Not Your Garden Variety Accessories

I knew that Lunt was creating a line for the New York Botanical Garden, but I did not know how great the pieces were going to be. Most of the items are silver-plated, and many of them have a Chinoiserie theme- how apropos! More importantly though, many of the designs were inspired by drawings and prints found in the Rare Book Collection of the Garden's LuEsther T. Mertz Library.

And what's even better is that many of the items are quite affordable. So... what will you be buying?





The silver plated Garden Pagoda teapot and cream and sugar make me want to host a tea party. The inspiration for these pieces came from architectural designs found in William Halfpenny's 1752 publication "Rural Architecture in the Chinese Taste".


Feather Shot Glass and Cocktail Picks. Inspired by the feathers of a bird. And after seeing the shot glass, I think I'm liking flame-stitch again.


Pomegranate Paperweight, based on an illustration by Georg Dionysius Ehret in "Plantae Selectae" (1750-73).


Cocktail Shaker with a head of a Bahamian Titmouse, a bird documented by Mark Catesby in his legendary book "Natural History of the Carolinas, Florida, and the Bahama Islands" (1754).


Isn't this lacquer and silver plate tray beautiful? The garden design featured on the tray was drawn by Georges-Louis le Rouge in "Détail des Nouveaux Jardins à la mode" (1776).


And I had to include these Umbrella Cocktail Picks as they look a bit like my logo at top, don't you think? This particular umbrella design came from a drawing of a garden folly found in Charles Over's "Ornamental Architecture in the Gothic, Chinese and Modern Taste" (1758).

Image at top: A view of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory at the New York Botanical Garden

John Stefanidis and his Terrific Table Settings

John Stefanidis is truly a master of design. What appeals to me about his work is that he mixes the traditional with the contemporary with aplomb. But what you may or may know is that he is also quite skilled at setting a beautiful and gracious table. With an eye for detail, Stefanidis can create sophisticated table settings for a home in Belgravia as well as charming, casual tableaux for lunch at a farmhouse (a chic farmhouse, mind you).

Stefanidis was kind enough to share with us some photos of his various table settings. He also listed information pertaining to the flatware, glassware, fabrics, etc. I know that this is very helpful to me as I tend to study photos like these- with my magnifying glass of course!

And just to see if you're on your toes, John thought it would be fun to present us with a quiz on the image at top. Well, I failed the quiz. I only answered two questions correctly. Hopefully, you'll fare better than I. (And I won't make you wait until tomorrow for the answers. I've included them at the very end of the post.)

Quiz:
Q: What is the base of the table made of?

Q: What is the table top made of?

Q: What are the cushions on the ballroom chairs called?

Q: Where are the lettuce leaf centrepiece and matching plates made?

Q: Where was the silver woven bread basket made?

Q: Who made the champagne and white spiral water glasses?

Q: Walls- marble or faux?



Dramatic Dining on the East Coast
Original 19th c. Dufour wallpaper depicting Telemachus on the island of Calypso
Fibre optic lighting illuminates the walls
Pull-up blinds in unlined eau-de-nil taffeta with knife-pleated frills
Chairs covered in raised velvet stripe
Antique silver candlesticks
English silver cutlery and china


18th Century House in London
John Stefanidis designed round table painted to look like parchment
Cy Twombly Painting. *Stefanidis writes that "one should not turn away from contemporary art in all its manifestations but incorporate it in one's life"
Rug: pink Spanish with Arabic inscription
Centrepiece: Indonesian bowl- container for rice and condiments used for taking offerings to a temple
Glasses: 19th c. French with gilt decoration
Plates: Wedgwood
Boxes: Indian


Dual Purpose Area
Stefanidis designed table: low oak side table is hydraulically controlled so that it can be raised for eating. Geometrical veneer patterns.
Banquette seating stretches across and fills the alcove to maximise the seating area.
Table set with chop sticks and china spoons for a Japanese meal. Black and red place settings reinforce the oriental theme.
Silver shells.


Country Breakfast in Dorset
Tablecloth- blue and white striped ticking
Blue and white Spode table setting
Polished cherrywood top on slatted radiator cover used as sideboard
Silver coffee pots
Blue and white Chinese plates and bowls in bookcase
Venetian glasses with blue spiral design
Stefanidis designed chair with "Scritch-Scratch" fabric loose covers


Farmhouse Lunch
Crisp white linen tablecloth with pulled thread work design
Plates- bespoke designed by Millington-Drake
Stefanidis designed chair with "Scritch-Scratch" fabric loose covers
Venetian glassware
Brick flooring
19th c. nursery clock
Tall storage cupboard for china and glass
Antique straw beehive


Stylish Dining in Belgravia
Stefanidis designed oval terracotta red lacquer dining table; the oval shape allows an additional two guests to be seated than if the table was circular.
Antique silver candlesticks
Stencilled walls with design inspired by the pattern on a Japanese kimono
Stefanidis candlestick lamp
Antique glassware
Silk beige and brown striped curtains with attached fringe pelmets
Lacquered sideboard with display of Chinese plates



Caribbean Dining Pavilion
Glass sliding doors and pinoleum blinds to protect guests from the wind and sun.
Table top made of cement hammered to look like jet black slate. The base is a cement drum with a pebble inlay.
Cane chairs with braided rawhide
Centrepiece with bougainvillea and jasmine flowers
Plates: Leaf design from Tiffany
Cutlery: Bamboo design


Al Fresco Dining
Circular table covered in Stefanidis designed fabric- "Stripes"
Brown terracotta plates from Este in Italy
Venetian glassware with red spiral design
Centrepiece: pink pelargonium 'Milden'
Canvas umbrella
Garden seats: Stefanidis design in naturally weathered iroko
Basket weave tiled terrace

Answers to the quiz:
A: Rusticated cement and pebbles
A: Polished Purbeck stone
A: Buttoned squabs
A: Florida
A: Mexico
A: Venini
A: Faux- invented marble in tones of grey and lilac

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)

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.

Curve Appeal

My taste in design tends to be a bit schizophrenic- sometimes I am drawn to more masculine colors and lines, while at other times I want pure femininity in my rooms. There is no reason why the yin and yang of design can't coexist. One way I inject some feminine charm to a room is by adding a few curvy pieces of furniture and accessories to the mix. The curves tend to lighten things up and create more visual interest. Lately, I've been particularly drawn to interlocking, scroll type designs. Here are a few finds that might just add some feminine mystique to your room.


"Paris" Console by Eboniste


Double Twist Sconce at Circa Lighting


"Versailles" Shams by Haute Home


Espresso Linen Napkin by Carolyne Roehm

Photo at top: "Zeus" chair by Oscar de la Renta collection at Century Furniture

Isabelle de Borchgrave for Target

Was anyone else as taken with these chair covers in today's Home & Garden section of the New York Times? According to the article, Isabelle de Borchgrave has created a new paper line for Target called "Isabelle Party" that is set to debut this month. de Borchgrave is a Belgian artist whose work is quite varied. She is best known for creating stunning paper dresses and costumes that represent the history of fashion. The collection, entitled Papiers a la Mode, was a collaboration with Rita Brown, a Canadian costume designer. de Borchgrave has also designed china for Gien and napkins and papergoods for Caspari.

The chairs covers can supposedly be sponged off and reused, and I'm assuming the same can be done to the tablecloths. I love the floral prints that de Borchgrave has designed. To me, they look a little like a Porthault print!

Paper dress from Papiers a la Mode collection (image courtesy of de Borchgrave's website)

Another paper dress from Papiers a la Mode (image from de Borchgrave's site)

de Borchgrave designed china from Gien


de Borchgrave design for Caspari

(image at top courtesy of New York Times)

de Gournay Porcelain

de Gournay is best known for its magnificent handpainted wallpapers, but what you may not know is that they also create exquisite porcelain dinner services and figurines. With a factory in China that employs skilled craftsmen, de Gournay is able to manufacture porcelain much in the same way that it was produced hundreds of years ago for the East India Company. Although these reproductions are not true Chinese Export, they would certainly be a worthy addition to one's collection.

(All photos courtesy of de Gournay)

Woodgrain China

Have you ever heard the saying "you can never be too rich, too thin, or have enough china"? OK, so I made this up, but I know I'm not alone in my love for china. There are so many beautiful patterns that it is very tempting to keep adding pieces to one's collection. My current favorite pattern is faux woodgrain. The faux-bois trend has been popular in furniture and garden urns for a few years now, and we are now seeing trompe l'oeil woodgrain show up on tabletop accessories.

What is interesting is that this design motif has been around for centuries. Moss carries a Nymphenburg porcelain breakfast set and platter (above) in a woodgrain pattern that was designed in 1796. The woodgrain serves as a backdrop to a trompe l'oeil etching that looks as if it has been tacked to the wood background. There is even a small "rip" at the bottom of the etching. I love how this rustic design pattern seems so sophisticated here.

For something more casual, Gump's has these hand-painted woodgrain ceramic plates.

And for outdoor entertaining, how about these melamine plates at Bongenre? The Texquite pattern is a modern-day, rustic interpretation of the Nymphenburg pattern!

Marc Jacobs for Waterford on Style.com

Style.com has chosen Marc Jacobs' flowerpot vase for Waterford as its item of the week. I like the fact that Jacobs has chosen to reinterpret the humble flowerpot (dish included!) in crystal. It is simple and striking at the same time.

It looks like it comes in three sizes. The small size would be perfect for a single bulb or bloom (as they have suggested). Perhaps the large size might make a stylish and chic cachepot. You could try lining the pot with moss or green waxy leaves for an interesting look.

Marc Jacobs for Waterford

Yet another prominent clothing designer is trying his hand at home decor. Waterford recently announced that Marc Jacobs will be designing a tabletop line for the crystal maker. The line is set to debut this winter. Unfortunately, there are no pictures posted yet on the Waterford website, but I was able to find a few floating around on the internet.

Talkin' Turkey

I know that at this time of year we are inundated with images of turkeys (the living, not the cooked, type). Unfortunately, this much maligned bird is usually portrayed in a kitschy and at times tacky way. I personally love the turkey motif and find that the poor bird is not as ugly as many think. In fact, turkey motif items can be quite chic, believe it or not.

Tiffany & Co. has a few turkey related items that would set a stylish tone to any Thanksgiving tablesetting (they can be used for any fall or winter tablesetting, for that matter). My favorite is the sterling silver turkey carving set, of which I am lucky enough to own. Who wouldn't want to carve the holiday turkey, roast, or ham using these?

Tiffany has also designed a marvelous earthenware turkey that could be used as a table centerpiece or on the sideboard. I think it would look best in a slightly more casual environment.

For an elegant note to the Thanksgiving table, Mrs. John L. Strong has bronze-embossed turkey place cards. These would look great with guests' names written in calligraphy.

And for a touch of Tom Turkey at a reasonable price, why not buy some of these turkey candles from Gump's?