I was strolling along the beautiful shops in Savannah, when I spied this gorgeous book in the Mercer House gift shop. Alas, it was their only copy and not for sale. Blasphemy! I wanted to review the book before I plunked down good monies, so I came home to Orlando and had an interlibrary loan set up via my local library. (The loan arrived all the way from the University of Alabama!)
Regency Redux focuses on one of the most sophisticated moments in design history: the Regency period in England. Written by design historian Emily Evans Eerdmans and published by Rizzoli, the book also delves into modern interpretations of the Regency style, including influences brought upon by French and American designers. It starts with an introduction to the original Regency period, moves into the Neoclassical timeline and then delves into the stylized interiors of the 1930’s and also into how Hollywood made use of the style in lavish movie sets. There are sumptuous photographs in both color and black & white. Additionally, there is a foreword by designer Kelly Wearstler, herself a lover of glamour, excitement and dramatic luxury. What’s not to love?
Please be sure to click on the pictures to get a larger zoom version.
(Below) On the left, the Music Room at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. It features 26,000 hand-gilded cockleshells applied to the domed ceiling. (Whoa…) On the right, The Platinum Room in Spain’s La Casita del Labrador.
(Below) On the left, a modern living space featuring what looks like an unusual plaster finish on the walls. (LOVE!) On the right, Eltham Palace with its strong Art Deco influence. BTW, if you’d like to read more about greek key origins, click here.
Who wouldn’t love to just be an extra alongside Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers in Roberta? Just the dresses alone…I think I’ll start posing like that daily…
(Below) On the left, Marble Hall at Kedleston Hall. Roman baths were the inspiration for the space. On the right, the inimitable work of Rex Whistler.
A peek into scenic wall drawings…
Needless to say, I’ve already ordered my own copy. (I also seriously think that the Rizzoli publishing house can just back up their trucks right to my front lawn. I just want all their books. Every single one. I’ll find space.) I hope I’ve inspired you to look into Regency Redux and plan a little glamour of your own for 2010. Also, be sure to check out the lovely design blog of the author, Emily Evans Eerdmans. Until next time!
I live in Groveland, FL — it’s near Orlando. I used to live a hop, skip and a jump from New York City and how I got here is a story for another day…but suffice it to say, I miss NYC like no one’s business. One of the best amenities there is the multitude of beautiful museums to visit. A fave was always the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Countless hours were spent just getting lost within all its treasures. Imagine my happiness to find our book of the month, Period Rooms in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and relive a bit of those magical moments.
The book was released in 1996 and through sumptuous photographs and text, gives a grand tour of thirty-four room installations. These rooms give superb examples of interior design throughout the ages — from an ancient Roman bedroom excavated near Pompeii to eighteenth-century French and English parlors to early nineteenth century American libraries. Some of the rooms have actually been taken from historic buildings and some are authentic recreations. (The recreations spark healthy debates among scholars and decorative arts experts.) According to their website, this particular wing opened up again this past spring after two years of renovations — so if you were to go today, you’d have an even more enjoyable experience. Here are some visuals, as photographed by Karin L. Willis.
(Above) The Boscoreale Room: A well-preserved Roman bedroom with fresco paintings. Timeline: 40 – 30 B.C.
(Above) On the left is the Parisian Crillon Room. To see a close-up of the decorative painting, click here. Timeline: 1777-80. On the right is the Sagredo Bedroom from the Palazzo Sagredo in Venice. Timeline: 1718. [I'm not sure I could sleep there -- way too much to look at!]
(Above) The Kirtlington Park Room: Oxfordshire Dining Room, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful Rococo rooms from England. The plasterwork was executed by artisan Thomas Roberts. Timeline: 1748.
(Above) The Gubbio Studiolo: A small study retreat from Gubbio, Italy. The fantastic realization about this gorgeous trompe l’oeil work is that it is not painted at all. It is Perspective Intarsia, a Florentine Renaissance technique that creates a continuous illusion by wooden inlays. Different colors of wood provide different shadings. [!!!!] A closeup can be seen here.
(Above) The Van Rensselaer Hall: An entrance hall built in pre-Revolutionary America. The wallcovering is wallpaper handpainted in tempera. Timeline: 1765-69.
(Above) The Nur al-Din Room: Originally from Damascus, research has not produced precise information on its provenance. It is twenty-two feet high, twenty-six feet long and sixteen feet wide and took three years to install.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the visuals — the book has so many more in addition to thorough information on each of the design styles. Truly enjoyable. I do hope you consider looking into it. Until next time, dear Readers!
Chances are you are familiar with the book, The House that Faux Built by author and activist Adrienne Van Dooren. It’s one of the must-have books to own in your design library since it showcases the transformation of a 1940’s home with over 500 pictures of beautiful finishes by some of the best artisans of today. However, this is no ordinary decorative painting book – true to it’s title, the proceeds of its sale were going towards raising enough money to build a home in New Orleans, post-Katrina. The beauty of it all? After four years, it has proven a success and the funds to build the home have been raised! Here are some pics from the project, now under construction:
The home will be a sanctuary for a young family with two children and is being built from scratch from the proceeds. During the first week in November, the house will be worked on by various artists who have volunteered their time and resources for this second “House That Faux Built” project. The second phase of this project will be included in a re-printing of the original book and this round will benefit both Habitat for Humanity as well as the SPCA. There are also other good works coming in to play. Rebecca Parsons will be on hand during the two weeks to video the project, the dedication ceremony and the artisans who selflessly are donating their time for a mini-documentary of the process. The entire project will also be professionally photographed and will receive a well-deserved amount of press.
I spoke with Asheville artisan Lyna Dawn, the Chairperson of the project, to get a little more information on this worthy endeavor. There is more information to be had at the Faux House website but here’s some good ways to get involved in this second phase:
1) SPCA (Birdhouse Auction) – The SPCA will have their annual fundraising event on Saturday, November 14th, with a Hooray for Howlywood theme. During the event, there will be a charity auction involving gorgeous birdhouses handpainted by artisans – but hurry, the deadline to send one in is Thursday, October 29th. Send the birdhouses to:
Attention: Dean Howard
Howling for Success Auction
1700 Mardi Gras Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70114
2) Artisan Volunteers – The second phase will run the first two weeks of November. The first week is geared towards working on the actual Habitat home and both faux finishes and murals will take center stage here. The mural work will be geared towards helping the SPCA and its headquarters. Please note that great rates have been worked out to help with food and lodging costs (including the beautiful Degas House) and most materials will be donated. Jane Drew is the Project Coordinator in New Orleans and you can reach her by e-mailing Jane1478@aol.com or calling her directly at (504) 666-2609.
3) SPCA (Doghouse Challenge) – During the first week of November, doghouses will be built by an artist couple in Monroe, LA and will be painted by the volunteer artisans. These will also be auctioned off at the SPCA shindig, Hooray for Howlywood, and will be spotlighted by their special celebrity host.
4) Sponsorship – Some of the sponsors include Golden Paints, Royal Design Studio, Modern Masters and Jeff Raum Stencils. (Note to Readers: I’ll plug in more sponsors as I find out more about them.) If you’d like information on becoming a sponsor, please contact the Sponsorship Chair for the program, Laine Discepoli via e-mail Laine@misselaineous.net or via phone (513) 533-FAUX.
5) Donations – If you are not able to participate in any of the above but would love to help, please consider donating to the cause. All efforts are truly appreciated.
It’s amazing that such an incredible endeavor has come to fruition. It really is quite heartwarming that faux truly has built a home for a deserving family – and every one of us who owns the book helped make it happen. The original artisans must be so proud – as well as founder, Adrienne Van Dooren! Please tour the Faux House website, consider getting involved and by all means, purchase the book if you have not done so already. There is tons of eye candy, ideas and all for a wonderful cause! There is also a Facebook Fan Page for the originating non-for-profit organization, Artists4Others. Until next time!
Nina Campbell is a London-based designer — and one of the busiest in the world, with celebrities and royals as clients. In addition to her design firm, she also has a collection of home luxuries that include wallpapers, fabrics and even home fragrances. In a Veranda article, she describes her style as “voluptuous minimalism”. I actually said “Uhm…voluptuous minimalism?” but after acquiring her Decorating Notebook: Insider Secrets and Decorating Ideas for Your Home (published in 2004) I think I have it. It’s elegant yet simple interiors that have an incredible attention to custom and decorative details. A hand-carved piece of furniture, wall friezes, gilded leather and cornices, beautiful table decorations, striking mirrors…so, a voluptuous hand in the artisan aspects all maintained within a classic, comfortable setting. At least, that’s my take. I’m here all week, folks.
The book is Ms. Campbell’s way, through text by Alexandra Campbell, of sharing her methods and personal process for designing a commissioned space. She delves into color schemes, fabrics and lighting in addition to creating a stunning focal point in every foom. I like that she includes questionnaires and floorplans as well as insights into creating the board sketches (with visuals and swatches) with which designers use to communicate their vision for a room. Here are some of the images in the book, photographed by Jan Baldwin. I did zoom in onto the rooms that had some favorite patterns or decorative painting involved (or could inspire decorative painting, like the marbled columns) but there are plenty of other visuals to enjoy.
I do hope you like this month’s recommendation. (Speaking of the month, where did August go?!?) I hope to see you around these parts again as we welcome September — have a wonderful day!
So, I’ve been going to the library a lot. In one of my jaunts, I found the Fauxology Book-of-the-Month: Paint Alchemy by Annie Sloan. As much as I love how easily we can find paint materials nowadays, I do like the idea of traditional artisans creating their own materials in their studios. They would use the pigments and secret ingredients available to them to make durable paints and gorgeous colors. This book helps artists understand how paints are made — and provides 30 recipes (with visuals) for creating some of the materials we easily take for granted today.
The simplest of recipes: Pigment + Binder = Paint
Annie Sloan, the author, has over 20 books to her credit. She lives and works in Oxford, England. She trained as a painter and headed her own design firm. She also taught decorative painting for a time at London’s Inchbald School of Design. She now works with Chalk Paint, a handmade artisan paint. In this particular book, she goes into the history of pigments, binders (the glue that sticks the pigment to the surface), mixing your own colors and choosing the best materials for your purposes. The recipe section is divided into two sections: small quantities and large quantities. They include interesting formulas for coloured waxes and concrete, textured paint, distemper, limewashes, egg yolk & egg white paint (very interesting), fabric paints and gesso. There’s even more to discover.
The book was published in 2001 and although some of the finished surfaces have become more sophisticated, it seems like the recipes themselves would stand the test of time. I can’t wait to get around to putting some together! I hope you get a chance to view the book — whether by purchase or through your local library. Until tomorrow!
While perusing Art Fusion a few months ago, fellow artisan Erica Somers of Luxe Crete posted information about her latest book find at Barnes & Noble. The cover looked gorgeous and I’ve been looking into greener plaster alternatives, so I bought it on her recommendation. It’s been a true find and so I, in turn, have chosen it as our April Book-of-the-Month. Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce Using Natural Finishes by Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce.
The book focuses on using natural finishes based on lime and earth. They break down the chapters into finishes that use plasters (applied internally), renders (applied externally), paints and washes. They also go into the prepwork detail and help introduce us to beautiful natural finishes from around the world, including South Africa and Japan. The book has so much information that at first, I felt overwhelmed and just looked at the pictures. Gradually, I started reading about the temperaments of each material, their ingredients, uses and attributes and finally, understanding the history of these finishes.
I thought the following history was fascinating: “The oldest known examples of lime being used in a wall plaser have been found in Jericho…dating from around 7000 BC. The Greeks and Romans, at the beginning of the first century AD, used lime as their main building binder to construct their vast empires…During the medieval period in England, after a fire destroyed London Bridge in 1212, King John passed a law that all shops along the River Thames were to be plastered and whitewashed with lime both inside and out. The lime finish was used because of its fire-resistant properties.” I knew that the Italians used natural plasters to create their famous frescoes, but the information above is key (at least for me) to understand and respect these materials more, that their history goes beyond my using it for an eco-conscious client. Here are some pics:
BELOW: I thought this was a grievous use of coffee, but then I read that it was linseed oil. (phew) On the right pic, more of the ingredients and tools used for the natural finishes.
Should you decide to fully immerse yourself in this creative field, the authors seek to fully prepare you. In fact, the President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), states: “This highly informative and sumptuous book shows how the threat of climate change is also an opportunity to make buildings more beautiful”. The authors also have created the Natural Building Resources website to help others find even more green sources. I hope you get a chance to check it out!
One of the benefits of Talk Faux is getting to know artists from around the world. You post a question, you get your answers and in the midst of it all, you start to know the experience and personality every individual has. She doesn’t know it but one of my faves is San Francisco artisan Lynne Rutter. She has tremendous knowledge about the history of design and art and it is a pleasure to read her forum posts. On her website, she even has a very cool area called the Glossary of Esoteric Architectural and Design Terms. (I am the type of person who enjoys learning what a spandrel is and what a jib door does…) She also shares news about her projects in her lovely blog, the Ornamentalist.
Imagine my happiness when I found out through her blog that she and a group of 10 artisans had a book coming out called A Feast for the Eyes. It is actually a cookbook featuring 51 inspiring images mixed with the artist’s 21 favorite recipes. They published it through Blurb and if you click on the link here you can get a peek at the book’s interior.
I ordered it as a birthday gift for a friend who is both a muralist and dedicated foodie. When it arrived, I turned into “Bad Regina” and just wanted to keep it for myself. It is a small gem of a book…glossy cover and gorgeous pics. (”Good Regina” hasn’t won out yet — I see my friend this weekend and the book is still in mortal danger.) I hope you get a chance to preview the book and consider purchasing it. I can see the love and care the 11 artists put into creating it. Enjoy!
One final note – here are the 11 artisans who contributed to the book. Please visit their wonderful sites if you get a chance:
Lausanne Carpenter: www.MarshHawkStudio.com
Ziska Childs: www.AspenMurals.com
Chuck Horn: www.flickr.com/photos/chuckhorn
Abby Kent: www.amkent.com
Carla Knopp: www.CarlaKnopp.com
Marlow DeMars: www.DecoArtisans.com
Jackie Rowan: http://www.fauxdirectory.com/directory/jackierowan.2740.html
Lynne Rutter: www.LynneRutter.com
Kim Senior: www.KimSenior.com
Pat Strong: www.StrongDecorativePaint.blogspot.com
Alison Woolley: www.FlorenceArt.net
There I was: first and last day in Rome, walking with my gorgeous hubby towards one of our Most Important Places to See. We were heading back to the States early the next morning. We had spent the day at St. Peter’s Basilica and had a beautiful lunch. It was 2:15 pm and the closing time was 4 pm — we hoped that almost two hours would be enough to see the most famous ceiling in the world.
Except that they had decided to close early that day…at 2 pm, the guard explained. As the horror slowly dawned on me, I sat on the outside steps and just bawled. My poor hubby — he just sat next to me in silence with his arm around my shoulders. I know that there are far worse tragedies in the world and that I may yet return to Rome one day — but at that moment, it was hard to fathom that I wouldn’t be seeing The Sistine Chapel.
I’ve since regained my perspective on things. Have my health, don’t live under abusive circumstances…so…you know, perspective is important. I would still love to see the work — since Giorgio Vasari said “there is no other work to compare with this for excellence, nor could there be.” I recently caught the flick, The Agony and the Ecstasy, which caused me to read this month’s book. Now, I’m (sorta) glad I didn’t see it since I’ve learned so much of its history — I will truly appreciate it completely when I do return to Rome.
So, our first Book of the Month for 2009 is Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling by Ross King. It reads more like a story than a dry history of the Sistine Chapel. Mr. King spent an incredible amount of time on research and presenting the over-abundance of facts in a very entertaining manner – it really comes alive when you can envision being in 1508 and practically smell the plaster.
Regina’s Side Notes: I gotta tell ya, though – Michelangelo doesn’t come across as a winner for dinner. Full of pride, hot-tempered, arrogant, paranoid…but, I digress and we’ll move on.
The ceiling was commissioned by Pope Julius II and our boy was furious since he was a sculptor and not a painter. In fact, he had quite a few high-end sculpting commissions going on — including one already for the tomb of Pope Julius II. Fast forward through a few temper tantrums and he comes to realize that he couldn’t exactly say no to the Pope. In his mind, he was being set up for failure by an arch enemy: Donato Bramante, the Pope’s architect. Bramante thought Michelangelo would either quit or fail horribly at the art of fresco painting — either way, Michelangelo would be humiliated.
Regina’s Side Notes: Sorry for the little asides but I just have to ask this – Could it have gone more wrong for Bramante? I almost feel sorry for the man. Just goes to show you: always come from a place of goodness. If you act out based on jealousy or malice, the world may not work out right for you. “Remember Bramante” –that should be a famous motto. OK, moving on. Again.
The 12,000 square foot space took the 33-year old Michelangelo Buonarroti four years to complete. He did not work alone nor on his back — he did have assistants and ingeniously designed scaffolding to suit his purposes. The “Warrior Pope”, Julius II, did not make it easy on Michelangelo — nor did the times. There was political intrigue, artistic rivalries and absolute corruption. Even though I’ve said all this, there is so much more to this story – the search for the correct pigments, lime and sand for the fresco techniques, personal hardships, settling on the ceiling’s subject matter, the beautiful details of each giornata (the day’s work) and finally, the relationship between the Pope and Michelangelo — the give-and-take that produced masterpieces. It truly is a lot to take in and I bow down to Mr. King for the phenomenal job he did as an author and researcher. I hope you consider reading it!
I just realized that our first Book-of-the-Month was exactly one year ago this month. Books happen to be what I collect so I’m happy to get a chance to tout some of them. This month I am recommending The Gilded Room by Kerry Skinner.
Gilding is an art form in which a thin coat of metal (in various forms) is adhered to a proper surface. That’s a simple description for a technique that presents an aura of opulence and has traditional methods that have been used throughout time with very few changes. The book offers great step-by-steps for the beginner but I also think it’s probably best to have a basic knowledge of gilding in order to really get the most out of it.
Ms. Skinner owns a paint design firm in England. She has traveled throughout the world and has had notable commissions for Harrods and Sir Elton John. Her book offers 20 projects using a variety of materials such as leafs, powders and papers. She touches on verre eglomise, water gilding, flash gilding and both oil and water-based gilding. Surfaces include walls, furniture, wire screens, columns and even shutters. There is also a section on making your own size, gesso and bole — so interesting to see the process. My favorite part, however, is all the way in the back: nine (9) full pages of patination pictures and techniques. Here are some pics:
BTW, if you are interested in reading more about gilding, click on the link above with the book and author’s name and it’ll take you to its Amazon page. On the bottom of that page, you will find further recommendations for books on gold leafing. You can also learn a great deal by visiting the website of The Society of Gilders, a wonderful organization dedicated to this beautiful art. In addition to a complete overview (with an FAQ section), they also have a gallery page and resources for classes. A truly great website and group. Until next time!
Words from author, Twyla Tharp:
First Chapter, I Walk Into a White Room – “To some people, this empty room symbolizes something profound, mysterious and terrifying: the task of starting with nothing and working your way toward creating something whole and beautiful and satisfying…The blank space can be humbling. But I’ve faced it my whole professional life. It’s my job. It’s also my calling. Bottom line: Filling this empty space constitutes my identity.”
The words hit home because I, like many readers of this blog, have dedicated years to a challenging creative discipline. Each year, there are different finishes, products, designs and trends to master. A working portfolio is an ever-changing chameleon and you can fill it with new samples from classes, videos and books…but at some point, you will face that white wall and your creative self will have to birth and create something of your own doing. It will take that client that likes your portfolio but doesn’t specifically see what she wants or a product you love but are tired of what you have always created with it. This is what both excites AND terrifies me. It is why I bought the book and why this month I am recommending The Creative Habit – Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp. I first came to experience Ms. Tharp’s work when my husband and I travelled to New York to see Movin’ Out — her choreography set to Billy Joel’s music. I thought that reading what one of the world’s best choreographers had to say about creativity would be interesting. (…and personally, when I think of discipline and unerring devotion to a craft, I think of dancers.) No worries: It is a book for all artists.
Getting into a creative habit — the process in which creativity is nurtured and defined – is tough because first steps are never easy. Ms. Tharp theorizes that the best creativity is a result of good work habits, that there are no “natural” geniuses. (Yes, there are those who have been given a gift but is there discipline and focus? “Whether or not God has kissed your brow, you still have to work.”) No one is born with a skill set: they are developed through exercise, repetition, learning and a positive reaction to failures. In order to be creative, she states that you have to know how to prepare to be creative.
Here is one of her examples of evolving work. One of Rembrandt’s early paintings Artist in His Studio is on the left. A beautiful work — but notice how small he paints himself in the shadowed corner. His features are not fully fleshed out and he’s not even touching the point of focus — the large easel! Almost forty years later, he produces Self Portrait with Two Circles. The mastery of his brush is fully evident and he paints himself confidently, the focus of the piece fully in touch with the tools of his trade.
I love that her exercises are adaptable enough so that everyone can tailor it to their own creative DNA. (For instance, my brother gets pumped by listening to his iPod while I like to mostly sync solely with my thoughts to work at my best. The same regimen wouldn’t work for both of us.) There are habits that need to happen daily. The key here is to learn conditioning: never thinking fundamentals are beneath you, practicing to avoid rustiness and dealing with creative ruts. Experience will always open a door BUT it can also close it if you always rely on what has worked before and you are unwilling to step out of your comfort zone.
All in all, nurturing creative habits will help you to walk into that white room and walk out leaving a masterpiece behind you. Who wouldn’t want that? I hope you enjoy the recommendation and the creative outpouring it will likely inspire. Have a wonderful day!
