You know when you look at a design magazine from ten years ago and you see a home and think "Oh my, so dated" or "That's unfortunate". You might even say to yourself "Thank goodness that trend bit the dust. R.I.P." Well, ten years ago Albert Hadley's apartment was featured in Elle Decor, and nothing- seriously, nothing- looks dated.
We all have those watershed moments in our lives. Well, this article was mine. Seeing Mr. Hadley's apartment was one of the catalysts that led me down the road to where I am today. Sounds melodramatic? Perhaps. But seeing perfection can kind of get you verklempt.
(All photos from Elle Decor, Feb/Mar 2000; Fernando Bengoechea photographer)
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Ten Years and Counting
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It is always lovely to know, feel in your heart, when the door opened and the future walked in. I agree with you about the timelessness of this room. Of this man.
ReplyDeleteWell said. I truly aspire to create in a style that is impossible to tell when it was done.
ReplyDeleteI have been reviewing a lot of my old design books these days and have consistently found one thing that seems to date a room...a computer. I'd look at pictures of rooms that would otherwise seem timeless and if there was a computer in the space it would automatically date the picture. A lot of these books were on workspaces thus the computers, but it is a good thing to remember when photographing our spaces I believe.
ReplyDeleteWe are all so happy that you opened that magazine. My life has been richer for what you share with us.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Good point. Technology can def. date an interior. I guess if we are photographing our spaces we should hide the computer and the phones!
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks Meg. So very kind of you :)
ReplyDeleteVery chic - such style! A great share, and an excellent point on the technology. (I bet those Wall Street bankers thought they looked so cool with their phones larger than a loaf of bread!)
ReplyDeleteBest,
Stephanie
I hope AHs next book is just pictures of all his own interiors for all of his houses and apartments. Its the shear number of all these fully completed rooms by one man for himself that I find so astounding. I dont know of any other decorator that could equal this. Its a real testament to his passion, focus and creative drive for decor.
ReplyDeleteAnon- Absolutely! I couldn't agree more. When I think of my favorite Hadley projects, almost all of them are different versions of his homes.
ReplyDeleteThe color of those walls! Simply amazing.
ReplyDeleteSo many things stand the test of time, sophistocated elegance is one of them! Love the images.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't touch a thing!
ReplyDeleteStylish, in more ways than one. That's how to dress well casually. I've got a shot there. Putting together interiors that look that good? I haven't a prayer.
ReplyDeleteI've got the coffee table book and it is fatastic.
I can SO move into that - Classic Hadley , whatta guy. You are right, classic does not age.
ReplyDeleteSigh....
Mr Hadley is absolutely the master- and a true Southern gentleman-
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate enough to be showroom manager of Hinson & Company in New York when Mr. Hadley's fabric and wallpaper line was being developed and made its debut in Hinson showrooms throughout the country-
The line is incredible with a few standouts particularly in the wallpaper--"Bristol", the very simple and classic caning pattern is fantastic and the trellis version of the caning, "Paris", is fabulous-I have it in my bathroom in Louisiana and it makes me very happy every day!
We Southern designers can only hope to carry on the superb style Mr Hadley has produced-
Thanks for sharing this post with your readers--
Jeffery McCullough
I adore him and that apartment! And it is amazing how timeless. You are the very first blog I read and have inspired ME for sure. Keep up the beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteIt still looks beautiful -doesn't date (except maybe that dried branch in the corner of the living room). Flower arrangements are one of the tell-tale signs of dating an interior in old magazines!
ReplyDeleteIt's one thing not to look dated. But Mr. Hadley's work looks contemporary ten years later, twenty years later... I'm in awe.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's beautiful and timeless, but being a designer, do you think his place even looked like that an hour after the shoot? He was probably on to the next thing.
ReplyDeleteI had the pleasure of having Mr. Hadley visit my classroom. He is truly a gentleman.
ReplyDeleteGreat post on a very talented man! Thanks PoC!
ReplyDeleteI think what also makes it so appealing is that it's comfortable in a gracious way, and it's not trying to hard to be something that it's not. I think this kind of goes along with what Jeffrey said about Mr. Hadley being a gentleman.
ReplyDeleteStephen- Yes, exactly. It's not just not dated, but still contemporary and relevant. What a rare gift he has.
ReplyDeleteDeborah- Something tells me that his apartment looked pretty much the same after the shoot. I've read that he constantly tweaks things, but the general scheme I believe stayed the same. But, I could be wrong ;)
ReplyDeleteDandy, I've had the chance to meet with him twice. It's going to be tough to ever top that experience!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. I'd be beside myself if I could just have one thing from that place of beauty!
ReplyDeleteI really like your blogs because everything according to my expectations is availble here …… Thanks
ReplyDeleteSo very true words to remember;
ReplyDeleteTrue style will live on well beyond the photo shoot.
It is the classic design style that todays hot look and tomorrows trend draws from.
Leslie
Verklempt - I agree. My favorite, and bang-up-to-date still, of Mr Hadley's own interiors is the one published in Manhattan Style (1990) - containing, amongst other well-mannered furniture, a Syrie Maugham dolphin console flanked by Regency klismos chairs against tin tea-paper walls.
ReplyDeleteI ADORE Albert Hadley. He's proof that trends go in and out but classic design really lasts. Plus hes the sweetest man!
ReplyDeleteThere's a reason he's considered one of the best! Timeless and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt's so personal and uncontrived. I was at a dinner recently where someone said something along the lines of "He has never been a brand." Beautiful. Exactly.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't figure out how I missed this issue. Realized when I saw the date - I had a baby ten years ago. I was either distracted or exhausted.
I don't think great taste ever becomes dated--it simply evolves and stretches. And now I know how to spell "verklempt"--it was one of Mr. Hadley's rooms in his country house that sealed the deal for me. Great post!!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful post -- Albert Hadley can do no wrong! My heart skipped a beat because I've had that first pic with the glossy red walls in my morgue files forever. You're right, his work is timeless.
ReplyDeleteWell....as Coco Chanel said-"Fashion fades, only style remains the same"...and Hadley is all style...
ReplyDeleteVery classic indeed. But photos of his apartment 30 years ago have a timeless quality as well. And it is interesting to see what stays and what goes. Some of the furnishings in this shoot were formerly in the P-H offices.
ReplyDeleteDear Peak, Thanks for this wonderful post on Mr. Hadley's timeless apartment. Margaret Russell told me that it was the best selling issue of Elle Decor. I wish I had more than one copy! I have looked at mine so many times, just the cover is getting a little tired! No wonder, after ten years of admiration!
ReplyDeleteIs that Stephen Drucker or HB commenting on your blog? That is fantastic. And Albert Hadley--he's just a class act.
ReplyDelete