I remember the first time I saw it Father of the Bride movies. A friend’s mom rented us these 90’s classics when we were still in that decade, whether it was a weekend or a day off from elementary school, and she would crack us up in front of the TV while she worked. Years ago, I always took comfort in going back. The storylines are always interesting, the humor is always there, and the sets are always good. And amid the nervous hijinks provided by Steve Martin and Martin Short, Diane Keaton it always involves a warm silence.
Keaton, who died on October 11 at the age of 79, had a body of work that resonated with his ideas and cultural norms. For Nancy Meyers aficionados like myself, who can I quote from Father of the Bride movies and We’ve Got Something to Give With ease, Keaton exemplified the day-to-day dream of living and dressing elegantly—as if both could be timeless and impractical at once. Because he made it look so good, these movies became like a timeless trend that I say over and over again (while wearing a turtleneck, of course).
Diane Keaton starring alongside Woody Allen in the 1975 comedy, Love and Death.
I also admire Keaton for the work he pursued in his private life. He spent many years preserving historic buildings in Los Angeles, a challenge in a city that prioritizes everything new, and became an interior designer himself in this way. His ideas don’t fit well with the larger settings he was most associated with, but nonetheless, they have staying power. Here are four design lessons that I will continue to remember.
Rely on the Black and White Palette
Most of Keaton’s interiors use a good combination: black and white. He used these duos to highlight architectural elements, such as a wall of windows in a mid-century modern house built by the son of Frank Lloyd Wright, but he also chose them for smaller partners such as dinner when he collaborated with Hudson Grace. The takeaway? The black and white color scheme is reliable regardless of the background, and has a way of feeling casual yet sophisticated (not unlike Keaton himself). And if you need another shade in the mix, Keaton would have suggested red.
Academy Award-winning actress at the 2023 Ralph Lauren New York Fashion Week show.
Include Structure and Exposed Brick
Perhaps the most interesting detail of the industrial farmhouse he was in The House Built by Pinteresta 2017 book about a house he built from the ground up, its exposed brick facade. Of course, there’s whitewashed brick inside – closely following Nancy Meyers’ style – but Keaton preferred to leave the exterior brick as is. Follow his lead and indulge yourself in the deliciousness of this property. It’s the same with wooden beams, especially in his favorite Spanish colonial buildings: the more rustic and whimsical, the better.
Use Scales to Increase Behavior
Keaton’s designs often feel as tight as a pair of suspenders. But he used to have one recurring accessory that could be considered a weird smile: oversized lights. Address to The House Built by Pinterest filled with lines of great paintings, like the historic Tucson home he bought in 2018, among others. Keaton would have put it this way: If the rest of the room design is weak, then the big paintings can be the star.
Say It With Words
Keaton loved to write letters, whether it was coining words like “California,” which he did in his industrial farmhouse, or adding cocktail napkins. It’s a reliable multi-tasking foil, and it’s as versatile as the other options on this list. And when it comes to Keaton as a creative force, using characters also makes sense. He had a way with words, after all.
Kelly Dawson is a writer, editor and marketing consultant. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Architectural Digest, Travel + Leisure and other publications.
#Diane #Keatons #Makeup #Artist #Changed #Style #Good