Tuesday, February 09, 2010

The Brighter Side of Donghia



While doing research over the weekend, I came across two 1968 photos of Angelo Donghia's work that caught my eye. Are you surprised that Donghia decorated these rooms? If the answer is yes, then you're not alone. For years, I only associated Donghia with his work from the mid- 1970s and 80s- rooms that were contemporary, at times sleek, frequently neutral in color, and that really embraced the spirit of the 1970s. But if you go back and look at his work from the 1960s, he captured the zeitgeist of that era too. When I started collecting vintage 1960s magazines a few years ago, I found that the rooms that captured my attention tended to be those by Donghia.

Take, for example, the room at top. House Beautiful declared that in this room, "The Thirties return with a Sixties flourish." There's that loop chair again, although that's not what I noticed first, nor was it that graphic black and white rug (so 1960s). Instead, it was that gray silk slipper chair. How beautiful is that? Normally, I'm not a bun feet kind of gal, but these silk covered ones are kind of weird and kind of fetching at the same time. And I love the shape of the sofa and those punctuations of chartreuse.


And then there's this shot of Donghia's own foyer. Try to look past that unfortunate clipped hedged green carpet, because the story here is Donghia's use of color. You've got that pretty blue and white floral paper in the foreground and the soft blue and red portière. And look in the background- I've never thought mixing lavender and bright red. You know what? It actually works.

(Both images from House Beautiful, October 1968)

15 comments:

  1. "Donghia's" Caught my eye
    I used that company in the 80's.. Beautiful.. Did alot of silk and satan in my bedroom. I love the old Architect Design Mag's from the 60's. Floral's from Clarence House used them the most.

    There's that chair again.
    yvonne

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  2. HA! I love when people use color in such unexpected ways! No, I didn't think they would go together at all...but what do I know! People prove me wrong all the time. Beautiful post!

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  3. the last shot is fabulous! i love the shot of green if you put your hand in front of the image to hide the carpet the whole look is classic; it's the shot of green that make the room pop, don't you think? I love lining the curtain with the color of the next room. what a great way to tie the 2 spaces. I did that 2 years ago for a client with 2 fabrics to tie a dining room to a living room , and it worked beautifully. Thanks for the great post.

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  4. I know; lavender against red is actually quite lovely. I think it would have to be just the right shade of lavender and red in order for the combo to work.

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  5. John T9:31 AM

    Yes, that slipper chair first caught my eye. When the Trump Tower first opened o Fifth Avenue, the shoe store on the corner of 56th Street was decorated by Angelo Donghia. All the customer seating was slipper chairs in brown leather with bell pleats at the corners. I thought they were the peak of chic!

    Donghia also decorated the Trump's own apartment, but soon it was Ivanacized into oblivion.

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  6. John T9:34 AM

    Yes, that slipper chair first caught my eye. When the Trump Tower first opened o Fifth Avenue, the shoe store on the corner of 56th Street was decorated by Angelo Donghia. All the customer seating was slipper chairs in brown leather with bell pleats at the corners. I thought they were the peak of chic!

    Donghia also decorated the Trump's own apartment, but soon it was Ivanacized into oblivion.

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  7. John T- I must find a photo of those leather slipper chairs because they sound pretty swanky. Ivanacized...I love that term!

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  8. I guess I would have to call the colors of the second photo "fearless and perfect" - the green sets the stage. Love these images and "Ivanicized" fits the genre perfectly and no other descriptives are necessary. Thanks for the images--really brightened my morning.

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  9. Thanks for sharing, you are correct, I would not have guessed either of the spaces to be Donghia. The comment regarding the green rug was too funny. Also to La Petite Gallery, a mix of silk and satan in the bedroom sounds a bit frightening, lol.

    By the way, I have worked in several Trump properties in the city and cannot ever imagine him having chosen Donghia to do any work for him, as even though Ivana has been long gone...her taste level still prevails;)

    Best,
    Jaime

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  10. Is that the Loopy Chair again there? Too totally cool. Love the bold color. He's pretty swank with that but I love his mixture of textures. That depth is what gives it substance for me. Another well done post - Thanks!!!

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  11. I've started to have a hankering for slipper chairs in the living room.

    Oh, and the lavender and red thing? Works with clothes, too. Lavender dress and red lipstick? Fab.

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  12. Wowzers! I'm completely in love with that little silk slipper chair! Also, the slipper chair (or, armless sofa?) in pale lavender with white double banded skirt is too much -I'm totally in love!

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  13. I have to admit, Donghia fabrics and slipper chairs are two of my favorite things. But I love that this so clearly illustrates that what sells and is marketable isn't always what's in the designer's heart (and own home). I've offered up many a subdued, neutral, color palette but for my own home? I like some flair. Lavender and red would do...

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  14. Did anyone else notice the bright green coffee table behind the white loop chair? Love the color--if you look beyond, out the window (beautiful scenery) the coffee table and the white loop chair seem to bring nature indoors!

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  15. Anonymous12:24 PM

    Having worked at Donghia for the past 30 years, I had the privilege to work with Angelo Donghia. I am delighed by all your reactions to his design genius. The slipper chair should be back in our line- it was a BIG seller in the 80's and still so chic today!!!

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