THE BLOOM IS ON THE ROSE: THE RETURN OF CHINTZ

Photo by Eric Bohman courtesy of House Beautiful

I find I am captivated by this image of Deeda Blair's desk that was pictured in House Beautiful several years back. There is a sweetness and lightness to the French-inflected vignette. Perhaps one of the reasons I love it is how she displays her porcelain flower collection. Hung on porcelain brackets, the work of artisan Vladimir is beautiful looking, not overly decorative. Or, it could be the blue-grey painted desk with decorative obelisks, painted porcelain plates and propped up paintings. She has a lot of stuff here, but there is enough space for everything to breathe. Choosing pretty, meaningful decorative objects, her workspace reflects her personality.

I think we are going to see a big return to pretty- with chintz and blowsy florals on the horizon. The small floral oil painting propped up on the Louis chair on the left is exactly the type of floral motif that has been out of favor for some time. The soon-to-be-released enormous book of Mario Buatta's chintz-festooned interiors will pave the way for the big bloom's return. There are some classic stalwart floral prints from Colefax and Fowler and Brunschwig that garnered design affections in the 1980's, and depending on how they are used today, still have the same charm as they did when they came to define the English Country House style. Rather then using them in bold strokes, try a more spare application in smaller moments, like a little upholstered chair or headboard, to give the blooms new life.

Photo courtesy of Vladimir

Beautiful handmade porcelain English roses in a Chinese vessel, created by Vladimir.

Photo courtesy of Colefax and Fowler

Bowood, a spray of white roses from Colefax and Fowler, was brought back in the archives and re-introduced in the 1960's

Colefax and Fowler Tree Poppy on linen

Plumbago Bouquet on linen from Colefax and Fowler

Photo courtesy of Bennison

A veddy, veddy British chintz, lilac sprigs on linen from

Bennison

Photo courtesy of Bennison

I love the monochromatic impact of lipstick pink roses against the crisp solid ground in Bennison's Roses.

Photo courtesy of Brunschwig and Fils

La Portugaise, the

Brunschwig and Fils

chintz Mr. Hadley used in Brooke Astor's New York library.

Photo courtesy of Brunschwig and Fils

Athos, a new chintz from Brunschwig and Fils

Photos courtesy of Schumacher

Alessandra Branca's Elizabeth chintz from Schumacher is a riot of intensely electric colored flowers.

The newer Pyne Hollyhock Chintz in a grey and white colorway, re-created by Schumacher, originally used by Albert Hadley in 1962 for a favorite client.