Design Post Update

I had the pleasure earlier this week of attending a presentation by husband & wife fabric designers Elizabeth Hamilton and Peter Fasano at the beautiful John Rosselli showroom here in Washington earlier this week. I had first heard of the design duo on everyone's favorite design blog Style Court who frequently references their work. Events like this aren't only great learning experiences but a fun chance to catch up with friends.
Due to some unfortunate weather the crew was small but vivacious.  The ever lovely Sally Steponkus, Josh Hildreth, Frank Babb Randolph (who doesn't have a website but then again is a self-professed NON-reader of blogs), and Atlanta's notable blogger 'The Blue Remembered Hills' (amongst others) were on hand to learn about hand printed and hand painted fabrics.
The banter between Elizabeth and Peter was almost as interesting as the discussion of how they produce their fabrics; both those readily available (at John Rosselli) and their custom projects. You probably saw in last month's issue of House Beautiful magazine an article of 4 designers working with them on completely different custom fabric designs.
Naturally the fabric swatches of the husband and wife team are mounted side by side in the showroom.
Peter specialized in hand painted fabrics while they lived in NYC and after their move they've been concentrating more on silk screening. For all the pattern they are known for professionally Peter said in their own house they prefer more texture and no pattern!
As always the showroom was filled with goodies that I wanted to take home. I also loved that the store is scented with delicious candles. It's more like visiting a stylish friend's home instead of a showroom!  I particularly loved the lounge chairs below with the cute drinks table, available in wood or metal. Stop into John Rosselli in Georgetown to see whats new and prepare to be inspired by visiting all of the links I've included in this posting!
Many thanks to the staff at John Rosselli for making me quite at home and all of my dear friends who were in attendance making for such a fun mid-day treat.

Do you think a magazine cover such as these would sell well today? No 'celebrity' Kardashians or overly air-brushed photographs of interiors; rather a well rendered image by an artist on a topic covered in the issue.
Imagine a special issue of Architectural Digest or Elle Decor on which Jeremiah Goodman produced the cover. Am I crazy or would this be a wonderful thing and have the design world abuzz? I'm not talking inside the magazine, just the cover; don't take away my pretty photographs!  If magazines are always looking for something new, isn't doing something this 'old' the latest thing?
Another 'old' thing I would love to see in a design magazine spread; Detailed floorplans (oh how a boy can dream.......). Everyone loves a floorplan! Yes or no, am I crazy (I realize thats a whole other question!)?

I recently escaped the cold winter weather and explored (mostly) sunny Palm Springs, California. I say mostly because 1 of my 4 days there included an unusual gloomy, albeit warm, rainy day.
Known as the retreat of the Rat Pack and full of Mid-Century modern architecture, I was pleased to find some older buildings to interest the classicist in me.
The El Paseo building in the Uptown Design District was built in 1927 and is of the fitting Spanish style that fits so well with the sunny weather. White washed walls repel the strong sun and the clay tile roofs help to keep the roof ventilated and cool.
Across the street were a number of other interesting older Spanish buildings, full of charm. Of course I was mostly interested in the blue skies and warm air!
This building above directly across the street has seen better days but if you look past the broken windows and worn exterior the concrete structure is really beautiful. The antique shop inside is entertaining as well.
Of course when one thinks of Palm Springs one thinks of its' famous houses. Neutra's famous Kaufmann House from 1947 was an exciting find -click the link for a great tour at Architectural Digest.
Another fun find although on an entirely different level, was driving by Liberace's house below.  The Old Las Palmas neighborhood is full of beautiful mid-century houses and lush gardens.
Palm Springs is a surprisingly small town with the main activity (after golfing) being sitting Poolside.
I stayed at the beautiful Colony Palms Hotel and can't recommend it highly enough: both for style and most of all location.
Shopping is another popular past time particularly for vintage home goods (fun for me!). I have to recommend (the unfortunately named) Just Fabulous for its wonderful and stylish book collection and gifts just a block from the hotel.
I used the Elle Decor travel tips (very useful) to find a lot of the better vintage stores and weed out the junk (literally). The best string of about 5 shops I found thanks to that magazine are in a sort of run-down business park just outside of Palm Springs in Cathedral City adjacent to its best store, Hedge. I was a bit surprised to find the stores empty on a Saturday during the high season but after the shabby treatment I received in most of the shops (Hedge was moderately friendly) I wasn't so surprised.  After trying to get help in 2 (empty) shops to purchase something and receiving no recognition I just left with empty hands. More money to spend elsewhere!  Is it because I'm much under the average age in Palm Springs of 80?  I still have money to spend!
Shop owners beware; finding great merchandise is only 1/2 the battle.  Selling it to VERY willing customers is just as important! Customer service matters particularly with high end merchandise.

At this past weekend's estate sale HERE I purchased a Biedermeier stool for use with my comfy reading chair, another estate sale find which I recently had reupholstered (see that transformation HERE). You can see the upholstery that came on the stool is in good shape, a synthetic material from the 1960s, but doesn't quite go with my apartment.
I have some lovely black mohair I purchased for another project and never used. I worry this is the opposite - too dark.
Some striped velvet left from a chair I recently had reupholstered in my bedroom would work but I'm not sure it works here.
The last choice I already own is an embroidered paisley silk in blues and french grays. I think the colors seem to go with the room, the darker colors may mask any dirt, and the paisley patterned fabric relates to the chair.  I'm obviously leaning in this direction but what do you think, will any of these work?

This past weekend was the annual Embassy open house (Passport DC) and I headed straight for the Embassy of Brazil. Not because I love Caipirinhas but because the mansion was designed by master Architect John Russell Pope for Robert McCormick in 1911.
Here is the house as it appeared in 1911 after completion back when this area of 'embassy row' was nothing but farmland outside of the city. The house has a unique siting on a triangular lot which creates a very grand entry sequence from Massachusetts Avenue.  I think that is what has always intrigued me about this Italian High Renaissance styled Villa, so I was excited to finally get a chance to get in (along with 1,000s of other curious Washingtonians!).
The vintage photograph and these floorplans come from one of my favorite books which I've mentioned before: Mastering Tradition, the Residential Architecture of John Russell Pope by James B. Garrison.  As with all Italian Villas the house has a piano nobile plan, ideal for the city with cars whizzing by on Massachusetts Avenue (on the right hand side of the plans).
The rooms are spacious but the plan is more of a house than a large mansion. Notice how the public spaces are kept very separate from the private spaces. In order to access the upper levels where the bedrooms and family quarters are, one has to go up a tiny side stair which at first glance of the plan appears to be for servants. This is why houses like this become great embassies! Ambassadorial duties can be performed downstairs with the family housed in their own private apartment out of the way.
True to any Pope designed structure the limestone facade is a very cleaned up form of Classicism. This simple classicism inspired some of the best works of the early 20th century.
Every detail is carefully planned and thought out. Notice how the watertable which runs around the entire building (the limestone ledge) runs past the basement window well, not disturbing the line.
The house appears exactly the same as it did in 1911, down to the shutters on the bedroom level.
These marble bowls of fruit were found throughout the gardens, dozens and dozens of them. A sign of hospitality perhaps?
The details are incredible -all done in limestone.
I love the ball detail where the metal bars intersect.
The planting has become full and lush lending privacy to the house which is on a very exposed site.
This side porch off the library is where Mr. McCormick planned on smoking his cigars. Unfortunately he didn't live long in the house before passing but his wife remained until 1932. After her death it was sold to the Government of Brazil, including all of the contents, so that it retains a lot of the original furnishings.
Brazil has been an excellent caretaker for this beautiful house!
Now shall we go inside for a peak of the public spaces?
The interiors are eclectic and range from a number of periods, typical of many houses of the time.
The beautiful plasterwork in the entry and the faux painted walls continue up the grand marble staircase to the public rooms.
Even the stair niche has niches! I wonder if they ever held anything? The vase is probably 6'-0" tall.
Here you can see how the stair-rail dies into the wall -a rather odd detail but it works and is executed very neatly.
The elevator door features this charming little porthole. I had never seen something like that before other than on a service door.
The ornamental plasterwork continues on this level.
Everything clean and tidy -amazing for a house that is over 100 years old and in public service.
A close up of the faux painted plaster walls -painted to resemble stone blocks.
These lovely sconces light the stair landing.
The main salon measures 60' long and 25' across -an amazing room for entertaining!
Check out those amazing chandeliers and again all of the crisp ornamental plasterwork.
As Mitch Owens commented on my Instagram feed, the curtains are somewhat skimpy -but I like the color they add to the spaces, keeping them from being too cold.
Chandeliers with little shades like this may be one of my favorite things -not sure why. I have them in my own dining room on a much less grand scale!
The small salon operates as a more private and intimate space and features a dining table, probably used by the family as a family room.
Each room naturally features a fireplace or two!
The dining room features an unusual Tudor plasterwork ceiling. I've never seen one with the design picked out in a dark paint but it really is a nice detail.
The original bronze hardware throughout the house is gorgeous.
The table was elegantly laid for a meal. Oddly though the dining room doesn't have a chandelier but is rather lit by lamps on all of the sideboard surrounding the room; Dining by candlelight.
Notice the scale of these rooms - that is a standard 7'-0" door. Also notice the decorative tape surrounding the grasscloth wallpaper.
The library on the ground level features a scenic wallpaper (Zuber?) and beautiful 2nd empire furnishings.
I loved the Egyptian influence in all of the furniture.
We were serenaded by an excellent jazz band.
I can't get enough of this wallpaper!  I've said it before and I'll say it again, sconces are the best lighting source for a room. They add beautiful detail and the quality of light is the most flattering.
I know this last picture isn't the best but I loved this clock and had to share it. I hope you enjoyed this little tour of John Russell Pope's Brazilian Embassy with my snapshots, it really made my weekend!