Alessandra Branca's New Classic Interiors

Alessandra Branca is a designer who marches to the tune of her own drummer, and the results are always stunning. She's not a designer who embraces every trend, nor does she change her "look" every few years. A Branca interior of today looks much like those from twenty years ago- warm, inviting, comfortable, and spirited. These attributes can also describe Alessandra herself. I had the opportunity to speak with her a while back, and she's truly as warm and charismatic as her interiors. But you don't have to take my word for it. Alessandra's new book New Classic Interiors is testament to her zest for life- and for decorating.

The most important part of a designer monograph are the photos, and trust me, there are plenty of gorgeous shots of Alessandra's work. Truly, I could pore over them for hours. Oh wait... I have! But I was also charmed by the text. Alessandra describes her varied sources of inspiration, including Rome, the city in which she was raised. After reading about what a typical day is like for Alessandra in her hometown, you will want to move there pronto. And, you'll want to start decorating your home with some Italian flair. Alessandra also gives the reader little design tidbits, such as why bouillon fringe came into being (I won't spoil the surprise. I call it a surprise because I get excited about such things). And, you get an inside peek at all of Alessandra's gorgeous homes too.

I've included some images from the book below. We're all familiar with Alessandra's rooms with her trademark use of red and yellow, but her work extends beyond that. Just take a look:






(All images from New Classic Interiors by Alessandra Branca; Stewart, Tabori, & Chang. All sales proceeds will benefit inner-city educational programs.)

What Is It About This Home?

I bought a copy of Carrie Donovan's 1981 compilation of New York Times design articles, Living Well : The New York Times Book of Home Design and Decoration, a few years ago. Despite photos of homes of the beautiful people- you know, like Halston and Paloma Picasso- as well as a few palazzos and country piles, there is one home that has stuck with me for years. And you know what? I can't really figure out why, because it's not really my style...or maybe it is.

It was the home of Manhattan caterer Donald Bruce White. White lived above the shop so to speak in a five story townhouse built in the late 19th c. Part of the townhouse was designated for White's catering business, while the rest of the house was his personal space. The article mentioned that White's home was a melange of styles. So why my interest in this home?


Here, White, seated at the head of the table, holds court at a dinner in his private dining room. I know you may think that I was drawn to this photo because of the female guest dining in her fabulous fur hat, but that's only part of it. The room is understated. It's quietly chic. It's not trying too hard to impress. It's a type of decorating that seemed more prevalent "back then", but unfortunately not so much today. (Oh, and I love the ceramic pumpkins on the mantel.)


The living room in which White received clients. Again, it's a room that wasn't decorated to death. It was comfortable and inviting, but I would think it allowed White and his clients to get down to business. As my mother and I like to say, "It is what it is", and "it" wasn't trying to be something that it wasn't. (Does anyone know if the multicolored fabric on the pillows and seat cushion is still made today? If not, it needs to be. It's pretty fabulous.)


And then here is White's private kitchen. I hate to state the obvious, but isn't the copper cookware the draw here? That bombe adds a little eye candy to the photo too.

Maybe the reason I find White's home appealing is because it seemed that people and their enjoyment of good food and a little conviviality were the focus of this home. Not showy furniture or artwork. Not in your face fabric or wallpaper. Rather, it was a place for living a seemingly good life- something I try to remind myself as I'm decorating my home.

Tabletop Extravaganza

After visiting Mrs. Howard last week for their tabletop trunk show, I'm happy to report that people are still buying china, linens, napkin rings, and other table accessories. Thank goodness. I thought only a few of us were still entertaining at home. Happily, that doesn't seem to be the case.

Geoffrey Ross of Dransfield and Ross and Marc Blackwell were there to assist the ladies with updating their china and linens. (I'd love to say ladies and men, but I only saw female customers.) Now tell me, wouldn't you want to entertain a home, a lot, if you had pretty pieces like these?


Here's cute Geoffrey Ross ready to help update our tables.




Dransfield and Ross give napkin rings a whole new and fun look. How cool is that Taj Mahal ring? You wouldn't even need to put a napkin in it; you could just display it somewhere.



Dransfield and Ross napkins. Which color to choose?




Marc Blackwell's tabletop collection, also seen at top. Polka dots, stripes, and lots of silver and gold.

For information on the Dransfield and Ross and Marc Blackwell collections (oh, and William Yeoward too), contact any Mrs Howard location.

The Art of Tableaux

I try really hard to assemble and display collections like these:


Stanley Barrows' collection of bronze dogs and furniture mounts. (For another post on Barrows, click here.)


Robert Metzger went so far as to design a lucite etagere for his shagreen collection which included clocks, matchbooks, and an opium pipe.


Lisa Taylor's grouping of interesting pens.


A cropped photo of Bill Blass' carved ivory crustaceans, a collection much revered by Blassophiles.


After seeing these photos, I realized that unfortunately, I'm just not there yet!

(All photos from LIVING WELL - THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK OF HOME DESIGN AND DECORATION)

Jaime Hayon for Baccarat

Owen Lawrence hosted a party last week in honor of Spanish artist Jaime Hayon's Crystal Candy Set collection for Baccarat. Hayon's work is always vibrant, whimsical, and a bit fantastical, so it's no surprise that these candy jars, part of a very limited edition collection, are no ordinary candy dishes. I just don't see filling them with peanut m&m's, although I suppose you could.

I find it refreshing to see companies like Baccarat and Lladro (another line for which Hayon designed a collection) commissioning young, quirky designers to create pieces that might entice a younger generation into collecting crystal or porcelain. These old line firms may not survive if they rely solely on their traditional, bread and butter client base (I think quite a few of us, myself included, fall into the latter). Anyway, enough of the pontificating. On to the photos of the collection:



After Nine


Harcourt Lolly on the left and Lucky Green at right


Pina Passion Vase


Jelly Copper

And, because I love a beautifully set table, I couldn't resist a few snaps of Fio Pichardo's handiwork:





To inquire about the Hayon for Baccarat collection or any other Baccarat pieces you see in the photos, contact Owen Lawrence at (800) 499-3607.

(The image at top was taken from Hayon's website.)

Getting Twiggy With It

I know, a horrible title. But it was late. I was punchy.

I'm loving Houles new Twiggy collection, one that was inspired by the legendary model and her fashion sense. We always talk about tiebacks and tassels being jewelry for the home. Well, this window jewelry was meant to be reminiscent of necklaces, pendants, and belts. Don't be shocked if you see me walking around with some of the collection on my person!

Available at Brunschwig showrooms.

Laura Ashley- I Hardly Knew Ya

Today's book reviews involve two designers- one who I thought I knew well, and the other who I knew not at all.





I loved Martin Wood's book on Nancy Lancaster and devoured his follow-up on John Fowler (who didn't?!). So when I heard that his next subject was Laura Ashley, I was intrigued. Intrigued because Wood was writing it, and curious about what made Laura Ashley a compelling subject. Well, let's just say that the last time I was taken with anything Laura Ashley was back in the 1980s- but I'm enchanted by her, her story, and the look once again.

Welsh born Laura Ashley and her husband Bernard got their start in the apparel and textile business in the early 1950s when they began to print fabric in their home. The business took off with a line of small neck scarves that became all the rage. Tea towels followed, but it was their garment line that took the company to an entirely new level- and made Laura Ashley a household name in Britain and beyond.

Of course many of us fondly remember those Laura Ashley dresses that we wore as children (they were a little Laura Ingalls Wilder-ish, but hey, it's better than some of the clothes little girls are wearing today), but did you know that Laura and her husband were innovators? Bernard insisted on selling their fabrics alongside the garments, something which people felt would never work... but it did and quite successfully. And many of their prints were actually a bit edgy looking, a far cry from the traditional florals that many of us associate with the house. Who knew? I certainly didn't.

The book is chock full of photos of various clothing collections (the Venetian Collection was pretty fabulous) as well as color photos of their prints. But for me, the best part are the photos of the Ashley homes. If you swoon for very British interiors, trust me, you'll have a ball reading this book.


Remember this photo? Diana was wearing a Laura Ashley skirt.


Laura Ashley fabrics c. 1972.


The Ashley dining room in their home in England.


And for you Francophiles, a guest bedroom in the Ashley's French chateau

And the designer who I wasn't familiar with? John Minshaw. And what a nice surprise this book was. John Minshaw Designs is a wonderful introduction to a designer whose work is classical with a twist. There is a brief biography of Minshaw- important for those of us who are new to the designer- but the monograph is mainly a compilation of project photos. No need for me to write anything else because I think the photos will do Minshaw more justice than my writing will.