Our New Series

Jonathan Berger - Pink Belongs in a Girl's Bedroom, Not Your Entryway

Our new series is entitled, Great Chinoiserie Rooms That Break the Rules in Style. I have assembled dozens of wonderful Chinoiserie rooms that break traditional decorating rules beautifully. The foyer above by Jonathan Berger is a great example of breaking the rule that pink is meant for a nursery or girl's bedroom only. His use of Benjamin Moore Razzle Dazzle on the walls is stunning and dramatic. He mixes it with a Louis XV needlepoint chair and console, an Italian mirror, Chinese porcelain, and a large shell. Oops - I think that's a second broken rule. Aren't seashells just supposed to be used in beach houses?

The Pink Entry

Parish Hadley

Everyone seemed to love this pink Chinoiserie entry I posted on yesterday by Sister Parish and Albert Hadley. I thought you might enjoy seeing some more foyers that combine pink and Chinoiserie-an unlikely but fabulous combination. Which is your favorite? Don't forget about iomoi on One Kings Lane today at 11 ET.

Mary McDonald

Mary McDonald

Jonathan Berger

House Beautiful

Jonathan Adler

The Well Appointed House

My Favorite Pink Rooms

Continuing our Valentine's Day pink Chinoiserie series, here are my top ten pink rooms. Above, Jonathan Berger.

Alessandra Branca

Mary McDonald

Suzanne Kasler

Miles Redd

Ruthie Sommers

Carolyne Roehm

Displaying Collections

Brackets are an incredibly effective way of displaying a collection of Chinoiserie porcelain. In the bedroom above, Mary Watkins Wood used brackets to bring order to a large collection of blue and white ginger jars. The three key points are that the collection needs to go together-all blanc de Chine, all celadon, or all blue and white, for example. Second, the brackets need to be all the same color-say all white or all gold if not all the same style. Third, play around with a pleasing layout-symmetrical seems to work best.

Jonathan Berger

Kevin Sharkey

Robert Goodwin

Phoebe Howard

Chinoiserie in the Pink

If money were no object, my Valentine's Day gift choice would be this Elliott Puckette pink gesso and ink painting. The photo above is of the artist and her daughter in their NYC home. But regardless of whether it is a work of art, wall color, or fabric, pink is not just for little girl's bedrooms anymore. Pink is a modern and elegant look for any room, especially those with Chinoiserie elements. Pink is a knockout with virtually any Chinoiserie including blue and white Chinese porcelain, gold, black lacquer, celadon, or Blanc de Chine. In honor of Valentine's Day, here are some of my favorite pink rooms.

Alessandra Branca

Jonathan Berger

Mary McDonald

Suzanne Kasler

The Well Appointed House

Decor Pad

Miles Redd

Ruthie Sommers