{Elle Decoration October 2010}

When this issue fell onto the mat it was a very Anna Wintour in The September Issue moment. No, I've not grown a bob. Nor was I wearing a pair of her ubiquitous shades. (Side note: The reality is that I bounded out of bed as soon as the postman arrived, PJs, bed hair - the lot!) No, it was because of the size of it - their biggest ever in fact - and there's so much to dish I guess I should get started? Ok, let's get this show on the road! Sporting the perfect fall palette and excellent visual depth, October's cover is a vast improvement on September's. The first spread is a calming look at how to do pared-down details with style (2-4), which makes the black kitchen (5) that follows all the more dramatic. More colourful delights follow soon after. Namely, the yellow bedroom (6) of Paris-based stylist James Leland Day and Danish pottery designer Bjorn Wiinblad's 'blue room' (7).

The team have been busy putting together a pattern book (8, 9) that showcases the best autumn/winter fabrics and wallpapers for the season ahead. Its comprehensive and I guarantee it will have you hankering after a new pair of curtains, an update to the tired foot stall in the corner or at least inspire your next textile purchase. Soon after, you might be reaching for the credit card and booking yourself express tickets to Paris. Why? Well, French artist Jean Cocteau has opened up his home to the public (10) and as the team say, it would be worth the €7 entry free alone just too have a good snoop around his desk. Next we dive into the celebration pages (Happy 21st, you guys!) and Editor, Michelle Ogundehin, takes us on a tour of some of the team's favourite stories (12, 13) over the past 21 years.

As usual, the back section is dedicated to home tours and the birthday issue's offerings don't disappoint. From the golden glamour of a Parisian apartment (14, 15) that oozes grandeur and opulence to the Californian home (16) of photographer Don Flood (check out those colour pops) there's something for both classic-contemporary and mid-century loving design eyes. I gasped when I turned the page onto the 'Gold Standard' opener (17) - their way with words is always excellent, but their description of Acido Dorado in the Joshua Tree national park is stellar: 'Shimming like a mirage, the surprising spectacle of this metallic house couldn't contrast more sharply with the surrounding wilderness of the Southern Californian desert'. Their final tour of a remote South African home features a bathroom (18) that should come with a 'will cause serious lusting' warning. The bumper issue is rounded off a piece on legendary party host and talented interior designer, the late Bunny Roger (19). Right, now it's your turn to dish: what makes you want to run to the store and buy a copy?

Elle Decoration