An Architectural Alphabet

Remember how we all raved- for months- about Andrew Zega and Bernd Dams' Chinoiseries? Well, hold on to your hats because they are back with a new book that I think might be one of their best yet!

An Architectural Alphabet (Connaissance et Mémoires) is the new limited-edition artist's book that features the duo's watercolors of the alphabet. Each letter is featured in an architectural or garden related scene. In fact, a few lucky letters are painted against backdrops of Chinoiserie follies. How great is that?

The new book, with a forward by none other than Charlotte Moss (I told you this was good!), is hand-bound in silk, numbered, and slip-cased. Forget the jewelry, baubles, trinkets, and bibelots- this is what I want for Christmas. I better start writing Santa right now.

Cynthia Conigliaro and Will Rogers of Archivia Books and Catherine Cormery of Connaissance et Mémoires are hosting a book party where Zega and Dams' new book as well as some of their recent watercolors will be featured. The event takes place at Archivia Books on Thursday, November 20 from 6 until 8pm. To RSVP, call 212-570-9565.

Carolyne Roehm and her Passion for Blue and White

I just returned from San Francisco where I attended a lecture given by Carolyne Roehm. Held in conjunction with the San Francisco Antiques Show, the lecture, entitled "All Roads Lead to Roehm" (very clever!), was a celebration of all things blue and white, including her new book A Passion for Blue and White. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy, and I really think it might be one of my favorite Roehm books to date.

In both her lecture and the book, Roehm champions the versatility of this classic color combination. First, you have an array of shades with which to work- from icy blue to cornflower to navy and beyond. And blue and white also works well with other colors too such as pink, yellow, and red.

I believe that many of us think of blue and white as being casual, and it certainly can be. Really, what is chicer than a white blouse with a pair of blue jeans? But Roehm also makes the case for blue and white to be used in elegant and formal settings too. I suppose you can say that blue and white is like the perfect date- you can take it anywhere and it will fit in marvelously. No need to put lipstick on the pig! (Just kidding.)

I have to say that I admire Roehm's efforts at putting her passion into images and words. Roehm's love affair with blue and white began many years ago, and years later it is still going strong. While other colors might stir my passion more, I think I might be coming around to the whole blue and white thing.

Joe Nye New York will be hosting an afternoon tea in honor of Carolyne Roehm and her new book on Wednesday, November 5 at the Joe Nye New York showroom. To RSVP, contact Christina Juarez, tel 917-463-3685. Wish I could join you!



Blue and white can be laid back and informal


Or it can be quite grand and proper


Blue and white can be exuberant


And it's also quite breezy


And you know what? It looks quite smashing on a cake too.

(All images from A Passion for Blue & White, Carolyne Roehm, Broadway Books, 2008)

Domino: The Book of Decorating

So my posting has been a bit spotty this week because quite honestly, I've been really distracted. Distracted by the great Fall book releases that is.

I spent last night reading the Domino: The Book of Decorating (by Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello, and Dara Caponigro), and this book really could not have arrived on my doorstep at a better time. The book is chock full of practical decorating advice on color schemes, furniture, mixing and matching elements in a room, and much more. And let's face it- many times it's the practical advice that we really need. There is nothing more fun than finding design inspiration, but sometimes we just need some guidance with the actual execution part, and this book certainly helps with that.

While many of the photos in the book will be familiar to you Domino readers, there are some that seemed new to me. And while we all know that it's the details that make a room, the same can be said for books too. One great thing about the book is that there is no dust jacket, meaning you can throw the book in your bag and carry it around to the design center, the paint store, and the hardware store. I'm also crazy for the colorful interior illustrations that appear at the beginning of each chapter. It's really a nice touch.

I'm hesitant to give too much away, but let me just say that I think you're in for a real treat. Domino: The Book of Decorating is going to be a great addition to your design library.

David Mlinaric on Decorating

Until recently, I was only mildly familiar with David Mlinaric. OK, actually, I only recognized the name and that was it. So when I heard that there was an upcoming book about the British design legend, I was intrigued. I just got through reading Mlinaric on Decorating (by Mirabel Cecil & David Mlinaric), and I must say that I got the same feeling that I did when I first read one of David Hicks' books. I can't really tell you why, but I suppose it might be because I kept wondering, "Where has this man been all of my life?"

Mlinaric is considered to be one of the top British decorators of the second half of the twentieth century. (And he still is today seeing that he's only 69.) He has had clients ranging from Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton to Lord Rothschild. I think what amazes me about his work is his range. He's done mod and hip, shabby traditional, and clean contemporary, and all of these looks are included in this book. And Mlinaric seems just as comfortable redecorating the great properties of the National Trust as he does designing the interiors of a London flat.

It's really a shame that Mlinaric does not have the name recognition here in the States that he does overseas, but I do hope that this book remedies that. With page after page of photos of exquisite interiors, this book just might have you too wondering why you're not familiar with this talented man. I think that after reading this book, you will be glad to make the acquaintance of this remarkable designer. I know I was.



Mlinaric's studio at No. 33 Tite Street, Chelsea, c. 1960s


The dining room at the Tite Street studio. To me, this room is reminiscent of David Hicks- maybe it's the banding on the walls.


After John Fowler's death, Mlinaric became adviser to the National Trust. Mlinaric was responsible for the redecoration of the Assembly Rooms in Bath. This is a shot of the ballroom, the principal room of the Assembly Rooms.


The guest bedroom of an 18th c. Loire chateau, decorated between 1986 and 1991. The walls were hand-painted to look like cloth hanging from brass rails.


Glebe House, Chelsea, c. 1981-83

Have I Been Under a Rock??

How did I miss this?? William Yeoward has a new book coming out at the end of this month (meaning tomorrow!)- William Yeoward on Entertaining. I loved Yeoward's first book Perfect Tables as it has provided me of lots of inspiration for styling my table.

According to the publisher, the book will feature 21 table settings AND menus, including Breakfast for Two and a Boating Lunch. Reminds me of my beloved Tiffany Gourmet Cookbook and Tiffany Taste from the 1980s!

Relishing Regency Redux

On to another book review...

I have posted a few articles about my anticipation of the release of Regency Redux by Emily Eerdmans. And now that I've received my advance copy, all I can say is "instant classic". I'm actually suffering a bit of those post-reading doldrums- you know, that down feeling you get when you've finished a book that was pure joy to read. No matter because I might just read it again this week!

Eerdmans begins her book by giving the reader a brief history of the English Regency and French Empire styles- an important starting point as the 20th century interpretations of Regency are based on these two similar styles. Then, it's on to explore all of the different sub-genres of 20th century Regency. There's Neoclassical Moderne, Vogue Regency, Hollywood Regency, and Decorator Regency. I'm being a bit vague here as I don't want to spoil it for you, but let me just say that each distinct style is explored in great detail- and with copious amounts of scrumptious photographs (meaning... I want the furniture and interiors featured in this book.)

Also, the gang's all here, with Draper, Fowler, McMillen, Maugham, Arbus, Leleu, and others being prominently featured. And as the Regency look played such an important role in Hollywood cinema of the 1930s and 40s, there are scores and scores of movie stills that are a delight to see.

Now, I must say that I was prone to like this book as 1930s and 40s design suits my aesthetic. But no matter what your style is, if you're interested in classical, modern, traditional, stylized, theatrical or sophisticated interiors, then you too just might find this book to be as captivating as I did. Regency Redux is a must-have for any design library.


A still from the 1932 movie Transatlantic, which won an Oscar for art direction. The look here is referred to as "Deco Greco".


Another still, this time from the 1935 movie No More Ladies (appropriately named as Joan Crawford starred in it!). Eerdmans makes note of the Regency swags and the Neo-Grec furniture in this room.


Can you tell I'm a sucker for old movies??? Here is an image from the 1945 movie Week-end at the Waldorf. Wouldn't you have liked to attend this staged cocktail party??


The Palm Beach resident of Mrs. Hugh Walker Mercer, designed by Ruby Ross Wood. Wood is one of my all-time favorite decorators (and she was a Georgia girl too!).


A room designed by McMillen for Millicent Rogers... a match made in heaven. Note the Neoclassical details in the room.

Hot Off The Presses!!

Well, not quite yet, but it's big news nonetheless. I just found out that Emily Eerdmans, design historian and author of Classic English Design and Antiques and the upcoming release Regency Redux, has inked a deal with Rizzoli to write a monograph of that rather mysterious and iconoclastic decorator Madeleine Castaing. Are you as excited as I am??

"The World of Madeleine Castaing" is scheduled to be released sometime around Fall 2010, and Jacques Grange has agreed to write the foreword. All I can say is that it's about time.

Let's get ourselves in the mood for the book by looking at images of Castaing's Paris apartment. As Emily notes, visitors to her homes felt as though they were stepping into a Balzac novel. I can certainly see why.

Looking Ahead to Fall Part 2

In addition to the Bilhuber book below, here are some other upcoming releases that rank high on my wish list:


Mlinaric on Decorating. I really don't know a lot about English design impresario David Mlinaric, so I'm looking forward to this release. I'll give you a peek of this book next week.


Michael S. Smith Houses. I think we can all agree that this book will be one of the hottest releases this Fall.


Celerie Kemble: To Your Taste: Creating Modern Rooms with a Traditional Twist. I'm a fan of Kemble's work, so this will be a must-have for me. I haven't heard a lot of buzz about this book, but with a November release date, perhaps it's just a matter of time.


Regency Redux by Emily Eerdmans. I wrote about this book a while back, and believe me, my anticipation grows greater by the day. I think this book will be the breakthrough hit of the season.

Domino: The Book of Decorating. With the Domino name and a $32 price tag, this book will end up on most of our book shelves.

Georgian Style and Design: Living with Proportion and Elegance by Henrietta Spencer-Churchill. Everyone with a design library needs at least one Spencer-Churchill book. Or even two or three!


French Chic: The Art of Decorating Houses by Florence de Dampierre. With photos by Tim Street-Porter, this book is sure to be gorgeous.