Could It Be...a Humanimal?

Quirky for the sake of being quirky can be, well, a bore. But sometimes, a touch of quirkiness can be most interesting. I sometimes like to add something to my home that is a little off, perhaps a little odd, and a bit incongruous with the rest of the surroundings. You know, that thing that you look at and think "Well isn't that a little weird...but kinda wonderful too."

That's what I thought when I saw these very cool laminate trays at switchmodern, a very cool store here in Atlanta. At first glance, you might think the trays' designs are based on paintings by an Old Master. But look closely and you'll see that the subjects- mallards, zebras, birds, and monkeys- are posing and preening in all kinds of anthropomorphized settings: wearing an Elizabethan ruff; holding a shepherd's staff; even holding a glass with human hands.

What's great is that not only can you use these trays for serving, you can also hang them as art thanks to wall hooks. There are different sizes and shapes as well as a wide variety of subjects. I'm only showing the small bird trays here, but to see other trays, visit switchmodern's website.

Now, should I buy Achille, the socialite, seen at top? He looks like he's having a high old time. Or maybe Octavie, below. She's posed with peaches, something that is near and dear to this Georgia girl's heart.



Honore, the gentleman.



Islid, the noblewoman.



Octavie, the peeress.



Rosita, the maiden.


All images courtesy of switchmodern

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Want to know a secret? I love mirror. I love mirrored walls, mirrored doors, mirrored screens, mirrored furniture, and mirrors on a wall. (I don't, however, do mirrored ceilings.) Am I a narcissist? Do I like to admire my reflection? Well, no. OK, so maybe a little.

What I'm drawn to most is mirror that has something interesting going on. Think smoked or antiqued mirror or better yet verre églomisé. And mirror that has been incorporated into a room's architecture really pushes me over the edge- in a good way. What I find a shame is that so few artisans or designers are doing unique things with mirror today. (An exception is my friend Ray Goins who is a master at verre églomisé, but that's a post for another day.) Back in the 1920s, 30s and 40s, mirror really was the height of sophistication, and the imaginations of furniture craftsmen, architects, and designers knew no bounds when it came to using it. Take, for example, this door:


Now, a door like this could not have been in the apartment of a milquetoast. Instead, it graced the New York apartment of screen legend Gloria Swanson circa 1928. I can't quite figure out where the door actually is or how it opened, but that's not the point. The mirrored panels were outlined in steel molding, and in the middle was an electric fountain backed with a bright gold niche. Yes, the fountain shows questionable taste, but hey, it was Gloria Swanson. And you have to admit it was pretty creative.


Above is an outdoor ballroom designed by Nancy McClelland, a very talented and prominent designer whose name has been somewhat forgotten through time. That rather rotund fountain, the shell above the door, and the stylized tree were all made from mirror mosaic. This is really pretty fantastic. Gaudy? A bit. Do I want it on my balcony? No. But can you just imagine how this outdoor ballroom looked at night with guests attired in dinner jackets and satin bias-cut gowns, champagne coupes in hand, dancing among the mirrored decorations? Now tell me, when have you seen anyone go to this much trouble lately to do something different?


OK, so this example above might be more to your taste. A bedroom in Paris c. 1936 in which the door and window frames, the radiator covers, and tables were covered in mirror. I'm not so crazy about the commodes (or are they the radiator covers?) with the strips of mirror on them, but that door...perfection. That was some glamorous architecture!


And finally, a dining room from 1941. The mirrored fluted pilasters framed panes of mirror. The diamond inset behind the clock was a nice touch.

If mirroring walls, doors, and radiator covers seems a bit complicated, you could always buy a mirrored screen like the one at top, available from David Duncan Antiques. It's obviously not the type of mirror in which to preen, but it looks pretty smashing nonetheless.

Dress Your Candlesticks

About a year ago, I purchased some kaarskoker candle sleeves for a pair of little brass candlestick lamps that I inherited from my parents. The lamps, which I absolutely love, are very traditional, so I wanted to freshen them up with something a little bold and a little colorful- hence the kaarskoker. I became an instant convert and told anyone who would listen about these fabulous sleeves.

The whole concept behind kaarskoker was pretty genius. Designer April Pride Allison was frustrated that she was only able to source white candle sleeves for her clients' lighting. Following the old adage that necessity is the mother of all invention, April started her kaarskoker line to fill a void in the marketplace. The sleeves come in an array of colors and patterns, many of which were inspired by Owen Jones' Grammar of Ornament. They are a great and affordable way to perk up sconces or chandeliers.

Well, kaarskoker was chugging along and garnering national press (as well as a lot of fans) when April decided to expand her line. She recently designed the kaarskoker candlestick. Available in silver or brass tones, the candlestick is a blend of Bauhaus design and English antique candlesticks (not surprising as April has her Masters in Decorative Arts), and it's made to work with the line of candle sleeves.

April sent me a pair of candlesticks as well as some new sleeves to play with. What's great is that you can customize your kaarskoker candlesticks with sleeves that coordinate with a tablesetting, a room, a paint color. The sleeves come in two different lengths, so you can keep the candlestick fully extended for the tall sleeves, while you can unscrew and remove a portion of the stick to accommodate the smaller sleeves. (My explanation may not be so great, so visit the website for further details.) You can create a whole wardrobe for your candlesticks. I haven't had that much fun mixing and matching colors and pattern since outfitting my Barbie dolls a hundred years ago!

The candlesticks and sleeves are available to purchase on the kaarskoker website as well as at various Nordstroms and boutiques. Wouldn't these candlesticks be great for Fall or holiday entertaining?

(April is offering Peak of Chic readers 20% off their online orders. Enter PEAKCHIC at checkout to apply the discount.)

Eduardo Garza

For those of you who have lived in Atlanta for a while, you might remember a store named Geode which sold, well, geodes. I remember walking by Geode as a child (it was, interestingly enough, located at a mall) and being mesmerized by the displays of colorful crystals and minerals. They were so shiny, so mysterious, and so flashy. OK, so the insides of the geodes were flashy; the exteriors, not so much.

Perhaps it's this early childhood fascination with quartz and stones that explains why the stuff is like catnip to me. And perhaps it's why I was excited to be introduced to the work of Eduardo Garza. Eduardo creates sculptural pieces made from not only stones and minerals- my favorite- but also wood, eggs, and shells. (Van Day Truex always said that in design, Mother Nature is our best teacher, and Eduardo's work is testament to this.) His pieces, all hand made and sold as signed, limited editions, have caught the eye of both Bergdorf Goodman and Harrods, where his work is featured in the vignettes seen at top. In addition to being sold through both department stores, Eduardo's pieces are also available through his website.

If you're not familiar with his work, let me show you...


Citrine mounted on a gold leaf base. Far more luxe than the geodes of my childhood.


For those taken with purple, there is Amethyst mounted on a gold leaf base.


Rock Crystal on a gold base.


Fuschia stone encrusted lucite box


Fossilized wooden coasters with silver and gold leafed edging


Not all of Eduardo's work incorporates stones and wood. This handmade mask is dipped in gold.



The ostrich egg piece at top is perched on a gold leaf and malachite base with a finial handmade by Eduardo. A certain designer with the initials "AH" (and a man who is also my idol) used this piece on his designer table at the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala. The smaller egg at bottom is an ostrich egg dipped in gold.



Eduardo also works with anodized aluminum. I think the island coaster series is fun. The coral tray is a different take on the classic ocean motif.

Design Equivalent of Lipstick

Haven't you always heard that when the economy gets shaky, lipstick sales go on the upswing? Women may cut back on buying Manolos, but they are not going to stop purchasing makeup. It's also a matter of treating oneself to something nice. It might be hard to justify at $600 pair of shoes, but a $20 tube of lipstick? That's easy.

I think that many times it's the little details that can make one's home seem well-appointed and even quite luxurious- perhaps even more so than expensive fabric or elaborate curtains, for example. And the good thing is that it doesn't have to cost very much to make you and your house feel special.

Here are some of my recent lipstick purchases. What about yours?


I recently bought a box of monogrammed matchbooks. No, I don't smoke, but I seem to burn a lot of candles, and it's great to place a matchbook with each candle in the house.


Who doesn't love fresh flowers around the house? At times, I like to splurge, but when I'm in a hurry, I just buy a bunch of carnations from Publix. They're cheap and they last forever. The key is to buy only one color and group them en masse. Bright pink, white, or deep burgundy are my favorite colors. (The carnation's best friend is Joe Nye. I can't think of another designer who uses carnations more often than Joe. And they always look fabulous.)


It used to drive me crazy- everytime I was on the phone and needed to write something down, I was always running around my house like a madman looking for a pen. A while back I purchased a bunch of colorful pencils that I display in julep cups or old candle votives, and I color coordinated them to each room. I know, I know, some of you might be rolling your eyes right now, but I swear, it doesn't look too contrived.


If you're sick of ikat, then just skip this photo. These West Elm pillows look great on the chairs of my terrace. And, they're only $19 per pillow. A lot of look for a little money.

(Image at top: Photograph by Leombruno-Bodi, Vogue, April 1960; courtesy of Conde Nast Store. Image of tablesetting by Joe Nye courtesy of joenye.com and House Beautiful)

What's in a Name?

I've come to the conclusion that I'm a sucker for furniture and accessories described as "boudoir". What that says about me is anybody's guess, and I say let's not go there. But, if pressed to explain why I perk up when I see "boudoir" used as an adjective, I'd say that I just assume that it's going to be something glamorous, feminine, slight in size (no boudoir piece is ever very large), and evocative of the 20s or 30s. But don't let the moniker fool you- a lot of these pieces would work quite well in a powder room, an entry hall, even in the kitchen. Boudoir- it's not just for bedrooms anymore.


A pair of Rock Crystal Boudoir Lamps created by MJH Design Arts


Doesn't this boudoir chair from the 1940s look like something straight out of a Cedric Gibbons designed movie set? (Available from Venfield.)


More boudoir lamps, this time made of Murano glass. From Eric Appel.


Hickory Chair has this boudoir sofa by Marietta Himes Gomez. A great size for the bedroom of course, but it would also work well in a small living room or study.




I like these boudoir shams from Leontine Linens. I suppose you could put one in an armchair, but I do think that these shams are best left in the bedroom.


How about a boudoir candle?

Image at top: This still from the 1931 movie "Captivation" has nothing to do with this post; it was one heck of a boudoir, though. (Image from Screen Deco (Architecture and Film, 3.))

Crystal Rock of Ages

We had our rock crystal moment a few years back. Obelisks, spheres, votives, and lamps made of quartz were de rigeur for a time. And while it was never as ubiquitous as coral (which, for the record, I still like), I got a little tired of it.

That is, until now. I was browsing through the catalogue for Christie's upcoming auction "European Furniture, Works of Art, Tapestries, and Carpets", to be held in New York on April 16. There are quite a few rock crystal pieces included in the sale, and now I'm smitten with the stuff all over again. What I am wondering, though, is if these pieces all came from the same collection. If so, aren't you curious about what the collector's home looked like?



Rock crystal tazza with rock crystal spheres, Modern, est. $8,000- $12,000


Pair of smoky rock crystal tazze, Modern, est. $6,000-$9,000


Pair of gilt metal, rock crystal, and glass wall lights, Modern, est. $6,000-$8,000


Pair of silvered-metal mounted rock crystal table lamps, Modern, est. $7,000 to $10,000


Pair of ormolu-mounted rock crystal lamps, Modern, est. $4,000 to $6,000

Image at top: Pair of rock crystal five-light candelabra, Modern, est. $8,000 to $12,000

Masterpieces by RL Goins

Anytime I'm browsing through books on design and interiors of the 1920s and 30s, I'm struck by the bespoke furniture that filled many of these luxe interiors. The pieces were really like works of art and were usually crafted by ateliers of artisans who were skilled in all kinds of techniques and finishes: verre eglomisé; lacquering; gold leafing. And inevitably, I always wonder who are our 21st century Jean-Michel Franks and Jean Dunands? Just how many artists are there today who still have the knowledge of and the enthusiasm for this type of amazing craftsmanship?

Needless to say, I was shocked to find out that there is in fact a very talented artist and designer here in my very own backyard of Atlanta. Raymond Goins has his own atelier, RL Goins, that hand crafts furniture and accessories for clients far and wide, and I think that Ray's studio fills a void in the marketplace for high end, hand crafted pieces with panache. I recently toured his workshop, and I'll admit that I was gobsmacked by the cabinet that is shown at top. The custom "Dutch Gothic" cabinet is made of wood with hand carved shells that adorn the top and bottom. The doors feature hand-blown glass painted with a verre eglomisé, trompe l'oeil scene. Is that gorgeous or what!

Now I know that not everyone has the guts to commission a piece like this. In fact, Ray said that this was for a client with "flair". But Ray understands subtle and he's quite accomplished at that too. In addition to custom work, RL Goins has a gorgeous line of screens, tables, chairs, cabinets, and accessories that have really beautiful finishes. He also works with designers on interior treatments like murals and hand painted scenes. Oh, and he restores and conserves antiques as well. Obviously, Ray is an artist with boundless enthusiasm who has been blessed with a great eye.

(To see Ray's entire line of furniture and accessories, or to see his portfolio of custom projects, please visit his website)


I'm very much in love with this verre eglomisé "Marseilles" screen. It's absolutely gorgeous in person, and the hand painted scene of the Amazon is one of Ray's original designs. Part of the RL Goins collection.


"Fontainebleu" hand painted grisaille screen with trompe l'oeil scene of hunting implements. Original artwork by Ray. Part of the RL Goins collection.


"Albero di Vita" screen with hand painted leather panels. Ray's design features the tree of life motif and is available in other colors as well. Part of the RL Goins collection.


"Nautical" trumeau with a hand painted scene. Scenes and background color for the trumeau are customizable. Part of the RL Goins collection.


"Chelsea Urn" lamp with hand painted design by Ray. Part of the RL Goins collection.


There are also plenty of non-painted items in the collection which really allow the beauty of the wood to stand out. This trestle table has an aged tobacco finish. The neat thing about it is that you can assemble the table and break it down with your hands rather than tools...meaning that it's easy to transport outside for a picnic or some such event! Part of the RL Goins collection.



Custom designed outdoor swinging bench and chair. I'd say this is Gothic done right!


The "Paris" bed is another custom piece designed by Ray.


A custom designed vanity and mirror by Ray. The lacquered blue finish is stunning. So stunning that I'd like to lacquer my whole home in this shade of blue.