The Hon Lady Mosley, nee Hon Diana Mitford, with her husband Sir Oswald Mosley and their sons Max and Alexander. And her grotto chair.
Image courtesy of Diana Mosley by Anne de Courcy.
Natch.
Tag Archives: Vintage Design
Econ 101
Uncertain economic times can make one anxious. Fortunately, good design does not depend on your pocketbook.
In this vintage layout from House Beautiful, the editors highlighted several designers who rose to the challenge of the Royal Oak Foundation (the American arm of the National Trust of England) “to prove that good design can work within budgetary restraints.”
The three images, above, are Katie Ridder and Peter Pennoyer. Ridder was committed to lavender toile and after a good, long hunt settled on this Manuel Canovas. Hmmm… Canovas is not usually so easy on the pocket book, but the designers chose inexpensive upholstery and reproductions to stay within the guidelines.
Mariette Himes Gomez designed the space above and below.
The article mentions her preference for things “strong and gentle, plain and fancy.” It does not mention how she kept the design from overwhelming her budget, but the simple, textured fabrics could be had for a reasonable amount. In addition, the mirrored tiles over the fireplace make a big statement without breaking the bank.
Stephen Sils and James Huniford focused their seating area on the center of the room for this parlor.
Today, curtains out of the box via chain retailers might take the sting out of this more elaborate window covering.
And, hello, Ms. Moss. Who knew Charlotte Moss could design on a dime?
Yet, she did, using inexpensive green corduroy for the curtains.
And last, but certainly not least, David Easton created this smashing space and did share his tricks. Easton used a favorite beige and white stripe, this one a from a discount fabric store, to hide the flaws of the room. He used masonite painted to look like patinated bronze to create the fireplace surround.
Cork tile for the floors proved inexpensive and sound absorbing. The kitchenette can be hidden by the curtains. Easton did use his own English antiques as a nod to the foundation. A wonderful idea if you can get your designer to go for it.
Photography by Antoine Bootz. Sadly, I have not retained the entire article and did not note the date. Darn.
Oz
OK, so here we go. The room, above, is from Regency Redux, but would you be surprised if I told you it was from World of Interiors last month? I don’t think so. Even in color this room holds its own.
This room by antiques dealer Andre Groult appears to have one of Michael Smith’s favorite fabrics applied to the walls. The X benches, of course, are an element that appear and re-appear. One of the things I had to edit around a bit in putting together the first post was art and flowers; they are dead give aways for dating a room.
The room above, poorly scanned, encompasses all the elements of the 1940’s Connecticut farm house that is my particular back story. Formal and cozy at the same time it is all the things I’d love for my home to be.
This jumpy little number could be straight out of domino when you erase the color. Circa 1960, as you might guess, many of these pieces would fit right into today’s scheme. Boxy, Hicksian sofa. Chrome and marble coffee table. Drum shade on ceramic lamps. Gallery wall, painted armoire and mix of old and new.
I’ve adored this room by legendary designer Ruby Ross Wood since Jennifer posted it originally in her endorsement of Regency Redux. Besides the mirror surrounding the fireplace it still reads beautifully; coincidentally, the color palette does not date it. Remove the swags on the curtains and it could be published today.
Gorgeous. T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, 1937. Even the flowers are right in this one.
This room was a surprise to me. I like it better after seeing it in black and white. There must be overhead lighting (even beyond the chandelier) and I am missing lamps. I’d replace the glass on the cocktail table with some sort of stone, but otherwise, I really, really like this room.
Fantastic in every way, Billy Haines’s own dining room. Heaven.
If it weren’t for the grapes would you know this was vintage?
Smith.
Smith, again, but look back at yesterday’s post. They could be vintage images.
Andree Putman, 1987. Even though this room is not traditional, it is classic in design. A sofa, a pair of chairs, the lovely enfilade. So chic.
Paul Dupre-Lafon, 1938.
Again, Smith.
And, again.
But this, you might recognize, is Chessy Rayner for Bill Blass.
While there are elements of Smith here, plaster walls, iron bed, exotic pieces, there is not enough color and layers of fabric to be a telltale Smith room; this is Jacques Grange circa 1987.
So, are they all more appealing in color? What are your favorites? Old or new?Photo credits as follows: Ralph Dutton, RR; Andre Groult, RR: Hugh Chisholm, RR; Henri Jova, HG Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, 1960; Ruby Ross Wood, RR; T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, furniture & interiors of the 1940’s; HG Guide 1960; Billy Haines, RR; Govenor’s Palace, Williamsburg, HG, 1960; Smith, Houses; Smith, Houses, Andre Putman, HG Best in Decoration, 1987; Paul Dupre-Lafon, f&i of the 40’s; Smith, Houses; Smith, Houses; Chassy Rayner, RR; Jacque Grange, HG, Decoration 1987; Smith, Houses.
I’m Stuffed
My big city friend emailed a couple of weeks ago and said, “You must address the taxidermy issue; it’s the elephant in the room.” or something like that. I was trying to keep away from all issues political, but this one has been bouncing around in my head and today I had to put it to rest.
My thought was to find examples of taxidermy used well. I have to come clean here. You know that Mr. Blandings is a hunter and in his first home there was a good little bit of stuffed stuff. Fowl. It does not remain. But as I began to hunt myself, I couldn’t bag a beast. The above images from The Well-Lived Life were the closest I could find. And, frankly, without the head attached Issac’s rug was a stretch and the fantasy room by set designer Marla Weinhoff was, well, as crazy as the inspiration, but fake. So I packed it in; tasteful taxidermy was a wash.
But Courtney’s post on Sister Parish sent me back to Albert Hadley: The Story of America’s Preeminent Interior Designer today to catch up. Imagine my surprise to find a forgotten image of Wilbur Pippin, cat in hand, in the opening chapters.
And another, at Hadley’s country house on the Hudson River. I’ve looked as closely as I can and this one could be carved, but the antlers look very real. Could be skin.
Moving in for the kill, I settled in on the floor beside the design books and began a more focused quest. If Hadley had a head or two, maybe Van Day Truex did, too. Alas, only one, and faux, but a classic image all the same and as I hadn’t hit my limit, in it went.
Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People was the granddaddy of them all. Giancarlo Giammetti’s Paris apartment contained a Francois-Xavier Lalanne alligator chair, which is sculpture, but spectacular.
Samantha and Aby Rosen’s New York apartment was a treasure trove of natural selection. 146 million year old pliosaur skeleton, skunk and crocodile cushions, moose antler, dear antlers and some sort of trophy, perhaps antelope?
Always trying to make a Mitford connection, Stella Tennant and David Lasnet’s Berwickshire library has a charming little bird on the mantle. (Tennant’s grandmother, Deborah is a Mitford sister.)
Emma and Timmy Hanbury’s son, David, has a polar bear rug in his country bedroom. David Hanbury was only sixteen at the time of the shoot; some might say he was too young and they should have let him go unharmed.
You can make your own call on taxidermy in design – chic or aw shucks. Mr. Blandings did not put up a fuss when his menagerie did not move to the Dream House. Now if I can keep him from bagging a trophy wife I’ll be in luck.
Finish Your Homework
I had a “work thing” last night. You have no idea the giddy thrill it gives me to say this to Mr. Blandings. “I’ll be out Wednesday. I have a thing for work.” In this particular setting people introduce me by saying, “She writes a column for Spaces.” or “She has a blog.” rather than, “She has three boys, Kindergarten, 3rd and 6th.” While the later is exponentially more significant, the former leads to better cocktail party talk.
Anyway. I’d managed homework and sports before I left and some recapping after I returned. I had not posted yesterday as I had had a deadline. Actually, I’d missed my deadline so it was really nose to the grindstone. But, like exercise, it might be better not to miss two days as then I might be on a downward slide of sloth from which I might not recover. Tuesday, when I was out hunting and gathering, I stopped in at Spivey’s Books. I’m contrasting this to Meg of Pigtown Design’s “book thing.” This is the design department of Spiveys. I know, a closet, but like Lewis’s classic, this particular portal leads to wonders untold. On this visit I walked away with Billy Baldwin Decorates. Baldwin and the elusive and mythical Vogue book were the top two on my list and now Baldwin joins the fold.
So I sat, feet up, bracelets off (avoiding my re-write) to see if Baldwin offered any reference to Tuesday’s post. Oh, yes. In Spades. (Couldn’t resist.)
Like linking the spelling words to their meanings in the grade school worksheet, one can draw the criss-crossed lines from ’72 to ’08. Chairs, chairs, chairs, mostly French and many painted. Chinoiserie table. Chic and modern art. Stunning wood floors with patterned rugs. A mix of metal finishes both white and yellow. Ceramic lamps. Even pillows on the sofa, two matching, others different, carries through.
So with the boys in bed, notes for the article scattered everywhere and design magazines and books piled higgledy piggeldy I had that moment of calm. All the answers to the universe are there for the taking. The issues of space, balance and color remain the same. All you have to do is finish your homework.
Images, other than my own, Mr. and Mrs. Placido Arango’s Madrid apartment, Billy Baldwin Decorates, 1972.
