Monday, June 22, 2009

A Room That Cools Me Down



It's hot here. Oppressively hot. Oh, and humid too. So muggy that all I want to do is lie prostrate on the sofa. I can't get interested in design today, nor entertaining...nor really anything else. But in my humidity induced stupor I did muster the strength to look through my Horst: Interiors, and I found one photo that seemed to bring the temperature down a notch or two.

That's Marella Agnelli looking at Horst's camera with an air of sangfroid. The breezy Pucci chiffon gown would be perfect in the Atlanta heat, though I'd have to ditch the jacket as chic as it may be. But what I'm taken with is that pale pea green silk banquette. What a cool, crisp sofa on which to lounge in the stifling heat. And the colors are so soothing- greens, blues, and pale yellows. Of course, the rug is a little heavy to look at right now, but the rest of the room makes me feel cool as a cucumber.

Oh, and one more that has the same effect one me is this dining room by Celerie Kemble. Those bowls are begging for some chilled gazpacho:




And now it's time to go back to my nap.

(Agnelli photo from Horst: Interiors; Kemble photo from Celerie Kemble: To Your Taste)

16 comments:

  1. Love gazpacho! I can't wait for the good tomatoes to come in. I pick up the ingredients at the farmers' market and then whip up a batch that i have all week long.

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  2. I love the orange daisys on the table too - unexpected brightness! AND I ADORE Celerie Kemble!!

    xoxo

    Ali

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  3. Jennifer: A former Pace classmate of ours turned me on to your website--it's fabulous! Glad to catch up with you virtually and perhaps we'll catch up in reality at our big reunion next year. Can you believe it has been THAT many years? Beth Howells

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  4. Meg- I wish I could come up to Baltimore and have some of that gazpacho!

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  5. Ali- I love that room of Celerie's too!

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  6. Hi Beth! How are you?? Glad you found my blog and hope to see you very soon!!!

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  7. That Agnelli room-Marella is frigid. Love the purple pillows. And there is nothing like gazpacho to keep you cool. Love the blue chinoiserie chairs in the Kemble photo. Stay cool. Thanks.

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  8. jennifer, thank you for struggling off your imaginary sofa to do this post! love both the rooms but in the Kemble, who put those green fronds there? Or maybe it's the lily things? All very confusing.The chairs are very interesting, very beautiful.

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  9. I'll take everything in both these gorgeous rooms. I have a thing for banquettes and the green silk is to die for. So strange how hot much of the South is and DC has been cold and wet. It's usually very hot here now. I'd be happy in these rooms any time of year.

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  10. Try champagne with a drop of elderflower liquer or cordial - if that doesn't cool you off it'll help you nap better. I, on the other hand, am loving this weather but find I need more naps and frequent top-ups of the champagne flute (William Yeoward is the coolest,of course.)

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  11. Anonymous12:40 PM

    Horst: Interiors is on its happy way to me - long on my wish list I finally splurged. KDM

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  12. The Kemble room does it for me (though not a fan of the light fixtures on the buffet). In any event, it IS hot here! And for great cocktails this time of year, I go for the St. Germain!

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  13. Hi Jennifer-

    Hot--You will have to come and visit your friends in San Francisco!
    It is cool and fresh and refreshing here! (Humidity unknown...).
    Cool: a ceiling fan on slow.
    Face towels in the fridge, at hand.

    While you are 'sleeping' i am sure you will dream up more great blogs.

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  14. the Horst book reaps a wealth of inspiration. I love that room - Yes and it's the tone to set in the South-NC steamy too-finally at 6:30 I could rescue the revived hydrangeas- they were grateful. It's all in the mind-isn't it? la

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  15. Cotton, cotton, cotton! I am in the same heat wave... it's terrible when it's muggy WITH the a/c on!
    I really love the chairs in the Kemble picture... and they're such a cool blue!

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  16. john in nc11:20 PM

    just drag the jacket

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