The Chinoiserie Dressing Room - Kendall Wilkinson

I'm sure everyone will remember the incredible Chinoiserie bedroom by Kendall Wilkinson shown below. Above is the very chic adjoining dressing room.

The Shaded Chandelier

I posted before on this room by Kendall Wilkinson with its magnificent black shaded chandelier. Z Gallerie has its own very chic and very affordable version below, the Erto Chandelier for $399. It has a transparent mirrored shade over a crystal chandelier. I find Z Gallerie to be a great source for lighting, especially its chandeliers.

Kendall Wilkinson - Timeless Chinoiserie

San Francisco based interior designer Kendall Wilkinson is a favorite of mine. She is the perfect designer to finish up our series on Chinoiserie and Color, because as you can see from these rooms I have chosen from her portfolio, she has a great eye for color. But whether she is using soft pastels or a bold palette, her look is never trendy. Her style is timeless, elegant, sophisticated, and classic. Her use of Chinoiserie is subtle - framed Chinoiserie panels, a faux bamboo bed or chair, hand painted Chinoiserie walls, a Chinese porcelain vase, or a beautiful Chinoiserie fabric. She often uses antique and vintage pieces. Be sure to look for her space this fall in LUXE Magazine's Maison de Luxe Show House in Beverly Hills.

Q - To what do you attribute Chinoiserie’s appeal for centuries and its recent resurgence?

A - In my experience, people respond to imagery that’s not only attractive, but that’s familiar. Chinoiserie has a historical aspect that makes it approachable, and on some level we all recognize it. To me, it also has a certain story-book “whimsy” which appeals to an array of audiences, and also adds life and movement to an inanimate thing like furniture. The resurgence has been fueled by the new ways it’s being manifested in fabrics, textures, accessories, etc.

Q - How do you use Chinoiserie?

A - Anyway I can! For many of my interiors, a Chinoiserie motif is stunning as painted panels tucked into picture molding, or as imagery dressing up a case piece. I also like to add touches of it in fabrics, vases or frames when a more subtle effect is needed.  

  

Q - Why do you like to use Chinoiserie? What does Chinoiserie add to a room?

A - Chinoiserie is also a good way to get an “artsy” feel without actually having traditional art pieces.  It elevates an ordinary object into something conversation worthy and that’s fun to look at.

Q - What are your favorite Chinoiserie pieces?

A - I particularly love the way a gold Chinoiserie motif pops off an antique black lacquered case piece. It reminds me of fancy jewelry on a little black dress.

Fondly,

Kendall

August Ideabook on Houzz-Orange and Turquoise Chinoiserie

My new Ideabook for Houzz is up and it is great fun if you love orange and turquoise Chinoiserie. Just click on my Houzz link in my sidebar. And yes, this post does have a pagoda hook since this is pagoda week on CC. This stunning bedroom by Kendall Wilkinson (who will be a featured interior designer in my new series) has pagoda cornices for the window treatments and the fabric Quadrille Paradise Background in Orange on Tint also features pagodas.

The Shaded Chandelier

Since my post yesterday on Kendall Wilkinson, I have been fixated on the shaded chandelier. I love the idea of a huge sheer drum shade over my crystal chandelier. This style has become popular of late with the shade and fixture sold as a set, but I was curious if one could find the shade by itself. I found this very pretty albeit shallower version below at Shades of Light. There is also a do it yourself version here. Have you see any other sources? I'd love to try this myself.

Kendall Wilkinson

Kendall Wilkinson is a favorite here, blending Chinoiserie in a timeless, sophisticated, and modern approach. I'll be excited to see her room at the upcoming LUXE magazine Luxe Show House this fall in Beverly Hills at Greystone Mansion. Design aficinados will recall that Greystone was the site of Veranda's 2008 Show House, my favorite show house of them all.