Friday, September 30, 2011
I'm A Giant Challenge
Some of you may have heard about the I'm a Giant Challenge that was launched last week by HGTV Design Star winner Emily Henderson. She is challenging interior design bloggers to create their dream houses, in their own styles, in mini. Participants can choose any structure they want - new, vintage, traditional, modern, a mansion, a loft, even a cardboard box. There will be a widget to link everyone up, weekly or whenever updates, and the final reveals on December 15th. Plans are in the works for reveal parties and press coverage. How fun.
I have decided to join in by creating the ultimate Chinoiserie Chic dream house. We are talking de Gournay wallpaper, Chinese Chippendale, blue and white Chinese porcelain, the works. The hitch is it will be a real challenge for me as my experience with dollhouses has been my own Barbie Dream House and my daughter's Playmobil Victorian Mansion. Basically plastic. I have selected and ordered my dollhouse and my next update will be when I receive it and put it together.
Everyone is invited to participate in this by decorating your own dollhouse - bloggers, interior designers, design enthusiasts, dollhouse and miniature hobbyists, and all you blog followers. Any of you on board? Here is the information. If any of you have ideas or wisdom for me, please share. I am super excited about this and can't wait to get started. (My scale is 1:12 BTW, I have learned that much.)
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Two Great Chinoiserie Finds This Week
Fitz & Floyd Elephants |
Scroll Table |
Meg Braff |
Great Chinoiserie Rooms That Break the Rules in Style
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Great Chinoiserie Rooms That Break the Rules in Style
My Chinoiserie Home - The Pagoda Bedroom |
My Chinoiserie Home - Harry Allen Pig Bank in Chrome |
My Chinoiserie Home - Living Room |
My Chinoiserie Home - Harry Allen Pig Bank in Gold |
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Great Chinoiserie Rooms That Break the Rules in Style
s |
Pat Healing - HB Home |
Pat Healing |
Meg Braff |
Meg Braff |
Meg Braff |
Kendall Wilkinson |
Miles Redd |
Miles Redd |
Miles Redd |
They Agree! |
Monday, September 26, 2011
Great Chinoiserie Rooms That Break the Rules in Style
Today we begin our new series on Great Chinoiserie Rooms That Break the Rules in Style. The decorating rule that you shouldn't mix other patterns with a bold large scale wallpaper was beautifully ignored here by interior designer Pat Healing of HB Home in the October issue of House Beautiful. By sticking with a color palette of blue, black, and white, Pat has combined the iconic Chinoiserie pattern Quadrille Paradise Background with Quadrille Meloire Reverse on the sofa, a black and white striped rug, black and white bedding, a bold and funky black and white pillow (studio bon's Bang in Black), and a geometric black and white fabric for the curtains.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Hand Painted Silk Chinoiserie Lighting
These hand painted silk lampshades, lanterns, and chandeliers look like Gracie or de Gournay hand painted silk wallpaper, don't they? Lots of colors and styles available here.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
High/Low From My Chinoiserie Home
This Blanc de Chine Centerpiece above sold at auction here for $655.50. The photo just below is from the Etsy listing where I bought him for $39.00. In the last photo he is pictured in my kitchen. As you can see, mine is a shorter version with two baskets instead of three. Both are Vista Alegre for Mottahedeh.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Joe Nye - Pretty Chinoiserie
Los Angeles based interior designer Joe Nye is a great personal favorite of mine and the designer whose style I think is closest to my own. His own home shown first below he describes as late 1970s English decorating in 2011, heavily layered with pretty clutter. Elegant and sophisticated, his look is a great mix of modern with antiques, as in a bold piece of modern art against English wallpaper. A collector, he believes that what makes a room great is the last 10% - the accessories. You will see in his portfolio his great love of Chinoiserie. His book Flair is an absolute must for the lover of Chinoiserie.
Q - How do you use Chinoiserie?
A - TO BREAK UP THE RHYTHM OF A ROOM. A CHINOISERIE PIECE, WITH ALL OF ITS FANCIFUL DESIGNS, CAN BECOME A FOCAL POINT. I USED A WILLIAM AND MARY RED SECRETARY WITH CHINOISERIE DECORATION IN A DRESSY LIVING ROOM AND IT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE WHEN YOU ENTER THE ROOM.
Q - Why do you like to use Chinoiserie?
A - IT IS GORGEOUS!! IT IS A TIMELESS DECORATING MOTIF THAT HAS ENDURED YEARS OF DESIGN IN FURNITURE, FABRICS, SCENIC WALLPAPERS. IT IS STILL AS POPULAR TODAY AS IT WAS YEARS AND YEARS AGO.
Q - What does Chinoiserie add to a room?
A - AS SAID BEFORE, LACQUERED OR JAPANNED FURNITURE CAN BREAK UP A SEA OF BROWN FURNITURE AND AN OTHERWISE STODGY ENVIRONMENT.
Q - What are your favorite Chinoiserie pieces?
A - COFFEE TABLES, SECRETARIES, CHESTS OF DRAWERS. I ESPECIALLY LIKE SMALLER ACCESSORIES.........BOXES, LAMPS, BIBELOTS, TO GIVE CHARACTER TO A ROOM AND THEY ACT LIKE JEWELRY.
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