Friday, September 23, 2011

Joe Nye - Pretty Chinoiserie


Los Angeles based interior designer Joe Nye is a great personal favorite of mine and the designer whose style I think is closest to my own. His own home shown first below he describes as late 1970s English decorating in 2011, heavily layered with pretty clutter. Elegant and sophisticated, his look is a great mix of modern with antiques, as in a bold piece of modern art against English wallpaper. A collector, he believes that what makes a room great is the last 10% - the accessories. You will see in his portfolio his great love of Chinoiserie. His book Flair is an absolute must for the lover of Chinoiserie.

Q  - How do you use Chinoiserie?


A - TO BREAK UP THE RHYTHM OF A ROOM.  A CHINOISERIE PIECE, WITH ALL OF ITS FANCIFUL DESIGNS, CAN BECOME A FOCAL POINT.  I USED A WILLIAM AND MARY RED SECRETARY WITH CHINOISERIE DECORATION IN A DRESSY LIVING ROOM AND IT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE WHEN YOU ENTER THE ROOM.

Q - Why do you like to use Chinoiserie?

A - IT IS GORGEOUS!!  IT IS A TIMELESS DECORATING MOTIF THAT HAS ENDURED YEARS OF DESIGN IN FURNITURE, FABRICS, SCENIC WALLPAPERS.  IT IS STILL AS POPULAR TODAY AS IT WAS YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

Q - What does Chinoiserie add to a room? 

A - AS SAID BEFORE, LACQUERED OR JAPANNED FURNITURE CAN BREAK UP A SEA OF BROWN FURNITURE AND AN OTHERWISE STODGY ENVIRONMENT.

Q - What are your favorite Chinoiserie pieces? 

A - COFFEE TABLES, SECRETARIES, CHESTS OF DRAWERS.  I ESPECIALLY LIKE SMALLER ACCESSORIES.........BOXES, LAMPS, BIBELOTS, TO GIVE CHARACTER TO A ROOM AND THEY ACT LIKE JEWELRY.



































3 comments:

  1. Beth,

    This is an an excellent interview with Joe! I adore his design works, his sense of color and use of Chinoiserie
    of course!!

    The images are all fabulous!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  2. Wow. What gorgeous spaces. He is really quite brilliant. Thanks for putting this up!
    xGracie

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  3. I agree. More is more. (I think that's Tony Duquette, but it's the same feeling...)

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