Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Three More from the list of 100 Women Who has Influenced Me

This time the designers who inspired me when I was a decorator and has stay with me now I'm attempting a career as an author.

Edith Wharton is a personal hero of mine and not only because she is a decorator and writer but because she was brilliant at both. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for here novel The Age of Innocence and was the first woman to be awarded the prize. Her The Decoration of Houses, a manual of interior design was written with architect Ogden Codman and is until today a must read for all decorators. Read more about Edith here.


In 1902 she built The Mount, her estate in Lenox, Massachusetts, which survives today as an example of her design principles.

***


Nancy Lancaster, a native of Virginia who moved to England in 1926, She was instrumental in creating what is popularly known as the English-country look. This school of interior decoration is characterized by sun-bleached chintz, vibrant wall colors, a casual mix of furniture from various historical periods and an atmosphere of disheveled coziness. John Fowler, Mrs. Lancaster's partner in the London design firm of Colefax & Fowler, called it "pleasing decay."


Nancy Lancaster, Lady Tree said this of decorating a house 'It is usually a mistake to impose an individual's taste on a room that has its own....style. Conversely, to put very fine pieces of furniture in a room that is without architectural distinction is as absurd as wearing a tiara with a bathing suit.' She is worth knowing more about and you are able to learn some here or in Martin Wood's book Nancy Lancaster: English Country House Style.

***

Elsie de Wolfe, Lady Mendl, American interior designer, hostess, and actress. Ella Anderson de Wolfe was born in New York City on Dec. 20, 1865, and was educated in Edinburgh. She began her social career in New York and acted in amateur theatricals for fund-raising. As a professional actress from 1890 to 1905, she specialized in supporting roles.

De Wolfe took up a career in interior design at the suggestion of her friends Elisabeth Marbury and Sara Cooper Hewitt. Her first commission was the Stanford White-designed Colony Club in New York. De Wolfe’s foremost design principles were simplicity, airiness (utilizing mirrors and light hues of paint and fabric), and visual rather than stylistic unity. She helped change the fashion of interior design. She wrote the book ’The House in Good Taste’ (1913) and was a noted hostess. De Wolfe spent much of her life in France, remaining there during World War I to nurse soldiers, for which service she received the Croix de Guerre. In 1926 she married Sir Charles Mendl. She died in Versailles, France, on July 12, 1950. Read more about the brilliant Lady Mendl here at Architectural Digest Architects & Designers Design Legends.
January is near its end, how fares your New Years resolutions?
My love, my care,
Simone

24 comments:

  1. I didn't know Edith Wharton wrote about interior design. Interesting women.
    I love it that I can always learn sth new reading your blog! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very interesting, and what a lovely pic in the snow :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I count Edith Wharton as one of my own too, Nancy Lancaster as well. Elsie -who could not resist that person. It strikes me that regardless of their wealth or and position All did it their way in the days when it was less than likely. Enjoying reading your picks.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, I didn't know that about these three people. I knew Edith wrote Age of Innocence but that's about it. I will have to do more research. Does the house she designed still exist?

    ann

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mm, yes, rumor has it that Stanford White did take time away from "The Girl On A Swing", Evelyn Nesbit, in order to design a building or four. Including, of course, MSG, with its scandalous naked Goddess on the top.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi!thanks for leaving a comment on my blog. It is a pleasure to get some comments from someone who can write really well....

    Keep on blogging!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is a great idea for a blog series. I especially love the images you choose for your articles--I suppose this shows your years as a designer. Thanks, Jill

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love strong women, but the world doesn't until they are six feet under! I always wondered why such talented women do not get celebrated for their accomplishments while it could still put a smile on their faces. Sorry if I sound cynical, but besides designers and writers there are also a lot of female artists who never received the acknowledgment that was due to them.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love strong women! From a superficial standpoint, I also love those first two pictures. Period dress is just amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You were a decorator? Why am I not surprised? You craft the written word beautifully, so you have to do everything else beautifully. I'll bet you do jewelry or art, too!!!! Or you should!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Interesting info, Simone :) Fun to read!

    ReplyDelete
  12. You should come and decorate Mordan House for me, Simone. I'm sure you could do something to rid it of its demons.

    And who posts better images on the internet than you! And with a such a refreshing and informative angle! No-one, I hazard.

    Steph x

    ReplyDelete
  13. This post is up my alley, I made my living as a designer until a few years ago. Three remarkable women, I am a huge Edith Wharton fan.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I gave you an award on my blog: http://emmamichaels.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-first-award.html

    ReplyDelete
  15. Pleasing decay you say? How creative a phrase! I always thought that style just developed naturally... now I learn it was a special woman who ushered it into popularity. Fascinating!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Three lovely ladies to know more about. I can see how they could inspire and influence. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am so glad you picked Edith Wharton. The end of Age of Innocence is the best, most thoughtful, disappointing, yet satisfying ending to a novel of all time.

    ReplyDelete
  18. My thanks to each of you for stopping by to see the ladies. I'll be sure to call on each of you by week's end.

    Ann Elle, I'm happy to say it is still standing.

    Emma, My every thanks for the honour. I'll be sure to post about it very soon.

    All my love,
    Simone

    ReplyDelete
  19. Very interesting and expanded my knowledge. Now I definitely have to give Age of Innocence another try.

    ReplyDelete
  20. the second pic is so pretty!

    have a wonderful weekend :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Good choice! Interesting as always.
    As for my resolution, I am still hanging in there!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hello dear friend!-)*

    What a wonderful Blog do you have!
    This post is really intresting,i love to read those tipe information and storys very mach!-)

    Thankyou for the visit on my blog,

    Have a relax,beautiful weekend,

    Greetings from my heart,

    ***Violetta***

    ReplyDelete
  23. So, Nancy Lancaster was partly responsible for creating the English country look that I love?

    ReplyDelete