CRAFTSMANSHIP

  It's always been my belief that workmanship and craftsmanship have been the bench mark of any era.  It's interesting to think, that at any given time, even the oldest examples of craftsmanship were in fact innovations in their day.  When I find fine examples of some of these stylistic elements, some of which are still used or have been reinvented for today, I feel a certain continuity that gives me security.  In Particular, as quality goes down and references

 to things like proportion are disregarded, I find there isn't any semblance of order to even the most mundane things. With the current economy, I wonder if part of what some of us are experiencing is actually discernment (finally) regarding how much mediocrity is produced. 

 Is less of more sometimes actually more?

INTERNATIONAL STYLING

  

 Chalk, condensation, and Champagne in the cloister at Dom Perignon. 

     In the gallery at Chantilly.

                                                                          Veuve on the street.

Some days it's the little things that make a difference:  While styling at Versailles, on a film produced by my friend Kristin on the history of Champagne, we had the chance to meet and greet the Greek ambassadors to Russia, as  they strolled through where were were shooting which sort of took the edge off what was fast becoming a potentially hectic shooting schedule. At Dom Perignon we were dually impressed with all the talents of the various players and (by their own accord) with the Bells at the Abby (where dear Dom, the father of Champagne happens to be buried) chiming at the moment we had our final taste.   The word sexy was never used  but of the eight champagne houses we visited there was  palpable sensuality there. 

PERFECT PAIRING

     Designer Chad Flynn's take on an IKEA sink paired with a french "necessaire" cabinet.  Clean and Classic  

DESIGN HIGH/LOW

   Pencil leg vintage Carlo Ponti aluminum chairs and  white vinyl Brewers chairs get fresh with a table from IKEA.  Chad Flynn and Mary Lahammer work with an edited eye. I had the pleasure to work a bit with them on this project during the space planning phase. 

 

Chad brought the right amount of mid-century reality to the room, making it what I find to be a perfect balance of new and old.  Pairings: The tan leather Barcelona chair (mint condition) an awesome find the leather sofa from IKEA. The vase and mirrored table are from Target.  

CHANEL MEETS TARGET

In addition to being a retailer of curiosities, Laurie Leuman has great personal style.  Pairings in her store the other day included Wayfairer eyeglasses (from Target optical) with vintage Chanel earrings. Her lunch date for the day, Jill Heimerel (in vintage Italian shearling) looked suspiciously young for her 60 (++) years. 

LOUIS XVII MEETS IKEA

Thankfully during an O.C.D. A.D.D. low blood sugar induced meltdown at IKEA, I had a friend along who convinced me that the Billy Black Brown bookshelves (to wrap the end of my living room) were really cheaper than what a lot of people would pay for a footstool.  Paired with transitional period Louis XVII lyre backs, the shelves look quite appropriate. Dare I say "streamlining" the chaos of my look?

LIFESTYLING

VIRGINIA. 

 1927 50' yacht named after Virginia Roberts French who studied at the Sorbonne as an impressionistic painter in the early twenties.  Leaving Rainy Lake for two decades wasn't kind to this grand dame, but now she's back in style. It takes a lot of love to want a girlfriend like this.  She happened into my life about the time I was fearing a mid life crisis, as well as needing a heavy affair.  12 tons is quite heavy. 

Distressed red cane chairs lend an air of chinoiserie  junk rustic.  Fitting as places of the era had a fancy for a bit of asian influence be it a rare chinese bed or  pagoda inspired  boathouses.

Silver polished, ready in the laundry basket.

as dusk falls, looking towards the Canadian Riviera. One interesting thing about VIRGINIA is she has come to be about the personalities and people (who become a part of her spirit) as we ply the waters. 

webcast @ tpt.org rainy lake boats

DRESSING WITH INTENT

I collect and wear vintage ties. I find I feel a bit foppish if I'm wearing every thing new off the 

rack. I have ties owned by men who were important in my life.  I'm not saying that I don't enjoy

 a new beautiful tie from Hermes or Brooks Brothers once and a while,  but I do have to say it

 means more when it's a gift. Biggest tie slam: When a co-worker with attitude mentioned he'd

"never seen a tie that color before".  Sort of similar to when My grandmother played it safe and said "that was really something". Very democratic.

I hold Tim Gunn partially responsible for my attitude about my wardrobe lately. I'm the kind of person who knows what works for my body type and I will admit that I make a mistake occasionally. Lately with the economy as it is I have really tried to shop with intent.  That doesn't mean I'm getting ready to dump my belts from chinatown, It's just that now I'd rather wait and pay cash for something of quality than buy something mediocre, or what I call a "maybe" as a fix. 

HIGH SOCIETY

 Jim Watson, Cliff  Sloe and Ann Watson. Perfectly turned out, in their eighties, enjoying a

 moment in the mouse back velvet lined cab of the Miss Janette.  Appropo as Ann's nickname 

is HRH (of rainy Lake).  Is there a saying about great sunglasses never going out of style?

Sarah Bowman photographer.

INTERNATIONAL STYLING

Working with the American Friends of Versailles, has been a rare experience providing wonderful contrast to the rest of my endeavors over the past ten years.  Normally

 held in the garden of the Petite Trianon, a monday picnic was held indoors at the Grand Trianon. Photographed by Quentin Bacon.

sweets.

scale.

LIFESTYLING

One of the highlights of the summer, a vintage Hackercraft ride, courtesy of Todd Warner at Mahogany Bay.  Hard to describe how beautifully this c.1930 boat moved through the water. Some liken this kind of experience to how it felt when Grace Kelly entered a room.  Chad Flynn was our guest.

                                                       todd warner @mahoganybay.com