The Christmas Chinoiserie Dining Room

Alex Papachristidis

The Upper East Side of Manhattan apartment of interior designer Alex Papachristidis has always been a favorite of mine. Here is the plum dining room adorned for the holidays. The deep red roses and amaryllis are perfect examples of my taste in floral arrangements. First, I love using a lot of one type of flower in one color. I think it is far more elegant. And I love leaving flower stems long like this. Much more dramatic.

Living with Dogs

Carolyne Roehm with her dogs

My pups have their annual physicals today, so it seemed like a great day to post about living with dogs.

Aubergine & Chinoiserie

Matthew Bees - House Beautiful

 The bedroom above by interior designer Matthew Bees is in a historic Charleston single in Charleston, South Carolina. My home in Alexandria is modeled after a Charleston single where the narrow side of the house faces the street.

I love the aubergine walls and ceiling paired with blue and white and lots of blue and white Chinese porcelain. I would love to use this color sometime in my home. Below are some other favorite aubergine rooms with Chinoiserie.

Mario Bautta

Celerie Kemble

Alex Papachristidis

A Chinoiserie Vignette

Alex Papachristidis

An elegant Chinoiserie vignette by the wonderful Alex Papachristidis.

Aubergine

Celerie Kemble - Veranda

I love aubergine rooms. My office was aubergine until I decided to change it for a One Room Challenge and lightened the deep purple to a pale lavender.

The collection of blue and white Chinese porcelain in this Celerie Kemble room really pops against the deep walls and floor. The console and mirror are antiques. The lamps are of course Christopher Spitzmiller. The sconces are Ralph Lauren Home. The pendants are Vaughan. The fabric on the chairs is Holland & Sherry.

More aubergine and Chinoiserie inspiration.

Ruthie Sommers

Mario Buatta

Mario Buatta

Alex Papachristidis

Chinoiserie Pop Quiz

Alex Papachristidis

Alex Papachristidis, a devotee of Chinoiserie decorating, has put together quite a vignette here. Ok, CC fans, let's see how many Chinoiserie icons we have going on here. And for you purists, not all are technically Chinoiserie, but have become part of the modern approach to decorating with Chinoiserie now known as Chinoiserie Chic, a phrase I coined when I started my blog back in 2009. See how many items you find before looking at the list. I have counted 20 pieces I would put under the rubric of Chinoiserie Chic decor.

1. Chinese garden stool
2. Chinoiserie fabric on two chairs
3. Elephant figurine
4. Potted orchid
5. Blue and white Chinese porcelain collection - four pieces
6. Pair of black and gold Chinoiserie sconces
7. Black and gold Chinoiserie wall shelf
8. Zebra rug
9. Shell collection - four pieces
10. Chinoiserie armoire
11. Pair of cranes

Foo Dogs & More

Alex Papachristidis

So many Chinoiserie favorites here - foo dogs, an elephant, a pagoda lantern, an orchid, a double gourd lamp, and a gilded faux bamboo coffee table. I love the aubergine walls, pink sofa, and leopard pillow. Lots of inspiration here.

Blue and White

Alex Papachristidis

A wonderful blue and white Chinoiserie dining room by one of my favorite interior designers Alex Papachristidis. Check out the Chinese Chippendale dog bed.

Chinoiserie Magazine Styling

I always enjoy doing a post when I find photos of the same room styled by the interior designer and then restyled by a magazine for a photo shoot. I understand that magazine stylists have to earn their keep, but it is a bit funny in the case of an interior designer as talented as Alex Papachristidis.

Above is his own dining room as styled by him, and below as styled by Elle Decor. I prefer his, especially for a magazine shoot. On top of the Chinoiserie cabinet, they have replaced his bold coral pieces that really pop against the aubergine walls, with books, foo dogs, a Chinese figurine, and a black object. I think their choices are too small and too dark, blending in too much against the deep purple background.

In the photo at bottom, you can see that on the dining table, they have replaced his blue and white ginger jar and coral animal figurine with a pair of pagodas and a couple of other pieces apparently to pick up the purple and white. Stylists always have fresh flowers, or in a kitchen, staged fruits or vegetables. They have chosen to leave the politically incorrect blackamoor, perhaps feeling that since he is dressed as a flower child with a peace sign above it is OK.

Sunday Inspiration - Blue, Purple & Chinoiserie

Alex Papachristidis

Two lovely vignettes by two wonderful interior designers. In both, I love the classic Chinoiserie wallpaper combined with pale blue and purple. Above, Alex Papachristidis uses a pale blue console that is studded and lined in purple echoing the deep purple of the dining chairs. I love that the soft blue desk below is quietly edged in gold. Thomas Jayne adds a lavender throw and purple flowers to the mix.

I have a new Pinterest board on combining blue, purple, and Chinoiserie here.

Thomas Jayne

Chinoiserie Tablescapes

Alex Papachristidis

Alex Papachristidis

Alex Papachristidis

When I saw that the new Manhattan apartment of interior designer Alex Papachristidis is on the cover of the November issue of Elle Decor, it was with a mix of trepidation and anticipation because I adored his previous apartment featured in the next five photos. Happily, his new digs are nothing short of spectacular, filled with Chinoiserie and my favorite pieces from the old place. The new apartment is more adult and sophisticated, with a more limited jewel toned color palette. In lieu of wallpaper like the previous apartment, lots of fabric covered walls. If you don't subscribe, go get this issue - it is a keeper. Read it online here.

Previous living room

Previous living room

Previous library

Previous bedroom

Previous bedroom

The new apartment starts below.

The double sided Chinoiserie bookcase from the previous living room is in the new entrance hall.

In the living room I recognize the sofa recovered in Shumacher ikat, the gold faux bamboo coffee table, and the Robin Wynne art. The chair is from the old library. I love the additional Chinoiserie touches of the Chinese toile lantern, the yellow foo dog and elephant, and the Christopher Spitzmiller double gourd lamp.

The living room is fabulous with its Gracie Chinoiserie wallpaper - the turtle apparently walked over from the old place.

I love the vintage bamboo armchair.

The Chinoiserie sconce is from a pair in the old living room.

A pair of pagodas on the dining room table.

This Chinoiserie cabinet was in the previous library.

Blue and white in the master bedroom, with the old bed recovered in blue velvet - lots of blue and white Chinese porcelain and a Chinese Chippendale chair - the mirror was above his bed before.

Walls and sofa in the dressing room are in a Manuel Canovas Chinoiserie fabric.

The antique Chinoiserie cabinet is a beautiful piece.