On the Newsstands This Month...

I have two published articles out on the newsstands this month, both about designers whom I greatly admire.

For the December issue of flower, I had the opportunity to write about Alex Papachristidis and his love of design, shopping, and Instagram.  It's a fun article, if I do say so myself.

And in the November issue of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, I interviewed designer Stan Topol and discussed his work on a stylish farmhouse in Newnan, Georgia.

High-Rise Elegance

There is so much I want to say about this Chicago high-rise apartment, which was photographed for Architectural Digest in 1978.  First, it was decorated by Bruce Gregga, whose work I have long admired.  Gregga was adept at blending the old and the new, marrying traditional, high-style antiques with modern furnishings in a dignified, though visually rich, fashion.  The article's author wrote this to describe the apartment's entrance hall: "the richness of the antique, the contemporary thrust of glass, the angularities of modern art."  I believe that description could be applied to the rest of the apartment, too.

The other thing that struck me about this apartment is how its architecture is so very similar to that of the high-rise where I live.  There is a rigidity to this kind of late Sixties/early Seventies high-rise architecture.  In these buildings, unembellished walls and expansive glass allow the focal point to be the view outdoors, which is usually the draw for most high-rise denizens.  But those same plain walls and windows also mean that some visual softening is in order, something which can be bestowed by curvy fauteuils and commodes, comfortable upholstery, and patterned rugs.  I think this Chicago apartment displays this beautifully.

And finally, the antiques and art in this home are a lesson in quality and connoisseurship.  Furniture and objects appear to have been chosen with great care and an eye for beauty.  And in a world where there seems to be so much filler, it's refreshing to see a collection, and a home, so exquisitely assembled. 

Photos from Architectural Digest, December 1978, Tony Soluri photographer

The Penthouse Terrace of Bill Blass

What a treat for me to find these 1974 Architectural Digest photos of Bill Blass's penthouse terrace...and what a disappointment to find that only two photos were featured.  That's surprising, really, considering the article mentioned that this terrace, located sixteen stories above Manhattan's hustle and bustle, was one of the largest penthouse terraces in that city- at least, it was back in 1974.

The person tasked with creating "a private country woodland" up in the sky was none other than Renny Reynolds, who treated the terrace space as an extension of the penthouse's interiors, even going so far as to refer to the outdoor spaces as "exterior rooms."  (We hear so much about "exterior rooms" today, so it's interesting to learn that this concept of aesthetically linking an outdoor space to the indoors is not a new idea.) 

For those of you into gardening, I'll give you specifics of the terrace garden design.  The walls were built of flagstone and rocks, which were then covered in ivy.  Plant material included common honeylocust, weeping willows, shrubs of Japanese maple, wisteria, forsythia, and different forms of holly.  Whew!  Then there were flowers chosen for their white shades, which Blass preferred: impatiens; petunias; geraniums; daisies; begonias; and chrysanthemums. 

What I find especially pretty are the accents of blue, namely, those blue cushions on the antique French garden furniture and, though not prominent in these photos, blue canvas awnings.  But, of course, what I might like best is that Porthault cloth on Blass's outdoor table, set with blue napkins, elegant china, sterling candlesticks, and, perhaps best of all, a simple vase holding a bounty of daisies.



Photos from Architectural Digest, Jan/Feb 1974, Stan Ries, photographer.

A Dinner for Nicky Haslam

I'm feeling miserly because I only gave you two photos for the Blass post, so I thought I would show you another example of a lovely outdoor space, one which was set for a party.

A few weeks ago, I attended a dinner in honor of Nicky Haslam, who was in Atlanta to lecture at ADAC.  Hosted by Dennis Hunt, Hal Ainsworth, Winton Noah, and Pamela Pierce, the dinner took place at the stylish home of designer Suzanne Kasler.  While drinks were enjoyed indoors (mixed at Suzanne's chic built-in alcove bar as well as an outdoor table, above, that was covered in Travers' Casmir in Wedgwood,) the dinner was served under a tent on the back lawn.  The menu was Southern and included fried chicken, brisket, biscuits, macaroni and cheese, green beans, chocolate pie, and peach pie.  No one in this designer crowd was shy about cleaning their plates, including yours truly, who ate not one, but two pieces of pie.  (Just so you know, that's not something I make a habit of.) 

A beautiful setting, gracious hosts, delicious food, excellent company, and Nicky Haslam- those are the ingredients for a magical evening.

Special thanks to Angela Patrick of Ainsworth-Noah for providing me with these photos.

A Reminder

If you have not yet purchased your tickets to next week's Visionaries of Design Awards, consider doing so today.  They are going quickly!

For more information or to order tickets, please visit www.supportthehort.org

Organized Entertaining

As many of you know, I covet my decades-old design magazines for their articles about now-obscure designers.  (That's not to say that I don't enjoy finding articles about Draper, de Wolfe, and others of their ilk, but because their work has been so thoroughly covered in myriad books and articles, there just doesn't seem to be much of their work left to discover.)  One of those now-obscure designers whose work always thrills me is James Amster, a particular favorite of mine.  During the early and mid-twentieth-century, Amster was a well-known, Manhattan-based decorator who also managed both the decorating department and a home decorations shop at Bergdorf Goodman.  But what Amster might be better remembered for today is his development of Amster Yard, a cluster of buildings turned bijou community of shops, offices, and apartments, which was located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan.  I'll write more about Amster Yard in the near future.

In the meantime, I want to show you this November 1958 House & Garden article about James Amster's dining room, located at his home in, yes, Amster Yard.  According to the article, Amster was an enthusiastic host, one who preferred small seated dinners or buffet suppers.  And as the photos prove, Amster was also a highly-organized host, one who stored crystal and liquor in a bookcase, flatware and serving pieces in a sideboard, china in a closet, and linen in a side table.  Talk about a place for everything and everything in its place!

Because the photos appeared in the November issue, the dining room was also set for a festive buffet dinner, which included Galantine of Duck, Paté Maison, Hot German Potato Salad, and Brioches. You might be interested to know that these dishes were served from brass serving pieces designed by Tommi Parzinger. (You can see the buffet table in the top photo.) Dessert, namely, a Chocolate Roll, was to be served from the sideboard, placed alongside dessert plates and coffee cups and saucers.

To be perfectly honest, Amster's dining room is not my favorite example of his work.  Other rooms in his apartment, chiefly his living room, are more representative of his impeccable style.  But what his elegant dining room does represent is the kind of mature, sophisticated taste that, although once prevalent, has now been mostly lost to time.

Fabric Debuts

Leaving 1958 behind and moving forward to 2015...

I want to call your attention to two new fabric collections, both of which were designed by friends.  The first is by Steve McKenzie, who, along with wife Jill, is proprietor of the Atlanta home furnishings shop, Steve McKenzie's.  But retailer is just one of his many titles.  Steve is also a talented artist, interior designer, and now, fabric designer.  What I like about Steve's fabrics is that their brushstroke designs capture Steve's artistic skills.  Flowers (see above), stripes, and swirls lend a painterly touch to these versatile fabrics.  Steve's fabric collection is available through his shop as well as numerous designer showrooms.

The other collection I want to mention is that of San Francisco designer and blogger, Scot Meacham Wood.  Perhaps it's no surprise that the man whose blog nom de plume is "Tartan Scot" would make his textile debut with a line of Scottish tartans.  Part of Scot Meacham Wood Home, the fabric collection also includes tweeds, tattersalls, and trims.  With cold weather just weeks away, Scot's woolen fabrics are just the thing to warm your surroundings.  The collection is available to purchase from the Scot Meacham Wood Home website.

Steve McKenzie:

Scot Meacham Wood Home:

Rooms for Living

Rooms for living...isn't that the desired outcome of decorating?  And yet, how often do we see rooms that don't feel or look very livable? 

It seems appropriate, then, that Suzanne Rheinstein, a designer known for creating comfortable and gracious interiors, would christen her latest book, Rooms for Living.  Peruse her work in this inspiring book, and you'll see that her rooms are never contrived nor affected.  Instead, they are big, beautiful invitations for living, offering themselves up as spots for relaxing, for example, or entertaining.

Like her previous book, this one is lavished with photographs of delightful interiors.  Seeing the range of the designer's work reminded me that as proficient as she when working in the traditional style, Suzanne can be quite modern, too.  And if you assume that this book is solely a picture book, think again.  Suzanne dispenses sound decorating advice in the book's text, which I found quite helpful.  

Those of you who are fans of the designer don't need my encouragement to buy this book, because you already know that it will be a worthy addition to your library.  But to those of you who are not quite as familiar with Suzanne's work, I urge you to take a look at Rooms for Living.  Doing so just might remind you that rooms should indeed be designed for living.

© Rooms for Living: A Style for Today with Things from the Past by Suzanne Rheinstein, Rizzoli New York, 2015. Images from Room for Living © Pieter Estersohn.

Southeastern Horticultural Society Visionaires of Design Awards

If you live in the Atlanta area and have an interest in design, then by all means purchase your tickets to the Southeastern Horticultural Society's 2015 Visionaries of Design Awards, which will be held on October 29.  This year's awards will be given to the following honorees, all of whom have ties to the South:

Alex Hitz- Entertaining
Keith Langham-Interiors
Charlotte Moss-Overall Appreciation of Flowers in Design
Carolyne Roehm-Garden Design
Frances Schultz-Lifestyle
Newell Turner- Editorial/Publishing

The day-long event begins with a luncheon at the Piedmont Driving Club, which will include a panel discussion, "The Arts of Life with Flowers", moderated by Schultz, and a book signing to follow.  That evening, an "Under the Stars" gala awards dinner, created by Alex Hitz, will take place at Buckhead Atlanta.  Single-event tickets or a combination ticket can be purchased, but tickets are going quickly so consider purchasing them today if you wish to attend.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please click here or on the photo. 

Transcending Time

Last week, Christie's Paris held a sale that featured the contents of an apartment overlooking the Seine.  Lots included work by Jean-Michel Frank, Paul Dupré-Lafon, and Marc du Plantier, the kind of furniture that adds excitement to an auction.  But what's more exciting to me than these blue-chip pieces is the apartment that once  housed them.

Recently photographed for AD France, the apartment has a noteworthy history.  Based on my translation of the article (which may not be entirely accurate as my French is a little rusty,) it seems that the apartment, which was built between 1929 and 1931, was originally occupied by couturier Edward Molyneux, who abandoned Paris for London during the Second World War.  In 1948, a painter purchased the apartment and promptly hired Maison Jansen to decorate it.  Much of the finishes you see in these photos- the green lacquered walls, the ebony-stained parquet floors, the mirrored panels, and the boiserie- were the handiwork of Jansen craftsmen.  Now, before you read on, study the photo above, specifically, those lacquered walls.  To think that they were lacquered almost seventy years ago, and yet, they look as if they were done just yesterday.  In fact, the article mentions that the homeowner's heirs, who inherited the apartment in 1988, were surprised to find that the lacquered walls showed no cracks.  Impressive, indeed.

Unfortunately, I can't tell you which pieces of furniture were original to the 1948 Jansen installation.  This information was likely mentioned in the article, but I simply didn't understand it.  However, I did glean that at least some of the furniture and rugs were purchased in recent times by the painter's heirs, who made the decision to sell their collection at last week's auction.  These details, or lack of them, are really beside the point.  The compelling story here is how tasteful and well-crafted décor can withstand the whims of time.      

All photos from AD France, Paul Lepreux photographer.

Veranda: The Romance of Flowers

"The Amen! of Nature is always a flower."  So said Oliver Wendell Holmes, whose inspired quotation is just one of many that appear in Clinton Smith's charming new book, Veranda: The Romance of Flowers.  And the word "romance" in the book's title is appropriate, for Smith's book could be described as a sophisticated and thoroughly researched love-letter to flowers of all kinds.

Culled from the Veranda archives, the book's photos showing an array of both flowers and interiors are testament to the central role flowers have played in the magazine's history.  But the heart of the book is Smith's prose, which never once veers into saccharine sentimentality, something that has been known to bedevil books about flowers.  Instead, Smith writes in an engaging, witty, and down-to-earth style, which, if you know Clinton, you could say is very much in keeping with his personality.  The book- organized by flowers' myriad personalities- is chock-full of anecdotes, remembrances, and reflections on the influence flowers have had in such areas as film, literature, and fashion.  If you're anything like me, you'll be delighted by the author's references to the likes of Constance Spry, Diana Vreeland, Christian Dior, and Sybil Connolly, whose mention might have thrilled me more than any other.

I must also call attention to the book's layout, which is as inspired as the book's text.  Quotations about flowers are given full pages, with each quotation artistically enhanced by delightful drawings of birds and bees.  And just as it does in nature, color figures prominently in the book, with special sections devoted to the symbolism of floral colors.  All in all, Smith's book is a real gem, one which I look forward to dipping into time and time again.

(Slated to be released on October 6, Smith's book is available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.)

Photo Credit: © Veranda: The Romance of Flowers by Clinton Smith, Sterling Publishing Co., 2015