Monday, April 06, 2009

Separated at Birth?



The famous library at Reed House, designed by Frances Elkins and David Adler. The sofa and table are Jean-Michel Frank pieces. The walls are sheathed in panels of Hermès goatskin.


David Hicks designed this Swiss library in 1970. The walls are covered in padded caramel suede panels. The sofa is upholstered in the same suede.



This tablesetting was designed by J. Allen Murphy in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Rex Harrison back in the 1980s.



This room, designed by Mary McDonald, combines one of the decorator's favorite color schemes- blue and white- with another favorite color: pink.


The late decorator Renny Saltzman designed a groovy bedroom using strong reds and blues back in the 1960s.


Jonathan Adler is keeping this groovy spirit alive with this bedroom in his Manhattan apartment.


A living room at Waldorf Towers decorated by Parish-Hadley. The walls are a deep aubergine.


Though the walls are brown rather than aubergine, the glossy finish and the mirrors in this Miles Redd room are reminiscent of the room by Parish-Hadley.

(Image of Elkins interior courtesy of David Adler, Architect: The Elements of Style. David Hicks image from David Hicks: Designer. Murphy tablesetting from a 1980s Southern Accents; Mary McDonald image via House Beautiful. Saltzman image from House & Garden's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration; Jonathan Adler photo from Elle Decor So Chic: Glamorous Lives, Stylish Spaces. Parish-Hadley image courtesy Parish-Hadley: Sixty Years of American Design. Miles Redd room from House Beautiful, 1/02, Minh+Wass photographers.)

18 comments:

  1. Augury- Thank you! It was fun to do.

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  2. Thanks for making the connections for me. Sometimes I like the original, for others, the second generation. Thank you!

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  3. Great to see these rooms together. Wouldn't it be fun to know if any of the "later" designers drew their inspiration from the "early" ones?

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  4. Hi Jennifer-

    What an inspiring and insightful post.

    I am sure many designers were quaking in their boots wondering if their 'inspirations' would be revealed.

    I especially applaud you for crediting photographers and sources/original publication of these photos.
    Too many bloggers copy images and photography without any credit for photographers and books.
    With your credits, blog readers can also follow up on your sources and information. It makes for an in-depth experience.
    Bravo, Jennifer.

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  5. Thank you Mary and Patricia! I suppose I should clarify that I'm not implying that anyone copied the earlier rooms. I suppose each of these rooms is timeless in its own way!

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  6. Diane- My credits at the end were certainly a mouthful! Thank you for mentioning that.

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  7. Definitely influenced. How interesting.

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  8. Granny- The strongest influence seems to be the Frances Elkins room and that by David Hicks. They are very similar!

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  9. That first picture of the library is stunning.

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  10. Absolutely gorgeous, thank you Jennifer. The referencing is indeed
    impressive and makes a delicious reading trail.

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  11. PS Doh I just looked again and got the conceit about identical twins! Wunderbar. I was so preoccupied with the details at first.

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  12. I love how you juxtaposed these images. That apricot silk velvet on the Neoclassic fauteuil in the Parrish Hadley room is a classic fabric...You will see that in many of the top designers work of that era.

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  13. Anonymous5:33 PM

    you never cease to amaze. thanks, s

    http://jeffersonstable.typepad.com/

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  14. It is impressive how textiles and color can fill a room. I'm so moderate compared to the audacity of these pics-- even when I think I'm pushing just a bit more, these jigs and jags tell me I'm not even close!

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  15. Amazing!!!!! I love this - there's nothing new under the sun.

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  16. Jennifer -- I especially love the Reed library and Hicks library comparison. So striking.

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  17. This Post is brilliant and I am sure it required lots of time for research.

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