Dear Snoops,
It is important for us discuss the status of TROMPE L’OEIL CULTURE (T.L.C.) — another crucial form of décor escapism, and one that is particularly relevant now as:
everything is a mess, i.e. so tools for daydreaming are crucial
it is cl*mate-sensitive, i.e. ‘travel’ without footprint
it is dimensional as f*ck, i.e. are we not yet exhausted by the culture of the flat, ‘simplified’ visual M.O. of digital? The real-lifeness of the homescape seems to demand depth and complexity, as a counterbalance
it is antithetical to ‘décor for resale’, i.e. the toxic imperative to imagine how ‘the market’ will respond to one’s personal tastes
T.L.C. in this context, we posit, is actually a PROGRESSIVE and FUTURE-FOCUSED décor act – approaching ‘radical’ and Politically Left. This differs from the popular imagination, where Trompe is (a) Palazzo, (b) tacky faux-Palazzo, (c) either way: Conservative.
And many times, it is: for example in Apple’s “TOWER THEATER” Los Angeles location, a.k.a. a palazzo of commerce. (Apple suggests to be progressive, but is Not.) Etc.
But T.L.C. is also, and more interestingly, very much a plaything of the Proletariat. Let start by exploring its range, first in the case of “DINING DÉCOR”.
PART 1: THE ACCESSIBILITY OF TROMPE
EXHIBIT A: RANGE
Cafe Metropole was “the latest thing” in mid-80s Roppongi, and upscale place in an upscale neighborhood. Rarified, bougie Trompe.
The table, by contrast, is for “Us”. It was a coastal California spy-ery of
’s LILY S., and where major is also, y’know, not ‘rarified’ per se. It is Everyday.Both are dining: the former is Elite-ified Elegance, the later is Populist Play.
R-A-N-G-E!!!!!!!!!!!
We shall now direct you to the Italian coastal city of “RECCO”, whose central buildings are F*CKING DRIPPING in trompe, establishing it as a T.L.C. CAPITAL. The town is a normal town (i.e. not some wealthy enclave), majorly blown up (literally, we mean) in W*rld W*r 2, and so we’re talking this is 1950s rebuild-for-the-people Trompe.
EXHIBIT 2: REBUILDERY TROMPE
ASIDE: RECCO-ADJACENT IMPORTANT COASTAL STOP
Up from RECCO (5 mins) is the BAGNI SILLO, an exceptionally charming, tiny, loungers-on-huge-seaside-rocks Mediterranean bathing club, down an unmarked path behind a minuscule regional rail station.
Excellent restaurant.
And, as a third piece of evidence, may we return to one of our most prolific correspondents, the inimitable Sophie L. This is, however “FAUX”, and not full-scale TROMPE. But, she provides a crucial TROMPE-FAUX MINDSET musings. (After which we shall return to “FULL TROMPE”.)
Her décor-paintery was a direct result of The Boredom of The Unemployed, and ergo is a testament to anti-Wealth, rather than some kind of gesture of Establishment Pretension. This is London, 1985. Th*tcher was P.M. (! Major ick.)
EXHIBIT C: SHOE-STRINGERY
We’re talking mega-cheap 1930s no-heating South London. “The vibe at the time was mid-reign Thatcherism: sell the family silver, privatise the shit out of everything” — Sophie L.
The FAUX STATE OF MIND + tips, ACCORDING TO OUR VERY REAL “FAUX” CORRESPONDENT SOPHIE L.:
1. TRANSCENDENTAL
To faux is to enter a transcendental state – to literally go with the (faux) flow and be at one with wrist and brush. Correct viscosity is everything, so too immaculate prep and keeping the wet edge flowing… speed and slowness.
2. “GRAND DRAMA TROMPE”
Faux is great for doors, skirting boards and fireplaces. Trompe is a statement style for walls and ceilings. If you don’t have cornices, skirting boards or picture rails, no problem! Subtle combinations of faux et trompe can be hugely effective, especially with woodgraining.Grand drama trompe works best on a high ceiling or an entire wall where you can really knock guests flat with a depth of field sucker punch. Works best on first-time visitors. Works worst when they are trying to find the bathroom with a bottle of wine in.
3. VERSUS “HAUTE FAUX”
Trompe is mega-mannerist. Haut faux. It went so well with the rise of Neo-Liberalism in the 1980s. It makes perfect sense to revisit trompe in this era of snake oil salesmen, war criminals and fake news. It’s fake and its ostentatious but it’s also all about skilled sleight of hand, and strategic trickery.
PART 2: COMMERCIAL TROMPE
One recent visit “FOR SCALE” has made has been to a Trompe-ian dentist in Tuscany. And then we shall explore the concept of the gym. Both are situations of “UTILITY TROMPE”, the utility being distraction from Pain. (This differs from the Apple approach to Trompe-as-”BUY THIS”.)
(a) THOUGHTS ON TROMPE AS DISTRACTION
We f*cking loathe dentist visits, and so we WILL and DO wait for visits to Dr. NARCISO R. in Lucca (which is semi-annual or annual).
In moments where great Duresse might be expected (LIKE A DENTIST or HOSPITAL) many opt for kind of banal “soothing” nothingness. Yet that just tries to calm us in place. Dr. Narciso, instead, says “No, don’t be ‘HERE’, BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.” And we f*cking appreciate it.
In other circumstances, trompe may be a suitable foil for pure Décor-conceptual LAZINESS. For example, “LUXURY GYM” quite universally has become this:
The Scandinavian sensibility has left Living Rooms, perhaps, but it has colonized the décor of Exercise. And, somehow this décor is also supposed to pair with high-volume Charli or Kylie? (*”FOR SCALE” workout playlist reveal.*) No f*cking way.
But, may we propose:
A mock-up of a ‘Gym’, even using those silly-bland luxury accessories, set in Ira Kurlander’s famous “IN THE SKY” San Franc*sco apartment.
Let us just consider for a moment that Trompe might have a place not just in the Salon of past, but in the commercial spaces of Today.
Via JOCASTA INNES's 1981 “PAINT MAGIC”, it is prudent now to reflect on THE IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERESTIMATE HUMAN IMPORTANCE OF FIGURATIVE PAINTING ON WALLS:
“Every since the first shaggy hunter outlined a running deer with a stick dipped in wood ash, or puddled clay, or blood, paint has served a vastly more significant and creative purpose — AS A VEHICLE FOR THE HUMAN IMAGINATION, A CREATOR OF ILLUSIONS, THE MODEST BUT PLIABLE MEANS OF FIXING A GLIMPSE OF LOVELINESS FOR POSTERITY.
The “FOR SCALE” fantasy Kurlander gym gives you something to stare off into and contemplate beyond (a) your own image in a mirror, or (b) blonde woods, or (c) a telev*sion.
PART 3: LA VIE AU TROMPE
Trompe is best executed with a HIGH-DEGREE OF ZEAL, which is often why one doesn’t usually see a tiny slice of Trompe — though we do support that! – but rather entire décor guided by Trompe, i.e. Complete T.L.C.
One such décorscape is that of JARED F. (a décorite), who lives in Los Angeles, and who occupies the former apartment of mega-Tromper LANCE KLEMM who left a legacy of essentially Total Trompery .
The result of Jared F. moving in is a key example of one of the best approaches trompe which is “leaning in T.L.C.”, but by exentsion a more universal example of Leaning Into Whatever The F*ck A Place Is Telling You To Lean Into. When you opt to just live the life your homesphere suggests you should, very often exceptional décor happens.
And in this case, we get almost “Fun-House”, as the best aspects of the Klemm Trompe have been kind of brought into the TRUE 3D décorspace, i.e. actual objects. Those actual objects feel almost lifted from the walls.
What is exciting-enjoyable to us here is that, where a lot of Trompe is kind of “window onto another world”-escapism, this is a more of an inward looking Trompe. Instead of making you see a fantasy world beyond, in the Klemm-Jared F. apartment you hardly remember there’s a (real) world beyond at all. And that is a thrill.
Particular fans of the various “STONE” surrounding the archway bottom right.
TROMPE NOT TO FORGET:
→ We spoke of the incredible “L.A. DOOR”-made mirror, featuring pine knot trompe. IT IS THIS. And, one half of L.A. Door, DOUG M., has made a non-trompe but TRUE 3D not-what-it-is décorative maybe-hook that is a BOW MADE OF OAK. Would surely suit a Trompescape.(Both have been on show at MARTA, L.A.’s best décor-art gallery, we think.)
→ This is also not “TROMPE”, per se, but very much in the spirit of a warped blend of what’s-this-what’s-that, and it is THE CHAIR YOU WEAR, which is by L.A.’s HUBBAHUBBA and FRANCISCO ALCAZAR. Le Brilliance.
And that, folks, is it for now.
Until next week, Love and good luck.
That’s it! I’m getting a mural.
very thrilled to see this as a topic for you and love your take!