Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Book Signing at Laura Pearce


Regular blogging will resume shortly, but in the meantime, I want to invite you to join me for a book signing at Laura Pearce Ltd., one of Atlanta's premier fine jewelry boutiques.

The event will take place next Tuesday, November 5 from 11 to 3pm. Please come by to say hello and to peruse the beautiful baubles and exquisite estate jewelry.  You'll find all kinds of great jewelry, including pieces by Monica Rich Kosann, Elizabeth Showers, and Katie Decker.  (Trust me, you'll be writing Santa a letter or dropping some major hints to your hubby after you visit Laura's shop.)

For more information, see the invitation above.  Please RSVP to ajamison@laurapearce.com or call 404.350.9207  

Monday, October 28, 2013

Alexa Hampton for Hickory Chair


I was in High Point last week to attend Fall Market, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. So much to see!

One collection that especially caught my eye was that by Alexa Hampton for Hickory Chair. I had seen photos of the collection a while back, but at the Hickory Chair showroom in High Point, I saw Alexa's collection in a whole new light. Alexa had decorated her showroom space with snappy prints, velvets, and chintz, mostly in shades of purple and green.  It was just the right combination of prints and color to help wake up these weary eyes, which had seen lots of furniture that day.  But what impressed me even more was the apparent effort and hard work that Alexa had put into her vignettes. 

Walking through these rooms was like taking a pep pill full of energy, inspiration, and pizzazz.









All photos taken by Jennifer Boles for The Peak of Chic

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Sneak a "Peak"



I hope that you'll join me for my Atlanta book launch next Tuesday, October 29.  Atlanta is, after all, my hometown, so I hope to see lots of familiar faces.  The party will take place at ADAC in the 3rd floor atrium, right outside of the new Jim Thompson Showroom.  It should be a fun, festive soiree, and I would love to see you there.  (If you do plan to come, please RSVP to info@jimthompsonatlanta.com)






I'd also like for you to check out my One Kings Lane Tastemaker Tag Sale this Friday, October 25.  The sale is inspired by all of the various entries in my book, so expect to see Malachite, Toile, Chinoiserie, and many other classic decorations. (I got a peek at the lineup, and there are so many items that I want for my own home.  Trust me, this will be a good sale.)  You'll also be able to buy signed copies of my new book.  The sale starts at 11am EST. 

Monday, October 21, 2013

A Little of This and A Little of That





I'm currently in High Point, so you probably won't see me blogging until later this week.  In the meantime, though:

If you're in High Point tomorrow, please come visit me at the Currey & Co. showroom from 3 to 5pm, when I'll be signing copies of my new book.  And speaking of which...

Tomorrow is the big day!  My book will be released tomorrow, October 22, and I couldn't be more thrilled.  After so much hard work, it will be very satisfying, not to mention a great relief, to actually see copies of my book on the bookstore shelves.  Thank you for all of your support for and enthusiasm about my book.  It really means a lot to me.

And a special thank you to House Beautiful, which featured my book in its November issue. Thank you, thank you!



And one last thing- I'll be having a Tastemaker Tag Sale on One Kings Lane this Friday, October 25 at 11am EST/ 8am PST.  The sale will feature items that I have curated, all of which are in the spirit of my new book.  For those of you looking for classic furnishings for your home, this is your sale.


Whew! See you later this week.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Indore Garden Collection by No. 9 Thompson



I am very excited to announce that my book's Atlanta launch party will be held on Tuesday, October 29 from 5:00-7:00 pm at the still-under-construction-but-soon-to-be-open Jim Thompson showroom at ADAC Atlanta, Third Floor Atrium.  I will post more info about the party soon, but in the meantime, mark it on your calendars.  I would love for you to join me in celebrating my new book at my hometown design center.  For more information and to RSVP, please email info@jimthompsonatlanta.com

I'm especially anxious for the new Jim Thompson showroom to open as I want to see the new No. 9 Thompson Indore Garden Collection in person.  I always intrigued by what inspires Richard Smith, Design Director for No. 9 Thompson, and this time, it is his memory of a trip to Udaipur in Rajasthan, India that seasons his designs.  There is the collection's namesake, Indore Garden, which features trailing flowers against a background of a "Jali" screen, and Calicut, which was named for the Indian city in which calico originated.  But my favorite print of the collection has to be Wedding Parade, which you can see above.  Smith was inspired to create this print after seeing an 1850's painting that depicted a wedding celebration.  (I predict that Wedding Parade is going to be a huge hit.)

Take a look below to see a glimpse of the striking new collection.








Wedding Parade










Two colorways of Indore Garden




Ikat Vase












Various colorways of Rambagh Stripe





Calicut










Rag Rug





Painted Paisley

All photos used with express permission of Jim Thompson Fabrics

Monday, October 14, 2013

Marie Warren and Michael Greer


Marie Warren is not only one of the grandes dames of Atlanta decorating, but she is also a neighbor of mine.  Everybody knows Marie and respects her decades-long contribution to the Atlanta design community, so it was only natural that she be featured in the debut issue of Milieu.

Milieu's article included Marie's thoughts and opinions on decorating, but what really struck a chord with me was her emphasis on the importance of being familiar with the work of other designers, especially past greats like Sister Parish and Dorothy Draper.  "The people I work with are aware of the work of the designers of the twentieth century," said Marie.  That is obviously music to my ears.  And one design great who got honorable mention by Marie was the late Michael Greer, someone who Marie deemed "my personal favorite".

So, in honor of both Marie and Michael Greer, I thought that I would show just a few photos from Greer's classic design tome, Inside Design.  This book, a personal favorite of mine, is also a favorite of Marie, who says that she refers to it often.  That's high praise indeed.











Photo of Marie Warren and quotations from Milieu, Fall 2013, written by Timothy E. Revis, David Schilling photographer.

Steven Stolman at Discover ADAC



I hope that by the time this post publishes, I am rested and full of energy.  You see, I have a busy week ahead of me.  This week is Discover ADAC, and the stars of the decorating world are alighting on Atlanta.  Mario Buatta, Ellie Cullman, Michael S. Smith, Jan Showers, Chuck Chewning, and many, many others will be speaking at ADAC this week.

Also at ADAC will be Steven Stolman, style provocateur and president of Scalamandre, who will be interviewed by yours truly this Thursday, October 17 at 1:00 in ADAC's Presentation Room.  Our on-stage chat should be lively and fun, especially considering that we will be discussing Steven's new book, Scalamandre Haute Decor.

We hope to see you on Thursday!

Friday, October 11, 2013

Creative Cooking



I can easily spend hours looking through decades-old issues of Gourmet. I don't necessarily look through them searching for recipes, although many of them do seem quite appetizing. Rather, I enjoy looking at the magazine's photos. Whoever styled those old food photos, which are so staged-looking and yet so charming, must have had one heck of a good time doing so.  I know that I would have.

Take, for example, that photo seen above.  When I first glanced at it, I thought that whatever creamy food was nestled within that puffed pastry must be something good.  Well, it's not.  Or at least, I don't find Brains to be something good.  But the styling of that photo certainly made what seems to me a vile dish look downright delicious.

Then there's the Swordfish Mirabeau.  Yes, the plated dish looks a little too man-handled, but those strips of anchovies and sliced olives do create an interesting-looking pattern.  And check out the photos of Boeuf à la Mode en Gelée and Leg of Lamb in Aspic.  A little too precious?  Perhaps.  But both dishes, especially the lamb in aspic with that herb and vegetable garnish, took skill and artistry.

Now, I doubt that many of us are going to start decorating our food with floral-motif garnishes, strips of anchovies and sliced olives, and peas in aspic, but I do think that these old Gourmet photos are great examples of how design can enhance food immeasurably.


 






Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Mr. Hadley Goes to Washington


I think that I'm familiar with most of Parish-Hadley's projects, probably due to the fact that I have read both Adam Lewis's Albert Hadley:The Story of America's Preeminent Interior Designer and Christopher Petkanas's Parish-Hadley: Sixty Years of American Design roughly half a dozen times each. However, until I obtained the March/ April 1975 issue of Architectural Digest, I was not familiar with the work that Albert Hadley did for the noted Washington hostess Buffy Cafritz and her husband, William.

Hadley decorated the Cafritz's suburban Washington house in a manner that was in keeping with the house's suburban locale. As Hadley noted, the house "could be in the English countryside, but it is American with strong continental overtones." Also, the house was "sparsely furnished" in order to give it "scale and scope", something that had been lacking in the house that had once been deemed too small.  Because the house was minimally furnished, it seems that each piece was chosen with great care, especially considering that the furnishings were given such prominent roles.  By the way, my favorite decorations in the Cafritz house have to be that flame-stitch rug in the living room and the dining room's blue and white dhurrie rug.

The house was certainly attractive, not to mention well-mannered in appearance, something which was probably appropriate for Cafritz's frequent entertaining.  I can just imagine the Washington power-brokering that went on in these Albert Hadley-decorated rooms.








All photos from Architectural Digest, March/April 1975, Richard Champion photographer.

Join Me in High Point



If you plan to be at High Point Market on Tuesday, October 22, I invite you to join me at the Currey & Co. showroom (IHFC M110 on Main Street, Street Level) for the debut of my new book.

I will be signing copies from 3 to 5pm.  Books will be available for purchase.  While there, you can browse the Currey & Co. showroom to see their exciting new products.  And at 5pm, there will be a champagne toast in honor of Currey & Co.'s 25th anniversary.

I do hope that you can join me and the Currey & Co. team for a fun afternoon at High Point!