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
I have now officially overdosed on the recent weather here is D.C. An earthquake, a hurricane, and now the rainiest September in history. Oh well. These two finds this week are enough to lift my spirits. I bought these wonderful vintage Fitz & Floyd candlesticks on Etsy. Aren't they precious? The scroll table in aqua blue from Legend of Asia I snagged on One Kings Lane a couple days ago. It is just what I have been looking for to put at the end of the bed in The Pagoda Bedroom. Interior designers love this style table for its clean and modern yet classic look.

Scroll Table

Meg Braff

Great Chinoiserie Rooms That Break the Rules in Style

Michael Smith
Checks are too French Country to work with Chinoiserie? I think these rooms work beautifully.

Blue and White Checked Dining Room

Domino

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Chinoiserie Bedroom

Architectural Digest via Little Green Notebook

Great Chinoiserie Rooms That Break the Rules in Style

My Chinoiserie Home - The Pagoda Bedroom
You know the old decorating rule that pigs and Chinoiserie don't mix? O.K., so I just made that up. But I do love my ecelctic mix of Chinoiserie with these very modern and edgy Harry Allen Pig Banks.

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

Blue and White Chinoiserie

A beautiful blue and white British Colonial bedroom that nobody does better than Ralph Lauren

Great Chinoiserie Rooms That Break the Rules in Style

s
Pat Healing - HB Home
Aren't we glad these interior designers ignored the decorating rule that woodwork should be painted white? The woodwork in these Chinoiserie rooms pops with colors of purple, red, orange, turquoise, black, blue, and brown.

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

More Hand Painted Silk Chinoiserie Lighting


More beautiful hand painted silk Chinoiserie lighting available here from Neo Silk Road (NSR).








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.