Fire Places and Fine Moments

Another Holiday House has come and gone.  I barely made it before it closed but I knew it was a must see!  The Academy Mansion was once again home to this spectacular feast for the eyes, now in its seventh year.  Much has been written about this year's show house that benefits The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  No doubt if you read other blogs, I am sure you came across the coverage, so I'd like to just point out the things that resonate with me.  It's a little subjective, but ...

Designer Amy Lau collaborating with Baccarat (celebrating there 250th anniversary) transforms the great reception area into a Winter Wonderland or Galerie des Glaces.  Inspired by the hall of mirrors at Versailles this hall was transformed into a dining room for a sit down dinner with seating for 20 fit for a queen, and transfixes us with the elegance and grace of Baccarat crystal.  Baccarat's signature red crystal is the focal point in this oh so glamorous setting.  Crystals found in the archive were places around the room and hung from branches on the table for an added layer of sparkle!  I wrote an in depth post on Baccarat here.

I read about the art and scupture, which was amazing through out, so I looked towards the fireplaces.  Each decorator handled this sometimes inconspicuous space with thought and care.

Lillian August had the most architecturally interesting room in the house and made the most of it.  Celebration of the Holidays, or the den, dressed in winter white and pale blue was a quiet respite from the festivities.

The Jupiter console table by my friends at Areté Collection looked phenomenal.  I might need this in my life!

The selenite logs in the fireplace is a treatment I have used in clients homes before; unexpected and delightful!

I was pretty blown away by Gary McBournie's Carribbean Island Holiday room.  I was told he was not allowed to change the walls at all.  The owners liked a leather treatment that had been done in the past and wanted to maintain the integrity of it, so Gary was really forced to think outside the box.  Sheathing and tending the room was the only answer, with Gary's fabric no less, from Antillies.

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Bold art and bars were seen in many of the rooms, to which I say, "Bravo!"

This fireplace gets an A for outstanding.  The shells are elevated to sculptural art and the custom fire screen by Liz O'Brien adds another layer of embellishment as it summons the sun.  Love it!

Michael Tavano always inspires me and his energetic bedrooms; La Fête Nationale or what a Paris pied- à- terre might be like is no exception.

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The 2014 Balmain collection inspired Michael to create this AMAZING rope window treatment interspersed with beads.  That, along with 200 yards of fabric, the painted floor, and the incredible drop ceiling fixture was a real highlight!

The matte, Stiff Key blue, Farrow and Ball paint felt fresh and French.  It played well off the metal in the fireplace, including andirons by Michael Aram.  Michael explained to me that 500 layers of paint were applied to the canvas above the fireplace by Tae-Ho Kim, then a pattern is chiseled out.  You really must see it to believe it.

With the color blue still dancing in my head, I fell in love with the mischievous midnight sequin tulle backed on fabric enveloping the daybed and creating an intimate, rich area to relax by Louis Navarette.

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Since I know Patrick Hamilton personally, I can say his room was as elegant as he is!  The subtle nuances of his deconstructed derby room made for a rich interpretation.  The color of the walls like a mint julep, the light fixture like a requisite decorative hat, the french chairs, and the silk of a jockey uniform all helped the story unfold slowly.

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 I was taken with his treatment of the fireplace in his room with the sculptural Vestal screen from John Lyle.

Linherr Holligsworth set out to create a warm personal space on the upstairs landing with unique accouterments that also had a museum like quality to them.  Welcome to the Gala at the Musée.  What I was especially taken with were the custom bronze window treatments.  Bringing the ball gown like curtains down below the tops of the columns from these custom sculptural hooks was as brilliant as it was beautiful!

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If you have never been to Holiday House be sure to check it out next year.  It's nice to have a show house to look forward to in the fall and it is quickly becoming not only a tradition, but the event of the season for designers and the design minded!

There wasn't a New Year's room so I will just leave you with my wishes for a joyous night and a       HAPPY NEW YEAR.


XO, Carrie



*ph: via 1st Dibs