Espana Chest... and my Dorothy Draper wannabe

Oh, wait.   Wrong story!

Let's try it, again. 

Several years ago in House Beautiful, I spied a chest of drawers.   And, it was spectacular!  

Black chest of drawers in David Jimenez's home in Kansas City
http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/kansas-city-style-0807#slide-3

 

Unfortunately, there is that pesky Biblical Commandment, "Thou shalt not covet."  Ok... so I will not covet HIS chest of drawers, I will find one of my own!  Hmmmph.

 

Sadly, I knew nothing about that lovely piece of furniture.

 

Time to do some research.

 

Generally referred to as Dorothy Draper chests, these are officially named Espana Chests.  

 

Dorothy Draper Espana Chest from 1stDibs

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/storage-case-pieces/commodes-chests-of-drawers/vintage-dorothy-draper-chest-drawers/id-f_953738/

 

According to Kate Collins, "The Espana Chest was designed by Dorothy Draper by invitation of the Spanish government to design a collection to raise the profile of Spanish design in the International market. Profile raised; this is a classic piece." 

http://kcinteriors.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/dorothy-draper-espana-chest/

 

Even though these chests are Spanish in origin, the design style is frequently known as Hollywood Regency. 

 

Ms. Draper, herself, was an interesting character.   Born to a wealthy family in 1889, she established the first interior design company in the United States, in 1923. 

The original Espana chests were created from cherry wood, lacquered in black or white, the 24 karat gold decorative drawer trim was hand applied, and the drawer pulls were high gloss brass.  They were designed as "bunching chests" since several of them could be used together.   Heritage furniture produced and distributed them starting in 1955. 

Original advertisement, circa 1955

http://blog.circawho.com/tag/espana-chest/

Today, a new Espana chest will cost about $5000.    And, used ones are all over the proverbial price point map... ranging from a $400-8000. 

My buddy, Josie, managed to find a Dorothy Draper-esque chest of drawers in Charlotte and sent a photo to me.   It was promptly purchased because it was CHEAP!

 

But, there was one small problem.  How was I going to get it from Charlotte to Greenville???? 

 

Fortunately, Ross Spain to the rescue.  Ross is a friend who owns Acquisitions Limited in Raleigh.  He jokingly claims that he is in the used furniture business.  Actually, he and his business partner, Ben Everett, import European antiques and their Raleigh and Charlotte stores are always stunning.

 

http://www.acquisitionslimited.com/

 

Ross, generously, transported the chest to Raleigh.  We just won't discuss the therapy bills... the chest had a severe bout of PTSD after riding in a truck filled with pedigreed antiques.  {Wink}

The ancestry-challenged chest was kept in storage until I moved to the Triangle.   Though my initial thought had been to refinish it in black lacquer, low gloss white was chosen.  And, since gold inlay trim and additional drawer pulls might look out of place in this crazy mid century modern house, they were avoided. 

Today, it continues to be a Dorothy Draper Espana Chest wannabe!   But, located in my guest bedroom, I love it.

My Dorothy Draper-inspired Espana Chest

 



History of herringbone

Marble floor tile in herringbone pattern

 

 

Holy crap!  Check out the floor.....

 

That was my initial response after walking into the Sea Catch Restaurant in Georgetown a couple of months ago.  It was a rainy afternoon in our nation's capital - time for a snack and an adult beverage. 

 

And, then.... a bar with miles of marble and a completely kick ass floor!

 



Sea Catch Restaurant, Georgetown, DC

I promptly took a photo of the floor with my phone.  Sadly, after lunch and two drinks, my attention had been diverted to our next shopping excursion. 

Recently, a phone conversation rambled toward the topic of herringbone brick patterns for fireplaces.  They ARE simply spectacular and had recently been featured in one of the home magazines... Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, HGTV Magazine, Veranda, Southern Living, Traditional Home, or somewhere. 

Herringbone pattern of the firebox brick (inside the fireplace)

www.Pinterest.com

 

 

Remembering the floor in that great DC restaurant, I realized that herringbone is such a magnificent design element... it is classic, timeless, yet wonderfully chic.

But, where did it originate????

Rome, Italy

 

 

Around 500 BC, Rome began to build a series of roadways.  Those Viae Publicae were created to move people and products efficiently throughout the vast Roman Empire.  Simple construction rules required an interlocking "paver system" on a base of crushed stone.  Over the years, nearly 50,000 miles of Roman roadways were created using this system.

As the old saying goes, "All roads lead to Rome." 

Italian brick floor in Trajan's Market, Rome

http://janestreetclayworks.com/2012/10/22/opus-spicatum/

Perhaps more interesting (in a slightly nerdy way) was that the fundamental design principle came from.... a fish! 

Skeleton of fish from the Herring family. 

http://www.theolinstudio.com/blog/opus-spicatum-a-history-of-herringbone-by-will-belcher/

Over the years, the Romans found that when the chevrons were pointed in the direction of traffic, the roads were extremely stable.  The official terminology for this type of interlocking construction is, opus spicatum, or “spiked work.”

Unfortunately, that brings up another topic in this discussion of zigzags.  What is the difference between chevron and herringbone patterns?

Simply illustrated, chevron is an inverted V-pattern; it is THE classic zigzag motif.   Herringbone, on the other hand, resembles a broken zigzag. 

Confused???

Here are some examples for clarification.  Start with chevron.........

Missoni pillow in classic chevron pattern

https://www.jossandmain.com/Orlando-Bloom-Curate-for-a-Cause-Missoni-Home-Nossen-Pillow~ECMR1077~E2352.html

 Chevron rugs by Madeline Weinrib

www.madelineweinrib.com

 

More examples of chevron patterns from Missoni, Dash & Albert, Urban Outfitters, and Company C

http://www.myfavoriteandmybest.com/mfamb-home/2010/9/15/your-hate-in-a-nutshell-part-1.html

Chevron parquet flooring by Atelier de Granges

http://www.doorsixteen.com/2010/09/30/chevron-and-herringbone/

 

 

Paris apartment with fabulous chevron wood flooring

http://www.doorsixteen.com/2010/09/30/chevron-and-herringbone/

 

Now to herringbone.  Remember, the idea is a "broken" or "interwoven" zigzag.

Plates in herringbone pattern

http://www.greenteadesign.com/thedesigntree/tag/colors/page/2/

 

Herringbone fabric in wool

http://www.omiru.com/index.php/category/features/

 

Brick pavers in herringbone pattern

New Orleans Convention Center, NOLA

Herringbone pattern wood floor

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2010/02/french-floors.html

 

So, you get the idea.

Since chevron is rather trendy right now, utilizing it for rugs and pillows seems like a good idea.  For the more permanent features of the home (back splashes, flooring, fireplace stonework, walkways), keep it traditional and classic.  A few great herringbone examples include:

Amazing floors featured in Style Hive

http://housetoyourhome.com/2011/03/16/herringbone/

 

 

Herringbone floor in an apartment by Miles Redd

www.HouseBeautiful.com

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2010/02/french-floors.html

 

 

Herringbone brick in curved indoor hallway in Valentino's home

http://www.cococozy.com/

 

The only caveat to my love of herringbone is that the stone, brick, wood, or tile needs to be fairly consistent in pattern, grain, and color....otherwise it can look a tad busy!   Unless your aesthetic is Jonathan Adler meets Liberace with a touch of Vegas show-girl, less is more. 

 

Love the floor, but.... it only works because everything else in that room is VERY understated. 

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2010/02/french-floors.html

 

 

The idea of designing a herringbone pattern gives me geometry flashbacks. 

 

Fortunately, today, there is NO need to grab graph paper, a pencil, and protractor to figure out herringbone patterns.  Tiger Stone makes equipment that lays brick in the herringbone pattern without all of that mathematical homework.  Currently, it is only for outdoor use, but their paving machine IS impressive.  Check out the photo and video from YouTube below.  

 

 

http://www.core.form-ula.com/2010/11/15/tiger-stone-paving-machine/

 

 

As you might have figured out, herringbone just does it for me!  Currently, it is the screen saver on my iPhone and the pattern of one of my favorite cashmere scarves.  (Well... a cashmere scarf is much cheaper than an entire Paris apartment!)  Even this photo of the floor from ABC Carpet & Home just makes me smile.  





Sixth floor, ABC Carpet & Home, NYC



Now you know this history of herringbone.   Happy Sunday.... and I need another cup of coffee!

Wild about...wicker???

Soane Ripple Console Table

http://www.soane.co.uk/product/tables/the-ripple-console

Last weekend, I was in Florida visiting family.  On Sunday, for 11 hours, the Tallahassee Regional Airport was my home.... and THAT was before they decided to cancel the flight.   Grumble!


Trying to search for a silver lining, there WAS plenty of time to read magazines.  Six to be exact... cover to cover.   In addition to helping the bottom line of Hearst Publishing company this month, I realized that one topic seemed to be in abundance..... wicker.

A definition is probably in order.  Wicker is a "hard woven fiber" that can be made into "baskets and furniture," and wicker furniture "has been documented as far back as ancient Egypt."  Wikipedia.


Wicker is the decorating equivalent of cilantro... you either love it or you hate it!  I happen to really like it.


Several years ago, David Jimenez's home in Kansas City was the blog buzz.  He used banana leaf chairs from Storehouse with a Pottery Barn pedestal table and a Ralph Lauren chesterfield sofa in his breakfast room.  The room was spectacular, and those banana leaf chairs kept the space from looking too fussy. 

www.davidjimenez.com

www.housebeautiful.com

Just before Storehouse went out of business, I found a couple of those chairs in Raleigh.  Very excited............ until I tried to sit in one of them.  Sadly, they were some seriously uncomfortable little bastards; pretty but not practical!

So, I went on the search of a similar look for my sunroom....something woven or wicker, comfortable, traditional lines, with an updated silhouette.  Pottery Barn to the rescue.

Pottery Barn Seagrass Wingback

www.potterybarn.com

Two of those seagrass wingbacks currently reside in my sunroom.  They are delightful AND comfortable.  This photo is from Christmas... wasn't in the mood to straighten all of the magazines that are currently on that ottoman.  HA.  But, you get the idea.

Sunroom, chez moi

 

So, with the current wicker discussion, throw away those old attitudes about your grandmother's wicker patio furniture and give it a second look. 

Soane Britain is responsible for that great console at the top of the page.  Loved the idea of that console and thought that it was just a grand idea.... until I saw the price.  $9000.  Really?????  Ok, that's nuts.  Let's look around for a few other examples.

 

Wicker chairs always look great in dining rooms and breakfast rooms. 

Wicker side chairs in an informal dining area

http://www.cococozy.com/2012/03/see-this-house-inside-out-of-49-million.html

 

Note to self:  $49 million dollar house in the Hamptons.  Bet that those little wicker chairs are expensive.  Just a sneaky suspicion.    So, maybe this is a litle more budget friendly. 

 

www.lonnymag.com

 

Another great example from Lonnymag is to use them in a more formal space to "lighten it up."   Wicker framed chairs look great in this formal living room. 

www.lonnymag.com

 

 Wicker is great for outdoor furniture, too.  In addition to the usual natural fibers, synthetic wickers are resistant to the elements and can be stylish for years. 

Traditional wicker sofa

www.southernliving.com

 

Montauk Nest Chair

www.westelm.com

 

Chaise lounge from Manutti

http://www.trendir.com/archives/001184.html

Apple shaped outdoor wicker by Skyline

http://housedesignarchitecture.com/unique-rattan-wicker-outdoor-furniture-apple-shaped-by-skyline.html/unique-rattan-wicker-outdoor-furniture-apple-shaped

 

Alseda wicker stool and pouff

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/living_room/20929/

 

Wicker porch sofa

www.lonnymag.com

 Wicker can also be used for great accent pieces in the home.  Tray tables or antique baskets can bring lots of character and texture to indoor spaces. 

Butler's tray table

www.ikea.com

 

 Antique picnic basket

www.ebay.com

 

Woven materials are great.  They can be comfortable AND stylish.  So... don't be a wicker hater!!!   {Wink}

Happy wkend.  

Deconstructing the design

A friend sent me a message on Thursday…. “I love this room!"

Ok.  I guess that she is trying to re-create it in her home.   So, the key is to “deconstruct it.”  Break it down into its component elements…. And, then decide what to you re-create and what you want to re-imagine.  This process does take some practice, but it isn’t difficult.

Interior design ain’t rocket science.  It is the simple idea of deciding what you like.  The problem is figuring out where to purchase those items that you love!

This room is actually a sophisticated study in neutrals…. with a little punch of color.  For tone-on-tone rooms to work well, they need to have lots of interesting features and tactile elements.  These rooms are some of the most difficult to do well.   When doing a monochromatic space… you’ve got to OWN it.  This is not the time for half ass.  Great textures and details will bring the space to life! 

So… where do we start?

WALL COLOR. The wall color is beige/brown. Ok… that’s easy enough. Paint store.

www.lowes.com

COFFEE TABLE.  That coffee table is dark and ornate.  Think:  Antique store, import store, or design showroom.  The look is old world with an updated edge.  Ok… that shouldn’t be too hard.  Horchow has a couple of examples. 

Stratford coffee table from Horchow

The tone of that coffee table is slightly lighter than the inspiration photo.   But, it could be restained. Huh? A couple of years ago, I saw a room that Nate Berkus did for Oprah. He took a $5000 Ralph Lauren bamboo console... and painted it blue.  Oh, Lord.  Well, that WAS on an Oprah show budget. But, the same premise holds.  If the color isn’t exactly right but the design is great, then find your favorite furniture refinisher and re-stain it! 

www.oprah.com

Check out that blue chest...

Belmar coffee table

www.horchow.com

Another option would be to pick something that is in the same color family but round in shape.  Because my friend has children, this might be more kid friendly... no sharp edges.

THE LAMP.   Simple, interesting, but non-intrustive.  Lamps are problematic.  You can spend scads of money.  Recently, Bunny Williams introduced a line of lamps starting at $1000 each.  Yikes!  Perhaps, WFH would be more appropriate.

Another option is to find a cheap lamp at one of the big box stores like Home Goods, Target, or Pier One.  They have some great lamps.  Unfortunately, the shades usually look cheap.  The tell-tale sign of a cheap lamp is… the shade.  So, to confuse people, find a cheap lamp and then change the shade to something that looks more expensive. 

To test my theory, I ran into TJ Maxx while at the beach yesterday.  Guess what I found?

Ralph Lauren lamp, silver plate and glass.

$69.99    HA....Take THAT Bunny Williams!

For that RL lamp, the shade didn't look bad.  Sometimes the shade needs to be changed.  For white and off white shades, pick a linen or textured surface.  It doesn’t cost any more, but it looks more expensive.  For dark shades, like black, choose an opaque liner.  There is nothing worse than looking at a light bulb thru a dark shade… it looks cheap.

CHAIRS.  The chairs are off white with contrasting piping or welting.  Hmmmm.   This will either be a lucky find at a furniture store or a costly custom job.  For instance...

The Haynes Chair, with custom upholstery, is $899 each. 

http://shop.findhomefurnishings.com/new/libby-langdon-hayes-chair.html

THE CUBES.   Fortunately, these little suckers are all over the place.  The fluted design with the nail head are a bit more high end, but can be easily ordered.  Don’t be overly impressed or concerned with the idea of ordering something “custom.”  It simply means that you have chosen a fabric and someone is nailing it to your desired piece of furniture.  The results can be amazing and not that expensive.

Courbe storage ottomans start at $299 each

http://www.ballarddesigns.com/courbe-storage-ottoman/furniture/ottomans/13723?listIndex=6

Ballard Designs IS the most commonly used designer resource for “custom” on a budget.  Just FYI.  And, these ottomans are so popular right now that they even made the cover of House Beautiful this month.

www.housebeautiful.com

GARDEN STOOL.  Like the cubes, Asian inspired garden stools are virtually everywhere these days.  Since we are not looking for some Ming Dynasty original, the key is to look around until the price point looks good.  These generally run $70-100 each in most stores and come in a multitude of colors.  Or you can find them online... like these from Amazon.

www.amazon.com

THE RUG.  It is a sisal or jute.  Those are easy to find.


THE CURTAIN ROD.   The curtain rod in that room is awful.   For quality and price, the best curtain rods are currently at Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware.  Just buy them when they are on sale.  No need to pay full price...

www.potterybarn.com

 THE WHITE POTTERY.    The white ceramic on the mantle screams Jonathan Adler.  Though I couldn't find an exact match online, the Jonathan Adler "Belly" vase is a close cousin.

www.jonathanadler.com

BUTLER TRAY.  The butler tray or tray table near the window is great.  It adds some texture and some height to that corner.  They are available in price points from $100 to $1000.  The more expensive ones have nickel legs and ornate wooden trays.  The budget friendly options are usually from West Elm.

www.westelm.com

So, there you have it!  Those chairs are going to be a bear to find.  But, the rest of the room just isn't that hard to replicate.  Just deconstruct the look first... and then start shopping.