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

Coleen & Company

Coleen & Company, located in Newport Beach, California, is a fantastic shop that sells an array of glamorous furniture and accessories. With a sharp eye for unusual pieces, designer Coleen Rider sells to some of the country's most prominent interior designers. Her store was also mentioned a few times in the June/July Domino article on designer Krista Ewart, who has incorporated some of Coleen's pieces into her own home (specifically the Blanc de Chine lamp in the bedroom and the painting in the living room).

In addition to antique and vintage pieces, Rider has also expanded into custom design. One of my favorite designs is the set of 3 hand-painted Chinoiserie panels. Seen below, these grisaille panels are just beautiful. Coleen is also planning to expand her custom offerings in the very near future with more stylish ideas. And just because you may not live near Coleen's shop, never fear- her inventory can be purchased on her website and shipped to your destination.


Vignette in Coleen & Company


Vintage Brass Chiavari Chair with Tiger Velvet Upholstery


1950's Italian Tole Console


Custom Hand Painted Grisaille Chinoiserie Panels


Blanc de Chine Bird Lamp

The Lanvin Rooms

The Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris reopened last Fall after a massive renovation. One of the highlights of the newly renovated museum is the Lanvin suite of rooms, consisting of her boudoir, bedroom, and bathroom. Jeanne Lanvin, one of the most illustrious Paris couturiers of the twentieth century, hired Albert-Armand Rateau to create a feminine oasis of Art Deco design in her rue Barbey de Jouy apartment. Lanvin was prescient in capitalizing on the whole "lifestyle look"; although she began her career by opening her couture house, she expanded into interior design. Christening it "Lanvin Decoration", she hired Rateau to head this division.

Lanvin's favorite color was a cornflower shade of blue. In fact, she used it so often in her couture line that the shade became known as "Lanvin Blue". This blue is found everywhere in the bedroom: walls, upholstery, bed linens. I think one of my favorite designs in the room is that of the ornate baseboard with its voids that reveal the floral walls behind it. The Rateau designed furniture is also rather unusual, although today his designs are highly collectible.

The bathroom is a serenely chic mixture of cream and black tile and marble. The mosaic floors are quintessential Art Deco, but the pedestal sink almost looks like a relic from ancient Rome. The fixtures, again designed by Rateau, are uniquely ornate in a bit of a rough-hewn way. And notice the Lanvin perfume bottles on display in the bathroom; Rateau designed these too.

Hi-Lo Style

For the times when we want to achieve the look for less, here are some high-end inspired look alikes:

If you're a fan of Clarence House's "Flowering Quince" wallpaper, seen above in the home of Domino editor Sara Ruffin Costello, you can achieve a similar look with Urban Outfitter's "Flowering Branch" bedspread:





This modern Chinoiserie lantern from Mallett is "price upon request". If that's enough to make you click the page, perhaps you might like the Bamboo Chandelier below from Gump's.





We're still having a Baroque moment, and this porcelain mirror from Vivre would make Dorothy Draper proud. For something a little less opulent (and less expensive), the mirror below from Jayson Home is a more subtle nod to this over the top style.






Coffee, Tea, or Sea?...Tiffany & Co.'s "Sea Urchin" teapot and its more ornate counterpart "Reef" teapot at Anthropologie below





Shell chic- Ruzzetti and Gow's version above, and the more affordable ones from Williams Sonoma Home below

Debo's New Home

Chatsworth, located in Derbyshire, has long been the standard to which British estate owners aspire. When Andrew, the 11th Duke of Devonshire, inherited the property in the 1950s it was drowning in debt, a fate that unfortunately was and still is quite common for these large estates. Andrew's wife Deborah the Duchess of Devonshire (commonly known as Debo) was up to the challenge of running such an estate, and she instituted a variety of businesses such as a farm shop that brought in much needed revenue.

Andrew died recently, and Deborah has in turn become the Dowager Duchess. She has also moved out of the "big house", turning it over to her son and daughter in law, and is now living in a smaller house on the property known as the Old Vicarage. With some help from London decorator David Mlinaric, Deborah has created a comfortable and cozy house, much in contrast to her former grand residence. What I find interesting is that at age 87 she has made some rather daring choices- just look at the silver foil-papered powder room! The living room is a mixture of overstuffed upholstered pieces, so characteristic of the English country look, and sleek brass trim on the walls. Deborah's art collection is just as eclectic, with traditional oil paintings, modern pieces, and photos of Elvis, her idol, displayed. All in all, a slightly eccentric home for a singular personality. After all, she was one of the Mitford sisters.

(The Dowager Duchess has written numerous books on Chatsworth, including: The Duchess of Devonshire's Chatsworth Cookery Book, Round and About Chatsworth, and Counting My Chickens... And Other Home Thoughts )



Photos of her dining room and the stairwell


View of the living room


The silver powder room with Elvis, and Elvis again on the mantle


Photo of Chatsworth, circa 1985, by Derry Moore

(Photos of Old Vicarage from W Magazine, May 2007)

Charlotte Moss Townhouse

Last week I visited the new Charlotte Moss Townhouse (located on E. 63rd St.). I was quite anxious to investigate the store as there has been so much buzz about it. I can now say that the shop is well worth the hype.

The shop is five stories, with the fourth floor devoted to her offices and design business. When I entered the store, a staff member advised that I start on the fifth floor and work my way down. The interior of the townhouse is absolutely gorgeous. Each room is a little jewel box with beautiful wallpapers, curtains, cabinetry, and well, everything! On the fifth floor, there was a front room that was draped in a fantastic striped fabric. There were ikat print pillows, Chinoiserie side tables, and other Asian type accessories. The back room contained stationery and new design books, including Moss' "Winter House" and others. Off of this room, there was a chic little terrace with black treillage. Moss did a great job with the terrace.

The third floor was comprised of the Bedroom and the Library. The bedroom is truly every woman's dream. There is a huge four poster bed that is draped and swathed in Moss' fabric for Brunschwig (the website says that it is "Edith's Reverie"); there was also linen galore, particularly the Valombreause line. For those of us who cannot buy enough vintage design books (and I think that is most of us!), the Library is chocked full of old books on design, etiquette, entertaining, and all of the other "finer" things in life. I remember seeing a book on Diana Vreeland, a "Tiffany Tablesetting" book (the one from the 1960s), and a 1930s (?) book on marriage. The Library is painted dark grey and is rather masculine in a very tailored way. Another interesting room is the Cabinet of Curiosities, which is off of the Library. There are cabinets that contain Wedgwood basalt pieces, creamware, and other antique knick-knacks. The ceiling is papered in a variety of old maps.

The second floor has an interesting room at the front in which vintage couture gowns are displayed (quite magnificent). You can also find jewelry such as some shagreen cuffs in bright colors and Sorab & Roshi jewelry (you can also find luxe bedroom slippers in this room!). The hallway that connects this front room to the back Dining Room is filled with cabinets of William Yeoward crystal and vintage silver table accessories such as salt cellars. There are floor to ceiling cabinets in the Dining Room which display china (unfortunately I can't remember which patterns- my mother and I became distracted by some mirrored Chinoiserie placemats, which fortunately she bought). The ballgown-like green silk taffeta curtains are also to die for.

Finally, on the ground floor is the Conservatory with different types of garden implements, Charlotte Moss candles, and porcelain and ceramic fruits and vegetables. Oh, and Moss' pagoda logo is found throughout the house in both the decor and on various gifts (just look at the door handles above).

So, that's the tour of the Townhouse, and I hope I haven't put anyone to sleep! Something I almost forgot- the entire staff was so helpful and friendly, something that can be rare in some New York shops. It's definitely worth visiting the next time you're in New York.

Illusion Tables

The drapery motif has been used on all types of furnishings: on chairbacks, sconces, and even urns. One of the most striking uses of "faux drapery" is on tables, creating tableaux that look as though they are covered in draped folds. The most celebrated of these types of tables is a galvanized tin table designed by John Dickinson. Here are a few others that have been created from contemporary acrylic as well as natural materials.


Tin and Brass Table with Draped Folds by John Dickinson, at Paul Marra Designs


Acrylic illusion table designed by John Brauer,available at Velocity


"Draped Linen" Table in Rattan by Soane


Cloudy acrylic illusion table at C. Bell Palm Beach

Photo at top: two different vignettes at the offices of Parish-Hadley, both featuring Dickinson's table

Strong Stationery

I've long been a fan of Mrs. Strong's stationery. Their notecards are so simple, yet so stylish. They hearken back to the days when people actually wrote notes rather then emails. And while I still love their notecard designs, I think that I may like the lined envelopes even more! For the Spring & Summer collection, the envelopes are lined with abstract florals, geometrics, and asian motifs. Which do you prefer- the card, or the envelope???

"Beach" Collection notecards


"Pink Feather"


"Ostrich"


"Pagoda"

Image at top: "Days of the Week" cards

Be Back Soon

I'm off to New York for a design field trip. I'll be back at the end of the week and hope to be able to share some new finds with you!