6 Steps to Getting Kate & Andy Spade's Preppy Look
Last week, New York magazine ran an article on the current activities of handbag and accessories giants Kate & Andy Spade. I have a weakness for the Spade aesthetic, so I was thrilled with even the tiny glimpse inside their apartment that the article provided.
I wasn't disappointed, either. Their space runs to the traditional, but it's not stuffy at all. It's pretty and refined, but very livable. To recreate their look, I broke it down into six key elements:
I wasn't disappointed, either. Their space runs to the traditional, but it's not stuffy at all. It's pretty and refined, but very livable. To recreate their look, I broke it down into six key elements:
The Spade's Upper East Side apartment is jam-packed with art, books, and refined furniture, creating a space that feels very livable.
1. Cornflower blue. I am in love with the color on the Spade's walls. It's just about perfect - an interesting color but muted enough not to take center stage. I like this slightly more sky-blue door for the same reasons.
A similar, but darker, blue works neatly on this fantastic china cabinet, too.
This is a more modern version of the gallery and I love the gray. It's a sleeker version of the Spade look.
3. Books everywhere. I am biased - I've got a lot of books and I think they make a room (and the person who lives in it) look interesting. The Spades have a cabinet filled with books - I also like these built-in bookshelves...
And these bookshelves, too. In this room, I love how the dark wood contrasts with the white walls. Which brings us to...
4. Dark wood. There's something very solid and grown-up about dark wood - it adds gravitas to any space.
Even a little bit of dark wood gives a room a great feel - especially when topped with...
Even tiny collections make gorgeous vignettes.
6. Stripes. Last but not least...the Spade's side chairs, with their large white and blue stripes, are an important part of the apartment. Their simplicity balances out the room's business. Stripes have a clean, preppy look that works with solids, patterns, and any color.
In the 5th Avenue Kate Spade store, the Spade's love for stripes goes bright and modern - proof that stripes work all over the place, and in a variety of ways.