Eye candy from the October 2009 British House and Garden….
gorgeously bejeweled salon…
sapphire and indigo and teal and gold and amber
all masterfully mixed against polished Venetian plaster walls
described by the designer as “watery, mossy, pale green and luminous”.
One of a pair of George II carved giltwood sconces
above a Tang dynasty, painted pottery horse…
that frame the doorway to the dining room…
Michael often asks his clients to tell him the story of the home they want.
The American clients imagined ” It was to be chic, to have influences of the
thirties and the fifties; a home of connoisseurship in which the likes of
Noel Coward and Cecil Beaton would be at home.”
Léon Bonnat’s “Samson’s youth” painting in the front hall
glowing amber on walls and pillows…
sapphire-purple in the rug…
Cecil Beaton’s drawing room
recreated at Ashcombe
Vogue Living Houses, Garden, People
I am a neutrals girl but those colors are so exquisite. Love the green walls and that sapphire sofa…
I love color, I could move on in.
Lee
The rooms are beautiful. I am a neutrals girl too but If you are going to do COLOR and really do it in the English style this is definitely it. I would love to see the room the occupants REALLY spend time in……
Speaking of color… I heard in the 1920’s the posh places painted their walls in a peach color because their famous clientèle loved a grand entry to get the most attention, they loved the peach walls because it brought out the colors in their faces and made the famous men and women more radiant. I noticed in one of your recent post…the antique dealers, I believe the gray walls seemed to wash out the faces of the couple in front of the mantle. From that standpoint it makes neutrals even though they are beautiful very unflattering for people.
Just a thought.
Lee
Hi all.
Lee: know what you mean about gray/washed out…I think it gave the couple an old Vermeer look (which I loved). But perhaps the rest of us should all change to peach walls and pink light bulbs!
Mimi: My favorite is really the second photo…where I cropped in to focus on wall and couch/pillows…the color interplay is very exciting, though I’m obviously a neutral gal myself. My computer reads more of a citron wall color.
Beadboard: Rest of the place is either spare/modern or layered British country manor. No scuffy shoes cast about.
I’d be happy living in the entry hall, perhaps subbing in a George Smith mohair Edwardian style sofa.
Pink light bulbs I forgot about those…I’m sure even that wouldn’t help to flatter my face…I am beyond help, I look best in pitch dark…as for Vermeer I will have to look at them again…funny thought.
Lee
I wrote a little poem for you today:
I love color
I love gray
I love neutrals
I love Trouvais!
…because Trish
you do dish……..in such an intriguing way.
~Jermaine~
I think we should have a speak in verse day! Merci, mon ami!
Hi Trish,
Love the opulence of all these beautiful rooms.
Hugs
Carolyn
Trish, I go back and forth between neutrals and color. But anything with purple makes me drool! What an amazing place! Look at that front hall! I would happily greet people there! (: Happy week! Monika.
I’m a painter, who founded the Florence Academy of Art. I’ve greatly admired the work of Leon Bonnet for many years.
It was a surprise to see,” Samson’s youth”. I would like to see the original, would this be possible?
looking forward to hearing from you.
Daniel