Slim Aarons

Family Pool by Slim Aarons

 

I am a huge fan of the photography of Slim Aarons and have two at CCC. Slim Aarons was an American photographer known for photographing socialites, jet-setters, and celebrities. Interestingly, he never used a stylist or makeup artist. His most famous quote is that he liked "photographing attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places." Many of his iconic photographs were taken in Palm Springs in the 1950s to 1970s.

Fashion Photography

Charlotte Moss

 

The framed photo is from Vogue 1959 by famed photographer Louise Dahl-Wolfe. It features models on the beach at the Dorado Hotel in Puerto Rico and is entitled - "Models on the Beach." LOL.

A Slim Aarons Christmas

Slim Aarons Christmas Swim 1954

 

I especially like my growing collection of vintage photography art - I think it suits the Palm Springs/Palm Beach vibe of CCC perfectly. With Christmas this week, I thought it would be fun to look at Slim Aarons' unique take on Christmas - generally with a resort vacation vibe. The photo above features his wife Rita BTW.

Photography & Chinoiserie

Norman Parkinson

 This photo is by famed fashion photographer Norman Parkinson of French model Katherine Pastrie in a Bernard Devaux hat, circa 1960, in Queen magazine. I love everything about this. I collect vintage and antique hats and have a wonderful collection of Schiaparelli, Christian Dior, Bes-Ben, and many others. They really are works of art. 

But I digress. I have really gotten into decorating my home with framed photographs. I am finding more interior designers are combining chinoiserie and photographs by iconic photographers. It's a perfect juxtaposition and can add whatever look you are going for - glamorous, whimsical, sophisticated, playful, modern, or vintage. 

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. 

HomeGoods for the Score

Danielle Rollins

 

Some of you may recall my earlier post on this stunning dressing room in Danielle Rollins' former Buckhead Atlanta home. I especially loved the Louise Dahl-Wolfe "Models at the Beach" piece of art. I was in HomeGoods in Sarasota while the puppies were at their spa day this week and spotted a gorgeous, huge, beautifully framed version by Soicher Marin who happens to be based right up the road.

It's going to be perfect in my great room - I just need to get my art installer over here because it is quite large. I luckily had two electricians over yesterday who kindly brought it into the house for me. I am really getting into framed photographic art and this will go beautifully with my growing collection.

Models at the Beach by Louise Dahl-Wolfe

The Blue and White Powder Room

Kara Miller Interiors

 

This wonderful powder room features one of my absolute favorite wallpapers - Quadrille Lyford Trellis. The bamboo and cane mirror is perfect. The hand soap looks like Nest's Ocean Mist and Sea Salt. The picture light style fixture is very chic.

 Perhaps my favorite element is the vintage Steve McQueen black and white photograph. BTW, using a framed photograph is a great way way to keep a room fresh and modern and edgy and not granny. The photographer was famed war photographer and photojournalist John Dominis for Look magazine. 

Blue and White

Alessandra Branca

A lovely blue and white room by Alessandra Branca with a modern Ming coffee table, a blue and white Chinese garden stool, wicker, blue velvet, and a wonderful large framed photograph by Italian photographer Massimo Listri. I really like the button tufted back on the wicker settee. I also love that tray.

Alessandra almost always uses lampshades in colors, most often her signature red. Here in blue. It always strikes me as more suited to a child's room - I am more of a purist with white or ivory personally, unless it is wicker or raffia or the like. Just a personal preference. What do you think?

Technology Day @ CCC

Etsy - CooperModern

 So today is modern technology day at CCC. If all goes as planned (and it rarely does), Amazon will be delivering the Samsung Frame TV this morning along with a new receiver for my surround sound system. Then the TV is getting installed in the master bedroom and the surround sound that is all over the house including the lanai gets hooked up to the TVs and sound system. The new Frame TV has Alexa built in as well. And my internet and streaming is all wireless so everything needs to sync. As for the art on the Frame TV, it comes with a trial subscription to works of art from museums and galleries, but you can also download tons of art from places like Etsy and Juniper Home or upload your own art or photographs. So this will be a whole new learning curve with all of this for me. It will be a long day.... Cocktails @ 5.

Update - the TV was to arrive between 9 AM and noon and they were here at 9:05. Good start.

Saturday Inspiration

Slim Aarons

 I had so much fun yesterday looking at Slim Aarons photographs and even came across one with a Chinese pagoda pool house! And thanks for all the comments that the other photographer I was searching for is Venice's Clyde Butcher. I am excited to visit his gallery especially since it is a few minutes from me. Here he is photographing in Myakka River State Park in Sarasota, one of my favorite places.

Clyde Butcher

My handyman is coming over shortly to finish up a few things and my art installer is coming here on Thursday, so I am getting down to the short strokes with projects around here. So great!!!

Hanging Pictures

Slim Aarons

Yesterday I scheduled my art installer. He is coming over next Thursday to hang all the art in all sixteen areas of the house. It is a big project for me to figure out where everything goes. He sounds great - he was recommended by a follower of CC and the name of his business is The Hanging Man. Perfect. 

I worked all day yesterday on this project. I have it well in hand, but have a few loose ends.

I have always sworn by hanging art at the iconic 57" center height, but wonder if we will raise this to 60" or so with my high ceilings.

I would love to do a gallery wall in my walk in closet inspired by Danielle Rollins' stunning closet. This will take some planning.

Danielle Rollins - Veranda

Danielle Rollins

I have way too much art and will not be using everything, but I want to acquire one very large piece for above the living room sofa. I think I would like a very large framed photograph and have narrowed it down to two choices. One would be a Slim Aarons photograph - I have always wanted one. Especially one taken in Florida. The other option is this - last winter in the Sarasota house a follower mentioned a photographer in Venice who does palm trees and the like - very Old Florida. I need his name if you are reading this and thanks!

I am really looking forward to getting this project done now that all the furniture is here and I have gotten to know the house. 

Chinoiserie Vignette

Susan Bednar Long - Luxe 

An antique sideboard, Gracie Chinoiserie wallpaper, and a Matthew Pillsbury photograph work beautifully together.

Happy New Year

For last year's words belong to last year's language

And next year's words await another voice.

And to make an end is to make a beginning.

~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

(Photo courtesy of Rodney Smith)

Merry Christmas from Chinoiserie Chic

(Photo courtesy of Rodney Smith)

A Terrible Day

After being stuck in the house all weekend after a record blizzard, I decided to work outside today to try to remove the 20 inches of snow from my shrubs. As I worked outside, a burglar made off with my purse including cash, driver's license, all credit cards, checkbook, debit card, etc. etc. After discovering the burglary and calling 911, the police thought the burglar was still in my house, and armed police searched my home while I stood outside in the freezing cold not knowing whether my house had been ransacked or whether my dog was o.k. Izzy and the house are fine, but I am a bit frazzled.

Snow Day

D.C. is in the midst of its biggest December snowfall in seventy years with twenty inches predicted to fall. Christmas activities will have to be put on hold for a day or two to dig out, hopefully before cabin fever sets in. Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

(Photo courtesy of Rodney Smith)

A Chinoiserie Christmas Morning

(Photo by Chris Everard)

Enjoy Your Weekend

(Photo courtesy of Rodney Smith)

Modern Photography

I think modern framed photographs with just a hint of Asian influence would be perfect for the city apartment of the lover of modern Chinoiserie. These examples by the uber talented photographer Rodney Smith are stunning.