Paper Work

I never dreamed I would actually consider using pink in my home, much less pink chinoiserie wallpaper. Over the last few years, I have been catching glimpses here and there and I have really grown fond of it.

Interior designer David Kaihoi spotted a pile of tattered hand-painted, 18th century Chinese wallpaper at an auction. With the three scenes he found, he placed them on the bedroom walls, filling in the gaps with left over pieces.

 

This room was designed by the famed Parish-Hadley firm back in the 70's. Still a beautiful classic, to be sure.

 

Gracie offers to-die-for, gorgeous, hand-painted wallpapers and furniture, but they are a bit pricey. I like this alternative- frame a section of the paper as the art that it is.

Do you have any chinoiserie in your home? Would you?

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Leaf

Presenting to you an eclectic array of gilded areas. 

I had never seen gold leaf clouds before! This restaurant is in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona, Spain and was designed by Patricia Urquiola, the prolific Spanish architect and designer. The gilded clouds nicely complement the abstract flowers blooming on the floor. 

 

Decorative artist, Maria Apelo Cruz, is working on "aging" this silver leaf wall.  It will look good left as is or can also be a fabulous base for a mural or Chinoiserie. Maria, based in L.A., does absolutely beautiful work in a variety of media.

The famed company, de Gournay, produces exquisite wallpapers that are frequently based on gilded silk. This particular wall is in the master bedroom of Erica Tanov and Steven Emerson. Erica explained in the book, Undecorate, that she had stored it away for three years before using it. Its tarnishing only adds to its rich patina.
 

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