Modern Chinoiserie

The response to my post yesterday on the gala by Mary McDonald and Nathan Turner "Chinoiserie au Jardin" makes it clear how taken people are with modern Chinoiserie. I love Chinoiserie from classic to contemporary, but the more modern take of course goes so well with a more modern place. I really like Thomas Paul and could kick myself that I did not get one of his Geisha pillows that are no longer available. The Geisha pillow is pictured below in this lovely bedroom from House Beautiful and in its pink and chocolate versions. But never fear, his Chinoiserie edition in corn, black, and moss is lovely and would work in so many homes. They are a nice large 22" square in 100% linen and quite fabulous.

Chinoiserie Show House Gala

Tis the season for design show houses, with many bloggers featuring gorgeous rooms done by some of our top interior designers. I am going to the Washington, D.C. Design House today and will be attending Kip's Bay in NYC next week. I had saved these stunning photos from Veranda of the Beverly Hills Show House from last November at historic Greystone Estate. I adore anything Chinoiserie, and for the Gala, co-chairs Mary McDonald and Nathan Turner were inspired by one of my favorite books Chinoiseries by Bernd H. Dams and Andrew Zega. The real life version of this book that they called "Chinoiserie au Jardin" featured sixteen foot high pagodas, green and white striped poles, and twelve foot high banners of geisha silhouettes. Many of the recipes for the food they served are included in the Veranda article. Guests drank cocktails of lime, a ginger liquer Domaine de Canton (one of my favorites and a drop-dead gorgeous bottle), vodka, mint, and a garnish of fresh gardenia. Enjoy!