Bridge For Design Spring 2014 Bridge For Design Spring 2014 Issue | Page 52

DESIGN TRENDS | view point

CLASSICS OF TODAY
New traditionalists have fallen in love with colour and vibrancy says Lillian August

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lways fashion conscious, the ‘new’ traditionalist
has respect for history but demands that
traditional design continually be re-interpreted,
designs that look to the classics but stay in tune
with the times. A symbol of graceful living, traditional design
is also a symbol of success. It began with Queen Victoria, the
first Royal to publicly embrace the idea of home, therefore
giving the home greater social value than more artificial
court life. It has evolved to what we might call the new era
of the interior designer whose customers demand incredible
rooms.
Early women of design, Nancy Lancaster, Elsie de Wolfe
and Sister Parrish, among other greats, opened the door for
the interior designers of today. Often, their most significant
work was experienced by the public in elegant hotels,
memorable ballrooms and lobbies.
Still today, stellar discerning customers are captivated by
this legacy. I take great pride in celebrating this legacy.
My challenge as a designer is to retain the essence of
classicism and at the same time update it with cleaned-up,
not too fussy, statements. At Lillian August, we strive to be a
part of the genre of unforgettable designers that have created
a unique vocabulary of beautiful and timely fashion looks
creating rooms that tell a story or at the very least pay tribute
to renowned American designers.
I enjoy settings where shades of the past can come to life
with surprising, intense colour and excitement; where we can
combine elegant European fabrics and the best of traditional
furnishings, where furnishings and lifestyle settings reflect
the best of interiors, many international in flair.
Colour gets me out of bed in the morning and the
opportunity to work with pure colour never fails to inspire.
I always enjoy seeing designers embrace fashion and
colour in all areas of their lives. Often they don’t realise just

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Bridge for Design Spring 2014

how much of this inspiration comes from 50 years of strong,
as well as subtle, colour useage. We love colours such as
vibrant greens, rich reds and tuxedo black and white which
create drama and glamour. Fresh an