tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post5771617042797937869..comments2023-10-10T04:20:19.314-05:00Comments on Mrs. Blandings: Now You See ItMrs. Blandingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16347927058318098383noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-8155454350492916012011-06-21T11:53:06.674-05:002011-06-21T11:53:06.674-05:00This room lighting is very grand and fits in a roy...This <a href="http://www.homelightingadvice.com/room" rel="nofollow">room lighting</a> is very grand and fits in a royal dining area.Home Lightinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09050888167102678737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-20640416770591262322011-06-20T20:24:59.482-05:002011-06-20T20:24:59.482-05:00To Linda:
I respect that it sounds rather flip to ...To Linda:<br />I respect that it sounds rather flip to call what must be expensive furniture "pedestrian" but they are. Chippendale chairs (of which there must be millions in the world today?) have been made in scads of different styles and these are some of the least interesting of what is essentially a mass produced chair = pedestrian. Further, because this is such a particularly interesting room one wants more for it... like the curiously effected painted bamboo chairs that were in the original interior. And yes, there are many other styles of chair that would have been as successful as the bamboo ones. <br /><br />My flip snobbish use of the term pedestrian<br />should also be applied to the chandeliers....…very hotel ballroom, factory made, fancy for fancy sake, and one chandelier to many for the size of the room.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-6685201991511458312011-06-20T10:19:06.982-05:002011-06-20T10:19:06.982-05:00So in agreement with Mr. Worthington, as usual---w...So in agreement with Mr. Worthington, as usual---when decoration and architecture are in agreement, things become sublime.<br /><br />However, and um, of course one knows that I'd rather die than criticize (ha!), though the backgrounds are blissfully intact---the carefully glazed woodwork (modeled after Gunston Hall, an 18th century house in Virginia), and that glorioius wallpaper, those chandeliers, of which one would be more than enough, and two are two too many, and the perfectly nice but ordinary Chippendale chairs are nothing compared to the sublime furnishings that Elkins originally chose for the rooms, inexplicably sold by the last owners when they put the house on the market (greed makes people do unfortunate things). Those furnishings included an uber modernistic rug by Marian Dorn in a Chinese Chippendale fret, and a glorious set of pale Chinese Chippendale chairs---all with considerably more subtle chandelier. The interiors of this house were among the high points in the history of American interior design.The Down East Dilettantehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13950254669198151850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-82581638616242643822011-06-18T10:33:21.927-05:002011-06-18T10:33:21.927-05:00Fun bit of design trivia. I think I need to pick ...Fun bit of design trivia. I think I need to pick up the book on Frances. I have you on my blogroll Patricia. You have a lovely style of writing. Come visit my blog sometime...Shiree'shiree segerstromhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09482618172002009222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-54530741415965317432011-06-18T02:29:27.354-05:002011-06-18T02:29:27.354-05:00Oh hi the "french tangerine"! Tee hee!
...Oh hi the "french tangerine"! Tee hee!<br /><br />I totally agree with you! If that were the owner!<br /><br />David Adler was an architect......(the best of the best); and it was his sister who was Frances Elkins....and they collaborated....<br /><br />You thought it was the owner's sister......oh dear god that would never work!<br /><br />In this case...the architect and his sister the decorator...did magnificent........and I mean magnificent jobs of houses mostly near Chicago.....<br /><br />Triumphs of fantastic architecture and interiors to match!!<br /><br />a lovely post! Yet again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-75690596252451125192011-06-17T20:12:43.332-05:002011-06-17T20:12:43.332-05:00Good eye toby! A detail that makes an enormous di...Good eye toby! A detail that makes an enormous difference. Often.....mostly....overlooked! Such a difference!!<br /><br />Bravo Mrs. Band Toby W!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-46073731219508221692011-06-17T20:10:07.242-05:002011-06-17T20:10:07.242-05:00Oh so lovely! and thank the Lord that they didn&#...Oh so lovely! and thank the Lord that they didn't mess with that wallpaper and paint. <br /><br />there is a guardian angel in that room. I didn't even notice the terrible chairs.until I read the comments........whew!!<br /><br />those two were an amazing pair! Lucky owners who trusted them.......got the best of the best!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-63794264114651695802011-06-17T17:15:40.814-05:002011-06-17T17:15:40.814-05:00LOVE the hidden door!LOVE the hidden door!Laura Stockett Roberts https://www.blogger.com/profile/14295399661077967738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-39810222820391698082011-06-17T17:04:44.483-05:002011-06-17T17:04:44.483-05:00Wow its one thing to offer insight and a slant on ...Wow its one thing to offer insight and a slant on personal taste to become heavily involved is a whole other story. The chinoiserie is gorgeous the colors so incredibly rich. So fabulous looking!The enchanted homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03417949320717832732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-79656683637061147232011-06-17T13:01:23.677-05:002011-06-17T13:01:23.677-05:00I believe the crown (as well as the door and windo...I believe the crown (as well as the door and window surrounds, wainscot, etc.) are bleached, knotty pine, not painted. such a great "country" detail to bring DOWN that gorgeous, antique paper. <br /><br />anon is right about the image. it's recent. when Elkins decorated this room originaly, she used humble bamboo chairs, no chandeliers, and a very '30s sculpted wool carpet by Marion Dorn. the horses on the mantle (Tang? Han?) are similar to the original. i don't remember those vases on either side of the fireplace; will have to look at my elkins books later.<br /><br />this is one of my favorite houses ever! so crazy chic, and an inspiration for designer for years to come! thanks for reminding us Mrs. B!Olivernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-39060042259507700932011-06-17T11:11:05.714-05:002011-06-17T11:11:05.714-05:00Dear Anon,
It sounds like you are very familiar w...Dear Anon, <br />It sounds like you are very familiar with the house, maybe even had the pleasure of visiting it in real life. Please tell us what makes this chair pedestrian. I have a life long love of chairs, and I would not hesistate to characterize some (even one or two that I owned) as pedestrian, even tragic. But I personally can't really tell from this pic. Thank you!Linda @ a design snackhttp://accessdesigngroup.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-88926228313982581902011-06-17T10:32:34.798-05:002011-06-17T10:32:34.798-05:00I think it is still very beautiful, including the ...I think it is still very beautiful, including the "gaudy" chandelier. I actually was drawn to its sparkle and clean lines of the tableware against the opulent richness of the walls and moldings. The simplicity of the chairs also allow the walls to be the star. I am sure it was amazing in its original layout but this is nothing to tip up your nose at. Thank you for sharing Mrs B!Marlee Goodnight - Cayuse Cowgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00198619682626079933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-45953856709364996982011-06-17T09:49:15.182-05:002011-06-17T09:49:15.182-05:00Gorgeous. The function of the screen is curious. B...Gorgeous. The function of the screen is curious. Behind the screen is the same wallpapered door as that on the left [each w/ a mounted plexi push-here panel!]. Probably an ugly view of the stove behind the screen door? Curious.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-75014470041457885482011-06-17T09:10:29.630-05:002011-06-17T09:10:29.630-05:00amazing! Happy weekend to you, Mrs. B!amazing! Happy weekend to you, Mrs. B!Design Elementshttp://design-elements-blog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-28642151720242367142011-06-17T08:09:43.072-05:002011-06-17T08:09:43.072-05:00Marvelous, Mrs B.
Interesting to note how the brac...Marvelous, Mrs B.<br />Interesting to note how the bracketed cornice is painted<br />to tone with paper as opposed to being a bright off<br />white. And then that screen with its own informal<br />but thoroughly effective dado, the perfect kind of<br />camouflage. Proving once again, that an architectural<br />sensibility was at work in this decorated room. It makes<br />all the difference.Toby Worthingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05887066048372484464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-68407122872106490252011-06-17T07:45:32.044-05:002011-06-17T07:45:32.044-05:00This room (and house) has recently been restored (...This room (and house) has recently been restored (McMansion style) to the very last degree-its sad and cold now. Even in this shot the gaudy chandeliers and pedestrian dinning chairs are those of the second owner....but yes for some reason they never touched the background and it was heaven. <br /><br />In your lovely and thoughtful way maybe you can shed some light on the lack of sensitivity of todays rich.<br />The forecourt of this house is now heavily planted with a flower display in the manner of the Bellagio.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-18869274520615762752011-06-17T06:50:51.195-05:002011-06-17T06:50:51.195-05:00This room is amazing, besides the hand painted wal...This room is amazing, besides the hand painted wall paper, there is the chinoiserie door surround that is topped off with the pagoda. Do you have any photos of the door surround? Frances Elkins and David Adler--what a pair. Have a great week-end. Marymaryhttp://mjhdesignarts.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487945587083638331.post-31039292700995205462011-06-17T00:25:28.049-05:002011-06-17T00:25:28.049-05:00Clever... can you imagine? If my husband's sis...Clever... can you imagine? If my husband's sister was that involved in the decorating... not sure how I'd handle that. I mean, I love to get her opinion, but "heavily involved" makes me a little uncomfortable!The French Tangerinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02833895261490013346noreply@blogger.com