Insights • Inspirations • Destinations • Design

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Armani, Gardens & A Verdant New Trend


If you're averse to green – and many people are – then look away now. I have become seriously obsessed with this fresh, sophisticated colour, and it seems I'm not the only one. {Image via Vogue Italia 2008}


Mr Armani used it for most of his recent 2012 couture collection, sending models out looking like fairies in a Cotswold garden. (Albeit very tall ones. With funny hats.)


Mr Oscar de la Renta is also fond of it (love the emerald frock with the cute turquoise heels above) – and no wonder, when his Connecticut weekender is a haven of greenery.

Mr Jeffrey Bilhuber also loves it for its therapeutic qualities. I shot his Oyster Bay / Long Island mansion two years and just photographing his kitchen garden made my heart lighter. Interestingly, Mr Bilhuber believes that green is dazzling to the complexion. "Green brings out the pink in you," he says. I believe him.


Green has integrity. Strength. Life. It speaks of new beginnings (think spring), fresh starts, growth, and hope. It elevates the spirits and brightens the heart. All of which is just what we need in this economic climate. No wonder we're all looking to it for decorating inspiration. {Images above and immediately below from a recent issue of Veranda magazine. Loved this cover. Loved it.}


I just adore it because it reminds me of gardens. Seeing it is like looking out a window to a view of spring. Nothing makes me happier.



"I love Farrow & Ball's Cooking Apple Green. I've just used it in the great room of a New England barn and the walls just pull all the green out of the landscape". Christopher Ridolfi

"Green works just as well in Palm Beach with hot pinks as in New York with black and white." DD Allen.

"I first saw [a luminous green] in the dining room of Charlotte Moss's shop, Townhouse. Trust Charlotte to know!" John Yunis 

"I just did green in a parlour in Charleston with a lot of white woodwork. Dogs love it!" Mario Buatta

"There's a cafe in Paris near the Place des Voges that has an unusual green on the walls, a kind of old-world colour that makes you feel calm. Think of a mossy garden after the rain. It would be a beautiful colour with black and white toile – or stripes." Stephen Shubel



Chair by Thibault Design


A recent advertisement from Travers.


The glorious cover of Charlotte Moss' bestselling book.


Litchfield style.


Princess Sophia of France, via Fallon Elizabeth. (A great little site.)


A modern kitchen with a traditional edge, via House Beautiful. Love the gingham ceiling.


Our Jack Russell X, Coco, at Como Park yesterday. She adores green too.



Washington Mews, New York, photographed on our recent trip. (This street is full of the prettiest houses.)


A vintage tulle gown in a SoHo, New York, store, shot on our recent trip. I loved the colour of this against the worn floorboards.


Vogue, June 1959.


The view from our sitting room. (The 'I Haven' sign is Danish for 'Out in the garden'. It's a vintage sign I picked up while visiting family in Denmark. It was only 10 kroner. I just love it.)


A corner of our new library. The Louis Vuitton poster was one of my few purchases from New York.


Another corner of our new library. More on this in the next few posts. 

27 comments:

  1. You've just solved my dilema with The Cottage. Didn't know what to do with its white kitchen/black-white check floor.

    Green it is.

    It's window into the garden will soon be a door.

    This is getting quite exciting.

    Garden & Be Well, XO T

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    1. Oh Tara, I'm so pleased this post inspired you, as you always inspire me! Do post photo of your new kitchen when it's done; would love to see. x

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  2. The photo of Coco made me smile!
    Your new home looks like it is taking shape.

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    1. Yes, the little rascal always makes me smile too Claire. And she LOVES Como Park. She can be let off the lead there, and she just goes WILD with all the little boy dogs - flirts and carries on with them. Such a hussy! But we love her.

      New home is slow, but I can't relax until it's in some sort of 'shape'. (Using the word loosely there, as I'm SO not a designer)

      Lovely to hear from you, as always. Apologies for my terrible correspondence; a lot of family troubles here.

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  3. Janelle.. stunning green library walls.. I'm green with envy! ps.. did you enter that comp on Pininterest #greenwithenvy & #life in style? - great post - rgds from Brisbane and Moi

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    1. Have been following your beautiful blog. Would love to do one of your tours one day.

      And no, I didn't see the comp? But I wouldn't be any good. I'm a rubbish decorator! "Pin and pray" is my decorating motto...

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  4. Goodness you're industrious! What an amazing looking room and you've only just moved in!! I'm hanging my head in shame as I survey my partially decorated Study....and we've been in our house for a year and a half now. I just love the green - beautiful x ps, when are you coming to Adelaide?

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    1. Hi beautiful Heidi,

      We hope to get to glorious Adelaide in next 2 months. We need to look after my partner's mother, and give his sister a little rest. Would stilll love to catch up with you, if you have time?

      Will email when we know more. Will be lovely to meet at long last.
      x

      PS Thanks for your lovely comments. So touched by them.

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    2. PS Heide, I can imagine with your taste, your house would look beautiful.

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  5. Oh Janelle. What a stunning post. I adore green in all its hues so this was a real treat. Loving what you've done at home already. Can't wait for more photos! J x

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    1. So lovely to hear from you Jane. Have been popping by your fab blog but keep forgetting to comment. We're a little preoccupied with 'issues' here. Hope they clear soon!

      Thanks for taking the time to write. I know how busy you are. You're always so generous with your time.
      x

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  6. What a pretty chair in your library, in the second last photo. As for that gorgeous tulle skirt, made with soft tulle not that horrible scratchy stuff, the most gorgeous colour.

    I agree you are whizz in the decorating stakes, its great to see all your pictures vertical after seeing them on your posts.

    Is that Linda E in that stunning cover shot ? my dream is a room with a mural.

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    1. Oh, that's kind of you to say. Do you know that wingchair was SO cheap. It's at Provincial Living. I wanted a gorgeous leaf-print one at Charlotte Coote's store (daughter of the famous John Coote), but it was $3500 (!) We just can't afford that kind of money - not for an armchair. And I loved the 'colonial' look of this one.

      Thank you for your lovely compliment, but really, I'm an amateur decorator. It's the 'Cluttered School of Decorating', as you can see! My mother was appalled. (She started re-arranging everything.)

      It's so thoughtful of you to take the time to write, and so very appreciated. And yes, it's Linda E in that Italian Vogue. Unusual cover, isn't it? Lots of people panned it, but I quite like it.

      So sorry for not replying to your lovely comment, but I did go looking for the latest Vogue after your last remark. Not inspiring, is it? Perhaps things will change under new editor?

      x

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  7. Hi Janelle, I love your green library, stunning. Your doggy Coco is adorable, I have two short hair Jack Russells, they are 2.5 years old, I had to fly up to Sydney to bring them home, at the time we couldnt find any here in Melbourne. I know, very unusual.x

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    1. Oh it's lovely meeting other Jack Russell lovers! Your dogs sound beautiful. How unusual that you could only find them in Sydney? Perhaps they're bred better up there? Ours is a cross, but definitely more JR than anything else.

      It's so funny; she seems to attract more comments than our cute little Cavalier when we're out walking. I think it's the personality. I'm sure yours are just as fun to be around.

      Thanks for your lovely comment about our library. x

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  8. Congratulations Janelle! Your library is beautiful - I specially love the particular green you've chosen for the walls. Does it have a name? The room looks so fresh, like a super stylish oasis. It all works together so perfectly. I'm guessing the country-lover is now feeling better about the move to the city! Also, it would be interesting to see a before picture to compare. Will also be interested to see what you've done with your book collection and how the spine colours work with your basic scheme. I guess that's to come? Best wishes, Pamela

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  9. So lovely to hear from you Pamela. I've been meaning to email you - and will do so when dust around here settles. I've loved reading your posts from The Grand Tour! Such a wonderful trip!

    The green on the walls is a Porter's Paints. I bought it at five minutes to five last Friday night. I asked for something that looked like "the Palais Royal in spring". They happily obliged. Such professionals. It's called the 'Slap Dash Method of Decorating'!

    Will post more photos soon, but very afraid of boring everything. Don't want readers falling onto their keyboards with their eyes glazed over.

    x

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  10. We all long to see more and will NOT fall onto our keyboards with eyes glazed over but will sit up bright eyed and bushy tailed looking for more gorgeous pics.

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    1. That's very kind Bumble, but I have a long way to go before I reach the elegance of your beautiful home!

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  11. I love green it's the colorful neutral. Thanks for all these fabulous images!
    xo
    Sharon

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    1. Hi Sharon, Yes it does seem to have become 'The New Neutral', although I see grey is making a comeback too?

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  12. Wait with anticipation of more new house photos! Absolutely love the new library!

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    1. Thanks Sophie. Do hope it's not disappointing! It's something of a throw-together-in-2-weeks job!

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  13. Thank you so much for visiting my Australian Dream Post, I made sure to get your name and link for your absolutely breathtaking picture. I hope one day we could have lunch together when I get there. I am a bit of a dreamer, but since I made all my dreams come true so far, here and now, I need some new ones for the my future adventures. I think my friend Millie has mentioned you once or a hundred times. Going to add you to the blog roll right now so I can keep up with your adventures. Thanks again, Heidi

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    1. Hi Heide, Would be delighted to have lunch with you! We'd love to see you here in Australia! Thanks for crediting my photo on your blog. I'm very grateful.

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  14. Hi Janelle
    Love all your posts, and really love the green you have chosen for your library.
    Ant chance on divulging your paint colour?

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  15. Hi Janelle. The colour is called 'Blade'. It's by Porter's Paints in Australia. It's a beautiful green - very Parisian, although it has hints of a spring garden too. Will write more about it in next few posts.

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Thank you for stopping by. It's always lovely hearing from The Library's readers.

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