Think Pink....In the Dining Room!

I was looking through my style file last night and came across this photo of Mathilde Agostinelli's Parisian dining which was featured in the May 2006 issue of House and Garden. I love the fact that it's pink- pink fabric walls, pink table linen, pink orchids (you can even see the pink sofa in the living room beyond). Pink can be hard to pull off, but it certainly doesn't look saccharine here. I think the neutral patterned carpet and chairs temper the pink and make it look sophisticated. And what about that spectacular chandelier??? C'est magnifique!

Prince of Chintz

In the current issue of Vogue Living, there is an article about the current popularity of floral chintz in both fashion and home design. I know that most people have a love/hate relationship with these traditional florals. Used in moderation, however, they can actually be pretty, feminine, and stylish. The article even shows one print, "Delphinium" by Rose Cumming (the one in the top left-hand corner), that I could actually see myself using.

That being said, I tend to prefer floral prints that are either bold in color or graphic in design. Of course, I think that Dorothy Draper was the queen of floral prints. While some of her designs are quite tame, there is one in particular that I truly love. "Baroque Bouquet" (part of Carleton Varney's fabric line) incorporates two of Draper's favorite things- floral prints and Baroque architecture. I first saw this print used on pillows at the mini Dorothy Draper boutique at Bergdorf's, and I have to tell you that this print has some major wow!

Josef Frank, the Austrian architect and designer, designed some very exuberant fabric for Svenskt Tenn in Sweden during the mid-20th c. His floral prints are over-the-top, but I think that they would look pretty wonderful as an accent to a room. I particulary like "Milles Fleurs" and "Nippon".

Milles Fleurs

Nippon

Frank did design one floral print that is actually somewhat tame but is striking nonetheless. "La Plata" is such a beautiful blue and white floral print. I could see this print being used for cushions on white wicker furniture, or even as a tablecloth with plain white china or better yet blue and white porcelain!

And finally, what about this Leslie and D.D. Tillett floral print? It is so graphic and yet very classic! Jackie O. was a fan of the Tillett's fabric, and I can certainly see why. I have tried to find out if this fabric is still being made, so if anyone knows anything about it, please let me know.

Classic Design- Tortoise

These Jansen chairs (sold by Benjamin Stork Ltd.) are fabulous and so inspiring! Of course, the Regency style of the chairs is very Jansen. But what really makes these chairs so striking is the tortoise print oilcloth.

Tortoise print is such a classic and sophisticated way to add zip to a room. Tortoise furniture and accessories were long considered to be a luxury, and we can now recreate that luxury with faux tortoise painted furniture. Markham Roberts designed the faux tortoise mirror below using warm, rich tones. Jeffrey Bilhuber, on the otherhand, used more neutral tones for his tortoise bookshelf.











To add some major wow to your room, why not give the tortoise treatment to your room's architecture? One designer created this knockout faux tortoise door using dramatic red and brown tones as well as a lacquered finish.

For a more stylized and whimsical approach to tortoise, Tyler Hall has designed a witty tortoise print called "Sardinia Tortoise Shell" which comes in five colorways, including a cool platinum.

William Haines Lamps on 1st Dibs

Dragonette Ltd. has just listed some unusual William Haines lamps on 1stdibs.com. Made for Armand and Harriet Deutsch, the table lamps incorporate Chinese figures on wooden bases. The green painted lamp contains rather ancient looking terracotta Chinese figures that, according to the site, represent the zodiac signs of the Deutschs. The other lamp has a white base with blanc de chine figures and is more "stylized" than the other one.









William (Billy) Haines was one of the most prominent decorators of the 20th c., although much of his work was concentrated in the Los Angeles area. Haines spent his early days in Hollywood as a silent film star, but when his career stalled he chose to pursue interior design. Haines' glamorous style was a perfect fit for the Hollywood stars of the 1930s; in fact, Joan Crawford was one of his earliest and most ardent devotees.

Haines was known for incorporating custom-made lamps and lampshades into his interiors. Many of the lampshades were a bit over the top. The excessive fringe and pom-poms on the shades seemed to have been phased out early in his career. The custom-made lamps, usually Chinoiserie in style, were a constant throughout the years.

I thought I'd share with you some images of his lamps that I found in Class Act: William Haines, a really thorough book that highlights some of Haines' most striking interiors. As you can see, the elaborate lamps and shades from his early career gradually gave way to a more sophisticated look.

Murray Moss, Meissen, and More

For those of you who have visited Moss in Soho, you may know it as a mecca for modern design. While Murray Moss fills his shop with both the latest and the most classic of modern pieces, he also has one of the most magnificent collections of traditional porcelain china. Meissen, Nymphenburg, and KPM all fill the shelves.

Meissen is one of the oldest and most prestigious makers of European porcelain. One of my favorite Meissen patterns is "Rich Court", which was designed in 1745. According to the Moss website, Augustus the Strong commissioned this service, which was exclusive to the Saxon court until 1918. The pattern contains beautiful images of dragons and birds depicted in red and gold.

For a more feminine (and less grand) pattern, I think the "Neuosier Flowers and Fruit" by KPM is absolutely charming. I could see using this for a ladies' luncheon, displayed on a cerise or lettuce colored linen tablecloth. The hand painted design is so delicate and beautiful!

Moss also carries more unique porcelain pieces. This Meissen Lobster Box is both wonderful and weird. I would never have guessed that this piece was designed in 1770!

And, for strictly decorative use, these Chinese figures by Nymphenburg would look absolutely stunning on a table, on a mantle, or anywhere you want to add some Chinese chic!

Classic Room- Dorothy Draper

Dorothy Draper certainly enjoyed a resurgence in 2006. She was the focus of an exhibit, was the subject of a new book, and became a newly hip design icon. And while many people may be a little tired of reading about her, DD reigns supreme for me. From the time I first became familiar with her work many years ago, Draper's style has always inspired me.

While I love the drama and theatricality of her work at The Carlyle and The Greenbrier, I am most drawn to this room- her living room in her apartment at The Carlyle. Certainly Draper achieved a sense of drama here, but it was done in a more subtle way.

The rich aubergine-colored walls provided the perfect "Manhattan chic" backdrop to Draper's traditional furnishings. Draper was fortunate to have had many family heirlooms, including the portrait of her great-grandmother, the enormous china cabinet, and the Lowestoft china, all pictured here. What made this room so successful, though, is that she mixed these wonderful antiques with contemporary pieces, namely the low slung coffee table and the modern tufted rug. While this combination of traditional and modern is the norm today, it was rather revolutionary during Draper's time.

And in case you haven't yet noticed (although I'm sure you have!), there are two things in the room that truly scream Dorothy Draper- the floral chintz covered armchairs and the neo-baroque mantel. Can you imagine Draper living without both? I can't!

Stylish Stationery

Haven't we all read lately that the handwritten note is a thing of the past? That email has become the preferred method of social correspondence? While it is true that email has made our lives easier in some regards, it cannot replace the graciousness of a handwritten note. I love receiving notes of thanks and well-wishes, and I make a real effort to return the favor every chance I get.

Of course, bespoke stationery is wonderful. You might want to have at least one set of engraved stationery for more formal occasions. However, you also have the option of purchasing motif stationery- plain paper or cards with a motif engraved on the top. This is a wonderful (and less expensive) way to express your style and personality. Fortunately for us, there is an abundance of stylish stationery on the market.




For the ultimate extravagance, why not consider a set of the Chinese Dragon cards from Mrs. John L. Strong? Yes, they are pricey, and yes, you may want to reserve using these for only the most special people in your life. But aren't they a splashy way to send one's well-wishes?

Dempsey & Carroll has numerous options for motif cards. For an ultra feminine card, I like their floral motif cards such as the Japanese Spider Mum or the Red Hibiscus.

Or, for something more whimsical, their London Taxi cards might just fit the bill.





Smythson, the London stationery purveyor, has some simple but chic correspondence cards. I think their Lipstick cards would be great to send to makeup mavens.


And now for the hard part- what to write? Well, who can forget Strunk and White? Their writing manual/bible was updated in 2005 with charming illustrations by Maira Kalman. The Elements of Style Illustrated is not only helpful in guiding us letter writers, the illustrations also make it fun!

Lovely Bedrooms

I'm a huge fan of prints of all types- stripes, geometrics, florals. I tend to avoid using too much of one print in one room. I think the result can look rather matchy-matchy. One room, however, where this does not hold true is the bedroom. I love bedrooms where the same print is used on walls, window treatments, beds, and upholstery. I think it can look quite smart.

World of Interiors recently featured Kate Spade's Upper East Side apartment. I was really taken with the guest bedroom. Spade chose to use Osborne & Little's "Rococo" toile to cover the walls and the bedspread. This toile packs a punch by being used on more than one surface. I also like that Spade upholstered the head and foot boards in a complementary apple green solid fabric. It really is a cozy room.



Chloe Sevigny and her decorator, David Cafiero, took this idea a step further (a big step!) in Sevigny's guest bedroom. Using Schumacher's Shangtu Floral, they covered walls, ceiling, bedcover, door, and desktop in this sophisticated floral print. By covering all surfaces (with the exception of the floor) with this one print, they really created a jewel box-like effect.

In Tents- Part 2: Richard Keith Langham does Palm Beach

Look at this chic little Palm Beach dining room done by Richard Keith Langham (featured in the Jan/Feb Southern Accents). Of course, the first thing that caught my eye was the tent awning on the ceiling (see my post from November 13 to see other interior tents). The soft pink and white strips contrast nicely against the pale blue walls. The same shade of pink is used in the drapes (I love the scroll work trim on the edges) as well as the coral and sea-horse sconces. The pelmet is the perfect crowning touch to the windows- notice the bells on either end of the pelmet. And although we've seen the Frances Elkins chairs used by many decorators, they really are perfect for this beach home. This room to me looks very "Dorothy Draper in Palm Beach"!

Nan Kempner: American Chic

The hot ticket in New York is currently the Nan Kempner exhibit at the Costume Institute at the Met. Nan Kempner was known as being the consummate fashion plate during her lifetime. She amassed quite a large wardrobe, much of it consisting of Yves Saint Laurent haute couture. It is no wonder that the Met considered the collection to be "art", and they were lucky enough to have had her wardrobe bequeathed to them after her death.

I was recently rereading "Billy Baldwin Decorates" and came across some photos of The Kempner's bedroom that had been decorated by Baldwin. While it is not necessarily one of my favorite Baldwin rooms, there is certainly much to look at. What is so striking is the amount of fabric used in the room. There is the shirred cream-colored muslin that covers the wall, the contrasting patterned fabric used on the headboard and bed, a floral print used on the sofa and chairs, and more. Baldwin writes that he chose to cover tables with fabric in order to create a sense of "restfulness". There are few sharp edges in this room.

Kempner chose later to work with decorator Michael Taylor, whose work was reminiscent of Frances Elkins and Syrie Maugham (both of whom strongly influenced Taylor). Taylor was considered to be the creator of the "California Style" of interior design, characterized by a lot of white and beige. Interestingly, Taylor was the chosen decorator of Kempner's parents, the Schlesingers of San Francisco (who incidentally had also employed Frances Elkins during her lifetime).

From the photos I have been able to find, it looks like Taylor tempered the casual California look and injected it with some New York high style. While much of the color scheme is neutral, the rooms were warmed up with traditional touches, such as the Coromandel screen. Kempner was known for her "casual" Sunday night spaghetti suppers, where friends and family could casually drop in. Can you imagine a more elegant setting in which to eat spaghetti????

Robert Rufino on New York Social Diary

Today's NYSD House interview (on newyorksocialdiary.com) is with Robert Rufino, VP of Creative Services and Visual Merchandising at Tiffany & Co. I had admired Rufino's apartment when it was featured in either Elle Decor or House & Garden a few years ago. While the apartment is certainly masculine, the crisp and tailored furniture and the interesting bibelots would, in my opinion, appeal to those with a more feminine decorating style.

Rufino is a natty dresser, and his love of clothing is reflected in his choice of fabrics for his home (plaid and striped menswear fabric). While there are certain "modern" elements to his home, such as the somewhat austere slate fireplace and the sleek and tidy kitchen, he has incorporated rather traditional furnishings to create a home that reflects his style- what he calls "traditional with a twist". I also like that he adds punches of color through his use of brightly colored books and accessories.

And don't you love his simple Christmas decorations? I'm crazy for the Magnolia wreath in front of the fireplace as well as the massive fir and conifer arrangement on the cocktail table. Overall, what an elegant and cozy home!