Inspired by Design Icons Of the Early 20TH Century

When I walked into my new home I coluld see the era of Hollywood Regency and the design icons of the early 20th century who started the profession of interior decorators, before it became the science of interior design. Based on the classical styles of Regency, Empire, Fedralism and Neoclassicism, they lightened up the heaviness of the Victorian era with its heay carving and clutterd interiors and lightened up spaces and used lighter lines. I used aspects of all their styles in my new home, and when I come I feel I have stepped back in time when beauty was appreciated for just that. It was a time when it function did not rule. Elsie de Wolfe inspired the use of all antique and vintage furniture, and the trellis design in the living room drapes, and the colour palette of Dorthy Draper were a few of the inspirations that I used. The living room was painted a matte black, and was set off with a bold fuschia, and the lighter citrus colours of lime and lemon set off the dramatic walls. In the bedroom I used another design icon Coco Chanel as my inspiration. Her signature use of the colours pink black and white combined with the different mix of classic patterns make this room soft and sophisticated at the same time.

The drapes and antique settee were custom made using Designer's Guild fabric. The candlabera is from France circa 1920's . The vintage ottoman and table have both been hand painted.

A beautifully carved Victorian ladies chair was given a whole new look with a contemporary Designers Guild cut velvet with the texture of snake skin.

A great find of a vintage display cabinet was hand painted in a citrus colour on the outside with the finishing pocking up the bamboo carved detail. The interior was painted pink and black and the shelves were used to display inherited crystal and Minton china.

Design is in the details. Displays on the mantle have vintage lighting fixtures and set of teacups I inherited. The use of mirrors and the accents of gold, both speak to the era, and I love the sparkle of crystal and glass.

Detail of antique settee reupholstered. The cushion is reversible to a solid lush pink velvet

The colour combination of Flirt colours pink, lime lemon set of against black is one of my favorite colour combinations.

Close up of custom cushions and reupholstered antique berger chair and settee.

The attached dining room done in a SW colour called Exuberant pink is the perfect foil to black and white. The Vintage Table was hand painted, and the custom draped and cushions used Designers Guild Fabric. The chandalier was made by Mont Cristeax in Montreal. She uses vintage chandalier's and hand dyes the crystals.

The gingerbread trim at the window was 40's retro and gave the house the fell of the era.

I love the combination of citrus green and black. To me green is the true neutral, and this shade of green is the one of the new growth of spring.

Custom made products from Jane Hall the Voice of Style. It was fun shopping at my own store

View of Jane Hall The Voice of Style, featuring colour combination of turquoise, black, lime and magenta.

Turquoise and Black is another personal favorite colour combination.The desk is a 1950's black lacquer that was made by a Canadian manufacturer and designer, and came from the estate of a well known Canadian artist.The painting is a Jane Hall original and the custom lampshade and drapes were made using Designers Guild Fabric.

Detail of carved antique Queen Anne chair, and 1950's desk. Mixing periods is something that Billy Haines a fab designer from 1930's made famous. Now its called eclectic.

Coco Chanel, changed fashion forever in the 1920's by inventing sportswear. The classic little black dress was often shown with blush pink and strands of pearls. Her accessory line still sought after today, featured black and white patterns and set off with the use of gold.

Custom made settee from a vintage find and lampshade uses Designers Guild Fabric. My original painting is of interior that you would have seen back in this period. I was painting interiors before I was designing them.