Not Following Fashion

I am lucky enough to have had a Parson's education and the years that we were there the school had re-established a 'real' Interiors program...meaning decoration under the supervision of some Parish Hadley Alumni. Now, in the 'old days' decoration was not considered a bad thing but, now everyone is a 'designer'  some with letters after their names, which I always find amusing.....not that there's anything wrong with that. One of the hallmarks of what our teachers tried to ingrain in us was Albert Hadley's dictum "that we should never follow fad or fashion" and to always use elements that are appropriate to the project and the site. Looking back at some of my work and that of my friends from school, I can clearly see the hallmarks that were impressed on us all....don't follow fad or fashion and suitability! You may take issue with the style....maybe you don't like traditional or regency pieces, you may not like deco or you might prefer brutalist or maybe minimalism or clutter...but you can't fault the design behind the work. Scale, calibration of color and texture....or you might! there's no accounting for taste....which we were taught was not good or bad but different...just things used incorrectly. So I go out now and make the world better one room at a time and keep in mind this image of these two nice ladies.....and I remember that it's not about selling stuff it's about making beauty.....I can't help it....I like beauty....and no it's not always in the eye of the beholder.....there are some things that are just ugly! ......you just need to be brought to that point of view.

What I'm Looking at Today: Stone

I've been working on a project in Westchester, NY and part of the program involves stonework. I like using natural materials and we're keeping everything pretty simple. A few different marbles a few different granites and a limestone.

Kennedy Marble is supplying all of the slabs for the job. I've been working with them for about 10 years now and Rudy and my great installer Michael always pull thru.

Calacutta

A really great granite it looks and feels like shale but feels like leather. It will be honed so very flat to the eye and super soft t the touch.

White Carrara slabs

They have a really huge selection of very nice stone....not your usual selection and all very high quality.

They first template then finish everything and then install.

Limestone blocks on the facade

Granite fireplace with very tight application.

What I'm Looking at Today: Bruce Sergeant

I've been a fan of  Mark Beard for several years now especially the work which he executes as dead artist Bruce Sergeant. The entire pre WWI world filled with wholesome youths in even more wholesome activities has made him a favorite of Abercrombie and Fitch and countless others.

The three studies above are from Carrie Haddad's Gallery in Hudson. Large scale, which makes them all the more arresting they offer a glimpse into a different time and place, indeed one that never existed.

[ image from the NY Times]

The artist's Library.

End of Summer after the Rain

Can't believe that it's the end of summer already....so here's a few pictures of Washington Square Park. the redo is almost complete and they've done a wonderful job.

Using Old things in a New Way

Since I'm on a mixing kick here are a few rooms that are primarily filled with antiques and vintage items but are entirely modern.

The billiard's room above is upholstered in violet velvet there's a nice wet bar in the corner and a leather Chesterfield supplies good seating.

A white washed table  holds Celedon tray and two large covered urns create a nice triangle. The Raj painting in a vintage frame echos the colors. The Industrial cabinet to the right acts as storage.

The bedroom here is extremely simple but has a pretty glamorous look. Plain plaster walls, linen curtains and stylish tables and benches make for great look. A vintage Chinese rug anchors the room.

What I'm Looking at Today: William IV, Art Deco and Mid century

 I like lots of periods and styles, the important thing is quality....decoration is a visual art, so mixing things together as long as they're not mixed up is what it's all about. Im looking at this fine pair of ormolu candlesticks from the early part of the 19th c....William IV period. the chasing is very fine. there's a crispness to the carving and since they used mercury the gilding is still very bright.

Below is a mid Century English Watercolor. I love the colors and movement and I especially love that it was framed in a period Federal frame. the simple matt allows it to float in time.

The last piece that is a very architectural cabinet. French from the 1930's or 40's

The color and finish are very fine as are the lines.

I'm looking forward to helping them all live happily ever after.....

High Style in Gladwynne

So I had posted a room of Lilly Pulitzer fabrics the other day and I got a good many comments on FB including that 'this is what hell must look like' which made me laugh a good bit.....now, although it's not for me, a long time ago one of my teachers at Parson's did say that there was no such thing as bad taste, just different taste or things used incorrectly. It took me a long while to understand that but I do.....

Going in the exact opposite direction is the project that I've posted below. A very high style house in Gladwynne Pa....part of the 'Mainline' and if ever there were a place filled with one plaid, one check and one flowered print...that would be it but, the couple who hired me to help wanted something a bit more chic and cool and we've been working on the house for about two years now.....it's all one of antiques, totally custom and they've been great.....with, I think, pretty great results.

The Entrance Hall has a nice seating area anchored by antique Swedish prints and a settee. The pillow is made of an antique textile from the King Tut craze of the last century.

The Living room is a study in  soft and subtle color variation...cool and warm play off of each other to make an almost off but right on combination....slightly Vogue Regenecy meets Emma Peel. The 19th c iron pots live on rusted iron based French columns made of raw wood.

A great piece of coral on the Japanese cocktail table and Regency chairs done up in Bergamo silk

The Dining room has green glazed walls and a wonderful old yew wood table. The chairs have been upholstered in Cowtan and Tout yellow herringbone linen and detailed with green French guimp. The chandelier had come from the previous decorator but changed completely once we simplified the room. Fancy curtains in the style of John Fowler are Cowtan and Tout.

There's a wonderful 15th c Flemish tapestry from Christie's along one wall of the dining room . I love the leopard...the artist had obviously never seen one.....

 We carved this dressing room out of an unused hall/sitting room. The French chandelier is early 

19th c from Victor Carl, the plaster table is from the 40's and we topped it with slate. 

The bed room is upholstered in antique moire, we were lucky to find just enough to do the walls and curtains. Silver candlesticks from Christie's were electrified and sit on 19th c French tables. The only art in the room is a set of four 19c reliefs of the seasons by  Bertel Thornvaldsen .

We've come a long way from Victorian wicker and OTT French Country ...... still looking for a few bits and pieces to finish but, they will have a wonderful home....