Chairish Magazine - November 2021 by Chairish

VOL 4

CHAIRISH.COM

GETS MA GAZ I

NIS H

G I B T A E R G A ORIUM S P R E M E EXPLOR R O F STYLE F O Every piece of furniture, art, and design in this issue is shoppable (even the cover). Scan a page’s QR code with your smartphone camera to find products instantly—and others like them. Chairish is home to 600,000 unique items, with thousands more arriving each day. Find your slice of holiday magic on chairish .com.

L E T T E R F RO M O U R C O -F O U N D E R Chair ish Ge ts Magazin

ish Happy holidays from Chairish, the beloved online destination for vintag e and antique home furnishings and art— and welcome to the ho liday edition of Maga zinish. Consider this a treasure map you ca n shop — a place to sp ot emerging trends, gifty finds, and chic inspirations. A QR co de on each page make shopping easy! s After two tumultuou s years, it’s become gla ringly clear: the time we spend togeth er is the most preciou s co m modit y. This issue, we’ve been insp ired by the idea of gif ting loved ones our time—be it an intim ate meal around the table, a rollicking ho party, or a chatt y we use ekend stay. Throughout these pa ges, you’ll find all yo u need to welcome guests into your home : tips on lighting and layering tablescapes, cocktail hosting ideas with renowned desig ner Bunny Williams, must-have design tom es for cozy home librar ies, and a fun histor y lesson on Bellini’s ico nic 70s sofa, the drea my Le Bambole. Lastly, all of us at Ch airish wish you and yo urs a smashing holiday season, full of love and sparkly mome nts. Take some time to relish it. Viva la vintage! ANNA BROCKWAY Co-Founder, Chairish CHAIRISH .C

SAN FRANC ISCO,

TS EC J O B AS G N N AS I O E T I T U N E EC I Q N ES F F U N E O . P R F A Y ST O R L YO N LI E T R F T U T E V E G I R U YO

Perhaps you have a library in the strictest sense: a glorious room lined with ﬂoor-to-ceiling bookshelves, sliding ladders, and sumptuous seating. Or maybe your library is something abstract, messier: stacks of books strewn across coﬀee tables, a desk adorned with reference reads, a cozy bedroom nook starring an armchair and lamp. Wherever you’ve made space to unwind, escape, and read a little, we’ve found warm design accents to elevate the experience—and help your guests feel at home too. Think soft, plush accessories to recline with, cushioned footstools, bookends, and elegant paperweights.

Photographer: ©Francesco Lagnese/OTTO Designed by Ashley Whittaker

BOOK CLUB

F I V E E S S E N T I A L A R C H I VA L A R T A N D D E S I G N R E A D S TO B U I L D YO U R P E RSO N A L L I B R A RY— O R C R OW D - P L E AS E O N YO U R C O F F E E TA B L E .

THE WORLD IN VOGUE (1963) Dig into the lives and times of icons through the decades—from Queen Victoria to Oscar Wilde—as reported by the fashion bible.

DAVID HOCKNEY, A BIGGER BOOK (2016) This is Taschen’s urgent, evocative visual survey of everything Hockney, from Yorkshire landscapes to his recent iPad drawings. It’s the best monograph you’ll find.

BILLY BALDWIN DECORATES (1972) A practical, sexy, 70s interiors how-to, straight from “the dean of American decorators,” as hailed by the New York Times. The lavish photography? All Horst.

ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST: CELEBRITY HOMES (1977) 225 pages loaded with intimate photographs from the homes of Joni Mitchell, Truman Capote, Yves Saint Laurent, and more.

COLEFAX AND FOWLER: THE BEST IN ENGLISH INTERIOR DECORATION (1989) A history of exceptionally English style—be it in Buckingham Palace or a country retreat—as pioneered by the game-changing firm.

P U F F U P YO U R P E R S O N A L I T Y O N DAY B E D S , SO FAS , A N D C H A I RS . T H E P I L LOWS W E ’ R E C OV E T I N G A R E A N Y T H I N G B U T S H Y: E L EGA N T LY K N OT T E D , DA P P L E D W I T H F LO R A LS , O R P U R R I N G W I T H A N I M A L P R I N T S .

, BELLINI S LE BAMBOLE O B J EC T

When it was first released by B&B Italia in 1972, Le Bambole defied the norms of sofas— it was armless, legless, squishy and amorphous, a cross between a cushion and a cloud . Its designer, Italian furniture wizard Mario Bellini, had been dreaming of ultra-simplified seating that was effortlessly comfortable, “a living body that is soft and safe, pleasant to touch and embrace.” He worked closely with B&B Ital ia’s research and development center, testing foam and fabric strength, and their weight-bearing qual ities when stripped of supportive structures. H is final version oozed 70s sex appeal, so B&B Ital ia launched it with a risqué campaign featuring Warhol muse Donna Jordan,

L E S S O N

who draped herself across it, topless and wearing heels. Bell in i ’s original Le Bam bole design spawned countless other versions, l ike the double bed Bambolettone and the ottoman Bambouff. Like the sofa, their forms felt minimal and spontaneous, readymade for lounging. In 2007, slender, streaml ined updates were released, still charged with freeing energy. Le Bambole has become something of an Italian design icon: acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, adorned in leather, velvet, even faux fur. You’ll find them sold on Chairish too, alongside other game-changing 70s pieces.

LIGHTBULB MOMENTS

LIGHTING IS A NOTORIOUSLY TRICKY THING TO MASTER. HOW BRIGHT SHOULD A ROOM BE? HOW DIFFUSED? WHICH LIGHTS ARE BEST FOR ENTERTAINING—AND WHICH CREATE A RESTFUL ENVIRONMENT TO CURL UP IN BEFORE SLUMBER? WE TAPPED A SUITE OF INTERIOR EXPERTS, AND ASKED THEM TO, WELL, SHED LIGHT ON IT ALL, FROM SCALE TO DIMMERS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

JOY MOYLER explains how to keep lighting special for the holidays.

ZOE FELDMAN on illuminating bedrooms.

CECE BARFIELD THOMPSON talks balancing ceiling, wall, table, and floor lighting. “Light needs to be evenly placed around a room . Given the choice, I would prefer to have all table lamps— but this can be hard in a large space, or a room without a lot of table surfaces. When developing a lighting plan, start with lamps in the corner of the room (table or floor) and then work your way towards the center. If the layout won’t accommodate lamps, add chandeliers and/or sconces.” Photographer: Francesco Lagnese Photo courtesy of CeCe Barfield Thompson

“At the bedside, I prefer layering sconces and lamps, but only when the space has the room . If the nightstands are small then we will use sconces to help save space and offer more surface area . The sconces we use at the bedside are typically smaller and more task-oriented . For children, I love a bedside sconce for bedtime reading. I prefer lamps on dressers for a quiet, diffused light to end the night. In any room, it starts with a dimmer. Dimmers allow for absolute customization and flexibility. I have never understood why anyone would select a light switch over a dimmer.” Photographer: Stacy Zarin Goldberg Photo courtesy of Zoe Feldman

BRIGETTE ROMANEK on scale—and why lights are like jewelry.

NICK OLSEN on adding vintage in the mix.

“When decorating, lighting is the last piece for me. It’s the last layer, just like your jewelry. Saving it for last helps me determine its scale based on everything else in an area . I also look at ceiling heights—that determines scale as well . You can also think of lighting in a utilitarian way. Once the other parts of a room are put together, think about what you’ll be doing there. For example, ‘I want to read in that corner of the room, so I ’ll need lighting, or I want to be able to work on that table in the middle of a room .’

“ I ’m not of the school where every lamp and pendant need to have the same metal finish . I mix new and vintage lighting with every project. A good pair of column lamps— in any material — is a no-brainer for me. The same goes for a classic Engl ish pagoda lantern, for both indoors and porches. Also, we often buy vintage porcelain vases and sculptures that our l ighting expert converts to lamps. A pair of tall vintage candlesticks can make great buffet lamps! When it comes to lampshades, interesting materials like waxed brown craft paper with contrast edges, or bottle green silk with matching fringe are worth the investment. Also who says you can’t change them seasonally? Red silk for the holidays, bright white paper for summer. Variety is the spice of life, after all .”

Photographer: Ye Rin Mok Photo courtesy of Brigette Romanek

Photographer: Reid Rolls Photo courtesy of Nick Olsen

“ Holiday lighting is made extra special when it ’s sultry, moody, warm, and inviting. For me, it ’s all about creating the glow. Every room should feel like soft candlelight,where you feel encouraged to lay on the couch, reading under cashmere as it snows outside. Or where all the kids are piled on the bed and you’re watching something fun . This ‘glowing’ light feels nurturing, like the womb. On the tree, I go crazy for white holiday twinkle lights. They are so much fun! I leave them on all day, on the Christmas tree and inside clear vases in windows.” Photographer: Nick Carter Verasson Photo courtesy of Joy Moyler

MARTYN LAWRENCE BULLARD shares his best lightbulb tips. SASHA ADLER gets practical with layered lighting.

“I always go warm . I cannot stand ghost lighting. I believe rooms should be inviting and that’s really achieved with the level of color that exudes from your bulbs. Fortunately, today’s warmth levels have been carefully worked on —you can get great incandescent bulb lighting with a good warmth again . Pure white light may work in an art gallery or a showroom, but at home you always want lighting to feel inviting and relaxing. The color shifting bulbs have their place— but don’t always do the trick. There are companies today who provide circadian rhythm lighting that alters with the natural balance of lighting during the day. This is, of course, seductive, and apparently very good for mental and physical health .”

“Lighting should always be layered at various heights throughout a room. Your lights are essential and functional, but they can also bring decor to the next level! One of the easiest ways to update a boring bathroom, for instance, is to flank the mirror with a pair of fantastic sconces and add a great ceiling fixture. A living room with layered lighting may include a ceiling fixture, a pair of sconces straddling the fireplace, some picture lights at the top of the bookcases, a lamp on the side table, a floor lamp tucked next to the lounge chair in the corner, and a pair of candlesticks on the console. When it comes to hue, I always opt for a warm light. My mom always says that nothing is more flattering than birthday candle lighting and it’s true—everyone looks good in that warm glow.”

Photographer: Lu Tapp Photo courtesy of Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Photographer: Weston Wells Photo courtesy of Sasha Adler

C A L L I N G A L L C O L L EC TO R S . F R O M P H OTO G R A P H S TO PAS T E L D R AW I N GS , S C U L P T U R E TO C O L L AG E , C H A I R I S H ’ S O R I G I N A L A R T O F F E R I N G I S YO U R S O U R C E F O R WA L L-T R A N S F O R M I N G WO R KS .

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AST

FORGET MATCHY-MATCHY. THERE’S SOMETHING SUMPTUOUS—ABUNDANT, EVEN—ABOUT A HOLIDAY TABLETOP THAT’S HEAVILY LAYERED. HERE’S HOW TO DO IT.

Photographer: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh Styled by Mieke ten Have

1. Use a unifying color theme to keep everything coherent. 2. Mix unexpected high-low textures. (Think pottery beside polished silver.) 3. Layer prints and patterns across table linens. Take risks and go high contrast. 4. Consider the lighting. (We suggest candles.) 5. Diversify the height for a city skyline look: think tall candlesticks with lower ﬂowers (and vice versa). 6. Add personal oddities and heirlooms to spark conversation. 15

We invited three brilliant creatives to play fictional Secret Santa. (Scan the QR code to shop their Chairish picks —and others inspired by them.) Amy Sedaris Comedian and writer

5 cups of Oreo cookie crumbs 1/2 cup melted butter Combine and spread evenly in a large hotel pan. Cook in oven at 350 degrees for five minutes. Leave to cool.

I N G R E D I E N TS (C H E E S E CAK E MIXTU RE):

Mix cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar well in a bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients, stirring until fully mixed. Pour mixture over the cheesecake base and freeze overnight. To serve: cut and drizzle with ruminfused orange marmalade. Garnish with crushed pistachios.

“My boyfriend Misha and I are into making our own DIY [versions] of famous design objects. One year for my birthday, for example, he gave me an Yves Klein-esque coffee table, filled with crushed lapis lazuli and held together at the edges with thick dollops of epoxy. We also did our own version of the iconic Lalanne sheep by swaddling a plastic lawn ornament in a fauxfur throw. It looks awful. This, however, is very cute and would be a major improvement.” Darryl Westly Painter “I’d get my friend, painter Amanda Michelle Barker, a Casa Cosima Moroccan accent table. I’ve always believed a chair can determine the relationship you have to a room. A table on its own, however, can provide both the means to entertain and work. Like all tools, familiarity breeds comfort—while ingenuity in design can inspire creativity. Amanda, a person who can benevolently vacillate between pragmatism in her work as a gallery manager, and adventurousness in her artistic practice, finds her silhouette in the simple clarity of this table.” Photographer: Danielle St. Laurent, photo courtesy of Amy Sedaris Photographer: Matthew Placek, photo courtesy of Nick Haramis Photographer: Isaac Pritzker, photo courtesy of Darryl Westly

DECK THE HALLS WITH JOHN DERIAN

I N G R E D I E N TS (C H E E S E CAK E BAS E ) :

2 cups cream cheese 2 cups sugar powder 1 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup coffee powder for baking 1 tbsp vanilla extract 2 tbsp condensed milk 2 tbsp coffee liquor 1/2 tsp salt

S C A N T O P L AY

Tracks for cozy, late-night hangouts by the fireplace. Scan the QR code for readymade listening.

n, photo courte sy of John Derian

Nick Haramis Magazine editor

THE CONSULATE’S TURKISH COFFEE CHEESECAKE

CRACKLE AND POP

Photog raphe r: Stephe n Kent Johnso

“I’d choose this Belle Rives tray in any color. I’d tell people I’m buying it for a friend, but I would keep this for myself. I like this tray because of its edge, and my favorite edges are scalloped or fluted. I would use it to display items— sort of like an open-secret box. After a few months I’d probably give this tray away and ask myself, ‘Why did I buy this in the first place? It takes up too much space!’ I’d take the items that were on the tray, put them in an old cigar box, and add the box to my stack of secret boxes. I love a box.”

We asked Douglas Hines and Mei Lin— the husband-wife team behind midtown Atlanta’s decadent eatery, The Consulate —for their best dessert recipe to impress a crowd.

When it comes to charming, abundant Christmas trees, designer and decoupage expert John Derian knows what’s what. We picked his brain on ornaments, and found there’s no such thing as too much—or too whimsical. Tell us one staple ornament for trees of all sizes.

pale blue glass ornament, with its original handmade wire hanger. What about the most fantastical you’ve sourced? Every year I go to a Christmas show in Germany. Most ornaments we get are handmade in Eastern Europe, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The workmanship is amazing: hand blown, hand painted … These designers are ingenious. One I love is a kite that’s about three inches long with an eightinch tail. There’s also a baby blue rocket with a red flame, and some silver spaceships. Final advice for tree trimming? More is more. Color and shape guide me.

A pickle. What’s your most treasured vintage ornament? A very small 19th century

PAT’S PARTY FLASHBACK

Photog raphe r: Charle s Trace y Photo courte sy of Pat Clevel and

Legendary supermodel Pat Cleveland believes the best house parties make comfort chic.

“I remember Calvin Klein once hosted a party in his penthouse. He completely redecorated. Everything was all black leather, and there were hammocks on the terrace.”

Photographer: Sari Goodfriend, photo courtesy of Bunny Williams

HOLIDAY HOSTESS Cocktail Class A how-to recipe from Bunny Williams, ready next soiree. “To me, the thing that sets holiday for your decorations apart is a bit of sparkle,” Williams says. One can almost picture her winking to camera as she adds a pair of hurricane lamps— the glass domes encircling flickering candles—to a side table, ready to mingle with resting drinks. “When you 1.5 cups sugar walk into a room at night and candles are lit, you get an instant atmosphere. 2 quarts whole It changes the mood of your room.” m i l k

MILK PUNCH

INGREDIENTS

Atmosphere is tantamount to the guestlist for a successful holiday party. How to place tables, chairs and the well-appointed bar to prompt the best conversations—and new connections—between cocktail sips? No one understands how to arrange it all better than interior designer Bunny Williams. Deemed the “doyenne of cozy chic” by the New York Times (having earned her stripes at legendary design firm Parish-Hadley) she’s made entertainment-ready interiors her raison d’être for more than 40 years.

1 quart vanilla ice cream or heavy c r e a m 4 cups brandy 2 cups bourbon Whole nutmeg

Combine sugar and ¾ cup of water in a saucepan and stir to dissolve. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally, A bah-humbug mood can drastically shift by until mixture is boiling. Let lending attention to our overlooked fifth sense: until clear (about smell. Williams swears by paperwhite narcissus— simmer always in bloom around the holiday season— eight minutes). Pour into a jar, to put in any cachepots for a whiff of seasonal and let cool, then refrigerate.

The key to any party, Williams argues, is “a warm, inviting atmosphere where guests can make themselves at home.” Beyond that—it’s all in the setup. First, gather small surfaces (as many as possible) and arrange them a little “In the whimsically, wherever a drink might cheer. Alternatively, seek out cyclamen. rest. “Small tables are a must. If each winter, I love a big bowl of apples or pomegranates.” person has one near them to rest their drink on, they’ll feel more comfortable One of Williams’ favorite entertaining tips came and can keep track of where they put not from a mentor, but a friend hosting an event. “I learned about these wonderful rechargeable table their glass.” To flout convention and lamps from a dear friend and client. I use the small ones prevent spills, Williams suggests on the dining table and the ones with shades on the elegant flat-bottomed glasses for water and wine. side table and mantel. They give a special glow. Good (Cocktails, too.) lighting sets the atmosphere—but it must be soft.” (Our “A spiralized recommendation to recreate that dreaminess: the Pina pattern or a thin Pro cordless rechargable from Chairish seller Zafferano.) gold rim keeps simple shapes interesting.”

For the punch, whisk the milk and ice cream together in a punch bowl until blended. Stir in spirits and simple syrup to taste. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. To serve, pour into highball glasses and grate the nutmeg on top.

The next order of business is lighting: su f fused , t w i n k l y , scattered, joy inducing. 17

WALKING O N A DREAM “O n e s d e s ig it s m o re co ner w p la y a s r ig m fo r ta b a ll ly,” V t h e 1 t h e m o re h t, o f co u erne 4th c r Pa n rse . ( p le a e to n o He u s n in t u r y. T h es g . s u a ll S ca n d By t h e we y is .) n c e n o te in a v e 18 0 re f la to t h d , “o An e ia e in f lu 0s, S tn art nac s pec m od w is o ia ll y e n c e w ove n a ern f n d w e d is h r u g a n s h a ve lu m in lo r t h a t o o f f la u r n it o o le n m ant r k t - we u re d n a ow n ke r s n , fe a u g u n e li ke s .” T a ve r e s ig n th we r e t u r in h e la d e r fo a r t is e rs a p e r fe is fo reve g ge o te D a an M ot m d m ir r— t h c t in g m etr a r ta a ke s n is h ed th e ic a ir in d u and M lo u n h e p e a andm a t te r a r li e as- F hand st li g h t w g in g , s t we je t te n s , ta a we a d wo r k r ia l e ig h t e r s t ro a s v in g p t v e y , and , t h ey e s le s m , th t r ie s , and d t h a e ’re s t t y e e yo u c the s ir p o dubb b il l p e o u ld p u la pa r e d ro a c k to r fe c t r ity e wa lk ll a ka fo r h s e , g e o m x p lo a ns . c ome r e o d ed s n ow t r ic c o m in t h e s s . T h a n p ks — ev 195 0 e n a o s it io n s . s. M P li t t le r u g - o il e f re e , p id lu s h n-ru g la y e r in g .

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Peek through the keyhole of celebrity interior designer Peti Lau, and you’ll see a gorgeous Chinese art deco rug from Leon Banilivi ’s Chairish collection, transported to the bedroom of her 1920s West Hollywood home—a place with fascinating pedigree. Not only was it the marquee setting for Steve Martin’s LA Story (1991), it was also once the home of formidable artist, designer, and set decorator Tony Duquette. Now under the ownership of Lau, it’s the ideal backdrop for her magpie-like style—one she’s coined “AristoFreak ” for its fearless clashings of color, texture, and pattern . What offers greater delight than scoring that knockout item you’ve been searching for? We asked Lau how she used Chairish to source her home’s beloved area rug. What were you looking for in a rug? What attracted you to this one? Peti Lau: Chairish is the first place I go to when I search for Chinese art deco rugs. This particular rug is romantic, bold, and colorful . I love to incorporate rich hues and patterns—and Chinese art deco rugs are exactly that. They’re unique and have really interesting color combos that no other rug styles have. They almost tell a narrative, and I love using patterns and colors to tell a story. Why are rugs an essential item for any space? PL Rugs are essential to grounding any space. They are soft to touch and they’re the first thing your feet experience when you wake up and get ready to rock your day. Why buy vintage? PL Vintage is something I incorporate into all my designs; it creates history and romance. Plus, the quality of vintage can be far superior. Most importantly, we’re reusing, recycling, and buying into something that was kept for a reason, because it had value to someone. Why is sustainability important to you? PL Sustainability is important because why create more waste on this planet? Why not celebrate history when someone has put a lot of thought into a design or product? It’s important that we don’t consume irresponsibly but consume with intent and value, ultimately bringing us little moments of joy! Photographer: Nikko La Mere

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