Stylish Home- Mathilde Agostinelli

One of my favorite homes in recent years is the Paris apartment of Prada executive Mathilde Agostinelli. The home, which was a collaboration between Agostinelli and Jacques Grange, is a stylish mix of bold contemporary pieces tempered by traditional accents. Agostinelli calls herself a "shocking pink woman", and the color has been used to great success in the apartment- nothing saccharine here.

References to design great Madeleine Castaing, an old family friend, are found throughout the home: the Castaing designed rug that was laid throughout the apartment (thus unifying the various rooms), the greenery striped fabric (another Castaing print) that covers the master bedroom walls, and the tole Wedgwood style urns which were once owned by Castaing and which are on display on the mantle in the living room. Other blue chip pieces in the home include tables designed by Claude and Francois-Xavier Lalanne (whose designs are in great demand right now), Emilio Terry chairs, and a portrait of artist/designer Christian Berard.

Overall, a quirky and sophisticated home that is truly the essence of Parisian chic.


Living room with the Castaing rug as well as a Grange designed sofa


The shocking pink dining room- walls covered in Thorp of London's "Provence Stripe" in Cerise & Sand


The master bedroom with Castaing fabric covering the walls. A Lalanne table and stool are located in front of the window.


Agostinelli's daughter's room- another vision in pink.

Image at top: Another view of the living room with a mica mantel designed by Jacques Grange

(All photos from House & Garden, May 2006)

Cottage Living Fresh Ideas

If you're a fan of Cottage Living, be sure to check out their new special issue, "Fresh Ideas". The issue is filled with tips on decorating and furnishing cottages and small spaces. The fresh ideas include painting patterned floors, displaying collections en masse, and making the garden an extension of the home. Many of Cottage Living's tips could be applied to large homes or small apartments. Of course the tips are all helpful, but what I enjoyed most was the compilation of the magazine's top photos.



Bold color in a living room designed by Libby Cameron


Painted floor in the home of designer Louise Wilcox Cronan


A riot of prints in a room styled by Heather Chadduck


Design by Steven Gambrel


Large collection of antique jelly molds

State of Neutrality

As of late, much of the design buzz has been about color. Fuchsia pinks, vivid blues, oranges, and reds are all the rage. While bright hues are great, we shouldn't forget about the perennial chicness of a neutral palette. It takes skill to create a neutral room that is warm and inviting rather than drab and boring. Mixing creams, taupes, beiges, and browns can be just as difficult as working with color. Adding to the versatility of this palette is the fact that a neutral color scheme is inviting to both sexes. Here are a few examples of neutral rooms done well.

The "Money Room" of Mrs. Vincent Astor (so named as this was the room where Brooke Astor oversaw her late husband's charitable foundation), designed by Parish Hadley.


Living Room in the home of decorator Alexa Hampton (House Beautiful, June '02)


Living Room in the home of Frette designer Cristina Azario (House Beautiful, Feb. '02)


Even swinging decorator David Hicks knew the value of a neutral room

Photo at top: Living Room of Mrs. Gilbert Miller, designed by Billy Baldwin

WASP Style

For those who want an inside glimpse of the WASP lifestyle, you should read "A Privileged Life: Celebrating WASP Style"by Susanna Salk. Salk, who grew up in Essex, Massachusetts and attended Milton Academy, is obviously quite qualified to write about this unique and iconic strata of society. There are photos galore of everyone's favorite WASP icons: C.Z. Guest, Babe Paley, Katharine Hepburn, and Brooke Astor. In addition, there are photos and commentary regarding WASP fashion, WASP lifestyle, WASP food and drink (including a recipe for a Bloody Bull), and WASP homes. The "Homes" section features a photo of Paley's Round Hill, Jamaica home as well references to Sister Parish and Mario Buatta.

In the spirit of this charming book, I thought I would post a few photos that to me capture this lifestyle.



Living room decorated by "Prince of Chintz" Mario Buatta


Living Room of decorator Libby Cameron


Home of Palm Beach decorator/doyenne Pauline Pitt. The dog-motif paintings and floral print fabric are quintessential WASP.


Library in home of McMillen Inc. designer Betty Sherrill (photo courtesy of New York Social Diary)


Home of the ultimate WASP- C.Z. Guest

Window Art

It is interesting to see how some designers' imaginations are piqued by window treatments. Some designers may add a little visual interest with a striking pelmet or valance, while others may swathe a room with swags, jabots, and flourishes alike. Elaborate window treatments are obviously not for everyone, but interesting ones certainly make a room a lot more fun. If copious amounts of fabric are not your thing, then perhaps one of these designs might spark some interest.




Trompe l'Oeil Valance in room designed by Albert Hadley. The valance has faux painted swags and jabots; artist is Chuck Fischer (photo courtesy of House Beautiful)


Chinoiserie style valances with a trim of red bells; design by Keith Irvine


Upholstered shutters by Los Angeles designer Molly Luetkemeyer


Lambrequin in the London home of Jane and Whitfield Hines (photo courtesy of Southern Accents)

Photo at top from Southern Accents

Top Ten Fabric

There are certain classic prints that appear often in various designers' work, and "Le Lac", a glazed chintz by Brunschwig & Fils, is certainly one of them. This chinoiserie design was created back in the 18th c. as a brocaded silk by Philippe de la Salle. La Salle also designed the brocades for the Versailles bedroom of Marie Antoinette (this according to the book "Keith Irvine: A Life in Decoration"). "Le Lac" was given new life as a print in the 20th century.

Keith Irvine of Irvine & Fleming has used this print often and includes it in what he calls the "Irvine & Fleming Top Ten". Other designers, such as Todd Romano, have used this print as well. Because there is an array of colors in this print, "Le Lac" is a very flexible fabric. It looks great in green rooms (such as that of Irvine), red rooms (like that of Todd Romano), and really any other color. And because of the large repeat, there are a multitude of different scenes from which to choose.



A wing chair upholstered in "Le Lac"; design by Keith Irivne (photo courtesy of "Keith Irvine: A Life in Decoration")


Chair upholstered in "Le Lac" in home of Todd Romano


Room designed by Meg Braff, with chair upholstered in what I believe is "Le Lac" (although if anyone knows otherwise, please let me know)

Photo at top: A room with "Le Lac" upholstered chair; design by Keith Irvine

Art En Masse

One look that has gained popularity over the past few years is hanging artwork "salon style"- that is, grouping framed art, usually disparate pieces, together in such a way as to create a cohesive look. This method of hanging art is actually quite rooted in tradition, with its origins going back to the Paris Salons of the 18th and 19th centuries. In order to create maximum impact, you will want to keep some harmony amongst the pieces you are hanging. Perhaps you want to use frames that are the same color or finish. Or, you may want to hang works that have a common theme as designer Mallory Mathison did below (her framed pieces focus on figural studies of females). The goal, however, is to avoid a hodgepodge of clashing frames and art.



A gallery in the home of Kate Spade, designed by Steven Sclaroff (photo courtesy of Town & Country)


Guest room in home of Kate Spade, again with the salon-style grouping of art (note how the art stands out against the vivid blue walls). (Photo courtesy of Town & Country)


Bedroom designed by Mallory Mathison. This gallery is quite cohesive and looks great against the dark, glossy walls (wall color is Farrow and Ball Mahogany).


A stairwell gallery, so to speak, by designer Eric Cohler.


Miles Redd's collection, hung salon style, in his living room (photo courtesy of New York Social Diary)

Photo at top: Kenneth Jay Lane in his sumptuous Manhattan domicile (photo courtesy of Elle Decor)

Going Dotty

Looking through the June issue of Elle Decor, I was struck by the red and white polka dot print chair in the home of Debbie Bancroft. One of the first things that came to my mind was the cover of the most recent edition of Dorothy Draper's classic "Entertaining is Fun!". Polka dots, at least to me, are associated with whimsy, fun, and playfulness. We certainly see our share of stripes and geometric prints, but how often do you see polka dots used for a large scale application such as an upholstered armchair? Is this graphic and slightly retro print primed for a comeback?

"Entertaining is Fun!: How To Be A Popular Hostess" by Dorothy Draper


Larabee Road Tidbit Plates by Kate Spade


"Hyannisport" Bedding at Schweitzer Linen



Polka Dot Folded Notes from Carrot and Stick Press


"Polka Dot" Print in Chocolate and Natural, at Lewis & Sheron

Image at top: Bedroom of Debbie Bancroft; designed by Richard Mishaan; chair fabric is "Polka Dot" by Scalamandre.

Party Inspiration

Photos of lavish parties and beautiful weddings are a great way to find design inspiration, not just in terms of flowers and table settings, but for color schemes, furnishings, and accessories as well. Perhaps the colors of a particularly striking floral arrangement might inspire you to repaint a room, or maybe a planner's use of chair covers or table skirts might encourage you to rethink that remnant fabric you have in storage. Whatever the case may be, these images of fantasy and festivity can certainly be applied to the quotidian, and they just might make it more fun, too.




This table, created by event planner David Monn, caught my eye because of the ribbon-adorned lampshades, a trick that could easily be replicated at home.


Another Monn event, this time more masculine in feel. I like the gray suede and nailhead- trimmed console and ottomans.


A wedding designed by Charleston planner Tara Guerard of Soiree. I love the pink, white, and black color scheme which could work well in an entryway (for a very feminine look) or on a patio.


An exotic tented tablesetting by Antony Todd. The mismatched chair covers create added visual interest to an already vibrant table, an idea that would work well for summer outdoor entertaining. If you're really daring, you could even add some plumage, just as Todd did.


Preppy pink and green by party impresario Preston Bailey. How great would this floral arrangement be for a summertime dinner party?

Image at top by Preston Bailey- no, you may not want to recreate those topiaries on your dining table, but they're fun to look at.