A Very Pheasant Affair

Last November, Carter and Company was honored with the prestigious Bulfinch Award presented at the Massachusetts State House for excellence in Classical Interior Design.  This award is presented yearly by the New England Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art and is given to architects, artists and designers for work embracing the principals of and passion for classical design.

Here I am with the staff of Carter & Company having received the Bullfinch Award.

Classical design has been at the heart of my work since boyhood when I would sketch for hours the façade of Monticello or other great Southern plantations with their strong Greek and Roman influences.   Even today, when left solely to my own devices, as opposed to the desires and wishes of a client, my aesthetic instinctively pulls me in the classical direction.

I am convinced that I must have had several past lives surrounded by the splendors of the ancient world!

In that vein, I was extremely pleased and delighted to suddenly find myself swimming in a sea of neo-classicism at the Spring Furniture Market in High Point.  I was with colleagues Jim Swan and Lynn Dayton and we were viewing the new collections at Baker (which is always the highlight of the trip I must confess).   And next thing I knew we were having a lively chat with the legendary interior designer Thomas Pheasant, who was there to showcase his anniversary collection of furniture for Baker (10 years hardly seems possible) all heavily inspired by classical design.   

We were especially impressed by a series of monumental photographs which were displayed as art for the collection.  What we were seeing, we learned from Thomas, were in fact photos taken by Thomas Pheasant himself.  

These large scale images featured unusual perspectives on architectural details. Their cool black and whiteness and bold scale seemed a perfect foil for the elegant furniture but also stood well on their own.   They beautifully reflected his life-long love of classical architecture.   And it’s this reverence for all things architectural that comes through in the furniture collections. The graceful line, nuanced curve and the attention to the smallest details make the furniture, like his work for private clients, a joy to behold. 

Keeping it in the Family

I came across a book in my library this morning that featured the work of Parish-Hadley. The sudden reality that our industry has now lost both these design legends gave me pause. That sense of loss continued as I looked across the length of that particular shelf and realized that so many of the legendary designers I grew up admiring and learning from – Billy Baldwin, David Hicks, Nancy Lancaster --have passed from this world.  One of those giants is of course Mark Hampton.  I just treasure my copy of his 1989 Mark Hampton on Decorating which features his own watercolors of rooms he decorated during his illustrious career. And I carry with me, as if looking at it today, the wonderful memory being in Mr. Hampton’s NYC apartment in the 1990’s with his small foyer done in faux limestone blocks.  And since imitation is the highest form of flattery,  for my next house (which I’m planning right now!), I plan to use as inspiration his famous chocolate brown living room with its crisp white details, lush upholstery and elegant antiques.

Mr. Hampton's inspiring Living Room.

 It’s a fine and fitting addition to the landscape of American interior design, that Mark Hampton’s legacy is continued today by his stylish, beautiful and intelligent daughter Alexa. It has been my delight, on a number of occasions, to meet Alexa and observe how she has continued to expand on the work established by her father while giving it her own personalized stamp.

Me with the ever fabulous Alexa Hampton at High Point earlier this year.

Her collections for Hickory Chair, Kravet Fabric, Stark Carpet and Visual Comfort have injected into the marketplace that classic styling we’ve come to expect from the Hampton name.  And her latest foray into publishing has added a new volume to my library (and I suggest the same for you) with the completely modern, yet respectfully Hampton-esque  “Alexa Hampton; The Language of Interior Design” (Crown Publishing Group). 

Her spirit of fun combined with an extensive knowledge of design and architecture makes every interaction a delight.

A Modern Living Room by Alexa Hampton; as timeless and comfortable as those of her father.

As timeless a bedroom as one might want, thanks to Ms. Hampton.

As I prepare with my business partner Lynn Dayton to open Carter Dayton HOME this fall in Wellesley, I look forward to inviting the uber-friendly, always charming and often naughty Alexa Hampton to venture up to Boston for the unveiling.  Featuring some of Alexa Hampton’s own product designs, Carter Dayton HOME is slated to be Boston’s premier luxury home furnishings store.  Watch for news on the store and all the exciting lines we’ll be carrying along with an amazing roster today’s design legends who will certainly add to all the excitement.

In the meantime pick up a copy of Alexa’s new book (http://is.gd/TVqBH5) and make your world a bit more beautiful.