The Govenors Mansion, Atlanta Georgia.



Staircase Rotunda at the Governor's Mansion, built in 1967. 
Architect Thomas A Bradbury, AIA.
A wonderful job was done recreating a period home
in the modern age. 
Scale, proportion, and details are all pitch perfect.

A long time ago, I remember watching an episode of Designing Women in which Julia Sugarbaker (the late Dixie Carter), in a brief moment of enforced fun, put her head between the railings on a staircase and gets her head stuck.  The staircase was at the Governors Mansion in Atlanta and the crew of Sugarbaker's Interior Design was decorating it for the annual Govenor's Ball.  The plot revolved around getting Julia's head out of the railing without having to cut through the wood handrail which was made of one continuous piece of timber (known is the episode as the 'Abbott Banister', a fictitious piece of historic memorabilia).

Silly little things like the plot of a defunct sitcom episode from 1989 have a funny way of sticking with you.  So when I found a spread in a 1970 issue of Architectural Digest that was all about the Atlanta Mansion immortalized (for me, at least) by one of my favorite television shows, I had to share it.  In addition to nostalgia, it's also a beautiful example of a Greek Revival style home that pays accurate tribute to its antebellum roots, but was built in the 20th century.  If architectural interest isn't enough, it's also home to a fine collection of American Federal antiques.

Surrounded on all sides by fluted Doric columns, the rose-toned brick structure is a perfect example of the Greek Revival style popular throughout the South during the first half of the 19th century.  Assembling the furnishings was a two year process that involved acquiring important pieces attributed to noteworthy cabinetmakers from Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Georgia, plus antique chandeliers and period marble mantels imported from England.

I'm sure that in the past 40 years the interior of the mansion has changed slightly with new upholstery and window treatments, but with a grand collection of American Federal furnishings, significant American art and the drama of the architecture, the core strength of the home has surely stayed the same.  and I'm sure countless tour groups have attempted to get their heads between the rail, just like Julia.

- Ian

In the Reception Hall, American Federal chairs, c. 1880, surround an English podium table in the Greek Revival style.
The niche in the background holds a bronze bust of George Washington by Houdon, c 1778.  The marble topped pier table in the background, c. 1815, is one of four pieces in the home attributed to Charles-Honore Lannuier.

The State Dining Room room with reproduction 19th century chairs and a
New England accordion Federal style table attributed to John Seymour.

The State Drawing room features and Aubusson rug and a marvelous mantle with a
gold Greek Key motif.  The red upholstery, by Scalamandre, is a document silk woven originally for the Red Room at the White House.  The sofa,one of a pair, is Duncan Phyfe.

The Cherry paneled library with a Tabriz rug and a collection of books relating to Georgia.
I love the simplicity and elegance of the window coverings and that Greek Revival
chandelier with it's spare use of crystal and gold.  So understated.

The Ground Floor Guest Bedroom houses an alcove bed (with gilded Egypian busts and animal paw feet)
attributed to Charles-Honore Lannuier, c. 1815.  The rug is English needlepoint, the artwork
is a wallpaper panel illustrating Psyche showing her jewels to her sisters. 
The arm chair is Sheraton in style.

Julia gets her head stuck in a fence.

Hot Flashes and Trigger Fingers

A typical Flash Sale Email alert.  You  get zero warning, so
it's like a little time bomb in your inbox.  These go out
to Department Store card holders who have shopped
recently online.

I was out to lunch with my friend Holly a few weeks ago and we were lamenting the Internet.  Well, she was lamenting it; I was agreeing with everything she said, making her feel like she wasn't so past her prime that learning all the ins and outs seemed futile, while simultaneously making myself appear concerned and responsible.  It's a give and take relationship built on lies and half truths, without the hassle of community property or conjugal visitation.

As Holly is one of my long time shopping comrades, the conversations took a hard left and went to Internet shopping, one of my favorite vices (especially when it's an online sale).  I really do think it's the 8th deadly sin.  I'm one to send people web links of things they need (well, what I think they need) whenever I am online perusing websites, and Holly is always at the top of my list.  Much to her chagrin, her inbox is always host to a number of my emails imploring her to make a judgement call she doesn't want to make when confronted with a beautiful necklace from Saks (it's on sale!  charity starts at home!  screw the kids!) or some clearance shoes at J. Crew (saying no at this price would be irresponsible!  Jesus hates cheap people!). 

I brought up the new 'innovation' known as the 'flash sale'.  She thought it was something you physically attended, like a sample sale in the middle of the desert, or a paternity hearing.  I enlightened her by saying it was all online, and she didn't have to put her good face on or slip her husband a mickey to get a piece of the action. 

One Kings Lane is known for their Tastemaker Tag Sales.
In essence, known designers from across the US have a
classy Garage Sale online through the website.  It's their
opportunity to clear out the closet of excess accessories
and furniture, and your opportunity to buy it at a discounted
price.  Warning : 'Discount' is not the same as 'Cheap'.

 

There are two kinds of flash sales.  One is put on by Brick and Mortar retailers with namesake websites such as Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue; they shoot you an email early in the morning and the sale is over in a few hours.  Neiman's calls their sale the 'Mid-day Dash', Saks calls it 'The Fashion Fix', same story, different title.  The other type of Flash Sale is put on by websites solely devoted to selling selected designer wares at discounted prices for limited amounts of time, usually a week or until the limited supply runs out.  I like Gilt Groupe and One Kings Lane, in case you're interested.





Join Gilt Groupe





Join One Kings Lane



In both cases, the enforced time limit (which goes so far as to allow you only 10 minutes to hold something in your shopping bag), the dramatically reduced prices ($99.00 for a pair of A. Testoni shoes that sell for over $300.00 at Saks), and the limited quantities all combine to elicit the sort of heart pumping adrenal overload usually reserved for the more conventional carnal pleasures like fight clubs or human trafficking.  Happiness is just a few clicks away.

Gilt Group has an app for your smart phone, iPad, you name it.
So when you cause a 7 car pile up on the 405, at least it won't
be due to texting or talking on your phone!

Holly, whom I had just tutored on the ins and outs of Facebook, opted to stick to what she knew best; buying in person.  She's not one for mystery or surprises.  There is a certain satisfaction in finding your prize in the flesh, feeling the quality, assuring the perfect fit, and then sneaking it home in the back of the car.  Maybe you stuff it in your gym bag, or in with your Trader Joe's groceries.  Deceit makes the fruits of your labor taste all the sweeter, in my opinion.  For those of us who enjoy a deal and a good game of Russian Roulette, the Flash Sale is a magical invention pregnant with potential.  Let Holly play it safe; it leaves more for the rest of us.  J'adore a good deal.

- Ian

Join Gilt Groupe

Join One Kings Lane

How Green was My Valley? I'm not Sure...

A little while back, my friend Karen (you'd love her, she's adorable) asked me if I knew where she could get a Green sofa; Green as in the lifestyle, not the color.  As much as I love being asked questions (ego stroking) and as much as I love helping people (self induced ego stroking), I was actually at a loss.  I had no idea where to get Green furniture.



A green sofa from http://www.ifgreen.com/.  I love that they're
doing the sustainable thing, but it looks like a park bench
with padding.  What if you happen to like arms on a
sofa?

 If you hadn't figured it out, I'm not especially enamored with the Green lifestyle that has come into fashion.  I am proud to say that I recycle absolutely everything, my light bulbs are CFL's, and I walk, rather than drive, as much as possible.  I do not, however, want to live in a rehabilitated shipping crate with a windmill in my front yard and corn growing on my roof.  I feel I'm a normal person with environmental concerns, but I'm realistic in my capacities.  I am in no way a Green Living super hero.  So while Karen's inquiry made me feel highly capable, I wondered where on earth she got the idea that I'd know anything at all.



The 'Swamp Thing' dining set from DB Furniture. 
Made of reclaimed wood and metal.
For times when you don't want company to stay

very long, or enjoy themselves.

Not wanting to look like an idiot, I began a mad hunt for Green furniture.  It wasn't pretty.  It was plywood.  It was post consumer product.  It was hideous.  If people really want Green to consume the masses, it needs to be attractive so they'll want it.  It does not need to look like Sanford and Son.  I assumed Karen wanted something attractive, and I just wasn't finding it.

In a fit of frustration, I found the solution, which was glaringly obvious.  I told Karen to go to a Thrift Shop, a Vintage shop, or a Garage Sale and get her Green fix there.  While I'm sure this shocked her, the logic made perfect sense.  Instead of buying something Green and new, be Green and buy something old that would eventually end up in a landfill.  You can not get much Greener than by reusing something old, and you will end up spending less, as anything tagged 'Green' is usually three times the price of what it's actually worth. 

Tuxedo sofas like this one are classics and work in any
interior.  Look past the blue Velour and think of a
bold graphic or a sublte Suede.

I instructed her to look for a size and profile that she liked and ignore what fabric was on it or if the springs were shot (most people can't get beyond orange velour or Naugahyde, but I told her to try).  When she finds a frame she likes, she can have it reupholstered in a Green fabric and have the best of both worlds.  Thankfully, companies like Schumacher, Robert Allen and Kravet are all making Green fabrics with Earth friendly dyes and sustainably harvested natural fibers (synthetic fibers are muder on the environment).  And as a boon to people with taste, they're actually attractive; cotton velvets, beautiful printed linens, and matelasses abound. 

So, next time you're faced with the overwhelming urge to be extra special Green, don't get caught up in the trend and look past the obvious.  The easiest solution is sometimes the best, for you and the environment.

- Ian 





Vintage sofas like this can be found at almost any Salvation Army.
While it's covered in a very awful floral Brocade, it would be a gem
if recovered in Mohair, Tweed, or Leather.

A Chair by Any Other Name

I had just finished dinner with friends in Santa Monica and we decided to walk off our over-indulgent meal with a trip down the 3rd Street Promenade.  The shops had just closed, so it was window shopping all the way, and that was just fine.  I was feeling fat and didn't want to send myself into a tailspin of emotional instability in Banana Republic. 


The Versailles Domed Chair at Restoration Hardware.
Inspired, but ultimately drab in pickled wood and Burlap.
I do give RH credit for being unique.

We passed in front of Restoration Hardware and one of my companions asked me what sort of chair was in the window.  An innocent question, but for the first time, I really didn't know.  I usually know obscure minutia, but this time I was left out in the cold. 


I had seen this sort of chair dozens of times before, usually in those over the top rooms no one could ever live in, but were nice to visit.  The chair was svelte, with cabriole legs and closed arms.  The back ascended higher than a wing back chair would have, and ended in a dome shape at the top.  Quickly, I said it was a Balloon Chair, and ushered us away to another window.



After I recovered from my shame, I found out I was correct in my assessment based name.  But I also discovered a plethora of other nomenclatures, put forth to confuse anyone who actually wants to find out the name of this flipping chair.  In addition to being dubbed a Balloon Chair, it is also known as a Porter Chair, a Dome Chair, a Canopy Chair and a Hooded Chair.  I'm almost certain there are a number of other terms for the chair, all equally obscure, that will still get you now where when trying to describe or purchase one of these suckers. 

 

Canopy Chairs in the Dining Room
of the Bergdorf Goodman
Restaurant.

As I mentioned, these little numbers have been popping up all over the place.  When Bergdorf Goodman reopened their Restaurant, after a redecoration by Kelly Wearstler, they were used as dining chairs.  While I think that's lovely and dynamaic, it's not terribly convenient to drag one the these things up to a dining table.  The wind resistance alone would require a spotter.

For those interested, the origins of the canopied chair dates back to Ancient Rome.  The wealthy elite would be carried though the streets in what is commonly known as a Sedan Chair, an enclosed portable structure with a bench seat used for transport; powered by men, not horses.  Think of a port-a-potty on rails carried by two strapping guys (one in front, one on back) and you get the idea.  This idea evolved, the Sedans becoming more elaborate, I feel they reached their crescendo in the 18th Century, which is also when they seemed to die off.

A Practical, if plain,
Porter Chair.

As for the name 'Porter Chair', it's derived from the occupation of the chairs original occupant.  As the story goes, this sort of chair would be used by a Porter or Doorman who would be stationed at the Entry or Gatehouse of an Estate (we're going back to the English Renaissance for this one).  The homes were so large that even if there were a doorbell, no one would be able to hear it or get to it in time, hence, the Porter. 

The canopy and sides would keep out the draft while also keeping in whatever heat the Porter was able to generate as he waited for visitors.  Often, there would be a little flip out shelf to hold a lantern.  The original Porter chairs were very understated and simple; they were for the help, after all. 

To compensate for this simplicity, I have taken the liberty of including some not so simple examples of this marvelous, if not hard to pin down, chair.

-  Ian

  

I'm enamored with this style of chair done in Cane.
So very unique.  I don't even mind the orange.



An exotic departure in Bamboo.  So Indochine.



A more English version, with Button Tufting, Nail Head,

Chippendale style legs, and audacious Zebra upholstery. 

I want these.  Now.

A Bookshelf Hardly Seen

I have been desperately seeking bookshelves lately.  I happened on this one and had to share it with my j'adorable friends.  It's completely inappropriate for my needs (I have a lot of books, I need adjustable shelves, etc.) but I find it marvelous anyway.  I'd love to see a gang of them lining a large uninterrupted wall, filled with object and art books.  They would look so avante garde and architectural.

I love that it's rendered in clear acrylic, not only will it not overpower a space visually, but it will also take on the color of the wall it leans against and give a little unexpected sparkle in a non-threatening way.  It's sort of sexy and cavalier, yet sturdy with practical applications (note to self - new Craigslist personals profile description).

Just a note on cleaning acrylic - only use mild soap and warm water on a soft cloth.  Don't come near this with anything in a spray can, the chemicals will etch the acrylic and you'll be kicking yourself afterward.

- Ian

Acrylic Leaning Bookshelf @ Wisteria