Design Challenge: Diana Ross - The Boss (1979)
I grew up with a love for music just as much as, if not more than, my love for interior design. My parents are musicians and as I kid I was transfixed by family stories about their past lives in the biz. My father—a guitarist and vocalist— has several stories about wild times playing music in the 70s and the 80s including the time he almost drove the members of Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes off of a cliff while driving the tour bus through Canada with no drivers license. My mom—a talented singer and songwriter— would tell me stories about following Sly and the Family up north to Toronto only to meet a band, join said band, become the leader of said band and rename the band after herself all within the span of a pay cycle.
I can also recall as a kid following them to gigs when they couldn’t find a babysitter on short notice and sitting quietly in the back of the venue doing my homework and listening to them command a stage. Suffice to say, both of my parents had a huge influence on me growing up and the sounds of jazz, R&B, soul and even some country were a large part of the soundtrack to my childhood.
I even ended up joining a ska band later in life and to answer your question: No, we weren’t that good.
Anywhoooo… a few weeks back during Black Women’s History Week, I was assigned a design project that allowed me to marry my two great loves. I was tasked with creating a living space inspired by the design aesthetics, era and color palette of five of my favorite album covers from Black women in music who helped shift and shape our culture. I wasn’t sure who the other four artists were going to be but I KNEW the first on the list HAD to be Diana Ross’ iconic album art for her 1979 breakout disco classic The Boss.
Motown Records
“The Boss” marked a return to Motown Records for the iconic front-woman of The Supremes and a solo career that would be catapulted even further into the spotlight thanks in part to the slick production of Niles Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. The album features infectious disco grooves and empowering lyrics and was Ms. Ross’ first platinum album since leaving the trio. The record features Diana ethereally-posed with her signature flowing hair and a gauzy peasant top and skirt in naturalistic blues and greens.
It’s a statement photo (for a woman who takes nothing but statement photos) and I knew my living room inspired by it needed to make a statement as well. I decided the sofa would be the main focal point and what better way to make a statement than with a massive green leather Chesterfield sofa built for a Queen?
This “Eco Leather” version in “Autumn leaf” is a real stunner from Cococo Home.
Now, you know I love a green sofa moment. A Chesterfield sofa says, “I come from money.” The tufted cushions practically scream, “Poor people make me sad.” and a green leather Chesterfield sofa exclaims, “Thanks for stopping by! Now kindly leave because I have better people coming over in five. Thanks!”
With a statement sofa like this there really isn’t a need to say much else but Ms. Ross is anything but a wallflower so I decided to accent the richness of green leather with its’ textural opposite—a soft lush velvet curtain to mimic the effortless flow of her peasant skirt.
These Marble Blue velvet curtains from Etsy make any window feel regal.
To play into the “Unexpected Red Theory” of both the album art and my designed living space, I chose these stunning (STUNNING!) vintage French chairs in baroque style with winged backs.
Here is the finished project.
Let me know your thoughts. And if you’d like to see a room inspired by your favorite album please reach out directly at sacredandlit@gmail.com with suggestions.
Credits:
