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Sometimes our decorating plans just don't work out, & then they work out for the best. After moving into my little Tudor, I was determined to use one of my all time favorite fabrics (mine & hordes of other Madeleine Castaing devotees) Clarence House's Coppelia. I did! There is a small-once said to be a housekeeper's room-I say-poor house keeper- it is if nothing else an oddity. Small-very small.
This little oddity- became a dressing room- I always wanted one. One enters the room by going up a small step into a low ceiling space about 4' x 6', then just beyond a step down (a deep one) into a 5' x 7' space. On the bright side- there was a window. Envisioning a Madeleine Castaing dressing room- I choose the ONE & only Coppelia. The window- Coppelia. The two chairs- Coppelia. In the dressing room I added a freestanding dressmaker's rack, 1920's satinwood chest, a black Empire cabinet & a favorite piece - a black Japanned dressing table. Strange little walls-very LOW, then HIGH- but it all worked. It was lovely-but It was never used. Visitors stuck their heads in, occasionally taking the step up-rarely the step down. Comments of Oh!- I love this!, my favorite room, etc. etc. The room displayed scads of jewelry on the satinwood chest, a few prized textiles- a late 18th c. French blue silk lampas with leopard beribboned tendrils floating about-Yes- they were doing leopard even then-So, nothing new. Some favorite Indian saris pre-independence India made in France-much sought after- were hanging along the walls tossed over iron rods. The dressing table- under the window (Coppelia) held some old perfume vials on a silver tray along with perfumes of all sorts.
Madeleine Castaing(Coppelia is tacked to the back of the tufted muslin covered chair)
The little room was converted into a closet. I needed more storage. Though I have resolved my clothes issues-I have yet to resolve some of my issues with letting go of- furniture & the like. A decorator never knows when she could sell a piece of furniture, or a mirror, or a lamp, or a-Well you know. So now I have a walk in, step down, turn around, step up Closet. Everything is pretty much still right there in the tortured maid's chamber- the clothes, the satinwood chest, the fabrics (now folded & put away) , along with lots of other stuff. I did move the dressing table to my bedroom, it is-as I said- a favorite.
...and Madame Castaing? She went off to a cozy corner in the breakfasting area (that's the portion of the kitchen with (see pics) & a long handmade cherry dining table and chairs-my Mother's). The curtains, the chair it all went- the other Madame Castaing chair is in the sitting room (that's the tv room) at a very cluttered desk.
Everything is being used- well, practically.
Much better.
wax fruit my grandMa made in the 1960's(I said I still had some issues about letting go-this fruit Never!)
want more Coppelia & Castaing visit Emily Evans Eerdmans here . She is writing the book! Literally-& I can't wait.
or stop by the Peak of Chic here.
Typical of a fashion girl... you said Chanel and it was like a shiny thing, I got lost somewhere. But, back now, that is remarkable fabric, depth and luxe... My Mom and Dad had a remarkable dressing room and that is where she too kept all her most cherished fabrics... it was beautiful. Oh, how I miss that grand dame of a house... what gets into parents with all this down-sizing to modern homes, ay?
ReplyDeleteC.I admit it-I have always loved clothes-since I was a wee one and my father would take me shopping. It holds much less intrigue than it use to- I don't "dress" that much- a very casual lifestyle-it suits. That is really what the post is about-making things work and not being a slave to it all. Much tongue in cheek(y)GT
ReplyDeleteIndeed one of my personal favourites as well. The best accidents are happy ones and so very glad yours did. If one can not use ones rooms what is the point and to my dismay there are too many houses with too many useless rooms. There they are wasting away posing as billiard rooms, media rooms & that would be the tv room as you say. Bravo for making it work and bravo for having such divine taste.
ReplyDeleteThe type of fabric a room needs swaddling in - walls, curtains, upholstery, in fact everything, but it would need a little bomb of a colour to cut the sweetness. Great and personal post!
ReplyDeleteBeaucoup de charme!
ReplyDeleteLetting go is hard. But you did it with great panache. I agree that rooms should be about what works and not for what was. My dining room adjacent to my kitchen originally was the family room. I don't like a tv in a public area (weird, I know). Booted the tv upstairs to what was the master bedroom, now media room. Works for me. Love the MC fabric and like you eagerly await EEE's new book.
ReplyDeletep.s. I'm going to be cremated and thrown into my garden, but if you plan a funeral, I think your grandmother's fruit would be the bomb for a casket topper! Don't mean to offend, just amused by the adoration and appropriate final resting place!!!
Anon-accidents do happen in design- it often happens this way-that the After thought is the better thought.I will never forget the house with the wine cellar and box wine in the fridge upstairs. GT
ReplyDeleteBlue- I agree. I couldn't help myself & the little bomb here is the wax fruit. GT
ReplyDeleteAesthete- Merci mon ami.
ReplyDelete(must start working on my French & I mean working)
Home- I remember your mentioning the room arounds you have done-It makes perfect sense.My Gran lived to be 107-amazing really-post is required. The wax fruit sat on a shelf in her k. and when the daughters were going thru things- the said wax was on its way out-Of course-miss sentimental to the rescue- These are a treasure. My bro-actually eyes them with evil thoughts in his mind- Fruit fresh after 50ish years just as she was at 107. I plan a smokey passing and the wax would accompany me nicely- what else should I bring to the next world? (a blog post?) but isn't everything. x, GT
ReplyDeleteI've got to hit the garden project—way behind, but waited for your comment because I wanted to make sure I hadn't hit the ick button with you! Actually today's post made we want three more posts: on your grandmother, of course. When was she born? To live for 107 years, amazing! On your mother and how her style changed from her mothers. And your dad. You casually drop that it was your dad who took you shopping for clothes. Now, that's a story. Would love to read a blog post from beyond. Now that would be new news! Have a lovely day.
ReplyDeleteI love that last photo with the violet walls and blue chair and the busily cluttered desk, and "take the time" to put a flower in a vase. That and the sentimentality of vintage handmade wax fruit...you're adorable. Trish
ReplyDeleteTres soigné.
ReplyDeleteTrish- the walls are in what I call Aunt Maude Mauve-I had a great Aunt that wore this color and was very aristocratic (a little intimidating) and the Actual color is called drifting spirits(of Aunt Maude?) I love it-the most successful color in the house. GT
ReplyDeleteLucinda- I tried -hope to be taken as it was intended-a bit cheeky. GT
ReplyDeleteThat fabric is by far one of my favorites, but for some reason I've never used it. I need to find a place for it in my home. I love that strange shade of blue... Love what you did with the fabric! Just realized I used the word "love" a bit too much in my comment.
ReplyDeleteHi there -I wasn't going to comment here, what can I add? But I must say this is a great post with your very personal touch. I love when you single out well- known fabrics and speak of their use and how YOU'VE lived with them.
ReplyDeletePeak-one of my favs.Some are just classic at birth.
ReplyDeletele Style- Always add please, I am a textile hoarder. for better and worse. GT
I have that picture of Madame Castaing cut out the magazine and on my wall. Thank you for posting this!
ReplyDeleteslow following up D-H,thanks-Castaing is something isn't she. GT
ReplyDelete