ELLE DECOR Editor’s Page: March 2010
What's up at ELLE DECOR
Shelley Starr, founder/designer of Moura Starr, with me at a cocktail reception to celebrate the launch of her home-furnishings firm’s showroom in Manhattan’s D&D Building. Photo by Jon Dee.
Most of us hold firm opinions regarding how friends and family choose to live, though few have the temerity to voice them with brutal honesty. Unless, of course, you’re interior designer Nate Berkus, who, after one glance at the topsy-turvy master bedroom of his longtime pal Ellen Rakieten, then executive producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show, calmly asked her why—if she’s such a wildly focused, take-charge executive—“the room looked like a hellhole.” Übercool Ellen, who apparently has nerves of steel from overseeing two decades of emotional TV trauma, didn’t even blink.
She took the frank assessment to heart, however, and after she and her husband, Peter Kupferberg, purchased a much larger space in their beloved Chicago building, they promptly turned its gut renovation over to Nate, the top-notch architectural team Ferguson & Shamamian, and another decorator-friend, Anne Coyle. A 20-month transformation later, the couple’s digs are not only dazzling but perfectly tailored to them and their young sons. And the master bedroom? Drop-dead glam.
I’ve known Ellen for years, and having followed the progress of her apartment’s redo long-distance, I persuaded her to write about it despite her crazy schedule. (In addition to the new home, Ellen is launching several new projects, which include partnering with Jerry Seinfeld to produce the NBC show, The Marriage Ref, airing this month, as well as co-authoring with Anne Coyle a very funny relationship primer for women, Undateable, just out from Random House.)
When Ellen’s text came in, her stressed-and-stretched-too-thin-to-even-contemplate-decorating backstory resonated with everyone on staff. For far too many people—even those in the design world—home improvements aren’t necessarily at the top of our to-do lists, though perhaps they ought to be. Day-to-day responsibilities and commitments often take precedence; procrastination sets in. It’s easy to forget that even a minor move can result in a major change for the better.
Nate convinced Ellen it was time for her decorating to grow up and be as successful and inspiring as her high-flying career. While not all of us have friends as candid or creative as hers, it’s never a bad idea to take a cold, hard look at the way we live. It’s true that Ellen’s renovation was a massive undertaking, but often a few simple touches can put a stellar spin on even the most discouraging space: Clear clutter, rearrange furniture, splash some paint on your walls, freshen your point of view. Sometimes, one small step is all it takes.
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