Windsor Smith on Design

Windsor Smith is a designer whose career is on fire. In addition to her interior design work, she just debuted a fabric collection, a furniture collection, and a rug line as well (whew!). I recently had the opportunity to speak with Windsor and it was quite a treat. Her personality is as warm and sparkling as her interiors.

To borrow the tagline from the National Enquirer, "Inquiring minds want to know", and that's the way I feel about design. So I decided to get Windsor's thoughts on anything and everything design related.


On Her New Fabric Line:
Windsor's new fabric line for Kravet has received rave reviews, and it's not hard to see why. The fabrics that caught my eye were her bold and graphic prints. But don't think that these are "in your face" prints. Windsor likes the snap and pop of strong pattern, but she chose to render them in soft colors like celadon and clove. And she wisely chose to use no more than two colors per print. The result? Prints that are classic and easy to live with. (Fabric available through Kravet showrooms and through her website.)

"Insignia" in Seafoam


"Continuum" in Chestnut

On Mixing Prints...With Style:
One question that I am asked often is how best to mix prints. I'll be the first to tell you that I'm not completely comfortable with doing this myself. Fortunately, Windsor shared some tips. First, mixing florals can be difficult, so you might want to stick with just one. Also, stripes, especially tone on tone, can work with a variety of prints. And if you're mixing multi-color prints, proceed with caution! Windsor advises using no more than two. Interestingly enough, Windsor gives the green light to mixing vintage fabrics, saying "anything goes". Her rationale? Vintage textiles become found objects and art and should be displayed almost like a collection. In her mind, Lynn von Kersting's work is a great example of this kind of mix.

See how well this gray and white striped fabric works with the pink and white paisley print? Windsor obviously practices what she preaches!


And look at the smashing combo of the green tonal stripes with the punchy pink print.

On White... and Blue:
It seems that every designer has one color which they add to every room. For Albert Hadley, it's red. For many others, it's black. For Windsor? White! As she says "the absence of color makes other colors sing!" That said, she also admits that she has a weakness for blue.


Blue and white in an East Coast Traditional home à la Windsor Smith.

On the Stars of her Collection:
So unless you've been hiding under a rock, you know that Windsor recently introduced her new furniture collection. And just what are her picks for the stand out pieces?


Brittany Secretary. Works as a TV cabinet, desk, or in bathrooms to hold makeup and towels.


Slim Chaise. Looks especially good nestled at the foot of a bed.


Entry Round Settee. Looks very "Grand Hotel" to me!

On Her Dream Clients:




(Jane Birkin- in case you're wondering)




Legendary style icon Slim Keith

On Her Current Favorite Design and Architecture Books:


An Affair with a House


Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People

On the Details that Make a House a Beautiful Home:

1) Art and found objects that reflect the personality of the homeowner
2) Large bundles of the same type flower in a casual vase
3) Lighting that makes a room come alive day and night
4) Floor plugs




Windsor has some wonderful Found Objects for sale on her website, including this Early Chippendale Table and the Antique French Fireplace Canopy

On the Future:
So what's next for Ms. Smith? Plenty. She's working on some amazing projects including a late 1940's equestrian estate. And, big things are in the works for her website. In addition to her online shop, there will be decorating advice, newsletters, and video. I'd say Windsor is in need of a vacation.

What Ever Happened to Pierre Deux?

I mean, I know that it's still around. In fact, the store here in Atlanta is really quite charming. Even though the Country French look is not really my thing, I can't help but be bitten by the Provençal bug every time I venture into the shop. But let's travel back in time to the 1980s. Fess up- how many of you used to carry Pierre Deux bags? Or had a desk full of Pierre Deux accessories? And what about those cheery little vide poches and trays that were ALL the rage twenty years ago?

My very first handbag as a child was one of those Bermuda bags. You know, the ones with the wooden handles and the changeable fabric covers. But in the 6th grade I traded up to a small Pierre Deux handbag. It really was the cutest thing- pink and green and French all over. I also had a Pierre Deux overnight bag which I still have today. No, I don't carry it around but rather use it as storage.

What I must confess, though, is that I still love Pierre Deux's vide poches. In fact, I have some that are over twenty years old! I use my large ones to store empty perfume bottles. The medium sized ones come in handy for holding cocktail napkins or coasters. And the mini ones are great repositories for everyday detritus. Now, truth be told I don't display my Pierre Deux trays because they don't really go with my master design plan. But don't you think they are a nice alternative to plastic storage trays and bins?



The once famous Pierre Deux vide poches. The trays from the 1980s were usually covered in a very Country French print. And many of them had two separate fabrics for the top and bottom. The corner ties meant that you could change which side was the inside or outside.

These are the types of prints that were most popular back then:


"Avignonet" in Blue


"Bonis" in yellow and blue


"Indianaire" fabric in blue and yellow



Desks in Atlanta were considered to be bare unless there were a few Pierre Deux accessories. The pencil cups and frames were especially popular.


I remember many an iron chandelier with shades like these. As my parents were into early American, we stuck to the Pierre Deux desk and drawer accessories.


No rush seat was complete without one of these cushions. Considered de rigueur for kitchen and breakfast tables.


The Petite Voyage bag in Black Bonis. My 6th grade handbag was the same shape and size but the fabric was pink and green. What can I say? I was preppy.

New Sister Parish Fabrics?

I was visiting the Sister Parish Design website yesterday to check on some fabric, and I was thrilled to see the new greeting (above) on the homepage. Had the Sister Parish site been revamped???

Well, not exactly, although it seems that there are new fabrics featured on the site. Perhaps I should not say "new" as these fabrics might be reissues. And I can't confirm if Sister actually designed these fabrics, or if she had simply used similar prints for some of her projects. What struck me was how different these prints are from the classic designs in the Parish line. When I think of SPD, small, graphic prints such as "Chou Chou", "Burmese", and "Desmond" come to mind. The newer patterns such as "Auchincloss" and "Waldingfield" are florals that seem more intricate and detailed. Perhaps they were added in response to the renewed interest in floral prints?

I've emailed SPD and hope to have some answers for you soon. In the meantime, what do you think of these prints below? And as many of you are so knowledgeable of design history, perhaps you can shed some light on these patterns.

The Recent Additions:



"Auchincloss" in Blue and Red


"Waldingfield" in Green and Beige


"Palmetto" in Green, Blue, and Beige

The Oldies but Goodies:


"Chou Chou" in Blue, Red, Tete de Negre, and Green


"Burmese" in Blue, Green, and Tete de Negre


"Desmond" in Green, Blue, and Tete de Negre

Top Ten Fabric: La Portugaise

A while back, I wrote about the much loved Le Lac print and its popularity with designers. Well, with so many wonderful prints on the market, Le Lac is not alone in the pantheon of iconic designs. What other prints seemed to have passed the test of time? Why, La Portugaise by Brunschwig & Fils, and it's one of those prints that seems to pop up over and over again.

According to Brunschwig & Fils Up Close, La Portugaise is reminiscent of indienne prints and is "a nineteenth-century adaptation made up from the borders of a palampore formed into stripes." And in Keith Irvine: A Life in Decoration, Irvine notes that the print, one of his favorite fabrics, used to be available at Rose Cumming's shop before Brunschwig & Fils began to offer it. Just another tidbit to add to the print's illustrious history.

Now, I know that many of you might look at this print and think "No way!" La Portugaise is certainly not for everyone. I like how the print has been used in the rooms below, but would it work in my home? Probably not. Still, there is a delightful quality to this print that lends to its allure. And as it is a favorite of so many design legends, it certainly deserves recognition as a top ten fabric!

How can you argue about a print that is found in THE most famous room in the history of American design, Brooke Astor's famed oxblood lacquered library designed by Albert Hadley. (My tip to you: save any photos you can of this glorious room- just in case the new owner decides to disassemble this masterpiece.)




Keith Irvine has used La Portugaise throughout his career. It seems that this print as well as Le Lac are his two favorites.




Jeffrey Bilhuber used the print on an upholstered chair in this room; it's a nice counterpoint to the hushed neutrals used in the rest of the room.



And that charming, erudite Mark Hampton used the print in the living room of his Hamptons home. With a painting like this, who needs a photograph?

Image at top: A close-up shot of a La Portugaise upholstered chair in the library of the late Brooke Astor.

Estee Lauder & Kazumi Yoshida

A few months ago I wrote a post about artist and fabric designer Kazumi Yoshida. The creative mastermind behind many of Clarence House's most inventive prints, Yoshida has recently partnered with Estee Lauder to design a limited edition candle and bottle for Lauder's fragrance pleasures. Aerin Lauder is obviously a fan of Yoshida as she says "Yoshida's consummate artistry is evident in Clarence House's beautiful decorative fabrics, some of which I have in my own home. Yoshida's designs are elegant, luxurious and timeless."

I just got my pleasures candle, and it smells divine. The packaging is so sweet and perfect for Spring. And, it's just another way to add a bit of Kazumi Yoshida's imaginative artistry to your home.

(By the way, you can buy the candle from your Estee Lauder counter. I also know that you can purchase it online at Bloomingdales.com)

Palatable Florals

For months now, many magazines have touted the return of the floral print. Now, for some people, florals never went anywhere; they remained alive and well on sofas, bedspreads, and walls in many a cheery home. You floral fiends may now find yourself a little more in vogue than you were last year, and that's great! Stick with what you love. It's like me and my Chinoiserie- some years I'm the belle of the ball, while at other times I'm yesterday's news.

Personally, I'm very picky about floral prints. They can't be too sweet nor they can be too "floral-y". The prints almost need to be toned down by some other addition to the print. I do think, though, that there is a floral print for everyone. If you're like me, maybe some of these florals might be just the thing to get you on the floral bandwagon. But, if you have a strong dislike of these prints, then you too should just stick with what you love.

Despite being a floral-challenged person, I adore these Braquenie prints. See, they're not "pure" floral prints. Image at top: "Bordure Cheverny"; Image at bottom: "Rivière Enchantée & Pércale"


Now this is a unique floral print- "Paradise Lost" by Scalamandre.


Does this count as a floral? I do like "Elsie de Wolfe" by Scalamandre


Not too sweet nor saccharine. "Margot" by Clarence House


Now we're talking; this print is gorgeous! "Menars" by Brunschwig & Fils

Image at top: "Garden in Hell" living room of Diana Vreeland. She was the one person who could make florals look downright decadent.