V for Vignette

Vignette by Jeffrey Bilhuber

I thought we would wrap up the week with the simple beauty of tabletop arrangments. Creating vignettes is like having a real, evolving still life in your own home: an opportunity for artistic expression and a place to showcase your treasures!

Vignette by Dan Marty

I love Dan Marty: his interiors are exotic in that Colonial sort of way, perfectly curated, and yet so comfortable and warm.

Bedside arrangement by Scout Designs



Photo courtesy of Victoria magazine



Vignette by Paula Caravelli

Caravelli uses artwork by her uncle, Augustus Mino, to give personal meaning to the arrangement on this lovely secretary.

Vignette by Perch owner Caroline Robert

And last, but not least, some fabulous New Orleans style by Miss Robert to end our week.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Spring Soiree

Table setting by Victoria Pearson

I don't know what it is about spring and warmer days that makes me want to celebrate. Maybe it's that the winter is on its way out and summer (my favorite season) is on its way in. Or maybe it's just my own willingness to be out in the world more, when I don't have to brave bone-chilling winds and "wintry-mixes".

Tablescape by Eddie Ross

Either way, it makes me want to get together with the people I care about and have some fun, and these table settings - done in a variety of bright and cheerful colors - are a great place to start for getting some spring soiree inspiration!

Yellow table setting by Eddie Ross

Dining room and table setting by Alberto Pinto

Funny, but this color scheme makes me think of Mardi Gras! Ha! I love these colors together, though, and the fabulous orchids as centerpieces.

Tablescape by Kelly Wearstler

Lots of gold, grounded by wood and other earthy accents. In typical Wearstler style, this spread is glamorous but with a very LA casual coolness about it.

Dining room and layout by William Yeoward

What post about table settings would be complete without mention of Mr. Yeoward? With collections ranging from table linens and crystal to dining tables and chairs (and several books on the subject), Yeoward's joy for entertaining is unmatched!

Dining room by Dan Carithers

Dan Carithers shows how a more neutral theme can still be festive. This setting, with its casual gingham, comfy chairs, and earthy china (all energized with a pop of color from the cheery chrysanthemums), is sure to make his guests feel right at home!

Table setting by Dan Carithers

Our last two photos of the day come from the brand new online magazine High Gloss. Created by style maven and fellow blogger Paloma Contreras (of La Dolce Vita), High Gloss is a one-stop shop for photos and ideas on interior design, fashion, and intriguing travel destinations. A must read for sure!

Dining room and tablescape by David Jimenez

How sexy and fabulous is this setting? The lighting is the real star here: with ambient light emanating from the lamps and picture lights around the room, and accent lighting on the table from the votives (which are reflected in the mirrored tabletop). I think just about anyone could look good in this kind of setting!

Table setting by David Jimenez

I love how well the orange, from the flowers and china, works with the blue-green of the wall color: such an elegant and modern palette! I would love to get an invite for this fête!

Have a great Thursday, everyone! The weekend is almost here!

More is more

One of the rooms at the Duquette's "Dawnridge" home



This past weekend, One Kings Lane had a Tastemaker Tag Sale featuring vintage and antique items collected by the late, great Tony Duquette. It was amazing to see so much of his life and tastes reflected in the pieces, and gave me a chance to research his colorful life and works. 



Painted screen - from OKL sale



Tony Duquette



Rose Chest - from OKL sale



Painting by "Beegle"


Discovered in the 1940s by the ever-fashionable Elsie de Wolfe, Mr. Duquette was a creative force: working as an artist, sculptor, jewelry designer, movie set designer, and interior designer. As David Keeps of the LA Times wrote, he was always creating, "magically transforming plaster, paint, industrial materials, shiny discount store wares and mirrors into dazzling sculptures and exotic tableaux inspired by the storybook fantasies of his youth".

The Duquette's Malibu property called "Sortilegium"



Duquette created this sculpture: the 28 ft tall "Phoenix Rising From His Flames"


The "Phoenix" sculpture above (an icon I obviously relate to) was created by Duquette subsequent to the burning of his 100+ acre Malibu wonderland in the mid-1990s, and just prior to the death of his lovely wife, the artist Elizabeth "Beegle" Johnstone. (He called her "Beegle" because he felt she had "the industry of the bee and the soaring poetry of the eagle". Cute.)

Tony and Elizabeth at their Hollywood studio in the 1980s

Another Painting by Elizabeth "Beegle" Duquette



Bamboo Chest - from OKL Sale



Bedroom at their "Cow Hollow" house near San Francisco



Louis XV-style Chinoiserie Desk - from OKL sale


Mr. Duquette had several different homes scattered around California in which to exercise his creative talents, all doused with brilliant color and intriguing objects.

Living room of their "Hamster House" at Sortilegium



Elsie de Wolfe-style sofa - from OKL sale

Window at their "Cow Hollow" House



Ballroom Chair - from OKL sale

Although many of his interiors had an over-the-top feel, there always seemed to be classical touches running throughout.

Bedroom in their "Horntoad House" at Sortilegium



Peacock Panel - from OKL sale



I think it is quite interesting to see the objects out of context (in the sale listings) and then to compare them back to Duquette's creations. It just goes to show what you can do with a little (or a lot of) imagination!

Home of James Coburn designed by Tony Duquette

I. Magnin Chest of Drawers - from OKL sale

Kitchen at the Duquette's "Frogmore House" at Sortilegium

The Duquettes hosted many a party, their tablescapes and place settings on the grandest and most fantastical scale.

A gilded table setting at the Duquette's Hollywood studio

Current trendsetters and entertaining enthusiasts still imitate his style and his "more is more" aesthetic.

A table set at the Duquette's "Dawnridge" home

Duquette was not limited by preconceptions in decorating; he would use wild fabrics and strange accessories to create pseudo-still lives on each table.

Table setting featured in book "More is More"

Some of the fabrics used by Duquette, such as the malachite fabric in the two photos above, can now be purchased through Jim Thompson fabrics.

"Gemstone" fabric - Tony Duquette Collection for Jim Thompson

"Golden Sunburst" fabric - Tony Duquette Collection for Jim Thompson

From exotic glitz to moody drama, Duquette really knew how to set (and steal) the scene. Although I have yet to read either of the books on Mr. Duquette (however, I plan on ordering "More is More" soon), I feel he would tell us to trust in ourselves, be fearless, and let our creativity and imagination be our guide!

Living room at "Dawnridge"

I hope you all have a great week!





Sur la table: Part II

Tablescape by Joe Nye

As I laid out in the first segment of this post, I have recently become wild for table settings. I have not done a lot of entertaining, but I am eager to begin!

It seems like an art, though, to not only weave together an attractive layout for guests to survey (i.e., the combination of china and flatware, flowers and linens), but also to prepare a meal appropriate for all palates (which is a delicate and logistically challenging process in and of itself). 

How gorgeous is the setting by Joe Nye above? I love that fabulous bamboo flatware and the contrast of the blue bowls and plates with the other, more neutral items on the table.

Isn't this warm and sunny setting by John Peixinho so perfect for fall! The bright yellow tablecloth and the warm, rusty orange china create an easy, autumnal ambiance, while the simple glassware keep the layout from being too heavy.

Table setting by Ralph Lauren

Did someone say "cozy"? Oh yeah, I did! Well, if you are getting in the mood for elegant, but comfortable dinners at home, here are some pics for you! (I love the blanket thrown over the back of the chair above! What a good idea for making the scene more casual and inviting, especially if the weather outside is frightful!)


Table design by Mimi Maddock McMakin



Table setting by Jeffrey Bilhuber

Now, if you are all about glamour, these last two photos are for you. (But, seriously, who doesn't love a huge, sparkling chandelier?!)


Room by Jacques Grange

Pink, pink, and more pink! I can't imagine why this room by Jacques Grange caught my eye! I do think that the pink creates a lightness in a room that could easily become overly formal. The dining table is large and solid wood, but it feels so fresh with the rosy linens, subtle florals on the plates, and delicate orchids crowning the whole arrangement (as well as leading your eye up to the drapey chandelier).

Here is one last example of a lovely table; this one set by the colorful Hal Williamson in his clients' New Orleans home. I love the color of the walls (Shantung by Martha Stewart for Sherwin-Williams) and the crystals dripping from the chandelier. I also love how personal this room is. The photo on the wall is of a local gospel singer done by a local artist, and the toile on the chairs features historical images of the Louisiana Purchase and was created by New Orleans enthusiast, Roulhac Toledano of Architextiles.


I love the amethyst glasses that so perfectly contrast with the simplicity of the tablecloth, china, and other linens, but perfectly complements the wall color and toile on the chairs. I recently purchased a set of Franciscan amethyst goblets and can't wait to create a setting like this to display them!

Here's to a fabulous table with lots of friends and family to gather around it!