Hollyhocks

Hollyhocks

 

I loved growing hollyhocks in my gardens in Virginia. Hollyhocks are a favorite motif in classic chintz fabrics like Lee Jofa Hollyhock that was created over 100 years ago -

Lee Jofa Hollyhock

Another favorite classic hollyhock fabric is by Sanderson.

Bold Beautiful Color

Katie Ridder - House Beautiful

 I love this dramatic room - tangerine walls, a corner tufted banquette covered in an exuberant chintz, a unique Chinese garden stool, a gold ceiling, a striking green rug, and a beautifully detailed roman shade. 

The day went perfectly yesterday - I have a beautiful new Frame TV and a great sound system. I will post more details and pics tomorrow. I am taking the day off and chilling.

Here is a sneak peek - 

Chintz Returns

House Beautiful - Can you guess the year?

OK you smarty pants. What year is this from?

Current
2011?
2001?
1991?
1981?

"In the 1980s, chintz worked in just about every room. Featured in our October 1981 issue, a sitting area in Old Westbury Gardens in Long Island, New York, the Baker sofas are covered in Brunschwig & Fils's Westbury Bouquet glaze chintz." ---- House Beautiful

So almost 40 years ago! This room is timeless IMHO. A blue and white Chinese garden stool, blue and white Chinese porcelain, wicker, and a classic chintz which is having a resurgence. The only tip off is the chairs matching the sofa.

But chintz is having a moment again with Grandmillennials - the key is to use just a bit - don't go full Mario Buatta. Pointers - use a classic chintz - high end, glazed is gorgeous, think Brunschwig & Fils, Colefax and Fowler, Lee Joffa in peonies, roses, hollyhocks, and the like. Use it as an accent - don't go all matchy matchy. A beautiful pair of chintz pillows is a great example.

Society Social

Society Social

I still have a wicker chaise and table skirt in a gorgeous Mario Buatta chintz that I plan to use in one of the guest bedrooms. An aside, I would love to see the return of aubergine - does anyone remember Mario Buatta's aubergine lacquered walls? Wonderful!

Mario Buatta

The Chinoiserie Dining Room

Miles Redd - Architectural Digest

 This gorgeous dining room incorporates so many of my favorites - Chinoiserie wallpaper, a blue and white Chinese lamp, and blue and white Chinese porcelain along with emerald green silk curtains, a striped rug, and a lovely floral chintz on the dining chairs. Classic and beautiful!

A Summery Vignette

Robyn Madeline Interiors

A pair of blue and white chintz chairs are complemented by a bamboo chair and an orchid in a blue and white Chinese porcelain cachepot.

Traditional Chinoiserie

Karen Keysar

Beautiful old school Chinoiserie with a green velvet sofa, chintz pillows and curtains, blue and white Chinese porcelain, and needlepoint pillows.

Cordless Chinoiserie

Miles Redd - House Beautiful

 I was looking at my file of photos of skirted tables and came across these shots of this room by Miles Redd. It is a library in his mother's home in Bulkhead that he turned into an office for her. He used the dining room table that he thought too large for the dining room, having switched it out for a round table. It is covered in chintz called Althea by Lee Jofa and trimmed in Samuel & Sons fringe. The walls are glazed in emerald green. What caught my eye was the missing electrical cords on the two oversized Chinese lamps. I learned that he snaked the cords between the table leaves and under the rug. I assume he had slits made in the table skirt as well, right?

It reminded me of this iconic photo of Billy Haines at bottom with its cordless Blanc de Chine lamp. Haines had an obsession with cords and drilled a hole in the table so that the cord could run along the underside of the table and not be visible.

I too hate visible cords and do everything in my power so that none are visible. I rubber band them, or attach them to the backs of furniture, or run them behind curtains, or even position furniture to hide the cords. But Miles and Billy have one-upped me here.

Miles Redd - House Beautiful

Billy Haines

Old School Chinoiserie

Trevor Trainor and Alexis Swanson - DuJour.com

This is very much what my house was like in the 80s and 90s - a palette of pink and green with lots of florals, chintz, skirted tables, a plethora of pillows, elaborate draperies, pattern on pattern. My taste has changed over time, but I still love lots of this, especially the framed Chinoiserie panels.

Miles Redd

House Beautiful

Chinoiserie and Chintz

House Beautiful instagrammed this stunning room the other day. Can you guess the year?

a. An upcoming issue
b. 2003
c. 1992
d. 1981

If you guessed 1981, you were right. This is from House Beautiful, October 1981. The decade giveaway for the 80s is all that floral chintz. The chintz is Brunschwig & Fils Westbury Bouquet. I still adore chintz. It is timeless and pairs beautifully with Chinoiserie. Designers like Charlotte Moss, Mario Buatta, and Joe Nye have always loved chintz and Miles Redd and others have predicted a huge comeback for chintz. The key today is to use it as an accent and not all matchy matchy. Here are some examples.

Colleen Carney

Chintz sofa with gorgeous Chinoiserie walls

Chinese slipper chairs with Colefax and Fowler Gallica

Mario Buatta

Miles Redd

Joe Nye

Joe Nye

Joe Nye

Joe Nye

Joe Nye

Joe Nye