The Skirted Roundtable - Fabrics we love, and tech stuff too

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjj5MpH3Wv0hYvmrSKXnVrewR1JW_FbFAdU_ioJNZhl1QOaZROmLHWJ4tZIZRhAAyySkCf1aX-GHeuvyMTUIbPuyavH42Z0NKfbUztSrNOyzaUKHFED0cUiQax8DeN3Xd51Y9wM04of1u/s1600-h/roundtable1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362592901313438338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjj5MpH3Wv0hYvmrSKXnVrewR1JW_FbFAdU_ioJNZhl1QOaZROmLHWJ4tZIZRhAAyySkCf1aX-GHeuvyMTUIbPuyavH42Z0NKfbUztSrNOyzaUKHFED0cUiQax8DeN3Xd51Y9wM04of1u/s400/roundtable1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 130px;" /></a><a href="http://www.skirtedroundtable.blogspot.com"> The Skirted Roundtable</a> is in a beachy mood this week. Joni is at the beach on vacay, but her MiFi keeps her connected, Megan just has to roll out her door to be at the beach and I seem to manage to avoid the whole beach thing, even though the big ol' Atlantic is lapping at the edge of my town. But I still have the beachy slows, none the less. So, we recorded on Monday, I didn't do my editing magic till Thursday and we're all a bit slow promoting it. Oh well - it's summer, have a G&T and relax!<br /><br />Anyway, this week we talked about fabrics we love and also about technical aspects of getting our wit and wisdom and photos up into our own little slices of the World Wide Web.<br /><br />I mentioned a piece of fabric that I'd purchased in Paris a few years ago. This is it - a marriage of silk, organdy and hemp woven through. I thought I'd be able to use it somewhere for a client, but haven't managed to just yet. And blue is so not my color, so I can't use it. I believe there are 7 yards at double width (108"). Or possibly 7 meters - that metric conversion thing kills moi. It would make a killer treatment for a pair of French doors. Soft and floaty. I think it would make a fantastic duvet cover as well. Anyway, it's for sale if anyone is interested. I'd be happy to send a cutting. Just let me know. I just looked it up and I paid a little north of $300 for the piece. Quel dommage.<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2421/3756123597_b5e84b28ca.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2421/3756123597_b5e84b28ca.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 555px; height: 416px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/3756123945_21e1ef942e.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/3756123945_21e1ef942e.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 558px; height: 418px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3492/3756924324_7d673bfd56.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3492/3756924324_7d673bfd56.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 555px; height: 416px;" /></a>Anyway - head on over to <a href="http://www.skirtedroundtable.blogspot.com">The Skirted Roundtable</a> to hear more abour out favorite fabrics!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a></p>

The Skirted Roundtable - Fabrics we love, and tech stuff too

The Skirted Roundtable is in a beachy mood this week. Joni is at the beach on vacay, but her MiFi keeps her connected, Megan just has to ...

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Edith Wharton slept here, and wrote here, and bathed here...

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7GAvTPSGBXdMB-VBRi-yUqY_5Ybbn5_uhid8Q6KttkrU8Xi0R4anupVxpLeuRI0gLvy1EgUnteSYEnBIyILFJ5yRXtHosxNXadjSXRSRKICrsROgLSEy1hTJ924_ScS8JI0m6dIrewqX/s1600-h/TheMountlmm.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361870153403144578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7GAvTPSGBXdMB-VBRi-yUqY_5Ybbn5_uhid8Q6KttkrU8Xi0R4anupVxpLeuRI0gLvy1EgUnteSYEnBIyILFJ5yRXtHosxNXadjSXRSRKICrsROgLSEy1hTJ924_ScS8JI0m6dIrewqX/s400/TheMountlmm.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 192px;" /></a><br />Over the last few weeks I've been indulging in a pretty detailed series of posts on Edith Wharton's Berkshires home The Mount out in Lenox, MA. I've never spent so much time and thought on one property - ever. It's been a fascinating journey for me and I hope for you too!<br /><br />We're ending up today with EW's most personal spaces - her boudoir, bedroom and bathroom. According to the tour information, her bedroom suite (on the second floor on the right, when facing the house from the rear) were the most significant rooms in this house filled with significance. Several of her books were written here and the design and decor epitomized her closely held precepts of interior design. Although her boudoir had a desk, she primarily did her writing in bed in the morning. The suite was the most private group of rooms in the house and servants could come and go from the various rooms without bothering her, regardless of which room she was occupying.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqGS_Xe4mkd-Gw7lHRbfLHoUd6n1qIPu5BvnTwxWeRMk8CLaLqlR6bGXvpNPEr7C_AcBipLP9h5lPWFy8bwfae4w2BXmqBXyr0xy7uUUakot4v9kN6w2CtXNmkGXsAUNWyVuLcDUOGwQQ/s1600-h/DSCN0700_3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361872083220559378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqGS_Xe4mkd-Gw7lHRbfLHoUd6n1qIPu5BvnTwxWeRMk8CLaLqlR6bGXvpNPEr7C_AcBipLP9h5lPWFy8bwfae4w2BXmqBXyr0xy7uUUakot4v9kN6w2CtXNmkGXsAUNWyVuLcDUOGwQQ/s400/DSCN0700_3.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" /></a><br />Here is a doctored floor plan - sorry it's a bit of a mess, but it's my recollection of the layout of the second floor, written over the Main Floor plan.<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3719122726_1e3d28a9d3.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3719122726_1e3d28a9d3.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 396px;" /></a><br /><br />EW's Boudoir is an ornate jewel box of a room. The Boudoir is the room where she would have visited with close personal friends and handled the household business. Accordingly, the decorative detailing was quite high. Gorgeous, no? Ogden Codman, Jr. designed this space which included eight floral still-life paintings brought over from Milan. The original furnishings included a desk, a sofa, and a daybed, with toile curtains and upholstery. The original paint color has been restored and the room will eventually be re-decorated as it was in EW's time.<br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/3750535595_978418d7fc.jpg?v=1248404984" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/3750535595_978418d7fc.jpg?v=1248404984" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 538px; height: 403px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3455/3751326808_a213299678.jpg?v=1248404850" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3455/3751326808_a213299678.jpg?v=1248404850" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 425px; height: 566px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3751327440_76663de7fd.jpg?v=1248404748" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3751327440_76663de7fd.jpg?v=1248404748" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" /></a><br />The cover of my edition of DoH, which was the first book assigned to us when I entered design school.<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2570/3719123824_32a3306672.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2570/3719123824_32a3306672.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 410px; height: 500px;" /></a>EW's bathroom features wallpaper reproduced (by Scalamadré) from the original found <span style="font-style: italic;">in situ</span>. Interestingly, EW was actually against the use of wallpaper as she felt it was unsanity and obscured architectural detail. And yet - wallpaper was used in both the bathroom and her bedroom. However, in keeping with her design theory, these two spaces - being private and not public - were very simply fitted.<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2565/3751324874_362252faf3.jpg?v=1248405361" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2565/3751324874_362252faf3.jpg?v=1248405361" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 500px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3482/3751325114_d8992f1700.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3482/3751325114_d8992f1700.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 500px;" /></a><br />Imagine, EW sitting in bed, in her bedclothes (aka jammies) with a lap desk and pen in hand - writing. I'm telling you, if she were here today, she'd be a blogger. Now, all I need is a secretary to pick up my pages as they float to the floor, and type them up for me! The bedroom wallpaper, which has also been reproduced from remnants found on site, is a soft felted paper. Note the complete difference in level of detailing between this room and her boudoir.<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2541/3750535097_4b8f108aaf.jpg?v=1248405137" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2541/3750535097_4b8f108aaf.jpg?v=1248405137" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" /></a><br />And the lovely lady herself. This is a photo I took of her photograph so much of the detail is lost. This dress and the jewels are every bit as stunning as the home itself. <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/3750533815_9b04c3bd4f.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/3750533815_9b04c3bd4f.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 500px;" /></a>I hope you've enjoyed my visit to The Mount over these last few weeks. You can see <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/search/label/edith%20wharton">all my posts here</a>.<br /><br /><object height="450" width="600"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fchameleon-interiors%2Fsets%2F72157621677637501%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fchameleon-interiors%2Fsets%2F72157621677637501%2F&set_id=72157621677637501&jump_to="></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fchameleon-interiors%2Fsets%2F72157621677637501%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fchameleon-interiors%2Fsets%2F72157621677637501%2F&set_id=72157621677637501&jump_to=" width="600" height="450"></embed></object><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chameleon-interiors/sets/72157621677637501/show/">Click here to view a large scale slideshow of all my photos taken at The Mount.</a></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />A big thanks to the Edith Wharton folks for <a href="http://helpsavethemount.blogspot.com/2009/07/edith-wharton-extravaganza.html">giving me a shoutout</a> on their blog this week! I'm flattered by your kind words!<br /><br />And finally, this special place is a true American treasure of both the decorative and literary arts. It's so important that the amazing restoration work being undertaken by the wonderful folks at EdithWharton.org continue. A year ago they were on the precipice of foreclosure. While the year was good to them, the difficult work of fund raising is never ending. Please consider <a href="http://www.edithwharton.org/">making a donation</a> in support. Thank you!<br /><br />Today I am Hooked On Edith Wharton - join me at <a href="http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/07/23/hooked-on-outdoor-dining/?id=1825%0D%0A">Julia from Hooked On Houses Friday Hooked on Party</a>. What are you Hooked On?<br /></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a></p>

Edith Wharton slept here, and wrote here, and bathed here...

Over the last few weeks I've been indulging in a pretty detailed series of posts on Edith Wharton's Berkshires home The Mount out in...

Read more »

Upstairs Downstairs at The Mount

Continuing on with my <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/search/label/edith%20wharton">Edith Wharton extravaganza</a>, we will visit some of the servant spaces of this amazing home. The service functions of the home were primarily located in the south wing of the house.<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3718309947_01516e879d.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3718309947_01516e879d.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px; height: 614px;" /></a><br />The ground floor of the house contained the kitchen, scullery, servant's dining room and the laundry room. The image below shows the rear of the house. These working rooms were basically on the lowest level behind the stone foundation. There are, in fact, lots of windows and natural light. The Bookstore is now housed where the original laundry room was, at the end of the building. I didn't take any photos on this floor as the rooms have not been updated or restored (aside from the Bookstore) yet.<br /><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2469/3699238564_15680d368f.jpg?v=1246999999" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2469/3699238564_15680d368f.jpg?v=1246999999" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 240px;" /></a>The Main Floor includes a Buter's Pantry, brush room for cleaning shoes and outerwear and offices for household management. Appropriately, the Butler's Pantry is adjacent to the Dining Room and would have contained the china, silver and linens and been the staging area for serving meals. I assume there must have been a dumbwaiter to bring up the food from the kitchen, but I didn't see it. The two photo's below are how the Pantry looks at this time. The marble counters and center island are, in fact, quite contemporary looking. I didn't know much about this room, until...<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3741670302_928b62c04b.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3741670302_928b62c04b.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 529px; height: 396px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3506/3741672130_20586b4f7a.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3506/3741672130_20586b4f7a.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 464px; height: 618px;" /></a>Is saw this postcard in the bookstore and realized that the Butler's Pantry had been fully stocked and staged at some point. This decorating was done by Susanna Stratton-Norris and Sheila Chefetz.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3505/3741672280_741139df86.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3505/3741672280_741139df86.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 442px; height: 660px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo credit: Pieter Estersohn, Edith Wharton Restoration at the Mount</span><br /><br /></div>On the bedroom floor was a sewing room, a closet for EW's dresses, a linen closet and her maid's bedroom. The image below is the Linen Closet, which included storage as we see here and linen presses on the other side.<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2555/3741672818_8263884474.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2555/3741672818_8263884474.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 500px;" /></a><br />According to the Tour Guide, EW was a caring and considerate mistress of the house to all her household staff. She'd grown up with servants and had seen all to often how they were often mistreated. I believe the guide said that her head butler (or some similar position) actually gave one of the eulogies at her funeral. <br /><br />I'll be finishing up my Edith Wharton posts later this week with EW's Boudoir and Bedroom. EW really did write here!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edithwharton.org/">The Edith Wharton Organization</a>, which manages The Mount, was facing foreclosure just a year ago. A bank restructuring and much needed donations has kept the doors open, but money is still needed to continue operations and much needed improvements. Please consider<a href="http://www.edithwharton.org/"> making a donation</a><a href="http://www.edithwharton.org/"> </a>to this treasure of American Arts and Architecture.<br /><a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/search/label/edith%20wharton"><br />Click here</a> to read all my Edith Wharton posts.<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a></p>

Upstairs Downstairs at The Mount

Continuing on with my Edith Wharton extravaganza , we will visit some of the servant spaces of this amazing home. The service functions of t...

Read more »