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I was thrilled to be invited, by the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago to participate in their bi-annual fund-raising event, the 2009 Lake Forest
Show House & Gardens, held at the historic Lansdowne property in Lake Bluff, Illinois.
General Patton, while stationed at nearby Fort Sheridan, played polo on the grounds of this beautiful estate.
I remember hearing the echo of booted feet when I visited the house for the first time, resounding throughout the stairs and the upper rooms.
For the design for the Son's Bedroom, I created a programme for that of a young man who has just graduated from Notre Dame (naturally!),
with an avid interest in the outdoors and team sports, including, of course, football.
The creation of the room was thus inspired by the Notre Dame colours of blue & gold, transmuted into shades of warm slate blue and cream,
with accents of deep navy blue, beige and turkey red.
I'm very proud of this design, & very grateful for the assistance provided towards its realisation.
Please scroll to the bottom of this page for a list of those whose support enabled this endeavour.
Show House & Gardens, held at the historic Lansdowne property in Lake Bluff, Illinois.
General Patton, while stationed at nearby Fort Sheridan, played polo on the grounds of this beautiful estate.
I remember hearing the echo of booted feet when I visited the house for the first time, resounding throughout the stairs and the upper rooms.
For the design for the Son's Bedroom, I created a programme for that of a young man who has just graduated from Notre Dame (naturally!),
with an avid interest in the outdoors and team sports, including, of course, football.
The creation of the room was thus inspired by the Notre Dame colours of blue & gold, transmuted into shades of warm slate blue and cream,
with accents of deep navy blue, beige and turkey red.
I'm very proud of this design, & very grateful for the assistance provided towards its realisation.
Please scroll to the bottom of this page for a list of those whose support enabled this endeavour.
Before
The existing bedroom, as seen on the left, was in remarkably
well-preserved condition, featuring beautifully detailled mouldings on
the walls, wainscot, cornice and transom panels. The original doors,
of solid mahoghany, were allowed to remain; all the walls and
mouldings were re-painted to reflect the design scheme.
Fortunately, the existing oak floorboards had only recently been
refinished; these were in such excellent condition that we did not
really need to do anything other than clean them.
well-preserved condition, featuring beautifully detailled mouldings on
the walls, wainscot, cornice and transom panels. The original doors,
of solid mahoghany, were allowed to remain; all the walls and
mouldings were re-painted to reflect the design scheme.
Fortunately, the existing oak floorboards had only recently been
refinished; these were in such excellent condition that we did not
really need to do anything other than clean them.
Here, we see Sanjay making his very first visit to the space that
would become, eventually, the Son's Bedroom.
In the far left photograph, Sanjay is meeting with one of the painters,
regarding the selected colour scheme.
In the centre, we see the existing Bathroom. A bit dull, but believe
me, it didn't stay that way for very long.
would become, eventually, the Son's Bedroom.
In the far left photograph, Sanjay is meeting with one of the painters,
regarding the selected colour scheme.
In the centre, we see the existing Bathroom. A bit dull, but believe
me, it didn't stay that way for very long.
After
And so, here we are, all finished, all done, all in order.
Wow, it was a lot of work! I must say, I really love this room.
It functions as well for an eight-year old as it does for an eighteen-year
old, and, I daresay, every age in-between and even beyond.
It is, most definitely, a masculine room, designed for and by, perhaps,
someone very similar to its intended occupant.
Now, I wonder who that might be....?
The wonderful teddy-bear is named George Maximilian Fortescue II,
and he was really quite delighted to lend his rather august presence.
He had originally demanded a Thompson wool tartan bathrobe, but
elected to wear an American flag sweater instead.
Wow, it was a lot of work! I must say, I really love this room.
It functions as well for an eight-year old as it does for an eighteen-year
old, and, I daresay, every age in-between and even beyond.
It is, most definitely, a masculine room, designed for and by, perhaps,
someone very similar to its intended occupant.
Now, I wonder who that might be....?
The wonderful teddy-bear is named George Maximilian Fortescue II,
and he was really quite delighted to lend his rather august presence.
He had originally demanded a Thompson wool tartan bathrobe, but
elected to wear an American flag sweater instead.
This photograph highlights the remarkable combinations of pattern &
colour which make this room so uniquely comfortable yet dynamic.
At the windows, tall draperies of Thompson wool tartan in beige with
red & black stripes are positioned against Indian silk taffeta shades
in a small blue-on-blue plaid or check. The blues in this fabric
match, quite closely, the paint colours used in this room.
A similar treatment occurs on the magnificent mahoghany bed, where,
again, Thompson wool tartan is used for the duvet, with plaid Indian
silk taffeta used for the ruffled skirt.
The English convex looking-glass over the bed is framed by a gilt
ourobouros, a classic symbol of eternity and re-birth.
colour which make this room so uniquely comfortable yet dynamic.
At the windows, tall draperies of Thompson wool tartan in beige with
red & black stripes are positioned against Indian silk taffeta shades
in a small blue-on-blue plaid or check. The blues in this fabric
match, quite closely, the paint colours used in this room.
A similar treatment occurs on the magnificent mahoghany bed, where,
again, Thompson wool tartan is used for the duvet, with plaid Indian
silk taffeta used for the ruffled skirt.
The English convex looking-glass over the bed is framed by a gilt
ourobouros, a classic symbol of eternity and re-birth.
These charming vignettes illustrate the variety of colour &
texture featured through the bedroom, most notably on the
bed itself. Here, we have eight different fabrics used
together in a bright, lively collection of pillows & blankets.
texture featured through the bedroom, most notably on the
bed itself. Here, we have eight different fabrics used
together in a bright, lively collection of pillows & blankets.
The Son's Bedroom also features a large mahoghany writing table,
featuring a collection of silver-framed photographs.
Matching Italian crystal lamps provide illumination, while a herd of
whimsical, hand-made papier-mâché giraffes stand guard. The
framed Cassandre poster was purchased at the Marché aux Puces by
Sanjay (getting it home, however...!).
featuring a collection of silver-framed photographs.
Matching Italian crystal lamps provide illumination, while a herd of
whimsical, hand-made papier-mâché giraffes stand guard. The
framed Cassandre poster was purchased at the Marché aux Puces by
Sanjay (getting it home, however...!).
This photograph illustrates only a corner of the bedroom, but the
richness of colour, texture & collected objects is nonetheless significant
of the attention paid throughout to the room's design.
The roll-arm English sofa is upholstered in a subtle striped silk
velvet, complemented by pillows of Thompson wool tartan.
The floor lamp features a whimsical elephant base.
The tall black-lacquered étagère showcases a collection of African
tribal art, assorted books, a rather lovely pair of blanc-de-chine Foo
dog bookends, a framed photograph of the Four Horsemen of Notre
Dame and a large twin-masted schooner model.
The antique Chinese roof tile, below, in the shape of a Pekingese, is
named Fred. And, no, he does not bite.
richness of colour, texture & collected objects is nonetheless significant
of the attention paid throughout to the room's design.
The roll-arm English sofa is upholstered in a subtle striped silk
velvet, complemented by pillows of Thompson wool tartan.
The floor lamp features a whimsical elephant base.
The tall black-lacquered étagère showcases a collection of African
tribal art, assorted books, a rather lovely pair of blanc-de-chine Foo
dog bookends, a framed photograph of the Four Horsemen of Notre
Dame and a large twin-masted schooner model.
The antique Chinese roof tile, below, in the shape of a Pekingese, is
named Fred. And, no, he does not bite.
The Bathroom
The bathroom is a cool, calm space for bathing & washing.
The available natural light is soft and even, filling the space from a
tall, north-facing window.
Despite the deep blue lotus-patterned wallpaper, the pale colours of the
Italian limestone wainscot, floor and surround provide an effective
balance. A splash of texture & pattern is provided by shower
curtains in blue plaid Indian silk taffeta.
Grooming accessories, so important for skin tone & colour, fill the
vanity surface, complemented by porcelain cachepots.
The available natural light is soft and even, filling the space from a
tall, north-facing window.
Despite the deep blue lotus-patterned wallpaper, the pale colours of the
Italian limestone wainscot, floor and surround provide an effective
balance. A splash of texture & pattern is provided by shower
curtains in blue plaid Indian silk taffeta.
Grooming accessories, so important for skin tone & colour, fill the
vanity surface, complemented by porcelain cachepots.
I am deeply grateful for the support of the following companies, without
whom this design would not have been possible:
Baker, Knapp & Tubbs
Brunschwig & Fils
Chanel
Farrow & Ball
Gilmore Decorating
Granite & Marble Resources
Holland & Sherry
Mr Clark Johnson
KWC America
whom this design would not have been possible:
Baker, Knapp & Tubbs
Brunschwig & Fils
Chanel
Farrow & Ball
Gilmore Decorating
Granite & Marble Resources
Holland & Sherry
Mr Clark Johnson
KWC America
Leopardo Construction
Progress Lighting
Primitive Artworks
Robert Allen/Beacon Hill
Mrs Neera L Singhal
Tourek Quilting
Tufenkian Carpets
Vesta USA
Zeeba Galleries
Progress Lighting
Primitive Artworks
Robert Allen/Beacon Hill
Mrs Neera L Singhal
Tourek Quilting
Tufenkian Carpets
Vesta USA
Zeeba Galleries
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