Schemes For A Room: Dad's Bachelor Pad

Because it's father's Day, I thought I'd pull a few things that would be great for a cool, educated, erudite , world travelled dad. Of course there's a TV and books, but don't need to show that.....

A great pair of Regency armchairs in soft suede.

A long clean lined sofa where a nap can be had. Need to recover this. but like the lines.

A stylish 18th c Italian mirror to check his hair if there's any left.

A mod bed for longer naps

To keep games out of site a great sideboard 

A pair of stone obelisks, no man should be without these.

May not work for every dad, but a really great piece of artwork for over the sofa or the sideboard....This one is called Sebastian by Ric Best. Reminds him of how hard he works...

What I'm Looking At Today: The Second Bank of the United States in Philadelphia, Pa.

William Strickland [1788-1854] a student of Benjamon Latrobe [1764-1820] was the first professionally trained American architect.

An American Parthenon in Philadelphia made of  Pennsylvania marble and granite.

Both men were chief exponents of the Greek style that gave us our first Federal Style.

Above is the elegant plan of the building.

Detail of door trim.

The lovely entrance to the bank with semi domes and graffic Greek key decoration.

The main room is flanked by rows of huge columns. Beautiful black and white floors.

I love the fireplaces with windows above them.

Very grand proportions in what would have been offices.

The Pennsylvania blue marble was quarried in an odd way and is now showing great signs of wear.

Looking east on the portico.

The interior is painted a slightly Pepto-Bismal pink, which is nice in the entry but becomes a little boring everywhere, the building is currently used as an art gallery of 18th and 19th c portraiture. It's all displayed in a 70's sort of way that diminishes the style and grandeur of the rooms....much wasted space 

              and an overall lack of style in what could be a wonderful museum.

What I'm Looking At Today: Coffee Tables

Everybody has at least one.....sometimes more and they can be very difficult to find...at least the right ones. 

The coffee table. 

It sits in the middle of your seating group, sometimes piled high with books, flowers and candles, sometimes bare, but there's more to them than a plank and some legs. I often like to use interesting art tables and here's a nice variety of them to choose from. I'm especially taken by the Jacques Adnet table made from horns and mahogany slats.....who wouldn't love that?!

What I don't like...glass.......

Brushed aluminum.

FREDERICK KIESLER (1890-1965)
Two-part aluminum nesting tables, Austria, 1960s

Bronze and marble.

PAUL EVANS
DIRECTIONAL
Patchwork coffee table, USA, 1970s

Shagreen and bronze.

R & Y AUGOUSTI
Coffee table, France, 1990s

 Horn and mahogany.

JACQUES ADNET
Coffee table, France, 1940s

More a side table, but very chic in concrete.

SILAS SEANDEL
Side table, New York, 1970s