Parish-Hadley Tree of Life: An Intimate History of The Legendary Design Firm

The firm of Parish-Hadley Associates was the premier interior design company in America for more than three decades. In Parish-Hadley Tree of Life by Brian J. McCarthy and Bunny Williams, thirty premier interior designers tell of their own personal and intimate experiences of working in this illustrious firm with Sister Parish and Albert Hadley. 

This eminent design firm was commissioned by some of the most prestigious families in America;  the Getty's, Rockefeller's, Astor's, Kennedy's and more. To this day the designers who began with Parish-Hadley Associates work for some of the most esteemed families and corporations in the world!

You will see the aesthetics of interior designers ranging from Brian McCarthy and Bunny Williams to James Andrew, David Easton to Thom Felicia, Mariette Himes Gomez to Thomas Jayne, David Kleinberg to Libby Cameron, John J Tackett, and more! (and I do admire and love all 30 of them!)

Bunny Williams interior, photo credit: Fritz von der Schulenberg 

Bunny Williams recounts in the introduction, "Parish Hadley was the rarity of a combination of two people who were very different in their direction but both passionate about beautiful houses. They came at it from different ways. But it was the combination that made it magic."

Brian Murphy interior, photo credit: Sergio Villatoro

Thomas Hamel interior, photo credit: Matt Lowden

Brian McCarthy interior, photo credit: Francesco Lagnese

Brian McCarthy writes in the introduction:
"Curiosity. It all goes back to curiosity. If we really think back to Parish-Hadley, and all of us who came out of there, the common thread is that we were curious. And that was absolutely fostered by the two of them.

There was also this view to the artistry of design and decorating, and the process of developing  the ideas and the samples. If I think about the level of detail that I go to today, where did it all begin? It began at Parish-Hadley."

Kevin Sharkey interior, photo credit: Paul Costello

James Andrew interior, photo credit:  Mathew Dean

Interior Designer and Author Bunny Williams, photo credit: John Bessler

Interior Designer and Author Brian J. McCarthy
Photo Credit: ©PatrickMcMullan.com

Thank you to Abrams Books for the Publicity copy of Parish-Hadley Tree of Life: An Inmate History of the Legendary Design Firm. I encourage my readers to add this very special book to your library. It can be purchased at Amazon.com or at your local bookseller.

Published by Stewart, Tabori, and Chang, October 13, 2015

Also please don't miss my post on Brian McCarthy's fabulous book, Luminous Interiors! You will love seeing more of his design works!

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xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena

Matthew Mead's Backyard Style

Matthew Mead's Backyard Style
Hundreds of fresh ideas for Outdoor Spaces

Matthew Mead is a stylist, writer, author, photographer, lifestyle editor, and noted style expert. As the former style editor of Country Home magazine and co-editor in chief of Flea Market Style magazine, (2010), Matthew is also the official food photographer for the Associated Press and is a regular contributor to Better Homes and Gardens and Victoria magazine. He has also written several books and produced countless magazine spreads and ad campaigns for noted companies such as Pottery Barn, Dove Chocolate, Target, and Stonewall Kitchen.   

In style guru Matthew Mead's latest book, Matthew Mead, Backyard Entertaining, he shows us how to entertain for summer with ease and style. Matthew includes delicious recipes,  suggests many stylish and inspiring uses for everyday objects in gorgeous tablescapes and outdoor entertaining venues. 

He includes a chapter featuring Interior Designer  Bunny Williams and the inviting outdoor pool room at her Connecticut home as well as another section with her ideas on floral arrangement.

To view  Matthew's portfolio, visit him at his website, Matthew Mead Style.com and also visit his blog, Holiday with Matthew Mead

Matthew Mead

Copy courtesy of Mathew Mead.
You may purchase "Mathew Mead's Backyard Style" at Amazon.com 

Thank you to my friends and followers who support The Arts

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena

Your comments mean the world to me!

One Man's Folly, The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood

 One Man's Folly

The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood

Text by Julia Reed, Foreword by Bunny Williams, Photographed by Paul Costello and Rodney Collins

Rizzoli New York

Ever the Southern Gentleman, Furlow Gatewood is a man of whimsical wit, extreme intelligence, a discerning eye for beauty in the unique, and a love for creativity. He is indeed at the very top of my list of people  that I would be honored to meet during my lifetime.

The images and text presented throughout One Man's Folly  had me mesmerized, gazing with a drawn out sigh at each and every page turned;   It nearly brought me to tears. Dear reader, the lump in my throat did not leave until I completed this mesmerizing book. When you read One Man's Folly you will truly understand.

  Bunny Williams describes Furlow Gatewood as one of the most talented and influential members of America's design community, always keeping a low profile, that is until now. Mr Gatewood has been a dear friend and Partner of John Roselli and Bunny's for well over four decades.

This man's story is a lengthy and intriguing one that begins on his family property in Americus Georgia. The Barn, originally a Carriage House  is the first of his many Follies. The elements we see continue on in  additional projects, starting with Gothic, yet light and airy details.

The Peacock House , living room above. You will recognize certain signatures even though one home may have  been built around a wall of antique shutters found and saved from years gone by; another built to highlight fan windows and archways. His trusted artisans have worked their magic with stunning marbleized floors, beveled lengths of wood  forming walls and trim as delightful as you will ever find.

The Dining Room in The Cuthbert House which made the 65 mile journey to Furlow's land in Americus. Marbleized floors,custom shutters for soaring windows, many details sketched  out briefly, gone over with a deep understanding of the outcome and voila, several months (not years and Years) later it is completed.

The Lumpkin House.  When Furlow was told about a delightful; albeit uninhabited property in nearby Stewart County, he had to take his builder Jimmy on a countryside drive. I think I really brought it for the front door and surrounding gingerbread trim, says Gatewood.

Rare Botanical Prints once used to teach schoolchildren adorn the simple whitewashed plank walls which Gatewood prefers. Original doors and hardware.

The extensive gardens, (which Gatewood prefers to call his yard) house  several other structures including The Chicken House which is now actually a hospital for his many peacocks, The Chapel, and then you find unique plantings and architectural structures and sculptures at every turn.

There is no piece of furniture too precious for his many devoted dogs to lounge about on. His love for animals is a huge part of Furlow's peaceful soul. Gazing at his  art, furnishings and collections...I could write an entire article on these gems collected throughout the years, starting with a most charming story about his very 1st antique purchase from his Aunt Mary.... Furlow believes in always purchasing what you love.

If you are to choose a book to be truly treasured, please make it be One Man's Folly, for this book about an ageless man's love of all things meaningful will touch your heart as no other. 

Thank you to my many friends and followers who support the arts

xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena 

Thank you to Rizzoli New York for the press copy and the use of these glorious images. Reader may click images to enlarge.

Luminous Interiors by Brian J. McCarthy

Recently named to Architectural Digest's esteemed  list of Architects and Interior Designers, the 2014 AD100, Brian McCarthy has published a new book on his work, Luminous Interiors.  Destined to be a classic for years to come, there are 200 color photographs of sumptuously finished rooms accompanied by his very personal and descriptive text.

McCarthy joined the venerable Parish Hadley design firm in 1983, where he worked alongside Bunny Williams, who wrote a most admiring forward to this luxe book. Since starting his own firm in 1991, business has grown exponentially as has his elite client list.

Atelier Mériguet-Carrère plaster panels carved with nature scenes surround this luxurious dining room. 

Wrapping his interiors in an envelope of equisite finishes, this designer works with artisans around the world sometimes having entire suites of rooms crafted at Feau and Sie in Paris. He uses materials such as  gilt, silver leaf, lacquer, Venetian plaster, and bold architectural elements to transform spaces into his clients vision. 

Three elements, reflectivity, texture, and silhouette are hallmarks of McCarthy's interior designs, adding interest across a rooms "skyline".

A pair of bronze crocodile sculptures by artist Claude Lalanne in the Manhattan apartment McCarthy shares with his partner. Art and sculpture fill every corner  of his home down to the Alberto Pinto dinnerware and water glasses by Deborah Ehrlich. Many of  McCarthy's  clients have world renowned collections of art and as a collector himself,  he believes that works of art are what give  an interior design its "zing".

An antique suzani from Madeline Weinrib graces this 19th-century iron four poster bed made in France.

This home on the south shore of eastern Long Island has dining room murals based on Monet's Water Lilies. The porthole mirror is surrounded by sconces of amethyst and beaded glass.

Luminous Interiors

By Brian J. McCarthy

 Stewart, Tabori & Chang, New York 2013

Photography: Francesco Lagnese, Max Kim-Bee, Fritz von der Schulenburg

This is  a book I will pick up many times and one that is a must for your library. 

Copy and images courtesy of Abrams and Sarah Birmingham of Little Bird Publicity

Thank you to my friends and followers who support the arts!

xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena

2013 Authors Series featuring "Love Where You Live" by Joan Osofsky

Love Where You Live by Joan Osofsky and Abby Adams

 Introducing author and entrepreneur extraordinaire Joan Osofsky. Many of you may know her from her three very successful locations of her lifestyle shops, Hammertown Farm, in The Hudson River Valley and New England.

Please Click on any Image to enlarge for details.

"Mediterranean Pizzaz in a Rural Vermont Setting"

Joan,

Thank you for participating in The 2013 Authors Series featuring your new book, “Love Where You Live”.

1)      Would you go back and tell our readers about the beginning of your design and artistic leanings?

I think the beginning of my interest in design began with a friendship in college.  My friend Vicki’s Mom was an amazing woman…a knitter, a couture sewer, an avid antique person, and an inspiration, on so many levels.  The beautiful brick Georgian home in Maine furnished with antiques and the family gatherings in around the fireplace and the love that you felt being there …I will just never forget it.  It made a special impression.  Now Vicki, still my best friend from college, lives in her family homes and I visit and spend time there at least 2 to 3 times a year.

Part of Joan's Collection of Antique Toleware Trays

A found Cast Iron Urn atop a stone wall which transitions the Lawn to the Meadow to Views of distant hills

2) The three Hammertown Barn Stores in the Hudson Valley and New England are renowned and loved by so many loyal customers. How did this spur you on to write your book with Abby Adams?

Because of the response over the years that I felt from people walking in the store.  They loved everything, it made them feel comfortable and they felt the love and soul I and my staff put into all the stores.

A Library Card File, now a cupboard holds beautiful green shades of American Art Pottery

3)      This wonderful book features 18 different homes, including your spacious farmhouse and your current smaller and more intimate cottage. Where did you discover these unique properties?  

Many were customers, others were people friends knew and others came by word of mouth.  We scouted each of the homes and our criteria were the following:  Do we love the home?  Does the owner love where they live?  Can we photograph just the way it is…we are not bringing things in to the homes to style.  This book is about real living, real homes, real people.

Original golden paint on this gorgeous Hutch. The Chairs and Table from Hammertown

4)      Why do you feel the owners all sought out homes with a lot of incredible land and beautiful vistas?

It is often a criteria for people when they look for country homes…the vistas, the views the feeling of living in the country.

5)      Joan, I found the backgrounds of the owners so interesting. Architects and Interior Designers, Artists and Museum Curator, Dress Designer and Restaurateur, the Founder of Coach Leatherworks. In what way do you feel that these careers led to the uniqueness and authenticity of these homes and properties? 

They lead creative lives and their creativity pours into their homes.  

This eclectic mix works so well. Train your eye to seek out treasures that meld together beautifully. The contemporary art sets the tone! I love the pillows, Beethoven, Chopin, and Mozart.

6)      Have you had mentors or others you have admired in this area of business? How has this impacted your career?

One mentor was Anne Tarbell, who I mentioned above.  Other mentors and people in the design world I have admired are:  Mary Randolph Carter, Mary Emmerling, Bunny Williams, Thomas Woodard, John Derian, Ralph Lauren, Jasper John, Andrew Wyeth, Marston House…I could go on.  People with amazing style and taste who have an authentic spirit and style …that’s what inspires me.

Dining Table and Chairs designed and built by the Owner! The panoramic view speaks for itself!

7)      Finally, what words of wisdom do you have for the person who has a dream and the hope to implement it?

Do your homework and be passionate.  I was very fortunate in that everything was in line for me…my timing was good, the internet was not here, so I did not have that to compete with, and I started small and learned as I went along…I paid attention to detail and gave my heart and soul to this business.  It has paid off, because although not a huge, we have multiple stores that set a standard of good design, spirit and authenticity that people connect with.  The best compliment I can ever get from a customer…”I just feel good walking into your stores.  They are special!”

  

The View and the Home meld together with floor to ceiling windows!
Nature speaks with wood, stone and other natural elements.

Joan, I appreciate you taking the time to add to the aura of your life and book. You are a fascinating and inspiring woman.

Pre-Order "Love Where You Live" 

Be sure to check out the Hammertown Site

"From the moment I walked into Joan's Shop, Hammertown Barn, I became a fan."                                                                                                      Bunny Williams

This a book where every amazing room will  thrill you with the love and thoughtfulness it exudes.

Please leave a message for Joan and of course be sure to pre-order her book!

Thank you for supporting The Arts!

xoxo

Karena

Art by Karena

I received an advance copy of "Love Where you Live" from Rizzoli, New York
Photographs by John Gruen