Style savant Mel Meer decorates by instinct. “I just do what I feel like doing,” he says.
After a visit to Paris, he was inspired by the old world but informal elegance of the French. Thus the influences from his French sojourn became apparent when Meer did the interiors of his spacious home. He used white and ivory on his walls, matched them with dark tones of the flooring and furniture.
The man behind the famous menswear retail chain has always been partial to black. He uses it with red for striking accent.
The house combines design elements of the Mediterranean, Art Deco, Baroque, and Rococo.
Meer uses furniture acquired over the years. They tell stories of his journey. The Queen Anne chairs remind him of his Park Avenue apartment. Faux columns were recycled from his Bergamo stores. Pampanga-made furniture, which he designed himself, was vestiges from his defunct furniture store. The furniture now has a time-worn elegance enhanced by high-quality upholstery.
In choosing his décor and accents, Meer keeps in mind the refinement of life. Art or artworks give walls character, like he’s seen in Paris apartments. In Meer’s living room, a reproduction of a Dutch mural creates a mesmerizing impact, with an open sky trompe l’oeil on the ceiling. Large mirrors on the walls give the illusion of space.
A beautiful crystal chandelier over a burnished gilt table typifies French luxe. Murano crystal sconces add sparkle to the room.
The house is filled with chinoiserie (European designs with Oriental motifs). The coffee tables are antique wooden Oriental chests laden with ornaments from Meer’s travels. In the lanai, the sofas are upholstered in black with white paisleys embroidered on them, a handiwork by Bergamo staffers.
In the dining room, Meer combines touches of the past and the present. A bold floral mural by young Cebuano artist Chad Plattering spices up the wall. A thick slab of solid Philippine mahogany is made into a dining table, complemented by woven-cane-back chairs. The chairs are given exaggerated proportions. Meer added grommets, typical of Parisian furniture, to give the chairs an updated look. There are faux doors bearing trompe l’oeils of Parisian balconies.
Meer says that ultimately it is his favorite color palette that unifies the disparate furniture style and artworks.
“When people come in, they comment that my place looks like a Parisian apartment.”
Some tips from Meer in introducing
the typical French decorating style:
* Use black as accent color in furniture, accessories, fabrics, lampshades and trimmings.
* Avoid matching elements. Display objects that exude well-worn grace. The furniture should look as if they have been used over the years.
* Find use for a round table layered with fabrics and café chairs.
*Lighting fixtures are crystal chandeliers and sconces, black lampshades.
*Paisleys, stripes, textured linen and leather make interesting upholstery.
*Windows have fancy drapery panels.
*Use Oriental carpets to ground the room.
* Fill the walls with your favorite artwork.
Cocoon magazine is available in leading bookstores and newsstands nationwide. For inquiries, please call 8978808 loc 604. Facebook.com/cocoonmagazineph