See You Soon!

I'm off to Vienna for the next week, so my posting will be a bit spotty. I can't wait to return to catch up on all of the great design blogging that I will have missed. See you soon!

Cecil Beaton Fabric

I've always admired Cecil Beaton. This creative force was a photographer, a diarist, a costume designer, and a set designer (have I left anything out???). He was also known for his amusing line drawings, some of which appeared in his books.

So, I was quite thrilled when a reader informed me about the Cecil Beaton Fabric Collection. According to the website, the prints, drawn by Beaton in 1948, were commissioned by Zika Ascher for his couture fabric line. Many of the prints are produced in linen, cotton, and silk fabrics as well as wallpaper (the prints also come in various colorways).

I'm crazy about "Ashcombe Stripe". This is not your everyday striped fabric, especially as you can see the drawn lines in the stripes. And what about "Beaton Rose"? If the color shown below is too graphic for you, then you must look at the Mink colorway on the website- it's very creamy and subtle. I'm also drawn to the "Beaton Pansy" (below). To me, it's a little reminiscent of a Porthault print. What do you think?


"Beaton Rose" and "Ashcombe Stripe"


"Beaton Rose" "Ashcombe Stripe" and "Pelham Check"


"Beaton Pansy"


"Beaton Bloom" "Ashcombe Stripe" "Pelham Check"



"Beaton Tic Tac Toe"



Image at top: Cecil Beaton at Reddish House

The Classics II

A continuation of my series on classic design. See The Classics I for further reading.

The Saladino Lamp


Designed by John Saladino, this lamp is so simple and so perfect. And the fact that it has been in production for over 30 years just goes to show that many times it's the simple things, and the simple designs, that have staying power.


Le Creuset Dutch Oven


Not only is this Dutch (or French) oven stylish, it is the perfect vessel for beef bourguignonne and winter stews. And what's more timeless than the orange Flame color?


The Parsons Table


Legend has it that the Parsons table was conceived by students at the Parsons School of Design in Paris and their lecturer Jean-Michel Frank. Again, another simple design. This Parsons side table, available at Apsara Interior, was from the estate of saloon singer Bobby Short.


"Bowood" print


Discovered by John Fowler at Bowood House in the 1950s, this charming chintz is one of Colefax & Fowler's most popular and enduring prints.


"Blue Canton" China


This Mottahedeh pattern, inspired by blue and white Chinese Canton ware, is so versatile. The bonus? You can wash it in the dishwasher!

"Chou Chou" print


This classic Sister Parish design is available in both wallpaper and fabric. A tasteful way of injecting some pizzazz into a room.


"The House in Good Taste"

The Elsie de Wolfe book that has inspired generations of designers (and ghost written by Ruby Ross Wood).

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!

Fashionable Flowers

Of all of my posts, the ones that elicit the most heated debate have to do with flowers (and believe me, I'm not pointing fingers because I'm right there with you readers in expressing my opinions on the subject). Flowers seem to provoke a visceral response- both good and bad. Many of us have very defined views on what we like and don't like. Personally, I have a few varieties that I love, some that I like, and many that I just don't care for. And the debate does not end here. What about floral arrangements? Do you like big, blowsy arrangements, or tight little clusters of flowers? A few branches of forsythia or magnolia in a vase? What about those tall, elaborate displays of flowers?

One arrangement that I do like to create is clusters of carnations, all of the same color. Individually, carnations are nothing to write home about. However, when grouped en masse, they're like little mounds of strong, pure color. My two favorite colors are deep, blood red and bright, vivid pink. The reds are good for a little drama, while the bright pink provides some snappy cheerfulness. White can be nice too, but for me it's all about color. Another advantage of carnations? They're inexpensive and they can last for a few weeks.


Joe Nye used these vibrant pink carnations for some punch in this room at the 2006 House Beautiful Showhouse.


Clusters of white carnations are jaunty and crisp on this blue and white themed table by Carolyne Roehm


Miles Redd adds some dark, brooding glamour in this arrangement of deep red carnations.


What's more classic (and graphic) than white and black? This reminds me of the Ascot scene in "My Fair Lady" in which the costumes were black and white (and were designed by Cecil Beaton). Photo from "Martha Stewart Weddings"


A red and white tablesetting from Martha Stewart Living


Image at top: A great mass of red carnations via Carolyne Roehm's website

Breaking News!

Attention all of you Domino fans: I just found out that the magazine will be publishing a new book titled "The Domino Book of Decorating". Unfortunately, we will have to wait until Fall 2008 for its release. The book is said to include "floor plans, before and after shots, and a wealth of lush photography". I wonder which of our favorite designers might be included in it?

With Editor in Chief Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello, and Dara Caponigro editing it, it is sure to be a fun, stylish, and informative read.

Dynamic Duo

A few weeks ago I came across a 1968 issue of House Beautiful. Now, to be totally honest, this era in design is not one of my favorites (I'm more of a 1930s gal myself). Flipping through the magazine I saw many photos of rooms that today look beyond dated. Well, when I came across this photo above I was floored. This room (minus the floral arrangement) is just as stylish today as it was almost 40 years ago.

The silver teapaper, the Serge Roche-esque plaster sconce, the geometric painted floor, the furniture- everything is just perfection. I could live in this room in a heartbeat. And just who was the designer? None other than my design idol- Albert Hadley. Of course! Hadley's work just doesn't seem to age, and he mixes antiques and contemporary pieces with aplomb.

Yesterday, I was looking through another 1968 issue of House Beautiful, and this home below caught my eye.







The dark glossy walls contrasting with the cream damask and chintz upholstered furniture is such a striking combination. I love the Chinese lacquered tables, the gilt mirror with sconces, and the beautiful antique painted wall panels in the dining room. Do I need to tell you whose home this is? That's right. Sister Parish.

Sis and Albert- a true design match made in heaven!

Porcelain Prints

Novelty prints- those prints whose themes are so unique that they can't be categorized- often get a bad rap, and sometimes rightly so. Many times the prints are cutesy, childish, strange, or just plain bad. One type of novelty print that does at times catch my eye is that which depicts porcelain. Perhaps it's my love of porcelain that draws me to these prints, but porcelain prints can be quite lovely.

Take Manuel Canovas's "Ming" linen (above)- to me, this print is quite sophisticated. Or "Precious Cargo" by Scalamandre- this wallpaper could work quite well in the right (traditional) home. A drawback to these prints? Be careful- porcelain prints can veer into twee territory quite quickly.


A powder room designed by Elaine Griffin. The plate print fabric on the walls is by Stroheim.


"Precious Cargo" wallpaper by Scalamandre


"Francie & Grover" fabric by Carleton Varney. I know many of you are thinking "Is she for real?". Yes, this is a little too cute and corny, but someone with a great sense of humor (and a love of Staffordshire dogs) could definitely pull this one off.


"Sheffield" wallpaper by Thibaut. To me, this is a versatile and fresh print.


The entrance hall at Haseley Court, Oxfordshire- the home of Nancy Lancaster. Notice the chair with the blue and white porcelain fabric, as well as real blue and white porcelain displayed through out.


This glazed chintz which depicts porcelain, tables, and umbrellas is modern, graphic, and crisp. And to think that David Hicks designed this room!

Image at top: Manuel Canovas's "Ming" linen on the walls of the Creel apartment (photo from Elle Decor, photographed by Simon Upton)

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.

Sister Act

Recently I posted on a young designer's Manhattan apartment which I felt to be the perfect home for a stylish young woman. Well, the apartment has appeared again, this time in the current issue of Domino. The young woman is designer Nicole Hanley, and she lives in the same building (but different apartment) as her younger sister Merrill. Both women live in 800 square-foot apartments designed by Keith Irvine.

It is quite interesting to see the unique approaches the sisters took in designing their apartments (although there are more similarities than there are differences- after all, these are sisters). Nicole prefers a look of "frayed elegance" with a bit of edginess thrown in. She prefers more unusual color combinations like turquoise and brown. Merrill's apartment is more traditional and WASP-y with the Scalamandre "Shanghai" wallpaper in the entryway and a glossy red living room. Youthful touches in both apartments include lucite cube tables and chairs, Barcelona chairs, and modern artwork, but this is where the edginess ends. To me, both of these apartments possess the traditional look with which they were raised but are tailored to the lifestyle of young modern sisters.

And as the legendary Irving Berlin wrote in the song "Sisters":
Two diff'rent faces, but in tight places, we think and we act as one



Merrill's entryway with the "Shanghai" wallpaper.


Merrill's bedroom with a beige striped wallpaper, blue chintz curtains, timeless Leontine linens, and my favorite "Le Touches" print on the chair.


Nicole's bedroom looks a bit different from the article on which I previously posted. Like her sister, Nicole has Leontine Linens on her bed, but her nod to modernism is the lucite desk chair next to the bed.


Nicole's living room that is arranged off-center. The sofa fabric includes turquoise, orange, and yellow- all colors which Nicole favors.


In my opinion, Keith Irvine is a genius with the color red. Those glossy red walls look fantastic against the classic brown and white zebra print. Merrill's living room is also symmetrically arranged and is "tighter" than the living room of her sister.

Image at top: Nicole in her entryway paper with Brunschwig & Fils' "Gallaudet Diamond"

(All images courtesy of Domino magazine, Oct. 07, photographed by Paul Costello)

The Sideways Bed

My latest fascination (if you could call it that) is with the "sideways" bed, and no, this is not a technical term. The idea is to place a daybed or small bed parallel against the wall and drape it with swags of fabric, usually attached to the wall. Many times the beds, which usually have headboards and footboards, can double as a sofa. This style of bedding has deep roots in French history and was quite popular during the Empire period especially. (And if anyone has any additional historical information to share please do so.)

I could see using a bed like this in a dressing or sitting room. Or, if you're single and sleep in a twin-sized bed, you could try this in your bedroom (I wouldn't advise this if you have a significant other). Personally, I don't think you should try this with any bed other than a rather narrow one as it might look rather odd. But, if space is tight in your bedroom or in your studio apartment, then you might want consider this type of daybed to create some multi-functionality in your home.



A photograph by Horst P. Horst in a 1949 issue of House & Garden. All of the fabrics featured in this photo were made of cotton.


A bedroom designed by Colefax & Fowler. The Louis XVI-style bed is given the English treatment with the use of Colefax "Climbing Geranium" chintz.


This daybed serves as a sofa in this room designed by Colefax & Fowler. In this case the daybed/sofa is placed within a niche, and the same print is used for the wall within the niche, the bedding and pillows, and the tent-like swag.


Although this is more of a canopy than the other examples featured here, I do like this elaborate treatment of a Directoire bed. I can't tell if the fabric is attached to the ceiling, the wall, or the bed, but it certainly creates a cocoon like feeling. Design by David Hicks.

Image at top: An Empire style room in the Morris Jumel Mansion in New York.