A Classic: C.Z. Guest: American Style Icon by Susanna Salk

In her book C.Z. Guest, American Style Icon, Susanna Salk delivers an intimate portrayal of one of America's most legendary style tastemakers. I find this is a perfect book to pick up for summertime reading. CZ was a woman who loved the outdoors and her favorite pastimes of riding, gardening, and  playing tennis. Entertaining seemed to come naturally to her and she was always the supreme hostess. Guest was a woman with the gift to make everyone comfortable around her,  in part because she was completely at ease with herself. She always exuded confidence and self assurance, and though a Boston socialite, she loved wearing her gardening togs just as much as a couture ballgown. 

At Templeton, Old Westbury, New York, C.Z. rode nearly very day of her life, a dream she had from early childhood.

C.Z was a syndicated garden columnist for 351 newspapers, author of 3 books on the subject and even created C.Z.'s Bug Spray. Ahead of her time in marketing, more than 1200 pairs of her Goatskin Gardening Gloves sold on QVC!

On their wedding night, C.Z. with her new husband Winston at the home of Earnest and Mary Hemingway in Havana. Hemingway was best man. C.Z and Winston had two children together, Cornelia and Alexander.

C. Z at age 36 styled in Mainbocher , one of her favorite fashion designers. Jewels by Tiffany

Salvador Dali's infamous portrait of C.Z with a framed note from the artist hang over a fireplace at Templeton.

Cosmetics Entrepreneur Estee Lauder and Guest attending a wedding at St. Vincent Ferrer Church in New York City, 1989. 

C.Z.'s Charles II gold vermeil dressing table collection, including many family photographs and of course fresh flowers from her garden!

In the grand salon at Templeton, there are two large portrait paintings by John Singer Sargent, this is of Amy Phipps Guest, Winston's Guest's mother. Guest often gave formal dinner parties for many friends, including Yves Saint Laurent, Rudolf Nureyev, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (her children's godparents), Nancy Reagan, Truman Capote and other social stalwarts.

C.Z.'s daughter Cornelia in her Manhattan office with a portrait of her Father, Winston Guest. (a three time world Champion Polo Player) Cornelia and her brother have since sold the family home in the Spring of 2014.

Guest died in November of 2003 at the age of 83 after valiantly fighting cancer for some time.

Including hundreds of photographs and contributions from many of Guest's nearest and dearest friends, you will love having this book as part of your library! Susanna has painted us a very personal portrait of  this iconic woman.

C. Z Guest, American Style Icon is published by Rizzoli New York and may be purchased at Amazon. 

Visit Susanna's website at http://www.susannasalk.com 

Thank you to Susanna for the signed copy of her book and to Rizzoli New York for the images included.

Thank you to my friends and followers who support The Arts!

Please do  leave a comment, they make my day!

xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena


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Decorate Fearlessly by Susanna Salk

Decorate Fearlessly: Using Whimsy, Confidence, and a Dash of Surprise to Create Deeply Personal Spaces

By Susanna Salk

Published by Rizzoli New York

After opening the cover of Decorate Fearlessly, every page I turned was like opening a precious jewel box. Filled with rooms from many designers we know so well and also many whose work I was unaware of until now,  I was  amazed at the scope of this project!

A stunning work of art, "Seven Horses" by Jean de Merry is the soul of this former ballroom in a Beaux Arts mansion in Pacific Heights. Jeffrey De Sousa envelopes us in deep indigo and splashes of orange to complement the rich floors.

Eric Cohler's Manhattan living room is immersed in a glowing light which lands on Jonathan Adler's Tree of Life sculpture and many other contemporary works of art. His collection of period furnishings become even more notable, and we see that walls of windows do not deter from displaying fine art and furniture.  

In Marian McEvoy's own home in Hudson Valley, she not only did the decor, she personally created the lampshades, curtains and trims. She keeps the room light with a white painted beams, a lacquer mirror and andirons

A huge tropical mural turns this green, coral and gold bedroom into a tropical retreat year round. Designers Kate McIntyre and Brad Huntzinger work this magical illusion without overpowering the room, by adding several delicate touches.

An illusion of utopia exists in this pool house in The Hamptons by the esteemed Alessandra Branca. She  treats us  to a fresh mix of blue and white paisley wall covering with a mix of  japanned bookshelves , directoire chairs and seashells abound, anchoring it all with a natural sisal rug.

About the author: Susanna is one of those Renaissance women who can accomplish anything she sets her mind to. She helped launch Elle Decor Magazine as the Interior Design Manager,  later becoming Special Projects Manager at House and Garden. 

She is now the author of seven spectacular books, as well as a regular contributor to 1st Dibs, writing features on some of the world's most renowned tastemakers. 

This past year or so I have come to know Susanna even more through the lifestyle videos she presents with  Stacey Holston Bewkes through Stacey's blog site Quintessence. (One of my favorites is Designers and their Dogs) Find the links to Susanna's accomplishments, videos, etc at her site Susanna Salk. 

Please purchase Decorate Fearlessly as it is an incredible addition to your design library. You will enjoy it tremendously!

Photo credits from top: Cover: John Gould Bessler, Cesar Rubio, Yale Wagner, Mathew Williams, Don Freeman for New York Cottages and Gardens, Oly,Thibault Jeanson. Image of Susanna Salk by John Gruen.

Thank you to Rizzoli New York  for providing the press copy of Decorate Fearlessly 

To my friends and followers who support the arts my gratitude is endless!

xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena