Monday, March 30, 2020

New Series - Chinoiserie Gone Wrong

Tree Root Coffee Table

Lots of people seemed to have enjoyed reading and weighing in on my post on Saturday on the Miles Redd living room.

I thought it might be fun to start a weekly series called Chinoiserie Gone Wrong - rooms done by interior designers with Chinoiserie elements that just don't work for a variety of reasons which we will explore. If you have a photo of an interior designer's room you think would fit, please send it to me at Bethaconnolly@aol.com. I am purposely not posting the interior designer's name as a general rule (although there may be a few exceptions).

I like much about this room above, but simply do not get the massive tree root coffee table - either the scale or the look. IMHO the blue and white Chinese porcelain looks bizarre on top of it. I don't get at all the velvet sofa, silk curtains, gilded mirror, and Chinese porcelain combined with a tree root. It looks to me like a tree might have fallen through the roof in a storm and they kept it. It is also so large it takes over the room. The scale is seriously off.

Love it? Hate it? Thoughts?

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25 comments:

  1. UnknownMarch 30, 2020 at 10:34 AM

    I agree, I think a sleek brass and glass coffee table would have looked so much better

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    Replies
    1. Beth ConnollyMarch 30, 2020 at 11:15 AM

      Completely agree - that would have been a great choice.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousMarch 30, 2020 at 10:38 AM

    I love this new series. I am looking forward to the next one. I really enjoyed the Miles Redd post.

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  3. Courtney SwiftMarch 30, 2020 at 10:52 AM

    The coffee table definitely needs to go!My other problem is the large mirror propped in the corner. Hang it or loose it! The sofa needs more cushions, it looks really uncomfortable. I don't think the drapes are bad. I need to see the whole room, to understand more.

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  4. Susan TMarch 30, 2020 at 10:59 AM

    TOTALY Agree. I think the room would be perfect if the tree root wasn't there. It's probably a case of the HUSBAND WOULDN'T LET her repack because she paid too much $$ for it. LOL.

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    Replies
    1. Beth ConnollyMarch 30, 2020 at 11:13 AM

      Yes, this tree root furniture is very pricey. I don't get it at all.

      Delete
  5. margifMarch 30, 2020 at 1:20 PM

    There is absolutely nothing to like with the tree root table. It would look bad in most rooms. Any other table would be better! And the gorgeous chandelier that can be seen in the mirror just cries for another coffee table (as does the mirror!) I would use a coffee table with a bit of Oriental feel (Chinoiserie of course!)

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    1. Beth ConnollyMarch 30, 2020 at 2:17 PM

      I agree completely - I love a mix of elements but for me this does not work at all.

      Delete
  6. anonymousMarch 30, 2020 at 2:09 PM

    I would have thought it would be difficult to go wrong with Chinoiserie but clearly this is an example of just that. I agree that the tree stump is overwhelming and does not make sense.

    slf

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    1. Beth ConnollyMarch 30, 2020 at 2:35 PM

      Yes, I agree. I will be posting more examples of Chinoiserie held hostage.

      Delete
  7. JamalaMarch 30, 2020 at 3:22 PM

    Hate it... the rug and the tree clashed big time. It looks thrown together with no design thoughts at all. I'd be very upet if I paid someone and got this look

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  8. AnonymousMarch 30, 2020 at 5:06 PM

    Would it look different if the picture weren't taken at dog's eye level? I don't care for it but I can only think the idea was to show a contrast between the "organic" tree root and the highly polished chandelier and couch. Sometimes designers "go for it" and it just doesn't work.

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  9. Ann MarieMarch 30, 2020 at 8:07 PM

    Maybe they wanted a conversation piece??? Very strange..and I think out of character with the rest of the room.
    The tree stump would look great in an outdoor patio setting, but not in that room.

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  10. AnonymousMarch 31, 2020 at 2:58 AM

    This is such a great idea, Beth, and the perfect antidote to being quarantined! I can't wait to see what you come up with each week!
    I agree completely with your take on the picture above. There are really nice things in that room--the velvet tufted sofa, the gorgeous chandelier reflected in the mirror, the pink flowers in what looks like a wonderful copper pot, the pretty metal side table that looks sort of Ralph Lauren-ish, and of course the Chinoiserie items on the................omg, the tree trunk??? Oh dear. That psychedelic Mount Rushmore ruins everything! What was the thinking?

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  11. Beth ConnollyMarch 31, 2020 at 7:45 AM

    LOL. I agree, and a great example of how one bad piece can ruin a room. As one person commented, it weighs so much, they couldn't bring themselves to get rid of it once in place.

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  12. Jackie from DallasMarch 31, 2020 at 7:50 AM

    Looks like they love the table and just don’t want to part with it. Maybe but it in a different room.

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  13. BgMarch 31, 2020 at 9:41 AM

    It appears to me that the big tree root is actually two separate roots. One big one with the ginger jars on it and then a smaller one with the white platform acting as a bridge to it. If that's the case, perhaps they could separate the smaller root and use it as an end table and then get a terrific brass and glass coffee table to replace the big chunk root.

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    1. Beth ConnollyMarch 31, 2020 at 10:12 AM

      Yes, I saw that too. My guess is that they couldn't find one large enough so put two together. Wow! Speechless.

      Delete
  14. teaorwineMarch 31, 2020 at 12:38 PM

    Can you imagine cleaning that root table? Even if your housekeeper does this for you? At this point in my life, I seek tasteful and curated interiors with very low maintenance!

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  15. nrilyn the nurseApril 1, 2020 at 12:20 PM

    I agree, who would have used that tree trunk?

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