SOUTHERN EXPOSURE...

If her gorgeous Atlanta digs are any indication, lifestyle photographer Lauren Rubinstein is ready for her own close-up

Produced, written and directed by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography by Sarah Dorio and Lauren Rubinstein

You know that saying about shoemakers spawning eternally barefoot kids? Yeah, that saying doesn’t apply to photographer Lauren Rubinstein, like AT ALL. The southern beauty [by way of Pa.] is a master with decorating, food and entertaining not only for her editorial assignments but also with her own southern abode.

Our day at the sharp shooter’s charming home was somewhat of a fish-out-of-water experience. Lauren is accustomed to photographing the subject, not BEING the subject. Role reversal came into play not once, but twice: as portrait model and as featured decorator. For nearly 10 years, this lady-of-the-lens has picked up just about every trick of the trade. From color palettes and symmetry to accessorizing and texture, her own home rivals the designer spaces in her stunning portfolio. In fact, many of those images helped shape her country-infused coastal style. After stepping foot inside her three-story southern traditional, it was evident that both Lauren and her home were ready for their closeup.

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BURNHAM NOTICE...

LA’s most beautiful homes are taking notice of Betsy Burnham’s layered multicultural style

Written by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography courtesy of Burnham Design

Betsey Johnson may have written the book on layering frocks, but Betsy Burnham holds the reigns to its’ use in interior design. Each of the LA-based designer’s spaces has a multifaceted look rich in texture, pattern, ethnicity and shape. Equally stimulating is her tailoring of curtains, upholstery and accessories — a skill that most likely stems from her formal background in menswear design [one she is totally over talking about]. Design enthusiasts rarely associate tailor-made or glamorous with bohemian, but the expressive trio is well-suited in Betsy’s case. There’s a sophisticated eclecticism in each of her designs that defies age, gender and geographical boundaries.

Aside from objects, Ms. Burnham is an authority on the layering of patterns. Ikat and floral with zebra? Well, of course! Leopard paired with snake and chinoiserie? Why not? Variations in sheen and scale allow multicultural materials to play quite nicely together. From Uzbek textiles to Spanish woodwork, this top American designer garnishes worldly aesthetic with a splash of Hollywood glamour.

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BONNIE & CLYDESDALE...

The Real Horsewife of Morgan County : artist Bonnie Beauchamp Cooke and her equestrian masterpieces

Produced, written and art directed by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography by Sarah Dorio

You can always tell the character of a person by the company they keep. While this is defamatory for friends of Jon Gosselin, others may find it a complementary two-way street. Artist Bonnie Beauchamp Cooke is in the company of horses so it’s plain to see why she’s a majestic beauty herself. The Southern Belle, whose work can be seen in Atlanta and online at Huff Harrington Gallery, brought us up close and personal to her farm in Madison, Ga., for a look past the brushstrokes.

From the moment I laid eyes on Bonnie’s equestrian diptych hanging on a designer friend’s wall, I was smitten. The horse fascination is rather unfitting since (a) I’m horrified of horseback riding and (b) I didn’t even make it halfway through Seabiscuit or The Black Stallion. But after all, I am a decorator and therefore instinctively drawn to well-crafted beautiful things.

Writing text about art is like breakdancing to algebraic logarithms. The subject loses its impact when you’re not experiencing it first-hand. To avoid being verbose in relation to Bonnie’s work, we decided to tell the story visually — from the artist herself to inspiration and technique to medium. My photographer and I decided to spend an entire afternoon down on the farm to assure nothing was lost in translation. Read More

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT SARA...

From peacocks and bed trays to tea sets that bling, here are a few of her favorite things : Sara Ruffin Costello on decorating and design

Sara Ruffin Costello is beauty, bad-ass and brains.  When it comes to the world of shelter magazines, this New York City girl has worn every designer hat on the vintage couture rack.  Creative director of domino?  Check.  Book author?  Double check (she’s written two!).   Stylist and decorator?  Um, duh.  But above all of this she’s Mom to Harrison and Carolina and wife to husband Paul.  And did I mention she’s $@!*& hysterical?  Sara could easily be that best-all-around girl you love to hate but instead she’s inspiring and totally awesome.

I asked the funny girl if she’d be up for giving me the rundown on objects she can’t live without.  She said yes!  Go figure – the list [and her email itself] was anything but boring from love of peacocks to her 10-speed method of transportation.  Here are some of her must-haves shot beautifully by her husband, top shelter magazine photographer, Paul Costello.

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