apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I like her closet, but she's got too many black clothes!
Oh and, she's cool, I like her a lot.

Wow... A picture of yourself as a screensaver?

A picture of oneself on oneself's desktop ?

Wow...A screensaver of yourself?

eddie p:I think her closet goes further back to the left where the majority of her other non-black/dark clothing resides. Funny, as I think I normally see her wearing colourful outfits on the show. Must be her city life and evening wear section.

i don't know who she is, but she sure is narcissistic!

The strangest thing is that she's in a state of half-undress in all of the photos. She seems to have plenty of black pants in her closet - or does she only lounge in togas and scarves at home? And is that a large semi-nude painting of herself over her bed? Apparently painted by a 12 year-old? Odd.

The house looks nice, though.

wow a bad painting of yourself over your bed?

Um, is your crush as large as the one she has on herself? The gigantic portrait of herself over the bed? And that screen saver on her computer........words fail me.

Great minds...

Padma's daily affirmation (by way of computer wallpaper): "I, Padma of the Lakshmi's, love myself, love all of my lovely , loverly, self". I am now getting myself an indoor swing, and have gone straight, all thanks go to lovely Padma.

lol and what's with the swing?

she has very good self esteem. I still can't bring myself to hang the photograph Gerard Malanga took of me because it is so bad. Maybe I will use Padma's self portrait as inspiration.

If I looked like her I'd put painting and shrines to myself everywhere too.

Let's pull back the hatorade here...the photos were obviously art directed by Harper's Bazaar, the painting was created and likely gifted by her her longtime friend Francesco Clemente (noted in the article). I don't have an explanation for the desktop, as it does seem strange, but if I was to guess, I'd say the Harper's team put it on there to stay in theme with her other posed appearances.

Yes, my crush is panoramic!

There is a difference between self esteem and *giving the impression* that one is being full of oneself, nae ?

Ugh, Padma-fu! What I see here is the home of a woman in love with herself and her image. The cheescake-posed photos are just annoying. What is there to admire here?

there's something about her that irks me.

the painting above the bed looks like francesco clemente whos' work i admire. maybe in another setting i could appreciate the portrait a little more.

humina humina humina.

Just about everyone I know has pictures of themselves all over their houses and on their computers -- pictures from their wedding, with family and friends, etc. So Padma isn't part of a family right now, and she has pictures of herself.

She recently got a divorce. Maybe she's trying to rebuild her self-image as a unit of one.

Maybe she just likes to look at herself because she's gorgeous, and being gorgeous is a huge part of her work.

Who cares.

It's a very brave thing for anyone to open up their home for scrutiny, let alone someone as beautiful and put together as she is. I like how open and relaxed she spoke about not using a designer, her feelings on marriage and kids, etc... I think the swing is an amazing thing and very bohemian. Not for everyone but represents Padma as a unique individual.

"Great minds"? Um, not so much...

Sorry to the haters, but the former Mrs. Salman Rushdie is absolutely stunning. More power to her. And if I had a famous painter friend, I'd display anything he or she painted for me.

And seriously, if this place was the home of some anonymous Brooklyn-ite, you'd all be oohing and ahhing.

And Harpers Bazaar is primarily a beauty and fashion mag, no? What, you want to see her in sweats?

I don't know who she is but I love her. I get that its art-directed and I don't see her as being so into herself although if I looked like her, maybe I would be into myself!

But I admit, this is pretty much how I lounge around in my space, recently waxed and draped in the finest threads...

(I do have a nude painting of myself but only because I haven't yet asked anyone to pose nude for me to paint)

delight in the guilty pleasures of narcissism!!

All I want is that old store display case for jewelry! Fabulous. I like her on Top Chef. She doesn't come off so full of herself, despite her me-themed decor.

I have a pretty nice painting of myself as a child, and can't figure out any way to display it that won't make me look narcissistic. AT, start a discussion on this topic please! I'd love to hear opinions but don't want to hijack.

It sure is tough being rich...

Wow, this woman is freakish and strange!

Wow beautiful house, but a tad more egotistic than I wouldve expected. I understand a "self" screensaver, but only if it's a homemade shot that means something....not a posed naked photo of oneself! And a painting of yourself? Blech. Unless it's by an amazing artist (which it clearly isn't), I'm not digging it.

It looks like she's all about herself... but the place does look nice. I love her on Top Chef, so I'm a bit partial!

the posing is what gets to me. so "natural."

yeah right.

I would do awful awful wonderful things to her involving that swing.

Not really my style, but I wish my closet looked that good.

catty, catty! have you all never opened a magazine before? you see, in magazines, when they take pictures, they ask people to pose and wear interesting clothes and control the set-- these aren't photos from someone's flickr account. and whether you like the style of the painting or not, clemente is quite a well known painter and hanging a portrait of onself (even a nude one) is hardly a new concept (it used to be the norm). plus, it's in her bedroom-- her dinner guests won't be looking right at it while conversing with her. and I'm sure that screensvaer was intentionally put there, just like the hermes bag and the scarf.

let's repress our inner teenage girls, shall we?

Shit, If I looked like Padma, I would never stop looking at myself. My home would be a giant mirrored cube.

I wish my closet contained her goods!

Usually, I'm in total agreement with you, Gregory, but alas, the Padma crush escapes me. I love everything about Top Chef except her attitude. It follows that she has odes to herself throughout her home. Ugh. She IS gorgeous though.

I like the painting. It would be great if you had a famous artist friend do that for you.

Not super crazy about the apartment's decor, looks like it has really good bones, love the exposed brick although I would like to have seen more of that shine through. But this was for a fashion magazine not an interiors.

I agree with all that's been said pointing out that this was all a shoot for *Harper's Baazar.*

And in regards to the painting directly: it's not like she has a photo-realistic nude cheesecake shot of herself above her bed. It's quite stylized (the resemblance wouldn't even be as obvious even if the magazine hadn't had her sit directly underneath it in a matching gown) ...and it's by a famous painter! What are you supposed to do with something like that? Keep it in your closet?

Granted, I probably would have left the nipples out myself but not everyone all over the world is as conservative as we are in Boston either...

I don't think there's anything wrong with having a painting of yourself, especially a somewhat abstract one done by a friend. But the screensaver is nuts. Let's hope Bazaar did that.

I have no idea who this person is, having never seen Top Chef and really not into TV, but the shot of her on the swing smacks of Playboy, not Harper's Bazaar. That being said, it's a pretty nice space, if you can get over the resident.... and this site is really all about the space, right?

Um, perhaps the photo was chosen directly for the photoshoot? Maybe her attire was as well? C'mon people, think. I *love* what I've seen because it's a well styled home that actually looked lived in. It's easy on the eyes and doesn't feel kitschy or contrived.

-unless your ego is too small, big egos should not bother you-.

she is fine as a muthaf#$%#

I'm patiently awaiting the home photo shoots featuring hot half naked men.

@ plumeria
Hold on before you laugh without reason.
Swings were and are an integral part of Southern Indian 'traditional' homes. Modern homes don't allow as much space, but even then some people try to fit one in if they can afford it. If you want an afternoon of bliss, try enjoying the play of sun and shade sitting on that swing while enjoying a lovely cup of tea or madras coffee perhaps.

I don't really understand why the Padma Laxmi had to show up in every shot of her home, but she does look good and she is all about promoting her fashion these days. Having said that, I think she has the guts to be herself when very few women I know do. So, kudos to Padma!

"I don't really understand why the Padma Laxmi had to show up in every shot of her home"

Because she looks like Padma Lakshmi.

OK, my first thought was: "Cool, she's got an Indian swing..."
My second thought, which came tripping in before I even finished thinking the word "swing", was: "Huh. How kinky."

Just me?

I want the orange dress she's wearing.

I've met her. She's quite unpleasant. I'm not surprised by all the self-adoration. Gack!

Wow. I liked her a lot until I read that article. That whole business about how the first host couldn't live up to the crush the producers had on her --- ugggh. Not how it's done, Padma. It is NEVER cool to discuss first choice versus second choice when referring to your own casting in the press. Ever. Where the hell was your publicist during this fiasco?

Pack your knives.

The pose on the swing is absurd.

The painting is the only redeeming feature in the place.

"And a painting of yourself? Blech. Unless it's by an amazing artist (which it clearly isn't), I'm not digging it."

Francesco Clemente. Yep. Clearly no talent there. Honestly, people with no taste shouldn't be allowed to comment on design blogs.

If I was as hot as she was... I would want to look at myself too :)

It's not her fault she's that good looking, i mean seriously... some people today fail to look into a mirror and realize...

wtf, I am not doing my beauty justice...

If this woman is at all attractive, it's in a 1970's teenage boy's fantasy kind of way.
Also, her narcissism is icky.

I actually kind of liked her.... until I read this piece.

Padma lost me when she was promoting her cookbook on the Today show that she had "tasted" everyone of the recipes. Okay? As the author of the book, wouldn't you have done more than tasted the recipes that you are panning off as yours? Too much.

I was so inspired. I just took off my clothes and wrapped myself in a dishcloth. I am lounging in front of a mirror mounted below my high school graduation photo. Soon I will hire a failed art school student to do a totally crap painting of myself. I feel totally totally fabulous.
Does anyone out there know where I can get a cheap safe for the family jewels? Er...I mean my jewels.

PLEASE apartment therapy...did you run out of inspired homes that real people live in? I mean really. A huge closet and a bunch of color coordinated books. Wowy wow wow wow.

Both she and her home is even more enticing if the viewer possesses a sense of humor.

She's interesting - I must say it's easy to have a preset grudge against anyone that beautiful, and as a tv personality sometimes the way she is on camera comes off wooden. But when I heard her interviewed by Evan Kleinman on Good Food she came off as intelligent, down to earth and kinda quirky - she grew up in Covina of all places! I don't think she takes herself that seriously and I agree with some of the above comments - if I looked like that I'd have pictures of myself hanging around half-naked too!

I don't understand why she hosts top chef?? she obviously can't cook.. her place is average,and her call to fame-her marriage??! One pic I can understand, but the need to be all over her home in such a overstated manner..eek!apartment therapy what were you thinking??!

I just want to know what fairy water is and how do i make it??? I always dug Padma's style but the screen saver was a bit much. I am just hoping that it was put there by the people who staged the shots.

I just hate when people organise their books by colour. Clearly they never read them.

i have (had) a girl-crush on her so, it's hard for me to say this, but i agree with the narcissistic comments.

it's one thing to have a painting of yourself displayed, i think that's fine - but to hang a giant nipple-y painting over your bed? yowser.

can't believe nobody has mentioned all those hermes bags casually atop the clothes racks - i had to look twice to see the clothes.

aahh, whatever. she's ballsy. i still love her.

I agree. You guys are picking on her unfairly. If you notice, every other picture has her in it. I'm certain the screensaver was staged to have "her" in it. And Clemente is hardly a high school art student dropout. Whatev. I liked the home, I thought it was exactly what I would've expected from her--exactly her style. You can tell that no designer came in and did it for her. Also, she is an accomplished model and she says in the article that she wrote every word of the cookbook, so I'm sure that she didn't just "taste" the food. The chefs on Top Chef seem to respect her as a chef also, so I'm sure that she is accomplished in that realm. It is amazing that if a woman shows any sort of self-confidence, then she is a narcissistic bitch. Maybe one day a beautiful strong woman can talk about herself in an interview about herself without the labeling.

I think a beautiful strong woman can talk about herself in an interview without "the labeling" so long as she doesn't come off as eye-rollingly narcissistic. If some dishy dude who had married into celebrity had given a similar interview/decorated his own house with his own visage, he'd get the same treatment.

Also, the interior design is nothing special, really. Clearly expensive, but otherwise unremarkable.

I love Padma. This spread is typical for Harper's: it's staged, peeps. The apartment is lovely and pretty low key.

if i had a body like that i'd wear things like that too

Haters....snarky haters.
To each their own...and really?! "Honestly, people with no taste shouldn't be allowed to comment on design blogs."
Terrible.
(although I am not a huge fan of the painting myself, I wouldn't stoop to insulting the artist)

It's funny that there are so many black clothes in her closet when one of the first things I noticed watching Top Chef was the wonderful colors she wore.

Ummmm...wtf is she wearing? I didn't even check out her pad, her semi-nude pic was so annoying.

but she can make giant tomatoes levitate!!!

i really like the shelves in the kitchen. i'd like that better than more cupboards.

characterville, she, all of us!

What I love about her apartment is the mix of traditional Indian touches throughout with the glam stuff side-by-side.

It's 100% the look I'm going for in my own apartment.

Yikes. (the spread)

Yikes. (the comments, people!) Although some *are* making me chuckle... (slightly).

Well, I am not familiar with the phenom of Padma but she is pretty and evidently very successful so kudos to her accomplishment.

Her place while all "by Padma" is not my taste so I will comment that some of her pieces are very nice and leave it at that...

But the comment in the Harper's article that starts with "My girls..." was off-putting. Are her friends, which is what I think she was referring, her possessions?

Hmmm.... I loved Padma, even if she did oooze cold beauty. Now, hard for me to maintain that love. The screensaver really is a massive turn-off. Staged or not, she should never have allowed Harper's to do that. I suspect that it was there already... which is really weird and icky.

Oh Padma, what we had is gone.

I don't care how famous the artist who did that painting may be...he's not too talented.

This leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Next, please.

Between the screensaver and the color-coordinated books--not to mention the hideous portrait over her bed--I am very underwhelmed by this home. And I don't blame Harper's Bazaar--this is all her.

Also, she tries way, way, way too hard. Not just here, but in public where she is often seen wearing totally see-through dresses. It's like she has to beat everyone over the head with how fabulous she is. In truth, though she has nothing on the short, plump, 60-year-old sari-wearing women I see in my neighborhood. They have far more grace and beauty than she could ever aspire to.

I think her place is lovely & she has the good fortune to be lovely looking herself, so, as inhabitant, is also prime decorative piece. Why not?

I think you do not understand the thought process here. As someone who has been painted and photographed, once you receive the work you hang it because they honored your likeness. When I walk past images of myself, I think wow what an amazing photograph not wow ME. Also, I find it uncomfortable when I am sitting in a room enshrined with wedding pictures of the home owner. Not because the are of the home owner but because they are of the same scene, how about some variety.

Strauth does have a point here Sally.... I mean, what if the person who painted that god-awful portrait over the bed should pop over to Lakshmi's for an impromptu visit and finds that she's stuffed the canvas under her bed? How embarrassing would that be? As much as we could suggest several place to put it, I rather think it has definitely captured her likeness, at least the head in proportion if nothing else. But seriously Strauth, portraits and photographs are all very fine but I mean, just LOOK at those images.... when she's not hanging on the wall, adorning her PC monitor or framed on top of the safe, the woman herself is at the CENTRE of every shot, bar the the one of the wardrobe. Seems to me that, for a post about her home, we are seeing more of the 'furnisher' than the furnishings and I strongly suspect that it's Lakshmi who is misunderstanding the thought process on this occasion.

Oh! There I am getting confused with her name. I should've said Padma instead of Lakshmi and not the other way round! Well you can hardly blame me for confusing Padma with a Goddess when she's housed herself in that narcissistic shrine!

You don't know her and yet you say she's narcissistic. Yes. That portrait of her above the bed may be odd and quite possibly fugly, but to say that she is narcissistic???

....And that swing! Soooo Pamela Anderson!!!

Oh... I didn't see the screensaver. That chick is a head-case.

I don't understand all the complaints about how Padma is posed, what she's wearing, how the apartment's styled, etc.

Obviously, whoever was in charge of the shoot made the decisions regarding how to pose her, how to crop the photos, what she should wear (and hey, she's beautiful and wears clothes well, can you blame Harper's for wanting some glam cheesecake shots?), and which enviable objects to strew 'artfully' around the rooms, etc. I honestly didn't notice the Hermes bags and pricey clothes until some sour grape connoisseurs griped about them. You really can't blame the model without knowing who made which decision.

ok, stop hating on the color coordinated books. Just bc they're not coordinated by the dewey decimal system doesn't mean that the books were never read, and only there for display. How can you make a jump like that?

Ha! I'm not the only one with a safe out in the open. We just couldn't lift it past the living room!

Are we sure the painting above the bed is of her? To me it just looks like an Indian woman - it could be anyone.

That swing in the apartment isn't 'kinky' at all. It's a very, very old-fashion common feature in Indian homes (Padma is Indian) where much of the living space isn't strictly indoors, but in an open courtyard or veranda-style rooms.

I believe Padma was a model first. That explains all the photos of herself posing.

Strauth (and AcrossThePond),

I actually do understand the "thought process" of being the subject of art or photography. I was a photographer's "muse" for years when we lived in the same city. His work was beautiful, not because it was of me, but because of his talent and how he brought out the personality in his subjects. Although I was given prints of a lot of his portraits, I didn't hang them everywhere. I was happy he liked them and could display them in his gallery or sell them to others. Moreover, I see a photograph (something that is easily duplicated) as very different from an oil painting. To me the Clemente painting is the same as the see-through clothes she wears to public events--forcing her sexuality on people, whether they want to see it or not.

Who IS this woman, Sally? I've never heard of her and you say she wears even LESS in public?!!!? What with the 'legs akimbo' portrait and scant clothing, it's kind of ironic that I've never heard of a woman so lacking in mystery....

Jasmine, I know that the swing is traditional but, you're not going to convince me that she's wearing a sari...

Sean, I rest my case!

; )

"forcing her sexuality on people, whether they want to see it or not."

How's she forcing her sexuality on people in terms of the painting? It's hanging in her bedroom. I presume she doesn't lead twice daily tours through it.

No, she just lets it be photographed in a national magazine.

Whoa I like her less after seeing these pictures of her home- she is obsessed with herself. Screen saver? Art work above bed? Ballgowns and champagne in your own kitchen? Talk about down-to-earth decor.

Ugh. I can't tolerate this women.

No, I don't hate her because she's beautiful. I can't stand her because she's sooo artificial. She seems like an evil clawing gold-digger. And that quaalude voice of hers drives me to distraction!

Once, on Top Chef, she showed up for some outdoorsy "quickfire" challenge wearing a bikini teamed with a shaggy fur vest. Absurd.

(And, that Francesco Clemente portrait is heinous, like all his paintings.)

this whole spread is too over the top. It is also a smidge odd that she's pictured in multiple outfits that mimick those of greek goddesses.

Don't care who she is, or how she looks. I think this harper's spread is a publicity nightmare and poorly done. Normally, celebrities appear more down to earth when photographed in their home environments, no matter how oppulent.

To me, the painting over the bed seems like a humorous touch. It's obviously not a flattering portrait; I'd be way more annoyed by it if it were a gorgeous black and white shot or a "realistic" painting. Padma is way more beautiful in real life than in the painting, which makes me think that the painting reminds her not to take herself or her looks too seriously. Who knows... but that's how I would see it.

And how would you see interpret the screensaver, yiyehtov? :)

"How's she forcing her sexuality on people in terms of the painting? It's hanging in her bedroom."

Perhaps she forces her sexuality in the bedroom too? Agh, who cares!!! I'm just glad not to be the woman!

She "let" the painting to be photographed in a national magazine, ergo she's an egomaniac? Do you think she should have taken it down? Maybe she should have erased every trace of her existence from her own apartment to make you happy?

Her home is rather nice. Many of the comments here are not.

Perhaps if she had kept out of shot we might have been more able to SEE the apartment to appreciate it!

Perhaps if she had stood out of shot we would've seen more of her home to be better able to appreciate it?

slowdown, I never called this woman an "egomaniac." And no, I don't think she should have taken the painting down. But she had to know (as did you) that a photo spread in Harper's would be bound to elicit reaction. If you read posts other than mine, you will see that I am not alone in disliking this woman's public persona. She may be a lovely person to her family and friends, but what we are commenting on here is her presentation of her home and herself in a national magazine and on a website.

Oh good grief - I've started to repeat myself, senile ol' git that I am....

Anyway, just wanted to say, well put Sally!

And now I must DO something about my own little apartment rather than bitch about someone else's. Perhaps taking inspiration from the green cure... or at least washing my dishes!

this is hilarious discussion...this is in Harpers! Do you know how often breasts are bared in fashion magazines? All the time. And she was a model so being nude is not a big deal to her. So when she has a painting of herself, painted by a famous artist, where her breasts aren't covered, so what? Having worked as an assistant dresser at a fashion before, I know that seasoned models can strip down to nothing in front of 50-100 people and not care in the slightest.

And because this is a women's fashion magazine, she is obviously going to be in every shot wearing her designer clothes. That's what people who actually read the FASHION magazine care about: her "Stella McCartney suits and Tom Ford archival pieces". I certainly don't read Harpers Bazaar for its decor ideas....unless its about a closet or how some fashion person stores all her shoes and bags...

...at a fashion show before...(missed a word!)

god you people are catty!
this is a PHOTO SHOOT which means it is set up the way the photographer wants it.
if a painter friend painted me, I would hang it up too, that is a nice gift and a nice gesture.
if I had a photo taken of me that I liked, I may use it as a screen saver too!
so none of you have ever had a photo taken of yourselves that you really like?
once again a female that is pretty is bashed by JEALOUS people!

@sally305: You guys are taking this photo spread way too personally.