I'm rather pressed for time today, so I was stumped about what today's topic would be. Then I came across this set of vignettes in the home of everybody's idol, Albert Hadley. Fortunately for me, there's not much text that needs to accompany these photos. We all know that creating a vignette or tablescape (why do I still cringe at this word?) takes skill, a flair for creativity, and an eye for proportion and color. I think it's safe to assume that Hadley possesses all of these traits. So, need a little help and guidance in arranging your vignettes? Then sit back and learn from the master!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Albert Hadley Tutorial: Vignettes 101
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Lovely post Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteI am giving you the "You Make my Day" award! There is more info on my blog! Thanks for writing such a great blog.
All the best,
Ronda
Thanks Ronda! I just left a comment on your blog! :)
ReplyDeleteInspirational as always Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteThanks Courtney!
ReplyDeleteI second the award nom. I love Hadley! I live in the Nashville area, so I have been in a house he did once. Just dreamy.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I hate the word "tablescape" is because of Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee. I'm sure she's a lovely woman, but her recipes (cream of chicken soup, stuff from boxes) make me cringe. There is also something slightly cheesy about her "tablescapes".. something Mr. Hadley has never been.
Eclectic- I think that is also why I don't like that word now. To think we went from David Hicks coining it to Sandra Lee using it!
ReplyDeleteOh man, that classic black rotary-dial telephone... Such a perfect design.
ReplyDelete-pt
It is so interesting that sometimes it's complete symmetry and sometimes it's complementary pieces and balance. A few of these are reminding me I need to get to the framer!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! My blog would not be what it is today without the help Ronda gave me when she featured me as a newbie. I'll be indebted to her forever.
ReplyDeleteI love that lettuce leaf bowl! I've wanted to collect those forever, but I never see any, just in the magazines. When I do find a piece - its out of my price range.
I also ]ove the last picture. Those magazines look so much larger than the magazines of today. Don't you wish you could read through them all?
Joni
These are all great vignettes, but I esp. love those cranes!!
ReplyDelete~Kate
OMG, I just came to post solely for the Sandra Lee association on tablescapes. I'm glad we all read the same shelter blogs and watch the same food network shows :)
ReplyDeleteJoni- I know that my HBs from the 70s are quite large- almost as big as W!
ReplyDeletePT- That photo makes me want to pull out my black rotary that's in storage!
ReplyDeletePatricia- Exactly! And that's why he's the master- he's figured out what looks good where.
ReplyDeleteKate- Me too!
ReplyDeleteReilly- How funny is that? You see, we no longer associate that word with David Hicks. Only Sandra Lee!
ReplyDeleteHe is truly the Master! Thank you for your very sweet comment about my Flowering Quice tablescape! If you look very closely, you will see my Parish Hadley book in the stack.;) Great post!
ReplyDeletePT and Peak, I agree. I have a couple of rotary phones (one in the bar that the kids got to and so now doesn't work....) They look so much better than the uninspired cordless phones I'm forced to contend with. Of course, you pay for it when they RING!
ReplyDeleteStill I think it's time to rewire and return them to their rightful places in the house.
Mr. E- My parents almost got rid of their black rotary a few years ago. I almost had a heart attack, and fortunately rescued the thing. That said, I can't use it b/c my phone service at home is voice over internet. I'm tempted to get a land line so that I can use my rotary.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, there must be a workaround for that. I know there is a handset that works with cell phones...
ReplyDeleteFantastic post Jennifer - creating great vignettes or tablescapes is truly an art form!
ReplyDeleteI still covet the gourd tureen! Great post!
ReplyDeleteMorris- Oh me too! Most definitely!
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought "Oh no, not another Albert Hadley post! I really should get back to painting the library." (btw does anyone have a perfect inky blue paint color that won't look like black?) But then I paused and remembered I love Hadley's work and scrolled down. And I'm pleased I did! Yes, magazines were bigger, and telephones were black but but what makes these vignettes (also not a great word) is the pure inventiveness: a stool on a table; a tureen not used for soup; that fav. Hadley trick of putting the desk perpendicular to the window etc... Thanks a lot!
ReplyDeleteMister- I think some of Hadley's most interesting work is in his own home. I know I learn a lot by looking at some of these detail shots! Now, I'm with you on the words vignettes and tablescapes; any suggestions for a new word???? (Re: the paint color, I don't have my fan deck with me now, but doesn't Farrow & Ball have a great dark blue that doesn't turn black? Anyone?)
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