Update on Michael Smith and the White House Gig

Well, it looks like it's true. Domino magazine just confirmed my story from last week that Michael Smith has been tapped to be the new decorator for the Obama White House. There were so many rumors swirling around that it's nice to put this one to rest. I for one will be very interested to see what Smith has up his sleeve for the Obamas.

Deborah Buck and the Art of the Tableau

I love Buck House and think that Deborah Buck has the best eye. Well actually, I've never visited Buck House in person, but I have passed by the shop a few times at night and I'm always captivated by Deborah's vignettes and tableaux. I'll admit that styling a tableau is not one of my fortes. You have to really let your creativity and artistic side take control of the situation. You have to let loose, so to speak. Otherwise, your efforts will appear tight, rigid, or at worst contrived.

I think that one reason Deborah is such an ace at assembling objects is due to her artistic background. She seems to innately understand the souls of the pieces with which she's working. And to me, that is the heart of decorating. You take furniture and objects that have stories and histories and you weave them together to create a new story- yours.

Deborah has recently published a book entitled Tableau, and you can get a sneak peek on her website. I think this book looks fantastic for two reasons. From a practical standpoint, you might get a better feeling for creating your own vignettes. And more importantly, you'll be privy to the stories that Deborah has chosen to share through her tableaux.

(Tableau is available for sale on Deborah's site by clicking on the link. The book retails for $71.)









All images from Tableau by Deborah Buck

It Sometimes Pays to be a Blog Reader

I'm sure you'll be reading about this on other blogs as well, but Lee at Pieces has just announced that Peak of Chic readers will get a 30% discount on all items purchased starting today, January 12. Make sure to take advantage of this exclusive sale before it opens to the public on January 15. Oh, and make sure to tell them that you read about the sale on my blog in order to get the discount. Start shopping!

Michael Hampton Watercolors

You know I have a weakness for interior and architectural watercolors, so I'm excited to introduce you to someone who not only values these paintings as I do, but one who can actually paint them too!

Interior designer and watercolorist Michael Hampton is a design jack of all trades. After starting out studying fashion design, Michael realized that pattern making and sewing was not his cup of tea. But the subject that did inspire him was fashion illustration, something which he says brought out his inner draftsman. This discovery led to Michael taking an architectural history class and later obtaining his BA in interior design. (How nice to find someone who figures out what they want to do in life in their twenties!)

Michael has had quite an enviable career as an interior designer, working for ten years for San Francisco designer Steven Volpe and for the past four years with Thomas Pheasant. And while he is quite passionate about his chosen career, he is equally as enthusiastic about his other love- architectural watercolors.

Like many of us, Michael has been influenced by the work of the great Andrew Zega and Bernd Dams, but he also cites Jeremiah Goodman, James Steinmeyer, and Mark Hampton as role models. While much of Michael's work has focused on French architecture, he is currently exploring English Baroque architecture. What I like about Michael's work is the range. In addition to his architectural renderings, he also paints charming interiors.

If you'd like to see some of Michael's works in progress, you must visit his blog Michael Hampton Watercolors. For someone as artistically challenged as I, it's fascinating to see the whole artistic process.



Pavilion at Vaux le Vicomte


A very chic study


A pen and ink drawing of the 1998 San Francisco Decorators Showcase


Drawing Room of Evangeline Bruce


Blue John Vase


Albert Hadley's Apartment

Michael Smith Chosen as White House Decorator???

I've tended to shy away from reporting gossip and hearsay both in real life and in the virtual world (yes, I swear this is true),but my inner Cindy Adams is coming out. I've heard from a few reliable sources (who shall remain anonymous, of course) that Michael Smith has been tapped to decorate the White House for the Obamas. Many of you are far more connected than I, so I'd love to hear what others know. Let's treat this as an online gossip session. Give us confirmation if you have it readers!

Chic Shape, Unfortunate Name

I've recently made an addition to my ever growing wishlist of furniture and objets that I want to own. The latest object of my attention is a kidney shaped table. Perhaps this fascination with kidney shaped furniture goes back to the days when I spent hours and hours swimming in my family's kidney shaped pool. (Hey, I know these pools are no longer the height of chicdom, but many years ago they were considered rather novel.)

Now, I must say that I cringe a little bit at the use of the word "kidney". I do get a little squeamish if I start to think about organs, which might explain why I nixed majoring in Biology in favor of History- far less blood and guts, although studying wars can be a little gruesome. But I digress.

Decades ago, women fantasized about primping and preening at their very own kidney-shaped vanities. These confections were swathed in satin or matelassé, were sometimes bedecked with ribbons or bows, and usually were topped by a piece of glass or mirror. How could one not feel glamorous sitting at these gems while making one's toilet (the old term for freshening up and sometimes putting on one's face). I think it's time for these vanities to make a comeback.

I'm also pining for a kidney-shaped desk or little side table. It would be so elegant to have one of these as a social command post if you will. You could take care of your social correspondence, talk on the phone, or take care of some kind of gracious business. Sure beats sitting in bed with your laptop on your lap!


I'm completely smitten with this Jansen kidney shaped table. Not only is it the right shape, the black laquer finish and gold trim speaks to my Hollywood side. (Available from Flessas Design.)


A bit frilly for my tastes, this table would still make a very feminine vanity. (Available through Heather & Co.)


This 19th c. Russian writing table is really quite elegant, and I like the tooled leather inset. Forget paying bills at this stately table; I'm thinking more along the lines of love letters... (Available through George Subkoff Antiques.)


This type of kidney shaped end table is probably the most ubiquitous of all. Not that that's a bad thing, but when you think of kidney shaped tables, don't you think of these? (Available Ad Lib Antiques)


Modernists like kidneys too. This Mastercraft table would look right at home in my home, surrounded by a few traditional pieces. (Through Assemblage.)


Kidneys look good on the cuff too. OK, so technically it's a bean and not a kidney. Maybe a kidney bean? Elsa Peretti's black jade cufflinks are smashing! (Get these while you can in case Tiffany's chooses to discontinue these too.)

Image at top: A vintage diagram of the kidneys, available through Voila!

The Party Barn

My latest fantasy? A party barn. OK, so living in a high rise might be a bit of a hindrance to making this fantasy come true, but a girl can dream, can't she? It seems that when these lucky barn owners create their party spaces, there is an incredible amount of ingenuity, practicality, and creativity that goes into planning them.



I was greatly inspired by the barn at the Norfolk, England farm of garden and freelance designer George Carter (image at top and above). One enters the party room via tall double doors in which only the bottom section opens. There are fanciful console tables, black painted pyramid sculptures (what Carter calls indoor topiaries), and a musicians gallery that looks out over the room. Such a chic space in which to entertain. If I were to have a party barn, I think I would design mine along these lines; for me, it would be a place to throw caution to the wind and to experiment. Oh, and to have fun too!


Bunny Williams and John Rosselli's barn was designed with entertaining in mind, and comfort seemed to be the driving force behind the design of their space. I can imagine that you might arrive there as a guest on a Friday evening, and you wouldn't want to leave the cozy rooms until late Sunday. Add a few good books, some libations, and a little nosh and you've got the perfect weekend.


And the barn that is generating a lot of buzz now is that of Ina Garten. This is a building that was very well thought out, but then again that is what one would expect of a serious cook and an authority on entertaining. But there is nothing cold and sterile about Garten's outbuilding. Garten is fond of the word "earthy", and this is a perfect label for both her food and her party barn as well. It's a simple space- quite down to earth- but warm and inviting too.

(Images of Carter's barn: British House & Garden, Jan 09, photographer Rory Carnegie. Images of Williams and Rosselli's space: "An Affair with a House". Garten's space courtesy of House Beautiful, Nov 09, photographer Simon Upton.)

Zajac & Callahan

Edward Zajac and Richard Callahan. Not familiar with them? Well, they were only one of the hottest design duos around during the 1970s and early 80s. Truth be told, I had never heard of them until last year when a reader mentioned that I might find their work to be of interest. And how right he was!

Zajac and Callahan each had strong design experience before they joined forces in 1966 with Zajac having worked for McMillen and the great Billy Baldwin and Callahan having been employed by Jansen and Valerian Rybar. When they came together, the pair began to create interiors that were a bold breath of fresh air. Zajac & Callahan took traditional furnishings and combined them in exuberant and exhilarating way. One hallmark of the Zajac & Callahan look was pattern upon pattern upon pattern- not an easy look to pull off. But the key was that they took some unifying factor- color or scale, for example- and used that as a guide. And somehow, it seemed to work. Certainly it was a maximalist look and one that was apropos for that era in time, but I'll venture to say that their interiors don't really look terribly dated.

The interior featured here was a Paris apartment designed by Z&C circa 1971. The yellow entryway could have been designed in 2009! The dining room is totally fabulous with the decadent use of canvas fabric on the walls, although if I were living in this interior today I would remove that tablecloth. The bedroom? Okay, so I might have to tone it down a bit, but you've got to admit that it's a look.

In the new release New York Interior Design, 1935-1985, there is a chapter on the two, and in it Zajac admits that he was a bit dismayed that they became pigeonholed by clients who only wanted this audacious look, and he laments the fact that they never really got to do modernist interiors. I'm sorry too because it would have been interesting to have seen modernism in the hands of Zajac and Callahan. Still, I think it's worthwhile for us to revisit their work.


The lacquered yellow rotunda entryway with smashing blue ceiling.


The fabric shrouded dining room, again with a bright blue ceiling. The rope chairs are a Zajac & Callahan design.


A zany bedroom dominated by the classic Tree of Life print.


The husband's study is a blend of shell prints, plaids, geometric prints, and upholstered walls.

Image at top: The living room with its Chinese wallpaper and Indian rug. And lots of prints!

(All images from House & Garden, Nov. 1971)

Things I'm Rethinking for 2009

Chenille:


I'll admit that I've never been a fan of chenille, and I don't think I'm alone. There's something about chenille that seems to cause a visceral response- you either like it or detest it. So it came as a shock to me that Glimmer, a fabulous metallic fabric in the Celerie Kemble for Schumacher collection, is actually a chenille. I'm eating crow, and for once I don't seem to mind.

Ruffled and Pinked Edges:


I usually prefer a more simple and tailored edging for my curtains and pillows, but I'm rather intrigued by ruffles and pinked edges right now. This pillow, made from a Cecil Beaton collection fabric, reminds me of those fabulous curtains and pillows in Pauline de Rothschild's London home. John Fowler had a hand in designing Rothschild's home, and we all know that Fowler was the master of using those dressmaker details on his curtains and soft furnishings. Maybe it's time to pull out the pinking shears.



Sailing:


Actually, I turn positively green when I'm out on the water and no amount of Dramamine is going to change that. Sailing is not on my horizon for 2009, but I am loving Katie Ridder's "Beetlecat" wallpaper. (Available through Holland and Sherry.)

Napkins:


Paying no heed to my mother's advice about not airing one's dirty laundry in public, I'm coming clean about my napkin habits. I often use Vanity Fair paper napkins when I'm dining alone. And no, I don't live in a double wide, I don't drink PBR, and there are no rusting cars jacked up on cinder blocks in my front yard. That said, I'm trying to cure myself of this bad little habit, so I'm going to try to use my nice linen napkins on a daily basis. Now if I can only convince my housekeeper to iron them.

Happy Holidays!

I had high hopes for posting this week before I venture off on my Christmas trip. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in bed with a nasty bug and am far my peak nor am I feeling very chic. So I want to send each one of you warmest wishes for the holidays. Thank you for your kind comments and for the lively discussions that we have, and I look forward to continuing them in 2009.

Hope you and yours have a safe, happy holiday and a happy, healthy 2009!

-Jennifer

(image courtesy of Conde Nast Store)

Benjamin Dhong's Classical Christmas

Many of you may remember that fabulous bathroom that San Francisco designer Benjamin Dhong decorated for the San Francisco Decorator's Showhouse. Well, I knew this man was talented and clever, but I didn't realize the extent of his creativity. Just look at this fabulous wreath that Ben designed for the holidays!

Ben was inspired by some old architectural engravings that he had found, so he scanned them, arranged them, and then had them printed on linen. He took the fabric and glued it to a 20' foam square donut. Genius!

The front of the wreath is the acanthus ornament of a Corinthian column while the sides have classic architectural motifs such as egg and dart. Ben joked that "decoupage is back". Well if this is decoupage for the 21st century, then count me in as its #1 fan!

(To see more of Ben's work, please visit his website.)





Images courtesy of David Duncan Livingston, photographer.

Christmas 1954

How long has it been since you've seen a Christmas spread in a magazine that did not include greenery of some type? A tree? A garland? A magnolia wreath? Well, this article from House Beautiful (Dec. 1954) was not a paean to things green and natural but rather a tribute to paper decorations. The gold scrollwork pieces and accordion pleated stars and geegaws were all made of paper and were sold on the market under House Beautiful's moniker.

Now, I think the gold stars are kind of neat but I'm not so crazy about the baluster looking things. I really like the gold scrollwork pieces although I would use them in a more subtle way. And I don't think I'd hang ornament balls from them. That's a bit too kitschy for my taste. All in all, it's certainly evocative of that era and a far cry from today's more natural design.

Georgian Style and Design

For those of you who are fans of Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, I think you'll enjoy her latest offering Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living. The book focuses on contemporary interpretations of the Georgian style with interiors that focus on comfort and functionality first and foremost. But what really struck me the most about the book were the lush wallpapers used in many of these homes. Gorgeous scenic and hand-painted wallpapers abound, and you know I've met very few of these wallpapers that I didn't like.


How incredibly fabulous is this hand-painted paper that features an Indian colonial scene? It's perfection to me. Who do you think makes this? de Gournay? Zuber?


I have no idea who makes this architectural toile, but I just adore it. Featured in a 'gents' cloakroom, the paper sets the right masculine tone.


At first glance, I assumed this wallpaper might have been Gracie, but I'm really thinking it might be de Gournay. The book does not mention who the maker is, only saying that it's a hand-painted silk wallpaper that is produced (or perhaps I should say crafted) in China. The wallpaper is custom designed and fitted for the specific setting.


In this Scottish country house, the chinoiserie room features a hand-painted de Gournay wallcovering. I like how the colors are rather muted.


Another hand-painted wallcovering that was painted on silk panels and installed in this bedroom (again, I believe this is a de Gournay). I think that if my bedroom was papered in these panels, I might finally stop waking up on the wrong side of the bed-something that has been known to happen from time to time!

Although it has nothing to do with wallpaper, I also wanted to include a few images from one of the featured interiors that was designed by my friend Patricia McLean, an Atlanta designer. I love the various shades of blue that she chose.

(All images from Georgian Style and Design, Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, Rizzoli publisher)