The Classics

Trends may come and go, but there are certain "things" that never go out of style- and thank heavens for this! I have no issues with indulging in current fads- I'm guilty of having displayed the ubiquitous coral! But decorating your home entirely with trend-driven items is not the way to achieve a timeless look. Who wants to spend the time and money reupholstering a sofa a year from now because the chosen fabric is no longer stylish?

Fortunately for us there are many timeless pieces that have stood the test of time. Here are but a few classics that are always appropriate and always stylish.

(Stay tuned for future Classics posts...)

Classic Candle:

Yes, the heady scent of Rigaud candles is evocative of the go-go years of the 1980s, but there's no denying the allure of Rigaud. They were, after all, the preferred candles of Diana Vreeland.

Classic Lighting:

The swing-arm lamp was first introduced to the marketplace by George Hansen. Such a simple yet innovative idea. If you've ever used one, you know how handy (and stylish) these lamps truly are.

Classic Linen:

Alright, it seems a lot of people don't "get" Porthault prints. Some say they're too matronly and too old-school. Well, what's wrong with that? Jackie Onassis and Wallis Simpson certainly didn't have a problem with it. Trust me, once you get hooked on Porthault, there is no going back!

Classic Flatware:

"Bamboo" flatware by Tiffany & Co. First introduced in 1961, this legendary pattern was designed by Van Day Truex who, in my opinion, was a classic in his own right.

Classic Fabric:

"Les Touches" by Brunschwig & Fils. A graphic take on the animal print. I once read where Geoffrey Beene swathed an entire room in this fabric!

Classic Chair:

The slipper chair, seen often in interiors by the Billys (Baldwin and Haines).

Hadley's Favorite Things

Albert Hadley has, in my opinion, the best "eye" in the business. I'm sure that from time to time Hadley makes mistakes, but if so I certainly can't tell. He has such a knack for finding those perfect pieces, whether it is a piece of furniture or an accessory. And the items that he does choose are timeless; in fact, many finds have been used by Hadley for years and in various settings. One of the most striking possessions of Hadley is a gold nut/pod (or is it a fruit? a vegetable?) tureen. It has been photographed in Hadley's Southport, Connecticut home and in the 2001 Kips Bay showhouse (see above), just to name a few. I don't know anything about this tureen but I just love it! Here are some other Hadley pieces that I covet:


The fabulous "what is it?" tureen in Hadley's country home.


Is this bookcase not amazing- it's a German piece that commemorates the 1928 Olympics. Also note the drawing by Van Day Truex, one of Hadley's great friends.


Notice this little modern red zig-zag table in the reception room of Parish-Hadley...


Well, here it is again, this time in Hadley's bedroom.

The Bold and the Beautiful

If the dark colors of yesterday's post were too dramatic for you, then perhaps you may like these bright, vivid colors more. Why not drench the walls of your dining room with some bold, bright color? It will certainly make an impact in a room that is not often used. My current favorites are bright blue (teal might even look rather daring), lavender, and that old stand-by red. One of my all-time favorite dining rooms, however, is the one above in the Paris home of Mathilde Agostinelli. I know I've shown this image numerous times, but doesn't this photograph make you want to paint any room this glorious shade of pink (or at least find some shocking pink table linen)?

Perhaps with colors like these, you may just start dining in the dining room on a regular basis.

Suggested shades:
"Blue Ground" by Farrow & Ball- a great light blue
"Chinese Blue" by Farrow & Ball- a deeper blue which looks fantastic when paired with red accent pieces
"Scarlet O'Hara" by Pratt & Lambert- a true red
"Peace and Happiness" by Benjamin Moore- a beautiful shade of lavender
"Coral Reef" by Sherwin Williams- a coral shade of pink




I've always been taken with this dining room designed by legend Frances Elkins. Yes, a red dining room may be a bit predictable, but who can deny the timeless allure of it?


I think that this shade of purple, chosen by designer Steven Gambrel, would look great in a dining room as well. A little unusual but very striking!


I love vivid blue dining rooms- think about how great some red accents would look against this shade of blue. Designer- Jan Showers


A "wow" shade of pink chosen by Mary McDonald. I could definitely see this used in a feminine dining room such as Agostinelli's dining room above.

A Little Dining Drama

Loyal reader Laura recently asked me to post about my favorite colors for dining rooms. Well, I have a lot of favorites so narrowing them down was a bit tough. I favor bold and dramatic colors for dining rooms, and why not? After all, dining rooms tend to be more formal (this is the room where we use our best flatware and china) and are used predominately in the evening (at least this is the way I use mine!). My latest obsession is with deep, dark and glossy walls for this room (think dark brown, aubergine, and even black). How beautiful these colors look at night by candlelight! So, here are a few examples of dark dining rooms done right. And stay tuned for tomorrow's post in which I'll post images of vivid and bright dining rooms!

Suggested colors:
"Bittersweet Chocolate" by Benjamin Moore
"Mahogany" by Farrow & Ball (especially dramatic in a high gloss)
"Brinjal" by Farrow & Ball- a nice eggplant shade
"Noir #24-16" by Pratt and Lambert- a midnight blue shade. A great option in lieu of black.



No, this is not a dining room, but I adore this glossy aubergine room by Mario Buatta. This room served as inspiration for my parents' lacquered aubergine dining room. This is a gorgeous, rich nighttime color!



Here is a chocolate brown dining room by Tom Scheerer (walls are Benjamin Moore Chocolate Candy Brown and trim is Atrium White). According to Scheerer, "Any house can use a chocolate brown room". I couldn't agree with him more. (Photo and quotation from House Beautiful)


Is this not a gorgeous room??? This dining room at "Harbourside", the Bahamian home of The Hon. Lady Baillie, was designed by Maison Jansen. The walls are a deep, glossy dark green with white Chinese Chippendale-style trellis overlay. This room is making me rethink dark green! (Photo from "Jansen" by James Archer Abbott)


Another crisp dark brown dining room, this time by Bunny Williams. The combination of chocolate brown and white trim is truly a classic!

Striking Tablescapes II

Aren't weekends a great time to rearrange your tchotchkes and bibelots? Of course, you could also rearrange the furniture, but that's an awful lot of heavy lifting! So, in honor of today being Friday, here are some terrific tablescapes that might inspire you to fluff away the weekend. (Does anyone else regret that the word "tablescape" has been adopted by Sandra Lee from the Food Network?)

(You may also be interested in Striking Tablescapes I)

A classical tablescape designed for a New York apartment by David Netto


A chic, steel gray tableau designed by Barclay Fryery


A bar is perfect for weekend tablescaping! Design by Joe Nye.

Image at top: No post on tablescapes would be complete without a vignette from the maestro himself David Hicks.

Wonderful Wood

I think that wood-paneled rooms tend to get a bum rap. Many people think of wood paneling as a relic of the past- too old, too fussy, too dark, and just too gloomy. I agree with some of these opinions. When done badly, wood-paneled rooms can be pretty dark and depressing. But when the wood has that wonderful rich color and patina, it gives a room a degree of dignity that is hard to achieve with paint and paper. And all of this serious wood does not preclude a designer from being able to inject bit of dash and glamour to these rooms. Look at the way these designers worked with it.


A slightly eccentric entryway by designer Barclay Fryery


A fresh traditional room by Meg Braff

Glorious dark wood in the home of Mary McDonald (if I recall, the article in Town & Country mentioned that McDonald was going to embark on a major redecoration of this house, so this room might look quite different now.)

Image at top: There is nothing staid about this wood-paneled room by David Hicks.

You Can Judge A Book By Its Cover

I have to admit it. There are times when I buy a book strictly based on its cover. Personally, I'm drawn to covers that are whimsical and artistic as well as those that incorporate decorative motifs. And many times, to my surprise, the books themselves prove to be interesting and entertaining. Here are some striking covers of books that have caught my eye. I can't attest to the quality of the books themselves, but if the "inside" isn't worth it, then at least you'll have an attractive book to display.


"The Savoy Cocktail Book", 1930. I'm a sucker for an Art Deco cover, and I find this one especially intriguing. Makes me pine for the cocktail hour of yesteryear.


"The Blue Danube" by Ludwig Bemelmans (1945). How can one not be charmed by Bemelmans' iconic covers (illustrated by none other than the author himself!)?


"Costumes from the Forbidden City" by Alan Priest (1945). Yes, this book has a beautiful cover, but its subject matter- the imperial robes of the Ch'ing dynasty- appears to be quite interesting too!


"How to Do It, or the Lively Art of Entertaining" (1957) by Elsa Maxwell. How terrible is this cover? So bad in fact that this book is cherished by book collectors alike. I have the recently rereleased edition, and I can attest to the fact that this book is a fun read (I can't remember if a recipe for doughnuts is included, though).


Book at top: "Interior Decoration" by Margaret Lord. A bit reminiscent of a David Hicks cover, this book was published in 1944. Margaret was ahead of her time!

Maison Charles Lamps

Today I'm writing about something that I know very little about- Maison Charles lamps. What I am certain about, though, is that they are some of the most stylish and witty lamps I've ever seen. In fact, I've included photos of Maison Charles lamps in some of my previous posts on lamps.

From what I have read on the web, La Maison Charles was founded in 1908 by Frenchman Ernest Charles. Working primarily with bronze, the Maison Charles artisans were known early on for their reproduction antique lighting and later, in the 1950s, for their fanciful lamps (like those below.) Based on what I've found on 1st dibs, I believe Maison Charles also created mirrors and small pieces of furniture.

The firm is still in existence today, and while their current offerings are quite glamorous, they don't compare to the lamps I've featured here. And if anybody has any additional information on Maison Charles (or needs to correct any information I have here), please do comment. I would very much like to know more about this illustrious design house.


Maison Charles "Corn on the Cob" lamp, c. 1950s, available at Deco Dame


Maison Charles "Corn on the Cob" lamp available at Deco Dame


Yes, it's the ubiquitous coral, but this is still a neat lamp. Maison Charles Coral lamp, c. 1960s, from 1st dibs


Maison Charles "Sunflower" lamp from Fleur

Image at top: Pineapple lamps by Maison Charles, c. 1955, available at Thomas Brillet

Arrivederci!

I'm off for a long weekend vacation. See you on Tuesday with more design dispatches.

Sister Parish Does Yellow!

I recently purchased a 1967 edition of House Beautiful, and guess whose room made the cover? None other than everybody's favorite Sister Parish. I love the clear shade of yellow on the walls and the upholstered armchair. The striking rug with the black and yellow Greek key motif is an Edward Fields design. And check out that custom door hardware designed by Sis herself. I think I could live in that room today! Here are a few more rooms that were chic back then and still look pretty good in 2007.


A glamorous dinner party designed by Ellen Lehman McCluskey. I certainly wish my dinner parties looked like this. The blue damask fabric is Scalamandre, the china, crystal and silver was from Tiffany & Co., and those gorgeous chairs were from Yale R. Burge.


My favorite design trick- a tented room! This one was designed by Thomas Britt. The fabric is a Brunschwig & Fils print, and the towels are Porthault.


I was a bit surprised to find out that Tony Duquette was the designer behind this room. A bit tame for Duquette, although I'm more familiar with Duquette's over the top creations. The rugs are antique Arabian tent hangings- how exotic!


This 18th c. Venetian mirror is very much in vogue today. Design by Melvin Dwork.

(All images from the October 1967 issue of House Beautiful)

Interior Illustrations

One of the downsides of interior design is that the fruits of a designer's labor are not always permanent. We are fortunate enough to be able to see paintings created by the Old Masters, sculptures by Rodin, and furniture by Thomas Chippendale. But how many rooms designed by Elsie de Wolfe are left for us to view? Or what about that fabulous Cole Porter apartment designed by Billy Baldwin? Of course, photographs are one way in which to immortalize these important rooms, but a more artistic (and charming) method is through painting these interiors. Interior illustrations and renderings have been a popular form of interior documentation through the centuries, and fortunately for us the internet (and design blogging) has introduced many people to this art form. Take for example Anne Harwell of Annechovie, a talented painter whose renderings have been scooped up by most of us (myself included!).

Many designers have chosen to have their work painted. Denning and Fourcade, the late legendary designers who embraced "le gôut Rothschild", had many of their homes captured in paintings. Designer David Easton and painter James Steinmeyer recently auctioned off the contents of their New York home Balderbrae, and included were interior paintings by Steinmeyer. And Charlotte Moss is a notable collector of interior paintings. Isn't it great that these artistic gems are just as popular as ever?

For posts on Jeremiah Goodman and his interior paintings, click here.



A painting of Robert Denning's Manhattan apartment (image courtesy of Doyle New York)


A rendering of Denning and Fourcade's Paris apartment (image courtesy of Doyle New York)


James Steinmeyer's painting of Balderbrae's porch, c. 1992 (image courtesy of Doyle New York)


James Steinmeyer's painting of the Leather Room, Chatsworth, c. 2004 (image courtesy of Doyle New York)


Here is an interior illustration in my collection. Unfortunately, I can't read the artist's name as it was faintly written in pencil.

Image at top: Another painting of Robert Denning's Manhattan apartment (image courtesy of Doyle New York)

Bold Borders

According to son Ashley Hicks, one of David Hicks' favorite design tricks was to outline the edges and corners of a room with a contrasting braid or paper (Hicks also liked to apply similar borders on window treatments and upholstered furniture too). The effect is one that is bold and graphic- it visually reinforces the shape of the room. Ruthie Sommers used a similar idea in a room she designed for her husband (above). Wanting to make the room look like it was "tied up like a package", Sommers chose a Hicks style paper for the walls and painted a dark, wide border around the edges of the walls. What intrigued me most about this decorating "device" (to use the words of Ashley Hicks) is that it was used in the former royal palace Kew Palace (England) during the late 18th/ early 19th c. In Princess Elizabeth's room (below), the walls are covered in a green verditer wallpaper, and a Greek key border outlines each wall. How interesting to see this type of decoration used in a historical home, in a mod sixties room, and in a 21st c. California home.


A graphic room designed by David Hicks


Another Hicks designed room; the walls are covered in a blue woolen fabric and the outline is achieved using black braid.


Princess Elizabeth's bedroom at Kew Palace

(Photo at top of Ruthie Sommers' Santa Monica home; courtesy of Cottage Living)