Carleton Varney, Part VIII - The Oriental Look

Do you like these Carleton Varney posts? I do... It gives me the opportunity to do some research on the topic and to compare design trends over the course of the past 40 years.

This evening, during a blissful rain storm, I opened the Book of Decorating Ideas to a piece called "The Oriental Look". CV says if you have one of Grandmother's oriental rugs in storage, get it out now! He's always believed that a touch of black makes any room complete and a black laquered table would be a great finishing note. The oriental accessory is always a winner in home furnishings.

From Scalamandre wallpapers, to incredible silk furnishings, Asian accessories always bring an added element to almost any decor. Think British Colonial overstuffed rooms, or Zen spareness. While polar opposites, both have a touch of the oriental. A Buddha, a pagoda, a panda, a calligraphied symbol of welcome. These symbols can appear both modern and classic. While some of the pieces have changed over the years, the basic concept remains the same.

When you are choosing an oriental element, make sure that it has some meaning to you. Maybe it's a scroll painting from a trip to China or a set of dishes from Pearl River Mart in Chinatown. It could even be a menu from your favourite Chinese restaurant that marking a special occasion.

In my own house, I have an oriental rug, a Chinese silk painting, lots of Blue Willow china and other Asian elements. What do you have?

Book Things

I stopped by the Book Thing today on the way to visit with my mother and someone who must be a real foodie had just dropped off some great books. So instead of design books, I got food books, but they all look very interesting.

• Eating My Words, An Appetite for Life by Mimi Sheraton, the former restaurant critic of the New York Times. Trade secrets abound!
• Bread of Three Rivers: The Story of a French Loaf by Sara Mansfield Taber. one woman's search for the perfect loaf of French Bread. My cover's different from the one in the Amazon picture.

• Sweets: A History of Candy, by Tim Richardson. The author's father was a dentist.
• Boulangerie, Pocket Guide to Paris's Famous Bakeries. Anything that includes the address of Fauchon is a winner!

So, maybe if I read about food instead of eating it, I will lose some weight. Think so?

Scott Hill

I was looking at the New York Times this morning and fell in LOVE! There are some wonderful photos of pieces of furniture by Scott Hill, who is described as "singer-songwriter, painter, set decorator and owner of two stores in upstate New York". He's also the former director of creative resourcing and design at Ralph Lauren. But there's not a damn thing about him to be found on Google.

His furniture is so creative - the fabrics combine pictures and writing. The textiles include toiles and mattress ticking silk-screened with iconic images of Marilyn Monroe and another Baltimore fave, Edgar Allen Poe. I've done a couple of designs with old Edgar and they're always just a bit creepy, but cool. And I adore the tone on tone writing on the sofa. This stuff is just brilliant! I just wish I knew a little more about Scott Hill...

Images: New York Times

Or...

I found a cache of old photos from the 1920's and 1930's. They're great pictures of the kids who were in our orphanage at the time (I think it was called "Home of the Friendless"). How about putting those pictures in the frames? I have scanned a lot of them in to use on some p.r. and marketing things, so won't have to use the originals, which should be correctly archived. I will be able to manipulate the photos more than just the words. Thoughts?

Office Ideas

First, thank you so much for all of your wonderful suggestions. They were right along the lines of some of the things I was thinking about. House of Beauty and Culture suggested numerous frames with calligraphied statements, which was one of my original ideas.

Our kids have 14 character traits, including Courage,Integrity, Goal Setting, Perseverance, Self Control and others. I thought it would be great to have those 14, along with the organization's name and maybe the logo, which would make 16, and I could do a four-square. The wall opposite my desk has a large door to the CEO's office, so that's hard to do something with.

I will probably get some curtains and hang them. Probably just some sort of sheers because the office is on the north side of the house and will be pretty dark as the days draw in. I do need a lamp or two, as well. I noticed during a storm, it got pretty dim in there. Since the windowsills are about 16" deep, I can put a table lamp on the far window, or put a floor lamp next to the conference table.

Last night, I was at the dollar store, and they had 16 black double-matted frames, which I snapped up in a heart-beat. I thought I would get an interesting font and some nice paper and print the 16 words off and frame them. I have to be conscious of the costs and appearances of the office, since I am asking people to give money. We have two farmers markets here and it's a great place for cut flowers. I have a large vase which would be the right proportion for the fireplace. I photo-shopped the original photo and came up with this...

What do you think?

RIP Brooke Astor

Brooke Astor died this afternoon at age 105. She's the personification of the word "lady". Gracious, charming and giving. New York City would not be the place that it is today, culturally and philathropically, without the generosity of Mrs. Astor. Current New York "socialites" should take a page from her book and do things for others less fortunate. Rest In Peace, Mrs. Astor.

Photo: New York Times

A Weekend Project

My mother and I drove down to Virginia today to see the new twins, who are now almost a month old, and cute as little buttons. I took about 150 photographs, which is the blessing of a digital camera. If the focus isn't right, or someone moves, zap...it's gone!

A couple of weeks ago, I was at Plaza Art Supplies getting some artist's canvas when I saw a great little kit. It's an accordian album that you put together yourself. Two cardboard covers, a piece of 7" x 40" folded and scored paper and that's it. I found some great end papers in pink and blue (girl and boy twins) and glued it to the boards. Then I took a ribbon to tie the album with and glued it that down. Then I glued the accordian pages to the end boards, and stuck photos on the pages... one side for him and one for her.

I had taken close up photos of each of their hands and photo-shopped their names onto the pictures. I printed one or two out in black and white for effect and tied the ribbon into a bow.

Carolyne Roehm - At Long Last!

YAY! I just got the new Carolyne Roehm Presentations e-mail and she's paying tribute to two classic guys... Bill Blass and Baltimore's own Billy Baldwin. She mentions that she's got a new book coming in Fall of 2008 about Blue & White, and if anyone knows classic combinations, Carolyne Roehm does. The summer e-magazine Presentations will give you lots of inspirations. There's something wonderful on every page.

Source Perrier Sale

I usually don't write about shopping, but one of my favourite catalogues is having a sale... Lots of cool stuff at great prices at Source Perrier. I think that Anita Tiburzi, who is their President, has wonderful taste and a great eye. If you follow directions, you get an additional 20% off!

Frank Zappa Day in Baltimore

Just thought you all would want to know...it's today.