ROSE CUMMING: 100 Years of Elegance and Style

Thomas Britt, via Architectural Digest

Kudos must go to Chuck Comeau, of Dessin Fournir , for saving one of the most iconic and fabulous fabric houses of all time- ROSE CUMMING ! 

One hundred years ago , Miss Rose came to the United States, from her native Australia- and the interior design world has never been quite the same since!  Above, you can see my friend and mentor Thomas Britt's work- using the iconic and beautiful pattern known as "banana leaves".   Tom also used this (metallic) gold over taupe colorway in his own New York apartment- where I was first exposed to the grandeur and high style of his work- and the beauty of Rose Cumming's legacy to him, as he had been a personal friend of hers. 

Actually, I had first purchased yardage of banana leaves myself, in 1976, in the taupe colorway (sans the gold) for my Mother's home in Winston-Salem, NC.  She still has some of the pillows we made and loves them!



"Photograph courtesy of Dessin Fournir Companies" 

Ashley Comeau of Dessin Fournir, was kind enough to send these high resolution images of some of the most popular designs from Rose Cumming- and you may be interested in reading some of my previous posts on Miss Rose as well.  This is such a dynamic pattern, and it's been used by many top designers over the years. 

I had also installed the wallpaper version in my design studio bath in Winston-Salem, in the camel on black colorway, which was so striking and dramatic.

Rose Cumming "Photograph courtesy of Dessin Fournir Companies" 

Here's another very chic pattern, called "Sabu" - animal prints being something we never tire of!

Sabu by Rose Cumming, "Photograph courtesy of Dessin Fournir Companies"

Sabu in green, image via google

And here is "Zebrine"- another very popular and exotic but modern and current design, demonstrating how ahead of the times Miss Rose was.

Zebrine by Rose Cumming, "Photograph courtesy of Dessin Fournir Companies"

Zebrine wallcovering, Rose Cumming, via House Beautiful

I want to thank Ashley Comeau for her assistance with providing information for this post.  As you can see, we barely touched on this subject- one can read more about it in the beautiful book on Rose Cumming and Dessin Fournir here !  DF *****

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via Amazon books

 

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GLORIA VANDERBILT, Then and Now

1970's

If one picture is worth a thousand words, then this one is worth a million!  The history, the excitement of old New York is summed up here.  The new film and the new book are fabulous too!  I gave the book to my own mother for Mother's Day this year.

2016

Above, the famous Rose Cumming chintz was used called "Carisbrooke" in the Beekman Place flat of Ms. Vanderbilt.  I love the accoutrement displayed on the table, especially the silver flask!  Michael Taylor placed a large order for Carisbrooke, at a time when the Rose Cumming firm was underperforming, and as the story goes, saved the day for them...
The decorator Billy Baldwin also used this chintz - similar to another one from Brunschwig and Fils...the brass "pharmacy" lamps aimed at the screen remind me of his studio apartment in the east 60's with the lacquered brown walls.  Enjoy!  DF *****   

Thomas B. Britt

Tom Britt, New York salon, via Love Is Speed

Another of the fabulous New York designers I was most fortunate to be mentored by was Tom Britt.  Originally from Kansas City, Tom is a dynamo of a designer, and a true man of the world.  One summer, I worked in his office, making drawings, and going on trips to the job sites- it was a bit of a shock to see how those apartments were totally demolished, and the furniture in them would be piled in the middle of the rooms and covered with tarps...the reality of what decorators do was beginning to register! 

In order to fully appreciate the immersive experience I had, under Tom's guidance, you need to know, as I did, that Tom and Angelo (Donghia) attended Parsons together.  They even shared an apartment!  So, it was so interesting to me, having already seen Angelo's very glam east side duplex, with its two drawing rooms, one up and one down- and both in satin and lacquer...to then be overwhelmed by the high drama of Tom's two drawing rooms - both in boiserie~ and the upstairs one entirely in a Rose Cumming shade of blue satin...  with the famous Rose Cumming "banana leaves" fabric in the metallic gold colorway in the downstairs drawing room.  Now, add to all of this the maestro (Tom) with his booming, unique baritone voice being broadcast throughout.  Oh, and the Baron Nicholas de Gunzberg had also kept a place in Tom's building, on East 63rd Street. 

I was fascinated and a little intimidated by Tom's powerful and exotic personality, although he was a good friend to me and always treated me with great kindness.  After all, the eminence grise himself, Prof. Stanley Barrows, had said of me that I reminded him of Tom, when he taught Tom at Parsons!  (Stanley Barrows also taught me at FIT).  And now, Julie Britt (Tom's wife) and I are friends on Facebook!  Who knew?  I had only met her briefly when I worked for Tom, as they were no longer together.  A very nice lady.

What happened to sort of derail what I think would have been a brilliant career (for me) was that almost all of my friends and colleagues succumbed to the AIDS crisis.  I was left with Tom and Mario...plus Albert for a while, but this was all after I had moved out of NY and settled for good, in affluent and conservative Naples.  Los Angeles had called out to me, like a siren, and I did almost go out there- but strangely ended up in a town known as the Palm Beach of the west coast!  I call Naples a little town with a big ego.  Armistead Maupin mentioned it in one of his later works, and not in a kind way.  I wrote about it in my sketchy little potboiler called "Diamonds In The Sun" (available on Amazon books)...and so, here I am, after all these years, I'm still here.  DF ***** click here for a great Plum TV video on Tom, and his Hamptons estate....

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Shutters or Walls?

From Things That Inspire

We were most amused today, when perusing the Atlanta based blog, Things That Inspire, click here ,to see our choice of Brandon Beige by Benjamin Moore, used for exterior shutters- when "we" had only recently selected the same colour for our interior walls!

Brandon Beige satin walls, DFID

As y'all may recall- :) we had originally chosen (selected) a very rich, custom, aubergine lacquer finish for our walls- however, due to a lower than desired ceiling, and the constraints of a budget, we went with a more conservative choice; Brandon Beige...in a tasteful satin finish.

No. 6, Saint Michael's Alley, Charleston, SC

This also reminded me of one of our pet projects in Charleston- with the "Sevres" green shutters and door- so adroitly chosen by our discerning, very well traveled clients.  We used many hundreds of yards of Scalamandre' silks and trims in this house, and one day, the Bitters (founders of Scalamandre') came by and wanted to rent the house!  I am so partial to this very French shade of turquoise....

The Pink Door, Greensboro, NC

Now, the last time I was in Greensboro, the walls of this section of The Pink Door Interiors were painted in a very similar shade of green...perhaps this image is just distorted in colour due to the photography?  It is fun to see how colours on the outside can also be seen on the inside.

Tom Britt, NYSD

We also adore the relationship between fashion and interiors- here, NY decorator (and a mentor of mine) Thomas Burgin Britt used a blue satin on his Billy Baldwin slipper chairs, one of my and our all time fave models.  How fabulous!  James Andrew, another dear friend, and former Hadley protege' is WEARING blue satin (below) !!!

   

Scott McBee, James Andrew, Bennett Weinstock, Jamie Drake, NYSD

If you follow design blogs, you may know that dear James has a fantastic one, What Is James Wearing, to view, click here .  James Andrew is most often seen in Tom Ford era Gucci...we love this highly decorative group shot of super powerful NY decorators!  Check out today's post on NYSD (New York Social Diary) for more.

From Michael Taylor Interior Design

Above, the 1973 room, which was in San Francisco, created by our fave decorator of the past, Michael Taylor.  Pink and green...who (whom?) does that bring to mind?  hmmm.... LILLY PULITZER !!!

The late, great, Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau 

So, I guess we all just know- these colour palettes have an endless, wonderful, inspiring way of being seen in dual relationships.  Very intriguing!  Food for thought, no doubt.  Enjoy!  Cheers!  DF ***** 

When Miss Rose Inspired Oscar

The beautiful chinoiserie paper, "Jardinieres and Citrus Trees" by de Gournay of London, was used as end papers for one of my favorite new design books, Rose Cumming Design Inspiration.  Written by Jeffrey Simpson (Rizzoli) - it's a fabulous source for ideas and concepts as well as a most personal story of one iconic decorators life.

The fashion designer Oscar de la Renta (another favorite of mine) used to walk by Miss Roses' shop, and the following story amuses me greatly.  It's from the book, and is the most charming and inspiring tale!

But I must digress, and go back to another favorite of mine, the "Banana Leaves" fabric, which Dessin Fournir is now representing, and which Albert Hadley was using while at McMillen back in the 1950's.  The most interesting story of how this elegant and yet casual fabric was created is also revealed in Mr. Simpson's tome.  Below, my Teddie bear and my grandmothers quilt are resting on a Louis XV style chair, which I had covered in "Banana Leaves", by Rose Cumming.  (Miss Rose)

I think this layered look is fun, and it reminds me of say, Mrs. Henry "sister" Parish crossed with Gloria Vanderbilt... and my "Brandon Beige" by Benjamin Moore walls are the same shade of taupe as the leaves!  Anyway, back to Oscar (with apologies to Miles Redd).  Here is the recanted tale of when Oscar de la Renta was inspired by one of Miss Rose's pieces.  Long, long ago, in old New York.  

Oscar de la Renta remembers that he used to walk home from his work at Elizabeth Arden past Rose's store every night, and that one night he saw this fantastic secretary desk, made of mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell, with an inside of marquetry and bone.  He was at a dinner party at Babe Paley's house the following evening, and Babe told him that she had seen the same piece in the store, had fallen in love with it, and inquired as to the price, but it turned out to be too expensive for her.  Oscar then said to himself that if it was too expensive for Babe Paley, it would be too expensive for him, as he was very early in his career at this point.  Two weeks later, however, after seeing the desk every night, he told himself that he was in love with it, and that he had to have it.  He went into the store and spoke to Rose Cumming's sister and asked how much the desk was.  He was told it was $25,000.  He told her that was impossible for him to pay that, asked what her best price was, and if he could pay over time.  He bought the desk for $22,000 and paid it off over three years.  Every month he gave what he could from his paycheck, sometimes more, sometimes less.  He was never harassed no matter how little he gave that month.  The secretary is in Oscar de la Renta's house in the Dominican Republic to this day.

Wow!  I just love this story...

     
 Above, a close up of the iconic Rose Cumming fabric.  It comes in other colorways, and the bright green is very classic, as well as the metallic gold.  There is an original "document" image of this fabric in the Simpson book, in a tomato and chocolate version, very hand blocked- Rose's sister Dorothy hand printed it down in Jamaica originally.  Funny, the first time I bought some, back in 1976, I was with my mother, Dorothy!  (She still has it btw)  So, as you can see, if you don't yet have this terrific book, you might want to get a copy.  Enjoy! Cheers!  DF ***** 

Thanksgiving Fun!

Chez Ridgeway's Naples

Mary and I had a fabulous, indulgent, yet refreshing day- a very light prix fixe with some divine French Rose' - very dry and like nectar-

My first course, Ridgeway's

The salade mixte, was very good, and just the right touch of a lightly dressed palate refresher-

Coral at Saint Tropez Home, Naples

 I loved this huge coral - in the window of the home boutique called Saint Tropez Home- it was huge!

Brain coral keystone at St tropez Home, Naples

The exterior foundation had this beautiful chunk of coral key stone, something Addison Mizner and Maurice Fatio were very fond of using in old P.B.

Gunner playing with his head warmer

Later, we stopped by to see Kevin and Kira, and the new puppy, Gunner, who was just such a sweet pup, even though he ate my pumpkin pie crust! :)

A rare glimpse of my bedroom!

Ah, and so to bed! I found the lamps on the street in Port Royal- (discarded) and used a duvet cover and shams from Z Galerie.  Notice the Rose Cumming Dessin Fournir Banana Leaves in taupe on the chair, one of a pair in the room- Sleep well, hoping your thanksgiving was as delightful as mine was!
Cheers! DF *****

Orange Is For October

Hermes'

Dean in orange cashmere

Rose Cumming fabrics

I've always loved bright orange, as well as kelly green- remember those bright orange little BMW cars? The 2002 model- I owned one back in the 1970's (Dad bought it for me) - but mine was a ruby red colour.  I loved that car!  October is always my favorite month, and I look forward to sharing more design inspirations with you as the month progresses.  Enjoy!  Cheers!  DF *****

Decorative Richness, Rose Cumming

I finally received my fabulous copy of the new Jeffrey Simpson book called "Rose Cumming Design Inspiration" - (Rizzoli) !  What a delicious treat.  This is a great history and Roger Comeau of Dessin Fournir, has saved the company- Christopher Petkanas also did a fabulous piece on Rose in the NYT...

The drawing room

Colour Story

Another beautiful room by Rose Cumming

I felt a personal connection to the new book, since I knew Ron Grimaldi, and met Mrs Cecil, the sister of Miss Rose.  Too, Albert used to talk to me about knowing Rose, and of course, I was also exposed to her by another fab mentor, Tom Britt...and when I was a young man of about 17 or so, I very serendipitously discovered her ancient and mysterious shop, on Park Avenue, near 53rd Street- (since demolished). And- my friend Marcy, has a sister, Mary Jo, who married into the Cecil family- related to the Vanderbilts by marriage- as in BILTMORE...

Biltmore Estate, property of the Cecil family

I recall Ronald or someone telling me that Gloria Vanderbilt, (whom he helped to decorate her Sutton Place apartment) once paid about $16,000.00 for one pillow, and I adore shocking my clients and customers off the street with this little tidbit of decorating trivia!  I also was most interested to learn that my idol, Michael Taylor, placed a large order for "Carisbrook" and that is what launched the revival of Rose's fabrics after her death in the sixties, fostered by Ron Grimaldi and Eileen Cecil.


Tom Britt's drawing room




Carisbrook, by Rose Cumming, through Dessin Fournir

  The beautiful and exotic birds in Tom's upstairs salon, once hung in Miss Rose's "Ugly Room" a space she created to show how anything from nature was valid, and to express her unique point of view- there is a colour plate of this room in the famous book "The Finest Rooms" and I would urge you to reference the book, and the image I am describing, to get the full impact of how special the work Miss Rose did really was.  Enjoy the day, wherever you are! DF *****

A Rose Cumming Revival, Iconic Fabric Designs

Rose Cumming, The Finest Rooms, By America's Great Decorators

Judith Liegeios, JLD Designs, Naples and New York

Louis Bromante, An Aesthete's Lament on AD

Tom Britt (after he re-covered) NYSD

Family Room by Dean Farris, DFID

Summer Porch by Dean Farris, DFID

I feel as if I must have known Miss Rose in a previous life. The first time I ever paid a visit to New York, (1975) I just happened to wander onto lower Park Avenue, and discovered her mysterious and eccentric shop. It was closed, but I was able to stand outside and peer into it. I was mesmerized by it. There was a dusty chandelier, that looked a bit in need of repair, and there were bolts of fabric stuck everywhere! It was a romantic, fabulous place.

Years later I had a similar experience, when while visiting Los Angeles, I just stumbled across the last studio of Tony Duquette- also closed. I again stood at the gate, and peered in, marveling at the magical environment that had been created in the hills of Hollywood.

I recall meeting the elderly sister of Miss Rose Cumming, her name was Eileen Cecil, and she would sit in the showroom, where Ron and Marcy were working, and she was so elegant, and so very stately. She wore a huge black straw hat, with a dull black suit, and her eyes were a bit clouded with cataracts. She screamed Old New York! She never said a word. Perhaps a bit of dementia? Anyway, I first discovered the iconic Rose Cumming fabric, called Banana Leaves, back in 1975 or 6, when I was in Atlanta, and was shopping with my mother in the Ainsworth-Noah showroom. We used it in our family room, in the taupe colorway, for some large pillows, and Dottie still has them. I think it was Marcy who told me that the fabric was created by Miss Rose herself, when she was in Palm Beach, and spontaneously took a palm leaf, dipped it in some paint, and pressed it onto some plain cotton duck fabric! Genius!

Here I show some images from my portfolio, and also from other designer friends, such as Judith Liegeios, Tom Britt, and Louis Bromante. Mr. Bromante used the metallic gold colorway- which I also had used in my small flat in NYC for some nice pillows. Tom Britt had the gold all over everything in his bleached drawing room, when I worked for him one Summer, here he freshened up the room with a Brunschwig texture. But I love the way he referenced the old banana leaves fabric, and his love of Thailand with these large palm arrangements. Judith made some curtains for a guest room here in Naples. I also had the black and camel wallpaper version in my design studio bath in North Carolina. It was so striking.

Enjoy this post, and check out the new book coming out on Miss Rose and her amazing talents, as featured on the favored blogs listed below, in my designer blog section...ENJOY! DF *****

A Chair for Miss Rose

I found this interesting HICKORY CHAIR model today, from the James River Collection, called the Kit Chair...it exudes a kind of belle epoque vibe, which I adore. I would use this Rose Cumming chintz on it, called Charlotte...here is a picture from 1960 of Miss Rose's drawing room, which I love for its iconic glamour and old school decorative mystery. I think that this whole airport lounge look is a bit boring, and that we need to find the lost romance in beautiful rooms, created by talented and creative decorators, for discerning and cooperative clients! Please do remember, your designer (decorator) is NOT A PURCHASING AGENT! We are not here to beat internet pricing, and we are not to be abused by clients! A designer is a person who is 100% committed to his or her profession, and they should not be underestimated, nor taken lightly. As Ruby Ross Wood once said, "Don't forget, we make the beds" (paraphrase) and we do know where all the skeletons are hidden. Just a little note of advice from someone who knows. See the work of Zajac and Callahan for more exotic Belle Epoque influenced looks.

ENJOY! DF *****