An Artist Visits the White House Past

On view… a new exhibit that examines the lost world of the 19th century White House. The White House Historical Association commissioned fourteen paintings, and Peter Waddell is the artist.

In his paintings, Waddell delivers stories about the domestic scenes of a presidential life at the White House in the nineteenth century. His renderings and portrayal of historic interiors and exteriors are amazing where no detail was spared. According to the exhibit brochure: Rather than attempting to capture great events, Waddell decided to take odd moments in the presidential life at the White House.

The exhibit also offers a family activity guide, which engages children visiting the exhibit to discover the colors, the fashion, the pets, and the stories in the paintings.

Click on the link and judge for yourself.

 Enjoy listening to the artist.

Photography by Amal for Picture of Elegance Blog

Interiors of Tomorrow

Recently, I was reading about design legend Eleanor Brown, the founder of McMillen Inc., the famed New York design firm that was established in 1924 and is still in business today. Brown achieved recognition by designing the most prestigious homes in the country.

I was fascinated to learn that during the Depression, Eleanor Brown, upon the suggestion of fellow McMillen Grace Fakes, decided to create a series of miniature rooms. The models presented fully developed rooms for people to view and reflected the refinement of the McMillen design.

Upon completion, the rooms were first exhibited in 1932 at the McMillen firm headquarters, a townhouse. That mini presentation certainly left a big impact. The exhibit captured the attention of thousands of people who viewed the miniature rooms before going on tour to many North American cities. The tour was titled Interiors of Tomorrow.

Eleanor Brown viewing the miniature rooms at the opening of the exhibit

 Painted glass by the muralist Jan Juta (you can see him in the first photo on the right)

McMillen’s progressive thinking was apparent by:

- Choosing to display models, a step to translate ideas into real materials, colors, and finishes. Brown and Fakes understood that people usually get a better sense of a project with three-dimensional models as compared to two-dimensional drawings.

- Moving around the country, displaying the work like a museum’s traveling exhibition, and promoting their designs and business in a relaxed informal manner. A traveling show house, so to speak…

- Keeping its valued employees who worked hard to create the miniature rooms- none of the staff was laid off throughout the Depression.

- Donating revenue generated by the exhibit to charities.

I wonder- are these rooms still on display at McMillen’s?

Sixty Years of Interior Design by Erica Brown
Photos 4,5 photography by Emelie Danielson

The Linear Look

 

I came across this photo of fashion designer Monique Lhuillier’s dining room. When entering the room, you’ll see a confident, contemporary look with an emphasis on smooth linear lines. There are several different heights of objects, one thing leading to another- from side chairs to the dining table, then to console table and art, and lastly the moulding. All contribute to a continuous flow of the eye.

Some of the hallmarks of classic contemporary design are shown through the incorporation of geometric shapes, mirrors, Lucite (see the dining table’s legs), recessed lighting, and an overall emphasis on one color in different shades and textures.
Here are some more photos of her peaceful house. Enjoy!

Photos courtesy of Elle Decor, designer Jennie Abbott, photography by Roger Davies