Category: Wednesday Classics

Patterned floors have been mostly used in middle eastern design for centuries.  Ranging from elaborate and intrinsic techniques such as Mosaic– small pieces of stone or glass (mostly the same size) are glued together to form a scene or picture to Pietre Dure- where small pieces of semi-precious stones are cut in different shapes and forms and then glued together to form geometric or figurative patterns most often used on floors, walls or tables; to Parquetry-where a similar process (in geometric shapes) is done with wood.  There are simpler and less compromising methods such as painted or stenciled floors.  Although many people would be afraid to commit to patterned floors permanently when a consecutive geometric pattern is used, as seen in these images, the result can be as classic and easy to adapt to as plain tiles or wood floors.  And the outlook could be simply stunning.

Two images below, Pietre Dure on table.

 

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Fauteuil, a term not often used, refers to a French chair with under armrest open.  It usually has a patting on the armrest for comfort and it was mostly used in England where comfort first became more important than aesthetics compared to France. Below, a few modern versions of Fauteuils.

 Miles Redd upholstered this handsome Fauteuil in bright amethyst.

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This week I decided to do something different for my Wednesday Classics series.  Instead of talking about a theme or style, I’m sharing with you images of this beautiful Belgian home which is furnished with classic Danish leather furniture, ethnic textiles and a collection of artifacts from South Africa.  A very classic home on its own way and style.  Enjoy!

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Upholstered doors

Upholstered doors are perhaps the crown jewel of detailing.  One thing is to add moldings, dado rails and/or to cover a wall with mirrors but upholstering one door is the epitome of attention to details.  Although most commonly used in the glamorous times of the ‘30’s; according to Suzanne Rheinstein, upholstered doors were also used in kitchen doors of the English Estates to keep the sound and the smell of cooking from spreading.  Very clever!  One of the first old images that come to my mind is Helena Rubenstein’s Paris apartment ca. 1937 where sumptuous satin fabric covered the doors in her bedroom.  In the time of glamour and exuberance of the ‘30’s, doors were a lot more elaborate with patterns that not only emulated the shape of the door but were more like plain canvases where different designs patterns were created.  Keep scrolling down to see Miles Redd’s upholstered door featured in New York Social Diary.

Upholstered doors

Helena Rubenstein’s Paris apartment 1937.  Image via Corbis.

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 classic wednesday white and blue

Very few color combinations is as classic as blue and white. A combination that has been used since the time of the Ottoman Empire and in places as exotic as Morocco, it’s been adopted by American Design since the longest time. Blue and white is a timeless combination of which one never gets tired, because as someone recently said: “it’s in nature.” That is probably why we never get bored of it. Below are a few images of white and blue rooms dating back as old as 1966 to prove it.

white and blue

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 Claude & François-Xavier Lalanne
A Lalanne desk
Many people would argue that the word ‘classic’ can only be given to furniture influenced by or, created at a specific style period. I think classic furniture can also be what does not go out of style and what is coveted and pursued by collectors or design aficionados worldwide, be that art or furniture. François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne’s furniture fall into those two categories; they’re art and furniture at the same time. Pretty much every design lover has seen those lovely whimsical sheep made out of bronze and wool as well as the impressive surrealist rhinoceros desk or bars designed by the deceased François-Xavier Lalanne. Claude, Lalanne’s wife, designed beautiful botanical-inspired furniture. Even when the husband and wife duo started creating sculptures in the late 1950’s, their fantastic and innovative work does not represent the 50’s style but a unique style of their own.

If you live in Coral Gables, FL Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is currently having the U.S.’s largest outdoor exhibition of Lalanne’s sculptors through May 31st.