just tuck me in

.

Do you love a nap? Do you love this Bed?
Photographed by Jacques Dirand, this Paris townhouse decorated by Renzo Mongiardino and Claudio Briganti, is one of those spaces. You know by now what that means. One that I am enamored with- it has been 12 years since I first gazed on these rooms and I am still in love. It must be Real. Of all the stunning rooms here there are many-full of Lichtensteins, Yves Kleins, Dubuffets, the owner's children- my favourite is this MASTER BEDROOM. Full of 19th century chinoiserie from England, the walls are softened with a silk that appears to be a sort of faded violet. The walls are divided by borders perfectly placed for special pieces of collected art.

Here- a few things that would be perfect for a room reminiscent of this one and only Mongiardino.

from 1st dibs -Melissa Levinson Antiques Parlor Suite in the Aesthetic taste consists of a settee and two side chairs. Each has a back bowed panel and seat with chinoiserie avian & floral accents raised on bamboo legs joined by x-form front stretchers.

 

 & this special piece from Alan Moss, on 1st dibs-a bronze tiered table with chinoiserie black lacquered trays by Maison Jansen, French, late 19th century.

 

 & I love this bed- from Linda Horn, at 1st dibs, but it is a bit heavy. 

What do you think? 

Should I keep looking? 

This one is 19th century, English bamboo bed with inlaid parquetry perfectly outlined with thick fitted pieces of bamboo. Interior panels designed with thinner bamboo framing. 

 & for fabric- No question- my beloved Dragon Empress-by Clarence House. There is a pale colorway with most of the colors shown  in this one-with a celadon rather than the blue. The only one colorway I have not used in a house- so it seems right.

 

It took Mongiardino & Briganti along with their clients 10 years to complete their opus. 

... irregardless of what the design tv shows and instant makeover pages of the design magazines tell you- 

ROOMS are not built in a day.

more here:
HG article- SERIOUS FUN from 1998 June, with William Norwich, Joy Hendricks, Delphine Pietri
read Mitchell Owens tribute to Renzo Mongiardino in the NY Times 1998 obituary HERE
little augury Dragon Empress posts HERE

.

where is your style compass?

.

One of the features on 1st Dibs is called STYLE COMPASS- recently it featured Oscar de la Renta-It is a beautiful review of the World of... Highlighting his new textile collection for LEE JOFA and his charitable largess, Mr. de la Renta also makes his favourite picks from 1st dibs. This- from Kentshire Galleries, Isn't it heavenly?

A 1780 Italian neo-classical carved and painted hall bench with original decoration. The stepped back with swagged laurel wreath crest above a central roman portrait medallion and crossed boughs within a guilloche border, padded arms and upholstered seat on six legs.

 My style compass right now? It seems to be where it typically points and catching sight of this extraordinary gown from Alexander McQueen's 2011Spring Collection leads me to all things Chinoiserie.Chinoiserie in black lacquer with gold decoration that is.

another McQueen creation.

The collection is being lovingly interpreted by McQueen's longtime assistant Sarah Burton. She returns to his archives -and Tim Blanks review for style.com puts it this way: Burton "confidently revisited some of her own favorite moments in her mentor's saga with a lightness that could be easily construed—for want of a better notion—as a woman's touch... & lets some light shine in."

Gorgeous really, Am remotely likely to wear it? No- Would I? Of course! Easier though, why not add a stunning piece of black laquer to a room in the house.I have a few pieces and would love another, large imposing piece. Friend and mentor Sandford did beautiful work in this style.

Here are some of my pieces:

 & this antique table.

another country piece that Sandford did for a friend and client-(read a full post from the archives about this interior here

 These are simple pieces.


but just Look at this cabinet on stand from the Marella Agnelli Sotheby's Auction in 2005. The piece is one of a pair of Louis XVI ebony and Japanese and European lacquer in her New York Drawing Room.  These pieces are circa 1785 and stamped C.C. Saunier, JME- from the collection of William Beckford ( another story for another day)

Exquisite.

Here are some of my favourites and a part of my eternal wish list, always on my Style Compass

from 1st dibs  these two pieces-

from Yale Burge

Louis XV Style Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Table 

After Design by Jansen, Paris, Circa 1950

& from Harbor View Antiques

I can't help myself- I love this chair!
from 1st dibs
These fascinating chairs from a Newport, Rhode Island estate were made in the late 19th century during the Aesthetic Movement period, after the opening of Japan by Admiral Perry. Exact scholarly knowledge of "Japanese" design was not available and these wonderful chairs have both Chinese and Japanese elements with a strong Colonial Revival accents. "Japanning" which was the gold leafing and lacquering with Asian figures and designs was a term first coined in the 17th century. The chairs painted finish are in original untouched condition. 

 & these 3 beauties  from Therien and Company

CHINESE EXPORT & BLACK LACQUERED AND GILT DECORATED TABLE

the rectangular top with concave sides and outset shaped corners incorporating removable panel with game board enclosing interior with paint and gilt decorated backgammon board, over conforming apron enclosing single drawer raised on cabriole legs ending in carved ball and paw feet; the whole displaying original gilt decorated reserves depicting country scenes and floral sprays within gilt decorated borders-19th century

CHINESE EXPORT BLACK LACQUER & CHINOISERIE CABINET ON STAND

the upper rectangular case with two fielded panel hinged doors enclosing fitted interior consisting of two shelves, two long drawers, and two short drawers with turned ivory pulls, with paneled sides, surmounted by ogee moulded cornice;

the lower conforming base with ogee moulded and shaped apron raised on contiguous cabriole legs ending in hairy paw feet; the whole enriched inside and out with various gilt decorated vignettes of scholars and nobles in stylized landscapes with pavilions, all within meandering floral and foliate borders- Circa 1800, Qing Dynasty

CHINESE EXPORT BLACK LACQUERED FLIP-TOP GAME TABLE

the triple-leaf top with outset rounded corners, on single action gated cabriole legs ending in scrolling toes, opening to decorated tea table surface reversing to gaming surface with candlestick insets, recessed counter wells and centered chessboard;  the whole gilt decorated with exotic landscapes, scattered flowers and diapered reserves-18th century
(all descriptions provided by Therien and Company & all their Antiques here )

Where is your style compass right now? China? New York? Last week I got to visit the Oscar de la Renta Showroom and the clothes were Out of This World.

.

Topsy Turvy

"This is not good. 

This is not right. 

My feet stick out of bed all night. 

And when I pull them in, oh dear! 

My head sticks out of bed out here!"

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. 

Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, 

It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. 

Which is what I do, 

And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.”

"They say I'm old-fashioned, 

and live in the past, 

but sometimes I think progress progresses too fast!"

Dr. Seuss really does have all the answers, We must find the questions.

Read about this movie here. One of my favourites.

.