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)

A Woman of Great Style

A friend was kind enough to send me the October issue of Residence magazine, a Dutch design magazine (which, by the way, is a beautiful publication). I was excited to see this article on Caroline Herrera's Upper East Side home. I don't remember seeing these images before, although they could have been published in an American magazine. Anyway, I thought I would share them with you.

Unfortunately, I can't provide a lot of commentary as I can't read the article- I don't speak or read a word of Dutch! However, I think Herrera's home is as elegant, grand, and sophisticated as she is. It just goes to show that beautiful design is appreciated around the world.

The formal (and very red) living room. A sumptuous mix of fabrics.


Herrera's feminine bedroom. Can anyone identify the fabric??


The Warhol portrait of Herrera actually seems to fit right in with the predominately traditional furnishings.


A more neutral and softer color scheme in the dining room and in the image at the right (possibly her entryway?).


A display of old family photos. I can definitely see the attractive resemblance between the child in the photo in back and Caroline Herrera Jr.

(All images courtesy of Residence, October 2007)

Feminine French Eclecticism

I have to admit that I do not usually read Maison Francaise, but after coming across this home in the September issue, I think I'm hooked.

To me, this home represents much of what is going on in design today. It's colorful, sophisticated, has that French flair, looks a bit faded, has bits of the exotic, and most importantly does not look decorated. The female homeowner obviously has an affinity for pink, but she has managed to avoid making it saccharine. Instead, it comes across as a soft, feminine look. I also admire the skillful mix of prints- nothing seems to clash.

And this home has completely made me rethink toile. Look at the charming print the homeowner used both in the dining room (in an ochre color)and in the bedroom (in a raspberry colorway). How charming is that?


A view of the dining room with the ochre toile de Jouy. Using my rusty French skills, I believe the toile (as well as the one in the bedroom) came from Marché St-Pierre, a large fabric shop in Paris.


The bedroom with the gorgeous rapsberry toile de Jouy. I do like how the homeowner only papered the wall from the chair rail up, in some ways toning down the print. I also like her clever use of a fabric covered screen for her headboard.


The serene library. The club chairs are upholstered in a Canovas print. Notice the little touches of leopard on both the throw pillow and on the sconce lampshades.


The living room, which is divided up into a seating area and a formal dining area. The brightly colored fabric and accessories are kept in check by the soft green walls.


The entryway. Notice the cement tile floor. The striped fabric covered walls lend a more masculine tone to this room.


Image to the left: A corner shot of the living room. To the right: Clear shots of color surround the fireplace.

All images from the September issue of Maison Francaise

Ultimate Bedrooms

The current issue of House Beautiful is the "Ultimate Bath and Bedroom" issue, which inspired me to think about some of my favorite bedrooms. My list could probably be called a Top Thirty, but for the sake of brevity here are a few that I've been revisiting lately. I'm sure you're familiar with many of them as I've written about them before-when a room is a favorite, how can you not talk about it frequently? I do hope, though, that there are a few that are new to you!


I absolutely love the bedroom of designer Alexa Hampton. You just can't beat the combination of icy blue and white. The room is feminine but restrained.


I've always adored this bedroom designed by Albert Hadley for a 1959 Vogue feature "Summer on a Shoestring". While it's not necessarily the way I would design my bedroom, I think it is such a sweet, light, and airy bedroom.


The bedroom of Ruthie Sommers. I think the reason I like this room is because it's refreshing to see a dark bedroom, and the canopy really creates a cocoon within the room. So cozy! (Image from Cottage Living, Dec. 06)

Yes, I've gone on and on about Mary McDonald's bedroom but I love the crisp, tailored femininity of this room.


The bedroom of the late fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert. Blue and white ticking, purchased from Geoffrey Beene, cover the walls. Lambert was of the school that if you design it right the first time, there's no need to redecorate. This bedroom was designed in 1959. (Image from the New York Times, April 2000)


An exuberant use of fabric in this bedroom designed by Mario Buatta (Architectural Digest)

Image at top: A bedroom designed by David Netto. How clever to use a scenic wallpaper in a bedroom, and the chrome bed looks smashing against this traditional paper.

Maximum Impact

Round Chinese Cabinet at Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna

Nothing creates more impact than displaying a collection, particularly one of porcelain, en masse. In the 18th c., some of the European palaces had porcelain cabinets and chambers- rooms in which the palace's collection of porcelain was displayed. Many of these porcelain rooms were decorated with ornate gilt brackets on which the pieces of porcelain were placed.

Of course, the grandeur of these rooms is not necessarily something to which the modern homeowner aspires. However, the grouping of brackets and objets certainly creates just as much visual impact today as it did centuries ago. Just look at the way this idea was applied in rooms designed by Jansen and Syrie Maugham.

The moral of the story? Sometimes in design it's better to be bold, especially with collections. You can always show restraint in other areas!


Porcelain Chamber from Dubsky Palace,Brno, now located in the MAK Museum, Vienna.


Part of a Porcelain Cabinet from a German palace, c. 1738, now located at Schloss St. Emmeram in Bavaria


Moody drama in a room designed by legend Syrie Maugham


Jayne Wrightsman in her Palm Beach library, designed by Maison Jansen (1959)

Blast from the Past

The other day, I came across this spread on fashion consultant Dawn Mello's Manhattan apartment, and I quickly remembered why I saved this article. Mello's home is so elegant and refined, much like Mello herself.

The colors are buttery, subtle and soothing. The apartment strikes a feminine chord, but there is no frill here. I would call it a quiet femininity. I think what I like most, though, is that it seems evident that her collection of antiques and accessories were accumulated over time and with great care. No instant decoration here, which ultimately makes this home a true reflection of the homeowner.


A painted mural on the walls in Mello's tiny entryway. I adore the Venetian mirror, the lamps, and really the whole vignette.


Is this bedroom not to die for? The hand-embroidered silk panels and canopy were thought to have been made for the Japanese royal family.


The lacquer cabinet is one of Mello's favorite pieces (although I'm sure the poodle is a favorite too!)


A view of Mello's living room.

(All images from 3/01 issue of House Beautiful)

Cozy Rooms

Although it's 84 degrees as I write this, I am so anxious for Fall to get here- it's my favorite time of year. Now is the time that I start to dream about woolen fabrics, leather, and faux fur throws- although realistically, I may have to wait another month or so to indulge in these fabrics. Here are a few rooms that are cozy, warm, and oh so perfect for those crisp days that lie ahead.


A sophisticated and masculine living room designed by Miles Redd. This home, which does not possess the full-on glamour typical of Redd, is actually one of my favorites.


This room, designed by Joel Woodard of Lichten Craig, was inspired by the spirit of Bill Blass and his couture collections. I love the plaid fabric walls (to me reminiscent of a Blass pantsuit), the touches of lavender, the chrome legs of the desk, and that fabulous daybed with the fur throw. This room is cozy and chic!


Charlotte Moss' study- I adore her mix of fabrics, pillows, and throw. And of course the books! What makes one want to linger longer than some books and a comfy chair or sofa. (Photo courtesy of New York Social Diary).


A view of the charming Connecticut living room of the late Alan Campbell (House Beautiful, Dec 01). The red walls and rich accessories make the cast iron and brass stove look rather glam.

Image at top: The library in the former home of David Hicks, updated by his son Ashley Hicks (House & Garden, November 04)

Marian McEvoy Redux

I was excited to see an article about Marian McEvoy's charming Hudson Valley home in the October issue of British House & Garden (I'm a longtime McEvoy fan). Although McEvoy's house earned an entire chapter in "Rooms to Inspire", this article gives us glimpses of the home from different vantage points.

Of course, we all know that McEvoy is a master with the glue gun. She took pieces of antique suzanis and glued them on chairs, curtains, and pillows. In lesser hands the whole effect might look rather contrived, but here it looks fresh and fun. One can tell that McEvoy had fun experimenting, and what better laboratory than one's own home?

And the colors are very clear and vibrant. McEvoy decided that each floor would have a different color scheme with black and white accessories mixed in. I do like how she painted blocks of color on the walls: pinky coral in the living room and yellow in the bedroom. It rather reminds me of that great cerulean blue "bulletin board" that Albert Hadley used in his Manhttan apartment!

Fancy Doors

I have just found the latest thing that I want to try: an upholstered door like that designed above Suzanne Rheinstein (if you can make it out in the blurriness!). Rheinstein took red baize (the same type fabric as is usually found on pool tables) with some batting underneath, and then outlined the door's panels with nickel nail heads. How chic is that?

I know that this idea is nothing new. In fact, Rheinstein explains in the current issue of Domino that many grand English homes had baize backed doors in their kitchens as a way to keep sound and smells contained in the kitchen. Many times, the baize covered door (usually covered in green baize) was the dividing line between the servants' area and the main house.

Of course, one is not limited to baize (just look at the various fabrics below which Miles Redd used in his own home), but I think that Rheinstein's choice is just so snappy and English. And according to Rheinstein, her daughter is covering her own kitchen door in patent leather. I'd love to see that!


This satin tufted door in the bedroom of Miles Redd screams glamour- very 1930s!


A zebra print covered door with nails head trim outlining the door panels in the living room of Miles Redd. Is this typical Redd or what?


The Paris bedroom of the incomparable Helena Rubenstein, designed by Maison Jansen, 1937. Not only is the door covered in satin, but so is the entire bed and the niche. The diamond pattern tufting is rather different and really creates an interesting pattern to the room.