Up at the Villa...

Anne Bancroft is looking fabulous.

Her best line of the film?

"...you know, sex and champagne in the afternoon or something like that."

And the sets aren't half bad either... 1930s fascist architecture and Florentine villa casualness meets Sister Parish chic. Definitely worth a view. 

A Handful of Dust and Carlton Towers

Period movies are always a favorite... and when I saw this 1988 adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel on Netflix I knew it was a must see... the sets were amazing and profiled the Victorian country house, Carlton Towers... 

I love the drama of this room... especially the oversized Gothic mantle and double doors at the end of the room. My favorite touch was the the russet colored shades on the crystal chandeliers...

I'm typically not a fan of crewel work, but I'm loving the combination of the crewel fabric and the Aubusson pillows...

The fireplaces in the parlors had interesting coved walls extending from the mantles...

This wallpaper was my favorite decorative detail of the entire film... I want it in a million different color ways, although I could definitely be happy with it as is... 

Visit Carlton Towers website here. 

The Seabury Tredwell House

While researching my bachelor's essay on the Aiken-Rhett House I discovered the Seabury Tredwell House, or the Merchant House Museum in New York City. While there I made it my mission to see this period 1830s Greek Revival townhouse.

 

The home in its original context during the 1930s...

 

Sadly both homes on either side have been demolished leaving a vacant lot to the right and a garage building to the left...

 

The impressive door surround which was my initial reason for researching this home...

 

A near identical example at the Aiken-Rhett House which was added in the 1830s, contemporaneous with the construction of the Merchant House...

 

Original cast and wrought iron gas street lamps reminded me of similar examples in Charleston as well...

 

A similar street lamp at the Primrose House, 332 East Bay Street, Charleston, South Carolina...

 

The ceiling of the entrance vestibule... love the marbleized wall finish

While I was there the staircase was covered for renovations, but after the docent described the newel post it reminded me of something...

 

The staircase from The Heiress, 1949, starring Olivia de Havilland... a must see film that documents 1830s New York society... there's no way the set for her home was not based on this building

 

An original gasolier, curtain rods, and furnishings occupy the dining room and parlor...

The parlor of the Seabury Tredwell House in the 1930s...

... and Olivia de Havilland in the parlor of the set of The Heiress... note the similar columns (pilasters were common features around pocket doors, but full dis-engaged columns were rare) and the similarly paneled pocket doors.

This house is a fascinating glimpse into 1830s New York... a must see while you're there; there's nothing else like it in the city.

A Bedroom

My dream bedroom to be exact. 

After watching The Affair of the Necklace, not only did I learn to endure Hilary Swank as an actress, I also discovered the most amazing bedroom...

 

I'm not sure if this room is academically correct... it seems a little bit more Louis XVI a la Maison Jansen... but it's perfect. I LOVE the mirrored wall, the iron bed, and that fantastic side table. 

If only it were mine...

Madame Bovary and Curtain Tiebacks

 

  

The other evening I watched Vincente Minelli's 1949 Madame Bovary... 

Although it wasn't the best film I've ever seen, I did love these arrow curtain tiebacks featured in Madame Bovary's newly redecorated parlor.

Giant

I finally watched George Steven's 1956 epic Giant and was captivated by the cinematography, elaborate sets, and of course...

 

James Dean.

Particularly this scene for obvious reasons.

 

Elizabeth Taylor's conservative Eastern seaboard home featured fabulous grisaille wall coverings in the entrance hall... 

which contrasted perfectly with her flowing pink night gown in this scene... 

 

I loved this first image of Rock Hudson's Texas home Reata... it's dramatic setting reminded me of Elmgreen and Dragset's 2005 Prada Marfa sculpture... 

 

Coincidentally this sculpture was built about 35 miles from Marfa, Texas, making it very close to the actual outdoor sets of Giant...

 

The cinematography was exceptional... 

I especially loved these next two stills...

 

On to the interiors of Reata...

 

The interior of Reata was initially decorated in a high Victorian style to coordinate with the French 2nd Empire architecture of the exterior. The general layout and details of the interior are generally unbelievable and the stained glass window at the top of the stairs is questionable at best.

 

... however I'm loving this black tufted leather sofa particularly with Elizabeth Taylor in her riding habit... 

Taylor's style and refinement insures the viewer that this dated design will be heavily modified by the end of the film...

 

By the end of the film the red wallpaper and brown painted woodwork has been given a monochromatic treatment, and that horrible window has been covered with curtains and a fantastic scalloped cornice. I'm a fan of Victorian design, but this Hollywood Regency redecoration is obviously much more successful.

Particularly loving the slipper chair at the base of the stairs, the mirrored obelisks on the piano, and the gold leafed screen in the foreground.

 

And perhaps my favorite detail, which is only seen once or twice, is this geometrically painted black and white floor in the entrance hall.

 

The ruins of Reata