Pop Quiz 12

February 28, 2011Uncategorizedpop quizMrs. Blandings

We may have picked up a few new readers, so I’ll go over the rules quickly. This is a Pop Quiz.

Pop quizzes show past rooms of a currently popular designer (You can see past pop quizzes here.) I’ve shown the layout in its entirety so as not to edit out any telltale elements.

The first reader to guess the correct designer wins. Nothing. Wins nothing, but can walk around all day feeling quite superior to, well, probably to someone.

I’ll be back with the answer and a few examples of current work tomorrow.

Begin.

Bonus Round

February 25, 2011UncategorizedVintage DesignMrs. Blandings

Behind my desk I have low shelves. Within short reach, on the top shelf, are lucite boxes of both current magazines and some with which I cannot part.

I have a lot of House & Gardens, a good bit of Domino and a smattering of older AD, House Beautiful and Elle Decor. Sometimes, and it just might coincide with a hiccup in the writing process, I’ll turn around and wonder why I kept certain issues.

Today was such a day. I ran across a most excellent pop quiz, but I don’t want to run it today. I’m saving it for next week and it will be the mother of all pop quizzes. Like the abhorred algebra teacher, I will place my head on my pillow each night over the weekend, grinning with anticipation of this too-hard test.

But today I will stand at the front of the class, a class expecting nothing new on a Friday, a class dreaming of red carpet gowns and sunny climes, and ask the tough question in an off-hand, yet steely way.

Anyone want to venture a guess when this was published? These room struck me as timeless in a not-overly traditional way. I think the publication is obvious, but if you can also name the designer you will go to the head of the class.

Post Script

Kudos to Los Angeles-based designer Oliver Furth. At 12:54 a.m. CST, he correctly identified this as an Architectural Digest piece from the early 1990’s. He also recognized it as the home of Harley Baldwin above the Caribou Club in Aspen, Colorado.

I can hardly say “star pupil” as I am learning from him.
Oliver Furth

The design is by Peter Hans Kunz and Alan Tanksley, who had worked together at Mark Hampton and then went out on their own. You can see Tanksley’s portfolio here. And, Mr. Know-it-All, Furth, here. I mean, geezo beezo the guy must have been, what, ten when this was published?

Images, Architectural Digest, November 1993, photography by Mary E. Nichols; Furth image courtesy of Elle Decor.

Objet-Lesson

February 22, 2011UncategorizedDesignersMrs. Blandings

Too good for words. Artist and designer Carol Fertig has begun sending these delightful postcards daily. Opt in for inspiration here. Each day Fertig selects an image from her amazing collection and sends them via email to subscribers. Previously delivered “postcards” can be viewed in the archives on her site Objet-Lesson. She provides brief descriptions which allow you to learn a little, while concentrating on what you see.

Trained in fine art with a career in clothing design, Fertig has turned her creative eye to branding for companies such as Sotheby’s, LVHM, Mrs. John L. Strong, Barneys and Harry Winston. Truly, in three-and-a-half years of blogging I have not seen one thing she has sent me before. It’s like a good piece of chocolate before breakfast.

All images via Objet-Lesson.

Dining In

February 18, 2011UncategorizedDesigners, Mrs. B at HomeMrs. Blandings

Just one more, technically not from the bulletin board, but inspiration just the same. These may be my favorite dining room walls.

This house wants green and blue (and maybe a dash of red.) It does. It has no affinity for yellow, though it holds no personal grudge. This house shrugs at yellow. This house would walk by yellow in the hall and say “Hi, how are you,” but would never stop to hear about the horrific drive to work. It may also be a little vain as it cannot seem to pass up a mirror.

A little mirror, a little fretwork. I just keep wondering if I could do it myself.

Images from Charlotte Moss’s A Flair for Living, photography by Pieter Estersohn.

Inspiration Board

February 17, 2011UncategorizedMrs. B at HomeMrs. Blandings

We had a small cocktail party last Saturday night for the people who helped us move. People who had packed my kitchen, donated boxes, driven my children.

People who insisted, who did things even after I said, “Oh, no, absolutely not – we’re fine!” People who helped anyway.

“Are you settled?” ask friends I see out and about. “It’s done!” said a few who have dropped by.

It’s not done, not by a long shot, but we’re settled. The Wii and PlayStation 3 are absolutely at home and one of the boys has already thrown up here, which is a sort of christening in my book.

My bulletin board is hung and I followed the advice of a reader who suggested a cheap one from a discount store trimmed in grosgrain ribbon.

It was bare for a bit, but is now collecting images and invites and memos.

And, honestly, it’s terrifically fun.

Images, from top, Albert Hadley and Harry Heissmann, House Beautiful, 2010, photography by Christopher Baker; Veranda. I think. I didn’t write it down, like I’ve never done this before. Forgive me, I’m a ding-dong; Pauline de Rothchild’s bedroom featured in Elle Decor, October 2010; Peter Dunham, House Beautiful, November 2010, photography by Victoria Pearson; Christine d’Ornano, Elle Decor, April 2010, photography by Simon Upton; Oliver M. Furth, via olivermfurth.com; Fabric, Hinson – Trixie Red/Black on Off White; paper, Scalamandre, Baldwin Bamboo, Cream and Red on Aqua.