Lee Stanton Blog

Living In A Flat World

Feb 28, 2015

Image of the guest room from my home in Los Angeles. ELLE DECOR, March 2015.

Flat screen TVs, computer monitors, laptops and smart phones have become a necessity in our lives today. We are inspired from images on Pinterest, Instagram and HGTV. We shop for furniture, clothes and even the food we eat on line.

Have we progressed into a flat world of design that has lost a sense of dimension, texture and experiential beauty? Has design become homogenized? Do we really believe that creativity is limited to what we see online and that we cannot explore our own identity without falling off the edge? How often do we look at the same chairs, tables and bookcases made on an assembly line, etched with lasers and assembled in China with a spray finish that everyone can purchase from an online catalog? Is knocking off items and tweaking them a bit our idea of being creative? Have we lost our sense of personal style and identity? Are the things in our homes or the homes we decorate void of relevance, provenance and emotion?

Image of the kitchen & dining area from my home in Los Angeles. ELLE DECOR, March 2015.

Imagine the days when people believed the world was flat and they couldn’t travel it without the fear of falling off. It seems we have regressed to those thoughts in design. I challenge us to look beyond those flat screens and explore the multi-dimensional, infinite and creative world of design.

Think organically. Search for one-of-a-kind objects from different eras or origins, embrace texture and explore different materials. Let’s stop drinking the kool-aid. Let’s pick our own fruit and let our own creative juices flow. Let’s go out and not only explore a multi-dimensional design world, but let’s also contribute to the diversity of an even greater world of design.

England circa 1930's Palladian Mirrors (AV124),

France circa 1920 industrial desk (AW188)

France circa 1880 terra cotta fragment as a desk lamp (B67),

England circa 1880 globe on mahogany stand.

France circa 1880 collection of artist molds (BA162),

England circa 1880 green leather desk chair (BA193)

I define my space and assembled a collection of things I love. The collection spans more than 3 centuries from around the world and every object tells a story. In perspective I created a space that defines me.

View my story in the March Issue of Elle decor online and on shelves now.

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Dealer's Choice

Feb 10, 2015

Photo: Bjorn Wallander

I'm honored to have my Los Angeles home featured in the March issue of Elle Decor (now on news stands). As written, I wanted to utilize the high rise building's plate glass windows as a contemporary backdrop for my art and antique collection, which i've accumulated over a lifetime of buying trips.

Photo: Bjorn Wallander

The antique furnishings have simple straight lines, which complement the linear contemporary architecture; illustrating how antiques can emphasize a modern aesthetic.

Photo: Bjorn Wallander

This project was a departure from my home in Laguna Beach (seen in the November 2014 issue of Architectural Digest), where I placed antiques in a traditional English manor house.

Photo: Bjorn Wallander

The contrast of the two homes demonstrate the versatility of antiques. I Hope you enjoy the story.

Read the entire story in the March 2015 issue of Elle Decor on news stands now.

It was a pleasure to work with the talented photographer Bjorn Wallander, and the legendary Robert Rufino Interiors Editor.

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French Connection

Feb 06, 2015

Photo: Elle Decoration UK March 2015

In the March issue of Elle Decoration UK, a Milanese interior designer shows off his Parisian apartment.

Photo: Elle Decoration UK March 2015

England circa 1880 barley twist lamps (AY211B)

Italy circa 1900's reproduced map of Rome (LSC21)

Photo: Elle Decoration UK March 2015

England circa 1890 green trunk (BA126)

France circa 1900 glass bottles with stoppers (AY141)

To read the entire article pick up the March 2015 issue of Elle Decoration UK

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Antique vs. Vintage

Jan 15, 2015

I am always asked what defines an antique vs. a vintage piece. Both are somewhat fluid terms today. A purist would say an antique must be 100 years and that a vintage piece is anything less.

However, the “100 year“ rule was more applicable when methods of production were different, periods of style had longevity and eras were more constant. The lengths of eras or periods have progressively gotten shorter over time. Today, styles or periods change in a matter of years or decades vs. centuries. Quality has deteriorated and items are not made to last for future generations. "AN ART DECO OR MID-CENTURY MODERN PIECE IS BY DEFINITION "VINTAGE". TODAY THAT SAME PIECE IS CONSIDERED BY MOST IN THE DESIGN BUSINESS AS AN ANTIQUE".

Therefore, I suggest the following explanation. A used item is something that can be purchased new but has changed character as a result of use. A vintage item’s character has changed as a result of production. It may be a different raw product used such as a different quality leather, wood or type of stone that is no longer available. It may be a change of design such as shape, color or simply functional adaptation. It may be a different method of production such as machine stitched vs. hand-stitched or a rubbed finish vs. a sprayed finish. This change makes the vintage piece unique, limited and a more desirable object from the past.

The distinguished character of an antique is based upon longevity. It is completely out of production. It’s origin or provenance is from a different and usually once removed era or period of style. Yet it has withstood change and is still relevant today. In fact, the antique is even more desirable as a result of the aging process and originality that has evolved over time.

You can view the entire email here - http://bit.ly/1DIvVKO

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