The Latest from de Gournay

While in Los Angeles last week, I visited the Nicky Rising showroom, where Hannah Cecil Gurney, Director of de Gournay, showed me the latest additions to the de Gournay line.  Some of the designs are new, while others have been updated in new colors, such as Fishes, shown above, which is now available in a striking red colorway.

Like the rest of the de Gournay line, the new additions are covetable and will likely have you wishing to redecorate your homes.  I discovered quite a few designs that I would be thrilled to hang in my home, especially scenic papers like Xie You Yu, Paul et Virginie, and English Landscape Design.  But while you look through my photos below, keep in mind that they don't do the papers justice.  There are subtleties such as bas relief, embroidery, and tarnished metal finishes that simply can't be captured in photographs.  That's all the more reason for you to see the papers for yourself.  If you're in Los Angeles, be sure to visit Nicky Rising, which is a jewel-box of a showroom, to see the full collection.  Or, if you live in the Southeast, you can consult Angela Patrick at Ainsworth-Noah.  These new designs are well-worth a visit.

P.S.- Some of the designs' names have escaped me, but I have included those that I do remember.

Earlham

Hixmore Triangles

Earlham

Magnolia

Xie You Yu

Flamingos painted in Ghost style on Deep Rich Gold gilded paper

Le Bresil in Ghost style on sterling silver gilded paper

English Landscape Design in Intaglio Painting

Paul et Virginie

Whistler Peacocks

Flamingos in full custom color

Cupid & Psyche


All photos the copyright of Jennifer Boles for The Peak of Chic

Le Temple de la Gloire

Although built in 1800 for the French military hero, Jean Victor Moreau, Le Temple de la Gloire, a historic house located near Paris, might be better remembered by some as the residence of Oswald and Diana Mosley, a couple who needs no introduction.  Conceived as a pavilion for entertaining and relaxation, the rather grand-looking Le Temple de la Gloire is deceiving, consisting mainly of a central block comprised of a drawing room and a dining room beneath it.  Located on either side of the drawing room are two small rooms, each with its own tiny bedroom.  As imposing looking as the structure's façade might be, behind it is a house that could be described as compact.

I first found photos of Le Temple de la Gloire in the 2000 book, The Finest Houses Of Paris, which clearly stated that the pavilion then belonged to Diana Mitford Mosley and her late husband, Oswald.  (I featured these photos on my blog back in 2013.)  Recently, I found additional interior photos in a 1981 issue of Architectural Digest, although curiously lacking in the magazine article is any mention of the Mosleys.  Instead, the residence is referred to as "the house of an Englishman."  Did the Mosleys prefer anonymity in hopes of avoiding controversy?  Then again, the Mosleys were ones who seemed to court controversy throughout their adult lives, so perhaps the absence of names was a decision made by the magazine.  Whatever the reason may be, the article provides us with additional photos of this glorious architectural gem.

The drawing room, which was furnished with an Empire chandelier and a daybed that was made for French actor, François Joseph Talma.

One of the more striking decorations in the pavilion's dining room is the black and white checkerboard carpeting. The dining table is Empire, while the dining chairs are Louis XVI.

A small sitting room, which is located to one side of the drawing room.

The flower garden, which was based on the original 1800 plan, was planted with cheerful delphinium, pansies, and roses.


All photos from Architectural Digest, May 1981, Bruno de Hamel photographer.

Please Join Us

I hope that you will join Gary Searle, Vice President of Sales and Merchandising for Lee Jofa and Brunschwig & Fils, and me next Tuesday, May 19th, as we present Design Trend: Creating Inspired Contemporary Interiors Using Traditional Elements.  As its title implies, our talk and slide presentation will focus on the versatility of classic furnishings- especially beautiful fabrics- and how to use them to create fresh-for-today interiors.  We will also discuss some of the latest design trends.

The talk will begin at 11 a.m. in the Lee Jofa- Brunschwig & Fils showroom at ADAC, with a light lunch to follow.  If you plan to attend, please RSVP by May 15th to julie.kimbel@leejofa.com

We hope to see you next week.

Justine Cushing's Home- Now and Then

Show of hands- how many of you became enamored with Justine Cushing's Manhattan apartment while reading the May issue of House Beautiful?  I know that I certainly did.  At the time of this post's writing, I had read the article three times, and I suspect that I will have looked through it at least once more by the time this post has published.

While reading the HB article, the word "refreshing" kept popping into my head.  Cushing's apartment is refreshing not in the sense that it presents anything new or novel, but rather because its furnishings don't follow any current trends.  There are no statement-making interiors here, nor are there furnishings and fabrics which are preening for the camera.  Instead, the home seems decorated with its owner's comfort and pleasure solely in mind.

Speaking of the home's furnishings, they represent the best of the best of classic design.  Bamboo shades, swing-arm lamps, Chinoiserie, a needlepoint rug (done by Cushing herself), and quilts.  Equally as striking are Cushing's antiques, some of which have been handed down to her by family, as well as paintings done by her grandfather, Howard Gardiner Cushing.  But what might be most impressive is the fact that much of her apartment has remained the same since 1970, when Cushing made this apartment her home.  The living room and dining area's orange walls, the living room's furniture arrangement, and the bedroom's wallpaper and canopied bed haven't changed throughout the years.  Based on a 1988 HG article about the same apartment (photos are shown below the House Beautiful ones), it seems that only some of the fabrics, accessories, and rugs have been refreshed.  Considering that so many homes are redecorated every few years (or sometimes even rebuilt, as the case is in Atlanta,) don't you find Cushing's sensible approach to decorating to be... refreshing?

The apartment as it appears today...:

...and as it appeared in 1988:

Photos 1-3: House Beautiful, May 2015, Thomas Loof photographer. Photos 4-6: HG, November 1988, Michael Mundy photographer.

Heading Off to Legends

I'm off to Legends this week, and I'm looking forward to seeing many of you there.  If you can't make it to Los Angeles for the event, you can follow the action on social media.  My fellow ambassadors and I will be posting about Legends on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Just look for #LCDQLA.

Angelo Donghia, Man of the Year

2015 is shaping up to be the year of Angelo Donghia, whose memory seems to loom large these days thanks to the current vogue for Seventies Style. During the 1970s,  Donghia was one of this country's most high-profile designers, whose roster of clients was equally as high-profile and included Halston, Ralph Lauren, and Barbara Walters.  What made Donghia's work so memorable is that he managed to create contemporary interiors that, although slick-looking, were also comfortable and inviting, something which might be attributed to his use of commodious furniture and a color palette that favored warm neutrals over chilly ones. 

Donghia's contributions to the design industry went beyond the realm of style, though, for in addition to being a talented designer, he was also a clever businessman who expanded his design business by branching out into fabrics, furniture, and other product lines.  In fact, his blue-print for design success is one that is followed by most designers today.  So, considering all of his accomplishments, it's only fitting that Donghia and his legacy are the subjects of an upcoming exhibit at the New York School of Interior Design.  Curated by Donghia's Creative Director, Chuck Chewning, and Judith Gura, the exhibit is sure to be one of this fall's most anticipated events. 

And finally, there is the new Donghia furniture collection, which feels very "Angelo Donghia" to me.  Just compare the collection's latest designs (which can be seen at the bottom of this post) to the furniture used by Angelo Donghia in his client's Manhattan apartment, circa 1981.  I have included photos of this home so that you can see how Donghia's style is still going strong.  While the Botero paintings might look a little dated, most of the furniture has aged pretty well, especially when considered individually rather than as a whole.

I know you had me pegged as a dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist, but I do have a soft spot in my heart for contemporary furniture- as long as it is done well. And as would expected of a company like Donghia, the new collection is done very well.

Anchor Table

Verso Chair

Pavel Sectional

Labyrinth Lamp

Stoa Lamp

Origami Lamp


Collection photos courtesy of Donghia; interior photos from Architectural Digest, August 1981, Jaime Ardiles-Arce photographer.

A Visit to Furlow Gatewood

This past weekend, I joined sixty-four fellow ICAA members (Institute of Classical Architecture and Art- Southeast Chapter) on a tour of the exceptional houses of Furlow Gatewood, who lives in Americus, Georgia.  The event was the brainchild of Barry Hutner, proprietor of Parc Monceau Antiques, who spent months planning this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  So great was the desire to see Furlow's houses that before an invitation could be sent to ICAA members, the sixty-five coveted tickets were already spoken for.  Considering that these are Furlow Gatewood's houses we are talking about, this enthusiasm came as no surprise.

The weekend festivities began on Friday evening, when Barry hosted a dinner for those of us on the host committee.  At the dinner, both Barry and John Rosselli spoke of Furlow's remarkable life and his passion for design and collecting.  Saturday brought the main event, which began in the Cuthbert House, where Furlow's famous cheese straws and Bloody Marys were served.  (If you read the recently published book on Furlow's houses, then you know that the Cuthbert House is one of four houses on his property.)  The next two hours were spent strolling between houses, with stops made along the way to photograph one of Furlow's many peacocks.

Although this was my second visit to Furlow's, it was no less special than the first visit.  Furlow's collections are so rich and varied that a lot of time is needed to really see everything and to absorb the details in the homes' interiors.  I took some photos, which I have included in this blog post, to give you a glimpse into the sublime homes of Furlow Gatewood.

A big thanks to Barry and Judy Talley, Lynn Amoroso, and Barbara Shelton of ICAA- Southeast Chapter for making this special tour happen.

*If you haven't already done so, you really should purchase a copy of Furlow's book, One Man's Folly: The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood.  It's magical. Copies can be purchased through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or your local bookstore.