Zajac and Callahan: The Later Years

If you have followed my blog for the last few years, you know that I have frequently featured the work of designers Edward Zajac and the late Richard Callahan. Zajac and Callahan, as the design duo was better known, became design-world darlings in the late 1960s, when their work appeared almost constantly on the covers of American shelter magazines. What made their work so popular at that time was the designers' enthusiasm for zesty color and bold patterns. In fact, it was not uncommon to see five or six different patterns used within one Zajac and Callahan-decorated room. But rather than mixing color and pattern in random fashion, Zajac and Callahan concocted their pattern-laden decor with planning and forethought, something which resulted in rooms that were cohesive in spite of their variety and robustness.

Throughout their careers, Zajac and Callahan remained committed to marrying disparate patterns in their work.  In the Long Island home of Callahan's sister and brother-in-law (seen here and originally published in House & Garden, January 1999), the designers took an exuberant and playful approach to the home's decor, which H&G described as "American rococo."  Here, the Zajac and Callahan medley included Chinoiserie-motif wallpaper (a custom print designed by Zajac,) floral chintz, geometric-print ceiling paper, damasks, and even foliage wallpaper.  And tucked amongst this pattern-on-pattern was a collection of antique furniture in an array of styles, something which elevated this decorative play of prints to a level of maturity that was appropriate to its surroundings.

More than anything else, though, I think this home- and really all of the other Zajac and Callahan projects that I have shown on my blog- was evidence of the design duo's love of decorating.  Only enthusiastic decorators like Zajac and Callahan could have concocted such an enchanting blend of fabrics, color, prints, and furniture under one roof.

Image at top: The house's entrance hall.  The unique window valances were designed by Edward Zajac.

The living room.  The sofa was covered in "Fairoak", a Rose Cumming chintz.

The fireplace in the master bedroom.  The floral-print carpet was by Stark.

The dining room walls were covered in a custom paper designed by Edward Zajac.

The study with its foliage-papered walls ("Foret Foliage" wallpaper by Brunschwig & Fils.)

The master bedroom.  The bed canopy was based on a valance seen in a Venetian palazzo.

All photos from House & Garden, January 1999, Melanie Acevedo photographer.

Waterhouse Wallhangings and the Edward Zajac Collection

If only I had an abundance of rooms in which to hang wallpaper. That's how I felt when I saw the newest wallpaper collection from Waterhouse Wallhangings, which will be available in showrooms starting this month.  New designs include beefy stripes (Hyde Park Stripe), damask (Wheat Damask), Paris landmarks (Monuments of Paris), and Noah's animals (Noah's Ark), which is sure to delight both children and their parents. It's not often that I am tempted to decorate my home with such whimsical creatures, but I am completely charmed by these animals.  (By the way, Noah's Ark is based on a print found in one of Dorothy Waterhouse's old books.)

Waterhouse Wallhangings is also debuting the Edward Zajac Collection.  You have seen numerous posts about Zajac and his late partner, Richard Callahan, on this blog.  Zajac and Callahan were known for their enthusiastic use of pattern.  A Zajac and Callahan room typically had layer upon layer of pattern, but they were mixed in such a way so that the effect was sometimes daring, often ravishing, and never discordant. 

Zajac often designed custom fabrics and wallpapers for his clients, which was the impetus for this new collection.  The collection's prints include Regency Rope, Regency Rope Trellis, Regency Rope Panel, Charlotte Ruching, and Don't Fret.  Regency Rope Panel, which measures 12 feet long and 27 inches wide, was inspired by a set of folding screens in Zajac's apartment.  All three Regency Rope prints were designed so that they can be used together to spectacular effect.  And you'll notice that Charlotte Ruching has a border that runs down one side of the paper.  This border can be cut and applied as a border at the ceiling or along all four sides of a wall.  The line's versatility is very much in the spirit of Zajac's custom work.

For more information, please visit the Waterhouse Wallhangings website.  Coordinating fabrics for the Edward Zajac Collection wallpaper will be introduced in September.

Monuments of Paris

Hyde Park Stripe

Noah's Ark

Provincetown

Wheat Damask

Gingko



The Edward Zajac Collection:

Regency Rope

Regency Rope Trellis

Regency Rope Panel

Charlotte Ruching

Don't Fret


All images courtesy of Waterhouse Wallhangings

Zajac & Callahan

Edward Zajac and Richard Callahan. Not familiar with them? Well, they were only one of the hottest design duos around during the 1970s and early 80s. Truth be told, I had never heard of them until last year when a reader mentioned that I might find their work to be of interest. And how right he was!

Zajac and Callahan each had strong design experience before they joined forces in 1966 with Zajac having worked for McMillen and the great Billy Baldwin and Callahan having been employed by Jansen and Valerian Rybar. When they came together, the pair began to create interiors that were a bold breath of fresh air. Zajac & Callahan took traditional furnishings and combined them in exuberant and exhilarating way. One hallmark of the Zajac & Callahan look was pattern upon pattern upon pattern- not an easy look to pull off. But the key was that they took some unifying factor- color or scale, for example- and used that as a guide. And somehow, it seemed to work. Certainly it was a maximalist look and one that was apropos for that era in time, but I'll venture to say that their interiors don't really look terribly dated.

The interior featured here was a Paris apartment designed by Z&C circa 1971. The yellow entryway could have been designed in 2009! The dining room is totally fabulous with the decadent use of canvas fabric on the walls, although if I were living in this interior today I would remove that tablecloth. The bedroom? Okay, so I might have to tone it down a bit, but you've got to admit that it's a look.

In the new release New York Interior Design, 1935-1985, there is a chapter on the two, and in it Zajac admits that he was a bit dismayed that they became pigeonholed by clients who only wanted this audacious look, and he laments the fact that they never really got to do modernist interiors. I'm sorry too because it would have been interesting to have seen modernism in the hands of Zajac and Callahan. Still, I think it's worthwhile for us to revisit their work.


The lacquered yellow rotunda entryway with smashing blue ceiling.


The fabric shrouded dining room, again with a bright blue ceiling. The rope chairs are a Zajac & Callahan design.


A zany bedroom dominated by the classic Tree of Life print.


The husband's study is a blend of shell prints, plaids, geometric prints, and upholstered walls.

Image at top: The living room with its Chinese wallpaper and Indian rug. And lots of prints!

(All images from House & Garden, Nov. 1971)

It's Splendiferous

Those of you who have read my blog over the years know that I am a fan of the work of Zajac & Callahan.  Edward Zajac, along with his late partner, Richard Callahan, set the decorating world on fire during the late 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s thanks to their bold interiors, which were often furnished with confident color and even more confident-looking prints and patterns.  And perhaps even more notable was the design duo's custom designed furniture and objects, which could be described as unusual, dashing, and downright good-looking.  It's no surprise that many design aficionados clamored for these pieces when they were auctioned off by Bonhams last year.

A few weeks ago, I was in Philadelphia giving a lecture to a women's club, and while there, two very stylish Philadelphians, Dottebob and Reva, mentioned the work of Zajac & Callahan to me.  It seems that they too were fans of the designers.  And then, just a few days later, I had the opportunity to actually meet Mr. Zajac, who was kind enough to attend my book party at Donghia. (You can see the two of us, above.)  Needless to say, that was a real thrill for me.

My week of Edward Zajac reminded me of a few photos about which I had been meaning to blog.  It seems that back in the mid-1960s, Zajac & Callahan decorated a chichi women's clothing store named "Splendiferous".  Opening in 1963 on Manhattan's Third Avenue and expanding in 1967 to a second location at 16 East 56th St., Splendiferous was evidently the last word in women's fashion.  Owned by Jerry Goldfarb and Terry Ryan, the store sold fashions by Oscar de la Renta, Kenneth Douglas, and Rudi Gernreich, just to name a few designers.  In fact, Splendiferous was at the vanguard of daring fashion, having sold 77 of Gernreich's infamous topless women's bathing suits- more than any other store in this country.  And the various departments within the store had catchy names.  Handbags were sold in the "Moneybags" department, gourmet food in "Posh Knosh", and lingerie in "Underneath It All", while sale items were relegated to the "Nobody Loves Me" section of the store.  It seems that Splendiferous was popular with the well-heeled crowd, with customers like Jacqueline Kennedy (whose purchases included brown crepe culottes trimmed in ostrich feathers and a Rudi Gernreich Shaker knit dress), Princess Margaret, and Evangeline Bruce frequenting the store.  Did they shop there because of the clothes?  Or was it because the salespeople were men with then-fashionable long hair?

Clever marketing aside, it was the E. 56th St. branch's decoration by Zajac & Callahan that seems most memorable- along with those Rudi Gernreich bathing suits, of course.  The store's furbishment cost $150,000, which paid for such features as a water fountain that held 9,000 colored marbles, a glass elevator, and Zajac & Callahan's signature patterned fabrics and wallpaper. I wish that I could show you photo after photo of the store's interior, because I have a feeling it was really something else.  However, Splendiferous photos are hard to come by.  I managed to find a scant three photos of the store, which had been featured in the September 1967 issue of House & Garden.  I am assuming that these photos show the 56th St. location rather than Third Avenue. 

Alas, all good things must come to an end.  Goldfarb and Ryan shuttered the business in 1973 and moved to Florida.  In 1999, they opened another boutique, this one located in Delray Beach, Florida.  Its name?  I Love Dazzle.  I can't determine if that shop is still in business or not.

I know that the Splendiferous photos seen here don't really capture the store's interior in all of its glory, but they certainly have piqued my curiosity.  I'm going to continue to search for more images.  But, in the meantime, have a look at what was once Manhattan's most cutting-edge fashion emporium.

Image at top: Photo courtesy of Editor at Large.  Remaining photos from House & Garden, September 1967.

The Collection of Edward Zajac

When I'm looking through my old magazines from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, it's inevitable that a project by designers Zajac and Callahan will catch my eye. Back in the 1970s, the pair were known for their daring mix of bold color and pattern, something that was very much in vogue at that time. But what was especially notable about their work was their frequent use of furniture and accessories that they designed themselves. Their fanciful chairs and fantastical mirrors always seemed to add a lot of dash to a room.

I recently learned that part of Edward Zajac's collection will be auctioned off at Bonhams on May 22. While some of the lots are antiques, mirrors (see the pair at top), a sofa, screens, and bookcases, all of which were designed by Zajac, are also included in the auction. What a terrific opportunity to own something designed by one of the most noted designers of the 20th century. And just in case you weren't aware of it, Mr. Zajac was a protégé of the great Billy Baldwin.

Mr. Zajac was kind enough to send me some photos of some of his favorite rooms plus his thoughts about each. You can read what he wrote, below. But in the meantime, visit Bonhams website to see the full range of lots that will be up for sale.





“Blanc Niege et les Sept Nains” . One of my early mirrors trembles and twinkles against walls of midnight blue, inspired by Madeleine Castaing and, of course, by Line Vautrin. The entrance foyer to the magical brownstone where I lived in the 80s is filled with treasured objects and beloved cats. The rope chair in which Little Eddie resides is my design as is the featured mirror. Cecil, himself a work of art, perches amidst a collection of Oriental lacquer boxes.




Fantasy in a Regency Folly. This house in Florida was designed after an English Regency house where one often might find a whimsical folly, capturing the exoticism of far away places and pleasures. The Indian folly in this classical house captures the exotic lure of the East with murals painted in the Indian style. A perfect setting for parties filled with the flavors and sounds of Jaipur, Delhi and Hindustan.





One of my favorite houses when I first visited Germany was Schloss Bruhl. It was the inspiration for this version in miniature which my partner, Richard Callahan, and I created for a charity auction. It has resided for many years in our apartment and now has moved on to be enjoyed by 3 generations of Richard’s family.




I could sit for hours in my living room filled with mirrors reflecting the many wonderful treasures which represent a lifetime of collecting. Presiding over it all, my dog George!


Photos courtesy of Edward Zajac.

More Zajac & Callahan

When I posted about the Edward Zajac auction week before last, a few of you requested that I share more photos of Zajac & Callahan interiors. It wasn't hard to find photos of their work as it was published quite frequently during the 1970s. In fact, all of the photos featured here came from just a few 1970 issues of House & Garden.

There really isn't much I need to add to the photos as they speak for themselves. However, I will say that it's important to keep in mind that such a heady mix of patterns and prints- a signature look of Zajac and Callahan- was really novel for the late 1960s and early 70s. And if the number of times their work appeared in shelter magazines is any indication, the look must have been quite a crowd pleaser as well.