I received the new Crate and Barrel catalog this weekend and began to flip through casually, seeing exactly what I'd expected: classic, simple furniture in outdoorsy neutrals.Then I got to page 142 and saw this room-scape.
Wow. What a shock.
The styling is nothing like that in the rest of the catalog. The black/white contrast, the antiqued Hollywood-ish mirrors, the swirl plate, the Brocade-esque chandelier, that giant vase??
To be honest, I'm not too fond of most of these pieces, especially not together. The chair isn't my taste at all, and it's sweet floral print feels out of place with these harded-edged pieces. The lamp reminds me of the 80s in a bad way and the glassware is just a little too boring.
But, I am ignoring all of that because I am madly, madly in love with that fabulous black cabinet.
The Francesca, as she is called, is a modern, black transformation of the traditionally ornate French bombe. The hard edge of the black finish has been smoothed by the romantic lines and the deep, almost waxy finish. The interiors of the drawers are lined with a subtle English wallpaper, which is the sort of detail that is too often neglected by big-box stores.All and all, I hope to see more pieces like the Francesca appearing this year. Any thoughts on the rest of CB's page 142?
Francesca Cabinet, $999.
2 comments:
Sarah, you might want to examine the legacy of Dorothy Draper, famous designer of the 50's and 60s. There was a recent exhibition on her in Museum of the city of NY.
Black/white contrasting pieces made in exaggerated French Classic styles for various grand hotels were her staple.
We just had an exhibit on her life here in Dallas, but I missed it. Thanks for the tip.
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