Decor Arts Now

Aquarius chest in orange leather inspired by France's Hermes

The thing to remember about furniture from the Art Deco period is that the top of the heap came from France.

Designers such as Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, Jean-Michel Frank and Andre Groult designed with exotic materials.  Woods like zebra and macassar ebony were used and often inlayed with ivory or accented with parchment or shagreen.  Other pieces were given a rich lacquer.  Edgar Brandt worked in intricately wrought metal.  There was the distinctive art deco leg (developed by Ruhlmann) and all of the designers were influenced by silhouettes in the tradition of Louis XV and Louis XVI.

Furniture was true art.  If you thought that type of craftsmanship and style was gone forever, think again.

Lexington Home Brands has taken the bold move of issuing a furniture collection that draws on all of these influences with their Aquarius line.  When I visited their showroom while at the April 2012 High Point Market, no one told me the Aquarius collection was influenced by the Art Deco period.  The parallels just jumped out at me.

Take this chest with its diamond pattern and mother-of-pearl inlay.  It bears more than a passing nod to the Ruhlmann pieces that follow it.

Aquarius collection

Ruhlmann sideboard

And pay attention to the legs in the Ruhlmann furniture.  There is a similar silhouette in the legs of several of the Aquarius pieces including this green lacquer credenza below.

Aquarius collection

Many pieces in the Aquarius collection have parchment or faux shagreen accents.  (Real shagreen is sharkskin–probably not even allowed to be used today.)  I especially liked this cabinet, with its parchment accents and King Louis sunburst inspired hardware.

Compare it to this Frank designed oak and parchment chest.

Chest by Jean-Michel Frank

Frank also liked to work in shagreen, as seen in this well known desk by him.

Shagreen desk by Jean-Michel Frank

Although the legs are different, the top of the Aquarius faux shagreen desk has a similar feel to the Frank desk.

Frank also designed a desk with pull out side tables.

Jean-Michel Frank

The designers at Lexington Home Brands interpreted this as a coffee table where an extra wing swings out for more surface space when needed.

Art deco designer Andre Groult is known for his bombe shaped furniture.

Andre Groult chest

The Aquarius designers lightened up that shape by playing with the concept of negative space as seen in the next two pieces.

The Aquarius collection even has some highly crafted metal work.  The swirls in the base of these tables look likesuper-sized versions of the same shape in work by Edgar Brandt.

Aquarius Collection

Edgar Brandt mirror

Edgar Brandt screen

Lexington says that each piece in the Aquarius Collection was “designed with imagination and creativity to stand alone with distinction.”  There are no matching pieces in the entire collection–virtually unheard of in today’s market.

Experiencing the craftsmanship of the Aquarius Collection was one of the unexpected highlights of my recent trip to High Point.  I hope you agree.

Blogger's favorite: A mirror in the Aquarius Collection

*************

Did you vote for Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum and Gardens today?  Help them hold their #4 position so they are guaranteed their preservation grant money.  To vote, click the green button in my right side bar.  Thanks!

Most of us have struggled at one time or another to find the ideal coffee table.  Or how about a place to perch your glass of wine (or lemonade)–a “drinks” table can’t be too big or too small.  As a character piece, it needs to strike just the right note.  And then there is the mirror dilemma.  A mirror has such high impact on how a room feels that it must be flawless.

Even legendary decorator Bunny Williams has grappled with finding these pieces.

In fact, she told me on Tuesday that she found herself  always searching for them, so she decided to create her own.  Lucky us.  The hunt is now over.

Right now and until May 11, Bunny has gathered all of her product designs under one roof in an absolutely gorgeous “Pop-Up” shop.  (Seriously, can I move in there, when the twins go to college?)

There is so much goodness to see, that I thought I would try to focus your attention on some of the wonderful options Bunny has created for mirrors, coffee tables and what we both call small “drinks” tables.

The first photo above has a great example of each.  I especially love her coffee table/ottoman with the built-in, removable tray. Ingenious.

But Bunny’s Compass Rose coffee table also is mesmerizing.  Bunny said she loved the feel of old parquetry floors, so she created a coffee table of marquetry in a kaleidoscope pattern.  The open base keeps things from being too heavy.

Bunny’s Country coffee table is great for active families.  It comes with the baskets so you can easily tuck away toys, remotes and video games.  Bunny pointed out that the lovely green finish has that nice patina because it is not sprayed on, but built up layer by layer.

If you want something a little more formal, this gold leg, with faux shagreen top coffee table has such an elegant shape.

Turning to mirrors, when you enter the showroom, you can’t help but be bowled over by this dramatic wall of them–Bunny’s latest line for Mirror Image Home.

I was simply unable to pick a favorite–loved them all–but Bunny’s version of the popular Pagoda mirror is near the top.

When it came to designing small “drinks” tables, Bunny created incredibly interesting one-of-a-kind pieces.  Each one has so much character it feels like it is a major score at a large antiques fair.

There is this one in leather.

Then there is the one that plays on nature with a tree trunk base. (Attention-deficit moment–the wing chair is to die for).

Finally, the ultimate “skirted” table done in carved wood–perhaps the cleverest thing in the showroom.  How can you not smile.

There is just so much to see (and learn by studying the styling) in the Pop-Up shop.  I have only highlighted a few things.  Click here for times and location.  It is wonderful to see how Bunny incorporates all of her products from multiple lines in room settings.

Happily though, this stuff is available beyond May 11.  Many may find these pieces a reach, but they are so well made you will have them for a lifetime.

And by the way, if you work with a designer who passes through his/her discount (I do–and many others do too), everything is 30% off.  Reason enough to hire one.

**********************

All photos by me.   BTW, it doesn’t go with my post, but I had to upload these 2 pictures of this fabulous table in the showroom.  If you were anywhere near twitter on Tuesday between 5:00 and 6:00 for Bunny’s Buzz tweet chat, you couldn’t miss the chirping over the tabletop.  In the blogosphere, we all want it all. 

REMINDER: DID YOU VOTE TO RESTORE BARTOW-PELL MANSION MUSEUM AND GARDEN TODAY? CLICK THE GREEN BUTTON ON MY RIGHT SIDEBAR TO VOTE! THANKS!