’t, but this one stuck out to me.) Kudos.
Love that crazy wood staircase.
Oh man, I think i love you. Sometimes I go a month before checking in, but on a rainy saturday morning, you are my sunshine. I love your whit, and sometimes cheezy humor mixed in with truly inspiring content. Sometimes I read this and feel guilty for not paying! You have my heart! XO Jill