Christmas Preview - Bauble Stockings

Bauble Stockings Mallory Mathison Limited Edition

 

Bauble stockings are petite needlepoint stockings meant to be used to hold the final special Christmas gift. Perhaps a surprise trip, event tickets, an engagement ring, a check, a membership, a piece of jewelry, not necessarily the most expensive gift, but the most thoughtful and meaningful.

Greek Key & Chinoiserie

Santorini, Greece

You might have read my post a while back about how I discovered quite recently that my late dad had hidden his Greek heritage his entire adult life and had created an entire "wasp European nobility" background. In the early 1900's when he was born, there was widespread discrimination against immigrants, so he created a last name (Allen), education (St. Andrews in Scotland), wardrobe (all Brooks Brothers), and home (tony and very waspy Lake Forest, Illinois) insulated from this. I learned through my reading that Greek immigrants during this period were even targeted by the Klu Klux Klan.

Don't Put Me on a Pedestal

Elly Poston Cooper - Frederic Magazine

 The title is tongue in cheek, because I have always admired ginger jars on pedestals. Now that I am no longer living with a man who was a bull in a china shop, I am exploring adding a pair because I love the look and the ginger jars won't end up smashed on the floor. The pedestal above is one of a pair in this Charleston, S.C. dining room, repurposed from porch columns from a nearby centuries old home. These could be sourced at an architectural salvage store. I think I'll check out Sarasota Architectural Savage this coming week.

Faux Bois & Chinoiserie

Charlotte Moss

 

I love chinoiserie and I love faux bois (French for false wood) and they look so great together. This blue and white tile tray is likely Delft, but Delft mixes beautifully here and with blue and white Chinese porcelain.

This dining room below by the late Andrew Raquet is my favorite example and a favorite dining room. He was immensely talented and died at forty five. Wallpaper is Gracie. Faux bois on the chairs is Quadrille's Alan Campbell's Meloire Reverse.

My painters are due over shortly. The projects never end!

Andrew Raquet

Andrew Raquet

The Chinoiserie Powder Room

Dunbar Road Design

 

Here is a darling powder room with many chinoiserie touches. A bamboo pagoda mirror, Greek key sconces, a pagoda embroidered hand towel, and a vintage blue and white Chinese porcelain monkey add so much personality. I have two of these monkeys that I use in my master bath next to the tub. I found them at Goodwill many years ago. They can be used. in so many rooms in so many ways. The wallpaper is Schumacher's Feather Bloom by Celerie Kemble.

CCC

CCC

Blue & White

Meg Braff

 Blue and white with a real island, tropical, beach vibe in this pretty aqua blue featuring palm wallpaper, a faux bamboo lamp, bamboo pens and photo frame, and the iconic Elkins loop chair. Although the loop chair is not a chinoiserie design, I have posted myriad times chinoiserie rooms with a loop chair(s). This design plays so well with chinoiserie. The wallpaper in Meg Braff's Sporting D"Ete in Aqua.

Here is another view of this bedroom with Greek key bedding and a chinoiserie monogram.

Meg Braff

Chinoiserie Outdoors

Ballard Designs

 This porch has great inspiration for bringing chinoiserie touches into your outdoor living spaces - blue and white Chinese porcelain, a Chinese garden stool, and Greek key pillows. Wicker trunks serve as a coffee table and are great for storage. I really like the striped outdoor curtains. That floor lamp looks really out of place and dated IMO.

The Blue and White Chinoiserie Kitchen

Scott Snyder

 

This is quite a kitchen. The Chinese Chippendale table and chairs and the Greek key floor are incredible. And a preemptive strike against the inevitable comments about how this is not practical. Not everyone has little kids and/or spends their days cooking.

Many people carry out or order in or eat out. Many people buy prepared foods and microwave. Many people have outdoor kitchens like here in Florida. A growing trend is a wet and a dry kitchen. Many people today including baby boomers and empty nesters want a kitchen that looks like the rest of their home.

I don't cook. Been there/done that. I use my range once in a blue moon. And I know this is weird, but I have never liked hot food. I love sushi, salads, poke, sandwiches, cold soups, cheese = especially here in South Florida. This designer is based in Palm Beach BTW.

If I redo my kitchen, it will have marble countertops and chinoiserie wallpaper panels and glass and brass shelving.

I wonder what the floor is? Tiled? Painted concrete? Another view.

More Holiday Tabletop

Jaye's Studio

 Here is a stunning Christmas table setting that would work perfectly in my home as it incorporates SO many of my favorites - stripes, pink and red, blue and white, faux bamboo, Greek key and gold. Jaye's Studio is a lovely online store, and they are having a holiday tabletop sale right now with the code SETTING. I would use one of my sets of faux bamboo flatware with this. Lots of great ideas to borrow here.

The Blue and White Coastal Living Room

Marshall Watson - Flower Magazine

 This beautiful Palm Beach living room, with its palette of blues and creams, incorporates a framed Chinoiserie panel, ginger jars, Greek key, and seashells. Although this room has a lot going on, its cohesive approach maintains a calm and soothing feel.

Marshall Watson - Flower Magazine

Marshall Watson - Flower Magazine

Chinoiserie Outdoors

Jonathan Adler

Another space from Liz Lange's fabulous Palm Beach home I posted about Friday (Breezeway), Saturday (Foyer), and Sunday (Master Bedroom). This outdoor area has rattan pendants from Serena & Lily, a table from Restoration Hardware, and vintage Salterini Greek Key chairs repainted in Benjamin Moore Dusk Pink. A beautiful combination of coral pink with aqua cushions.

Benjamin Moore Dusk Pink 2013 - 40

I have always loved these chairs and passed up a set with table years ago. Oh well.... Here it is with the table - if you ever come upon it, grab it!

Here is a vintage Salterini chair and ottoman repainted in white with navy blue cushions.

1st dibs

The Statement Chinoiserie Bathroom

Clarence House The Vase

So much to love here - the iconic Clarence House The Vase wallpaper in orange, Circa Lighting Greek key sconces, an embroidered monogrammed pagoda hand towel, and a darling elephant vase.

The Chinoiserie Bathroom

Suzanne Kasler - Veranda

Such a pretty bathroom - Gracie wallpaper, a Greek key bench, Circa Who sconces, a Louis mirror, and a stunning Waterworks sink and fittings.

The Chinoiserie Office

Erin Gates - Ballard Designs

This is the entrance to the interior design office of Erin Gates featured by Ballard Designs. The umbrella stand is actually from Ballard Designs. I love the skirted table with the oversized Greek key trim. Here is another shot below. I have an umbrella stand in my foyer filled with Scalamandre Zebras umbrellas. Do you remember those? Such a shame they no longer make them - they are so chic. I will post a picture when the sun is up. Her umbrella stand looks a little bare.

Scalamandre Zebras umbrellas

My umbrella stand

The Chinoiserie Bathroom

Carla Fonts Hrncir - Luxe Interiors

This wonderful bathroom features lots of Chinoiserie including a pagoda bamboo mirror, Greek key sconces, a monogrammed pagoda guest towel, and a darling blue and white Chinese porcelain monkey. I have a very similar pair that I love that I found at Goodwill for $11.00. Wallpaper is Schumacher's Feather Bloom by Celerie Kemble, a very lovely sisal.

Here are mine in my breakfast room.

Alligators in Florida

Jonathan Adler Limited Edition Needlepoint Pillow

Here in Florida, the alligator saw his shadow on Groundhog Day and we get 12 more months of sunshine! I just found this Limited Edition Jonathan Adler needlepoint pillow on eBay and bought it. Super cute. As I write this, three alligators are sunning themselves in my backyard including two babies. One of my favorite things about Florida is all the animals - in my yard I see sandhilll cranes, deer, armadillos, alligators, roseate spoonbills, mallards, egrets, and pelicans. Every evening at sunset like clockwork about 50 great egrets roost in one of our trees. Quite a sight.

I did get this guy at Z Gallerie years back and it is perfect in the Florida house.

Now available at CB2

I have been hunting for this discontinued Jonathan Adler Limited Edition Greek key brass alligator for years. A Chinoiserie alligator!

Jonathan Adler Limited Edition Greek Key Brass Alligator

The Chinoiserie Living Room

The Rinfret Group

I posted this room years ago, but it remains a favorite.  I love the palette of pink, blue, and white with blue and white Chinese porcelain, Greek key trim on the curtains, the Chinese pagoda lantern, Chinoiserie fabrics, and mixing in animal prints. Very classic but modern at the same time.

Blue and White

magazine.stregis

Wow - check out the blue and white Chinoiserie mural, the blue and white Chinese porcelain, and the black lacquered chair with gold Greek key trim. So pretty.

Greek Key Trim

Pinterest

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my ten year blog anniversary. Things are very busy in my world - I am signing the listing agreement on my house tomorrow. One thing I love is window treatments and I'm looking forward to lots of new ones as all my current draperies will be conveying with the house. I especially love silk panels with Greek key trim. What do you think about the way the trim is inset? I think I like the look.

Dated?

Mary McDonald - Schumacher

Personally, I love curtains with a floral design and an elaborate trim but rarely use it. It seems too chintz/eighties/Mario Buatta for today's homes and tastes. I tend much more towards silk, linen, or velvet in a solid with a simpler trim like Greek key. What are your thoughts?