"The Glasses had a fifth-story apartment.....sunshine was very unkind to the room" - Franny and Zooey

I find inspiration down many different avenues. My creative juices are roused by movies, songs, poems, people, architecture, and novels, among many other things. This specific blog is here to pay a homage to the muse of prose.

I am inspired by a bevy of authors, and their astonishing ability to create interior spaces in which I feel that I can literally step into. Anne Rice is particularly good at describing grand old New Orleans architecture. The staunch Greek Revival home in Violin played a role equally as important as any of its main characters. F. Scott Fitzgerald has an amazing ability to describe interiors from the great Jazz Age, not only in New York, but also in Minnesota. And, perhaps one of my favorite authors, J.D. Salinger, possesses a genius of writing about interiors that captures my interest like no other author. Franny and Zooey is just one example of his great body of work which describes comfortable, well-loved, and much collected interiors. This may be due to the fact that I am truly enamored of America circa 1950's.

What novels/authors inspire you....?

Sustainability : Conserving an economical balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.

Alessandro for Baker console - 1970's The Far East Collection


Paul Tuttle for Baker - 1950's The New World Collection


Michael Tayler for Baker - 1950's slipper chairs


Baker Upholstery - 1960's flared arm sofa (reupholstered)


At a time when "green" design is almost overwhelmingly popular, I offer this advice.....buy vintage! There are so many important and amazing orphaned designs that need homes, and there is an equal number of important and amazing websites that offer these said goods. If shopping via the internet isn't for you, well I've got good news! Washington D.C. has a spectacular array of vintage shops, from very fine; i.e. very expensive, to some that are much more, shall we say, "economical".

Buying vintage is a very chic and responsible thing to do. In fact, it was common practice for master interior design legend Albert Hadley to include vintage and found objects in most all of his projects. There is no shame to be had in a purchase made from a seedy little shanty of a shop (that's a bit of a tongue twister!) as long as the purchased item is, to you, perfect. As a matter of fact, the thrill of the hunt will undoubtedly become addictive!

I'm a vintage addict myself, and my apartment is proof of that! I prefer to take an afternoon and hit all of my favorite local vintage shops. This weather, in my personal opinion, is PERFECT for shopping! My advice for your next free afternoon, bundle up, call a friend, grab a coffee, and check out these great local shops. You won't be disappointed!

The Greater U-Street Area:

-Good Wood: 1428 U Street N.W. WDC 20009
-Ruff & Redy: 1908 14th Street N.W. WDC 20009
-Millennium: 1528 U Street N.W. WDC 20009
-Miss Pixy's: 2473 18th Street N.W. WDC 20009

Georgetown:

Honestly I'm not as familiar with the shops in Georgetown. I do know that they seem to be concentrated on Wisconsin Avenue. I've found a few that specialize in "mid-century", most of the others seem to be a conglomeration of classic french and english antiques. BUT, hands down my favorite antique shop in Georgetown is Marson Luce Antiques located at 1651 Wisconsin Avenue.

If shopping around isn't your thing, or if you are really looking for something very specific, I suggest that you grab a cocktail, sit back in your favorite comfy chair, and rummage about the websites listed below. I was surprised to find so many awesome vintage Baker pieces! Prof that Baker creates lasting designs that are always relevant. You'll also notice how modern these pieces are, and this from a company that people generally associate with traditional furniture. Baker has historically offered, and remains to offer, truly modern / timeless pieces. Try mixing vintage Baker with your favorite new Baker pieces for a thoughtful and inspired "look"!

1stdibs
Ebay
Craigslist


HAPPY SHOPPING!!

*Note-all of the images shown above are vintage Baker pieces.

Repousse

Repousse (French - to push back) is a ancient art technique in which the artist hammers a design on metal from the inside of the sculpture. Perhaps one of the most recognizable examples of repousse is The Statue of Liberty. Repousse dates back to the 3rd century b.c., and has been used to create armor, jewelry, furniture, lighting, home accessories, and even bathroom fixtures. Although the actual repousse technique is very traditional, modern artists are creating repousse works that are anything but, and are certain to become heirlooms of the future.

Robert Kuo, one of the most noted contemporary artist, uses traditional techniques and materials to create very modern pieces. Through his collaboration with McGuire, Robert Kuo has offered this beautiful art form to the public. If you don't have the space or economic means to commission something like The Statue of liberty for your home, maybe a lamp or candlestick from Robert Kuo will suffice.

Thomas Pheasant

One of the great modern American interior designers, Thomas Pheasant is sure to become a classic like Albert Hadley or Billy Baldwin. His simply styled designs are based on classical forms, and inspired by the beautiful architecture of Washington DC. Mr. Pheasant started his firm at the age of 23, and has built an outstanding reputation for himself. His collections for Baker and McGuire have been strongly received by both the public and the design community.

“My personal evolution in design has been built on trying to understand the past and involve the present. It’s an endless yet exciting experience of understanding design history. Taking the familiar and making it new is something I try to do with my interiors and my furniture collections.” - Thomas Pheasant from Architectural Digest January 2006

Check out The Thomas Pheasant Collection for Baker and McGuire at Baker

Autodidact: a person who has learned a subject without the benefit of a teacher or formal education; a self-taught person

I recently had the honor of attending a holiday party at the Embassy of Denmark. The event was beautiful, the guests were interesting, the food was amazing, and the parting gift bag was spectacular, BUT what I was most excited about was the furniture! The embassy is filled with Finn Juhl originals.

The first photo above shows Finn Juhl standing in front of renderings of his furniture for Baker (1951 - 55). The next photos are of the original Finn Juhl renderings which I was lucky enough to see in person in a Baker museum annex in High Point North Carolina. And, lastly there is a photo of some original Finn Juhl for Baker dining chairs. Isn't it amazing how relevant furniture from 1951 is today?!?!

For those of you who are not acquainted with the genius of Finn Juhl, please take a moment to check out the Finn Juhl website. It's got his whole background and photos of interiors, buildings, and furniture that he's designed. Finn Juhl introduced "Danish Modern" to America. I think that the term and the the idea of Danish Modern has become to generalized, but the history remains singular and strong.

I came across a site recently that had this to say about Finn Juhl, "In the early 1950s his name started to become known in the United States due to his ardent fan, Edgar Kaufmann, Jr., who lauded his work regularly in Interiors magazine. Juhl designed an interior for the 1951 'Good Design' show in Chicago, and spoke of the show in Interiors, saying that, "One cannot create happiness with beautiful objects, but one can spoil quite a lot of happiness with bad ones." The same year he was commissioned by Baker Furniture, Inc. out of Michigan to create a series that would appeal to their emerging younger market. The work he did for them-- 24 pieces including chairs, tables, storage units, sideboards and desks-- represented his first successful marriage of modern mass production to his traditionally high craft standards. He was able to bring affordable, beautiful furniture to a large audience without compromising the quality." For me, it's interesting to think that Baker has historically been very current. Today, Baker offers collections from some of the worlds most sought after designers. And, again today, as in 1951, Baker offers "beautiful furniture to a large audience without compromising the quality".

For those of you who thirst for more information regarding Finn Juhl there is a beautiful book, Finn Juhl: Architecture-Furniture-Applied Arts by Esbjoern Hiort. It's not so easy to find, but I did find a site,Alibris, that has copies available.

Check out the Finn Juhl website, I know you'll be interested!

Milling Road

Through The Milling Road Collection, Baker offers an eclectic grouping of furniture that combines international designs with a touch of the unexpected. Sophisticated yet comfortable, impressive yet informal - each individual piece is meant to function within the realities of day-to-day living, while allowing you to create a space that best amplifies your personal style.

These are a few photos that I took while visiting Baker last Market. Please enjoy!