Stencil Library

Not a month goes by in which one of the design magazines does not feature a home that has beautiful de Gournay or Gracie Chinoiserie wallpaper. Some homeowners are fortunate enough to be able to cover every wall in their room with it, while others settle for a framed panel or two. If this handpainted wallpaper is a little out of your design budget, then you may want to visit Stencil Library's website. This UK site sells all kinds of stencils, from neoclassical to geometric designs. Some of the stencils are perfect for borders, while others are a little larger and can be used to decorate an entire wall.

Recently, they added some fantastic Chinoiserie panel stencils that can be used to create your very own de Gournay-esque walls. There are 4 different panels that can be used together to create a seamless scene, or you can just purchase one panel and repeat that design over and over. The site also includes photos of the painted designs using metallic paints on different colored backgrounds. If this is a little too ambitious for you, there are also smaller Chinoiserie designs that you could use on a door, a piece of furniture, or anywhere else that could use a touch of Chinoiserie.



A graphic representation of the four panels when used together.


Stenciled panels painted with gold and silver metallic paint on a Chinese red wall.


Stenciled panels painted with silvers, blues, and irridescent purples on an eggplant colored wall.


For a different repeat pattern, here is the Willow Pattern


"Diamond Trellis" stencil

(All photos courtesy of Stencil Library)

Terrific Trellis

The use of trellis on indoor walls has been quite popular over the past few years, especially with the increased interest in the work of Elsie de Wolfe. It was de Wolfe who introduced this decorative element as part of her design for the Colony Club in New York back in 1905. It was, in a way, a call to arms to banish the tired, heavy Victorian look and to embrace a lighter and more modern way of thinking about design.

Trellis is perfect for rooms such as sunrooms and solariums, breakfast rooms, and even sunny dining rooms. It can be applied over white walls or colorful walls (such as a bright green or pale blue), or even used over mirrored walls for a glamorous, albeit over the top, look. You can paint the trellis white or make it graphic by painting it a darker, contrasting color. If this all seems like a lot of trouble, perhaps you might want to choose a stylish trellis-print wallpaper. However one chooses to use it, it is important to use good quality trellis and to keep the furnishings in the room rather simple. After all, you wouldn't want to overshadow that fabulous trellis!



Entrance Hall given the Trellis treatment by Nicholas Haslam (photo courtesy of Southern Accents)


Trellis in a poolhouse designed by Paul Garzotto (photo courtesy of Southern Accents)


Maine home of Gwen McCaw (photo courtesy of Vogue)


Palm Beach breakfast room by designer Carolyn Malone and architects Norman Askins and Bill Litchfield (photo courtesy of Southern Accents)

Photo at top of Sarah Jessica Parker in a fabulous trellised room (photo from Vogue)

Captivating Color

Continuing with the color theme.... Today's post is all about riotous red, pulsating pink, and outrageous orange. If you really want to make a statement in your rooms, these are your go-to colors. You can go as bold or as subtle as you want- if you're afraid of fuschia, then why not go for a ballet slipper pink? Does bright orange give you hives? Then perhaps you should steer toward a terra-cotta shade. Whatever your preference, these three colors are beautiful ways in which to bring some sizzle to your home.

The photo at top is of the New York apartment of legendary decorator Mark Hampton and his wife Duane. While the room is quite evocative of that time, I do think the vivid red outlined in bright pink is quite striking. (Note: in my original version of this post I incorrectly stated that David Hicks had decorated this apartment, but an eagle-eyed reader told me that Hampton had in fact decorated this apartment in 1968. Thank you poster for correcting me!).




This entryway in Sheila Bridges' apartment is a bold statement in clear, bright orange (photo courtesy of New York Social Diary)


This living room, decorated by Miles Redd, is a "subtler" shade of orange, which is perfect for this traditional apartment.


Miles Redd's living room in a deeper shade of pink- very cosmopolitan.


OK- so this is not someone's home. It's a shot of Chapman Radcliff, the shop owned by Ruthie Sommers. This is a very feminine shade of pink.


Shiny, bright lacquered red! I love this room by Barbara Uzielli. Yes, it's very traditional, but the shiny red makes everything seem slicker, so to speak! (photo courtesy of New York Social Diary)

Black and Blue

A few readers have suggested that I post about favorite paint colors, something which I thought would be fun to discuss. I have so many favorite colors (and so many favorite rooms) that I thought it would be better to have a few different posts that are segregated by color.

Today I'm featuring just a few of my favorite blue rooms (and one black room) . I am particularly fond of ice blue- it's so soothing, yet so chic, all at the same time. In fact, I've always had a blue bedroom. As refreshing as pale blue is, a deep, dark blue that veers towards black can be quite mysterious. These deep hues look great in living, dining, and powder rooms. Furniture and accessories seem to take on a sense of drama when paired with a dark colored room.

I hope you like the rooms that I'm showing, but I would very much like to hear what your favorite blue rooms are. Please note that I tried to include specific paint colors when I could. Stay tuned for other colors soon!

Icy Blue Living Room of decorator James Andrew. The lettuce green of both the tureen and the chair fabric looks quite vivid when paired with this color blue.

Dining Room of Brooke de Ocampo; the peacock blue walls and brown and white zig-zag painted floor were inspired by a photo of a room decorated by Parish Hadley. (Photo courtesy of the New York Times.)


Teal Dining Room in the Hamptons home of Aerin Lauder; custom color by Donald Kaufman


Deep, blue- black living room of designer Barclay Fryery; paint color is Black Panther by Ralph Lauren

Photo at top of designer Alexa Hampton's feminine blue bedroom

Elsie de Wolfe and the Jose Iturbi House

The May issue of House and Garden features a fantastic house in Beverly Hills that had been decorated by Elsie de Wolfe in 1936. The home's owner, Countess Dorothy di Frasso, had hired de Wolfe to decorate the house and inject it with some glamour, something that de Wolfe most certainly achieved. In 1947, Jose Iturbi, a Spanish composer and pianist, bought the house from di Frasso and amazingly left de Wolfe's handiwork untouched. According to Iturbi's goddaughter, he never replaced anything, something that is so remarkable given today's mindset of everything having to be new, new, new!

The house is quintessential Elsie de Wolfe. Chinoiserie is prevalent throughout the house, especially in the living room with its' Chinese themed wallpaper and trompe l'oeil bamboo moulding. Mirror, another de Wolfe hallmark, is found everywhere: in the living room's fireplace surround; the dining room's magnificent verre-eglomise walls; and in the bedroom's clear and topaz mirrored headboard and paneling.

Iturbi died in 1980, and I'm unsure who has been residing in the house. The house is for sale, and hopefully the new buyer will appreciate the house and its' heritage. The contents of the house will be auctioned off by Neal Auction House sometime this Spring.


















(All photos courtesy of House and Garden)

Breezy Blue and White

The blue and white color combination seems so right this time of year, especially when used in outdoor living areas, sunrooms, and really any room that opens onto a patio or garden. Mary McDonald is a master of this color scheme, and taking inspiration from this outdoor room that she did, I've found some blue and white pieces that are sure to add some "crisp tranquility" to any room.


"Notions" dining chair in Josef Frank's "La Plata" Fabric, from Anthropologie


"Walko" indoor/outdoor fabric by Pierre Frey


"Delft" cachepot from Tiffany & Co.


Blue and White Chinese Garden Seat from William Wayne & Co.


Mottahedeh Blue and White Tin Plates at William Wayne & Co.

Seeing Stripes

I was very excited to read the other day that Scalamandre has reissued the "Zebra" wallpaper as part of its Cabinet de Curiosites line. "Zebra" was first designed for the legendary New York restaurant Gino's in the 1940s. The original owner, Gino Circiello, had been friends with the Scalamandre family, and when he opened his restaurant he asked them to design a wallpaper that had a big game hunting motif. What they came up with was a magnificent design of running zebras being chased by arrows, all set against a red background.

I first learned about the famous wallpaper about ten years ago. In fact, I decided to dine there just to see the wallpaper, which looks even better in person. I had been told that while the restaurant was still in business that Scalamandre would not reproduce this pattern. It seems however that that may not have been an accurate story. According to some recent articles, Scalamandre employees discovered the lost printing screen during their move from their Long Island City factory, so they decided to include this print in their new collection.

The new "Zebra" is slightly different from the original in two ways. First, the new zebras no longer look like hunted prey (they seem to prance rather than run). Secondly, the original design was charming in that one of the zebras was missing a stripe from his hind end, and the new pattern has reintroduced the missing stripe. The new "Zebra" comes in many colorways, although the red one is still my favorite. Kate Spade used a bright green version of the print in her guest bathroom. Also, I believe the red version was used on the set of the movie "The Royal Tenenbaums". What I like most about the design, though, is that is whimsical without being kitschy, and that it represents a little piece of New York history!




Photo of Gino's, courtesy of New York Times


Photo of Kate Spade's Guest Bathroom, courtesy of World of Interiors

Photo at top of "Zebra" print, courtesy of New York Times

Focus on Markham Roberts

Markham Roberts is considered to be one of the brightest young decorators in Manhattan, and it is easy to see why. Roberts, who used to worked under design legend Mark Hampton, has been fortunate enough to work on some pretty spectacular residences. What I like about his work is that while his rooms are sophisticated and at times formal, they are always comfortable. While Roberts' "look" is rather traditional, he manages to add fresh, bold touches to his rooms that keep them from looking dowdy. Some rooms are lacquered with rich colors, while others are defined by interesting patterns. Texture is another thing that I always notice about his interiors, such as smooth as glass lacquered walls and floors or sumptuous, tactile fabrics. And there always seems to be an interesting mix of accessories. Here are a few photos of his portfolio, courtesy of his website. Enjoy!

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