The Elegance of Gene Hovis

While I was reading a 1990 issue of House & Garden a few months ago, I came across an article that I can't seem to get out of my mind. The feature was on the Manhattan home of the late Gene Hovis. For those of you not familiar with Hovis (and that included me until a few months ago), he was a North Carolinian who came to New York back in the 1950s to seek fame and fortune as an actor. Although that career did not pan out, Hovis did find success as a well-regarded cook and food authority, eventually becoming the creative-food director at Macy's as well as the food editor at H&G. He also gained notoriety as a charming and sophisticated host, entertaining much of New York society at his Manhattan apartment. I just love this story: a small-town Southern boy ventures to the big city and woos the A-list with his down-home Southern cooking- and eventually winds up on the International Best Dressed list.

But back to this article. I think what struck me most about this home is its elegance and graciousness- something that unfortunately seems to be lacking in many homes today. Yes, the home is rather formal, but formality and comfort are not mutually exclusive. I'm wondering if Hovis decorated his home with his guests in mind. First, how could one look bad in such lovely surroundings- plum colored walls, soft lighting provided by candles and antique parchment lampshades, and richly upholstered furniture. And how could one not feel cosseted sitting at such a beautifully appointed table? It really seemed like the ultimate home in which to entertain.

Gene Hovis did not achieve success with his cooking skills alone. He had charm and grace and he seemed to spend much time ensuring the comfort and happiness of his guests. And in this age of computers, BlackBerrys, and frenzied schedules, perhaps it's time we start to focus again on some of life's pleasures such as entertaining at home, pulling out the fine china and crystal, and making our guests feel special. Perhaps the timing's right for a return to graciousness.

FYI: Hovis planned his menus around the likes and dislikes of his guests (another mark of good hostmanship). According to Hovis, Pat Buckley liked red beans. Carolina and Reinaldo Herrera are also bean people. Slim Keith's favorite dish was chicken potpie. And Bill Blass loved apricot-raisin bread pudding. Hovis also stressed that the food he prepared was simple and straight-forward, something to remember when we're planning our next dinner party!


Many of Hovis' antiques were American and English. He was able to amass his collection by buying what was not in vogue at that time.


A beautifully set table was a Hovis signature.


How fabulous is this? Look how organized Hovis was. This photo has inspired me to do the same for my linen collection (which unfortunately is not as large as that of Hovis.)


If this were my closet, I'd die and go to heaven. Look at all of that antique china, crystal, and silver! And in a marbleized painted closet no less!

Image at top: The host with the most Gene Hovis. All images from HG, Dec. 1990.

Painter of Interiors: Alexandre Serebriakoff

In last week's "What's in Their Library" feature, Todd Romano named two books which feature the charming illustrations of Alexandre Serebriakoff, a Russian born artist who painted interior scenes for the likes of Charles de Beistegui and Baron de Redé.

One of the books Todd mentioned,Alexis: The Memoirs of the Baron de Rede, is one that I'm fortunate enough to own. The book is an autobiographical account of the Baron's life amongst the glittering world of European high society. While the book is most definitely an interesting read, the most memorable part of it is the inclusion of Serebriakoff's work. de Redé commissioned Serebriakoff to render paintings of the interiors of the Hôtel Lambert- the Baron's refined and elegant hotel particulier. In my opinion, Serebriakoff's paintings give the rooms a warmth and charm that is lacking in actual photographs of the interiors. Not that de Redé's home wasn't beautiful- it was; in fact, it was exquisite. It was just a bit too cold and grand for me.

Fortunately, de Redé also commissioned Serebriakoff to immortalize scenes from his Bal Oriental. The costume party, which de Redé says was one of the most legendary parties of the twentieth century, was an Eastern fantasy. Serebriakoff captured the colorful event with paintings of elephants, Nubians, and Chinese umbrellas. It certainly must have been some party!


Salles des Muses, Hôtel Lambert


The Drawing Room at the Hôtel Lambert


The Library, Hôtel Lambert




Serebriakoff's paintings of Le Bal Oriental, 1969.

Image at top: Serebriakoff's portrait of Alexis, Baron de Redé, dressed for his Oriental Ball.

Like Mother, Like Daughter?

Isn't it interesting to think about what influences the way we choose to live? There are obviously many factors involved, but in my mind one of the biggest is how one was raised. I grew up in a traditional home with early American antiques and Chinoiserie. Now, I could have rebelled as an adult and ventured down the path of modernism. In fact, I was a die-hard modernist for all of ten minutes when I was 23 years old (yes, I know it's hard to believe). Instead, I've chosen to embrace the traditional, always mindful of adding modern pieces to keep the mix fresh and young.

So, what about you? Were you a rebel with a design cause? Or, did you did not leave the family fold? I thought it would be interesting to show images of some famous mothers and daughters to determine if the daughters' styles were shaped by their mothers. I've chosen Annette Reed de la Renta and Eliza Reed Bolen, Maxime de la Falaise and Loulou de la Falaise, and Irma Schlesinger and Nan Kempner. I think you can definitely see similarities between each mother and daughter, but I'll leave that for you to decide.

The home of Annette Reed de la Renta, c. mid-1960s (the young daughter pictured below is Beatrice, not Eliza):







And that of her daughter, Eliza Reed Bolen. I believe Bolen's apartment was decorated by David Netto:







Maxime de la Falaise, former model, international jet-setter, and writer is an English woman who married a French count. Her bohemian style is evident here in her New York apartment:







Her French born daugher Loulou de la Falaise was the longtime muse and best friend of designer Yves Saint Laurent. The images below are Loulou's Paris apartment:







Irma Schlesinger was the mother of style icon and socialite Nan Kempner. The Schlesinger's San Francisco apartment was decorated by Frances Elkins:





Interestingly enough, Nan Kempner employed Michael Taylor to decorate her Manhattan apartment. Taylor was greatly influenced by Elkins' work, so I suppose it's no surprise that Kempner hired him:







Image at top: "Mrs. Mayer and Daughter" by Ammi Phillips, c. 1835-40. In the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Lee's Timeless Design

It goes without saying that many people have long been fascinated with Jackie Onassis- no surprise there. But Jackie's sister Lee Radziwill is also a style icon, albeit one who still stands in the shadow of her more famous sister. Certainly Radziwill is known for her keen fashion sense, but she seems to be quite confident in how she chooses to live (I'm talking about the actual interiors of her homes- NOT her personal life!) .

Through the years, her homes seemed to reflect the zeitgeist of interior design. Remember her wonderful Renzo Mongiardino designed drawing room from the 1960s? That said, her interiors have also had a classic quality to them. Many photos of her homes are hard to date which to me is the ultimate compliment.

I've found some images of both her country home in England as well as her Fifth Avenue apartment. Radziwill was a decorator for a time, so I believe she was responsible for her New York interiors. I'm not sure who decorated her English country house- possibly Renzo Mongiardino? If anyone can clarify, please do so!


The dining room of Radziwill's country house Turville Grange c. 1971. The walls were covered in Sicilian scarves that had been lacquered. Painted panels were superimposed over the scarves. If this was not designed by Mongiardino, it certainly looks it. (Photographer Horst P. Horst)


The garden room of Turville Grange certainly had an English country house feel, but some of the furniture gave it a modern twist. (Horst, photographer)


The front hall at Turville Grange, again c. 1971 (Horst, photographer)


The dining room of Radziwill's Fifth Avenue apartment, c. mid-1970s. The walls were covered in silk moire. Don't you think the Regency dining chairs and pedestal table are stunning?


I think this is one of my favorite rooms in Radziwill's New York apartment. The walls of the library were covered in blue-gray fabric, which was also used for the curtains. You can't really see any delineation between the window treatments and the walls.


The drawing room was also a vision in red.

Image above: That famous photograph of Radziwill and her daughter in their Mongiardino designed drawing room.

Thoughts on Tassels

After going through some old clippings recently, I realized that there are a few things that always seem to catch my eye. And one thing that stops my magazine page- turning cold is the sight of a tassel. Truly, I haven't figured out why because I only have one tassel in my home. (Believe it or not, I do try to keep the embellishments to a minimum!) Still, they're fun and a bit frivolous. Here's a brief roundup of these little flights of fancy.


Smith & Brighty Rainha Tassel


Tassel beach blanket by Madeline Weinrib


Agraria perfumed tassels, available at Charlotte Moss


Vintage Tassel Table from Mecox Gardens


Tassel sconces from Brunelli Designs


Gilt Bronze and Opaline Jardiniere from Heather and Company


"Garland and Tassel" wallpaper border by Adelphi Paper Hangings

Image at top, courtesy of Conde Nast Archives

Who Influenced Who?

Have you ever noticed how many designers have made their mark on the design world by creating gorgeous brown rooms? And not just any brown, but a deep, dark, and sometimes glossy brown. David Hicks, Billy Baldwin, and Vay Day Truex are just a few of the designers who have created stunning (and legendary) brown rooms- rooms that still serve as inspiration today.

But what I want to know is who jumped on the brown bandwagon first. And who influenced who?



Van Day Truex seemed to lead the way with his gorgeous brown living room, designed in 1951. Truex was a style setter, so I wonder if he influenced Billy Baldwin's enthusiastic and masterly use of glossy brown. After all, when you think of glossy brown walls, don't you immediately think of Baldwin's Manhattan apartment:



So, was Truex responsible for Baldwin's affinity for brown? Or was it in fact Mrs. Walter Farwell, a friend of Ruby Ross Wood who designed a Coromandel lacquered room in her home that captivated Baldwin, at least according to his memoir Billy Baldwin Remembers :



And what about David Hicks? Hicks' living room with its Coca-Cola lacquered walls has a bit of an American look to it. Might he have been emulating some of his American counterparts? I have a feeling that had Hicks been influenced by American designers, he would not have divulged this information:



Albert Hadley has used glossy brown throughout his career. He freely admits that he was greatly influenced by the design greats such as Truex (a close friend) and Baldwin. Not only is Hadley a genius, he's a gentleman too:



And what about Sister Parish's living room circa 1968? Was she solely responsible for the choice of glossy brown walls? Or, was she testing out Hadley's more modern aesthetic:



And the cycle continues... Miles Redd chose glossy brown for one of his early projects. He has cited Hadley as having an impact on his style, so are we seeing that here?