Annette Tatum:
With her first book hitting shelves just last week, I took the opportunity to visit with Annette Tatum about her career, sources of inspiration and philosophy. 
And as likable as she is talented, this interview was really a treat for me!
There’s a good chance you’ve seen Annette’s work.
Perhaps most well-known for her work with celebrity tots, Annette has made sure some of Hollywood’s best known babies sleep like royalty in her custom-designed rooms. If you’ve seen pics from nurseries in the homes of Minnie Driver or Marcia Cross and others–you’ve seen Annette’s talents.
A home décor book for fashionistas.
Annette’s new book, The Well-Dressed Home approaches home décor from a different angle than most. Speaking to the inner-fashionista, it asks the question, “Which styles do you most identify with, in both your wardrobe and your house?”
Is The Well-Dressed Home a fashion book that crosses over into home décor? Or a home décor book crossing over into fashion? Joyfully it seems to be a bit of both!
Inspiration.
When asked about her inspiration and personal style, Annette said, “I love couture. I love the movie, Marie Antoinette,” comparing it to a Christian Dior runway show. Although she was quick to add, “Reality of my life is no way.”
As she discussed other styles more well-suited to her life, Annette stressed her appreciation for the historical references throughout interior design. How and where different design elements came into being.
Philosophy.
Ms. Tatum explained that how we live is made up of layers. “Layers of what do I do, who do I live with, where have I been…the same way your wardrobe goes.”
I really enjoyed Annette’s laid back approach to design. In talking about the flow of one room to the next, Annette responded, “Who says it all has to flow? In home decor we’re very cautious of making bold moves…whereas with clothing, we’ve all bought the wrong bikini. It’s not life-devastating.”
If I had to choose the key takeaway of my visit with Annette, it would be this. Experiment and have fun.
Annette commented, “I do a lot of bedding. Fabrics have limitations as far as what can be washed, what can be slept on…so whenever I look at fashion…I could have so much fun. We make the cupcake but then we get to decorate it, it doesn’t have to make sense, it doesn’t have to be wearable, it’s just all for the drama of the show.”
With her new book, Annette challenges us to bring the fun of fashion into home décor. And after reading her book and visiting with her…I can’t wait to start!
The following is a picture of Annette Tatum.
Stay tuned to see how you can enter to win a prize package from Annette Tatum!
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