The Renzo Collection from Currey & Co.

I have to tip my hat to my dear friend, Will Merrill. Not only is he a very talented interior designer (he has decorated some amazing homes in North Carolina,) but he's an accomplished furniture designer too. He has collaborated on a few furniture lines with Currey & Co. in the past, and the collections have deservedly garnered a lot of attention in the press. No doubt the same will be true with his new Renzo Collection for Currey & Co. that is set to debut at High Point this week.

Will's latest collection, one made entirely of wrought iron, was inspired by the vintage metal rope and tassel furniture that was produced in post-war Italy. Interestingly enough, these midcentury Italian pieces hearken back to the mid-19th c. when rope and tassel furniture was made from carved and gilded wood. While most of the Italian metal pieces were primarily small stools and boudoir chairs, Will chose to branch out into larger items like a console and coffee table.

The aged gold leaf finish of this collection is really quite remarkable, something that gives the furniture even more of an antique feel. And according to Will, the metal chairs in this collection are extremely comfortable, even without a cushion. I can't wait to test one out myself.

If you're in High Point this week, please visit the Currey & Co. showroom to see the new collection in person. Or, visit their website for more information.




Renzo kidney-shaped cocktail table.




Renzo Arm Chair that is supposed to be quite comfortable.




Renzo Console Table




The Renzo Side Chair




Renzo bench. Will mentioned that this bench would work well at a dressing table, at the foot of a bed, or as a window seat. It can also double as a small table, without the cushion of course, thanks to its metal mesh seat.

All photos courtesy of Currey & Co.

Is Green Acres Really The Place To Be?

I'm a city girl through and through, but from time to time, I do think about how nice it might be to have a small place in the country. Fresh air. Bucolic setting. A slower pace of life.

With this romantic notion in my head, I was intrigued by an old House & Garden article which featured the Irish country home of a Mr. and Mrs. Francis Guth. The Guths spent half of the year in Spain (how exotic) and half of the year at Ilecash, their County Cork Georgian house. Mr. Guth was (is?) a great gourmand whose specialty was Spanish food. (A gourmet for a husband sounds awfully nice.) And a quick glance at the photos showed me that they liked to picnic by the river. Sounds quaint. But then I started to read the text, and my idea that country living was relaxing was turned on its head!

Mr. Guth fished for salmon in the river that ran behind the house. Mr. Guth smoked his own salmon. The Guths took a belvedere that was attached to the house and converted it to a greenhouse where they grew cucumbers and tomatoes. If there was leftover salmon, Mrs. Guth canoed down the river to hand deliver it to her neighbors- and sometimes with a basket of mushrooms picked by the Guth daughter! And what about the Spanish buffet feast that was photographed for the article, a meal that was comprised of 19 tapas dishes? It only took Mr. Guth four hours to make.

Whew! Maybe country living isn't quite as relaxing as I once thought.



A picnic that included Mr. Guth's smoked salmon and Spanish style omelettes.


A view of Ilecash. The green house is to the left of the house.




The Guths' rather extensive vegetable garden.





Mr. Guth with his catch.



The catch that is ready to be smoked.



And a riparian picnic with what else? Mr. Guth's smoked salmon.




A "conversation food" buffet with Mr. Guth's tapas. The porcelain that you see on the table and in the hutch was made by Mrs. Guth.




A Sherry party in the kitchen.



All photos from House & Garden, February 1971.

Desks in the Digital Age

While looking through an old issue of House Beautiful, I found a photo, seen above, which shows a desk vignette designed by the late Albert Hadley. As I was studying the photo, it dawned on me how different this desk setting would look if a computer was part of the mix. Somehow, I just don't think it would be quite as attractive. Computers, whether they be a desktop or laptop, are one of those necessary evils in life. While I love the benefits of them, I also rue the fact that computers have complicated our lives- and our decor.

I use a pretty painted writing table as my desk. How nice it would look with a julep cup of pencils or a vase of flowers. Alas, that's not to be because once I placed a lamp and my laptop on the desk, there wasn't any room for anything else. Most home offices today resemble corporate offices with file cabinets and Aeron chairs (which, by the way, are the world's most comfortable desk chair.) But if you have a formal house or even a small home where your home office is in your living room, how are you supposed to incorporate your computer without it sticking out like a sore thumb?

I still haven't completely figured it out, although a laptop does seem to be the most discreet solution. Regardless, take a look at the desks below and think about the way they would look with a computer plopped down on them. In a way, it makes me wish just a little bit that computers weren't so absolutely necessary.




The writing room at Ditchley Park, the home of Nancy Lancaster.






Two different desks in a home on the Esplanade des Invalides, Paris.




A room, and desk, decorated by Irvine and Fleming.




The Paris bedroom of American James H. Douglas, the nephew of fabric legend Jim Thompson.





In the home of Princess Chavchavadze


Photo at top from House Beautiful, September 1971; photo #2 from Nancy Lancaster: English Country House Style; #3 and #4 from The Finest Houses Of Paris; photo #5 from HOUSE & GARDEN'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO INTERIOR DECORATION - SEVENTH EDITION; #6 from The Best in European Decoration; #7 from Les Reussites De La Decoration Francaise: 1950-1960.

Some Suzanne Rheinstein Wisdom

One thing that I admire about Suzanne Rheinstein's elegant and classical style is that it works well in both town and country. Suzanne can decorate both a Park Avenue apartment as well as a Virginia horse farm with equal aplomb! I'm especially excited about her recently completed project that is featured in House Beautiful's May issue, the theme of which is "Designer Secrets".

Suzanne decorated this Upper East Side apartment for a young married couple that hails from the South. In fact, while reading the article, I realized that the wife used to be my across the hall neighbor in Atlanta many years ago. As you can see, the interiors are gracious and proper, and yet they're comfortable looking too. To me, the apartment looks like a big old Southern home housed within an Upper East Side apartment building.

I'm including a few images here, but be sure to check out the May issue to get the full effect. And as the issue's cover promises, there are plenty of Suzanne's designer secrets in the article as well. (In fact, some of her sage advice can be seen in the photo above.)

All photos from House Beautiful, May 2012, Francois Dischinger photographer. Photos used with express permission from the magazine.

William Yeoward's American Bar

I'm rather meek when it comes to mixing cocktails at home. A French 75 or a Gin Fizz is about as wild and crazy as it gets. However, my attitude towards mixology has completely changed thank to a very entertaining new book, William Yeoward's American Bar. (The title refers to the high-style bars of London and Paris during the 1920s and 30s, often referred to as "American bars" because of the cocktail craze that began on our shores.)

Yeoward's book is a compilation of cocktail recipes conjured up by the bartenders at five of Yeoward's favorite London watering holes: The Connaught Bar; Annabel's; Beaufort Bar at The Savoy; American Bar at The Savoy; and Berkeley Blue Bar. With names like Smoked Old-Fashioned, Fleurissimo, and Hanky Panky, these cocktails are no ordinary drinks. Rather, they are creatively crafted drinks made from all kinds of intriguing ingredients like Punt e Mes vermouth, celery bitters, or jasmine pearl tea.

Now, it's the exotic sounding ingredients that might give you pause. Initially, they did to me as well since I don't have things like celery bitters sitting on my bar. But the book's gorgeous photographs of cocktails in glamorous settings were enough to convince me to try my hand at some of these recipes. And Yeoward's writing is so upbeat and enthusiastic, you will want to make more than a few of these cocktails.

The bonus to this book is the last section in which Yeoward lists his favorite cocktails to serve to his guests, and these drinks you'll probably recognize: Margarita; Gin Sling; Whiskey Sour. These recipes are a nice addition because sometimes you just want to serve a drink that's easy to make. There are also some wonderful canape recipes as well as photographs of Yeoward's preferred party glasses. (As would be expected of a man whose crystal and glassware is coveted by so many of us, Yeoward has an enviable collection of drinkware.)

If you love cocktails and enjoy entertaining, or if you're simply a fan of William Yeoward, then I highly recommend that you consider this book for your collection. The book would make a great gift for friends or family, too.

Visit The Peak of Chic Entertains today to read the book's recipe for a Connaught Martini.




Fleurissimo




Annabel's Special




Costa Esmeralda




Princess Ida




Ramos Fizz


All photos from William Yeoward's American Bar by William Yeoward; Cico Books, 2012; Gavin Kingcome photographer.

A Cavalier Attitude

Funny things happen when you become a dog owner. First, you find yourself taking lots of photos of your dog. See the photo above? It's just one of many photos that I've taken in the last month alone. Seriously.

The other alarming thing that I've noticed about myself is that I now take a keen interest in any and all tchotchkes that have a Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel emblazoned on them. I have bought magnetic note pads, stationery, and even socks (yes, socks) with Cavaliers on them. If I'm not careful, I'm going to become one of those squirrely dog owners who wears Cavalier sweatshirts and drives around with a Cavalier license plate on the front of the car. Well, I can't let that happen, so from here on out, I'm going to focus on collecting Cavaliers like these:





These two 19th c. English paintings of Cavaliers both have provenances listed as "Parish Hadley". Available through William Secord Gallery. I love that the two dogs have feathers and slippers just like Alfie. Alfie's tail, however, is much longer than those above.



Such a sophisticated Cavalier, one who is "Admiring Audubon"; Pamela Hall was the artist. Unfortunately, Alfie doesn't seem like much of a reader. (Painting available through William Secord Gallery.)






A c. 1860 micromosaic brooch by Castellani. Auctioned at Christie's London in 2006.



A c. 1890 Tea Caddy made of lacquer and papier mache. Available from Hamshere Gallery.





A c. 1780 Snuff Box depicting a King Charles Spaniel. From Taylor B. Williams Enamels.



A pastel drawing of "Roulette" by Marjorie Cox, 1963. Sold at Christie's in 1999.

Sister Parish in Maine

I suppose, in a way, it's fitting to end the week with photos of Sister Parish's homes in Dark Harbor, Maine. Homes is plural because, as you'll recall, she owned both a winter house in town as well as a summer place that was down the road.

At first glance, it's a heady mix of floral chintzes, stripes, and patchwork. But take a good look at the rooms and you'll see evidence of Sister Parish's projects: decoupage, needlework, and floral arrangements that she attended to daily. They add such a homey touch to the interiors, don't you think? In fact, these photos make me want to take up decoupage. Well, almost.


The Summer House


Mrs. Parish's sitting room. The rug was Irish made. The interesting looking corner cabinet held sweaters.




No, not Yummy, but rather Desmond the Pekingese.

Mrs. Parish's needlework sat beneath a faience jug of sunflowers and green tobacco leaf.


The Winter Town House


The town house living room. The fabric on the sofa was an Albert Hadley design.



A town house arrangement of lettuces, chicory, nasturtiums, beedtops, and parsley was done by Parish's daughter, Apple Bartlett.



A guest bedroom at the town house. The headboards were upholstered in quilts from West Virginia, while the bed spreads, also quilts, were made in Kentucky.



Mrs. Parish decoupaged this old mirror.



Mrs. Parish's town house bedroom with its four different floral chintzes.



A hallway that led from the greenhouse to the living room.


All photos from House & Garden, March 1971, Horst photographer.