Sky High Blue and White

Les Ensembliers - Veranda Magazine

I am absolutely in love with this stunning blue and white space overlooking one of my favorite cities Montreal. The duplex is at the top of a former convent with views across the St. Lawrence River to the U.S. border and even views of the mountains of Vermont. Belonging to former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and his wife, blue and white anchors the space with blue and white Chinese porcelain. The Alexander Calder mobile takes center stage. Calder pieces are among the most valuable and most important art of the 20th century.

The Brass Palm Tree

Meg Braff

The popularity of brass palm trees dates to circa 1970 introduced by the iconic Paris based interior decor firm Maison Jansen, and they are seeing a resurgence today fueled by the popularity of Chinoiserie Chic, Hollywood Regency, and Mid Century Modern decor.

A Wonderful Chinoiserie Dining Room

Colleen Bashaw - House Beautiful

 I really love everything about this dining room. For me, it is the perfect mix of classic and modern, of formal and casual.

The marble oval Saarinen tulip table is such a favorite of mine. Created in 1957, it is an iconic and timeless mid century classic. Louis XVI chairs are covered in an indoor/outdoor Quadrille fabric. Practical and beautiful. The fabric is Quadrille's Magic Garden. I love the green tape and nailhead trim on the chairs too.

Slim Aarons/Palm Springs/CCC

CCC

One of my favorite new pieces in my Florida home is my Slim Aarons photograph in the living room. It is entitled "Poolside Party" and it is circa January 1970.

CCC

The iconic mid century modern Palm Springs home pictured in it was the backdrop for this and many of his most famous photos. 

The home was designed by Richard Neutra for Edgar Kauffman and is currently on the market for $17 million. This price tag would be a record for Palm Springs. 

Hump Day

Hathaway Hutton

 A vintage camel side table/stand has been on my radar screen for quite a while. The ones I especially like are Italian mid century. They work so well with chinoiserie as shown here. The giant tassel hung from his ear above is the cutest finishing touch.

Mark Sikes

House Beautiful

This pretty guy is $1200 on Chairish but shipping is $600. Yikes. With patience, one will turn up I'm sure.

Chairish

Brass Sculptures

Gideon Mendelson

This pretty bedroom features a palm chandelier and brass accents. How do you feel about the brass sculpture above the bed? It caught my eye because Brian and Mika used them all over their house on Rock the Block. Did you all watch this season? Once again, my least favorite house won. The show should be renamed "How to Appeal to the Masses." Brian and Mika are local/Tampa, but not fans of their show or style. I absolutely adored Nate and Jeremiah's house. And BTW, I can't stand the brass sculptures. To me it is the worst of mid century modern design.

 

The Florida Chinoise Dining Room

Hannah Crowell

I really like the vibe of this dining room by Nashville designer Hannah Crowell. Created for a young family's vacation home in Anna Maria Island, quite close to here, it captures what I am calling Florida Chinoise style that combines Chinoiserie and tropical elements.

I love the banana leaf curtains in Dorothy Draper's Brazilliance, a favorite fabric of mine, the wicker chairs (yesterday's post was on the topic of the resurgence of wicker), bamboo blinds, a striped rug, and a really fun tassel chandelier. These tasseled chandeliers are very bohemian and textural and just perfect for a beach house. They are very hot. This room is classic, fun, colorful, modern, and looks so easy to maintain. My favorite element is the wicker chairs reminiscent of the design of the mid century classic S shaped Panton chair. Do you like this dining room?

The Blue and White Dining Room

Kristen Nix Interiors

This is such a lovely blue and white dining room. The wallpaper is Brunschwig & Fils Bird and Thistle wallpaper in Aqua, a favorite of mine. This wallpaper is not really Chinoiserie style, but I feel it reads like it, if you know what I mean. The sideboard is interestingly placed in front of the window. I wonder if this is just for staging purposes as the pair of lamps have no electrical cords. I love the mid century modern sputnik chandelier, probably a modern version. The table centerpiece is blue and white Chinese porcelain filled with hydrangeas. The chairs are Miles Redd's Diamond Dining Chair from Ballard Designs - a lovely fretwork design he based on Chinese Chippendale. They are very affordable and on sale now as well. I really like this chair. It is also available as a barstool or counterstool.

The piece of art is also quite affordable - this print by Leslie Weaver is available on Chairish for $225.00 framed for this size with free shipping. I really like this. I checked out her website and her originals are very well priced as well. An alternative perhaps to Sally King Benedict whose work I love but perhaps is being a bit overused.

Don't let this quarantine keep you from home projects - rooms can be done like this lovely example shopping entirely online. Support businesses you love if you can. Life doesn't have to stand still. I couldn't find a description of this room, so I just did some research and found the sources of some of the pieces. If you know where any other things in this room are available, let me know. I love a room like this that is gorgeous and relatively affordable.

The Blue and White Dining Room

Luxe Interiors

A wonderful modern take on a blue and white Chinoiserie dining room by Nashville interior designer Blaire Murfree. An octagonal dining table is topped with a pleated and trimmed table skirt, mid century modern brass dining chairs are mixed with velvet modern ones, dark blue walls and moldings, a burl wood armoire, and a collection of blue and white ginger jars for an eclectic mix. I spy an acrylic bar cart too - another great touch.

And below are some blue and white shots from my Florida dining room.

The Chinoiserie Dining Room

Ethan Allen

Here is an interesting dining room that mixes traditional and modern with lots of blue and white Chinese porcelain. The navy blue walls and dining chairs lend a masculine vibe, while the sputnik chandelier is a modern take on a mid century modern classic. The pair of ginger jars on the table are a dramatic touch, but not great for dinner conversation.

Eclectic

Summer Thornton

Such a chic mix - a corner banquette, red shaded swing arm sconces, modern art, and a mid century modern table against Chinoiserie wallpaper.

Chic Mix

House Beautiful

I love the mix of the Slim Aarons photo and the pair of Chinese dragon jars.

The Chinese Screen

Alexander Doherty

Using a Chinese screen behind a sofa or bed adds a dramatic focal point. It is a favorite interior design tip.

Mid Century Modern

Meg Braff

This dining nook features mid century modern design with the iconic Clarence House David Hicks The Vase wallpaper and pillows, chocolate brown vinyl topped banquette, and Saarinen tulip chairs.

Warren Platner & Chinoiserie

Richmond Symphony Designer House

I am hoping to buzz down to Richmond this weekend before the Richmond Symphony Designer House closes on Monday and especially want to see this library. I am a huge fan of mid century modern and love Warren Platner chairs and tables. This is a pair of Platner chairs.

Platner combines surprising well with Chinoiserie.

Jonathan Adler

Cole & Son

David Hicks

Mid Century Modern Chinoiserie Mix

Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon

Pairing the Chinese Chippendale Chair

Jonathan Adler

For my dining room redo, I have decided to pair a round dining table with white Chinese Chippendale chairs. One idea I can't get out of my mind is a table I have loved for years, the iconic mid century modern Warren Platner table. Not sure if I will go this route or not, but I do love this table. It is available in vintage versions and authorized reproductions by Knoll as well as knockoffs.

James Andrew