REGENCY FURNITURE » Regency Period Designers

Thomas Hope – Regency Furniture Designer

Admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:34:47 +0000

Thomas Hope

We are familiar with the interiors and furniture of Thomas Hope chiefly through his 1807 book, Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, and its exquisitely restrained plates composed of thin black outlines on white grounds, free of all shading, shadow, or color. And so, faced here with more than 400 color illustrations of the real spaces and objects, we are dazzled by their vigor and presence. The images are just as elegant as the ones in his book but, with their outlines filled in, even more impressive.

Thomas Hope was the eldest son of John Hope, a Dutch merchant of Scottish extraction and a member of a very wealthy and powerful family of merchants and bankers who had settled, four generations earlier, in Holland.

By the early 1780s the merchant bank of Hope & Co were in the business of raising large sums for kings and governments throughout Europe and in the United States of America, and were recognised as one of Europe’s greatest banking dynasties.

After the death of his father in 1784, Thomas shared his father’s fortune with his two brothers but appears never to have been active in the management of the lucrative family business, which remained the source of his considerable wealth. The fortune allowed him to devote fill time energy to the arts.

Hope's extensive travels in Europe, Greece, Turkey and Egypt inspired his interest in antiquities as a source of designs for Regency interiors, furniture and metalwork.

Regency Egyptian Revival Style Armchairs By Thomas Hope

Grand Thomas Hope Chair

After years of travel, Hope, at the age of twenty six, returned to acquire an Adam House in Duchess Street, Portland Place, London. This city was none other than the very city his family had fled to during 1794 in anticipation of the French invasion of Holland. The house was designed by Robert Adam, which he remodelled with a series of themed interiors. The colourful interiors of Duchess Street and of Hope's country house, Deepdene in Surrey, played a unique role in the history of collecting, interior design and display.

Both were open to select visitors, but his furniture reached an even wider public through his book, Household Furniture and Interior Decoration. Published in 1807, this book introduced the term 'interior decoration' into the English language.

Hope established himself in London as a scholarly collector of art, an interior designer and a patron of artists and craftsmen.

Records show how Hope’s considerable wealth enabled him to collect many paintings, sculptures, antique objects and books, which were displayed in the Duchess Street mansion and at the Deepdene, his country house in Surrey.

Thomas's brother shared his passion with collecting, and became influential in many London societies connected with the arts.

Regency Style Egyptian Settee By Thomas Hope

In 1804 Hope opened exhibition galleries, after having had the Duchess Street house extended by one of the foremost architects and designers of the period, Charles Heathcote Tatham, where visitors paid for admission by ticket. The popular view of Hope was as ‘the Furniture Man’. There he was met with compliments and enthusiastic supporters; but also hostile critics. Hope’s ambitions pressed on regardless of criticism as he sketched designs for furniture, room interiors which he included in books Household Furniture and Interior Decoration (1807); Costumes of the Ancients (1809); Designs of Modern Costumes (1812); and posthumously An Historical Essay on Architecture, with the illustrations based on early Hope drawings (1835).

Hope's influence continued long after his death, partly because of his book. His designs appeared in trade journals and books on interior design, and though the Duchess Street house was demolished in 1851. In 1917 his collection was dispersed in a great sale at The Deepdene. This led to a renewed interest in Hope's vision for objects designed by him. Collections were displayed in Europe and the USA, reaching a wider public view.

Hope's style influenced the Regency Revival of the 1920s and '30s, and even Art Deco design.

Regency Style Greek Krater-Style Copper Vase

Buscot Park’s Regency Furniture

Admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:32:40 +0000

Buscot Park Hall- Pair of Ebonised Gilt chairs From The Thomas Hope Suite

Buscot Park is a glorious example of the Regency style. The estate was built by Edward Loveden Loveden between 1779 and 1783 for Edward Loveden Loveden. The house was inspired by the architecture of the great Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio. Most of the furniture here is of the Regency period, and reflects the revival of interest in that style in the inter-war years.

The entrance hall's gilt-metal chandelier from Barnsley Park

Most of the decorative scheme in The Hall is due to the 2nd Lord Faringdon, who inherited Buscot in 1934, and who acquired the celebrated suite of Thomas Hope furniture especially for this room.

The large ebonised and gilt couch, and the pair of chairs standing in front of the scagliola pillars, are in the Egyptian taste that became fashionable after the battle of the Nile (1798). They, together with the ebonised and gilt torchères, were made for Thomas Hope, the pioneer of Regency furniture design, and are illustrated in his Household Furniture and Interior Decoration (1807) as part of the furnishing of the ‘Egyptian Room’ at Duchess Street, his London residence off Portland Place.

The tripod-stand behind the couch, ebonised and gilt, with lion monopodia supports, is in the manner of George Smith, the cabinet-maker whose pattern book of 1808 (A Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration) did much to popularise the Regency style.

At the far end of the Hall is a pair of ormolu-mounted French Empire side-tables in mahogany with marble tops. The tables carry Empire figures of kneeling cupids in ormolu, and Sèvres bleu celeste shell-shaped dishes of 1756, which were originally simply painted with flowers, but when mounted in ormolu,
the turquoise grounds and bird paintings were added (perhaps by Edward Holmes-Buldock c.1830).

The pair of amboyna and giltwood tables, with pineapple motif stems,supporting seventeenth-century panels of Genoese marquetry, reflect the antiquarian taste that became fashionable under the Prince Regent's influence, and were bought at the Hartwell House sale in the 1930s. The ormolu candelabra on the mantelpiece, their four-branched lights supported by winged figures, are
French of the Empire period, in the manner of Thomire. Either side of the chimney-piece are two eighteenth-century gout stools.

A cut glass chandelier in George III style In The Dutch Room

The Dutch Room was created out of two smaller rooms in the 1930s, during the 2nd Lord Faringdon’s extensive alterations to the house. The Dutch Room has a plasterwork ceiling and frieze made at that date in the Adam style. In this room exist a set of six single chairs, two stools and settee, is of the Chippendale
period. relief. Two satinwood commodes with concave fronts, inlaid with paterae, are closely related to Chippendale’s work in the neo-classical style of about 1775.

Between the windows is an unusual pair of side-tables of the Sheraton period, completely veneered with tortoiseshell, stained green and red. The oval mirrors above are giltwood frames with festoons of husks, paterae and ribbons which are supreme examples of the Adam style. At the far end of the room are a pair of fine inlaid cabinets. The highly elaborate tops of the cabinets,decorated with red-stained tortoiseshell and engraved bone, date from the mid-seventeenth century.

Regency Style Decorating -Buscot Park Sitting Room

The Sitting Room date from the 1930s, when the 2nd Lord Faringdon made extensive alterations to Buscot, intending to return the house to its original eighteenth-century appearance.

Regency Style Decorating -Buscot Park Sitting Room

As in the Hall beyond, most of the furniture here is of the Regency period. This style can be seen in the rosewood sofa table at the western end of the room, and the pair of rosewood card tables, with elegant lyre-shaped supports, made by the leading cabinet-makers of the day, Gillows of Lancaster. In the room eight single chairs with sabre legs, grained to simulate rosewood, exemplify a type of painted decoration characteristic of the period. The pair of Regency mahogany bergere chairs are a recent acquisition. The chandelier is a good example of a Regency glass ‘lustre’, and the gilt pelmet boards, with elaborate scrolls are of the same period, moved here from the Drawing Room at Barnsley Park, when Nash carried out his alterations there between 1807 and 1809.

White Painted Furniture

Admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:09:25 +0000

Regency Empire Furniture Ideas

Picture Credit The Enchanted House Blog

Often times when people think about decorating with a particular color, they automatically gravitate by painting the walls that hue and accessorizing with coordinating furniture. There certainly isn't anything wrong with that approach, although for many people who adore bold pops of color they tend to be at a loss because they don't want it splashed on their walls.

Here is a room that shows us how to use color in a very sophisticated approach. They have done everything right! Some of the nicest designed interiors base their homes around high end architectural materials, and well chosen antiques that reflect the owners style. Many times these homes let the architecture speak for itself, and the furniture is often carefully chosen pieces of art themselves. A kitchen which has beautiful cabinetry doesn't need a dozen accessories, but rather one masterpiece bowl sitting on the counter is enough to say, "look at me, but REALLY look at the cabinetry" A minimal approach to decorating works. Approaching decorating this way, a person doesn't need a wide range of accessories, but nicer furniture that can hold a persons intrigue for a longer period of time.

Regency and Empire furniture does just that. Empire furniture is known for the outstanding mahogany veneer wood that appear so intricate in its natural design that a person is drawn in to take a closer look at the details of such a luxurious example of wood. Layer on top of the wood a few well chosen decorative ormolu accents, and you will have a piece of furniture that will stop you in your tracks several times a day.

In this space you can see that the architect looked at the space and figured out the design based on the architecture of the room. You can see their initial approach with how the floor is laid out. In this room you see the floors feature a checkerboard marble pattern in both black and white carrara marble. The pattern on the floor was brilliantly laid in such a way to distinguish two different areas. One which features one half of the room with a round table, and the other which highlights some antique chairs. You can see the oval or round table is an exceptional antique, either gold leafed or brass and has nothing on top of the table. This table most likely features a gorgeous marble pattern which speaks for itself, and doesn't need anything in addition.

The walls were painted in a simple gray beige, and glossy black doors with heavy hardware provide a rich yet simple look. The chairs seem to be the most brilliant feature of this room. Long hallways that connected one room to another has been seen in the most premier castles around the world. Here you see the opportunity for that design to be showcased here.

For the longest time, I gravitated away from white paint on furniture, because I have seen too many times how horrible "shabby" white furniture looks from amature painters. I think where many people go wrong with painting furniture is they don't determine the appropriate color for the style and age of furniture.

Would you ever paint an arts and crafts mission style chair a bright white?

Excellent Examples of ANTIQUE White Looking Furniture - French Directoire Console Table and Side Tables

White furniture looks very appropriate on Modern Regency styled pieces. If you think of designers such as Draper, Wearstler, and Adler, they have often used high gloss lacquer in their approach to white furniture. It would be a terrific sight to see a bombe chest in a high white gloss. A piece such as this gives off such a brilliant shine as if it was waxed for hours.

White also looks sensational on primitive furniture in a white that has beige or yellow undertones. I remember the first time I tried spray painting a piece of furniture in Heirloom white, I was amazed at how nice my piece of furniture looked in WHITE!

Swedish furniture is often painted, but never a stark white, rather with gray undertones. Many times the piece of furniture is distressed so heavily that the wood and the paint combination create a beautiful intrigue.

Too many people make the mistake of painting their furniture a color that belongs on the ceiling. They forget about distressing and glazing which gives it an antique appearance.

BRILLIANT White Empire Furniture by William Hodgins

White in my opinion has never looked better in my opinion on on Empire furniture. The additional furniture mounts or carved details are accented in brass or gold leafed makes the white paint even more special to look at.

In this photo by William Hodgins you can see two terrific chairs, which I think are actually gray painted but in the picture they show as white. The one chair is upholstered in a animal print where as the other chair is upholstered in a blue silk dot on white fabric. Both chairs are terrific examples of how a piece of furniture can be the focal point of a room.

A Close up of the Chair

A Close up of the Second Chair

A Close up of the Yellow Chair

Again here is the original yellow chair. The frame is painted in an off white and they chose a butter yellow upholstery fabric for the seats and the back rest. The brass furniture mounts add an extravagant touch which really makes this chair appear high end. Yellow can be extremely vibrant and a brilliant choice to base an interior around. Not only is it bright but very striking to look at.

Patterned fabric paired with a Regency or Empire chair can look very rich. Choosing something as basic as a white and yellow, or a yellow and gray, or a yellow and black pattern can make a chair look like a piece of art. Adding carved wood appliques which are spray painted in gold and finished off with gold leaf is a sure way of adding extra dimension to your antique chairs.

Here are my top three fabric choices for decorating with yellow against a white frame:

54 Wide Duralee Dalesford Yellow Fabric By The Yard

54 Wide Ticking Stripe Gold Ivory Fabric By The Yard

54' Wide Premier Prints Chipper Slub Corn Yellow Fabric By The Yard

Historical Paint Colors

Admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:58:34 +0000

Ralph Lauren is famous for his clothing, but perhaps just as well known for his home collection. Elle Decor featured pictures of the restoration project that took place at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello's estate in which Ralph Lauren generously donated to complete the transformation. Located on a mountaintop outside Charlottesville, Virginia the dining room was repainted in Monticello Yellow which was designed by Ralph Lauren to replicate the original colors in Jefferson's dining room.

Ralph Lauren

(Monticello to the Left, and the right is a ad for Ralph Lauren's Paint line)

Chrome yellow was first introduced in France in 1809 by the chemist Nicolas Louis Vauguelin. Available in 1809, the pigment discovery produced a more affordable and stable intense yellow. Prior to its discovery bright yellows faded rapidly, or were highly toxic. Jefferson grabbed a hold of this color just 6 years after the discovery in France and applied it to his walls in the dining room. Later on the walls were repainted in a blue. It was only until recently that the original color was brought back into this famous estate. The bright yellow developed in France was extremely expensive during this time, as the cost was $5 per pound compared to 15 cents per pound for basic white. Ralph Lauren's Monticello Yellow is made with light-reflecting pigments which re-create the luster of the original paint in Jefferson's home.

Monticello Ralph Lauren Featured in Elle Decor

Ralph Lauren's Paint collection is my number one choice when it comes to choosing paint colors based on antique colors found in the past. Lauren has several collections:

The Vintage Masters which is a collection of the very best hand selected paint colors.

The Urban Loft collection is a hand picked selection of colors for modern interiors.

The White Wash Collection focuses on just white hues, while the Modern Light collection is simply light paint shades.

The Naturals are the best in grays, beige and neutrals.

My Favorites From The Island Brights Collection

The Thoroughbred collection is a collection that greatly represents 18th and 19th century colors found in Spain, France and England. The Island Brights collection are the concentrated brights found in summer.

Regency Georgian Furniture

Admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:40:10 +0000

George III -King of Great Britain and King of Ireland

George III (George William Frederick, 4 June 1738–29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801. He was then King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. He was concurrently Duke and prince-elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg ("Hanover") in the Holy Roman Empire until his promotion to King of Hanover on 12 October 1814. He was the third British monarch of the House of Hanover, but unlike his two predecessors he was born in Britain and spoke English as his first language. Despite his long life, he never visited Hanover.

George III's long reign was marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdoms, much of the rest of Europe, and places farther afield in Africa, the Americas and Asia.

Early in his reign, Great Britain defeated France in the Seven Years' War, becoming the dominant European power in North America and India. However, many of its American colonies were soon lost in the American War of Independence, which led to the establishment of the United States of America.

A series of wars against revolutionary and Napoleonic France, over a 20-year period, finally concluded in the defeat of Napoleon in 1815.

In the later part of his life, George III suffered from recurrent, and eventually permanent, mental illness. Medical practitioners were baffled by this at the time, although it has since been suggested that he suffered from the blood disease porphyria. After a final relapse in 1810, a regency was established, and George III's eldest son, George, Prince of Wales, ruled as Prince Regent. On George III's death, the Prince Regent succeeded his father as George IV.

Pair English Regency Georgian George III Armchairs

English Regency Georgian George III Armchairs- Pair of Chairs- Vintage Views Consignment, SWC-George III Satinwood Pembroke Table, c.1800 The Stanley Weiss Collection $9,500

A George III Giltwood Settee

A George III giltwood settee with a shell-carved crest rail above a padded back and seat and with foliate carved arms, raised on tapering leaf carved legs; the seat inscribed "217 Hornby", possibly the name of the cabinet-maker. Sold through Kentshire

19TH CENTURY ENGLISH GEORGE III MAHOGANY BOWFRONT CHEST OF DRAWERS BUFFET From Musing Antiques

19th Century English George III Mahogany Bowfront Chest of Drawers From Musing Antiques $2,800

Luxurious Italian Villas

Admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:41:59 +0000

I AM LOVE Movie - Italian Decorating - On The Set of I Am LOVE - Set in Milan

I Am Love was a 2009 Italian film directed by Luca Guadagnino set around 2000 in Milan. The film follows a haute bourgeoisie family through changing times and fortunes. The wealthy Recchi family are first and second-generation textile manufacturers in Milan and Eduardo Sr., the family patriarch, has decided to name a successor to the reins of his massive industrial company, and in so doing, surprises everyone by splitting power between his son Tancredi and grandson Edo. The movie features some beyond beautiful interiors which have both a Regency element to them with some underpinnings of Art Deco influences. Many of the scenes were shot in Villa Necchi Campiglio, a 1930s mansion in the heart of Milan designed by architect Piero Portaluppi. Tilda Swinton states in the DVD commentary to the movie that the villa was perfect because they were looking for a house “that was part palace, part museum, and part prison.” I think you will be blown away by the wood veneer walls, marble floors and drop dead

Check out Heathers Post on The Villa Necchi Campiglio , and Kevin Sharkey's Blog where the source of these pictures were featured.

I AM LOVE Movie - Italian Decorating - On The Set of I Am LOVE - Set in Milan

Italian Decorating - On The Set of I Am LOVE - Set in Milan

I AM LOVE Movie - Italian Decorating - On The Set of I Am LOVE - Set in Milan

Regency Decorating Ideas- Italian Decorating - On The Set of I Am LOVE - Set in Milan

Italian Decorating - On The Set of I Am LOVE - Set in Milan

Hepplewhite Dining Chairs

Admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:02:49 +0000

George Hepplewhite Dining Chairs

George Hepplewhite (1727? - June 21, 1786) was a cabinetmaker and was regarded as having been one of the "big three" English furniture makers of the 18th century, along with Thomas Sheraton and Thomas Chippendale. His elegant furniture became fashionable between about 1775 and 1800 and reproductions of his designs continued through the following centuries and is popular today. His shield back chair is still one of the most elegant antique dining chairs today. Find more pictures of this home on Maureen Bower's Blog

Set of 6 Antique Hepplewhite Solid Mahogany American Shieldback Dining Chairs
US $2,500.00

Regency Dining Set Pedestal Table and Hepplewhite Chair
US $7,584.00

8 HEPPLEWHITE Chippendale MAHOGANY DINING CHAIRS BAKER KITTINGER Quality
US $2,489.79

Hepplewhite Dining Furniture

Baroque Tray With Feet

Baroque Tray w/ Handles By Wallace

Antique Silver Pierced Gallery Footed Tray

Antique Silver Oval Footed Tray

SILVER PLATED OBLONG GALLERY TRAY

Sueno Footed Server

High End European Furnishings

Admin — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:43:06 +0000

The Gatz is a direct importer of Vintage European Furniture and contemporary furnishings. They visit Europe many times during the year and have a wide network of dealers that hand pick every item for US import. They have containers arriving from Europe every 2 to 3 months. They also have connections to a broad network of marble factories who specialize in solid qualtiy marble mantles, sinks, statuary, gazebos as well as many other items. Their network of iron and metal manufactures provides the best selection and quality. Their physical store is located in Historic St. Michaels, Maryland only a few hours from Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and New Jersey and New York.

High End European Furnishings

Antique Regency Furniture

Admin — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:15:39 +0000

Regency Mahogany Kidney Desk Desks Furniture Writing Canonbury Antiques

Canonbury Antiques is a small family run business with a massive warehouse and showroom just 25 minutes north of London near Potters Bar. Canonbury Antiques has been trading for nearly forty years, and selling on ebay for over nine. They carry many styles of furniture, and have a very stunning selection that will surely make your home unique.

Hollywood Regency Decorating

Admin — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:05:05 +0000

As you start flipping through Jan Shower's Glamorous Rooms, you begin to notice she has a thing for Louis XVI furniture. Although most of her book is geared for High Polished Hollywood Regency styles, I cannot help but notice that we have something in common. Jan Showers is out of Dallas, Texas and is one of the world's most fashionable interior designers. Her glamorous homes have landed her spots on Top One Hundred Designers lists and is often featured in the pages of virtually every interiors and architecture magazine in the world. If you are looking for some specific Hollywood Regency Decorating Ideas, then this book is for you. You will see a lot of detail in Glamourous Rooms, which showcases the Hollywood Regency styles, and mid century modernism, mixing in some classic 18th-century French furniture. She owes her design abilities to her mother, she mentions in the first chapter. Her personal style reflects the influences of Jacequeline Kennedy Onassis, actress Catherine Deneuve in Belle de jour, and Grace Kelly as she was seen in the 50's. She recalls how Alfred Hitchcock's films such as To Catch a Thief, The Talented Mr Ripley, and Plein Soleil, (aka Full Sun or Blazing Sun) filled with costumes and interiors that she admired. One of her favorite design books reaches back to Dorothy Drapers Decorating is Fun. The best thing about Jans book is you take off the exterior cover flap, and you have a leopard print binding, perfect for the coffee table!

"At first glance, the rooms I design might appear to be very simple. It is only after taking a closer look that one discovers the underlying complexity"- Jan Showers

"Design like itself should be full of surprises and happy accidents"- Jan Showers

Jan Showers gives us a run down of how she puts together a room. We list some of her best decorating tips From Glamorous Rooms that you should consider when re-decorating your home.

1. Area Rugs Can Make All The Difference:

The selection of a rug can be one of the most important decisions made early in the design process. Jan says that often times people wish to use smaller rugs, because they want to show off more of their wood or stone floors, but they are always pleased when they see the effect of
a larger rug in the space. We noticed this ourselves in our home, that an over sized Jute Rug made all the difference compared to two or three small size jute rugs. It completely transformed the space. Jan suggests that rugs should be kept understated and elegant. Low-contrast rugs topically work best with most designs.

While many people may shy away from wearing fur, using vintage skins and cow hides on the floor creates instant glamour. Jan also says that she loves to upholster furniture in white cowhide. Although the look isn't for everyone, displaying a natural skin rug can be a look representing supreme luxury.

2. What to Do with The Walls For Extravagant Styled Rooms

After the decision of the rugs have been chosen, consider the colors on the walls. Jan recommends to not use wallpaper in living rooms. Although she doesn't give a reason why, she states that the most beautiful wall are painted French boiserie. These looks are typically panelled walls with beautiful carvings that create depth.

Another avenue to consider are smooth plaster finishes, which can give a rich and soft appearance. Jan suggests heavily lacquered walls can look bold and dramatic! Jan fearlessly gives the advice that highly textured walls with repetitive patterns are not of good style, and something that a person should steer away from. When considering paint, she favors Benjamin Moore, Donald Kaufman and Farrow & Ball, and Fine Paints of Europe because their pigments are quite different from the standard paints. Greens always remain a classic choice in public areas, while ivory is a neutral. Blues can create a calming effect while yellow isn't suggested for the bedroom can be a superb choice for living rooms. She says that grays are underused, as people shy away from them because they view them as too cold, but that is not the case. Picking the right shade can be everything. Gray almost always creates a incredibly luxurious atmosphere. Deeper colors are better used in entry halls, studies, and bathrooms.

3. Creating Intimacy In Your Largest Rooms:

Challenges- Bringing Forth A Sense of Intimacy in Large Rooms

Homes that have vaulted ceilings are tremendously popular these days, but at the same time it can leave many home owners perplexed on how to decorate such an expansive room. Jan says that large entries with high ceilings can be a barrier to creating a feeling of intimacy, so in those situations the best solution is to use bold furniture.

Another concept to use in these spaces is to hang art at eye level. This brings the eye down, giving it a place to rest in a large stately room. Chandeliers also can be hung at a relatively low height. In this sense, these pieces can bring forth a lower space to counteract the effects of large extensive room.

Jan suggests that large rooms can be an opportunity to create intimacy by dividing rooms into two seating areas, and more if the space allows. By creating pockets of seating areas, the space is reduced creating closeness between people. Smaller spaces give the chance for conversations to flourish and fireplaces are the perfect area for a chance to catch up with friends and family. Consider stationing a chess table with two chairs or a desk for writing notes or working on a computer. Include game tables or card, puzzles and project tables than the conventional tv as entertainment. Scale is the the most important consideration here.

4. Simpler IS Better With Fabric Selection.

Jan suggests that when considering the scale of furniture, opt for a more relaxed attitude about fabrics. Don't be too worried about fearing spills or accidents, as glamorous rooms should be designed for luxury. Mix textures extensively. Some of the most extravagant fabrics include cashmeres, linens, silks, velvets, low-sheen satins, and waxed leathers are all luxurious choices. When possible, preserve original upholstery and leather. The British know that the soft patina of aged leather is something that can never be reproduced. Patterns other than stripes on upholstered pieces are not recommended, because they become boring and tiresome over time. Instead, rely on throw pillows that can bring in color and pattern, which can be exchanged out over time. Geometric designs can add in high glamour into a room, while glass pieces and lamps bring in the sparkle and can be the finishing touches.

5. Bring in Statement Pieces.

As the larger elements in the room are establishes such as the sofa, the area rugs, and walls, consider some statement chairs that can be used as accessories. Some of the more refined selections are the Louis XVI Fauteuil Chair, A Klismos Chair, or a Barcelona chair. Quality antiques or classic high style vintage furniture will give the room a high end look like nothing else. These chairs are often statement pieces all on their own, so don't expect these chairs to be the most comfortable. Jan suggests that rooms which feature ONLY fully upholstered furniture tend to be rather flat and boring. She says too much upholstery is one of the biggest most common mistakes in design, because the overall design lacks detail and interest. Add in a cane chair or bamboo chair for interest.

Additional Tips

"Benches of any size are items that I am always pleased to find when shopping. I favor them for their versatility and practicality. They are also perfect in entry halls and in front of fireplaces." - Jan Showers

"One rule 1 have when designing a house from the ground up is to avoid excessively large bedrooms. They simply never have the right feeling, no matter the scale of the furniture. I once had the challenge of redecorating a bedroom that was entirely too large. There was enough room for three seating areas, in addition to the bed and night tables. One or even two living spaces are fine, but three were entirely too many. The answer in that case was to increase the scale of each piece of furniture, but that is never an ideal solution, as I truly detest furniture that looks as if it is on steroids! " - Jan Showers

"Glamour is not shiny satin and fox wraps from films of the 1930s. It is not a fad, and it is never over the top. When I think of glamour. I think of the strength of Katharine Hepburn in a black turtleneck and black pants with a red scarf thrown around her neck, or the exquisite unpretentiousness of Audrey Hepburn in Capri pants, ballet Hats, and a white shirt. Glamour is at the intersection of timelessness. simplicity, originality, and unqualified confidence in good taste." - Jan Showers

" I refuse to design "themed rooms." You cannot have one of everything in a single house. It is highly inappropriate.Nowhere are themes more of a temptation than in private spaces —particularly in ones that ocupy an entire room, such as a study or library. If you wonder for an instant, in choosing a piece for your private space, "Is this going too far?" be assured that the answer is very likely "yes." - Jan Showers

From Danielle- This book is beautifully done. She knows how to mix textures using fabrics and furniture from any time period, and she definitely has an eye for color and value. I love how she uses color throughout the book...each time the hues are perfect(the platinum/gray living is one of my favorites..so chic!). The rooms are glamorous and smart while being accessible. I will definitely use this as inspiration for my own home.

By By Kylie Sarley- After devouring all 206 pages of design ideas and beautiful photography I can safely say that Glamorous Rooms will be a forerunner in my design librarythat I am starting to build. The book is divided into 6 "rooms" covering entry halls, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, private spaces, and outdoor living. Jan Showers shares her portfolio of timeless interior spaces as well as ideas on how to achieve a touch of glamour in your own home. And these ideas are cleverly drawn from her 25 years of experience designing rooms of understated elegance. Several pagesof my copy are already bookmarked -- whether they are rooms that I am inspired by or ideas that I wish to reference later and perhaps try in my own home. Until then Glamorous Rooms will be beautifully displayed on my coffee table as even the cloth cover, where Showers pays homage to Hinson & Co.'s Snow Leopard fabric, is glamorous.

By By Ronda Gibbons- Wow! I received this as a gift and what a great gift it has been! My whole house looks "better" just by having this on my coffee table. Not only is it full of beautiful photographs and wonderful tips, but it's also conversational and easy to read. And the foreword written by Michael Kors was such an added bonus... What a fun glimpse into his and Ms. Showers' friendship! My mother has since borrowed my copy and doesn't want to give it back! Needless to say, I will be passing it on... and buying her a copy of her own!

By Sara Jane- Finally, a great guide that demonstrates the components of a truly glamorous interior. Using room types as an organizational tool really focused my attention on the design components for a specific space. She uses well crafted pieces chosen for their ability to communicate with other items regardless of the time period they were made. As noted in the text, she designed many pieces for her collection for that purpose. I also appreciate the demonstration of elegance through simplicity and its durability as a design aesthetic. Jan Showers also has a gift for creating atmosphere through the use of light: natural through windows, multiple layers of light fixtures(especially beautiful lamps), and then the magic of reflective surfaces, mirrors, glass and finishes for moving light deep into a space. I am so thrilled to have the book for my library. It will be a constant source of inspiration.

By Charli- When I think of Jan Showers design the first words that come to mind are glamour and timeless style. This book depicts this beautifully. Not only are the interiors that she creates elegant but they are livable and will never go out of style. This is the perfect book if you are designing a whole house or just re-doing a few rooms. It is divided by rooms so it is extremely accessible and easy to use. She does a wonderful job of showing you how a whole room can be glammed up by just adding a few murano glass bowls or lamps. Can't wait to get started on my home!!

By By Erin N. Fenstermaker- Jan Showers has the most amazing style and is so talented. Her rooms are never overdone, and are always elegant and sophisticated--but never so much so that you don't feel like you could actually LIVE in each room. An important balance. And her use of color--this book is just a tutorialon the smart use of color! That is why I have scoured the book, to learn all of the color secrets that I can. Plus, don't forgetto pay specialattentionto her furniture. She designs a fair amount of the furniture you see in the book, and it mixes so well with both modern pieces from other designers and antique pieces from centuries ago.

By Book Addict- This has got to be the best decorating book I have ever read. Even if her style isn't your style, this book reads like the designer is giving a class about her decorating techniques. The book is broken down into the various rooms of the house. The author then breaks down every room and talks about the elements(furniture, etc) she uses, making it very easy for the reader to replicate her style for themselves. If only all the other decorating books read like this!

By J Collins- two matching side chairs that dont' match the sofa. In the dining room, take one muranochandelier, add a table that doesn't match the surrounding chairs and sideboard. If you want or like the formula, this book has formulas on offer; and perhaps not always bad formulas. (In fact, I though Jan Showers did some pretty dining rooms, but they tend to offer limited scope for individuality to begin with.) But other designers offer a lot more individuality and I had very little sense of the personality of the owners of any of the rooms pictured.

By P. Beavers- I'm impressed. This book is not for people that want their rooms to look like everyman'sorwho want to order a room in a box or achieve a completed room at one go. The book is excellent for those that want to use recycled items regardless if one's budget is big or small. I'm a bargin hunter and have frequented flea markets, consignment stores, eBay, estate sales, et al, to achieve the looks in this wonderful book. Also, I used elbow grease, paint, upholstry, and repurposed vases, etc. to make gorgeous lamps that look very similar to the high end beauties show cased in the book. While the book's written words point to principles and approaches, for me, one must study the pictures to see how rooms can sparkle and meld into timeless, beautiful, and comfortable design. The book is particularly helpful when mixing periods and global pieces. By referencing this book, our home has gone from looking ordered, nice, and middle class to refined and spectacular. Wow!

Hollywood Regency Decorating - Jan Showers Glamourous Rooms

GQ Interviews Kate & Andy Spade- Regency Furniture Ideas

Admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 02:26:38 +0000

GQ's Adam Rapoport hangs with husband and wife team Kate & Andy Spade in this episode of Style Innovators. A young star in the advertising world, Andy has been called "one of the great under-known geniuses of Western civilization." He was an equal creative and entrepreneurial force behind the Kate Spade and Jack Spade brands as the CEO and Creative Director. When the couple exited the labels, Andy founded a boutique creative agency, Partners & Spade, which allows him to do a little of everything he loves. From branding and advertising, to films and books, to art and interiors, through Partners and Spade, Andy lends his characteristic touch of cool authenticity to brands like J. Crew and AOL.

Over the course of the episode, Andy walks Adam through the world of Partners & Spade, starting in their part-gallery, part-studio, thoroughly bewitching Noho headquarters. Together they check out a couple of the firm's notable projects, including the J. Crew "Liquor Store" in Tribeca and the site of a new upcoming hotel in Soho, 111 Mercer. Andy also invites Adam into the Spade's Southampton and New York City homes where his unique aesthetic melds with Kate's to create stunning yet comfortable spaces. Later, Kate joins Andy and Adam in the their Upper East Side apartment where the couple discuss their move from downtown, their distinct design sensibilities and how they managed to work together so closely for all these years. Kate also talks about her decision to leave Kate Spade to raise their young daughter and whether or not she envisions herself going to back to work in the future.

Albert Hadley’s Brass Front Door American Eagle

Admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:47:51 +0000

Albert Hadley's Brass Eagle Door

Albert Hadley creates a classic design in a small 1820s Colonial home in New Jersey featured in Home Beautiful Your front door can speak volumes from the street. Albert Hadley posts an American eagle on the Colonial homes brightly painted finish.

Legendary interior designer Albert Hadley is well known in the interior design community, and has designed for former Vice President Albert Gore, Diane Sawyer, Babe Paley, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and the Astor and Getty families. Hadley is known for his Georgian decorating, bringing in elements of neoclassicism, and all areas of design which are historic. He says without a basic knowledge of the history, design often fails. "If we cannot have connoisseurship in the young decorators, I would settle for a few history lessons. There is so little awareness of classical Greece, the neoclassical period, the eighteenth century, and the first half of the twentieth century. Without a foundation the house will crumble. What I am saying is not to be taken for nostalgia. Nothing is more exciting than the new. While you can build on the past, you can never really return to it". Hadley has some strong words for the up and coming designers, “They’re all doing beige rooms,” he groans. Hadley wishes that young designers would take more time to educate themselves about Versailles and the twenties and “ancient history.” “It’s all about acquiring a richer vocabulary,” he tells New York Magazine

Whitehall Products Wall Eagle Antique Brass

White Hall sells an American Brass Eagle, that fits into the Regency style quite nicely. The brass colored eagle will dress up any front door with class. The eagle is one of Americas national symbols, and hanging it on your front door will make you feel proud to be an American

The Eagle is hand made, and made when ordered. The measurements are 29''L x 9''H. Whitehall Products have over 60 years of experience, and has earned an excellent reputation as a provider of quality home and garden products with a broad range of unique and innovative items.

Albert Hadley creates a classic design in a small 1820s Colonial home

Suzanne Rheinstein’s Regency Chaise Longue Sofa

Admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 01:38:10 +0000

Suzanne Rheinstein has been noted as one of LA's top designers along side established designers such as Michael Smith, Barbara Barry, and Waldo Fernandez. Suzanne Rheinstein is owner of LA based Hollyhock, an extravagant antiques store which features a variety of high end furniture, art and decor. Rheinstein is known for her special attention to incorportaing luxurious antique furniture, with special attention to Gustavian, Edwardian and Regency Styles. Beyond her store, and her new book, At Home: A Style for Today with Things from the Past, Rheinstein also has a fabric line with Lee Jofa. Suzanne Rheinstein's Manhattan Home made the cover of Elle Decor for the month of November 2010 featuring an upscale Gustavian designed residence in New York. Her Georgian 1914 Revival home in Los Angeles features classic Federal style looks with stunning Regency Furniture. The overall period look can be seen in Rheinstein's striped custom slipcovers made of Scalamandre's Brompton Stripe, a blue and cream silky cotton. Rheinstein's walls were painted in an aqua and accented with beige / wheat curtains while the floors were left bare for the photo. Above all the stunning antiques in her Georgian home was a black English Regency Chaise Longue, which featured splayed feet and a black ebonized finish, particularly styled after Duncan Phyfe furniture.

The Recamier sofa can be traced back to Jeanne-Françoise Julie Adélaïde Bernard Récamier who was a Frenchwoman, and influence in the political circles of the early 19th century. Juliette Récamier lived during very exciting period in history and knew many monarchs. She knew Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, dined at the table of Napoléon I and even knew the future Napoleon II as a child. Born in Lyon, France she was married at fifteen to Jacques Récamier, a rich banker more than 30 years her senior.

The récamier was named after her as she posed elegantly on one to have her portrait painted in 1800. Rumors circulated that she once had an affair with Lucien Bonaparte, (younger brother of Joseph and Napoleon Bonaparte ).

Jeanne-Françoise Julie Adélaïde Bernard Récamier

Juliette Récamier Painted by François Pascal Simon, Baron Gérard, 1802. Picture courtesy of The Romantic Query Letter Blog

Regency Styled Furniture - Juliette Récamier

A récamier has two raised ends, and nothing on the long sides. It can be compared to a lit bateau (which is like a sleigh bed) but a récamier is made for a sitting room where as a lit bateau is made for the bedroom.

Regency Styled Furniture - Chairs from Madame Récamier's salon

Regency Style Furniture - Veranda Summer 1996

Regency Styled Furniture- Charleston Style, Then and Now By Susan Sully, John Blais

Charleston Style, Then and Now

A chaise longue is basically an upholstered couch in the shape of a chair that is long enough to support the legs. It is also sometimes written and identified as "chaise lounge", which was once wrong, but it has been used so frequently in America that it is no longer incorrect. Today a chaise longue, or lounge also refers to a long reclining chair such as you could see at a pool.

A short sofa from the Empire style having arms of unequal height connected by a back with a sloping top, is called a méridienne.

Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854), New York

Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854), New York , Recamier Sofa with Winged Paw Feet, Mahogany and ash, gilded, with die-stamped gilt-brass mounts and bolster buttons, brass line inlay, and gilt-brass castors. Courtesy of Marinni Live Journal

Regency Furniture - Suzanne Rheinstein's Regency Chaise Longue Sofa Picture From InCircle Entree

Regency Furniture - Suzanne Rheinstein's Regency Chaise Longue Sofa Picture From Southern Accents 2009

Rheinstein's living room furnished with Regency Furniture - From House Beautiful

Taken From House Beautiful November 2000 Issue

Regency Furniture - Taken From House Beautiful November 2000 Issue

Rheinstein has been quoted saying it is better to buy quality one-of-a-kind pieces, and decorate around them "Fewer but better things, painted surfaces, a mixture of furniture styles, a personal art collection and attention to comfort, colors, textures, details and light."

We couldn't agree with her more.

The secret to great design is precisely as Rheinstein suggests- Designing around a few pieces of fabulous furniture.

Well made statement piece truly are show stoppers on their own that all that is needed is a few well chosen accent pieces to finish a look to get a magazine quality highly-decorated home.

Antiques have great bones, and outstanding style in compared to modern furntiure. Hepplewhite and Sheraton antiques which are often known for their clean lines and exotic wood veneers.

Purchasing staple pieces such as a set of regency styled chairs and a quality accent couch can go a long way in a room. Period convex gold framed mirrors, and medallions grace the walls of Federal styled interiors. Oriental rugs, or sea grass natural rugs can also warm up a room and help define furniture.

Suzanne Rheinstein revealed some of her timeless secrets in the April issue of Home Beautiful in 2002, .....

Viewpoint- "Patterns add dash to a room and contrast with solids. They're a must for a family to really "live"

Optimal Upholstery- "Prints look best on simple graphic shapes with exposed legs

Major Mistake"Big Florals, plaids and stripes on a patterned rug"

Chintz of choice- " Cowtan & Tout's Lilly & Auricula, especially in Aqua"

Top Toile" Clarence Houses Scenes d' Egypte. I love documentary prints."

I never Tire of- " Traver's Mandeville paisley linen. It's french and classic and comes in great colors.

The Ideal print- What Robert Kime has already done! Hand- screen fabrics inspired by vintage textiles

Summer- "Curtains in a pale green Salome linen by Rose Tarlow for Scalamandre"

Winter- "Brunschwig & Fils Le Lac is charming and colorful

Living Room- " Fauteuils make a lovely frame for prints"

Bedroom " Use a soft print for walls and curtains"

Deck the Walls - Grosgrain ribbon defines edges in the small entry hall"

Pattern on Pattern- "Why not? Think Drama a la' Diana Vreeland"

Foreign Intrigue- " I love suzanis and Indian Block Prints

Whats new? "Thick block printed linens used wrong side up"

Never Ever- "Too many florals and plaids in the same colorway or disparate jarring prints in one room"

Do visit Hollyhock's web site to see antiques, upholstery and decor items for sale

Her current book At Home: A Style for Today with Things from the Past, features six distinctive homes that express Rheinstein sophisticated elegant style. The book also features both of her own homes in Los Angeles and New York. Rheinstein's book is beautifully photographed, and shows an inspiring volume of her own work, in which she mixes Gustavian with Edwardian and Regency with ease.

Regency Designer Windsor Smith

Admin — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:06:46 +0000

Regency Designer Windsor Smith

Western Interiors Magazine had a fantastic interview with Designer Windsor Smith that was particularly fascinating. Did you know she once was an antique dealer? A great knowledge of antiques is a foundation to great interior design. After all, many of the antiques are still some of the best furniture these days. Smith tells Western Interior that her own personal design and decorating is focused around elements of the past but recreated in a new way, as she describes her style as " I like the idea of a new vernacular pitched against classic sensibilites. Everything should feel like it is of the present but also has some kind of thread to history" as she tells Western Interiors magazine. She is not afraid of using punchy forbidden colors most people wouldn't dare touch such as dark navy she used in her kitchen, and toxic pink she splashed in her dining room. How does she pull it off? Her secret is to create a balance with white. She tells Western Interiors she is particularly inspired by the iconic designers from the 30's and 40's, and anything to do with Old Hollywood. Elsie De Wolfe, Slim Keith, Babe Paley she notes as particular designers she looks to for inspiration. This on fire designer has her own furniture collection, fabric collection and rug line. Can you believe she has kids too? Oh yes~......she can balance it all!

Regency Furniture Gilt Table Designer Windsor Smith's Entry Way

Designer Windsor Smith

Hollywood Regency Designer Kelly Wearstler

Admin — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:18:48 +0000

Kelly Wearstler is known for bold color choices, antique incorporation's into modern designs. Her look has been compared to the classic Hollywood Regency designers such as Dorothy Draper. Her mother was a decorator and antiques dealer, her father an engineer. She graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, where she studied interior and graphic design. She moved to Los Angeles hoping to start a movie career only to find her original direction in design and decorating. She eventually opened her design business, Kelly Wearstler Interior Design, or Kwid, in 1995

Real estate developer Brad Korzen, hired her to renovate the interiors of a few of his residential properties. She convinced him to renovate his 40's era hotel "the Avalon" in Beverly Hills, California. One hotel after another, her colorful theatrical interiors caught attention, and her career took off. The story had a good ending, she married Brad Korzen in 2002.

Domicilium Decoratus

Modern Glamour: The Art of Unexpected Style

After the renovations of their Beverly Hills mansion in 2006, she produced a book entitled “Domicilum Decoratus,” featuring photographs of her Beverly Hills mansion, every room having a chapter of its own.

By 2008, Kelly Wearstler was asked to feature as a judge on Bravo’s “Top Design”. She caught media attention on her extravagant outfits, and how stopping hair. She has introduced lines of striking rugs, fabrics and wallpaper, as well as a unique line of gifts for Bergdorf Goodman

Regency Decorating: Dorothy Draper Style

Admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:16:23 +0000

Born into wealth, Dorothy Draper was the first woman to establish an interior design firm in 1923, when a woman going to business by herself was considered risky as well as socially uncommon.

Drapers confidence, and unique style gave her an ability to step out of the common historical designs of her time, and run ahead of designers of her time because she didn't feel pressured to conform. Her confidence allowed her to make the right decisions every time- “if it looks right, it is right”.

Draper designed for the very wealthy society figures. But that was not all, she had commercial business knocking on her door as well. She often custom designed for hotels, restaurants, theaters, department stores, commercial establishments, corporate offices. She designed furniture for Ficks Reed, Heritage, as well as a many fabric lines for Schumacher. Above that, she offered decorating advice to the every day reader Good Housekeeping Magazine.

Regency Decorating: Dorothy Draper Style

-Dorothy Draper used white and glossy black on furniture and decor.

-Dorothy Draper used vibrant colors where many didn't have the guts to go. She populized new colors and never-seen-before- color combinations.

-Dorothy Draper was known for using bold stripes

-Dorothy Draper used ornate plaster designs moldings, and picture frames often in Baroque style.

-Dorothy Draper was known for her black and white checkered floors

-Dorothy Draper used massive, paneled, lacquered doors. Massive hardware on doors.

-Dorothy Draper used elaborate plaster or intricate mirror frames

Dorothy Draper- The Greenbrier Hotel- Regency Redux High Style Interiors Hollywood Regency by Emily Evans Eerdmans and Kelly Wearstler

The lobby at The Greenbrier – Dorothy Draper’s trademark style- Black and white Marble flooring & white plaster mantels over the doorway.

Designer Dorothy Draper Regency Style The Greenbrier Hotel

Designer Dorothy Draper Regency Style The Greenbrier Hotel Convex Mirror

Traditional Regency Decorating

Admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:25:24 +0000

Atlanta interior designer Dan Carithers is one of the best designers in the business. His eye for style and color are simply amazing. Elegant antique-filled homes with bold punches of color is a signature style of Dan Carithers.

He suggests to pick out your accent color first, and repeat it throughout the house. As you can see in many of his designs his colors jump out, as he uses neurals on the walls, such as chocolate browns, creams and beige. He thinks out of the box, using color, and doesn't go for the typical choice for home decor. He often utilizes thought- out pieces for his rooms often looking around for the perfect choice. He mentions that a chair can have great impact in the direction of a room. He really seeks out antiques that pull together a style, than typical modern furniture. His class really shows through his style, often with the most luxurious fabrics, and attention to detail. Nothing about this designer is simple. He picks the most detailed wallpapers, and his accessories are masterpieces themselves. This is a designer that is on top of his field.

Regency Decorating Designer Dan Carithers

Designing for more than 20 years, Dan Carithers is adamant about how a design should work, as well as how it should look... - Traditional Home Magazine

Regency Decorating Designer Dan Carithers

Carithers was one of seven in the country to win House Beautiful... -College of Environment and Design

Regency Decorating Designer Dan Carithers