The Windows Challenge buzz is heating up as The New York Times called us yesterday to cover the drama, and we've all been told to show up at 8:30 on Monday morning to oversee the final installation. What else do you want to be doing in January?
We had originally come up with this idea with the people over at Elle Decor as a sort of Battle of the Bands, in which the blog would take on the old guard, but we had no idea that they'd rope in Eddie Ross, who has to be one of the more media friendly picks and not a typical Elle Decor designer. Above and below is a sneak peak of Eddie's window, his inspiration and his bio.
The Modern Woman
Designer: Eddie Ross for ELLE DECOR
Designed for: A media mogul and mother of two
Inspired by: The signature space shimmers with a mix of classic and modern, new and old, together with a balance of bold patterns and vibrant colors. A spatter-paint print, like stars in an endless sky, reflects the owner’s love of travel to wide-open spaces, and her passion for sparkling evenings at home entertaining friends and family.
Bio: A native of Greenwich, Connecticut and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Eddie began his career in television, making the move to publishing in editorial positions at House Beautiful and Martha Stewart Living. In 2008, after an appearance on Bravo’s Top Design, Eddie started a lifestyle company with partner Jaithan Kochar, offering styling services, event production, and an online boutique for vintage tabletop and giftware. They also produce a daily blog at www.eddieross.com with inspirational tips and information on how to decorate and entertain beautifully and affordably.
Here's more about Eddie's ELLE DECOR window.
Andy & Andrew's Vintage Modern
Before & After: MacBook Dye Project
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Deep Mountain Maple...
How To Cook a Steak: 15 Recipes for a Weeknight Valentine's Meal
How To Cook a Steak in the Oven
Comments (34)
keep us posted, rooting for eddie!
his star is shining and his style is doable, finally someone the masses can relate to
debra phillips
I loved Eddie on Top Design (by the way, what ever happened to that program?) but felt that Jonathan Adler was a little jealous of his talent and dissed him...but glad he has landed on his feet. However..........this window design seems better suited to a grandmother of two!!!
I'm not really impressed with this design either. I'm hoping the "spatter" wall looks better than it sounds.
I like the one that was posted yesterday better.
I'm not sure about the wall... And what's with all the symmetry?
O boy....I'm getting nervous! I hope that Eddie pulls this one off! This is so exciting. I just admire all of you!!!! You are extremely talented and I wish you the best!
yea...definitely worried about the walls, hoping it's not so royal blue & that it's not overly ornamented.
Eddie Ross and his Granny Chic. Seriously though, I'm curious to see the final product. He has proven himself a capable designer.
I miss my Top Design. Thank goodness the new season of Project Runway starts tonight. And thank goodness they're back in NY (no offense LA).
"...this window design seems better suited to a grandmother of two!"
I know this woman:
She's 10 years older than she looks.
She's on her 2nd marriage & her sons are in their mid-teens: Her 2nd son's birth was scheduled around the Board Meeting of her company.
She plots business acquisitions with her top management and lawyers while sipping Earl Grey tea from Bernardaud china.
Photos of her family and pet dogs are on the credenza behind her desk in sterling Tiffany frames next to her various business awards.
She wears St John, Pearls and a Cartier Tank watch, carries a Fendi Bag, a Blackberry, an Hermes Scarf, and the key to her Mercedes (which she NEVER parks herself - her junior assistant does that...)
She doesn't have housekeys - She has a live-in Nanny and a housekeeper who travel with the family between their 3 homes.
What you see above isn't her living room - It's the half of her office opposite her desk and view of the city.
Hi everyone!
Thanks for the props! Thanks for the digs! But if you want to see the updated rendering instead of this outdated one, head to my blog at http://www.eddieross.com.
Eddie
@ bepsf: haHAha... Nice!
bepsf -- you nailed it. But I think it's Chanel rather than St. John's. The room has a French vibe.
bepsf's on a roll. I would like to consort with bepsf's butch writer smoking behind Window #1.
Lisa--
French vibe - Yes...
...but after Lagerfeld took over in the 80's, he made Chanel too outre, flashy and inappropriate for business -
- so she moved to St John.
I also love Eddie Ross, his Granny Chic-ness and "Top Design." This room, I'm not crazy about the rendering (checked it out on the blog) and the model, complete w/ her Louboutins and Birkin, looks a bit to "Miami" for the photo - but I digress. The wallpaper is just very overwhelming, I'm just hoping that the actual room turns out to be alot better. I just love Eddie and his CT-preppiness :)
Wow. What a difference (even in a rendering) accessories make.
Good luck, Eddie!
And fun to see the install of my window from last year!
To paraphrase Oscar Wilde's last words..."Either that painting goes or I do!" That quasi-quilt for folks with vision problems just does not cut it. Ms. Success can do better than that. I'd prefer a faux window treatment with an ariel view of the park or some skyscapers to what ER has chosen. Put the window on light timers to register day and night for kicks ...the crowds will love it.
The blue wall is not impressive! it almost looks incomplete and the dark blue square lines on the wall are not hype and happening. Could've done better. I think he should have added more colour. ER could have added furniture with more character...not a good attempt.
@Bepsf -- Uh oh. The artwork and graphic pillows change everything:
I now think we're looking at a Brown alumna with a trust fund, married to a hedge fund manager, with twins in Dalton kindergarten. She either owns her own PR firm or designs handbags, and lives on the Upper East Side (though she gutted the classic 6 to feel more like a loft). She has an iPod (not a Blackberry), wears Tory Burch (a close personal friend), and is redecorating the Bridgehampton house that was featured in Domino two years ago because she's tired of seeing her wallpaper EVERYWHERE.
Big thanks to Eddie for his creativity and hard work.
I'm thrilled the ELLE DECOR staff and I didn't have to put together that window—it's not easy—and we can't wait to see Eddie's design next week. Good luck, Eddie--
It will be interesting to see the room completed. I am curious though about the room where Eddie was photographed. The combination of white and orange is refreshing. Any more info or pics?
Admittedly I'm not a modern mother of two or anyone's mother, but that room would drive me to a nervous breakdown. Too busy and too much clashing color for my taste. Don't get me started on the wallpaper. Sorry Eddie.
Why not just create half a room and reflect it back in a mirror? This rooms is incredibly symmetrical -- seems really...uninspired. I loved Eddie on Top Design but I'm not feeling this one.
Call me a goober, but I think it is VERY cool that Margaret Russell posted on this thread. And LOVED that she acknowledged that this assignment is no walk in the park.
Sign me--
Starstruck and Longtime Fan
Hey Eddie, I cant wait to see the end result, I know its hard for some people to visualize the finished project, but from my vantage point, you guys have done an awesome job. I cant wait to see the finished product.
Many Hug,
Kerry,
aka. Big Daddy
Eddie!!!
The pictures look amazing. We can not wait to see them in person. As usual, your taste and vision is amazing! ;)
much love, Karin & Andy...
Can't wait to see the room! Love the mix of new and old...those chairs look fabulous
xx
annie
Not sure what all the Eddie hype is about. Might be a great guy, but after seeing his work in Rooms With a View and this window, not impressed.
What fun to watch the metamorphosis of the window. You and Jaithan are so very talented. Good luck in the contest.
abc oroville.
I'm with bepsf and Lisa. The only thing I will add is the woman has bionic eyes. She can spot the perfect vintage piece through a store window (on the back shelf) at midnight, window shopping after dinner. She is so organized that her assistant has the shopkeeper on the phone and the treasure delivered to her house by 10 a.m.
She wears St Johns and Channel, as with her selection in home decor she understands that each piece stands on its own.
Eddie Ross- you are one talented and creative genius! Brilliant! When can I move into this room?! Good luck! VOTE FOR EDDIE!!!!!! xx
This is exciting!
I love it wild, this is fun, make sure the kids do not climb that shelf!!!
Go, Eddie! I vote for you!
XX
Victoria
A close look at the pictures on Eddie's blog and the comments under each picture...the story the pics and the room comes to life...amazing and wonderful job
..xx.. Carol Ann
I cannot believe that anyone would call this room "Granny Chic". My thirteen year old went nuts for the wallpaper. She said, "You can tell it's a grown up room, but that wallpaper is serious rock star business!"
What mother wouldn't love to hear that? :)
Eddie and Jaithan are sure to win.