WASP Chic: C.Z. Guest

I have found an upcoming book release that has piqued my interest: Privileged Life: Celebrating Wasp Style by Susanna Salk (Assouline; February 28, 2007). Although I can find very little on the Internet about this book, I am hoping that it will focus on the colorful, traditional, and comfortable style of certain privileged Americans. Perhaps there will be photos of rooms by Sister Parish and McMillen?

In the spirit of WASP chic, I thought I would post some photos of the home of the ultimate WASP style icon- C.Z. Guest. Guest's estate on Long Island, Templeton, was designed by famed architects Carrere & Hastings. After a short time living in the manor house, the Guests moved to a "smaller" home on the property. This house, along with the manor house, were both decorated by Stephane Boudin of Maison Jansen. Guest, like so many other stylish individuals, did not continuously redecorate her home. She stuck with Boudin's work, only refreshing it over the years. The home was certainly stylish, but it was also quite warm and inviting. (Of course, if you were C.Z. Guest, you too could get away with thread-bare carpet and orchids sitting around in green plastic pots.)















(Photos from House & Garden, June 2004)

Jeremiah Goodman: A Romantic Vision

Living Room of Elsa Schiaparelli, Paris, 2002

A while back I posted on Jeremiah Goodman who is one of the premier interior illustrators of our time (see my post from Dec. 12). I have been anxiously anticipating the new anthology of his work Jeremiah: A Romantic Vision, and I'm happy to report that it has finally been released. Although I am still waiting for my copy, I was able to find some images of Goodman's work on his book publisher's website, powerHouse books. Enjoy!

Apartment foyer of Baron Jay de Leval, Mexico City, 1978

Living Room of Betsy Bloomingdale, Bel-Air, 2000

Living Room of Cecil Beaton, Redditch House, Broadchalice, Wiltshire, England, 2005

Living Room of Ivor Novello, 1949

(All photos courtesy of powerHouse Books)

Billy Baldwin: The Master

Billy Baldwin. What more do I need to say? Very few decorators can hold a candle to this master of interior design. His style could be quite contemporary, but he was just as comfortable with the traditional idiom. Many of his interiors were masterful displays of bold color, while others were outfitted in chic beige. I think the greatest compliment that can be given to Baldwin, though, is that his rooms were timeless.

I consistently leaf through "Billy Baldwin Decorates" for inspiration. I can see myself living in so many of the interiors, especially those that still seem so fresh today. Part of me leans toward his colorful interiors, such as the rooms of the legendary La Fiorentina or the pink living room of Mollie Parnis Livingston. My minimal side is drawn to the quite chic of Mrs. Gilbert Miller's living room. And what about drama? Well, Baldwin accomplished that too in the living room of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Eastman. Is it any wonder why Billy Baldwin is still so au courant today?



Blue and White Living Room at "La Fiorentina"

Snappy pink and white living room of Mrs. Mollie Parnis Livingston



Chic, chic, chic living room of Mrs. Gilbert Miller (my favorite!)

Deep, dark drama in the living room of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Eastman

Classic Carpet

Have you ever noticed that there are design elements that pop up over and over in interior decoration? Certain books ("Cabinet of Natural Curiosities" and "Best of Flair" ), fabrics (Lulu DK's "Chant" and Clarence House's "Tigre Velours") and furniture (Frances Elkin's Loop Chairs and Billy Baldwin slipper chairs) have all joined the pantheon of classic design.

There are also classic carpet patterns, too, that are favored by many decorators. One such pattern (and also one of my favorites) is "Antelope" by Stark Carpet. The combination of the subtle animal print and the neutral colors makes it a winner. Todd Alexander Romano learned about the pattern from C.Z. Guest, who told him it was perfect for hiding muddy paw prints.

Room by Todd Alexander Romano



Room by Jan Showers

Leopard print carpet is another classic. Stark makes a great one, although other carpet companies have leopard prints as well. Makes me think of Elsie de Wolfe!

Worn leopard print in C.Z. Guest's estate.

And finally, no post about carpet would be complete without including David Hick's designs (such as those at top). These geometric prints have graced many a floor and are always the focal point of a room.

David Hicks rug in a Steven Gambrel room

Windsor Style

One of my very favorite things to pore over is the catalogue from the Duke and Duchess of Windsor auction that Sotheby's organized back in 1997. I know that they were certainly a controversial couple, but it can't be denied that they were quite stylish. With Elsie de Wolfe as a mentor and the firm of Jansen as her decorator, the Duchess of Windsor couldn't help but be surrounded by beautiful things. I thought I would share with you some of my favorite rooms and images from the catalogue. Enjoy!

Classic Room- Dorothy Draper

Dorothy Draper certainly enjoyed a resurgence in 2006. She was the focus of an exhibit, was the subject of a new book, and became a newly hip design icon. And while many people may be a little tired of reading about her, DD reigns supreme for me. From the time I first became familiar with her work many years ago, Draper's style has always inspired me.

While I love the drama and theatricality of her work at The Carlyle and The Greenbrier, I am most drawn to this room- her living room in her apartment at The Carlyle. Certainly Draper achieved a sense of drama here, but it was done in a more subtle way.

The rich aubergine-colored walls provided the perfect "Manhattan chic" backdrop to Draper's traditional furnishings. Draper was fortunate to have had many family heirlooms, including the portrait of her great-grandmother, the enormous china cabinet, and the Lowestoft china, all pictured here. What made this room so successful, though, is that she mixed these wonderful antiques with contemporary pieces, namely the low slung coffee table and the modern tufted rug. While this combination of traditional and modern is the norm today, it was rather revolutionary during Draper's time.

And in case you haven't yet noticed (although I'm sure you have!), there are two things in the room that truly scream Dorothy Draper- the floral chintz covered armchairs and the neo-baroque mantel. Can you imagine Draper living without both? I can't!

Nan Kempner: American Chic

The hot ticket in New York is currently the Nan Kempner exhibit at the Costume Institute at the Met. Nan Kempner was known as being the consummate fashion plate during her lifetime. She amassed quite a large wardrobe, much of it consisting of Yves Saint Laurent haute couture. It is no wonder that the Met considered the collection to be "art", and they were lucky enough to have had her wardrobe bequeathed to them after her death.

I was recently rereading "Billy Baldwin Decorates" and came across some photos of The Kempner's bedroom that had been decorated by Baldwin. While it is not necessarily one of my favorite Baldwin rooms, there is certainly much to look at. What is so striking is the amount of fabric used in the room. There is the shirred cream-colored muslin that covers the wall, the contrasting patterned fabric used on the headboard and bed, a floral print used on the sofa and chairs, and more. Baldwin writes that he chose to cover tables with fabric in order to create a sense of "restfulness". There are few sharp edges in this room.

Kempner chose later to work with decorator Michael Taylor, whose work was reminiscent of Frances Elkins and Syrie Maugham (both of whom strongly influenced Taylor). Taylor was considered to be the creator of the "California Style" of interior design, characterized by a lot of white and beige. Interestingly, Taylor was the chosen decorator of Kempner's parents, the Schlesingers of San Francisco (who incidentally had also employed Frances Elkins during her lifetime).

From the photos I have been able to find, it looks like Taylor tempered the casual California look and injected it with some New York high style. While much of the color scheme is neutral, the rooms were warmed up with traditional touches, such as the Coromandel screen. Kempner was known for her "casual" Sunday night spaghetti suppers, where friends and family could casually drop in. Can you imagine a more elegant setting in which to eat spaghetti????

2007 Book Releases

As we are approaching the New Year, I thought I would share some upcoming book releases that I am looking forward to (and that I've added to my Amazon wish list!). I guess I need to start saving my pennies!

Jansen Furniture by James Archer Abbott. This Acanthus Press publication is a follow up to this year's release Jansen. From what I've read, it is supposed to be a comprehensive look at the furniture that was designed by this venerable firm. Set to be released in Spring 2007.

The L.A. House by Ruthie Sommers. I am eagerly anticipating this one. I have been a fan of Sommers for sometime, and I am hopeful that this book will include a lot of photos of her work. March 2007. Wish I could find out more information on this one.


Jeremiah: A Romantic Vision. This was supposed to be released at the end of 2006, but now it looks like it will be early 2007. The definitive work about painter Jeremiah Goodman, best known for his paintings of interiors. See my post from a few weeks ago.










The Decoration of Houses byEdith Wharton and Ogden Codman. Although this is obviously a reprint of this 1897 work, it is still the "must-have" work for all design libraries. I don't yet own a copy, so I'll be sure to purchase this edition. Spring 2007.

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?