Friday, February 26, 2010

Reel Style at Home




I've got to be honest- I don't really get the home theater thing. As a child, I knew of nobody who had one in their home, no matter how large the house. Family rooms or TV rooms, yes; home theaters, no. Even if I had the space, I still don't think that I would have one. Personally, I can think of better uses of space...like a gift wrapping room à la Candy Spelling. (Just kidding.)

The space issue aside, when have you seen one that actually has style and panache? Most look like miniature versions of your local AMC theater. I get that comfort is key (which obviously explains the overstuffed recliners that are often seen), but why the dull, boring fabrics? And the color schemes tend to be pretty vanilla too.

I think this is why I'm so taken with this Elsie Sloane Farley designed "moving picture room", located in a New York home circa 1929. This is pretty snazzy, isn't it? The walls were covered in a Chinese wallpaper, and the trim was painted powder blue. Those luminous curtains were made of blue glazed cotton. Note too the fireplace (so cozy), the classic star ceiling fixture, and the long window seat with various shaped pillows. And because this was obviously the home theater of a swell, Farley added a Chinoiserie tilt top table in the back corner.

Now I'm sure that back in 1929, a home theater was quite novel- something which might explain the luxe surroundings. I can just imagine the home's owner entertaining guests for exclusive moving picture nights, and I think it's also safe to assume that the guests dressed for these get-togethers too. I admit that the chairs don't look particularly comfortable, but keep in mind that in the late 1920s, movies didn't run as long as they do today. And, people had a bit more decorum back then. Seriously, how many females of that era do you think sat with their feet propped up on the seat in front of them or worse yet had their legs splayed open?

So if someone twisted my arm and insisted that I have a home theater, I would probably do as Elsie Sloan Farley did. In my one concession to comfort, though, I truly might buy some Barcaloungers and have them upholstered in a Scalamandre Chinoiserie print fabric. I borrow this idea from society doyenne Oatsie Charles and her designer John Peixinho. In my book, anyone who can make a Barcalounger look stylish deserves an Oscar!

15 comments:

  1. As always, I so have to agree with you.Home theaters are generally really tacky and rarely used spaces. As an avid movie watcher, I'd rather be in my favorite room of the house: bedroom or living room. Why trudge to some never used part of the house to an over-stuffed and awful room?

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  2. I would think in 1929 a "moving picture room" would have been a very forward concept. I like the style of this, agreed maybe a little more comfortable chairs.

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  3. They can be incredibly chic though - there is of course the fabulous screening room Billy Haines did for Jack Warner and the over-the-top Pavillion Room at Hillwood for Marjorie Merriwether Post with its Jansen style settees with the fold-up trays at the arms.

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  4. Robert- I forgot about the screening room at Hillwood. Yes, you're quite right. I'd love to find a chic screening room c. 2000s. Surely they exist?

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  5. Ah yes, home theaters, mostly silly, pretentious, tacky, and what's with the giant screen flat screen thing anyway? If one must have a home theatre, though, let it on the scale of Hillwood, or the amazing Bakst theatre at Evergreen in Baltimore...and of course, at Shadow Lawn, a huge soulless house at Long Branch, NJ, the art deco movie theater in the basement is now used as a college auditorium.

    On another note, FYI, the wallpaper is not Chinese, but a lovely, and very ubiquitous in the 1920's, paper by Zuber called Decor Chinois. I did a post about said paper a couple of months back, that might interest you: http://thedowneastdilettante.blogspot.com/2009/12/amazing-wallpaper-zubers-decor-chinois.html

    As always, thanks for an interesting and original post. Yours was the first blog of worth that I encountered when I dipped my toe into the blogosphere, and you, and your astonishing knowledge of design history, never fail to entertain. I should really say so more often. Best regards.

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  6. Dare one ask to see the Oatsie Charles chair?

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  7. Down East- thank you for both the kind words and the clarification on the paper. I'm off to visit your post now...

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  8. John- Believe me, I wish had a visual for the chair! I read about this in a NYT article a few years back. Unfortunately, I can't find the photo. Bet it looked smashing, though.

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  9. Our version of 'home theater' was moving the living room furniture, sitting cross legged on the floor, pulling up the screen and plugging in the slide show carousal. dust moates and that hot smell of the projector were all that we needed!

    I'm so glad you colored in the photo with your words, it sounds beautiful.

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  10. What is sad is that so many suburban living rooms are, in effect, turning into home theaters, and all they are used for is watching television. I prefer to keep television out of the living room and keep this room for conversation or reading. I do believe in separate dens, family rooms, TV rooms if one doesn't want a TV in the bedroom, or as a place for kids.
    The only person I know who has a real home theater has a huge Hollywood production deal, so I forgive him. He has a legitimate reason--a nice place to screen tidbits to lure the money men.

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  11. Dandy-, if you're in the "biz", so to speak, then you get a pass on having the home theater!

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  12. Great comments, I have only seen one that looked both stylish, comfortable and dare I say scaled proportionately to family & friends having fun!!

    Karena

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  13. Oh and yes, it would be hard for me to sit still long in those chairs!!

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  14. Anonymous7:54 PM

    The only thing that is missing is the film projector: I wonder where that was positioned?
    Out in Beverly Hills there were projection rooms in the homes of Harold lloyd, Milton Getz, Charlie Chaplin and sizeable movie theatre with a small stage in the Doheny estate (Greystone). Even at Mrs. Fabbri's Palazzo in NYC there is a projection booth at the back of the galleried library.

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  15. Anon- My goodness... I think I have a lot more research to do. I think you should have written the post! :)

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