Designer Kelly Wearstler tells little,<br>but shows a lot, in her new book, ‘Hue’
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When it comes to color, the subject of Kelly Wearstler’s third coffee-table book, the Los Angeles-based designer writes: ‘I do not think there are any rules.’
That philosophy also applies to her literary efforts. Wearstler gained fame for creating high-voltage interiors filled with color, texture and pattern, but as an author, she plays the die-hard minimalist. ‘Hue’ offers only an introductory Q&A with Wearstler that explores her philosophy of color and cites some of the architects, designers and artists who have inspired her. Photo captions don’t exist, and credits and resources are found only in an index at the end of the book. (Warning: You may need a magnifying glass to read them.)
The message? Look and learn.
Much can be gleaned from the book’s beautifully styled photographs, which are grouped according to color schemes reflecting the hues of flowers and minerals. One lesson from the designer whose studio office is an explosion of yellow, purple and pink: There are no such things as clashing colors. ‘Unique color compositions create either a visual tension or harmony,’ Wearstler writes. ‘Both can be equally beautiful.’
In the last decade, Wearstler has established herself as a tastemaker, designing interiors for the Viceroy boutique hotels and creating a restaurant and her own boutique in Bergdorf Goodman in New York. Her ever-changing ensembles and hairstyles as a judge on Bravo TV’s ‘Top Design’ also have made her something of a celebrity. ‘Hue’ charts her evolution -- from queen of the Hollywood Regency revival to the designer behind a more organic style colored by world travels and enriched with hippie accents. How she has accomplished all this isn’t spelled out in ‘Hue.’ Perhaps she’s saving that for her memoirs.
Want to see more? We’ve got photos from Wearstler’s new book here.
-- David A. Keeps