Tuesday, June 28, 2016

A Timeless Townhouse


The Manhattan townhouse featured here today is the not the kind of home one sees very often these days, and that's a shame. Some might deem it too formal and stuffy, while others will simply declare it "grandma", the now-popular term of derision for any home that has antiques and traditional fabrics in it. But it's precisely those attributes- antiques, beautiful fabrics, and traditional furnishings- that make this townhouse remarkable. Oh, and the fact that the interiors, seen here in photographs from a 1984 issue of Architectural Digest, had changed very little since they were first installed in the 1920s.

The townhouse belonged to Mrs. Edgar W. Leonard (Adelaide), a popular figure in society who can be seen in the painting above. According to the AD article's author, Susan Mary Alsop, Mrs. Leonard was vivacious and fun, known for her "celebrated parties in the 1920s and 1930s."  Mrs. Leonard's friend, Mr. Winston "Winky" Thomas, concurred, admiring the food she served ("Old-fashioned American food of the best kind- the first tiny green peas, the first corn, the first soft-shell crabs, and plenty of everything.") and the mischief she fostered ("Adelaide, who was flirtatious herself, loved to encourage her friends' flirtations. Nothing serious, you know- a man might have a summer's dalliance while his wife was somewhere else.") So even if you find the dining room, below, just a tad bit stuffy-looking, you now know that the dinner parties were anything but.

While the article credits Mrs. Nancy Pierrepont, the talented society decorator, with assisting with the interiors, Mrs. Pierrepont insisted that she only helped Mrs. Leonard refresh fabrics and furniture every now and then.  What is extraordinary is that when you study the painting above, done by Troubetzkoy in 1925 and capturing Mrs. Leonard in her drawing room, and then compare it to the 1984 photo of the drawing room below, you'll see that very little changed through the years.  The furniture placement, and, in fact, much of the furniture, remained the same.  And speaking of the drawing room, have you ever seen such an elegant and gleaming room?  The paneled walls positively glowed thanks to ample candlelight.  Now, this is how a room used for nighttime entertaining should be done.

With a home like this, it's no wonder Mrs. Leonard's parties were first-rate.



The townhouse's entrance hall was the first indication that much of the home retained its early interior finishes.


A corner of the drawing room, with its antique French furniture and Chinese Export porcelains.



The drawing room.  Susan Mary Alsop described it as having a "cosmopolitan sensibility."  And it does.


The dining room, where good food and mischief was served up.  During one dinner party, a young Yul Brynner provided violin music.


The library, where guests were entertained during small parties.


A guest room, furnished with fabrics and wallpaper by Brunschwig & Fils.

All images from Architectural Digest, December 1984, Billy Cunningham, photographer

17 comments:

  1. Younger people may sneer as much as they like at "grandma" interiors, as they sit texting, unaware of their surroundings, in their bleached, bland, sterile, characterless living quarters. Notice I didn't say "homes," because four walls do not a home make. Meanwhile, the rest of us who understand the culture of colour, fabrics, and period antiques that give a sense of history and welcome may continue to enjoy our homes. They don't know what they are missing.

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    1. Anonymous12:22 PM

      Ms. Lambert, I agree with you completely! I am now 60, but I started collecting antiques since my early 20's after completing grad school, and I certainly wasn't "grandmaish" back then (or now either). However, I must say, my 20 year old nieces love visiting me and have commented on how much they like being in my home compared to their parents' home because theirs is so minimalist. I thought they were just being kind until I mentioned to them that when I'm gone, to make sure they get an appraiser before they sell anything. I was quite surprised when they told me that they wouldn't sell anything because they liked my furniture so much and want to keep it!

      Jennifer, thank you so much for posting these photos, they are truly elegant, and reflect what a home should be.

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    2. Cynthia, Well-said, and yes, the kids don't know what they're missing.

      Anonymous, I'm thoroughly impressed that your nieces have an appreciation for your antiques. Good for them! They have both sense and good taste.

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    3. Anonymous1:38 PM

      Cynthia - Right on! You've hit the nail on the head. Perhaps the "grandma" style is unachievable (read unaffordable), and therefore, not on the radar of the youth. Too bad. I am 71, and love the look of this townhouse, and the fact that the present owners have kept it mostly "as is." Why change what works? A house becomes a home through the years, with layers of loving purchases and collections. It reflects the owners passions. It is not a soulless abode, furnished "instantly" from the local furniture store (without warmth).

      And thank you Jennifer, for delving into the older magazines featuring these wonderful dwellings. I love this! And am always in awe of what the past offered! Please continue!

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    4. It is not unaffordable - but it takes time. Time searching antique stores, or local estate auctions. Most people want instant decorating now. Plus everyone wants the same as everyone else, and also wants to change everything every few years thanks to marketing from big box homeware stores. As you noted in the post, these interiors didn't change much in a period spanning 60 years. Their quiet elegance and timelessness lasted the distance, but perhaps for those addicted to the new and fast fashion it just doesn't appeal.

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  2. Anonymous1:13 PM

    I have never commented before, but this is an excellent post. Loved it. There is a lot to learn from these photos. But, I am afraid the era of interesting parties and social gatherings are gone. It seems most people no longer even have social skills. Oh well. The photographer is Billy Cunningham, might that be Bill Cunningham? The fashion photographer that passed away on Saturday? http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/style/bill-cunningham-legendary-times-fashion-photographer-dies-at-87.html?_r=0

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    1. I believe they are two different photographers. One specializes in photographing interiors.

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  3. My living spaces have been called 'Grandma' since I was in college but I wear the moniker proudly. Better to know who you are and be comfortable and proud of your home then a lemming following the (Ikea) crowd.

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    1. Anonymous12:06 PM

      Very well said ArchitectDesign. I am so tired of seeing "Pottery Barn" interiors in homes today which are completing lacking in personality.

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  4. Is that berber carpeting in the guest room? It can't be, can it? Wasn't berber in basements back then? I mean, this carpeting loos great.

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    1. I would assume that it wasn't, but whatever it is, it does look great. A good neutral carpet.

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  5. Well, I think it's time to embrace our inner Grandma! I could live happily in these rooms.

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  6. Are you sure about the date of the painting? The hair and body shape of the woman in the painting sure says 1950s to me. Certainly not the style of the 1920s.

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  7. Linda, the article states the painting was done in 1925.

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  8. Love this.....there is no need to constantly renovate when classic period style never dates.

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  9. When I started working as a decorator 30+ years ago, these sort of interiors were considered the height of good taste and design. Sadly, they're just not done anymore, or at least very rarely, nor is there much appreciation for this quality of work. I hear all kinds of reasons as to why, but I'm not sure. It's just sad to me. Thank you Jennifer for posting these gorgeous photographs. I love them.

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  10. Thank you for sharing your point of view about this type of traditional interior, as I appreciate it so much. It tells a story that we either know or that we can only imagine. I have been wondering what would become of this style. An earlier post states, "A house becomes a home through the years, with layers of loving purchases and collections. It reflects the owners passions." I could not agree more! Bravo!

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