SPRING FORWARD

Tomorrow, the first of the month of March will arrive and some of the top mail/online order catalogs are ready for the upcoming warm seasons. So far, Restoration Hardware seems to offer the largest(and in my opinion, the nicest) selection of outdoor furniture. Below are a few samples of their 2009 collection along with Pottery Barn,Horchow & Frontgate. I'm currently in the market for some new outdoor furniture. Our backyard has been out of order for over a year now due to the remodel project on our home. Instead of storing most of the furniture for the yard, I gave them away to family members. However, we kept a few pieces like our black wrought iron dining set and 2 coordinating settees. My vision for the yard is sort of a English container garden with lots of potted Boxwoods and other evergreens. We've finally started the ball rolling in working to complete the yard before the end of upcoming May. I am so excited and cannot to entertain outdoors under the stars on a beautiful evening.


Ventana collection at Restorationhardware.com


La Jolla collection at Restorationhardware.com


Hampshire collection at Restorationhardware.com


Catalina collection at Restorationhardware.com


Antibes collection at Restorationhardware.com



Bali collection at Potterybarn.com



Chesapeake collection at Potterybarn.com



Palmetto collection at Potterybarn.com



Teteatete collection at Horchow.com



Wrap around seating set at Horchow.com



Gathering collection at Horchow.com



Carlisle collection at Frontgate.com



Carlisle chaise at Frontgate.com



Martinique collection at Frontgate.com



Martinique collection at Frontgate.com



Metropolitan collection at Frontgate.com



Metropolitan collection at Frontgate.com

Sandor Varga

If your taste in tableware is like mine, then no doubt you will appreciate the brilliant stemware by Varga Art Crystal. (Shown are all my favorites in the stemware collection).


Founded in 1976 by Sandor Varga, a 3rd generation glass master from Budapest, Hungary, Varga Art Crystal currently graces the tables of heads of state,dignitaries,embassies and homes to the most affluent members of society.


The crystal stemware collection with it's intricate cut and etch work resemble sculptured art with master detailing that only a true artisan can produce. Each piece is handmade and signed. The 40 worker shop begins creation of the pieces only upon purchase.


Sandor Varga is a prolific and creative artist that has been perfecting his craft for over 40 years. A tradition that began with Grandfather Geza Varga.


Geza Varga started a small crystal factory in Hungary in the 1930s which was seized by the Russians during their siege of Hungary in 1945.


As a very young child, Sandor loved to sit and watch his Father and Grandfather work. He quickly learned the family art as early as age 11.


Today the family's special artistic heritage continues forward with the fourth generation sons of Sandor and his wife and business partner Ildiko - perfecting the enduring legacy of the glass masters of Budapest, Hungary.

Le Compotier

(blue and white footed reticulated compotes)

If there is one item that never seems to fail to catch my eye when I'm out and about window shopping or just surfing online for beautiful things it is a compotier aka compote. Anytime I see a compote, I'm automatically drawn to it.
Compotes are one of my favorite table adornments. They are a decadent serving ware. They make beautiful centerpieces or, when paired, spectacular anchors to a centerpiece. The blue and white pair(above & below)have been used to carry many things from hard candies to flatware at a buffet table.


(beautiful leaf wreath design)

They look beautiful with candy,nuts,fruit,flowers,pine cones,holiday ornaments,sea shells or even just by themselves. I especially love the reticulated designs with a basket weave pattern.


I found this pedestal compote on my local Craigslist. It
is one of my favorites for creating dramatic dining table
floral centerpieces.


The perfect height allows me to leave
the centerpiece on the table without obstructing the views
of the seated guests.


This is a picture taken of our 2008 Christmas dinner where
I used 2 silver compotes(1 showing at left) to anchor the centerpiece.
I cut a fresh floral oasis to fit perfectly in the bowl, then just
filled it with holiday greens and florals.



A perfectly beautiful use of a compote as
a vegetable dish by celebrity designer
Eddie Ross. (click eddie's name for details on this arrangement)


Another fabulous use of a stunning old Paris fine
porcelain compote created by Eddie Ross for
Thanksgiving 2008.

Following are a few more beautiful compotes found
online. Enjoy.


Dresden porcelain compote circa 1872

Circa 1870s English Opal Vitro(Milk glass) porcelain compotes

Minton (English) compotes. Circa 1860-1865

Bing & Grondahl empire white and blue circa 1969

Pair of circa 1909 silver compotes, octagonal stepped base,

dolphin shaft supports bowl above.

Circa 1880 Paris Compotes. Having a large basket over a shaped column

on a footed base with gilded edges with floral decorations.

Circa 1820 Paris porcelain compotes Marked Schoelcher et Fils.

Pair of Old Paris compotes circa 1820 partially painted and gilded

Gilded and painted porcelain compotes mounted in gilded bronze,
from the Service of Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovitch, and
featuring his crowned monogram. Period of Alexander II (1855-1881).


Meissen porcelain bowl centered by polychrome fruits and flowers
and supported by three seated fauns with musical instruments, marked
with blue crossed swords under glaze.


Meissen porcelain compote Circa 1902. Hand painted floral spray
centered by gilt encrusted trailing leaves.


Pair English Sterling Silver Repousse Compotes
hallmarked Sheffield 1896, decorated with Fleur-de-Lys and flowers


Silver trio crane compote circa 1860-70. Marks of Sunshing
(S.S) and ideogram for Hui.


Samuel Felton silver compote circa 1865


19th century saw tooth milk glass compote


Porcelain Compote by Lenox


Blue & White Meissen set with matching compotes


Paris porcelain compotes with detached dish tray


mermaids porcelain compotes

Who Is William Haines?

(contribution lead from Grant Devereaux )

Lindley Associates, located in Los Angeles, California is carrying on the Haines legacy by faithfully reproducing the original Haines furniture designs with great accuracy and penchant for this style known as Hollywood Glamour. Peter Schifando and J. Jonathan Joseph are extending the Haines aesthetic with painstaking accuracy and fulfilling the current demand for Hollywood Regency design. With an A-List clientele, which includes Nancy Reagan and Betsy Bloomingdale, it is only befitting that these iconic, classic designs from William Haines grace their homes.

The Elbow Chair, the Brentwood Chair, Conference Chair and Pull Up Chair are among the glamorous classics that comprise the William Haines Collection. These are authentically produced by the same California manufacturer for the last fifty years. The current Haines furniture collection are re-issued Haines Originals. They are available through Lindley & Associates and select dealers throughout the United States

HISTORY


William Haines was born in Virginia in 1900 and in 1914, opened a nightclub in Hopewell, Virginia. Destined for entertainment and high style, he arrives in Hollywood in 1922 after winning a talent contest. He appeared in over twenty films as a leading man to Hollywood’s most famous stars including Joan Crawford, Marion Davies and Constance Bennett.


Haines redefined the way movie stars lived. He lived large and played the role of a successful movie star to the max with the encouragement of his partner, Jimmie Shields. He defined style and his passion for grand automobiles was no exception.

One of the aspects Billy Haines enjoyed most about being a film star was developing friendships with other actors such as Joan Crawford, Carole Lombard and George Burns. In 1930 he opened an antiques shop while working at MGM. Celebrities such as Joan Crawford were so impressed with his taste in design, they hired him to update their own dark, heavy residences with a lighter fresher and more sophisticated look. Haines nicknamed Joan Crawford “Cranberry” when the studio changed her name from Lucille Le Seur.

In 1935, Haines moved his office to Sunset Plaza, located on Sunset Boulevard. The building was classically grand and the landlord allowed Haines to renovate it to his specifications. With four Ionic columns and two large curved windows, this prominent office was designed to impress his new clients. These offices would later become the famed Le Dome restaurant, popular with the celebrity clientele that originally visited the Haines offices.


Haines liked unusual artifacts. He used Chinoiserie with great flair and it became one of his design signatures. The residential feel of his office made clients feel right at home. Haines lighting would become renowned for all the customization and special effects. (No cords could show!)

Every element of the Desert Living Room at the San Francisco exposition was sensual and well designed. Haines began to design his own furniture, including the saddle stitched leather game chair. This chair captivated famous architect Samuel Marx, who purchased a pair of leather game chairs for his own Chicago apartment.

When Haines moved his office to 446 Canon Drive in Beverly Hills in 1949, there was a definite transition and stylistic shift for Haines from Neo-Classicism into modernism. This style is now known as Hollywood Regency.

“When you do a home you must do it with the feeling that it has been lived in for years” Haines remarked. The studio was more than an office. Clients experienced amazing Haines touches first hand, such as draperies by Dorothy Liebes, handwoven screens, low furniture, cove lighting and Chinoiserie statues.

Haines loved doing formal presentations to clients. His acting skills and charming style were an asset when presenting fabric ideas to clients. The walls were made of cork to display drawings and brass pulls were used to drape fabric with great flexibility.

Haines’ clients were Hollywood movie moguls with big personalities and big dreams. Haines understood their desire for good taste but also how they were perceived by their industry peers. He reflected their sense of style while raising the bar of good taste and high style for all those who visited these mansions. They trusted Haines with their most personal image, their home interiors and sense of style.

Who Is Robert Koch & John Elgin Woolf?

(images from VF article)

Vanity Fair's March 2009 issue has a very interesting and entertaining article titled "Glamour Begins At Home" by Matt Tyrnauer. It's about architect John Elgin Woolf(pictured right) and his partner,lover and later, adopted son, designer Robert Koch Woolf and how the two were responsible(or at least great contributors)for the creation of Hollywood Regency.
The article indicates that the pair established the new vocabulary which was originally created specifically for glamorous movie-star living in the 50's and 60's. Their Method? They synthesized 19th century French,Greek Revival and Modernist touches into a heady mixture of that was christened Hollywood Regency, which foreshadowed aspects of postmodernism. The clients list includes: Lillian Gish,Paul Lynde,Cary Grant,Fanny Brice, Barbara Stanwyck, Judy Garland,Bob Hope,Agnes Moorhead,Ricardo Montalban and many more. The architect John's work was even compared to the Petite Trianon.
A funny passage in the article talks about John's relationship with Katherine Hepburn regarding an argument between the two where Katherine wanted a fireplace and architect John aka Jack simply stated he hated the idea. Katherine was quoted as saying "Mr Woolf, I think your mother must have been a fireplace". It's a great read with a lot of Hollywood gossip. There is even mention of Movie star Loretta Lynn's mother Gladys Belzer being heralded as one of Hollywoods most premier designer at the time.

Here is a great flickr link with many photos of celebrity homes by Woolf.