Nina Campbell for oomph

One of the more talked-about product debuts at the upcoming High Point Spring Market will likely be designer Nina Campbell's new collection for oomph.  The collaborative line includes two designs by which I'm particularly taken.  The first is the What Not, an étagère which becomes a pair of end or side tables when separated.  The other is the Billy Tray, which looks like it's ready-made for use at tea time or the cocktail hour.  What these two pieces have in common is that both were inspired by antiques that Nina owns.  In fact, Nina based the entire collection on antiques, which just goes to show that everything old can be new again.

Below, you can see photos of the what not and tray plus the antique pieces that inspired them.  And of course, in the oomph tradition, the designs are available in an array of colors and finishes, including four new colors that are exclusive to this collection.  For more information, please visit the oomph website. 

Spring Book Releases: Anouska Hempel

I read Anouska Hempel last week, and I have to confess that I'm having difficulty putting my thoughts into words.  Designer monographs typically provide readers with an even-keeled reading experience.  There are some design books in which the featured work looks more or less the same throughout the entire book, while there are other monographs- Nicky Haslam's comes to mind- whose photographs capture a range of looks and styles.  However, even when a body of work is diverse or eclectic, its collective similarities are often obvious enough to make it look cohesive on paper, something which usually guarantees that reading design books will be smooth-sailing.

But Anouska Hempel's work- and Anouska Hempel, for that matter- is altogether different.  It seems to shift course dramatically, moving from one end of the style spectrum to the other.  Take, for example, the designer's country house, Cole Park, which is featured prominently in her monograph.  When I studied the book's photos (see below), words like "lavish" and "baroque" came to mind.  I was even reminded of a perfume that I frequently wore back in the early 1990s: Guerlain's Samsara, which is a heavy, oriental-type fragrance.  It must have been Cole Park's surfeit of objects and rich, deep colors that evoked this olfactory memory.  And yet, in just one flick of the page, the home's opulent redolence evaporated, for there on the page was a photograph of Cole Park's attic bedroom, a palate-cleanser of a room if there ever was one.  Like the rest of the house, this room has a sharply-defined look, but its non-color colors and earthy fabrics convey a mood that is altogether different from the rest of the house.

Such radical shifts in style and aesthetics have the potential to exhaust and confuse the reader.  But Marcus Binney, the book's author, manages to create a sense of harmony out of interiors that may seem discordant at first glance.  In the book's introduction, Binney writes of those hallmarks of Hempel's work, including the use of screens ("to add an air of mystery, partially concealing, but also hinting at what lies beyond"), grouping of objects, and attention to light and reflections.  Once armed with this information, the reader will start to see that Hempel's rich, decadent interiors and her zen-like spaces are not as dramatically different as they might at first seem.  It takes a thorough reading and careful study of this book to understand why Hempel designs as she does.  If you're not prepared to do both, then this book may not be for you.  But, if you're up to the challenge, what you are rewarded with is a book that will likely encourage you to think differently- and more deeply- about the design process.

  

Porcelain displays such as this at Cole Park are a constant feature of Anouska Hempel interiors © Cameron Maynard

The dining room lighting at Cole Park is designed to create shimmering opulence © Fritz von der Schulenberg

Hurricane lamps in the dining room of Cole Park © Cameron Maynard

The attic bedroom at Cole Park © Adrian Houston

The Lion’s Cage suite at The Hempel © The Hempel


Image credit: © Anouska Hempel by Marcus Binney, Rizzoli New York, 2015.

Baron de Redé and his Headdress Ball

Although the late Baron de Redé, the noted French aesthete, host, and financier, might be better known for his 1969 Oriental Ball, he is almost as famous for an earlier fête: his "Bal des Têtes", which was held in 1956 at Hôtel Lambert, Redé's Paris residence.  As the title of this blog post indicates, the ball's theme was headdresses, with guests encouraged to wear fanciful creations.  Redé asked three of his guests, Elsa Maxwell, the Duchess of Windsor, and Charles de Beistegui, to help him judge which party-goer wore the best headdress.  The winner was Jacqueline de Ribes, who modeled a most fetching feather-and-jewel number.

According to Redé's memoirs, Yves Saint Laurent, then an assistant at Dior, was hired to design the ball.  I don't know the extent of Saint Laurent's contributions, but I do know that he designed a number of headdresses for some of the lucky female guests.  You can see sketches of his headdress designs below.  He also illustrated a rendering which depicted the theme of the party (see the two images above.)  If you own a copy of Redé's hard-to-find memoirs, then you know that this illustration was used for the book's endpapers. 

Of the fancy-dress balls that he and his ilk hosted, Redé wrote that they were "the excuse for dressing up and competing for imaginative outfits."  Although the days of such balls are long gone, it does make me pine for the days when people actually made an effort with their appearances, especially when going to a ball. 

Baron de Redé with his fellow judges, the Duchess of Windsor, Charles de Beistegui, and Elsa Maxwell.

Jacqueline de Ribes and her winning headdress.

Bal des Têtes guests included Princess Ghislaine de Polignac, the Duke of Windsor, Elsa Schiaparelli, and the Duchess of Windsor.

Fromental at The Goring

Although I have never been a guest at The Goring Hotel in London, I have long been familiar with it.  The hotel, which recently celebrated its 105th anniversary, has endeared itself to generations of well-heeled guests, including the Duchess of Cambridge, who, as you might recall, spent the night before her wedding at The Goring.  Just a few days ago, I read that the hotel had reopened after a major refurbishment, but I did not know until yesterday that Fromental, whose hand-painted wallpapers send me into reveries, was responsible for the magnificent scenic paper in the hotel's Front Hall, which was decorated by Russell Sage.

At first glance, the paper impresses with its hand-gilded silver leaf background, its dense coloration, and its idyllic scenery.  But look closely at the photos below, and you'll see all kinds of charming creatures, including flamingos, lions, and horses.  According to a recent Fromental press release, the paper depicts anthropomorphized animals, some of whom represent members of the Goring family.  The founder of the hotel, Otto Richard Goring, is seen as a "bejeweled walrus", as is his son, Otto Gustave.  The family's pet pigs are doing their military duty in the Battle of Trafalgar, while Managing Director David Morgan-Hewitt, who has a law degree, is depicted as a gorilla in a judge's wig.  Is it any wonder that it took four artists eight weeks to paint these scenes? 

Like The Goring, Fromental also recently marked an anniversary: its tenth, which is yet another reason to celebrate.  Based on the photos below, I'd say that both the hotel and Fromental can look forward to many more anniversaries.  But back to that wallpaper by which I am so captivated.  It has sparked my imagination, and I have thought about how Alfie and I might be depicted should I ever engage Fromental to paint a similar paper for me.  I don't see Alfie engaged in battle, because he is too much of a whimp for that.  For a dog who seems unabashedly drawn to the finer things in life, he needs a luxurious scene.  I can see it now: Alfie painted as a maharaja in resplendent attire with his minions waiting on him hand and foot.  Actually, that scene isn't so far from the truth.  

All photos courtesy of Fromental and The Goring Hotel.

Spring Book Releases, Part One

The Spring book releases are just starting to make their debuts, and two that I have read- and enjoyed- thus far are A Home in Paris, written by Catherine Synave with photographs by Guillaume de Laubier, and Nicky Haslam: A Designer's Life, which was written by the designer himself. The former is a voyeuristic look at some of Paris' more intriguing homes, including residences decorated by Jacques Garcia and Tino Zerduvachi.  Organized mostly by decorating and architectural styles, the featured homes are grouped into such categories as "Tradition and Reinterpretations", "Modern and Contemporary Interiors", and "The Soul of a Collector".  (It should come as no surprise that the traditional-oriented section is my favorite.)  Although there have been a multitude of books published on Paris interiors, I continue to add them to my library because, quite simply, I never tire of looking at beautifully-appointed homes in Paris.  If you're like me, you should consider adding this volume to your design-book collection.  Do note, though, that the book is modestly-sized, measuring roughly seven-by-nine inches.  I like the book's scale because it made reading in bed easy, but I want to let you know in case you were expecting a larger-sized book. 

A much different design book is Haslam's latest effort.  The book's subtitle is, "An Archive of Inspired Design and Décor", and what an archive it is.  Haslam's work is well-represented in the book by big, beautiful photos.  But Haslam takes the reader beyond the glossy surfaces by making him privy to the inspiration and creative-process behind each interior.  The designer's upbringing has greatly influenced his work, as have books, travel, and the glittering personalities with whom Haslam associates.  In his book, Haslam writes of these influences, linking them through witty text and photos to the interiors and decorative finishes that they inspired.  Yes, the book reads in part as a memoir (and a lively one at that,) but it also allows the reader to see how a designer such as Haslam translates inspiration into some very posh interiors.  If you're looking for a delightful design book, then Haslam's book should suit you to a T.

A Home in Paris:

The living room leads to the library, where Jacques Garcia has placed an armchair bearing the stamp of the famed chair maker Jean-Baptiste Séné. Turgot, the Controller-General of Finance at the beginning of Louis XVI’s reign, used this piece in his office. © Guillaume de Laubier

On a table in the smoking room, a Wedgwood vase and obelisk are displayed with a late nineteenth-century oil lamp to compose a charming still life. © Guillaume de Laubier

The living room is a tribute to the splendors of the past. Modern designer furniture and decorative objects comfortably adapt to a backdrop of gilt boiseries. Vast mirrors, reflecting the light, further expand the space. © Guillaume de Laubier

In the living room, English furniture mingles with Arman’s “Danceuse” armchairs. The gilding of the Directoire mirror and the Oriental subjects of the paintings stand out against the cherry-red wall covering, which is bordered with colourful strips cut from a shawl. The rich tones are repeated in the sofa’s upholstery. © Guillaume de Laubier

Enlivening the entrance and recalling the interiors of old Saint Petersburg, the Wedgwood-blue walls are ornamented with a frieze of stencilled motifs that accent the outlines of the doors and panelling. © Guillaume de Laubier



Nicky Haslam: A Designer's Life

A Haslam-decorated living room in a New Orleans home. © Andrew Wood.

Look closely, and you'll see the fringe-trimmed pelmets.  As Haslam wrote, "I always wanted to put a fringe on these pelmets."  © Andrew Twort.

A former home of Haslam.  The library's walls were covered in charming paper painted by the legendary George Oakes for Colefax and Fowler. © Fritz von der Schulenburg

Nicky Haslam designed this tiled garden seat after Portuguese azulejos.


©A HOME IN PARIS, Flammarion, 2015. Images ©Guillaume de Laubier. ©NICKY HASLAM: A DESIGNER'S LIFE by Nicholas Haslam, Rizzoli New York, 2015.

Thank you Flower Magazine

I want to thank Karen Carroll and flower magazine for featuring me in their "House Party" column in the March/April issue. When Karen asked me to describe my style of entertaining, the first word out of my mouth might have been "Cocktails!" Because, as you know, I do love to mix a classic cocktail. I enjoy having guests over for cocktails and heavy hors d'oeuvres, which is not only a fun way to spend an evening, but it's easy on the hostess, too.

You can read all about my cocktail entertaining in the new issue. Karen has also included a short-list of my favorite host and hostesses along with their words of wisdom.


Cover photo courtesy of flower; Sarah Dorio photographer. 

Home Tour: Dottebob Andes

One of the many highlights of my book tour was visiting my sweet friend, Dottebob Andes, in her chic Philadelphia-area home.  Prior to my visit, I was aware that Dottebob and I had a lot in common, especially our shared love of "the classics".  (That would be classic décor, not classic literature- although perhaps we have similar taste in books, too.)  Like me, Dottebob, who is a well-regarded decorator, has an appreciation for bright colors (especially blue and coral), prints, Chinoiserie, and the sense of coziness that fabrics bring to a room.  But not until my book was published did I realize just how simpatico we are. 

Shortly after she read my book, Dottebob sent me photos of her home, explaining that she lives with most of the classic furnishings about which I wrote.  Sure enough, many- if not most- of my book's entries can be found in Dottebob's home.  There are examples of Chinoiserie, portières, leopard print, needlepoint, trompe l'oeil, singerie, exotic prints, garden stools, trellis, slipper chairs, skirted tables, and, well, I could go on and on.  Dottebob's home is like In with the Old come to life.  If I didn't know better, I would think that we had been separated at birth.

When I visited Dottebob, I was struck by how closely her home and her personality are intertwined.  Dottebob's home is a reflection of her warmth and generosity, her enthusiasm for socializing and spending time with friends and family, and her passion for decorating.  She is surrounded by things she loves and treasures that have meaning to her.  In my mind, all of these qualities represent the true meaning of decorating.

I'll leave you with the photos I took during my visit. Looking at them reminds me of what decorating is supposed to be about.

All photos are the copyright of Jennifer Boles/ The Peak of Chic