We LOVE Estelle. Glam, fashionable and very modern, she seems to be channeling some glorious golden age of disco singer in both sound and look. The interiors in the video for American Boy are definitely worth a look for the new way to do b&w...
DTV: Brit Disco Design
Where Design Meets Video
...traditional with a twist.
The sofa featured in the video is uber-traditional, ornate, over-the-top frilly but because it is done up all in white, it stays modern and fresh looking.
To set set off the sofa, the wall decor is simply a single (totally gutsy if it was in your apartment) black splash of glossy paint. Obviously thrown and allowed to splatter and run, this is NOT a safe look but one that really works - even outside the confines of the music video world. The juxtaposition between the glam perfection of the sofa and the punk aesthetic of the wall "art" is what makes both the furniture and paint job work.
Later in the video, there is a glimpse of a floral wall paper, black on white in a large scale repeat. It is pretty and slightly retro. This screen shot is also about the contrasts and textures that would be interesting in a chic apartment as well - the flat pattern of the wallpaper with the shiny leather banquette and the even shinier satin of the jacket on the guy.
As the song winds down, Estelle appears in front of a very traditional wallpaper and uplostery motif, a baroque black and white pattern.
As the camera pulls back, we see that it is presented in a very modern way, a single stripe of pattern on a white wall, creating a graphic statement, especially with the round rug. This would work in an entryway or anywhere you needed to add a strong visual on a budget (one roll will do!).
Watch the video!
...and find out more about Estelle right here.
Comments (11)
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no more celebrities please.
view *heather leaf*'s profile
I always thought that this was a beautifully decorated space when watching the video, it's one of my favorites. I don't see what's wrong with posting celebrities, considering this isn't her home (I'd probably side with *heather leaf* if it was), but a set.
view amelie de lune 's profile
Screw the wallpaper, where can I find those American Boys?! They don't look like that where I am :-/
view nutterbuddy's profile
I LOVE this video...which led to my loving the song. Video first, song second, hehe.
view Maybert's profile
The "guy" in the shiny satin jacket sitting next to her is John Legend. Love him. Love the decor in the video too!
view The Other Tiffany's profile
I knew I was enamored with this video for a reason other than it's catchy and John Legend and Kanye are hotties.
I concur with amelie de lune -- if it were her house, sure. But it's a video and the chances that it's not even her vision are fairly high. Did she approve it? Yes, but did she conceive it? Doubtful. That's what directors are for.
I'm bookmarking that single-strip of wallpaper with a round rug idea. It makes a statement.
http://embritadesign.blogspot.bom
view EmmieB's profile
ps - just looking at the stills has gotten that song stuck in my head.
view EmmieB's profile
I love the idea of a paint splash in lieu of a headboard.
view KristinaXI's profile
I don't get why we can't talk about design if a "Celebrity" is involved?
view modernguy's profile
KristinaXI- OH MY GOSH BRILLIANT!!!! Paint splatter as a headboard in a really sexy loft would be so beautiful. I love love love the idea!
view marlamischief1's profile
Does anybody know who the artist of that paint splash is? Or if it was something done for the video and has no author? I fell totally in love with that painting, and I'm trying to find out who did it...
view Sulky's profile