Markham Roberts, Decorating the way I see it.

The fine folks at Vendome Press recently sent me a copy of Markham Roberts new book, Decorating the way I see it, and I spent a happy evening perusing Robert's trademark 'un-decorated' style.

While Roberts modestly claims in the book to not have a trademark style I would disagree.  Each house has the style of its' homeowner graciously pulled together by the talent of the designer.

I hate those blogpost spoilers you so often see that share every image in the book; why purchase the book then? Seen highlighted in this post is one project seen in the book out of many that was previously published by House Beautiful (seen HERE).

The house was originally designed by noted architect H.T. Lindeberg (about whom I have blogged many times HERE) in the Locust Valley section of Long Island and retains all of the era's charm and graceful proportions.

The book is split into HOW Roberts works and starts practically, with the room's floorplan (seen above). Nothing fancy is needed.  The designer sketched the furniture to scale over a drafted floorplan to see how the room functions and what scale of furniture was required.

 The house is a charming brick structure. The room in question is the side wing seen above.

A true sign of any designer's talent is how they live themselves. The last few chapters of the book are devoted to Robert's own homes and the sneak peaks are delightful, particularly his private dressing room seen below where all of his interests collide.

The book Markham Roberts, Decorating the way I see it, is a delightful read full of Robert's obvious charm, modesty, and wit with a peak at some of his many projects which don't scream 'decorated' but rather are gracious homes where people can actually LIVE.
All photography in the book and this post by Nelson Hancock 

Manhattan Classic, New York's Finest Prewar Apartments

I was very excited to recently receive a copy of Princeton Architectural Press's new book "Manhattan Classic" by Geoffrey Lynch, pictured below, (from the firm H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture) which features the best 'Prewar' apartment buildings in NYC.

This well organized book starts with a map of NYC which shows the location of the buildings covered. Each chapter then features an exemplary floorplan of the prime unit in each building as well as photos of additional apartments.  In many ways it reminds me a lot of Washingon, DC's version of this (our real estate bible!) Best Addresses by James Goode (another book I can't recommend more highly!)

For architectural floorplan lovers like me you won't be able to put this book down - pure floorplan porn with over 84 apartments featured!

Some of the images you may recognize such as this apartment from 998 Fifth Avenue but it's interesting to see them placed within their buildings and area of the city -putting a name to the face so to speak. I love this dining room above and the staircase located within the same duplex apartment, seen below, is even more stunning!

Some people may sneer at apartment living as 'small' but this book proves that the dwellers of these apartments aren't missing out on anything from a single family home!  Pick up your own copy of the book today and settle down with a glass of wine to study the floorplans; I promise you won't regret it!!

The Architecture of Diplomacy: The British Ambassador's Residence in Washington

While I prepare a series of lengthier posts I wanted to share with you an astonishing new book that has recently been released, The Architecture of Diplomacy: The British Ambassador's Residence in Washington.

I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to a media preview of the book as well as a tour of the residence by the authors as well as the Ambassador, Sir Peter Westmacott, and his wife Susie.  I pass this famous structure by one of my favorite architects, Edwin Lutyens, weekly but had never been behind the iron gates. Needless to say it was a thrill!

I wanted to wet your appetite with these gorgeous photographs from the book by photographer Eric Sander before sharing with you my own detail snapshots and information about this extraordinary house in later posts.

The main stair-hall has a very 'on trend' gallery of stunning prints from the UK Government Art Collection. Far from a new decorating device however, these gallery walls are a contemporary interpretation of the print rooms interiors that were popular in British country houses from as early as the 1750s.

So much to take in; the railing, the stone stair, gallery wall. The 118 framed prints feature portraits, country houses, botanical specimens, animals, views of London, cathedrals, churches, castles, as well as images relating to the embassy itself.

Built as an embassy in 1930 (unlike most current embassies in this city) this is naturally the perfect party house. The main floor is 1/2 circulation space with the other public areas consisting of a grand ballroom, seen above, a drawing room and a dining room.

 Every room is picture perfect, even the private study of the ambassador above.

 The last public room is of course the garden. I look forward to sharing much about this as well.

My favorite room, and probably the most stunning stair I have ever seen, was the private stair up to the 2nd floor where the ambassador's apartment and guest rooms are housed.

The book contains many more inspirational images that won't disappoint: definitely add this tome to your design library! Stay tuned for more details of the British Embassy.
All photos courtesy of Eric Sanders from The Architecture of Diplomacy.

Classical Invention on the Hudson River by John Murray

Architect John Murray is no stranger to most style-minded classicists after his monograph,' Classical Invention', flew off shelves and onto design bookshelves everywhere. I recently heard him speak through our local chapter of the ICAA and his intelligence and beautiful work go hand in hand.

While flipping through the most recent issue of New Old House magazine I came across a renovated country house Murray completed on the Hudson River that made me feel instantly at home. Murray enhanced the existing house in such a way that one doesn't know what is old and what is new, one only knows that it is RIGHT.

 The floorplan is a dream come true for most of us I would imagine; The only thing missing is the river view!

 French casements open completely to bring in the river views and air. The century old beams are the only decoration needed architecturally, interior designer Sam Blount provided the rest.

 The kitchen has all of the modern amenities of a new house and the charm of the old house.  Again I love the french casements!

The screened porch can be used year round. And what is a screened porch without ceiling fan and sky-blue beadboard ceiling?  This definitely ranks among my country house dreams -how about yours?

All photographs by Durston Saylor from New Old House magazine, Spring/Summer 2014

Design is all in the details

As Mies van der Rohe was fond of saying, 'God is in the detail'; a quote often attributed to him but in fact  much older. Details have been on my mind lately as I'm currently reading Phillip James Dodd's book "The Art of Classical Details" which I would whole-heartedly recommend to all of you.

While walking around the city the other day I was looking at some of the quieter buildings that normally would be under my radar and noticed that some of them had ravishing details. This brick townhouse below is almost a pattern book for a Victorian brick maker. All of that detail is of brick -such unusual shapes!

This iron railing seen below had amazing curvaceous brackets -simple but lovely. On buildings such as a standard row-house these details make all the difference and have stood the test of time. Have you seen anything that has caught your eye lately? What did we do before camera phones to capture our visual world?

Chapin Residence floorplan

One of my favorite books that I've mentioned before is the monograph of H.T. Lindeberg's residential work. Many of his smaller projects are shown including just these 3 intriguing photographs of a rather odd house in Lake Forest, Illinois in 1926 for Lowell C. Chapin, Esq.

If you study the plan you'll notice that the house consists of a rather small entry vestibule and an enormous living room. Thats all for public space! A warren of servants quarters fill the remainder of the first floor while the 2nd floor holds 4 bedrooms. Strange but ultimately practical.

And as you can see the 'simple' house packs a lot of punch with that steep French roofline.  Rather a quirky house and it leads me to wonder how it has changed over the past 90 years or is even still extant.

Classic style doesn't date

 As you well know I'm a firm believer that classic style doesn't date.  An example of this is a room by talented designers Tom Fox and Joe Nahem from the 1980s when they decorated the dining room of the Castles on the Sound showhouse (featured in the book Interior Visions).

Working with the great bones of the space, mahogany paneling and a stone fireplace surround, they re-envisioned the formal dining room for everyday use TODAY (or at least 1980s today). Beautiful classic furniture, art, and objects create a space that anyone would be happy using in 1980 or 2014. How many times have you redecorated your own living or dining room since 1980 and at what cost? Do we need any more reason to shun the overtly trendy and revel in classic style

Nina Campbell at Waterworks, DC

A few evenings ago I had the privilege to attend a book signing of Nina Campbell's new book at the beautiful Waterworks Georgetown showroom in Cady's Alley. Meeting the talented but surprisingly down-to-earth Mrs Campbell was such a treat as she really is one of the most prolific and important designers working today.

Introducing Nina Campbell was founder of Waterworks, the talented Barbara Sallick, seen to the right. Waterworks will have some exciting changes later this year but I was sworn to secrecy! Look for more news on that later. As always the showroom was inspiring -every tile or fixture you see is more beautiful than the last!

Please pick up a copy of this book, Nina Campbell Interiors, as you won't be disappointed. The inspiring work is comfortable and pretty (that word that terrifies architects world-wide) with a tinge of glamour captured beautifully by Simon Brown's photography.
Sadly I missed seeing my friend Michele of My Notting Hill but see her writeup of the event HERE.

Le Pavillon de Madame, Verailles

As promised here I bring you another small mansion from the book "The smaller houses and gardens of Versailles", this one simply entitled "Le Pavillon de Madame".  While the address is stated, 63 Avenue de Paris, I can't find any information about the house and according to a googlemap search it has either been torn down since 1926 or the address has changed. If anyone has any information I would appreciate learning more!

The house is a delightful arrangement in the French tradition in that there is no front facade and each of the 4 facades is equally attractive.

The exterior is a light grey painted stucco to mimic limestone with a rusticated base and quoins (corner treatment) on the upper floor. The mansard roof is slate while the beautiful dormers are of lead.

As you can see in the site plan above the house is situated in an enormous garden which hides the surrounding houses. It provides a very formal French garden which is in fact a potager or kitchen garden -where flowers mingle with fruits and vegetables. At the end of a path is the orangery where more exotic fruits and plants could grow.

The tall trees surrounding the garden not only hide the neighbors but other agricultural necessities; a chicken run, a rabbitry, and numerous outbuildings.

The plan is unusual in that it is laid out as a town house. The dining room on the main floor opens to the garden and terrace with kitchens and service spaces surrounding it. Only up the staircase are the other rooms you'd expect to find on the ground level. Even in a small house such as this there is a stair for the master and another for the servants.

The house contains only one bedroom going back to what I talked about in the last post HERE that these houses were private retreats from the palace of Versailles and not meant for entertaining or even families.

The rooms are all small and cozy but feature fine detailing such as this painted boiserie in the entry hall which the article states was painted white.

The stair has interesting faux-marble painted boiserie and patterns that I think show the 18th century interest in the discovery of Herculaneum and Pompeii. Notice the beautiful chevron patterned floors.

Behind the front hall the dining room continues the chevron floors with pale green painted boiserie covering the walls. Notice the painted scenic overdoors.

This is probably the most charming room in the house, don't you think, with French doors opening out to the terrace?

The eclectic array of furniture is very of the 1920s and today for that matter; a very comfortable arrangement.

This seating group by the fireplace is probably where the owner spent a lot of time before and after meals.

Upstairs the boiserie is left natural and unpainted with the carved details picked out in gold leaf.  The chandelier is of course more in the French taste while the assortment of furniture almost feels English to my eye.

No shortage of light or garden views from up here either. I love how the chandelier reflects the light even without the electricity turned on.

It pains me to think this may have been torn down! What do you think -could you live in a mini mansion such as this? Live stylishly in a smaller space is what this house screams to me!