Chinoiserie Cocktail Table

Another wonderful vintage restoration by decorative artist Stephanie Jones of Me & Mrs. Jones. See it here on Etsy. This chic table with wonderful fretwork detailing has been painted in raspberry with robin's egg blue underneath. So fun! A perfect cocktail table or for between two chairs. Would also be very glamorous with a glass or mirrored top which the recessed top can accommodate. I just love the styling in the top photo-I'll take it all!

Silver Gilded Pagoda Chairs

Stephanie Jones, an extremely talented decorative artist and follower of Chinoiserie Chic, has rescued these wonderful vintage pagoda chairs. By gilding them in silver leaf, she has turned them into works of art. Don't you like the pagoda detailing at the tops of the chairs? I'd love to hear your ideas on fabrics to finish them. What would you use? I'm thinking of Schumacher's Imperial Trellis in Silver, or some vintage silver Fortuny, or perhaps Michael Devine's Fretwork, all shown below. If you are in the Memphis area, you can see the chairs in person at Market Central or view and purchase them on Etsy here. These would be a wonderful addition to any Chinoiserie lover's home. Read more about this artist's work here.

David Mitchell Dining Room

Does anyone remember the Southern Accents Old Dominion Showhouse in McLean, Virginia done a few years back by David Mitchell? It was extraordinary. One of my favorite rooms was the dining room. Mr. Mitchell had the paneled walls painted to resemble de Gournay hand painted silk wallpaper. For more of the house, click here. As Mr. Mitchell says, " a dining room is about the chairs, the walls, and the chandelier." Stay tuned later this week when I reveal my own dining room makeover that I am just putting the finishing touches on.

Warner Graves Chinoiserie

Please check out the beautiful work of Bay area decorative painter Warner Graves who has developed a niche specializing in Chinoiserie. With his strong background in art history and the fine arts, he creates one of a kind interiors and reproduction furnishings.

The Perfect Chinoiserie Dining Room

I was thrilled to have been contacted by Donna Benedetto, a follower of Chinoiserie Chic, about this gorgeous Chinoiserie dining room she just completed for a designer showhouse in Weston, Connecticut. Donna is an interior designer, a decorative artist, and an antiques dealer. Her hand-painted walls are a modern interpretation of Gracie. She used a silver metallic strie with a chartreuse metallic Chinoiserie design. There are six different stencils on the walls which she plans to have available for purchase on her website. Please click on the photos to enlarge. I love the feel of this room-the mix of fresh clean colors, antiques, and modern pieces. And don't miss all the beautiful elements in this dining room.

1. Blanc de Chine

2. Reindeer moss balls in the white urns on the mantle and sheet moss on the table

3. A neutral rug

4. A casual table and chairs

5. Gorgeous green and white trellis fabric on the chairs-notice the nailhead trim

6. Three mirrors-a white pagoda mirror, a Venetian mirror, and a sunburst mirror

7. The white plates surrounding the white pagoda mirror

8. The mirrored insets on the ceiling

9. The framed botanicals-be sure to check out the marvelous Chinoiserie frames

10. The crystal chandelier and lamps-imagine those reflected in the ceiling mirrored insets and the three mirrors

11. The Chinoiserie china

Please be sure to visit the website of this very talented designer and artist. This is my taste and style in a nutshell-mixing antique and modern in a classic, timeless, elegant, and sophisticated way. Bravo!

Scott Waterman and Chinoiserie

Today we are exploring the extraordinary work of renowned artist and decorative painter Scott Waterman. His work has been featured in Southern Accents, House & Garden, Interior Design, and many others, and he is a favorite of interior designers across the country. For a wonderful profile of this talented artist in Southern Accents, please click here. Mr. Waterman was born in Florida and lived in Atlanta, so his timeless, elegant Southern aesthetic is evident. Now living in Los Angeles, he is very well known for his grand-scale murals commissioned by interior designers and private art collectors. He works primarily out of his L.A. studio and not on location, shipping his art to clients. But he often travels to the site in person to see the space or to oversee installation, so that the art is integrated and in harmony with its location. I was not surprised to learn that Mr. Waterman was influenced by James McNeill Whistler, as his Peacock Room at the Freer Gallery in D.C. is a masterpiece of interior decorative mural art. Mr. Waterman was kind enough to put together a group of Chinoiserie themed works from his extensive portfolio of murals, works on furniture, and works on paper. Although his portfolio covers a wide range of subjects, I think you will agree that his Chinoiserie work is stunning.

This silver leaf on silk project was created for the Santa Barbara historic estate of Holmby Hills and was featured in Southern Accents. Mr. Waterman noted that when working on silk one cannot make any mistakes. Click on the photos to enlarge. For more of his work, or to contact the artist, go to www.scottwaterman.com

These photos feature an antique canopy bed for which the artist painted four paintings to be changed with each season. Bamboo is summer, Pine is autumn, Plumb is winter, and Lotus is spring. The client is an Episcopal priest and Chinese scholar.

A wonderful Chinoiserie screen with the artist's sketches.

Another stunning screen for Charleston interior designer Amelia Handegan.

The artist in front of a large Chinoiserie canvas he created for Jean de Merry magazine ads.