Frances Elkins

Dining Room by Frances Elkins

 

If you follow Chinoiserie Chic, you may recall that I grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois among the great estates of the Chicago area. I was fortunate to visit many of these fabulous homes of classmates' families.

Frances Adler Elkins was the sister of famous architect David Adler and considered one of the twentieth century's most prominent decorators. She collaborated with her architect brother on 15 homes including in Lake Forest.

The Coastal Dining Room

Lisa Johnson - MOD Society Magazine

 

Interior designer Lisa Johnson was tasked by her client to refresh her Hilton Head home in a relaxed and kitsch-free coastal vibe. I love the dining room.

The Chinoiserie Dining Room

Gracie Studio

This stunning dining room features Gracie wallpaper in a custom orange and Bungalow 5 loop chairs. Frances Elkins style loop chairs are such a favorite of mine. I bet this dining room is gorgeous at night too. The black fireplace surround is wonderful - black and orange are the perfect duo.

More Chinoiserie Kitchen

Colleen Bashaw - House Beautiful

 

Another look at the kitchen from yesterday's post, I wanted to point out the chinoiserie wallpaper flanking the range. I also LOVE the Frances Elkins style loop counter stools at the island. The palette here is exactly that of mine in my home - soft gray, white, pink, green, and blue and white.

And greetings from Champa Bay!

The Chinoiserie Kitchen

Bungalow 5

I love this kitchen. I will never ever tire of a beautiful white kitchen. I have dreams of a white kitchen with marble counters in my next house. In my last house in Virginia, I had Corian which was hot when we bought the home and is having a bit of a resurgence now. It is so easy to live with and I loved it. In this house I opted for quartz in a marble look-a-like - Silestone Calacatta. It is such a classic.

With my late husband who was a coffee drinker and red wine drinker, and then Golf Guy who is likewise a coffee and red wine drinker and messy as well, I was too nervous about marble. I have been really happy with how easy care the quartz is, but it's not marble.

This kitchen is gorgeous. I love the Bungalow 5 Frances Elkins style loop counter and breakfast table chairs, the white and brass pendants, and of course the blue and white Chinese porcelain filled with flowers.

I love the combination of Frances Elkins loop chairs and Chinoiserie and a bit of history. I grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois. My favorite store was Marsall Field's and most of my clothes as a child came from there. They opened their first branch in Lake Forest in 1928 because they lived there. Famous architect David Adler and sister Frances Elkins designed many of the great homes of Lake Forest and the first four loop chairs Frances designed in 1932 went to Mrs. Marsall Field's Long Island home.

I can't see what the counter material is, but I am not sure I like the visual of the black cooktop on the island. I think I might have chosen a white glass cooktop so as to not have that large rectangle of black in this white space.

Aerin Lauder - Elle Decor

Here is another wonderful white kitchen featuring Frances Elkins loop chairs. Also saving this for my new home file - I love the blue walls and pale blue ceiling and the lithograph by Ellsworth Kelly. This is in her East Hampton home.

Although you don't see a lot of blue walls in a kitchen, in a beach house I like this look a lot.

Did any of you choose marble countertops and are you happy with your decision?

Timeless Chinoiserie

Frances Elkins - David Adler

A Chinoiserie dining room by interior designer Frances Elkins and her architect brother David Adler circa 1940. I love the asymmetrical arrangement of the Ming horses.

Saturday Inspiration - Chic Dining

Katie Rosenfeld Design

Frances Elkins loop chairs, a Saarinen tulip table, curtains in Osborne & Little Maharani, and a fax bamboo chandelier combine in this chic eating area.

Blue and White

Meg Braff - Coastal Living

A wonderful vignette with many favorites - a Frances Elkins loop chair, a Chinese Chippendale pagoda mirror, bamboo trellis wallpaper, and a blue and white palette.

120 Items Every Beautiful Home Should Have - #13

House Beautiful

Here we are at Number 13 of House Beautiful's essentials for the beautiful home where I have culled those items that are Chinoiserie or work perfectly with Chinoiserie. Today we look at the iconic Frances Elkins loop chair, a great favorite of mine.

Although not Chinoiserie, I love the way it combines with Chinoiserie as these rooms demonstrate.

Christopher Spitzmiller - Architectural Digest

Ruthie Sommers - Town and Country

Meg Braff - Coastal Living

Great Mix

Bungalow 5

The Chinoiserie Dining Room

Christopher Spitzmiller - - Architectural Digest

Green Chinoiserie wallpaper is paired with Frances Elkins loop chairs upholstered in brown leather and an antique dining table in this eclectic dining room.

The Frances Elkins Loop Chair

I have two favorite chairs - one of course is the Chinese Chippendale chair. The other is the loop chair. These are both timeless classics that are beloved by interior designers and those with exquisite taste. I even have a Pinterest board on The Iconic Loop Chair.

The loop chair was created by American designer Frances Elkins in the 1930s. Although she is not perhaps as well known as others like Billy Baldwin or Dorothy Draper, she left an indelible mark on design. She, for example, was one of the first designers in the 20th century to use antiques and modern pieces together. The loop chair though was her crowning glory. Its timeless modern elegance will define any room in which you use it.

1st dibs and antique dealers are great sources for antique and vintage versions. Unfortunately, a set of four can easily run $10,000. Here is a set of six for $25,000. Even modern reproductions can run close to $3,000 per chair.

Charlotte & Ivy has just introduced the loop chair above priced at $559 for the side chair and a $65 upcharge for the arm chair version. Shipping is free. It ships in sets of two. This fabulous chair is made from durable mahogany wood and features a designer favorite ribbon loop design. The gorgeous black hand rubbed finish is contrasted with sleek cream cotton seats.

Charlotte & Ivy Loop chair - arm chair

Below is an inspiration board I created featuring a loop chair and wonderful examples of the loop chair used in various ways from dining chairs, accent chairs in a living room, a desk chair, even kitchen stools. The loop chair combines beautifully with Chinoiserie, as you will see in several rooms below.

Celebration Week - Inspiration Boards and a Fabulous Giveaway

This coming Saturday, May 4, 2013 is my four year blog anniversary - with well over 2,000 posts. I plan to celebrate with a whole week of inspiration boards for each room of my fantasy Chinoiserie Chic house and the announcement of my blogiversary giveaway on Friday that you will not want to miss.

The Chinoiserie wallpaper is by Griffin & Wong "Song Sassoon" in a beautiful blue. The large circular table is silver leaf by James Mont circa 1940s. Six Frances Elkins loop chairs will surround the table. They are lacquered in white with gray leather seats. The faux malachite painted console table has gilded edges. For some fun, the console table will have a pair of Jonathan Adler Georgia breast lamps -  check it out here. A Marjorie Skouras chandelier is a wonderful focal point. A pair of antique Famille Rose Chinese garden stools will be tucked next to the dining table. My go to curtains, interlined silk taffeta, here in my favorite coral pink, will hang at the windows.

Now pop over to The Glam Pad to see my virtual makeover of the backyard of the Chinese Village House for inspiration on bringing Chinoiserie outdoors.

Subtle Chinoiserie

For those who gravitate toward a subtle approach to color and to Chinoiserie, here are two lovely examples. In the dining room above, Suzanne Kasler uses a celadon and blue palette. The Frances Elkins loop chairs and Louis XVI chairs are a wonderful alternative to the Chinese Chippendale chair, grasscloth in a soft green is used on the walls, and white tureens, reminiscent of blanc de Chine, grace the table. Below, Phoebe Howard uses a beautiful soft palette with pale lavender walls, framed Chinoiserie panels, and a Chinese Chippendale bench.

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)