San Francisco Fall Art & Antiques Show

The always well-regarded and highly-attended San Francisco Fall Art & Antiques Show will take place from Thursday, October 27 through Sunday, October 30.  This year's show, which is being chaired by designer Suzanne Tucker, is sure to interest both antiques collectors and animal lovers alike.  The theme of the 2016 show is "Animalia- Animals in Arts and Antiques".  With sixty dealer booths to peruse, attendees will find all kinds of antique and contemporary pieces, many of which incorporate animal motifs and depictions.  Additionally, the show will feature four designer vignettes, located at the show entrance, that incorporate curated antiques and De Gournay wallcoverings.  These designers include Ann Getty, Catherine Kwong, Antonio Martins, and Jonathan Rachman.  And don't forget that 100% of net proceeds benefit Enterprise for High School Students, a San Francisco nonprofit organization.

To give you a taste of what to expect at this year's show, I'm including photos of a selection of pieces that will be featured at the show.  For more information on the 2016 show and to purchase tickets, please visit the show's website.

DEALER – Janice Paull Antiques
Miles Mason Sucrier, circa 1809, decorated in the “Imperial Eagle”.

DEALER – Lawrence Jeffrey Estate Jewelers
Circa 1950s, New York City, Tiffany & Co., 18k, Ruby & Diamond Rooster Brooch.
This strutting Tiffany & Co. chanticleer brooch features ruby-set plumage and coxcomb, with diamond-adorned cape feathers at his neck. This is a perfect Tiffany story: gorgeous design, everyday wearability, classic taste, and superb workmanship. Excellent condition.

DEALER – Los Angeles Fine Art Gallery
Georges Henri Fauvel
French School 19th century
“Five Setters in a Landscape”
Oil on canvas, signed
26” X 40”

Roberto Freitas American Antiques
CAPTION – "HOUSE OF DERR" PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH DOWER CHEST
Dated 1778, Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania German dower chest, painted in black, red, olive green, orange, and yellow, with five arched cathedral panels, three on the façade and one on each side, the center front panel depicting two rearing unicorns centering an olive tree, the flanking panels decorated with stylized flowers and the date 1778, the top hinges on two large, exuberant iron strap hinges (19 inches), the top painted with three white panels, opening to an interior fitted with a candle box, the underside of the lid stenciled "Peter Derr", Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, dated 1778.
22-3/8 x 50-1/2 x 22-1/4 inches.

DEALER - Earle D. Vandekar of Knightsbridge
A charming Dutch tin-glazed earthenware tile picture of a cat, Makkum, 20th century.
The six tile picture depicts a cat seated on its hind-quarters with its tail curled through its legs looking forward. In the background are a series of clouds and in the foreground a steepled church.

Into the Wild with Schumacher

Schumacher recently invited me and two other bloggers to participate in a design challenge.  The task was to select our favorite animal-print fabrics from Schumacher's latest collection and then use that fabric somewhere in our homes.  Those of you who know me know that I love animal prints, so this Schumacher challenge was one I could not turn down.

First, I decided that the animal-print fabric would be used somewhere in my living room, where another prominent animal pattern already existed: my wool leopard-print carpet, which I selected almost a decade ago as a nod to Elsie de Wolfe.  Although the carpet reads as a neutral (at least, it does to me), I knew better than to introduce a bold spotted or striped fabric into the mix.  Instead, I settled on Schumacher's Nakuru, which is a subtly-spotted linen-velvet fabric, in the color Mineral, which works nicely with my living room's blue walls.

Then, I had to figure out what I was going to do with the fabric.  Upholster a stool in it?  Have it made into a pillow?  And then it dawned on me that Alfie, my Cavalier, had been such a good boy lately that he deserved to have his own little upholstered chair.  I searched high and low and finally found a vintage child's chair at a shop in Atlanta.  One speedy upholstery job later (thanks to my upholsterer, Gail of M2M, who is currently working on other jobs for a coterie of pampered pooches), and Alfie now has his very own Schumacher-appointed chair, which he swears is very comfy.

There are so many other great Schumacher animal patterns that have recently been introduced: Kalahari; Animaux; and Glamourpuss are other favorites of mine.  In fact, the range of patterns is such that even if you're not a fan of animal prints, you might find yourself warming up to them.  To see Schumacher's latest animal-print additions, please visit their website.  And if you would like to see what the other bloggers did with their Schumacher fabric, go to Instagram and search for #SchumacherChallenge #GoWildWithSchumacher #Schustagram

All photos by Jennifer Boles for The Peak of Chic

Luxe, Calme, et Volupté

As I mature, I find myself increasingly drawn to interiors that are refined and pretty.  Perhaps it's a sign of aesthetic maturity, or maybe it's simply that refinement and prettiness seem so uncommon these days that they present a welcome departure from the commonplace.  Whatever the reason, it's a treat to come across photos of jewel-box-like interiors, such as the ones I'm showing today.

You might assume this elegant residence is located in Paris.  In fact, it's a townhouse in Georgetown which, when photographed for the March 1987 issue of House & Garden, belonged to Mrs. F. Burrall Hoffman, widow of Francis Burrall Hoffman, the prominent architect who is best remembered for his work on Villa Vizcaya.  An American who spent part of her childhood and much of her married life living in Paris, Mrs. Hoffman, who was a decorator, was responsible for the home's interiors.  Considering her background, it's not surprising that her home had a prominent French accent.  Take the drawing room, for example, which was lavished in such an attractive shade of green.  Enveloping the room were silk hangings that had been installed in the Hoffman's Paris home, while from one side of the room, a bust of Marie Antoinette stood guard.  Equally in the French style was Mrs. Hoffman's bedroom, which was also treated to sumptuous green fabrics.  Without a doubt, the star of this room was the homeowner's Louis XVI bed, which she slept in as a child.

So much is being made today about how rooms must be casual in order to be comfortable.  I completely disagree.  What's not comfortable about Mrs. Hoffman's library, with its inviting sofa and amply-sized armchair?  The same goes for her bedroom, which looks to me like a guarantee of sweet dreams.  (Granted, a tall person might be a bit uncomfortable in that slender bed.)  And don't you think the drawing room would be a smashing room in which to host guests for drinks? 

I realize that not everyone wants to live in such dressy surroundings today, but wouldn't it be nice if dressiness was a bit more prevalent in today's surroundings?

Above and at top, the drawing room.

The other side of the drawing room.  A Brussels tapestry hung behind the sofa.

The dining room.  The table was set with Nymphenburg china.  Two 18th c. Chinese silk paintings hang over the altar table.

The upstairs library. 

Mrs. Hoffman's bedroom


All photos from House & Garden, March 1987, Edgar de Evia, photographer.

Chateau de Groussay Today

When I flipped through a recent issue of French AD and spied a colorful article on classic twentieth-century chairs (think designs by Arne Jacobsen and Warren Platner), I quickly realized my trip to the newsstand had been worthwhile. It wasn't so much the sumptuously upholstered chairs that excited me, although I do think the chosen fabrics are beautiful. Rather, it was the photos' backdrop that quickened my pulse: the equally classic Chateau de Groussay. Made famous by its owner, prominent twentieth-century tastemaker Charles de Beistegui, Chateau de Groussay is the stuff of design legend.  Artfully appointed by Beistegui with help from designer Emilio Terry, Groussay was a curious mix of French taste and British style, executed in a most luxurious fashion.  But perhaps almost as famous as the house itself was Beistegui's collection of follies, including the famous Tente Tartare with its blue-and-white Dutch tiles, which can be seen below.

Beistegui died in 1970, and the contents of the chateau were dispersed in a 1999 Sotheby's sale. Having never seen Groussay in person, I can't say whether Groussay is as magical today as it was during Beistegui's tenure.  (I have a feeling it is not.)  However, it does appear that the current owners have preserved many of the house's original finishes and color schemes, which, still today, make for an awfully picturesque backdrop.

Photos from French AD, Arnaud Pykva, photographer.

The Wedding in Monaco

Did you happen to see the documentary, The Wedding in Monaco, when it aired on Turner Classic Movies a few days ago?  If not, you must.  The 1956 documentary, which profiles the wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III, is a fascinating, not to mention dazzling, look at the nuptials of the Prince of Monaco and the Princess of Hollywood. 

What captivated me was the theatrical tone of the documentary, which, if you didn't know better, you might assume was pure fantasy.  With its sweeping CinemaScope landscape, its dramatic flourishes, and its parade of vivid colors, The Wedding in Monaco feels more like a colorful Fifties-era MGM movie with sets designed by Tony Duquette.  (One reason for this might be because MGM was partly responsible for the documentary.)  The film begins with the Monégasques anticipating the so-called "Wedding of the Century".  Palace staff is hard at work planning for the wedding festivities, while at the principality's opera house, dancers and set designers are equally busy, preparing for a lavish entertainment in honor of the couple.  Meanwhile, Kelly and her wedding party embark on Monaco, having sailed over on the S.S. Constitution.  There to greet her is Rainier, who whisks her off to the Palace, where Kelly is filmed in a (Helen Rose?) evening gown, perusing Rainier family portraits which hang in ornately decorated Palace rooms.  Later, a civil marriage ceremony is held, followed by a garden party at the Palace, where the citizens of Monaco are invited to celebrate the marriage of their Prince and new Princess.  But it doesn't end there.  That evening, the couple descend on the Opéra de Monte-Carlo to attend a gala featuring musicians, singers, and dancers.  The pinnacle of this drama is, of course, the church wedding of the Prince and Princess, which is a reverential break from the previous days' pomp and circumstance.  The film ends as the couple departs for their honeymoon.  I can only assume the Prince and Princess must have been utterly exhausted.

The documentary can be viewed on YouTube, which is where I obtained these fuzzy screen shots.  (Unfortunately, the version uploaded to YouTube lacks the opera house gala scene.)  What makes this film so striking is its cinematic elegance.  But considering the main players of this romantic drama were Grace Kelly, Prince Rainier, and the majestic backdrop of Monaco, elegance is to be expected.  This is my kind of spectacle, as opposed to today's low-brow spectacles which include, but unfortunately are not limited to, the divorce of Brangelina and the uncoupling of Hiddleswift.

The drama, as it unfolds:

Fall Design Books, Part One

It's that time of year again: Fall Book Season.  Over the coming months, I'll be reviewing my picks for the season.  First up are these five stand-out titles:

I've long been an ardent fan of writer James Reginato's articles for such publications as Vanity Fair and W.  A sometimes chronicler of the homes of the great and the good, Reginato has in recent years profiled the aristocratic domiciles of the late Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, the Duke of Marlborough, and the Marquess of Cholmondeley.  In this book, Great Houses, Modern Aristocrats, Reginato has compiled these profiles in one volume, focusing on the splendid homes of the English and Irish aristocracy.  And what a volume it is, with featured homes that include Blenheim, Haddon Hall, Lismore Castle, and Goodwood House.  With photography by the esteemed Jonathan Becker, Great Houses, Modern Aristocrats will likely join the league of those coveted books about high-society by Horst and Slim Aarons.

(© Great Houses, Modern Aristocrats by James Reginato, Rizzoli New York 2016. Images © Jonathan Becker)

There have been a number of "the making of a house" books published over the last few years, but one that has thoroughly impressed me is A House in the Country by the husband-and-wife duo, designer Katie Ridder and architect Peter Pennoyer.  Devoted to the conception, execution, and decoration of the couple's Millbrook, New York house, A House in the Country is an engaging book that chronicles both the practical and creative sides to creating a dream home from the ground up.  What struck me was how personal their house is.  This might sound like a lame statement, because in theory, a house should reflect the personalities of its owners.  But how many times do we see impersonal homes?  Not here.  Ridder's love of color, pattern, and exotic flourishes shines through, as does Pennoyer's attention to the sometimes-quirky-but-always-delightful details, both of which make this house, and this book, something truly special.

(© A House in the Country by Peter Pennoyer and Katie Ridder, Vendome 2016. Images © Eric Piasecki)

If you've spent any time on Instagram lately, you're likely well aware of designer Mark D. Sikes' debut book, Beautiful, an apt title for a book filled with dreamy interior photos.  Organized by color, each chapter examines Sikes' passion for certain colors (blue and white, brown, green, and red) and demonstrates how the designer uses these colors to imbue a home's interiors with personality and style.  Alongside images of Sikes' work, there are photos of vignettes and mood boards, all of which provide the reader with ample design inspiration.

(© Beautiful by Mark D. Sikes, Rizzoli New York 2016. Images © Amy Neunsinger)

I've long been a fan of designer Michelle Nussbaumer's lush and visually-stimulating interiors, so I had been anxiously awaiting the publication of her new monograph, Wanderlust: Interiors that Bring the World Home.  And after diving into the book, I can say that it's a real treat to peruse.  Nussbaumer's passion is for the exotic: Turkish textiles, Moroccan rugs, Indian paintings, and Venetian furniture, all of which lend her clients' homes a worldly flair.  But even if exoticism isn't your thing, I think you'll still appreciate this book.  Nussbaumer's interiors are the kind that invite more than a passing glance, instead revealing their splendor upon thoughtful observation- and that's just what makes this book so captivating.

(© Wanderlust: Interiors that Bring the World Home by Michelle Nussbaumer, Rizzoli New York 2016. )



And last but certainly not least, The Perfect Bath, Waterworks co-founder Barbara Sallick's paean to the perfect bath. And what constitutes the perfect bath?  To Sallick, "these three words immediately conjure up an irresistible, even timeless vision of relaxation, reflection, and restoration."  This book features sybaritic baths, Spartan-but-luxurious baths, and classic baths that are reminiscent of the Twenties and Thirties. If you are a designer seeking inspiration for clients' baths or someone like me who dreams of one day having the perfect bath, this book is for you.

(© The Perfect Bath by Barbara Sallick, Rizzoli New York 2016. )