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Veronica in WonderlandSupermodel mom Veronica Webb FaShionS a mooriSh oaSiS in manhattanB y A m y e l i s A k e i t h

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 inspira-

tion 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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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 an-tique 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.

L i v e Home

American GypsyIn cReATInG her own personal Marrakesh in Manhattan, Ve-ronica 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.

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 impor-tant 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 in-timidated 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 beauti-ful placemat and drinking glasses in a pretty color can really trans-form your dining room table. Commit to spending $5 on flow-ers to make your space feel fresh.

Style Tip:be boLDBlend patterns, colors and textures freely to make a true personalstatement.

1. Scene SetterAnchor the room with a large piece of art or a collec-tion of portraits hung above the seating area.

2. Go RedArt 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 PlayComplement the colors of the room with ethnic prints for a beautiful tableau.

4. Animal InstinctTake a walk on the wild side. Add an exotic touch to any space with a zebra-

hide rug.

5. Layer ShadesDont be afraid to go monochro-matic 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 display-ing a fun mask or vacation memento.

Ideas for

eclectic elegance

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4L i v e Home

Get the Look! Want to create your own exotic retreat? Check out these global furnishings and accents for every budget:

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 child-hood 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.

Cowhide Assorted Zebra Deco Rug ($1,200;

www.abccarpet.com)

7. In Plain SightStore toys out in the open without being sloppy by stylishly incorpo-rating them into the room. Embrace the childish fancy

of it all.

8. TravelTreasuresHome dcor

doesn't stop with furniture and throw pillows.

Incorporate tribaljewelry, like this piece from North Africa, to show

your fashion sense.

9. Urban GardenSoften city living with fresh flowers in a contrasting color. That goes a long way to make you feel fresh and light, plus theyre

beautiful.

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Sahara Treasure Box ($495; www.casablancamarket.com)

AphroChic Clinton Hill Pillow ($105; www.aph-rochicshop.com)

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

com)

Riad Sandy White Hang-ing Lantern ($159; www.casablanca-market.com)

Moroccan Carpet ($1,100;

www.casablanca-market.com)

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

James Boyce Kitchen Candle by Voluspa ($35;

www.ambria-cove.com)

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