Sunday, February 28, 2010

The Tiny Chinoiserie Entryway


Shelter magazines are awash with stunning entryways with beautiful console tables, pairs of lamps, artwork, flanking chairs, and the like. The truth is that many of us in rentals, city apartments, studio apartments, townhouses, ramblers, split levels, and split foyers do not have the luxury of a large entry. I am on the search for examples of tiny but chic Chinoiserie foyers. The first is my daughter's apartment which is a pre-war rental apartment in Georgetown and her first apartment. On the plus side is high ceilings and original cherry floors. The negative is the small entrance and narrow hall. We used a gold pagoda mirror, a gilt two legged console table topped in black marble that attaches to the wall, a petite Chinese garden stool, and some fun accessories from Target and Anthropologie. The piece de resistance is the gold peel and stick DIY artwork in the hallway from Ikea.





Saturday, February 27, 2010

Chinoiserie and Spring Blossoms


My mind is turning to thoughts of spring after this crazy snowy winter here in DC. I had to share with you the new cover of Saint Louis Magazine's Winter issue by the oh so talented Harrison Howard. Note the attention to detail-the blue and white Chinoiserie vase with striped camellias, the bottle of perfume, the concert tickets. This is a wonderful magazine to subscribe to and their series of covers by Mr. Howard has been stunning.


I love the elegance and simplicity of this black and white Chinoiserie vignette. One black vase has a spray of white Phalaenopsis orchids; the other black vessel has mostly bare branches with just emerging white cherry blossoms. So perfect for a modern black and white home, which I have had on my mind since posting on Ryan Korban's black and white Chinoiserie kitchen in Lonny.

Friday, February 26, 2010

The Chinoiserie China Closet

I would love to have a china closet or butler's pantry for my blue and white Chinese porcelain collection. Above and below is John Rosselli's display. I'm hoping to incorporate a more modest version of this in my laundry room renovation.


Bunny Williams (married to John Rosselli).


I adore the blue/green walls with all the monochromatic china.


Alexander Baer


Carolyne Roehm



Thursday, February 25, 2010

Urban Chinoiserie


Urban Outfitters is a great resource for cheap, chic, modern Chinoiserie for a first apartment, child's room, beach house, or any of us watching our budget in this still shaky economy. This is just a sampling of the great rugs, duvet covers, wall decals, and curtains for a budget friendly Chinoiserie look. Each of these pieces is under $70.00.








Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The Chinoiserie Dressing Room


This week we are doing a series on dressing rooms over at Style Redux. The dressing room is especially well suited to Chinoiserie design elements. Here is some inspiration. Above, the famous Chinoiserie dressing room of the Duchess of Windsor with its Chinese Chippendale etageres.

Chinoiserie wallpaper (Aerin Lauder-Elle Decor)


(Domino Magazine)


(Elle Decor)


An antique Chinese Art Deco rug (Jonathan Adler)


Red lacquer (Miles Redd-House Beautiful)


Antique camellia botanicals in gold bamboo frames (My dressing room)


Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Tuesday Tidbits-Morsels of Chinoiserie Inspiration


Today I bring you six great Chinoiserie ideas for your home.

First, above is the latest from Caspari-Chinoiserie Blue. So pretty!

Love framed botanicals but want a Chinoiserie flair-parrot tulips are a natural.


Here is my Annie Selke gold pagoda bed but done in Robert Allen's Crystal Lake. Wonderful fabric, but the bed is so stunning on its own, not sure the fabric doesn't detract from it. But this a great Chinoiserie toile for the price.


I love this idea from Martha Stewart-use vintage and new Chinoiserie tea cups, bowls, and plates to organize your jewelry drawer.


Have you seen Anne Harwell's latest work of art? I love it. One of these Frances Elkins loop chair prints is going to end up in my house.


Recall my post showing those gorgeous huge houndstooth curtains? Here we have oversized houndstooth fabric used for a bedskirt.


(Courtesy Martha Stewart, Annechovie, New York Social Diary)

Monday, February 22, 2010

Blue Chinoiserie Rooms-My Picks

The March issue of House Beautiful All About Blue, while well done enough, lacked rooms that knocked my socks off. Blue rooms and Chinoiserie are such a natural. Here are some of my favorites. Above, a room that has stood the test of time, the Chinese Room at Claydon House by John Fowler.

Aerin Lauder-Elle Decor



Phoebe Howard



Annie Selke


Carolyne Roehm


Mary McDonald


Ann Getty


Kendall Wilkinson


Luke and Julie Janklow-Vogue


Thomas Britt


Sunday, February 21, 2010

Fabulous Chinoiserie Etsy Find or DIY


I found these amazing Chinoiserie placemats through the wonderful blog Holding Court. These handmade placemats from the Etsy shop Holly Stuart Designs are cut from hardwood, backed in black, trimmed in gold, and protected with a clear finish. The papers are from high end design houses with sought after choices like Kelly Wearstler Imperial Trellis. She will also do custom work using your wallpaper. Any of these would make for a gorgeous table. This would also be a great DIY project-there are many articles online about making placemats out of wallpaper. Now if I could only get my hands on some leftover Gracie, de Gournay, or Fromental.