Drag darling Jackie Beat dishes decorating dirt with daring designers Miss Jonona and Señor Amor.

by Jackie Beat

Times are tough. Our country is at war, gas prices are sky high and, despite what ol’ Dubya says, we are indeed in a recession. If there’s any question whether folks are watching their money like never before, take into account how many people opted to remain at home this summer and enjoy what the media creatively dubbed the “stay-cation,” in place of a real vacation. So if we’re traveling and generally going out less, it’s more important than ever to breath new life into our home sweet homes—whether that structure is a house or an apartment. And that’s where my super-cool and ultra-fashionable pals, Miss Jonona and Señor Amor, come in! The partners, in both business and pleasure, helped me turn my new house in Highland Park into a gorgeous show place that clearly says, “A fierce bitch lives here!” I spoke to them recently about how others can transform their surroundings from blah ‘n’ boring to bold ‘n’ beautiful—without breaking the bank.

Jonona, you often combine different styles to make an entirely new look, like in my bedroom which you dubbed “Mexi-Mod.” What are some of the other sassy combinations you’ve come up with?

MISS JONONA: “Trailer Park Regency,” which exemplifies the lowbrow glamour style of the ’60s and ’70s. Think gold-etched mirrors, fake fireplaces, and red or gold velvet-lined cabinet doors with Mexi-modern rod iron. “FutuRustic,” which combines Space Age and rustic elements, such as wild animal motifs, mylar, brutal wood, chrome, electric plaids, faux fur, lucite and tusks. “Victorian-Inspired Post-Modernism,” with terrariums, eccentric displays, birds under glass domes—all with a fun, pop sensibility. Then there’s “Spooky Ookie,” which is a subsidiary of that last style, but darker and more primitive with creepy dolls, medical prints, taxidermy, macabre art and botanicals. 

Oh my Goth, and I thought futons from Ikea were scary! Señor, tell me about your recent trip, driving cross-country in a 21-foot truck pillaging America for retro treasures.

SEÑOR AMOR: Thanks to eBay and Antiques Road Show, it has become more difficult to waltz into a thrift store and find a rare designer piece. We covered 2,700 miles in 12 days, so we didn’t have a lot of time in each place. We had the most luck in antique malls because the sellers have done all the legwork of scouring thrift stores and garage sales, but you can still find some great bargains there.

Is there one item—a decorator's holy grail, if you will—for which you are always on the look out?

M.J.: I would like to find a mint condition Chinese art deco rug rolled up in the corner of a thrift store for $10!

S.A.: We have an amazing brutal wood and amorphic plastic bedroom set, but we’re missing the matching headboard.

Regardless, I’m sure you two lovebirds’ current headboard still gets quite a brutal workout! If you each had to sum up your style in just one word, what would it be?

M.J.: Eccentric!

S.A.: Groovy!

Hmmmm, like Howard Hughes and Greg Brady starring in The Odd Couple? Have you studied design or is it something that just comes naturally?

M.J.: I am currently two-thirds of the way through the professional level interior design program at the UCLA Extension. Design comes naturally to us, but I think education is very important.

I wouldn't normally ask such a seemingly surface-level question, but since this article is about design, what's your favorite color?

M.J.: Gold

S.A.: Purple

Oh great, now I can’t get this picture of Grimace dripping with Mr. T’s jewelry out of my head! Other than myself, have you done work for any other celebrities?

S.A.: We did the interior design for Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go’s. We combined Space Age and Asian elements in her downtown Los Angeles loft, including a bathroom with a mosaic tile cityscape and cave ceiling, and a dining room with original Barbarella wallpaper.

If you could decorate a home for anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

M.J.: I would have loved to work with Jayne Mansfield or Truman Capote. They both had a whimsical and adventurous sense of style and it would be fun to have a cocktail with them at the end of the day.

S.A.: Liberace would be a challenge because, while he wasn't afraid to mix styles and various periods with contemporary pieces, I’d like the opportunity to edit out some of the kitschier elements.

If you could climb into a time machine and travel back to any era, to what year would you go and why?

M.J.: I would probably pick the 1920s. I’m an art deco fanatic!

S.A.: The mid-’60s in swinging London!

The U.S. economy, not to mention the L.A. housing market, is less-than-booming. How can a person make their current abode seem like a whole new place without having to move and/or go into debt?

M.J.: Paint, wallpaper and pillows are a good start. Often times by rearranging and carefully editing one’s belongings—in other words, “de-cluttering”—one can dramatically makeover a room.

Speaking of painting, I have to give a shout out to Steven Lanasa who does amazing wallpapering, murals, faux finishes, gold-leafing, stenciling trompe l’oeil and such! Are there any styles or trends that you absolutely hate?

M.J.: I hated when everything went blah and beige in the ’90s. I hate Tuscan-style McMansions. I also hate when shows like Extreme Makeover Home Edition do kids’ rooms. Beware if you like to bowl, because you’re going to be sleeping in a bowling alley bed until you’re 18!

What is the biggest mistake a person can make when decorating their living space?  

S.A.: Fear of color and pattern is one of the principal problems we’ve encountered. There’s a misconception that beige equals comfort, that dark colors make rooms smaller, and that different patterns will clash within the same room.

Well, thank you so much for all the great tips. Any final words?

M.J.: Yes, visit our vintage furniture store, Retropia, located at 1443 N. Highland, in Hollywood!

S.A.: We’re open noon-6:30 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday!

Wow. You two are even bigger self-promoting whores than I am!

For more information on Miss Jonona and Señor Amor, visit jonamordecor.com.