World of Interiors (December 2007) has spotlighted one of my favourite books, Colour and Interior Decoration by Basil Ionides published in 1926 by Country Life. I think part of my love of this book was due to its obscurity. Say poof to obscurity! I first discovered it about seven years ago because of an odd little book called The New Mauve, by Simon Grennan and Val Williams. Among the highlighted designers of yesteryear, such as Constance Spry and Syrie Maugham, were these bizarre color recipes for rooms. What made them bizarre was not their combinations (which are in fact quite fabulous) but their preciseness. Everything was detailed, even down to the type of art one would need to finish the room. These recipes were credited to Derek Patmore's Colour Schemes for the Modern Home, published by Studio, New York 1933. In my search for the Patmore book I came across the earlier work by Ionides which was delightful from start to finish. Content with my find, needless to say, I ceased my search for what I can only presume was a take on the original.
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Sunday, 11 November 2007
Paint by numbers
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8 comments:
I have a few of Patmore's books, so I will obviously need to get Ionides' book.
And didn't Miss Pearl Bailey write a cookbook?
PoC - Are they good? If you think they are worth having I shall seek them out - which will be so much easier with the aid of a computer.
I think three - I have Pearl's Kitchen. Yes, we collect cookbooks, too. Crazy!
ok, I;m going to look for both. The picture you scanned looks wonderful!!!
Hi Cd'T - still getting the hang of the scanner (I think it may be the work of Satan) Ha!
I am currently reading Patmore's "Decorator's Notebook"- one of his later ones. It's interesting, and actually has good info/ideas. Slightly dry though.
PoC - I'm going to start looking for them now.
What a fascinating account of your find. Do you think this "preciseness" will ever prevail again??
Hello PG, Alas no. How can it, when most men don't even know to walk on the outside of the pavement or stand when introduced ?
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