I am consistently obsessed with the history of things, particularly when it comes to design.
Which is exactly why I wanted to share this style anecdote.
A while back, I visited the very down-to-earth CEO of design powerhouse Dessin Fournir, Chuck Comeau.
He walked me through the various offices and workspaces for the Dessin Fournir brand (I met the welders at Palmer Hargrave Lighting, pored over drawings for new furniture in the Kerry Joyce line, shopped around at the retail store C.S. Post, etc.).
But my favorite stop was Classic Cloth.
In the warehouse, they had mile after mile of beautiful fabric bolts stacked all the way to the ceiling. Talk about heaven!
Then Chuck introduced me to the fabric designers who create all that gorgeous yardage day in and day out.
One of their newest styles was inspired by a pillowcase from the Petit Trianon on the grounds of Versailles.
Chuck bought a remnant at Christie's of the original (a rustic, flax colored linen embroidered with yellow silk thread in a delicate floral).

As I stood there looking at it, the idea that Marie Antoinette (love her or hate her) might have slept on it was completely surreal.
I only got to see one finished colorway of the pillowcase-inspired collection since the designers were still in production for the other colorways at the time. I believe it was a dark-chocolate linen. Very pretty.
The other day, though, I came across a photograph of the now complete "Marie Antoinette" collection (pictured below), and I love the hues they chose. The tone-on-tone neutrals (soft pink, pale cocoa powder, silvery gray) are perfectly subtle, but the intricate embroidery makes it fancy—like the Dauphine herself.
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And, I want the gray! What a beautiful way to spend time at home. I love this blog!
i love your blog- and i love this post, the Classic Cloth line is wonderful. you're lucky to see such a beauty- I will be tracking this one down. The best color of course is the original. PGT
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Any company that got its start during the Great Depression and continues to thrive in spite of our current economic conundrum must be doing something right.
For example, Moore & Giles, a family-run operation based in Lynchburg, Virginia, that supplies some of the most beautiful leathers in the world to the home furnishings industry.
I have always loved leather upholstery (I still have my heart set on a pair of Belgian wing back chairs covered in shiny black leather—with whitewashed wood feet and antique brass nail heads).
But before I knew this company's work, I had no idea how soft leather could be or that it could be dyed the exact color of, say, lapiz lazuli?
But it can! And then some! The range of color and texture in the collection is simply staggering.
And recently, they began crafting some of their leathers into accessories like travel bags and belts. I seem to have fallen for one bag in particular (pictured below):

It's called the Berkeley Doctor Bag, and get this: To achieve the hazy, subtle metallic texture, they tan the leather, laser cut the surface, and brush it with a finish that looks at once gold, silver, and copper.
Two words: brilliant technique.
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As promised, I am infusing Belle Decor with more bits of design from the New York International Gift Show.
Here's a company that always stops me dead in my tracks: the Sandor Collection.
They make everything from table runners to Christmas stockings but handmade, felt applique pillows are what they do best.
We've all seen the happy, technicolor pillows of a similar ilk from Hable Construction (if you haven't, you must go to hableconstruction.com), but this entire collection is a foil to that all-American look.
Based on vintage Hungarian embroidery patterns, the Sandor pillows feel old-world and delicate, but not at all stodgy or stiff (my favorite pattern, Madeira, follows below).

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I am really picky about jewelry. A piece isn't beautiful to me unless there is a compelling story behind it.
Otherwise, it's just more useless, meaningless stuff.
Right now, I currently have a crush on two types of charms that both have a great narrative: fobs and intaglios.
Fobs (pictured below) became popular in Victorian England when pocket watches were all the rage. Often made of pinched gold, they acted as weights to keep the chain tangle-free and usually featured the family seal of the watch owner on the bottom (which came in handy back then, since that dapper generation still sealed letters with wax).

Courtesy of limogebox.com
I love the idea of wearing a fob as a necklace for two reasons. First, the idea of wearing a seal is great. It's like a little mini work of art right there on the bottom of the charm. So cool. Second, wearing a fob as a necklace is a great way to feminize an otherwise masculine accessory. I like the allure of that contrast. You know, like when a woman wears a menswear-inspired trench coat? Um, exactly.
Okay, so now onto intaglios. An intaglio is the opposite of a cameo. It's carved INTO a stone, while a cameo is more of a raised carving. Intaglio also refers to a form of printing (on paper or on wax), a process that's been around since ancient Rome. Back then, intaglios were thought to bring good luck. They often featured pastoral or military scenes and were also worn as jewelry. In Victorian England, intaglios often displayed silhouettes. The bracelet below is a modern reproduction that includes both intaglios and cameos. All you need with it is a white T-shirt and jeans. Done.

Courtesy of extasia.com
Some intaglios are too pretty to wear and work better as art (below, courtesy of 1stdibs.com)


Imagine about ten of those framed over a little settee in an entryway. Amazing!!
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To see another jewelry story, with the essense of lowcountry elegance, read the following article: http://photobydominika.com/?p=412
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Being an editor certainly has its perks. First among them? Meeting amazingly interesting people, like designers Chris and Kirk Bray of Billykirk leathergoods (below, an image of the Bray brothers along with an image of my favorite bag in their line).
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And interesting people like Chris and Kirk often know fascinating people in their own right, like Betty Gilpin, a calligraphy artist in Nashville, Tennessee.


Betty, who recently turned 81, is one of the best calligraphers in the country. Chris (who sent the images for this post along to me) found her through word of mouth and loved her work so much that he asked her to pen the script for his company. Simple, with a slight flourish, her words look like something inked a century ago. And because I am a total sucker for anything that looks nostalgic, I love the idea of using calligraphy instead of a synthetic font for everything from calling cards to company logos. It's just a lovely idea. Images of her work for Billykirk follow below:
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Here's to reviving this lost art more often!
P.S. I have not forgotten my promise to post more bits of design inspiration from the New York International Gift Show. I have some fun things in the works. Stay tuned...
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my mother does calligraphy, she does wedding invitations as well, i remember growing up watching her do it, she taught me.
in Virginia
I'm thrilled to see calligraphy getting some attention. Just a few hours ago I saw beautiful script on a save-the-date card and its beauty struck me as it never had before. Now I'm inspired to learn and look up Ms. Betty Gilpin, as she lives two hours from me. Thanks for noticing fine little things.
Thanks again Haskell for posting this about Betty. Next up is to have her make some monograms for some nice white linen stationary.
Best,
CTB
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Any time I come across a company that makes its product in small batches, by hand, whether it be furniture or fashion, I am always inspired.
A few weeks ago, I was at a horse race in Virginia and one of my fellow revelers had on the most amazing belt. It looked like vintage Hermés or Ralph Lauren, but less precious, more gritty and rustic. Like a belt meant to be worn.
After a few Bloody Marys, he finally revealed his source: Wiley Brot
hers in Charlottesville, Virginia.
My favorite style, the Classic 4-loop, follows below, but the company offers a range of designs, including gorgeous woven and braided models, too.
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The founders, Marcus and Peter, have been making their leather goods since 1999 and already have an impressive list of clients: Bergdorf Goodman, Beretta, J.L. Powell, Sid Mashburn, and J. Press.
If belts aren't your thing, stay tuned for the company's possible foray into dog collars, accessories for the sportsman, and even a children's line.
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I'm in Clifton VA and travel to my hometown of Lynchburg VA all the time traveling through Charlottesville en route. Any word on whether these guys did any dog collars or sportsman accessories?
Were you at Foxfield? I'm jealous!
Louisville has its share of amazing leather goods too.
That belt is FAB....adding it to my birthday wish list
Thanks for the amazing resource. I will definitely pick up one -- even if I have to trek down to Charlottesville. Keep inspiring me!
Haskell,
I've got that belt and it's one of my favorites. I never thought about it before now but it would look great on my wife- Good Call
I’m buying that belt for my sister for her birthday (the one who has EVERYTHING). She'll covet it. It’s AMAZING.
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I love pattern. The bigger the better. The bolder the better. The more color saturation the better. BUT, I like it in small doses and in unexpected places. Sort of like the way a bespoke designer might line a beautiful jacket with a silk print…it's a really luxe, unexpected surprise. An old trick, yes, but one that always works.
In my Birmingham cottage, I papered an odd hallway that needed a little love (see below).

This particular print (an antique map of Italy in chalky greens, pinks, grays, blacks, and blues) was also incredibly affordable. It's actually wrapping paper!
All you have to do is tear the paper in strips, dip them in a mixture of Elmer's glue and water (it should have enough glue in it to stay thick), and apply them directly to the wall and ceilings.
One thing to keep in mind: this particular wrapping paper was relatively thick, so it stood up to the glue and water mixture without losing its texture. If you try it at home, be sure to pick one that feels sturdy and experiment with a small patch before you tackle a whole wall.
This idea is also really fun for closets, small bathrooms, and the backs of bookshelves or dining cabinets.
Happy pasting!
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Haskell,
You can use clear wallpaper paste also. dry mix that you can mix as thick as you like or thin. I have papered entire rooms with it using like gas station paper towels or brown butcher paper. It can be wrinkled and even painted to give an over done texture. I have a room papered and painted at our salon in Montgomery, oliviaasalon.com Stop by and check it out. We are on Taylor Road down from Eastchase. Rick
Good Morning Haskell:
I recently found your wonderful article about your home in Birmingham. It is great to read the explanation of the wallpaper I could see above the door going into a bathroom. I am actually writing to see if you can give me the dimensions of your wonderful display piece above your off white sofa in the living room. My husband is a custom cabinet maker and said he love to make one of these for our home. If you don't mind, could you forward the length, heighth, depth and spacing of the shelves. It is a wonderful way to display photographs and treasures without a lot of holes in the wall. It looks like it might be made of pine - what thickness is the material. Do you know who made yours? Thank you so much for helping me with this information. I will spend some time going over your other blog messages ASAP.
Hope to hear from you soon. Kay Alexander 919 219-1177
Genius idea... As an antique map collector myself I think this is a particularly genius idea for the WC or nook & cranny in my new home! I once saw a similiar idea in Marie Clarie Idee where they decopaged a loo with sheets of vintage music paper and recently in a Michelin starred restaraunt in Holland (Tante Koosje in Loenen) saw a bathroom decopaged with botanical prints torn from an antique book. Of all the ideas... this map idea is my favorite! Caspari has a nice Paris map that would be simply parfait!
By the way, I found your site via Style Court. Wonderful discovery... I'll be back!
Best,
The Antiques Diva
Awesome idea!!! I will definitely have to try this out!
Fabulous! I bet that took a lot of Elmer's glue! I can only imagine the excitement of whoever bought that house in Birmingham!
Haskell - I must have been here just before you posted this - it's fabulous!
I like the fact that you've torn the maps. Making seams fit together would make it feel like work.
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