Monkey Business

Lilly Pulitzer

I came across this Lilly Pulitzer photo shoot featuring pieces from their collection worn by a vintage Mario Lopez Torres rattan monkey. It was shot with items from the wonderful West Palm Beach vintage store Circa Who.

Functional and Fabulous

Arthur Court Alligator Paper Towel Holder

 

“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” - William Morris. 

I don't see why you can't have both. These paper towel holders are a great example. This alligator is too perfect for Florida.

Monkey Business

NEST New York The White Lotus

 

I have always loved monkey motifs. This is a new scent from NEST New York The White Lotus Cucumber and White Sage adorned with monkeys and lotus flowers.

Bunny Williams Foyer - I Spy

Bunny Williams

I came across this picture of the foyer in the Connecticut home of Bunny Williams and John Rosselli. If you look closely you will see a white obelisk just inside the door. I have what looks to be the same one that I picked up years ago at a favorite vintage store in McLean, Virginia. 

Monkey Business

CCC

 

I found this monkey at HomeGoods about a year ago. After I posted on it, I found out that my daughter has the same one from HomeGoods in gold and white.

Halloween Decorating @ CCC

CCC

 

Things are getting "spooky" at CCC this weekend. I am in Halloween decorating mode here. Pumpkins have finally arrived at Publix and I plan to get them this weekend too. I am doing my front entrance with all blue and white heirloom pumpkins to go with my blue and white Chinese porcelain at my front entrance.

Chinoiserie Chic Fashion Finds

Palm Beach Enamel Bangles

 

I am always on the lookout for unique pieces for my wardrobe and especially love ones with chinoiserie style. Here are some chic new finds.

Whimsical Wicker

Amanda Potcake Wicker Dog

 I have a definite thing for wicker animals and have a little menagerie in my home and lanai - four wicker elephants, two wicker snails, two wicker monkeys, a wicker turtle, and a wicker frog. No wicker dogs, but this guy is very cute.

The Chinoiserie Powder Room

Dunbar Road Design

 

Here is a darling powder room with many chinoiserie touches. A bamboo pagoda mirror, Greek key sconces, a pagoda embroidered hand towel, and a vintage blue and white Chinese porcelain monkey add so much personality. I have two of these monkeys that I use in my master bath next to the tub. I found them at Goodwill many years ago. They can be used. in so many rooms in so many ways. The wallpaper is Schumacher's Feather Bloom by Celerie Kemble.

CCC

CCC

Island Style

Amanda Lindroth

 I love everything about this dining room - a marble Saarinen table, Grotto shellback chairs (look like vintage Brown Jordan) in mint green, rattan peacock chairs, bougainvillea from the garden, and highly collectible Mario Lopez Torres monkey wicker chandelier and egret lamp. Bare windows for lots of light and beautiful outdoor views.

Saturday Inspiration

Amanda Lindroth

As you may recall, I bought a new pink velvet sofa for my study that I really love. I was thrilled to find a room that uses a pink velvet couch, as it is for sure rare. 

This Amanda Lindroth room incorporates a stunning pink velvet corner banquette with bullion fringe, dramatic coral wallpaper, a lucite cocktail table, a Chinese Chippendale chair, a palm frond lighting fixture, bamboo blinds, wicker sconces, and a seagrass rug topped with a striped flatware rug. These rugs made out of seagrass squares are very well priced and a signature item of hers. She loves juxtaposing high and low end pieces. Note the pale green ceiling. The wallpaper is Schumacher's Great Barrier Reef.

I just found a second shot of this room with a vintage Blanc de Chine Chinoiserie monkey and a white faux bamboo sconce. I love this room.

Amanda Lindroth

The Blue and White Dining Room

Jonathan Adler - ELLE Decor

Here is another lovely room from Liz Lange's wonderful Palm Beach home. The table is skirted with a Kravet fabric with Jonathan Adler fringe topped with an Indian block - printed tablecloth. The chairs are Bungalow 5. The wallpaper is by Peter Durham and the ceiling is tented in a Cole & Son wallpaper. The rug is Serena & Lily.

The sideboard has blue and white Chinese lamps and a collection of blue and white Chinese porcelain. My fave piece is the Mario Lopez Torres vintage wicker monkey chandelier from Circa Who. Torres' pieces have become highly collectable and quite pricey, but so charming! I love that Adler has used things throughout the house that are readily available.

The Chinoiserie Bathroom

Carla Fonts Hrncir - Luxe Interiors

This wonderful bathroom features lots of Chinoiserie including a pagoda bamboo mirror, Greek key sconces, a monogrammed pagoda guest towel, and a darling blue and white Chinese porcelain monkey. I have a very similar pair that I love that I found at Goodwill for $11.00. Wallpaper is Schumacher's Feather Bloom by Celerie Kemble, a very lovely sisal.

Here are mine in my breakfast room.

Styling the Coffee Table - Florida Edition

My Coffee Table

I have enjoyed styling my coffee table in the new house. The pink marble slab was brought back from Italy by my late husband's parents decades ago and I have always loved it. The pair of gilded pagoda lanterns are from Charlotte Moss' Manhattan store that unfortunately did not stay open for long - it was wonderful. I found the brass monkey at HomeGoods shortly before moving to Florida. The pink coral is a new (yesterday) HomeGoods find. My HomeGoods store here in Sarasota is fabulous - filled with blue and white Chinese porcelain, Greek key, Kate Spade, and great art believe it or not.

I have now finished the entire first floor of the house and starting upstairs. This house is unusual for South Florida in that it has a second floor. It has two staircases that lead upstairs to two guest bedrooms, a full bath, a huge bonus room, and a large balcony.

The Chinoiserie Table

Veranda NYBG Orchid Dinner - via Quintessence

A palette of red and blue with Mottahedeh monkeys, orchids, and Greek key trimmed ikat tablecloths add Chinoiserie flair to this lovely table setting.

Lulu Powers - Outdoor Dining

A very cute outdoor table setting today on One Kings Lane by Lulu Powers. The monkeys look like these from Z Gallerie sans glass votive holders holding tangerines instead.

The Pagoda Child's Room

From Martensen Jones Interiors, a fantastic Chinoiserie child's bedroom replete with pagoda walls, pagoda lamp, blanc de Chine monkey, blanc de Chine elephant teapot, Chinese Chippendale chair, white Louis Ghost chair, and Bungalow 5 desk, dresser, and bedside table. Fabulous!

More Scalamandre Chi'En Dragon

Keith Carroll uses Scalamandre Chi'En Dragon in Coral on Cream, a pagoda centerpiece, and blanc de Chine monkeys for his table at the Metropolitan Club.

My Latest Find

My latest treasure is this circa 1950s Hollywood Regency monkey obelisk I found at my favorite local consignment store for $85.00. At 26 inches tall, it makes quite a statement, and I am a sucker for anything with monkeys.

Iomoi Monkey Business

I am crazy over this monkey tray for my desk to hold my iomoi calling cards.