On A Tangent

In the Boles family, my mother and I are known for beating a dead horse. Years after an event or situation, we're still talking and debating about it. (And usually, that's when my father picks up the newspaper and stays out of the conversation.) Sometimes, we're just not able to let something go. And over the last few weeks, the something- or rather, the someone- that I can't let go of is Michael Greer. I've written about him from time to time through the years, but lately I've been on a Michael Greer roll. His work was incredibly chic and elegant. There was a dramatic flourish to many of his rooms- and you know how drama never ceases to fascinate me. I wonder if Greer was the Miles Redd of his day? Take a look at Greer's Manhattan apartment. What do you think?




A view of his terrace at night. The awning with the wooden tassels is right up my alley.




His unbelievable bedroom. The walls were covered in beige silk and framed in black painted half-round molding that was supposed to mimic iron supports. The ceiling was also covered in fabric and trimmed with a Roman motif braid in order to look like a tent.



A desk vignette in Greer's bedroom.



The Salon with Louis XVI and Directoire antiques. Those triple arches led to the dining alcove.





Additional views of the Salon.




Trompe l'oeil paper lined the walls of the foyer. Greer employed trompe l'oeil effects often in his work.



The foyer stair. The carpet, designed by Greer, was pale gray.



The bathroom. That fabric on the walls? Trompe l'oeil painted against gray walls. I'm completely taken with that floor. Those faux iron supports look to be painted.



(Greer photo from Inside Design by Michael Greer; all other photos from America's Small Houses: The Personal Homes of Designers and Collectors by Henry Lionel Williams and Ottalie K. Williams.)

A Scent That Sends Me Back

I'm in the market for a new fragrance, and I'm anxious to try Gucci's new Gucci Guilty. Of course, the most important thing about perfume is the scent (pink pepper, lilac, patchouli, and amber), but I have yet to take a sniff. What has totally intrigued me is the bottle. It's sexy looking in a 1970s way. Kind of edgy, kind of sleek. A little bit like these:





Check out this bedroom decorated by Jay Spectre in 1977. Being the traditionalist that I am, my eye is immediately drawn to the 18th c. French desk and chair. But look at the bed. The bedposts are wrapped in suede with slivers of lucite punctuating them. The underside of the canopy is mirrored as are the window shutters. I'm not advising anyone to decorate their bedroom as such, but I do admire Spectre's work, and you have to admit that this room is quintessential 1970s contemporary design.




If you follow The Peak of Chic Facebook page, you've seen this image before. How stunning is this? A fountain and water channel maze in Ibiza designed by Javier de Olaso, c. 1977. I could see Ridley Scott directing a Chanel no. 5 commercial here. Share the fantasy....





How about this chair from Charles Hollis Jones? You've got a brass frame with lucite back, seat, and legs. OK, so in the right environment, I think this could work. Do you?






I have to say that I find this room stunning (it too is from the 70s), even though I couldn't live in it. Look at the wall with black mirror- love that. And yes, the table is low, but it's awfully stunning. It's wood that has been painted and lacquered so that it resembles granite.





There are elements to this 1970s-era interior that still look good today- but not those vertical blinds. Glossy surfaces, neutral colors-it makes me think of Calvin Klein



and this Helmut Newton shot of model Lisa Taylor dressed in Calvin. (Hey, this was hot stuff for the 1970s. In a way, it still is today.)


...and I think of Halston


like this fabulous hammered silk satin dress by Halston (1976) in this classic photo by Scavullo.

And to think that a bottle of perfume started this entire stream of consciousness.

(Spectre photo from Architectural Digest, September 1977, Jaime Ardiles-Arce photographer; water maze photo from Architectural Digest, September 1977,Georges Palot photographer; chair ad from AD, October 1977; two living room photos from Contemporary apartments (The Worlds of Architectural Digest))

For Your Consideration, v. 1

I have to, um, hand it to Cecil Beaton. He was awfully creative. The walls of his guest bathroom were adorned with outlines of his guests' hands (painted by Beaton, of course) that were signed by the respective hand's owner as well. Not for everyone, but it is a humorous take on the ubiquitous guest book.

(Image from The Thirties in Vogue by Carolyn Hall)

Snug Sleeping Quarters

Today's theme is...beds placed in alcoves. Sound a little claustrophobic? Perhaps, but it also seems cozy too. Obviously, a bed like this would only work for a single person. Imagine the person who is wedged against the wall trying to get out of the bed for a midnight trip to the loo? Way too complicated if you ask me. But for one person? Well, I think it's kind of an intriguing idea. And, as with many things, the French seem to do it best. At least, they did back in the 1950s when all of these photos were shot.

The photo at top is a bedroom in the country home of Jean Marais. I love the color combo and the slight bordello feel to that red velvet lined niche.



A niche that doesn't seem so confining. The lectern looking table is a clever addition with its bronze somno on it (Latin for sleep.)

One of my favorites. This one was slept in by designer Emilio Terry. Those sheets, however, might just be my favorite thing in the photo.



Tucked away in Toile du Jouy.



So French looking and so perfect. The bedroom of Mme Billotte as decorated by Henri Samuel.



I don't show children's rooms often, but I couldn't resist this one.


(All images from Les Reussites De La Decoration Francaise: 1950-1960)

Remember This One?

Let's rehash an oldie but goodie- the New York apartment of Jeff Pfeifle, former president of J. Crew, and his partner Adam Mahr. I was reminded of the fabulous apartment, featured in the December 2006 issue of House & Garden, when I saw Pfeifle's photo on New York Social Diary the other day. Now, you might think that I was taken with the home because of the children of the house (see above), children who bear a striking resemblance to Alfie. Well, perhaps it swayed me a bit, but really, the home is downright chic. Starting with...



...the tented entryway. Did someone say tented? I think perhaps that's what hooked me.



Or perhaps it was the good old-fashioned dining room that is anything but old-fashioned.

The guest bedroom? Yep, like that one too.



And the telephone room? Why, it pushed me over the edge. Time to dial 9-1-1.

(All images from House & Garden, December 2006; Hugh Stewart photographer)

Mad for Marion

Thanks to the non-drowsy decongestant I've been taking all weekend, I've been a little too revved-up to sleep. A little annoying, but on the bright side, I've redecorated my apartment...at least, in my mind. I've decided that I need a small rug in my dressing room. I already have a nice wool, Wilton weave carpet in there right now (I'm a big fan of wall-to-wall carpet in bedrooms, closets, and dressing areas), but I think a throw rug would add some zip to the space. After all, a minimalist wardrobe, though chic on the body, is too subtle to do much in the way of decoration.

So what would be perfect in my dressing area is a Marion Dorn rug. I mean, if you're going to daydream, you might as well shoot for the stars. It would certainly be in keeping with the loose 1930s look that I'm going for. And if they were good enough for Syrie Maugham and Frances Elkins- both fans of Dorn's work- they are more than good enough for me.

(Speaking of Maugham, don't forget that Pauline Metcalfe's much anticipated book, Syrie Maugham, is being released in a few weeks. Look for a review here soon.)



This Dorn rug, c. 1930, was sold at Christie's for around $4300. The pale tones would be perfect for my room's color scheme of pinks, grays, and creams. The zig-zag design is reminiscent of the Dorn rug in Mrs. Celia Tobin Clark's bedroom (c. 1929-31; seen at the top of this post), a room decorated by Syrie Maugham.



Frances Elkins chose this beige and off-white Dorn rug for the bedroom of Ruth Winslow. The rug was a nice modern counterpoint to the traditional French floral chintz.




How chic was the Lounge at Claridge's Hotel, c. 1930? Decorated by Oswald Milne, the space was a combination of Art Deco and Modernist decor. The black and cream geometric patterned rug was, yes, by Dorn.



Another stylish room decorated by Maugham, this time the London drawing room of Mr. Robin Wilson. I wonder if that was a Dorn designed rug?



This Dorn work is/was available at a rug dealer in Paris.



Not quite the right colors for my dressing area, but this Dorn rug- auctioned off by Sotheby's- is certainly enchanting.

(Clark image from David Adler, Architect: The Elements of Style, Martha Thorne editor; Elkins image from Frances Elkins: Interior Design by Stephen Salny. Claridge's photo from Martin Battersby's The Decorative Thirties; Wilson drawing room photo from The Great Lady Decorators: The Women Who Defined Interior Design, 1870-1955 by Adam Lewis.)

Cooling Effects

After every walk that we take during the hot summer, Alfie marches inside my apartment and immediately collapses on my entryway's tile floor. I don't blame him; it's such a quick and easy way to cool off. This summer has been so hot and muggy that there have been times when I have considered lying down on the tile floor as well, although a modicum of decency has prevented me from doing so. But, there really is something appealing right now about things that are cool to the touch. To me, that usually translates to ceramic or porcelain and white, of course.



Like this 1930s French Patisserie Table from Soane Antiques. It's the perfect size for Alfie! Seriously though, I am charmed by this table.




In terms of garden stools, this drapery and tassel version is completely unexpected. (from Palm Beach Antique & Design Center.)




Who knew that firewood could be so cool? It is when it's made of bisque porcelain. (Still Life Logs from Klein Reid)




How cool are these ceramic wall brackets? (from Dixon Lane Antiques)




Just wanted to see if you were paying attention (Ceramic turkey from Kirk Albert Vintage Furnishings)




A little blue is perfectly acceptable, especially when it's on a table as terrific as this. (from Carlos de la Puente Antiques)

And finally, if I had a floor made of this Barbara Barry tile for Ann Sacks, I suspect Alfie and I would be fighting for space on the floor.