... this time from the June 2008 edition of WOI. I don't normally like this kind of green/brown coloration - too autumnal perhaps - but this room meets the personal standards I set out in the previous post. It is contemporary, tailored, spacious, sensual - almost purringly svelte. The color palette is gratifyingly multi-tonal and I feel the room would look equally handsome photographed in black and white or in sepia. I understand from the text that the designer chose 15 tones to use on the walls throughout the house - 15 out of a possible 250. In a world where one shade of white, or perhaps a "neutral" is the norm it is refreshing to see an such a cerebral response to color. This isn't the basic color theory!
The rugs made by V'Soske and designed by Kay Hollar as was much of the furniture. There are the present-day investment pieces, whether in terms of money, social standing or both: Robsjohn-Gibbings, Vladimir Kagan, Alvar Aalto. The usual suspects you might say, but they work together beautifully with the artwork, the clean-lined large-scale upholstery and with the architecture.
The photographer was Richard Powers.
'purringly svelte' that's the ticket! I agree the room works wonderfully in autumnal tones that aren't my bag either. Not entirely convinced by the token abstract artwork. Looks like a decorator's conceit rather than the choice of a discerning art lover. On the other hand maybe that doesn't matter I ask myself. Artist's don't generally like being chosen as part of a room scheme but it wouldn't do them any harm to realise it!
ReplyDeleteIf i remember rightly the artwork was chosen by the homeowner's father, an art dealer. Probably the final choice of what hung there was made by the decorator and the art dealer - after all, the homeowner was leaving decisions to his chosen experts. The celebrity object/investment purchase often trounces aesthetics, but in this case I think the artwork fits the space and the overall look. If you can look at some of Billy Baldwin's choices for his clients - collectors of color field painting - and you'll see its like inhabiting a gallery. Not a look I appreciate.
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