Jeremiah Goodman

Jeremiah Goodman is considered to be one of the finest illustrators of interiors. Known for his watercolors and gouaches, Goodman made a name for himself with his interior renderings for decorators, celebrities, and Lord & Taylor. Goodman has painted the rooms of Billy Baldwin, Michael Taylor, Diana Vreeland, and Greta Garbo.

Now in his eighties, Goodman is finally getting the recognition that he so deserves. There is a new book, Jeremiah: A Romantic Vision, which is a compilation of some of his finest works. Coinciding with the release of this publication, there is also an exhibit of his works at Bergdorf Goodman (through December 31).

I found a few images of his work on the internet. The first work is "Tearoom at the Colony Club, by Elsie de Wolfe", which was painted in 1985. The second painting is "Jeremiah Goodman's East Hampton Living Room" (1967).

A few years ago, I was able to acquire two paintings that I believe were done by Goodman (Goodman always signed his paintings using his first name- Jeremiah- only). They are very simple renderings when compared to those above. As he did illustrations for Lord and Taylor catalogues and advertisements, I wonder if that might have been the purpose of my Goodmans?

More Classic Design Books

Here are a few suggestions for classic books that would be great additions to any design library:


"Decorating is Fun!" and "Entertaining is Fun!" by Dorothy Draper. What can I say? Draper was the consummate cheerleader of decorating- one who taught women (and I'm sure many men too) that a lovely home was accessible to everyone. All it took was ingenuity and enthusiasm. In addition to the witty prose, there is also a lot of practical advice that is still pertinent today.





"The Finest Rooms by America's Greatest Decorators" edited by Katherine Tweed. First published in 1964, this book contains essays by the top decorators of that time- Billy Baldwin, Mcmillen Inc., Rose Cumming, and Michael Taylor. Great photos too!



"Tiffany Table Settings", published in 1960. I love this book, especially as it was the book that started my collection. There are photos of table settings designed by socialites and decorators. Included are tables designed by Billy Baldwin, Van Day Truex, and Valerian Rybar.

Comfort Food Plaza Style

I recently read Deborah Davis' book Party of the Century- The Fabulous Story of Truman Capote and His Black and White Ball. Davis' novel is a look at Capote's famous 1966 ball which had all of NYC (and much of the rest of the country) atwitter. Invitations to the event were much coveted, and details of the party were covered in newspapers around the country.

I had always been under the impression that the party was quite lavish. This, however, was not the case. Elegant, yes, over the top, no. Decorations were rather simple. There was a midnight buffet which included eggs and biscuits, but Capote added two rather unorthodox dishes to the menu- chicken hash and spaghetti and meatballs. The chicken hash was a specialty of the Plaza and was one of Capote's favorite dishes.

I thought I would share the recipe for the chicken hash (courtesy of Davis' book), which might be perfect for a cold evening (dieting is suggested after consuming this rich dish!).

Plaza Chicken Hash

4 cups finely diced cooked chicken (white meat only)

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1 cup cream sauce

2 teaspoons salt

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

1/4 cup dry Sherry

1/2 cup Hollandaise Sauce

Mix chicken, cream, Cream Sauce and seasonings in a heavy skillet. Cook over moderate heat, stirring often, for about 10 minutes.

When moisture is slightly reduced, place skillet in a moderate oven, 350 degrees, and bake 30 minutes.

Stir in Sherry and return to oven for 10 minutes. Lightly fold in Hollandaise Sauce and serve at once.

Makes 4-5 servings.

Fall Book Releases

There are a slew of new entertaining and cooking related books this month, all of which should help us gear up for the holiday season.

My favorite cookbook author, Ina Garten, has just published her fifth book, Barefoot Contessa at Home: Everyday Recipes You'll Make Over and Over Again. In it, she includes such homey favorites as Cornbread Stuffed Cornish Game Hens and Pumpkin Mousse Parfait. Garten's recipes are usually winners and they have very rarely let me down.

If elaborate parties are more your thing, why not check out Carolyne Roehm's A Passion for Parties . While her books can be a bit over the top, Roehm does know how decorate and entertain beautifully.

Finally, if you need inspiration for your holiday table, then William Yeoward's new book Perfect Tables: Tabletop Secrets, Settings, and Centerpieces for Delicious Dining may just be the ticket. Yeoward has a knack for setting gorgeous tables, and this is one book I definitely do not want to miss!

Books, Books, and More Books!

I love design and lifestyle books, both current ones and those that are out-of-print. I am constantly looking for new ones to add to my library- the only problem is trying to find space to store all of my books!

Here are some suggestions for books to add to your design library:

Jansen by James Archer Abbott. Maison Jansen was one of the best known design firms of the 20th c. A great anthology of their work.






Van Day Truex by Adam Lewis. While Truex is best known as the former Design Director at Tiffany & Co. (he designed the classic Bamboo flatware pattern, among others), he was also an instructor at Parsons for many years . Truex also famously introduced Albert Hadley to Sister Parish, and the rest is history!


And, one out-of-print suggestion:

"My Favorite Things; A Personal Guide to Decorating and Entertaining" by Dorothy Rodgers. This is a really fun work written by the wife of composer Richard Rodgers. Includes tips for decorating one's city and country homes, entertaining guests in one's home, and generally living a swell life. Includes classic recipes such as Jellied Madrilene(!).