Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Moody Blues


Have you seen House Beautiful's new look?  If you have read the September issue, then you know that House Beautiful has been redesigned, and it looks terrific.  HB has long been known for its coverage of color in interiors, and the new design emphasizes this focus.  Color now plays a starring role, with the first section of the magazine being devoted to it.  Each issue will open with the color that HB loves for that particular month, and for September, that color is Indigo, a shade that "knows no borders and has many different moods."

Blue, with its enticing range of shades, is a particular favorite of mine, so much so that I enveloped my living room in powder blue, teal, and peacock blue.  And although I don't currently have any touches of indigo in my home, I do appreciate the shade's attitude.  Indigo implies depth, soul, and fortitude, at least to me anyway.  I attempted to compile a list of my favorite old and historic rooms where indigo was the defining color, and truth be told, I couldn't think of too many.  I expanded the list to include other moody and atmospheric hues of blue, and here is what I came up with:

In the Chinese Pavilion at Drottningholm, this shade of blue is able to stand up to the exuberance of the pavilion's decor. It also frames the Chinoiserie murals, allowing them to come into sharp focus.



Some shades of blue are stately-looking, thus making them appropriate for architecturally formal interiors. This photo shows how the Entrance Hall at Monticello appeared in the late 1960s. Today, the walls of the Entrance Hall are painted a historically accurate Whitewash, while the dado is painted in a shade of yellow-orange. Nonetheless, I find this shade of Wedgwood Blue to be attractive.




Madeleine Castaing is a designer whom I associate with blue, especially those shades that are quirky.  In the photo directly above, you can see the salle de jeu at Castaing's residence on Rue Jacob.  Above that is a photo of a Castaing-decorated apartment in which the library is awash in blue.  The underside of the arch is papered to simulate lapis lazuli.



The Paris apartment of Jansen designer Pierre Delbée has to be one of my favorite residences. The entrance hall's Louis XV-style paneling was painted in different shades of blue. The color effect gives added dimension to the small space.



According to Jeffrey Simpson's Rose Cumming: Design Inspiration, Rose Cumming's library had "jade-green walls that were washed with Prussian blue".  Here, the achieved shade of blue is murky and even rather mysterious-looking.



I believe that in the pantheon of blue rooms, couturière Jeanne Lanvin's bedroom must be one of the most memorable. Her signature shade of "Lanvin Blue" is similar to cornflower blue. It's feminine, and yet, it's not too sweet.




This Michael Greer-designed room was lavished with primary-colored decor.  Take away the red rug, and this room would look suitable for the 21st-century.




Frankly, this is not one of my favorite blue rooms. However, it's interesting to note that in an effort to create a blue backdrop in this room, designer John FitzGibbons stained the wall's rough wooden boards a deep shade of blue.

14 comments:

  1. Jennifer, like you, I love nearly every shade of blue. Gorgeous images!
    Xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena

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  2. I believe I could only live in the palest of blue with cream colored moulding and fireplace mantles.

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    1. Donna, I also like pale blues as well. Light shades are less moody and more serene. They can, at times, be more feminine, too.

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  3. Jennifer, perfect timing. Took a page (or front cover) out of Michael Greer's book. Our entrance hall is currently being painted in that blue. Love it already. No red carpet but just might have to have a vase of white chrysanthemums. His book and yours are my now well-thumbed reference books. And yes, it does look suitable for the 21st century.

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    1. Pamela, First, thank you, thank you for mentioning my book alongside that of Michael Greer. That is a huge compliment as I love Greer's book and admire his work. I'm sure your entrance hall looks smashing in that wonderful, vibrant shade of blue.

      FYI- I have been told that this Greer room was done for Charlton Heston.

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    2. Yes, I too heard that room belonged to Charlton Heston. Fab. Your book is a sheer delight. I sincerely hope you have another one up your sleeve.

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  4. Anonymous8:50 AM

    Drottningholm is stunning. Thanks for sharing.
    Laurie Ward
    Hedgerow Antiques

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    1. Laurie, It does look stunning. If only I could take a trip to see it in person. Maybe one of these days!

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  5. Love all the blues. Lovely photos, Jennifer! I have to go on record, however, by expressing my vast disappointment in the new format of HB. For me, the thrill is gone : (

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  6. I do love the jade walls washed with blue, I could relax in a room like that.

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  7. I'm just looking at these pictures and can only imagine: If I would live in such beauty rooms, I probably would feel like a King :) Excellent work, real masterpieces.

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  8. I'm not sure but is this what they call retro chic? I always get confused with terms and definitions. Thanks

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  9. Hmmm... I too adore blue, but I find some of these rooms really overdone. The Michael Greer room is much too unsubtle for my taste, even if you remove that dreadful red carpet. The blue is just too strong and smothers the panelling completely. It would be much more attractive if it had been painted in the classical manner using three shades of blue to add "mouvement", as Nancy Lancaster would have called it. Why on earth are the insides of the bookcases painted the same shade as the rest? Otherwise, the Monticello, Castaing and Lanvin rooms are lovely. I generally find that washing everything in blue is too cool, and prefer to add yellow, pink or red. The last room, in my opinion, only confirms the old adage that "blue and green should never be seen"!!!

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