AD: Ralph Lauren's Home Collection's 30th Anniversary

8/12/2013

Image by Richard Corman

rawing inspiration from his daily life, as well as his Norman-style manse in Bedford, NY, his 17,000 acre Colorado ranch and his Manhattan apartment (not to mention his Jamaican retreat, Round Hill) who better than Ralph Lauren to instruct America in the fine art of home décor? His home collection provides truly one-stop shopping for any well-appointed home: bedding, furniture, lighting, paint, rugs, tableware and wall coverings and so much more. Since 1983, he has been director, producer and cinematographer of one beautiful home collection after another; providing a stunning storyboard for what can only be termed, “My Dream Life.”

Not unlike his fashion empire, which started with a necktie, his home collection was also born out of his need/desire to have something (sheets, specifically) which he was unable to find in stores; proving necessity is the mother of invention.

Whether or not you appreciate Ralph Lauren's stylistic renderings of a most grand lifestyle, you must admit that his is, incontrovertibly, a style that is luxurious and chic. Pure perfection.

Image by Victor Skrebneski

Ralph Lauren's Madison Avenue headquarters. Note the Highbridge glass-top desk and RL-CF1 Carbon Fiber lounge chairs.

The Bedford, NY living room

The Bedford poolhouse. I really like the Chinese porcelain throughout the space.

The Bedford manse poolhouse bath

nly once, nearly eight years ago, have I purchased a complete line of one of Ralph Lauren's bedding ensembles: the Rodeo Drive Collection. As a matter of fact, I liked it so much that I purchased it all in duplicate: comforter, sheets, pillow cases, shams...the works! They've held up so well over the years that only recently have I started to use the second set of linens. Still I suppose it's probably time to add another full collection to my Christmas list, instead of just sheets. The haunting question: Which collection?