Welcome to TGP Tidbits where we round up the happenings and our musings of the design industry each week. This week we take a look at DECORATION by Bunny Williams and Elizabeth Lawrence; Decoration, in Conversation at NYSID; and Ward + Gray’s Vintage-Inspired Wicker Collection, Written by Natalie Aldridge.

DECORATION by Bunny Williams and Elizabeth Lawrence

There are few people we would rather take a lesson in decorating from than Bunny Williams. Now, Williams and her longtime collaborator and business partner Elizabeth Lawrence have distilled decades of experience into Decoration, a stunning new book from Rizzoli and, fittingly, something of a master class in the art of interiors.

Rather than simply presenting beautiful interiors and boilerplate tips and rules, Decoration gets into the thinking behind them: why scale matters, how old and new can happily coexist, when pattern needs another pattern, and why the slightly battered or imperfect piece is often the thing that makes a room sing. Drawing on projects from Williams Lawrence, the book explores the principles that underpin rooms that feel layered, comfortable, personal, and, most importantly, as though they have evolved over time.

Perhaps most appealing is the duo’s argument for looking beyond surface beauty to recognize proportion, patina, authenticity, and potential. In an era of instant gratification and rooms assembled with a few clicks, we particularly adore their philosophy for patience, discovery, and allowing a house to develop a personality of its own. Good decorating takes time, and perhaps a little wandering.

At more than 400 pages, the cloth-bound volume is itself a beauty, mixing coated and uncoated papers with gatefolds that allow wonderful rooms to unfold across the page. Many design books come across our desk and they are not created equal. This one is a must! Decoration is out now and can be purchased here.

Decoration, in Conversation at NYSID

And for those who would prefer to hear the lessons directly from the decorators themselves, you’re in luck. On September 16th, Bunny Williams and her Williams Lawrence partner, Elizabeth Lawrence, will sit down for a conversation celebrating Decoration, hosted by the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art and the New York School of Interior Design.

The evening promises to be much more than a book talk. Williams and Lawrence will delve into the philosophy behind rooms that feel collected rather than decorated, touching on everything from proportion and authenticity to flea markets, travel, color, fantasy, and the increasingly radical idea of acquiring things slowly.

There is something particularly potent about hearing someone speak about their craft in person, especially when that someone has spent decades honing it. We are always fascinated by the stories, observations, and little bits of wisdom that emerge in conversation and never quite make it onto the printed page. This promises to be one of those evenings.

The conversation, moderated by Anne Hardy, begins at 6:30 p.m. following a 6:00 p.m. reception at NYSID. Learn more and register through the ICAA here!

Ward + Gray’s Wicker Collection

There is little I love more than vintage wicker, inside and out. And when a brand does new wicker well, it really captures my attention. Ward + Gray has developed a small collection of just the kind of wicker pieces I am always looking for. The New York design duo has launched a new collection of handwoven wicker furniture through Boheme, their online shop devoted to wonderfully characterful pieces.

The eight-piece collection takes traditional woven forms and turns up the personality with hand-painted color, graphic patterns, dyed leather, and wonderfully unexpected details. There is the jaunty striped Theo side table, the Pierre Frey–upholstered Bodie pouf, the geometric Dunmore nightstand, and, perhaps our favorite, the Cisco backgammon table, complete with an inset game board and coordinating wooden chips. Several of the pieces could also move easily between indoors and out, exactly as good wicker should.

Ward + Gray’s work has always had a certain well-traveled quality, and Boheme grew naturally from the designers’ relationships with artisans and family-run workshops encountered through years of sourcing and travel. Each piece is handcrafted with an emphasis on material, imperfection, and the hand of its maker. Shop the full collection here!

Read our favorite articles of the week!

A Young Family Writes the Next Chapter for William Faulkner’s Former New Orleans Townhouse written by Michael Diaz-Griffith for Veranda.

In Chrissy Ritter’s Home, Uptown Elegance Meets Vermont Charm written by Suzanne Davis for Frederic.

Shop this week’s inspired finds!

x Natalie

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Follow Natalie on Instagram: @natalieealdridge

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