Iconic Designers- Iconic Furniture

Many times a certain piece of furniture becomes identifiable with a particular decorator. Who doesn't associate the slipper chair with Billy Baldwin? Some decorators, such as Dorothy Draper, went beyond designing furniture for specific projects and created entire collections for prominent furniture manufacturers. Many of these decorators' designs, or imitations of them, are still being produced today. And if they aren't, these coveted designs have become highly collectible. Here are just a few iconic pieces of furniture that were either designed, owned, or championed by 20th c. design legends.


Parish-Hadley Table by John Rosselli, available at Ainsworth-Noah. Parish owned an antique table of this design (see below), which was auctioned off after her death. Reproductions of this table are being made by Rosselli.


Auction catalog with photo of Sister Parish's living room on the cover; her antique red corner table is included in the photo.


"Espana" Chest by Dorothy Draper for Heritage


Ad for Draper's Collection for Heritage


Klismos chair by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, available through Eric Appel. Robsjohn-Gibbings' designs were heavily influenced by ancient Greece.


"Loop" chair designed by Frances Elkins; reproductions available through Downtown


Tables designed by John Dickinson, available through Antique & Art Exchange. Dickinson is most closely associated with his plaster pieces that incorporated "animal legs".


(Photo at top of room decorated by Billy Baldwin, which includes the iconic slipper chair)

Metal-ocracy

Some people think of metal furniture as being too hard and too industrial. While that can certainly be said about some pieces, there is a lot of metal furniture, particularly chairs, that are anything but this. I love adding brass and iron chairs to a room's mix because they add definite interest- some of them can be quite sculptural, while others are the perfect foil for a room laden with wood furniture. Many of the chairs featured here are quite feminine and would be apropos for a dressing room or a bedroom. And if you want something a little more restrained, the brass bamboo chairs or the Billy Haines slipper chairs are perfection.



Regency style brass and iron chair at Robert Massello Antiques


Set of 4 Brass Bamboo chairs at Downtown Joe Nye New York


Pair of Chiavari Brass chairs at Robert Massello Antiques


Pair of Bronze and Black Leather slipper chairs by Billy Haines, at Alan Moss


Pair of French iron chairs at Adesso

At top: set of 4 iron garden chairs at Hollyhock

(All photos courtesy of 1stdibs.com)

Just Scandinavian

Josef Frank, the Austrian designer whose whimsical and brightly colored fabric and furniture designs have long been cult favorites, is poised for a major revival. Over the years, some of his most popular patterns such as "Hawaii" have been seen in chic interiors, usually used on pillows or the occasional chair. Now, however, a whole new audience is being introduced to Frank's fabric by Anthropologie, who is upholstering many of its chairs and sofas in Frank's fabric.

In the past, I remember being able to find some of Frank's fabrics at the Brunschwig and Fils showroom as well as online at Svenskt Tenn in Sweden. Fortunately, there is Just Scandinavian, a shop in New York that specializes in fabrics, furniture, and tabletop accessories created by Scandinavian designers. Of course, Frank's designs are well represented here (the Scandinavian connection is from Frank's work for Svenskt Tenn in Sweden). There are, however, works from other Scandinavian designers as well. Here are a few of my Frank picks from the site, including one of my favorite Frank fabrics, "Manhattan", seen above.

For other posts on Josef Frank, see my posts from February 5 and January 16. To learn more about Frank, you may want to read Josef Frank: Life and Work by Christopher Long and Josef Frank:Architect and Designer: An Alternative Vision of the Modern Home by Nina Stritzler-Levine.

(Update: After writing this post a few days ago, I was reading a copy of InStyle Home magazine last night and found an article about Josef Frank. I believe Frank's revival is here!)

"Anakreon" print on linen by Josef Frank


"Drinks" print, linen, by Josef Frank


Three-armed brass lamp by Josef Frank


"Rox & Fix", linen, by Josef Frank


Elmoot and walnut table by Josef Frank

(All photos courtesy of Just Scandinavian)

Curve Appeal

My taste in design tends to be a bit schizophrenic- sometimes I am drawn to more masculine colors and lines, while at other times I want pure femininity in my rooms. There is no reason why the yin and yang of design can't coexist. One way I inject some feminine charm to a room is by adding a few curvy pieces of furniture and accessories to the mix. The curves tend to lighten things up and create more visual interest. Lately, I've been particularly drawn to interlocking, scroll type designs. Here are a few finds that might just add some feminine mystique to your room.


"Paris" Console by Eboniste


Double Twist Sconce at Circa Lighting


"Versailles" Shams by Haute Home


Espresso Linen Napkin by Carolyne Roehm

Photo at top: "Zeus" chair by Oscar de la Renta collection at Century Furniture

Maison Jansen Furniture at Malmaison

Malmaison, the appointment-only antiques shop owned by renowned dealer Roger Prigent, is considered to be one of the finest purveyors of early 20th c. French furniture. Much of Malmaison's wares are available on 1st dibs, and this week's new arrivals feature a bevy of Malmaison's Maison Jansen furniture. Some of the pieces are rather simple (as one recent magazine article stated, Jansen also made furniture for maids rooms), but others are quite spectacular. Here are just a few of Malmaison's offerings.



Pair of Louis XVI style chairs, stamped Jansen


Pair of Crystal and Bronze chandeliers by Jansen, 1940s-50s


Pair of Jansen consoles, circa 1940s


Black Lacquer Louis XVI style writing table by Jansen


Mirrored Three-Panel Screen by Jansen, circa 1940s

Image at top: Mirrored Jansen Dressing Table, circa 1940s

Everything's Coming Up Roses!

Spring is here, the trees are in bloom, and flowers seem to be on my mind. Floral prints are everywhere at this time of year. To some, the floral motif can be a bit saccharine. The good news is that there seems to be a floral print for all tastes- traditional, contemporary, graphic, sophisticated, or casual. Here are a few objects, fabrics, and wallcoverings that just might make you rethink the flower.


Porthault Linens at Sue Fisher King, San Francisco


Floral Swirl Lamp at Gracious Home


"Ravello" wallpaper from Tyler Hall


"Astrid" Chair at Anthropologie


"Japanese Floral" print fabric by Florence Broadhurst at Signature Prints


"Oriental Flowers" china by Meissen at Table Art, Los Angeles


(Image at top-room with floral prints by Mary McDonald)

Games Tables

In the current issue of Elle Decor, Emma Jane Pilkington and Juan Montoya extol the virtues of games tables and compare various ones on the market. Games tables are great accent pieces to have around the house. They are of course useful for card games but also as a small dining table (which Pilkington mentions more than once) or as a table on which to display a collection. If your taste is more traditional, there are some beautiful antique tables out there. If you prefer a mid-century look, there are an abundance of 20th c. games tables available- remember, mahjongg and canasta used to be quite popular in the 1950s and 60s. And if space is an issue, the triangular, flip top-style table would be perfect in the corner of a room.


White Leather Games Table at Mecox Gardens

Red Lattice Games Table at Downtown/Joe Nye New York




Louis XV style French walnut games table at Piranesi

Table at top: Late 19th c. English lacquered games table from 1stdibs.com

Anthropologie- Design for the Masses?

It appears that Anthropologie is now selling furniture upholstered in fabric by lines such as Marimekko, Josef Frank, and House of KWID. While I'm not necessarily crazy about the design of some of the sofas and chairs, I think it's interesting to see fabric that is usually available to the trade only being used by a retail chain.


Wingback chair in House of KWID "Couture Stripe" fabric

Wingback chair in Josef Frank fabric


Chesterfield sofa with Marimekko fabric

Sofa in fabric by Missoni Home

C. Bell Palm Beach

Someone recently told me about a fun design shop in Palm Beach called C. Bell. Located on South Dixie Highway, the shop stocks new and refreshed furniture that really has that Palm Beach Vibe. Take note: these bold pieces are not for the faint of heart, but they would certainly provide some wow to a room!