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Veronica in
Wonderland

Supermodel Mom Veronica Webb Fashions

a Moorish Oasis in Manhattan

By Amy elisa keith

hen Veronica Webb envisioned the style of her Manhattan home, she
knew that it would be much more family style than stark model crash
pad. Everything is dictated by the fact that I have two young kids, so
I wanted to create a home thats like a wonderland, says the former
Vogue cover girl, face of Revlon and mom to daughters Leila Rose, 8,
and Molly Blue, 6. And what a paradise it has become. Taking inspiration from her days of modeling in Paris and wandering through the souks of Morocco, Webb
developed a love of Moorish design and has now created her own slice of North Africa. I love to
travel and pick up design elements, says the 46-year-old, who blogs about her unique finds on
veronica-webb.blogspot.com. When shes not traveling, Webb is playing dress up in costumes or
sketching portraits, like she is doing for her younger daughter while she c hats with me. Molly
is running around in her devil horns and one of my Zara dresses that shes made into a Roman
goddess costume, she says, asking Molly to hand her the crayons. Right now, she wants me to

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Home
Ideas
for
eclectic
elegance

1. Scene Setter

Anchor the room

with a large piece
of art or a collection of portraits
hung above the
seating area.
2

2. Go Red

Art looks so
beautiful against
a deep-red wall; it
really makes it pop
off the wall, says
Webb. Opt for a red
accent-wall color
for a dramatic
touch.
3. Pattern Play

Complement the
colors of the room
with ethnic prints
for a beautiful
tableau.

Style Tip
:

sketch a landscape of Manhattan in the winter.

In spite of this interview and an earlier
appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, a
mothers work is never done. Ironically, life as
a part-time costumer, full-time mom reminds
her of growing up in Detroit. My mother
was really creative, she reminisces. Some
of my fondest memories are sitting on the
floor and making patterns with her, and now
I do that with my girls. Webbs daughters
will also inherit a priceless collection of antique Berber rugs as colorful as their names,
paintings by Francesco Clemente, treasures
from far-flung flea markets and handmade
quilts sewn by Veronicas grandmother. But no
matter how treasured the home accents are,
Webb insists, They can color, draw, paint,
run, jump, grow up and throw up without
feeling that anything is precious.

00

BE BOL
D
Blend
colors a patterns,
nd textu
freely to
res
true pe make a
rsonal
statem
ent.

4. Animal Instinct

Take a walk on the

wild side. Add an
exotic touch to any
space with a zebrahide rug.
5. Layer Shades

Dont be afraid
to go monochromatic with accents
and wall color.
Avoid looking too
matchy-matchy by
blending modern
and vintage.
6. Element of
Surprise

Practicality is
boring. Add a bit of
whimsy by displaying a fun mask or
vacation memento.

American
Gypsy
her own personal
Marrakesh in Manhattan, Veronica Webb has not sacrificed
comfort and ease for high-end
style. Instead, It has kid touches
as well as accents that signify
me and my years as a model.
Thanks to her in-house artists
and bargain shopping, Webb has
built a soulful sanctuary.

IN CREATING

When friends come over to

your home, what are they most
struck by?
Everything is usable and tactile
without being sloppy. It also is
fully family. The home reflects
who we are but also where we are
in our lives. Im a working mom,
but being a mom comes first.
How have your children made
their impact on the home?
There are full walls of art that my
children have done that mark
their time and lives. It's so important for their vision and creativity
to be celebrated here.
Have they inherited your sense
of style?
They cant help it. All they
know are fashionistas, from my
mothers DNA and mine to Isaac
Mizrahi, whom they consider their
uncle, and Azzedine Alaa, whom
they consider their grandpa. Its
in their blood.
How do you self-edit and decide
what to display?
Easels. You need easels. I love
them and have them everywhere,
and the girls have their own. You
dont have to worry about tearing
up walls.
How did you settle on the wall
color choices?
Color is essential to any home.
The living room is a deep, rich red.
Its dramatic.
Any advice to those who are intimidated by color?
Start slowly and pick the color
that you love. Do the bedspread
and the sheets, or the walls, or
the table setting or the couch.
From there, you can build out.
What are easy ways to add style
without breaking the bank?
Something as simple as a beautiful placemat and drinking glasses
in a pretty color can really transform your dining room table.
Commit to spending $5 on flowers to make your space feel fresh.

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Home

7. In Plain Sight

Store toys out in

the open without
being sloppy by
stylishly incorporating them into
the room. Embrace
the childish fancy
of it all.

8. Travel

Treasures

Home dcor
doesn't stop with
furniture and
throw pillows.
Incorporate tribal
jewelry, like this
piece from North
Africa, to show
your fashion sense.

The perfect blend of style

and functionality comes
thanks to the durable woven
fabrics draped over chairs
and chests to continue the
African influence, but they
also allow for some childhood fun. Achieving a sense
of inviting elegance develops
over time, she says. To get
started, Webbs best advice is: Its really
important to look at everything all the time.
One day youll see something like a lamp
or area rug, and it will call your name and
make you feel passionate about it, and youll
go for it. She adds, however, It has to be
major, no half stepping.

Get the Look!

9. Urban Garden

Soften city living

with fresh flowers
in a contrasting
color. That goes a
long way to make
you feel fresh and
light, plus theyre
beautiful.

Want to create your own exotic retreat? Check out

these global furnishings and accents for every budget:

All Red
Giclee Metric
Table Lamp
($130; www.
lampsplus.
com)

James Boyce
Kitchen Candle
by Voluspa ($35;
www.ambriacove.com)

00

Valspar
Berry Brown
1010-7 ($23;
www.valsparpaint.
com)

Sahara Treasure Box ($495;

www.casablancamarket.com)

Cowhide Assorted Zebra

Deco Rug ($1,200;
www.abccarpet.com)

AphroChic
Clinton Hill
Pillow ($105;
www.aphrochicshop.
com)

Moroccan
Carpet ($1,100;
www.casablancamarket.com)

Riad Sandy
White Hanging Lantern
($159; www.
casablancamarket.com)

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