Jolie laide translated as, “Beautiful Ugly,” is the French expression that usually refers to a woman who isn’t conventionally pretty. There is something special quirky or unusually attractive about her looks. In our woke world, I am using this term not to refer to a woman, but to a decorating style. There are rooms we see that are painted colors we normally dislike, but in the context of good design excite and delight us. The photograph below depicts such a room for me. It is in the home of Patricia Greene Isen in the current issue of ELLE Decor (photo by Simon Upton). The walls of green mohair mixed with a very different hue of green painted trim inspire me rather than repel me. Jolie laide!
