I adore this cut velvet and linen fabric on the chairs.

Just a quick treat as I’m out the door to finish up the shopping. This layout is in the current issue of Spaces, our home town shelter magazine.

I recommended these French, metal garden chairs to a woman I know. Poor her, lucky Chuck.
As this is Kansas City, you’ll see this all ties together. Zim Loy, who was a finalist in the Domino contest, is the editor. The apartment belongs to Chuck Matney, the floral designer who did the flowers in David Jimenez’s wonderful home for the Kappa House Tour last year. And those amazing dining room chairs are from Parrin & Co., Barbara Farmer’s shop that I have profiled here before.

This is the kitchen. Which makes me smile, because I want to cook just enough to need a kitchen like this.
Sleek and elegant, mostly the same tone with pops of color, the apartment reflects Matney’s handy-work with flowers as well.

His arrangements are often one type of flower, generally one color. They are sculptural and relaxed at the same time.

Just the kind of soothing and elegant treat you might want to give yourself as you are running around like a crazy person trying to create the magic for everyone else.

Vogue Living, Fall/Winter 2007; Port Eliot, Cornwall, England. Photographed by Francois Halard.

Farrow and Ball; The Art of Color, designer Sallie Giordano, Photographed by Edward Addeo.

Hampton speculates that the enfilade passed out of favor because the long vistas were difficult to heat and cool and provided less privacy than a more complicated floor plan. Apparently, it’s difficult to ditch the servants if your rooms open on to one another in this way.

Mica Ertegun, American Designers’ Houses.
As Hampton notes, neither of these factors is a common problem in the modern day.

John Saladino’s Robin Hill in Influential Interiors. Guess where he’s from?
As I am more a decorator, and less a designer, it’s difficult for me to fathom moving doorways three to four inches, but Hampton believes what must be done, must be done.

Spaces Magazine, Zim Loy, designer. Photographed by Landon Collis.
He retells the story of the legendary Albert Hadley and how he threatened to run away from home unless the driveway was repositioned “to form a circle centered on the facade of the house.” This is a guy who needs an axis. And yes, as the tale goes, the elder Hadley changed it.

It is a lovely view. I think I’m drawn to Georgians for this reason.

You do need to let me know if you tire of these vintage posts. I’m less than halfway through my boxes; at the advice of a friend I started with House and Garden. I’ve ripped more pages than I know how to store of the greats, Hampton, Parish, Hadley and Hicks. Celebrities like Vreeland and Chanel. But I’m captivated by this do-it-yourselfer.

There are whole issues of these magazines that I recycle without pulling a single page. (I was conflicted about keeping them, then Jennifer said, “bugs” and the decision was made.) Some things simply don’t translate.

Lussier’s Boston apartment once belonged to Richard Avedon, but the star quality is his own design. As an owner of a frame studio, he admits to an artistic eye, but does not accept the label “decorator.”

He apparently tried working for others, but was dissatisfied with the results. “It takes an unusual temperament to accept something this soft. This is my little workshop.” I have always had an unusual temperament. His workshop suits me just fine.

Painted chairs and a brown wood table always seem just right to me, a perfect combination. So much of this apartment is on my hit parade; animal prints, satin, brown, gilt frames, crystal chandeliers, the great touch of turquoise and, always, a million great chairs.

The bedroom walls seem to be the only thing that gives away the age of these images. If the walls were a little more orange and a little less peach, you’d never know this was published almost 20 years ago.
These rooms are an inspiration to me. Not a professional decorator. No prestigious design degree. Just a guy creating his own sanctuary. Beautifully. Trying new things, painting them, moving them around. I think we can do that. I think we can educate our own eyes and create our own homes.
I did google Mr. Lussier. No other articles appear, but it looks as if he still owns his frame shop in Boston. My hat is off to him.
Photographs by Oberto Gili.

Zim Loy should be famous. Actually, here in Kansas City she is a bit of a local celebrity. Zim edits Kansas City Spaces magazine. But with a name like “Zim Loy” I think she’s a perfect fit for a little national exposure.

Actually, she’s getting a little. Zim’s living room is one of the five finalist for Domino’s Decorating Contest.

Her home was in the August/September issue of Spaces, a generous gesture to her readers. It’s fresh and clear, but singularly her own.

These beauties were estate sale finds, $50 each, in an unfortunate burgundy velvet. Zim could see straight to their souls.

She also found the gorgeous armoire at an estate sale. It was a bargain, but as a serial mover (seven!) she must have more than it cost her wrapped up in transport. That’s what happens when you fall in love. And she must be madly in love; she said in her column in September that this was forever. Who could blame her?

The Holiday issue of Spaces arrived in my mailbox last week. She sort of sneaked it into the last paragraph of her column that she’s moving again. I had to read it twice. Moving? Surely not! She said this was “the one.”

My dismay was fleeting. I can’t wait to see the next house.

Vote for Zim. She’s a good egg. And she could use the prize money to move that armoire back across town.

(Hurry, votes must be submitted by the 15th.)