PLATE WALLS

Oscar de la Renta's home in the 1970s; this room is the love child of a Delft factory and a Magic Eye picture. Where do the walls end and decorations begin? Low lamps on Chinese stools are unexpected, as is the fabric scalloped border, draped across the mirror's north line. Don't miss the little ceramic frog...

At low resolution, it's challenging to make out whether these plates are ironstone, ceramic, patterned, or solid... but the sudden effect of weight on the wall is a counterpoint to the lightness of the room that lends gravitas. 

A twist on the classic color combination of trees and sky; this pistachio green punches up the plates, and don't miss the delft details in chandelier and sconces. I'm curious about the rug - custom? 

My apartment, with a dramatic dose of color. I didn't find the Baratta design above until after painting the walls green - perhaps if I'd been fortified with more color courage from the above image, I'd have spent less time agonizing in the paint aisle. My own plates are a mix of Tiffany, Urban Outfitters, unidentifiable thrift, Home Goods, Wedgewood and Delft acquired on travel, and Anthropologie. The only thing I'd change? More plates. I'm thinking some very small ones slipped in around the sides...

Soft, soft, soft... I feel convinced that dinner parties in this room must be quieter, more congenial. The symmetry of the plates is steadying - it's an orderly space.

The look of NOW. Old stuff in new colors. The Louder Is Living Club. Could this be any different than the room above? I believe those plates may be jadite - if you're inspired, grab an armful off of Etsy.

/Images/ SF Home, my own/ All others, Pinterest/

THE OLD WHITE AND BLUE

BLUE is Our Lady’s colour,
White is Our Lord’s. 
To-morrow I will wear a knot 
Of blue and white cords, 
That you may see it, where you ride 

Among the flashing swords. 

O banner, white and sunny blue, 

With prayer I wove thee! 

For love the white, for faith the heavenly hue, 

And both for him, so tender-true,

Him that doth love me!

- Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

But whence the inspiration for blue and white? Perhaps nature itself, in the sight of sea and sky, bluebells against a late snow, or blooming lotus in a dim courtyard pool. It is a match made by, and inspired by, heaven. The beautiful combination of blue and white in porcelain likely began in Iran, and gradually made its way to China, where production reached its height in the 14th century. In Europe, chinoiserie blue and white in turn inspired pottery makers in Italy (Medici porcelain), Delftware in Holland, and the famous English patterns, Blue Willow, and later, Wedgwood's Jasperware. 

This month's gorgeous Veranda magazine (kudos to new editor Dara Caponigo!), featured this lovely room by Carolyne Roehm. And it inspired me to go on a little tour of my favorite porcelain inspired rooms. Come along!

Aerin Lauder's home in Elle Decor.

Kelly Wearstler

Kenneth Alpert

Kelly Wearstler's Imperial Trellis pattern covers the wall and chair.

Mary McDonald

House Beautiful

Brad Boles, Traditional Home

SHOP IT OUT!

/1. Emilia Ceramics/ 2. Quadrille Birds II/ 3. Crane's Stationary/ 4. Jonathan Adler Zebra Rug/ 5. Annechovie Chair Print/ 6. Emilia Ceramics/ 7. Z Gallerie China/ 8. Tiffany's Box/ 9. Lilly Pulitzer Bag/ 10. West Lake Royal Duvet/

 /Images not attributed above/ Blue bamboo chair room/ Wearstler 1/ Wearstler 2/ Lauder/ Mary Macdonald/ Papered bathroom/Fabulous bedroom with chinoiserie walls and matching pillows - unknown. If you know, please leave the designer's name in comments!/

SUN AND SEA AT ANTHROPOLOGIE

J'adore Anthropologie - it isn't just their lovely looks and sublime styles; they create designs with wit. This summer, open your doors and drawers with porcelain urchins or bronzed crab. Dine off of scenes from the deep, as medieval monsters toss hapless ships. Or salute the sea with psychedelic coral, salt 'n pepper minnows, and a couch that will suck you in (to the arms of an octopus). Whether you're holiday-bound or settling in for a "staycation," these treasures will bring the ocean home.

ISIS CERAMICS' CHINOISERIE CHINA

Years ago, when I was studying at Oxford University, I loved poking around in the charming old shops in town center. If you avoided the tourist-tchotchkes-key-chain-selling establishments, there were wonderful treasures to be found. One of those great finds for me was Isis Ceramics. A bespoke English delftware company named for the nearby Thames (known locally as the Isis), Isis Ceramics was founded in 1988 by Deborah Sears. A phenomenally talented painter, Sears created a series of china patterns - all hand painted by herself and local artistans - in the chinoiserie style. Each piece is a unique artwork, as beautiful as it is unusual. They are gasp-worthy in person, and I treasure my own Isis Ceramics!

These patterns also put me in mind of some of Southern designer Phoebe Howard's work. Wouldn't Isis pieces look stunning in these dining rooms? The wall murals and the china coordinate beautifully. I wish I knew who Howard had used to paint/paper these spaces.

P.S. Isis Ceramics also creates exquisitely beautiful custom china for weddings. Brides and grooms can choose a unique design that reflects scenes and symbols special to them. Isis Ceramics also provides a bridal registry, where guests' names are painted onto the back of their gifts to the couple.

Images, www.oushop.com/acatalog/Isis_Ceramics.html, artstheanswer.blogspot.com/, www.bbchomesandantiques.com/feature/pots-personality. Rooms, Phoebe Howard.

Lauder Beauty

Design beauty, that is. I was so inspired when I saw the latest issue of Elle Decor featuring Aerin Lauder's East Coast homes. Often when paging through magazines I see bits here or there to take away, but every now and then a home really resonates with me. There's a lot here I wouldn't hesitate to do.

Blue and white is so common and yet so powerful.The mixture of brown/white and blue/white here brings a high society look back to nature. The wall vases are antique delft.

Does this remind anyone else of Sister Parish's White House bedroom design for Jackie Kennedy? I think it's the shade of blue, tall window treatments, and gilt - not identical by any means, but the feel is very similar.

A boy's room - and it's NOT in blue! This is a fresh, citrusy look, but it's still male. The subtle jungle elements in the wallpaper are well accented by the stuffed menagerie. My only hesitation? Such a lot of white on that bedspread - I feel sticky fingers in the future...

All images, Elle Decor Magazine.