Wednesdays Classic, Coromandel Screens

Miles Redd, via

Coromandel Screens or Chinese screens as many know them, were first introduced to England, and then eventually to continental Europe, in the 17th century. It's recognized today as a distinct element of Chinoisserie but it was also widely used during the Art Deco period with less elaborate decorations. The folding screens took their names after the Coromandel Coast in south-eastern India where many shipments from China were gathered and then shipped over to Europe. The design on the screens are carved onto the many layers of dark lacquer, sometimes decorated with gold leaves and then painted over, that it's what give them their rich texture and relief.
I personally love them because of their great Architectural enhancement effect. Whichever way you like to use them, they come in handy when dividing a space as well as hiding clutter in a corner.

via Elle Decor

Michael Taylor

Coco Chanel apartment. This time she used one of her 32, yes you read that right, Coromandel screens in a corner for an Architectural touch. Below she used a few fixed on the walls.

I love this room by Windsor Smith via Architectural Digest.

A table setting with an elegant Chinese screen in the background. via

Pamela Skaist house. via

Below are a few finds available.

Three Panel wood Coromandel screen via and an Art Deco screen via Inviting Home.

Ming Dynasty Screen via

8 Panels Coromandel Screen via

Classic Wednesday, white and blue

Very few color combinations is as classic as blue and white. A combination that has been used since the time of the Ottoman Empire and in places as exotic as Morocco, it's been adopted by American Design since the longest time. Blue and white is a timeless combination of which one never gets tired, because as someone recently said: “it's in nature.” That is probably why we never get bored of it. Below are a few images of white and blue rooms dating back as old as 1966 to prove it.

Hotel Mystique in Santorini, Greece

Inman Cook 1966

Mario Buatta 1977

Madeleine Castaing via

Madeleine Castaing. God I love this lady!

Ceiling of The Blue Mosque in Turkey.

Oscar de la Renta gorgeous table setting via

Michael S. Smith
Below, more modern ways of using this combination today.

via Elle Decor

Two previous images Todd Alexander Romano's apartment recently featured in Architectural Digest February issue.

In a more transitional way by Miles Redd.

via Lush Belle

Classics, Claude & François-Xavier Lalanne

Lalanne's marble chairs at the late YSL's outdoor terrace.

Many people would argue that the word ‘classic’ can only be given to furniture influenced by or, created at a specific style period. I think a classic furniture can also be what does not go out of style and what is coveted and pursued by collectors or design aficionados worldwide, be that art or furniture. François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne's furniture fall into those two categories; they're art and furniture at the same time. Pretty much every design lover has seen those lovely whimsical sheep made out of bronze and wool as well as the impressive surrealist rhinoceros desk or bars designed by the deceased François-Xavier Lalanne. Claude, Lalanne's wife designed sensual botanical-inspired furniture. Even when the husband and wife duo started creating sculptures in the late 1950's, their fantastic and innovative work does not represent the 50's style but a unique style of their own.
If you live in Coral Gables, FL Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is currently having the U.S.'s largest outdoor exhibition of Lalanne's sculptors through May 31st.

Claude Lalanne's sculptural bronze frames at YSL's home.

The bar designed by Francois-Xavier Lalanne.

An Lalanne desk via.

Lalanne's cheep also found their way into Hector-German Guimard house via from At Home with Town & Country.

Peter Marino

A Claude Lalanne's vanity with chair at Mathilde Agostinelli's Paris bedroom designed by Jacques Grange.

A canopy bed designed by Francois-Xavier Lalanne sits in Jacques Grange living room.

Thee lovely Lalanne's sheep hanging out.

A Lalanne's crocodile chair at Reed Krakoff and wife's house.

A very lucky kid doing homework on one of Lalanne's desks.