Decor Arts Now

Just beyond the conversation pit to the left, you see a key element by Saarinen.  It is the cylindrical plaster fireplace hanging down from the ceiling to a few feet above the floor.  Folding glass panels shield one from the flames.

Here is another view of the conversation pit, this time with white slipcovers that really highlight the Girard designed silk pillows.  The slipcovers  were switched out twice a year.

Photo from the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

A close up of the sitting area seen in the back left of the photo above is shown below:  

Photo from Indianapolis Museum of Art.

In this photo of the “pit,” you can glimpse a Saarinen womb chair in the back right.  All of the colors are so harmonious.

Photo from the Architects Newspaper.

Girard and Xenia came up with a great way to house the clutter of family life.  They devised  a 50 foot long storage wall, which contained among other things, the family’s TV, stereo system, bar, bookshelves and sheet music.  You see it along the back in the photo above and in the following photo.  It was constructed of white formica, adjustable shelves and rosewood cabinets.  Art objects and paintings were placed in front of colorful patches of wallpaper.

Photo from Shaping the Future

The dining area showcased a Saarinen designed 96 inch round marble table.  The marble pedestal base was outfitted with a brass pump that supplied water to a recessed bowl in the center of the table.  The bowl could function as a fountain, lily pond or lawn.  Seating is provided by Saarinen tulip chairs.

Photo from Burning Settlers Cabin.

Here is the dining room as styled for a 1959 House and Garden shoot.

Photo of the dining room from House and Garden, reproduced in Shaping the Future.

Here is the Miller kitchen.  Love the blue.

Photo from the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

This is the entry way.

Photo from the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

In the children’s playroom, Girard used the Eames molded plastic, eiffel tower based chair. 

Photo from the Magazine Antiques.

The  photos of the gardens below show how compatible the outside design by Dan Kiley is with the architecture and interiors.  In the first photo the ” pit” is mirrored by an outside pool.  The second photo shows how the flower colors pick up Girard’s indoor palette.

Photo from Shaping the Future

Photo from a Garden Visit.

Indoors and out, it is all so bright and colorful.  It is hard to believe the home is more than 50 years old.

If you are digging the interior of the Miller House, remember that Saarinen’s womb chair and tulip chairs are available retail through Design within Reach, as are the Eames chairs shown above.  You could easily replicate the playroom checkerboard carpet with the many colored square carpet tiles available through Flor.  And Alexander Girard’s textiles are currently available as pillows, bedding  and curtains through Urban Outfittlers.

Go ahead, get that groovy feeling,   Photo below from the Architects Newspaper.

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