The Hunting Lodge- Then and Now

One of the most charming houses featured in the recently published John Fowler: Prince of Decorators (written by Martin Wood) is Fowler's beloved country house, the "Hunting Lodge" . The Gothick style house is actually quite small, but this limitation did not deter Fowler. According to Wood's book, Fowler wanted to create a home that was "utterly unpretentious, very comfortable, with a veneer of elegance and informality and the feeling that one can sit down anywhere without having to move a chair." When I look at the photos of Fowler's home, I'm struck by the soft, faded colors, the chintz, the Mauny wallpaper, and the charming antique furniture. It is, in the words of Fowler, elegant and supremely comfortable.

After Fowler's death, the Hunting Lodge was deeded to the National Trust. Its current tenant is British designer Nicky Haslam, who has kept much of Fowler's scheme intact (do you think that would happen here in the States?). While Haslam's incarnation is a bit more formal and not quite as faded, it's still cozy and inviting nonetheless. British House & Garden recently published an article on Haslam's country home, so I thought I would show a comparison between the Hunting Lodge of each of these design legends.


The sitting room designed by Fowler. The color of the walls was "Sienna Pink", according to Wood.


Haslam's version of the sitting room; note that Haslam kept the Sienna Pink color for the walls.


The dining room from the Fowler era: originally this room had been a front hall. Fowler added trompe l'oeil paneling, a chest of drawers, and an upholstered chair to keep the room from looking like a "dead dining room".


Haslam's dining room, which was the only major change from Fowler's scheme. Haslam eliminated the wall between Fowler's smaller dining room and a service kitchen to create a larger room.


One of my favorite rooms from the Hunting Lodge- here, Fowler converted this little hallway and stairwell into a small library and study. The wallpaper is Mauny.


I'm so glad Haslam chose to keep this beautiful wallpaper, seen in the background.


Fowler painted his bedroom in blue distemper and applied a Mauny border vertically (a trick that Fowler also used in other homes). The bed hanging is "Victoria" chintz.


Once again, Haslam chose not to alter Fowler's scheme.


Fowler's summer house is still there too!

(Haslam images from UK House & Garden, photographer Simon Brown. Fowler quotations from "John Fowler: Prince of Decorators" by Martin Wood)

In with the Old, In with the New

A few months ago, the New York Times published an interesting article on Newport, Rhode Island society decorator John Peixinho. I was really quite curious about him as he counts the inimitable Oatsie Charles as a client. In fact, Peixinho upholstered Charles' late husband's Barcalounger in a Scalamandre Chinoiserie print. Now, how can you not like the decorator who adorns the 800 pound gorilla in the room in Scalamandre?

So it was interesting to see the recent article in House Beautiful (Jan. 08) about Peixinho's own home in Newport. The 1730 house is owned by the Newport Restoration Foundation, which strictly limits what Peixinho can do to the house (i.e.- no painting!). It seems, though, that Peixinho overcame these restrictions by filling the home with pieces that he loves, and this to me is what makes the home interesting. Amongst the Chinese export, the Hitchcock chairs, and other antiques are more modern pieces- a bright yellow Bungalow 5 coffee table, contemporary paintings, and mirrors from Ballard Designs.

It's this mix of the old and the new that I find inspiring. I've been fortunate enough to receive some early American antiques from my parents, and will inherit more some day. As much as I adore these antiques, I don't actively collect early American. But that's okay because they work with my other furniture. I'm here to suggest that with a little imagination and a critical eye, you can mix American antiques with Louis XV chairs or 1930s furniture for example. And really, isn't this the modern way of living?


The card room with the Ballard Design mirrors and newly painted Queen Anne Chairs.


Another view of the card room with a modern painting.

Covetable Pieces

How many times do you see something in a designer's home and think "That's perfect! Just what I've been looking for." As I wrote in a previous post, I say this often when I look at photos of Albert Hadley's homes. I want everything he has! But Hadley is not the only designer with a good eye. Here are some other pieces that I covet:


Markham Roberts designed these faux-horn etageres (which technically are not in his home, but you get the idea). They look like something Billy Baldwin might have used. I'll take two please!


I've admired this table, designed by Alexa Hampton, for years. It has a marble top; it's painted with a Greek Key- what's not to love?

This little shell encrusted turtle candlestick has been seen in many fashionable homes. Made in France and sold at one time through Hollyhock (sadly, I don't believe anymore), these turtles are examples of whimsy done right:


In the home of Joe Nye


And at Todd Romano's home


Don't forget about Christopher Spitzmiller's coffee table

And can anybody tell me where I can find one of these glazed urns? Miles Redd seems to use them in many of his projects, and all I know is that I want one!


In orange on Redd's bar


And in blue in Redd's old apartment

Inspired Styles

Have you ever wanted to get inside the head of your favorite designer? Or wanted to know specifically what inspires them and influences their design? If so, Inspired Styles is sure to answer these questions for you.

Featuring a group of designers who have designed fabric collections for Kravet and Lee Jofa (including Eric Cohler, Alexa Hampton, Barbara Barry, Suzanne Rheinstein, Allegra and Ashley Hicks, and Kelly Wearstler), the book focuses on each designer's style (as explained in their own words) as well as the colors, places, and things that inspire them. Each designer has also answered a Q&A on what they deem as their favorites. Did you know that Wearstler's favorite ice cream is Baskin Robbins Peanut Butter 'n Chocolate? Or that Suzanne Rheinstein loves Mish New York jewelry? Or that Alexa Hampton's favorite hotel is the Gritti Palace in Venice (I agree!).

And with images of the designers' work and artful vignettes of inspiration, the reader can't helped but be inspired too!

A room designed by Alexa Hampton (I believe this is her living room).


What inspires Allegra and Ashley Hicks? Why the Trevi Fountain and books, to name a few.


Discreet elegance in a room designed by Suzanne Rheinstein


Kelly Wearstler's inspiration board


A montage of Eric Cohler's work

Image at top: A beautiful vignette of Diamond Baratta's favorite fabrics and pieces.

Markham Roberts Laboratory

I must admit that I love to see the homes of designers, especially those I admire. Perhaps it's the snoop in me?? But seriously, I think that many designers use their homes as laboratories- places where they can experiment and, more importantly, where they can take the design risks that their clients may be afraid of.

I was excited to see Markham Roberts' apartment in the December issue of Domino (it's a big month for Markham- one of his projects is also featured in the December issue of House Beautiful). Roberts' home has that classic, masculine vibe that would still be appealing to a female (at least it is to me!). And, the best part is that you can see what books and accessories that he has in his home... just the voyeur in me talking!

A shot of Roberts' stylish and practical study.


I had to include a photo of his bedroom for you suzani fans out there.

(Photographs by Paul Costello)

Glorious, Glossy Red

I recently came across this image above in my copious amount of tear sheets, and I quickly remembered why I tore it out. From an old issue of House & Garden, this vignette is so chic, so glamorous, so Asian, and so perfect! But what really makes this image so striking is the glossiness of everything- nothing to me is richer looking than a high gloss, high sheen red.

I was trying to figure out how to incorporate this shot into a post, and lo and behold I found this dining room in the December issue of Elle Decor. Designed by Brian McCarthy, this shiny red room is reminiscent of my favorite vignette, no? The walls are so glossy they almost look wet! Not to mention that fabulous mirrored door in the corner- yet more sparkle. And because the entire apartment is a feast for the eyes, I'm also including a shot of the elegant and au courant living room too. You can't have too much of a good thing!





(Top image courtesy of House & Garden. Bottom two images from the December issue of Elle Decor; photographer William Waldron)

Quiet English Elegance

I've long had a love of all things English- perhaps it's a result of having grown up in a family of Anglophiles. Lately, however, I've been particularly drawn to the British homes that I've seen featured in various magazines. I don't really know why. Perhaps it was the "Anglomania" exhibit at the Costume Institute last year? Or perhaps the whole English look just feels "right" right now.


I'm especially taken with this London flat, designed by Robert Kime. Yes, the home is somewhat formal and grand, but to me it seems comfortable nonetheless. The walls in the main room (which consists of living, dining, and music areas) are a custom color created by Kime- he likens the blue/gray/rose color to a three-week-old bruise! Despite the sickly connotation of this comparison, the walls are a perfect backdrop for the fine antiques and richly patterned fabrics that are used here. Of course, the fabrics are sublime, but one would expect that from Kime, who is also a textile designer. What I find interesting is that used on their own these prints can be rather bold and a bit distracting, but here they are really quite subtle. The mix seems to give the flat a depth of character, and isn't that really what good design is all about?


The living area of the main room with the bruise colored walls.


The dining area of the main room shows Kime's deft use of pattern (I believe the dining chairs are upholstered in Kime's "Peacock" ikat print, the sofa to the right in "Chenille Stripe", and the sofa on the back wall is in "Long Runner"). The narrow mirrors hanging on either side of the portrait were added to create "internal architecture", according to Kime.


A very orderly and symmetrical vignette.


More images of the flat. Note the top right picture which shows the extremely modern and minimal kitchen in the background. Quite a contrast from the rest of the home.

Image at top: The music room area of the main room with a Flemish tapestry on the wall. The chairs are upholstered in Kime's "Harlequin" print.

(All images from the October issue of British House & Garden; Simon Upton photographer)

Gray and White Matter

I've got gray and white on the brain. It's everywhere lately! And what is more classic than this color combination? It can be crisp and tailored, cool and glamorous, or moody and mysterious. Think Dior's Paris salon, Mary McDonald's former bedroom, Charlotte Moss' Pagoda logo for The Townhouse, or a glam set from a 1930s movie. It's a fail-safe mix of color (or might that be non-color?) that is always chic.

(For information on Dior's glorious rue Royale apartment, see the article from the October issue of Elle Decor)


"Fioretti" wallpaper from Cole and Son- a perfect combination of gray, white, and a bit of black


Mary McDonald's bedroom (a perennial favorite) that was inspired by Dior's salon.


Gray and white vintage cabinet available at Coleen and Company


"Portobello", a grisaille handpainted wallcovering from Paul Montgomery Studio


"French Paisley" fabric in gray and white, from the Suzanne Rheinstein collection for Lee Jofa


20th c. Duchesse Brisée available at William Ockham

Image at top: This gallery in Château de Tanlay has walls painted with grisaille trompe l'oeil images. (Photo courtesy of World of Interiors)

Christmas Memories

Last week when I posted on cozy rooms, a few readers commented on the red living room of the late textile designer Alan Campbell. The image was from a 12/01 House Beautiful article on celebrating Christmas with Alan Campbell and the Netto family (which includes designer David Netto). It's actually a bittersweet article as the photographs were taken at Christmas 2000, and a few months later both Alan Campbell and David Netto's mother died.

Most of the images are of Campbell's Connecticut home decorated in its Christmas finery (and a few are of the Netto's Manhattan home). What I find interesting is that I always associated Campbell with the bright colors and funky patterns of his fabric designs, but his home was actually very elegant and refined. And do you recognize the exterior of his home? The home is now owned by Bunny Williams and John Rosselli and is used as a guest house (and featured in its own chapter in An Affair with a House). Bunny was close friends with Alan Campbell and encouraged him to buy the house many years ago. When he died, Bunny wrote that she could not imagine anyone else living there so she bought it to "keep it in the family", so to speak.


A view of Campbell's Christmas tree with an inset of the Netto family. I want that chair!


Campbell's red living room is one of my all-time favorite red rooms. The image to the right is the living room of the Netto's Upper East Side home. Nice to see the contrast between country and city chic.


I LOVE this photograph of Campbell's dining room. The wallpaper is Zuber, which looks smashing with that darkish green trim. And to keep things from looking too fancy, Campbell chose some simple Hitchcock chairs for the dining table.


A shimmery vignette in the Netto's Manhattan dining room.


Cheery stripes in the Netto dining room.


A view of the former Campbell dining room after a redo by Bunny Williams. Fortunately the Zuber wallpaper is still gracing the walls.

Image at top: The exterior of Campbell's classic home.