Passementerie Lighting!

Passementerie sconces?? Why those are two of my favorite words in the design dictionary! As soon as I saw mention of them on 1st dibs yesterday, I had to immediately visit the site of the mastermind behind this quirky lighting line- Hélène Aumont. The California based Aumont not only designs lighting but furniture and accessories as well. And if that isn't enough, she is also an interior designer (I am assuming that she decorated the glorious Paris apartment of Patrick Aumont, who was featured on 1st dibs.)

But it's the passementerie covered chandeliers and sconces that have caught my fancy. They're wildly chic and whimsical and reminiscent of 1930s French design. What do you think?


Passy Grand Chandelier


Passy Petit Chandelier


Pompidou Sconce


Orsay Sconce

Image at top: A passementerie sconce in a Paris apartment designed by Hélène Aumont.

French Frothiness for a Friday

Seeing that my posts have been a bit Francocentric this week (with the exception of John Stefanidis, of course), I thought I would end the week with images of a charming Paris pied-à-terre. Designed by Jacques Garcia with antiques from Luc Bouveret, this home, particularly the bedroom, seems perfect for a modern day Marie Antoinette. N'est-ce pas?







Images from House & Garden, Oct. 2002; photographer François Halard

Crazy for Castaing

Aah, the French and their love of Madeleine Castaing fabric. And really, who can blame them. The prints are colorful, romantic, bold, timeless, and a bit quirky- much like Castaing herself.

A few weeks ago I bought a book titled The French Touch, and I found that page after page was filled with French rooms that were bedecked with various Castaing prints- some homes featured not one but many. Who knew how well her prints worked together?

One designer who is quite skillful at mixing Castaing fabric is Bruno de Caumont. Although not featured in the above mentioned book, de Caumont's former Paris apartment garnered widespread acclaim a few years back because of his deft use of Castaing prints throughout his home. Of course, being the creative director of Edmond Petit (the company that produces the Castaing collection) may explain his enthusiastic use of her fabric, but I think he really did a smashing job.

What I find curious is that you don't see these prints used often in American interiors- only Carolina Irving's home comes to mind. Perhaps we need to remedy that. In the meantime, here are various French homes that show the beauty and range of Castaing's designs.

Evidently, I'm not the only one with Castaing on the brain. An Aesthete's Lament did a great and informative post on the design legend last week.)

"Coppelia"




In the stylish Parisian home of designer Bruno de Caumont


In this dining room of a chateau in the Bordeaux region, designer Jean-Louis Riccardi used "Coppelia" in this gorgeous blue colorway. This print, in this wonderful shade of blue, is one of my all-time favorite fabrics.

"Rayure Broderie"




Again, de Caumont chose a Castaing print to cover this daybed in his home in Paris.


Fashion designer Gilles Dufour chose "Rayure Broderie" in the blue colorway for his sofa in his Paris apartment.


In the same Bordeaux chateau as above, Riccardi, like Dufour, chose the blue version of "Rayure Broderie"

"Castiglione"




"Castiglione" on the walls of Gilles Dufour's Paris apartment.


de Caumont's apartment with "Castiglione" on both the walls and the chair seats.

"Rayure Cachemire"




This room, in the home of Alexandre Zouari, was actually designed by Castaing herself. Notice how she used "Rayure Cachemire" as bands that divide up the red felt wall into panels. She also used "Castiglione" for the Austrian chairs and settee.

"Rayure Fleurie"




Mathilde Agostinelli obviously loves Castaing prints as much as her uncle, Gilles Dufour. Not only does she have "Rayure Fleurie" in her bedroom, but she has a Castaing print rug throughout her Jacques Grange designed home (House & Garden, May '06; photography by Francois Halard)

Image at top: Castaing in a chair which appears to have "Coppelia" upholstered on the back. Photo by Derry Moore.

A Penchant for Purple?

Disclosure: I am not a purple girl. I'm not sure why. There is nothing wrong with purple- it is, after all, a rather pretty color. And it is the hue of royalty. But for some reason it never grabbed me like other colors.

That is, until I saw this image of a glorious brooch designed by Tony Duquette. The amethyst and kunzite look so beautiful against the glint of the brooch's gold setting. And a few days ago I came across this image below of Mary Jane Pool's bedroom with its lavender bedding and curtains. Let me tell you, if purple is good enough for Mary Jane Pool, then it's A-OK with me. So perhaps I'm coming around to purple. Sometimes you just have to have an open mind.


Mary Jane Pool's bedroom (Image from Domino, Mar 08). For those who have read the March Domino, don't you just love her whole apartment?


Plum Sykes in her former apartment, surrounded by lilac (or light "plum") colored walls. Image from Bright Young Things


An easy way to incorporate purple into a room. A soft purple linen undercloth with a purple matelasse tablecloth in the French home of Janet de Botton (image from Vogue Living Houses, Gardens, People; photographer François Halard)


Pretty in purple- the floral print panels are by Muriel Brandolini. (Design by Jose Solis Betancourt and Paul Sherrill; Southern Accents Jan/Feb 08; photographer Pieter Estersohn)


A tablesetting in shades of purple looks smart against a grisaille background (image from Perfect Tables by William Yeoward)

Image at top: Photo of Duquette brooch from Town & Country, Dec 07

Delightful Domestic Artistry

One thing that seems to define unique and stylish interiors is the inclusion of something one-off. It could be a striking piece of art, an unusual objet, or even a wall or a piece of furniture painted in a whimsical manner.

Take faux-painted architectural details, for example. Yes, I know, bad examples abound. But, I've found some truly charming examples such as the image from Hollyhock, above. Painted by artist Paulin Paris, the walls, rather like a stage set, are perfect for a store backdrop. That said, I could see using that painted faux mirror in an entryway or a dressing room.

What about that fabulous Christian Bérard trompe l'oeil painted console below? A work of art in its own right and one which I wouldn't mind owning. No, you're not trying to fool anyone with these faux paintings, but that's the beauty of them- they're slightly exaggerated and utterly amusing.

And if these faux paintings just aren't your thing, what about a mural? (I mean a good mural.) Now, would you have said no to Ludwig Bemelmans if he had offered to paint your walls?


A trompe l'oeil painted console by Christian Bérard, in the Jean-Michel Frank designed Guerlain Institute, Paris, 1939




A "fireplace" in the London flat of Rita Konig. Her mother, designer Nina Campbell, commissioned the painted cardboard piece from a set designer. (Image from 9/06 issue of Domino.)


While this is not a faux painted architectural detail, this figural painting is charming nonetheless. Located in the entrance hall of Tony Duquette's home "Dawnridge".


Now really, who wouldn't want these Bemelman murals in their home? Bemelmans Bar, The Carlyle.

Scenic Paper in the Bedroom

I've always loved hand-painted scenic wallpaper, but I never thought of using it in the bedroom until I saw this bedroom above, designed by David Netto. How clever, really, to use a paper that traditionally has been used in entryways, dining rooms, and the like. While it may seem incongruous, the use of this paper works in this room, especially when juxtaposed against the modern chrome bed.

It seems that bedroom walls adorned with scenic wallpaper are not all that common- I just can't seem to find too many images of them. One reason could be expense- if you're spending a pretty penny on this hand-painted wallpaper, wouldn't you like to show it off, so to speak, to your guests? (You could bring the party into your bedroom to enjoy your Zuber, but this might be rather awkward.) Also, the painted scenes could be deemed a little busy for a bedroom. This is, after all, the room in which we relax and recharge our batteries, and this could prove difficult with scenes of battles, expeditions, and mercantilism surrounding us.

An easier sell might be the use of a scenic print with softer colors like blues, whites, and silvers. Just look how designer Marcel Rochas used it in his bedroom. Now this is a bedroom I could live in. It's a vision of icy elegance. I think you could also achieve this look with the Zuber print in the Michelle Nussbaumer image below. How gorgeous would that be in a bedroom?

So, what are your thoughts about scenic prints in the bedroom?


Marchel Rochas' bedroom, c. 1954.


A vignette by Dallas designer Michelle Nussbaumer with panels of Zuber paper. (Image courtesy of Veranda, Dec. 06)

These Photos Make Me Want To.....

Work! (I know- can you believe it?) Yes, sometimes work can be a joy, while at other times it can be pure drudgery. This is exactly why you should create a work environment that is comfortable, functional, and aesthetically satisfying. After all, don't you want to be inspired to write the next Pulitzer Prize winning book or become the next Billy Baldwin? And how are you supposed to do this while sitting at a faux-woodgrain laminate desk in a drably colored room? Depressing!

The great thing about decorating offices is that you can do it on a restricted budget. OK, so you're stuck with that horror of a laminate desk. No problem- drape it with an inexpensive yet chic fabric such as a solid-colored linen and trim it with decorative tape. How about using a bamboo ballroom chair as your desk chair? Sometimes you can buy used ones from party supply companies. Add a little cushion to the seat and voila- you've just added a little glam to your office. Bookcases, especially for you designers, are critical for organization. I know most of us would give our right arm for some Billy Baldwin/Cole Porter brass bookcases. Until your ship comes in, IKEA makes some decent ones that can be painted or covered in wallpaper. And make sure to paint (or paper if you choose) your walls in a color that makes you happy.

So, with a little creativity and ingenuity, you too can create an office that will have you beaming with pride, much like Ms. Draper below!



Images above: 1) Office in the home of Temple St.Clair Carr, as seen in Elle Decor So Chic, photographer Eric Piasecki
2) Sitting room of the late designer Roger Banks-Pye
3) A Nina Campbell designed study
4) A desk vignette of a room designed by Keith Irvine

Time to Get Out the Magnifying Glass

Please help me put my mind to ease. Am I the only one who gets out the magnifying glass when I see a particularly inviting bookcase featured in a magazine or book? (Something tells me the answer is no!). I think I do this partly out of curiosity- is the homeowner interested in design? Architecture? Modern American fiction? The other reason is because I'm always looking for new books to add to my library.

The library that still has my keen interest is that of Christopher Spitzmiller, above. What a fabulous library! And how disappointed I am that many of the book titles are too small to read! It's been murder on the eyes trying to catalogue Spitzmiller's library. From what I've been able to make out, Spitzmiller and I have numerous books in common, but his library still beats mine by a long shot.

Here are a few others that gave my magnifying glass (and my eyes) a workout:


First, this Chinoiserie bookcase in the home of designer Alex Papachristidis is divine, but the books within it are pretty stellar too. A few noted titles: Beaton in Vogue, Sister: The Life of Legendary Interior Decorator Mrs. Henry Parish II, and Waddesdon Manor (photo by Roger Davies; Elle Decor 11/07)


The one that got away... This shot of Michael Devine's library looks promising. Alas, the books are blurry. But I know that Michael has an interesting library. A few I was able to make out: In The Pink and Cecil Beaton (Photo from Domino, Dec 07. Photographer Marcus Nilsson)


My neatnik gene prevents me from piling copious amounts of books on the floor as Keith Irvine did here in his Manhattan apartment. Nonetheless, he has some erudite reads: London Perceived and Pleasure and Privilege


The library of the late Timothy Mawson. This bookshelf has numerous books on Beaton as well as Poiret and David Hockney. You can tell that this was a library of a serious collector- the books are the centerpiece here.


And speak of the devil, after I wrote this post my copy of Elle Decor came in the mail. Time to pull out the magnifying glass again! I don't know if this is Ms. Russell's personal library or that of Elle Decor. Nonetheless, it's a good one. I spy Horst Interiors, At Home with Books, and David Hicks Living with Design. (Elle Decor Mar 08)

Image at top: Christopher Spitzmiller's apartment, Elle Decor Dec 06; photographer William Waldron)