Rose Cumming : Design Inspiration

If you've been following my blog for a while, you already know that I collect vintage design books.  It's so fun to look through these books to see that some of the decor elements that are trendy right now were popular and on the cutting edge of design decades ago.  When I was given the opportunity to review "Rose Cumming: Design Inspiration",  I jumped at the chance!

Rose Cumming, Elsie  de Wolfe, Syrie Maugham, (and later Dorothy Draper) defined the profession of Interior Decorator around the turn of the century.  Rose's design style was the most flamboyant. She took big risks with bold color and pattern both in the rooms she decorated and in her own legendary shop in New York City.

Rose Cumming loved beautiful things.  And she didn't discriminate. She was as happy to sell a beautiful empty candy box as she was to sell a pedigreed crystal chandelier. Could this have been  the beginning of the high/low mix we still love today?

The image above is Rose Cumming's Music Room in her New York apartment.  She loved to combine jewel tones with dirty colors in the same way that nature displays the gemstones that come out of the earth. 

The image above is Rose Cumming's legendary drawing room.  She also used a lot of Chinoiserie elements, saturated color and satin fabrics.  Note the mix of furniture styles and the mirrors.  She loved some sparkle!

A stairwell by Rose Cumming featuring a Chinoiserie wallpaper mural

Drama is created in a hallway with an oversize Pagoda sculpture set against mirrored walls.

The book also includes some  images of Rose's fabulous hand blocked fabrics and design sample boards she did for clients.

Thank you to Jessica Napp at Rizzoli for giving me the opportunity to review Rose Cumming: Design Inspiration.  If you are equally enamored of the great lady decorators of the early 20th century, you'll want to add this book to your collection!

Need some help pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com

To view my portfolio, click here.

Old School - Betty Sherrill's New York Apartment

I came across an article in the New York Social Diary that featured decorator Betty Sherrill's (of New York City's McMillen, Inc. Design firm) apartment.  The look is super traditional with lots of French and English antiques, original paintings, soft colors and traditional floral prints.  This style is what made me fall in love with interior design and decorating a few decades ago.  My taste has changed a little since then, but I still love traditional style and layers of pretty things.

The living room has buttery walls and is more cluttered than we typically see today.  But it's pretty clutter.

Don't you love the trim on that tablecloth?

This little area off the living room is a bar, and it looks like lattice on the walls.

This is the library.  It's so cozy with the warm color on the walls and the mix of pattern.

Here's a tighter shot of the library shelves packed with family photos and personal momentos.

This room is more restrained than the rest of the house. What do you think of the leopard chairs on the leopard rug?

This is a shot of the bathroom's family gallery - casually placed right on the tile.

Betty Sherrill in her living room.

If you get a chance, head over to the New York Social Diary and read the article.  Ms. Sherrill is a lady with an opinion and she's happy to share it!

Hope you're having a great week!

Need some help pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com.

To view my portfolio, click here.

Layers and Layers in New York City

I just had to share these images I found in The New York Social Diary.  This is the apartment of Charles Krewson, a self-taught Interior Decorator based in New York.  The spaces are a mix of collected art, antiques, and family pieces that are casually combined for a comfortable, homey feel.  There's nothing too precious or pretentious, just layers of meaningful stuff.  I think this apartment is all about mood - and I find it completely charming. See what you think.

It's not slick or hip (well ... maybe the coffee table)

Those are Ikea bookcases that Krewson had gold-leafed. The turtle fabric on vintage chair is Donghia.

Krewson has amassed quite an art collection, and it's displayed on every available surface.

More of the art collection is displayed in the hallway.  The rug is from West Elm.

Layers and art in the Master Bedroom.

The night stands are were rescued from a Fraternity House, and they're combined with antique brass sconces.

The carpet in the tv room pays homage to his father's Military service. 

All images courtesy of The New York Social Diary. See more of Charles Krewson's  apartment, click here.

Need some help pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com.