BOHEMIAN CHIC
BOHEMIAN CHIC INTERIORS
Bohemian Chic is a non-conformist, free-spirited expression of an individual's personal style. It loathes 'obvious consumption' and interiors created to impress.
1910
Bohemian Chic interiors were epitomized in the art-filled Parisian home of Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas. The uber-wealthy lezzie duo hosted renegade artists and writers at their salons, all of whom shared a passion for intellect, creativity and Alice's weed brownies. Meanwhile, Paris' nouveau riche flashed about town dining on caviar and champagne - ad nauseam...
Alice B. Toklas and Gertrude Stein in their drawing room surrounded by cubist, fauvist and expressionist artworks.
1970
Sixty years later, the rebelious daughter of French Count, Alain de la Falais, and 'muse' of Yves Saint Laurent, Loulou de la Falaise, hosted the jet-set in her cluttered, un-decorated Paris apartment - which was more focused on great conversations and comfort than pretense.
Loulou Falaise mix-matched apartment in Paris.
2010
Fast forward forty-five years to Iris Apfel snatching the front pages from formulaic designers with her bohemian non-conformist style, expressing blatant disregard for 'blending in.'
Instead, choosing to surround herself with eccentric pieces she's collected - not ones to impress the arrivistes.
Apfel's eclectic hodgepodge apartment in NYC.
This aesthetic has always been considered 'eccentric,' and still is to the bourgeois, but the jokes on the detractor, not the occupant...
21st. CENTURY BOHEMIAN
(Source: Isabella de Borchgrave)
In this multi-colored, mis-matched space, there's no over-tweaked 'scheme' only ethnic textiles and bright accents which make this room feel alive. The plain white walls allow the color more freedom.
(Source: Valhalla Blog)
A few hours at the Flea Market and Boom!
This place is crazy good, it feels clean and soft, like you wanna just fall into bed or curl up with a book.
(Source: Homeadore)
This persons art and books bring them comfort.
All of their treasures obfuscate the fact that the room in a dump, but the fun colors and eclectic art pieces make it feel rich.
(Source: Belgian designer, Lionel Jadot)
Instead of the pretentious "Alpine ski-lodge schtick" these guys decided to make the place cozy and user-friendly. The clever mish-mosh of furniture and accessories creates a welcoming look without usurping the view.
(Source: Lagattasultetto)
Got an old bathroom and no money? No worries mate!
Slap a bold color up, arrange all your granny's old pictures on the walls and you'll knock it out of the park.
Lesson: Don't spend money on something that's not worth it!
(Source: John Robshaw)
Mr. Boheme himself, Robshaw surrounds himself with art and textiles from his global travels creating the look of a well-lived life, not a schmancy-pants decorated look.
(Source: Designrulz)
This suburban kitchen expresses the occupants tastes with a myriad of baubles and mid-century modern - all displayed with restraint.
A little more stuff and it'll be filed under clutter.
(Source: Pinterest)
Get some colorful pillows, coupla funky old rugs and colorful lanterns and soon you'll be actin' a foo, smokin' some killa, drinkin' some milla...
(Source: Marjorie Kouras)
The cozy feeling is from the 'collected' pieces - all of which create a personalized feeling.
(Source: Muriel Brandolini)
'Asymmetrical' and 'catty-corner' are all bad words within the interior designers vernacular - but not in the Bohemian one.
I love the lighter feel, using articulated upholstery with luxurious fabrics is old-fashioned, but elegant.
(Source: William Frawley)
A beautiful example of "self-expression."
The warm, masculine feeling of time-worn furniture used with collections of art and accessories feels orderly because it's carefully placed, creating calm - not chaos.
(Source: Adelene Keeler Smith)
A free spirit pervades this room; the goofy, out-of-place elegance of the chandelier and upholstered bed juxtaposed with the milk-crate tables and vintage dresses hanging on the walls.
This screams "it's the stuff I like, so fuck off!"
(Source: Brazilian designer, Fabrizio Rollo)
Some people are pack-rats and others are incurable collectors; try being the latter, not the former. Although this room has a touch of 'Sanford & Sons' it's very much an expression of the designer/occupants love of furniture and decorations.
(Source: Brazilian designer, Fabrizio Rollo)
By culling through his possessions and using all blue items in one room it creates a less random feel, and still an undecorated look.
(Source: Marie Claire Maison)
Funky wall painting and kooky yard-sale-finds are all coordinated with one happy palette in this fun retro-mix.
(Source: Fabienne Collombel)
What if you're renting a house for the season somewhere and the patio is hideous? Haul your ass to the local Pier-1 and spend a few hundred dollars and you'll love using your zhuzhed up patio.
Lesson: Stay away from 'themes' and 'cutesy' (e.g.: all items with matching fish designs, or pastels - which looks feminine)
LEANER CLEANER BOHEMIAN
(Source: Marie Claire Maison)
Bohemian chic doesn't need to be cluttered with mementos, it's just not about adhering to the taste for ostentation.
This insane porch has the view-of-all-views and yet they have chosen a few comfy things instead of Ralph Lauren'ing it to death.
(Source: Marie Claire Maison)
Table for five, no chairs matching please.
A small European cottage with no budget knocks it out of the park with color, courage and self-esteem!
(Source: The Stock Blog)
I'm loving this quasi-edited urban space with art and books everywhere....it's so personal, you 'get' who lives here, not who their decorator is...
(Source: Hill)
Bohemian isn't a 'period' or a specific aesthetic...
Here, Swedish chairs, an Irish console, an Arts and Crafts table and a bunch of other items from many periods are mixed into a stylish ensemble. Nothing over-coordinated or twee.
(Source: Tony Espuch)
Cement floors are totally reactionary to all the schmaltzy tiles and marbles being used these days. Throw in an unfinished tub and some great sculpture, and whaddya have? Bo-chic!
(Source: Elle Decor)
A personal collection of furniture and accessories is brought together in this casually edited room. Nothing is precious, just cool.
(Source: Federicode Vera)
How can $3,000 worth of stuff look so amazing?
CONSISTENCY, EDITING and ORDER!
(Source: Maryra)
Kick around the flea markets in your area (links at bottom of page), find some fab-funky-finds and bring them home and use them sparingly!
(Source: Martyn Lawrence-Bullard)
The home of one of America's hottest interior designers.
His own home reflects his desire to live with an eclectic mish-mosh of things that he's found on his junkets, cozy and inviting.
FAUX-HEMIAN ROOMS
This, believe it or not, is a contemporary space...
It looks like Whistlers Mother should be sitting in there...
Wayyy too pretentious in its desire to look Bohemian.
Cute is never a good look, unless of course, your doing a nursery.
This just looks dumb, a small corner of an all-American porch with everything faux-Morrocan... feh!
I've never thought about something looking pretentious and spooky, but this looks like a setting for an Anne Rice novel.
Poor thing, was aiming for "The Sheik of Araby" and ended up with Disney's Aladdin...
Dafuqiszatsposedtobe?
I got a migraine just trying to figure out how to make fun of this hot mess...
A perfect example of Faux-hemian
The art, vintage furniture and accessories are all expensive collectors pieces. Therefore, their attempt to look 'bohemian' is a bust as you just can't pull that off when everything's expensive; some things needs to be humble to lower the tone and create atmosphere, they've created 'art-mosphere.'
Who thought this was a good idea??
It's just wayyy too cute; hopefully no straight dude lives here....
Clearly, the drug problems aren't over in Mexico...
Eso es un lío caliente bien loco!
Is this a ho-house in Lima Peru?
Everything's too color coordinated, too new and too store-bought looking...
Click on these pink links to flea-markets in the USA & France
HUFFINGTON POST LIST OF COUNTRY'S BEST FLEA MARKETS
BRIMFIELD FLEA MARKET
NEW YORK FLEA MARKETS
THE BROOKLYN NEW YORK "FLEA"
SEATTLE WASHINGTON FLEA MARKET
PARIS FLEA MARKETS
LOS ANGELES FLEA MARKETS
CHICAGO FLEA MARKETS
BOSTON FLEA MARKETS
This blog-post is about the Bohemian aesthetic, check out my post about the Minimalist aesthetic. Both are revolts against ostentation.
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