And Yet Another Mr. Hadley Opportunity

First, we had the opportunity to purchase books from Mr. Hadley's library, and now we can buy a bit of his creative process too! Gerald Bland will be exhibiting a selection of Mr. Hadley's sketches that were drawn throughout his career. This is really a wonderful opportunity to own a bit of America's design history.

And if you're not able to visit the exhibit, I would suggest reading Albert Hadley: Drawings and the Design Process. It's a great book that provides insight into Mr. Hadley's vision.

(Gerald Bland is located at 1262 Madison Ave.)

Separated at Birth?

The famous library at Reed House, designed by Frances Elkins and David Adler. The sofa and table are Jean-Michel Frank pieces. The walls are sheathed in panels of Hermès goatskin.


David Hicks designed this Swiss library in 1970. The walls are covered in padded caramel suede panels. The sofa is upholstered in the same suede.



This tablesetting was designed by J. Allen Murphy in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Rex Harrison back in the 1980s.



This room, designed by Mary McDonald, combines one of the decorator's favorite color schemes- blue and white- with another favorite color: pink.


The late decorator Renny Saltzman designed a groovy bedroom using strong reds and blues back in the 1960s.


Jonathan Adler is keeping this groovy spirit alive with this bedroom in his Manhattan apartment.


A living room at Waldorf Towers decorated by Parish-Hadley. The walls are a deep aubergine.


Though the walls are brown rather than aubergine, the glossy finish and the mirrors in this Miles Redd room are reminiscent of the room by Parish-Hadley.

(Image of Elkins interior courtesy of David Adler, Architect: The Elements of Style. David Hicks image from David Hicks: Designer. Murphy tablesetting from a 1980s Southern Accents; Mary McDonald image via House Beautiful. Saltzman image from House & Garden's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration; Jonathan Adler photo from Elle Decor So Chic: Glamorous Lives, Stylish Spaces. Parish-Hadley image courtesy Parish-Hadley: Sixty Years of American Design. Miles Redd room from House Beautiful, 1/02, Minh+Wass photographers.)

A Weighty Subject

So I'm about to mail off my tax return, and after finding out how much I owe to the IRS, I feel a great weight on my shoulders. I feel a burden about like this:


I understand the feeling. (Pair of Blackamoor tables, Italian, c. 1920, available at Liz O'Brien)


I can relate. (Italian console tables, c. 1900, from Heather & Company)


I'm certainly not feeling this calm. (Italian table, late 18th/early 19th c, from N.P. Trent Antiques)


I'd feel much better if I were in Albert Hadley's apartment.


If I didn't have to pay so much, I might feel like kicking up my heels. (Banquette room of the home of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, 24 Boulevard Suchet; designed by Maison Jansen)

Laid-Back Entertaining

A lot of people I know are cutting back on entertaining due to financial reasons. Obviously, we are all watching our pennies right now, but I don't think we should curtail entertaining at home. If anything, now is the time that we should focus on what's really important: spending time with family and friends.

As I've gotten older, I've learned to relax and not be so uptight about having people into my home. I do think (or at least hope) that my home is warm and inviting, but I can say that it is not by any means perfect. As I'm writing this, my powder room has partially removed wallpaper. It ain't pretty, but it has not stopped me from having people in. I consider the wallpaper a temporary situation, and people who know me know that I will one day soon have a remodeled powder room.

The other thing that I'm more laid back about is food. Food does not have to be fancy- only tasty. I love putting on a spread for people, but there are times when it's fun just to relax and enjoy some conviviality with one's friends. And this leads me to the point of this post. When did the cocktail hour get so elaborate? Sure it's fun to assemble a platter of antipasto. And what's better than sharing caviar with your guests? But for those on a budget or who are trying to be less uptight, there is nothing wrong with serving the basics. Such as ... Ritz crackers or Triscuits.

Just look at the gorgeous Horst photo above, taken in 1963 at the Long Island home of Consuelo Balsan. What are those crackers in the Chinese dish on the beautiful tray table which rested on the gorgeous Aubusson rug? Ritz crackers! Truly, have you ever met anyone who didn't like Ritz crackers?

And what about Triscuits? In Susanna Salk's paean of everything WASP, A Privileged Life: Celebrating Wasp Style, Salk writes of memories of "Triscuits with Cracker Barrel Cheese and warm white wine in plastic tumblers." I don't remember the warm white wine so much, but heaven knows that I've eaten a lot of Triscuits and Cracker Barrel Extra-Sharp Cheddar in my day. And don't forget that the only crackers you can serve with cream cheese and pepper jelly- the old stand-by served by all Southern Belles and Gents- are Triscuits.

Now, I'm not saying that you should forgo elegant entertaining altogether. I actually regret that formal entertaining is not as fashionable as it once was. But, when you're having good friends and family over for a few casual drinks, give yourself a break and pull out the box of Ritz.


According to an old New York magazine article, Albert Hadley served a bowl of unsalted Triscuits to the journalist interviewing him. Yet another reason to love Mr. Hadley.


I don't think Triscuits and Ritz were around in 1941 when Dorothy Draper wrote Entertaining is Fun!: How to Be A Popular Hostess, but she was pretty down to earth with her advice. For harried hosts and hostesses who were faced with unexpected guests, she suggested serving English muffins with sliced ham and grilled mushrooms. Were Dorothy alive today, I think she'd just say to serve some cheese and crackers and call it a day.


Sister Parish was one character who I wish I had been able to meet. One of her favorite drinks was vodka with ice and a dash of Clamato. She also on occasion served appetizers of ham wrapped around a pickle with some cream cheese, cut on the diagonal, as well as peanut butter and bacon sandwiches. And based on what has been written, people loved her get-togethers...even the food!

Rethinking Quilts

I think it's safe to say that most of us have an appreciation for quilts whether we incorporate them into our decor or not. The skill, craftsmanship, and time that is involved in quilting is rather remarkable- at least to me. And nothing feels better than getting under a cool, cotton quilt during the summertime.

I grew up with quilts that were made by various great aunts, and my parents once gave me a beautiful antique quilt as a birthday present. And while I admire them greatly and do use them from time to time, the quilts remain stored away in the linen closet. I just can't imagine displaying them in my home as they don't quite "go" with the rest of the decor. The quilts are just a little too Americana for my home.

But what about a modern looking quilt? When I saw the photo at top of Albert Hadley's apartment from the 1960s, I was pleasantly surprised with the American quilt that was artfully arranged on the sofa. Here you have a room with silver tea-papered walls, torchères and sconces that once belonged to Syrie Maugham, an animal-print rug, a mirrored cube table... and that quilt on the sofa. And it worked. Mixing the high and the low, the sophisticated with the humble, is not always an easy endeavor, but in the hands of Mr. Hadley, it looked marvelous.

I pulled the one book that I own on quilts, America's Glorious Quilts, and found some contemporary looking antique quilts in all kinds of beautiful colors and designs. The one thing these particular quilts lack is that patchwork look. Those kind of quilts would work well in a Sister Parish type interior. The more graphic looking quilts (like that used by Hadley) could look pretty fantastic in a more modern looking environment.


Diamond in a Square Amish Pieced Quilt, c. 1920. Lancaster, Pennsylvania.


Log Cabin Pierced Quilt, Streak O'Lightning Variation, c. 1880. Massachusetts. (This quilt reminded me of Missoni.)


Mariner's Compass Pieced and Appliqued Quilt, c. 1890. Maryland.


Amish Pieced Oblong or Rectangle Quilt, c. 1909, quilted by Mahala Yoder. Indiana. This quilt looks so simple, yet if you look closely at the quilting you'll see tulips, urns, feathers, and birds.


Solomon's Puzzle Amish Pieced Quilt, c. 1940. Ohio. This particular pattern is known as Drunkard's Path- and so appropriate. Can't you see this quilt used as a coverlet on a bed? Or even displayed on a wall as art??


Na Kalaunu (Crowns) Applique Quilt. Before 1918; Hawaiian Islands. I love the naïve motifs on this Hawaiian quilt, and the color combination of lavender and yellow is gorgeous.

(Image of Albert Hadley's apartment from Manhattan Style; quilt photos from America's Glorious Quilts)

And Speaking of Albert Hadley

Birch Cooper, a dealer in rare art and design books and proprietor of Birch Books in New York, has acquired part of the library of everyone's idol Albert Hadley. The collection of 200 books was amassed over the course of 40 years by Hadley. As Birch recently told me, "It is rare to come across a collection with such an exciting and unique provenance. Going through the books, it quickly becomes clear that they were important tools and sources of inspiration for the design team. Many pages have been marked for reference, and in some cases, renderings of a chair or an iron gate, for example, have been drawn and slipped between the pages." In addition, many of the books bear the Parish-Hadley library seal!

To get a sneak "peak" of the collection, visit Birch Books' website and search on "Peak of Chic". To obtain additional information on titles in the collection as well as sales inquiries, contact Birch at (212) 787-2844 or via his website.


One of the well-used books in the collection, and a rendering found in a book.


Many of the books bear a Parish-Hadley library seal.

To Plan or Not To Plan

I've been thinking about something a lot lately (and yes, that may come as a shock to some of you...). The look that I gravitate to is the undecorated look. I'm not crazy about rooms that are too perfect and too pristine. That's not to say that I'm a fan of rooms that seem a jumble. But I prefer rooms that look as though they evolved over time. They just seem a lot richer and well, much more interesting.

I've also noticed that some of my favorite homes are those of designers. I believe that some of their best work can be found in their own domiciles. Of course, designers use their homes as laboratories, and sometimes it's easier to take risks in one's own home. But here's what I'm wondering: do designers really have a master plan when it comes to their own homes? You know the old adage "the shoemaker's children are often shoeless". Well, I know that many decorators are so busy that sometimes it's hard for them to tackle the design of their own homes, and this might force them to take a more organic approach.

So where am I going with all of this? I wonder if design schemes might sometimes get in the way of great decorating? Obviously if you're a designer, you can't just wing it with a client. You have to have a plan so that the customer knows what he or she will be getting. And, there are certain things that absolutely have to be planned for. I'm not saying that plans and schemes should be abandoned. Hardly. But, do you think that the best design happens when the process evolves over a longer period of time and when it lacks a firm game plan, something that might at times prove to be a constraint?


Who isn't inspired by Albert Hadley's apartment? Do we ever tire of seeing it? No, we don't. (This version is c. 1990)


We're in the midst of another Rose Cumming revival- and I think that's a good thing. Was there ever a more unique- and eccentric- home than that of Cumming?



I think Miles Redd's home is the most blogged about home in the last few years- and with good reason.


Frances Elkins decorated some very grand homes, but I find her homes, especially her Monterey, CA home, to be some of her best work.


In "Keith Irvine: A Life in Decoration", some of the prettiest photos are those of the ballroom wing of Irvine's country home.

Image at top: Do you think William Pahlmann took his sweet time decorating his home?

Doris Leslie Blau and Our Favorite Designers

I'm currently on the hunt for rugs for both my living room and dining room, and the timing couldn't be better. Why? Because Doris Leslie Blau has just introduced the new 2009 Designer Carpet Collection, and most of our favorite designers are featured. Albert Hadley, Miles Redd, Todd Romano, Markham Roberts, and 42 other designers have created modern carpet designs for this venerable company. (That's Mr. Hadley's design at top.)

I really like the range of designs. Roger Jones' carpet is very cool and elegant. Now that one would look great in my dining room, but I could also see it in a icy blue bedroom too. And the other designs? Can't you see them in living room with a Ventry Ltd. sofa, upholstered in a neutral of course, and a chrome or lucite cocktail table? I'm thinking something very Billy Baldwin. What do you think?

(The designer collection carpets are made from various materials including silk, wool, and banana-leaf fiber and come in different weaves. For more information, visit the Doris Leslie Blau website.)


Todd Alexander Romano


Markham Roberts


Miles Redd


Roger Jones of Colefax & Fowler


Veere Grenney