Lee Bailey at Henri Bendel

I used to find it odd that there are people who buy cookbooks solely for the purpose of reading them. Actually preparing the recipes is beside the point. Strangely enough, I have now found myself as one of "those people." It's not that I don't want to cook, but I truly have no time! If there were 27 hours in a day, well, then maybe.

Some of my favorite cookbooks to read are those by the late, great Lee Bailey. His recipes look delicious, and I'm even planning to take a stab at his Rigodon soon. (It's a chicken custard with brioche topping.) But what really gives me great pleasure are the books' photos of Bailey's marvelously chic tablesettings. By the looks of the photographs, Bailey obviously preferred china, glassware, and linen that was minimal, slightly casual, not fussy, and enormously stylish. For someone with a background in design, Bailey knew the importance of creating atmosphere for one's dinner parties. He also knew that food looks its best against a simple setting.

Bailey once had a noted food and accessories shop within Bendel's (back before it was bought by The Limited) that later moved to Saks. People still talk and write about his boutique today- almost twenty-five years after it closed! It must have really been something, and I regret that childhood was what kept me from knowing anything at the time about Lee Bailey or his shop.

In the book Lee Bailey's Good Parties, Bailey included photos of some of his favorite china, glassware, flatware, and kitchen tools and gadgets, some of which were available for purchase at his Bendel's shop. Below, I'm showing just some of the items that were sold at Bailey's shop. Even if many of us never got the chance to see it in person, perhaps we can get a little taste of what the magic must have been like.





Stainless steel all-purpose pots by Opa.




A Perfect Fish measure.




Left, a 12 1/4" Stainless Steel buffet plate by Bailey-Bannett Inc. At right, an 11" khaki porcelain dinner plate by Taitu for Lee Bailey.




Matte white Japanese flatware.




Chef Master plastic-handled flatware with nonstick Chefcoat.




Bailey-Bannett Inc. stainless steel dessert bowl and saucer.




Lee Bailey all-purpose bistro glass.




Taitu burgundy/brown porcelain dinner plate.


All images from Lee Bailey's Good Parties.

Soane Pop-Up Shop

Have you ever spent time perusing the Soane website? If you haven't, you don't know what you're missing. Their furniture, lighting, and accessories are absolutely exquisite. Good thing for those of us on this side of the pond that the London-based Soane just opened a pop-up shop in conjunction with 1st dibs. (That's a shot of it at top.) Located at the New York Design Center, the temporary shop will feature many of Soane's 500 designs. All of their wall lights plus some of their upholstered furniture, desks, bookcases, mirrors, and cocktail tables will be displayed, and all will be available for immediate purchase. It's also worth nothing that the entire Soane line is crafted in British workshops.

Soane has so many American fans that this is indeed exciting news. But you better be quick. The shop is only open through May 20. Time to start shopping!




Soane founder Lulu Lytle. Click here to see Lulu's feature on 1st dibs.



The Pineapple Light



The Bascule Desk



The Star Mirror



The Vendome Sofa


All images courtesy of Soane.

Paul Rudolph and the Wallace House

Watching the coverage of last week's devastating tornadoes has been very difficult. To see the destruction and suffering that the storms left behind is absolutely heart-wrenching. One area that was hard hit was that around Athens, Alabama, a small city located in the northern part of the state. For a while now, I had been planning to write a post about a house located in Athens, one that was designed in the 1960s by the late architect Paul Rudolph. The house, striking in its resemblance to a modern Greek temple, seemed unusual for a region known more for its more traditional architecture.

I debated about whether I should publish this post in light of what happened in Alabama and throughout the South. Discussing architecture might seem a little callous under the circumstances. But if you think about it, a post on a Southern house is important right now. Some Southerners might prefer traditional houses while others favor contemporary, but what almost all Southerners have in common is our love of home, that cherished place where we spend time with family and friends laughing, celebrating, eating, and often reminiscing about the good old days. For many people right now, the days are not good and won't be for some time. Perhaps if we do our part- in a big or small way- these people will once again have places to call home.

Click here to see a list of charitable organizations that are providing relief for the victims of the tornadoes.


About the house:

When I first learned about the Wallace House in Athens, I thought it odd that Paul Rudolph, former chairman of Yale's School of Architecture and architect of such noted modernist houses as the legendary townhouse of Halston, would have been called upon to design a house situated amongst the Loblolly pines of Alabama. It makes sense, though, seeing that Rudolph spent his childhood years there. It was during his high-school years in Athens that he met Frances Garth Wallace who, with her husband John, later commissioned this house in the early 1960s.

The house's architecture is based on Greek Revival architecture (so prevalent throughout the South), though Rudolph later compared it to Corbusier's Villa Savoye. Noted for its double row of 32 simple columns (faced in brick, no less, and built more for decorative purposes), the U shaped house has a central courtyard that is flanked by an open porch on its fourth side. Because Rudolph was raised in the South and was familiar with the oppressive summertime heat, he chose to paint everything white so as to reflect sunlight. It's open to the outdoors, yet it also provides sheltered spaces to escape the heat.

All photos from House & Garden, April 1966.

A Peak of Chic Party

Tara Guérard and her team at Soirée certainly know how to throw a party. After all, they are responsible for some very stylish parties and weddings, events that have been breathlessly covered by blogs and magazines far and wide. With offices in Charleston and New York as well as a stationery line called The Lettered Olive, Tara and Soirée are who many a stylish gal has turned to plan their own royal weddings. Make that royal looking weddings.

I thought it might be fun to have Tara help me organize a Peak of Chic Party. Well, not a real one, but rather a pretend, "what might be" party. I see it taking place outdoors with shelter provided by a tent- a fanciful tent, of course. And I would probably go old-school with the music and hire Liquid Pleasure. Their tag line is "The more you drink, the better we sound", but I've heard them sober and not completely sober and they always sound good. And speaking of drink, I would serve all of the usual suspects plus something fun like Gin Fizzes.

The food? Tara came up with a menu that really makes me want to take this party from the virtual world to the real world.






TAPAS PRESENTED ON TIERED GRAZING BUFFETS

Crepes of Duck Confit
Cipollini onions, garlic, ginger, cherry reduction

Ahi Tuna Tartare
House made sesame oil, edible wonton “spoons,” lotus roots

“Deviled” Eggs
Sweet pickle-egg mousse, pencil asparagus tips

Bamboo Skewers of Local Creek Shrimp
Toasted hazelnuts, Grand Marnier aioli

Grilled Croissants
Grilled beef tenderloin, tarragon pesto, arugula, heirloom tomatoes, Old Amsterdam cheese

Cornbread Encrusted Pork Tenderloin
Chopstick skewers, caramelized Granny Smith apples, Saigon cinnamon, cherry chutney

The Composed Cheese Course
Artisan cheeses and accompaniments

Miniature Cupcakes
White cake with butter cream and chocolate cake with vanilla icing





She also came up with another menu option for me:

ALFRESCO CHEF’S TABLE FOR FIVE

Petit Black Angus Filet Mignon and Risotto “Pears”
Wild mushrooms, English peas, roasted shallot-Marsala demi-glace






And just to make sure that my party goes smoothly, Tara gave me the following suggestions:

1. Print or create cute signs for passed appetizers & the cheese cart. Invest a little in custom printed napkins styled to match the invitation - guests always appreciate the details!

2. Make sure napkins can't blow off tables at outside events by wrapping pretty ribbon ties around napkin bundles.

3. Using lots of one decor item makes a big impact! Example here is using lots of glass cylinders, pillars and orchids throughout the party.

4. Comfortable lounge seating areas make parties more fun, cozy and intimate. Then no one wants to go home!




Sounds doable to me. So, who's ready to party?





Menu and tips courtesy of Tara Guérard; photographs by Adrienne Page Photography.

Florence de Dampierre on Walls

I just finished reading Florence de Dampierre's latest book, Walls: The Best of Decorative Treatments, in anticipation of her lecture next Thursday at the Atlanta Decorators Show House. Unfortunately, I just realized that I won't be able to attend as I'll be getting things together for a Derby Party that evening. (Those of you who follow me on Twitter know that I've been worrying about how to attain the proper shade of green for the Benedictine Dip.) But, all is not lost because I do have Florence's book, and let me tell you, it's really quite good.

Walls covers the history of decorative wall treatments like wallpaper, stencils, wood panels, and murals. I know that to some people, the word history is enough to make them run for the hills, but please don't let that deter anyone from reading this book. While the text is really very interesting, I think that what truly makes this book a keeper are the beautiful photos by Tim Street-Porter, Pieter Estersohn, and other photographers. There are images of historical rooms with all kinds of stunning wall treatments (think Caramoor, Beauport, and Schonbrunn) as well as contemporary work by the likes of de Dampierre, Annie Kelly, and Alberto Pinto. Just take a look at the photos below and I think that you might agree.


Florence's lecture will take place at the Atlanta Decorators Show House on Thursday, May 5 at 4:00pm. For more information, click here.


A colorful mirrored room with gilt bamboo molding by Howard Brodsky. Pieter Estersohn, photographer.




The Chinese Cabinet room at Schonbrunn in Vienna. I've seen this room in person, and it's truly unforgettable. Photo from Bridgeman Art Library.




The late Dodie Rosekrans' San Francisco dining gazebo. Tim Street-Porter, photographer.




A Parisian study inspired by the Robert Adam designed Etuscan dressing room at Osterley Park, England. Pieter Estersohn, photographer.




Framed Chinoiserie scenic wallpaper in an early 20th century home. Pieter Estersohn, photographer.




A powder room designed by Thomas Beeton; the Chinoiserie fresco was executed by Dana Westring. I also must say that the black lavatory is good looking as well. Tim Street-Porter, photographer.


All images from Walls: The Best of Decorative Treatments by Florence de Dampierre, © Rizzoli Publishers, 2011.

Pierre Frey and Deyrolle

So, no radishes in the bunch, but I am still excited about Pierre Frey's new collaboration with Deyrolle, the renowned French house known for its taxidermy and other natural curiosities. Come September, Pierre Frey will debut a new line of cotton chintz fabrics printed with three of Deyrolle's classic botanical plates: Arboretum, Prairie, and Verger. I'm completely charmed by Arboretum and have got to figure out where I might use it. At least I have a few months to mull it over before the U.S. debut.

For more information, visit Pierre Frey's website.




Verger



Arboretum



Prairie


All images courtesy of Pierre Frey

That Rascal-y Radish

Hip and cool is something that I most definitely am not. The things that I like aren't cool, the music that I listen to isn't hip, and the movies that I watch are old, old, old! Anyway, any attempt at being cool would be dashed by my posts on my likes and dislikes. And the like that we'll discuss here today is...radishes.

Quite frankly, I'm not big on the taste of radishes, especially if they're too hot. (Some radishes even taste like dirt. Well, to me at least.) China, linen, and porcelain with radishes on them, on the other hand, never fail to whet my appetite. It's an odd thing to like, I know, and I have no earthly idea why this City Girl would be taken with of all things a root vegetable. Really, who knew that radishes could be so haute cuisine?





Raynaud's Villandry Radish Dessert Plate



Embroidered Radish napkins by OKA Direct.




Look at these vintage Marghab napkins that were sold at auction. Tiny radishes, peas, and carrots were held together by a yellow ribbon.




This is one of my trompe l'oeil pieces. I admit that the radishes and carrots don't look terribly realistic, but the green onions look pretty good.





A Royal Vienna radish plate from around 1760.




Seeing that I can't do this kind of needlework, this placemat kit won't work for me, but I do find it charming.

Image at top: My Porthault hand towels have radishes and other veggies on them.