At Home with Heather Hermann: An ’80s Deco Tour

The ’80s Deco living room of Heather Hermann

Did you catch our last ’80s Connection interview featuring performer, visual artist, costume designer and art dealer Heather Hermann, aka The Duchess of Deco?! As part of the interview process, Heather sent over a slew of pics documenting the design genius of her Deco-fabulous Las Vegas apartment. You know that feeling you get when you go over to a friend’s house and realize you have the same lamp, throw pillows and penchant for decorating with candles? In this case, we have the same globular vases, ceramic swan collection and penchant for decorating with minerals and quirky terrariums. I instantly knew a home tour was in order! Check out all the details…

Words of wisdom reflecting Ms. Hermann’s design philosophy: “Conquer what you fear! Dare to be wild! My whole fascination with this stuff started because of my extreme love/hate relationship for teal and pink. No really. I loathe it. It gives me the childhood feels and creeps me out at the same time. So…why not embrace it!? hah!”

The Living Room

We’ll start with the living room, also shown at the top of the post. Fluorescent pink details are sprinkled throughout the space. Heather picked up these acrylic pieces at stores such as Target, Home Goods and Office Max. She calls them her “fluro goodies”!

Ms. Hermann’s home is sprinkled with fluro pink goodies

Heather’s home is filled with unforgettable details that create a truly unique aesthetic, from ’80s Deco vases to vintage Art Deco collectibles. An abundance of shelving and surface tops provide the perfect display areas for her collection.

A Deco oasis

Let’s take a look at the focal point of the living room, which Ms. Hermann calls the “masterpiece”. It’s an ’80s Deco bed and nightstand combo, which has been repurposed into the perfect frame for a clean-lined IKEA couch. Yes, this masterpiece was part of a set that includes a dresser and a wardrobe. Check out that black lacquer and faux marble!

Fluorescent pink details in the living room

See the chic sculpture by Lindsey B. below (the man in the tux)? Although worth $200, it was purchased at Goodwill for a mere $2!!! Combined with a globular vase and other standout pieces, the sculpture looks right at home.

A Lindsey B. sculpture, Deco vases and pink fluro details

I had to ask about the two images below. First of all, check out that geo planter (below, left)! Heather picked it up at Home Depot and embellished it with a hand-painted gold triangle. The planter’s salmon pink shade was the perfect backdrop for the geometric design. See the Nagel piece in the nook below (right)? That blue triangle on the wall is also hand-painted. So clever!

Geometric touches are a staple in Heather Hermann’s living room nook

Here we get another look at the nook, complete with ’80s-style blooms…

Nagel, blooms and geo style

The Dining Room

Hungry for more? Let’s head into the dining room! I remember seeing those ’80s Deco dishes below in department stores when I was a kid. They are picture-perfect in Heather’s Deco-chic dining room. We also see a hand-painted triangle in dreamy shades, followed by geometric shelving and Asian-style accents.

’80s Deco dishes and Asian flair in the dining room

More fluorescent pink is in order, this time showcased in a fish tank that was purchased at an indie pet store. And those pops of yellow are a wonderful contrast. The artwork on the walls was created by Ms. Hermann herself! We mentioned that she’s a gifted artist, right?!

Bright yellow and fluorescent pink pop in the dining room

The Office

Time to head into the office, where collectibles reign. From display cases filled with figurines and prized possessions to a linear spread of mineral samples, this room is a feast for the eyes. Of the high-quality minerals, Heather says, “There’s a place out here in Las Vegas called Jewelry and Mineral that’s on Sahara Ave that a geologist and a Reiki master work at. They have some of the best specimens for sale there and get rare products from all over the world.”

Red and black meet minerals in the office of Heather Hermann

Notice the glow in the pics below?! The artwork is by Craig Drake (left), and many other illuminating details in this office come in shades of yellow and gold:

Fluoro, gold and things that glow

Artfully arranged collectibles take center stage in the office…

Collections

The Bedroom

Deco takes on a decadent vibe in the boudoir! A hand-painted triangle in shell pink is the perfect geo focal point. The artwork to the left of the bed is one of Hermann’s own creations titled Miami Disco:

The ’80s Deco bedroom of Heather Hermann

The mirrored nightstands hold spherical lamps from IKEA, as well as crystals. A succulent terrarium stands out in this space, thanks to clever composition and a globular form.

Crystals and a terrarium grace the mirrored nightstand

We see another hand-painted geo planter below (right), as well as two finds that I happen to have in my own home: a retro Toyo vase with a ribbon motif, and a black ceramic swan (shown below, right).

Salmon, black and white are always Deco-fabulous

I also own the round peach vase we see below, but it truly appears to be made for Heather’s space! See that Erte book on the bottom shelf of the nightstand? Ms. Hermann is an Erte expert,  in charge of the largest estate collection of Erte in the world at the biggest privately owned gallery in the world, Martin Lawrence Galleries. And we can’t forget the Brazil poster! The film is one of many influences on Heather’s aesthetic.

Details from a Deco bedroom

Perfume bottles, acrylic and blossoms add a crystalline, feminine touch to this decadent bedroom:

Blossoms and perfume bottles

Let’s hear it for mood lighting! Don’t the Deco dogs and faceted crystals look mysterious next to those glowing orbs?!

Deco dogs and glowing orbs

The Powder Room

We end today’s tour with a glimpse at the powder room–a celebration of ’80s Deco accents, from floral artwork to peach ceramics. It’s hard not to love the mix of retro and modern items…

Details from a Deco bathroom

I’ll leave you with some thrifting advice from Ms. Hermann, which I’ve definitely found to be true in my own adventures:

I go with my gut. I get the “itch” so to speak. There are some days I am out and about and I just get “the feeling” and end up hitting 3 spots. Only three. If I find nothing then I wait a week. Typically the rule of 3 has never steered me wrong. I ALWAYS find something even if it’s large or small, one thing or many. I read and look at a lot of vintage interior design for Art Deco glam and 80’s minimal, so I just buy what I see and go with my gut decor-wise later. I dread the day I buy a retro vintage 80’s house out here in Vegas…because it’s gunna be an exciting sight to hold once I fill it with so much stuff. I’m all about the visions of the future. I love the clean look but I also love the British dystopia appeal as well. Darker earth tones with wood paneling contrasted by neon and elegant artworks. Anytime I find fine/unique brass I buy it as well….along with towel swans and globular vases. I’m addicted…..to globular vases. It’s truly a decor sickness.

 Thank you, Heather, for sharing your beautifully curated Deco-Futurist world with us!