Showing posts sorted by relevance for query brick house fabrics. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query brick house fabrics. Sort by date Show all posts

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Little Luxuries - Brick House Fabrics

Gorgeous designer fabric can be so costly. There are some Clarence House fabrics that I love that cost over $1000. a yard. Unless you are part of the one percent, or have clients that are the one percent, most of us will never get to use these beautiful fabrics.

A little bit of luxury fabric on a stool is something everyone can do when you get it discounted from Brick House Fabrics


Gorgeous Clarence House Velvet in a tiger print is over $1000. a yard

That is why I am so excited to share a source with you. It's a small company in Maine called Brick House Fabrics that sells small yardages of all kinds of luxury and designer fabrics. While we may not be able to afford to make drapes, or upholster a piece of furniture, we can afford to get just enough fabric to make a toss pillow or two, or maybe cover a chair seat, or do some other crafty project.

A small touch of a designer fabric you might find at Brick House Fabrics could cover a little chair seat

I'm showing you just a few things they have. I bought a large piece of vintage Clarence House fabric that Billy Baldwin designed. I'm going to have a couple of toss pillows made from it.

A piece of this fabric would make a wonderful toss pillow

This Clarence House fabric is dynamic and you can buy a small amount of it at a great price at Brick House Fabrics

From the Brick House web site:

"Most of our fabrics are first quality, new on the bolt, from the manufacturer. But, we also go on buying trips several times a year where we are able to pick up some unique out of print fabrics as well as some vintage fabrics.
We carry Braemore Fabric, Covington Fabric, Duralee Fabric, P.Kaufmann Fabric, Ralph Lauren Fabric, Robert Allen Fabric, and others. We look for Kravet Fabrics, Laura Ashley Fabrics, Greeff Fabrics, Schumacher Fabrics and others.
Our specialty is novelty home decorating fabrics. We are constantly expanding our lines, and adding new items. We import many fabrics directly from the mills in Europe. While our main emphasis is printed fabrics, we also have an interest in lace curtain fabric yardage, both full width and cafe lace, which we also import directly
We appreciate how difficult it is to buy fabric on the net. While we make every effort to make descriptions as accurate as possible, and pictures as true to life as we can, colors differ on monitors. Please buy samples if you need to co-ordinate a fabric to an existing one.
And, send us pictures of final projects! We love to see how the fabric is used! See the Postcard section to see some of the things people have done with our fabric!"


How cute would this embroidered fabric be for  small project in a nursery

Brick House Fabrics has a great selection of toile

Brick House Fabrics has a great selection of toile

This modern greyhound print is so dynamic

Crewel is so fabulous, and this charming animal print is timeless

Brick house has some great Ikats and global prints

Brick House Fabrics has a great lace collection - A panel of this as underpinning for a window treatment would be so cute in a nursery or child's room

There are some unique graphic prints - How cute is this for the fashionista!

I have a weakness for newspaper print fabrics AND Audrey Hepburn


This is a project one of the Brick House Fabric customers made from a small cut of luxury fabric

The inside of that fabulous bag

And here's the lady who made the bag and this amazing coat from the fabric she got from Brick House - her name is Sabina

So put Brick House Fabrics on your radar and data base. I am sure that one day you will find just that perfect piece that will add the perfect little grace note or finishing touch, a little touch of luxury that we can all afford.

And when I get my Billy Baldwin fabric, I will show you what I do with it.

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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

In Search Of Billy Baldwin

It's no secret that I among countless others are influenced by the great American decorator Billy Baldwin. His work has never gone out of style, and he remains a mentor for a the latest crop of designers and decorators and bloggers.

"Foliage" or "Fauve" or "Arbre de Matisse"?

Recently I ran across a remnant of fabric from Brick House Fabrics that got my pulse raising. It looked like the brown and white print Billy B. and his lifelong friend Woodson Taulbee designed and manufactured for Woodson's New York apartment.

I found a precious and affordable remnant at Brick House Fabrics

The photo of this apartment is beloved and it has been featured in every book on Baldwin. In "Billy Baldwin The Great American Decorator" the caption reads: "The New York apartment of Woodson Taulbee. The Henri Matisse drawing was a gift to Taulbee from Baldwin. Together Baldwin and Taulbee developed the design of the cotton fabric 'Foliage.' that is used on the sofa and slipper chair".

From the book 'Billy Baldwin The Great American Decorator" - Get it! (Thanks Sara)

In another fascinating and dishy book on Baldwin (thanks Mitchell), "Billy Baldwin An Autobiography", Billy B. himself says, "It was one of those marvelous one-room apartments in New York, and the decoration of it was based entirely upon a beautiful Matisse drawing I bought for nothing from Kurt Valentine in 1965. The drawing was of two women sitting in front of a table on which there was an open book, and behind them there was the most magical black ink tree, I said to Woody that I thought the tree wood make the most marvelous wallpaper as well as a fabric. He was terribly excited by the idea and got to work. The result was a tour de force, and we covered the furniture in his apartment with it. It was such a wild success that Woody manufactured it through the entire color spectrum, from black and white to pale pink".

This room  designed Billy Baldwin  circa 1965 is a case study in modernity  - Baldwin was instrumental in helping his friend Woodson Taulbee start a wallpaper business "Woodson Papers" - Together they designed this print called "Foliage"

I found a snip of a  discounted Clarence House fabric called "Fauve" that looked so much like the print Billy and Woody designed together. I had the best upholsterer in New Orleans, Leonels, make me a couple of pillows. I love them!

My Billy Baldwin pillow made by Leonels

As I continued to research the fabric that Baldwin originally used, I realized the vintage "Fauve" print was an expensive elegant knock-off done by Clarence House! Every source seems to attribute the print that Billy Baldwin used to a Quadrille (China Seas) print "Arbre de Matisse Reverse".

The Arbre de Matisse Reverse fabric attributed to the famous Billy Baldwin room done for Woodson Taulbee


Still I am happy with finding my vintage piece of fabric made by Clarence House. It is just one more thing in "My Billy Baldwin Living Room", that continues to cement my creative relationship with Billy B. I'm not a rich girl, and my house is humble, but I think Billy Baldwin would like my home.

Clarence House "Fauve" fabric

The "Arbre de Matisse" tree trunk is drawn slightly different than the "Fauve"

Here's a round up of some photos of the very popular fabric inspired by Billy Baldwin and Woodson Taulbee, still very much in use and never ever out of style. Be on the lookout for vintage Clarence House "Fauve" on eBay and sites like Brick House Fabrics.

This current fabric from Clarence House would make a nice companion to "Fauve" or "Arbre de Matisse" - The faces look like the Matisse drawing Billy Baldwin gifted to Woodson Taulbee


Window shade in kitchen is "Arbre de Matisse Reverse" - design by Lindsay Reid

Martha Stewart used "Arbre de Matisse" wallpaper

Bill Barr had the fabric made for his client

Club chairs in "Arbre de Matisse"

This room featured in House Beautiful has many takeaways from the original Billy Baldwin room

A sweet little bench upholstered in the Matisse inspired fabric -  You could do this if you find a remnant

From The World of Interiors - White piping is used with "Arbre de Matisse"

Tory Burch used blue 'Arbre de Matisse"



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Monday, October 29, 2012

I Wish I Could Sew

Brick House Fabrics is a wonderful site for getting fabrics you cannot find anywhere else. And they don't think I am just another pretty face HERE.

They have a wonderful section called Postcards where their customers send in photos of their projects.

This fabric from Brick House is killer

I had shown you a fun retro style fabric from Brick House Fabric. I envisioned covering walls with it, or maybe some toss pillows. But one of their customers, Sabina had another thought bubble.

Look at the jacket Sabina made!

It's a funny coincidence that I have dear friend named Sabina too! She is also a pretty great home sewer, and I can't help but think of her when I see the work of the Brick House Sabina.

How many of you are blessed with sewing skills? What do you make for your homes? Want to share some photos with us all? Email them to me mizvtheb@yahoo.com and I'll post them.

I actually only had one Home Economics class in my formative years. I was a little snooty art major and looked down on the home arts. As the eldest of seven I did enough cooking and cleaning to rival any classroom situation. The one Home Ec class I took was by default. I wanted to take a psychology class, but it was full and the guidance counselor talked me into something called "Family Living", assuring me it was a very social work oriented class, and of course social work was just as good as psychology.  The class was a part of the Home Ec department, and a snooze. But I did gain respect for all those Home Ec majors who could work a sewing machine, a skill I never learned.

Little did I know that I would not become the next DeKooning, Pollack, Krasner, Warhol, or Frankenthaler. Years and years of art school and all I want to do is sew up some drapes or a slip cover. Old eyes and hands and a fear of the sewing machine keeps accomplished tradespeople and friends who sew engaged by me.

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Friday, April 23, 2010

Behind Closed Doors 1

New Orleans has beautiful old homes on beautiful old streets. Walls and fences and windows and doors beckon you to peak in.

I have many designer friends working on projects, and sometimes they invite me to see what they are up to. They know I write a blog, and they know I love to look at everything.

Sometimes I can take photos to show you. Sometimes I can say who lives behind these closed doors. In this case I have taken photos of a work in progress, but at this time I will withhold the identity of the owners of this beautiful home.



The home is a three story townhouse on Camp Street across the street from a a beautiful fountain. It's at least 150 years old. A young couple, she a local girl, and he from London, live here with their two children. They are traveling now, and the desinger Bruce McNally is working on the house while they are away.

He invited us to dinner with the blessings of the couple who know us from the shop I work in called perch. Bruce shops at perch. and has gotten some fabric and furniture from the shop for the house.

It is a side entry house that opens onto two huge parlors. The first thing you notice are these incredible chandeliers. Jack, my co worker and a fellow designer from perch. and I gasped when we saw them, and whispered "Mooi".

Mooi is a design company we revere, and we have yet to see anything Mooi used in a home...

Sean Cummings' Mooi chair

...except for once in pictures of Sean Cummings' home in New Orleans when it was featured in Louisiana Homes and Gardens.

Bruce told us that Marcel Wanders the founder of Mooi did indeed design the chandeliers in both parlors.



But they are not sold at Mooi, but rather at Design Within Reach. They are called "Zeppelin".

They are so lyrical, and an amazing engineering feat too. The bulbs touch the membrane, and yet it doesn't burn.


Using these modern pieces in this old house just seems so right. In fact most of the house is furnished with very modern pieces that somehow honor the old architecture.


The first living room/parlor also has handsome bookshelves built in.


The second parlor has another Zeppelin chandelier.

You can see the dark stained hard wood floors that run throughout the entire house, and the floor to ceiling windows.


Comfy leather furniture is kid and pet friendly. The silver mock croc cube is from perch.


This is a sofa detail in the front parlor. It's upholstered and Bruce has sheets tucked in on it to keep it clean while work is being done on the house.


The house has several marble mantles. This one is in the front parlor.


The grand piano hasn't been delivered yet, and this paper doll space saver cracked me up. I danced on the keys like Tom Hanks in "Big".


I think the young couple should consider this modern piano table from lovegrove and repucci that is actually a docking station for an iPod.


Down the hall is the dining room. It has an antique Swedish table surrounded by Philippe Starck Victoria Ghost chairs, and French Louis chairs from perch.


Bruce has covered each Louis chair in different black and white print fabrics (from perch.)


The chairs look incredible, and there are six that are still being worked on.


Here's another marble mantle in the Dining Room, and Bruce stacked three mirrors up above it.

The walls are covered with wallpaper by the genius New Orleans company, Flavor Paper.



I love the mirror with the ornate Lucite frame over the antique sideboard.


The rug in the dining room deserves special mention. It is made of carpet tiles that look like Astro Turf! Designer fringe has been sewn on at the ends, and I think the whole idea and effect is so witty and fun. I love the detail and contrast of the vintage style heating/cooling vent.


Upstairs on the second level are the bedrooms. There's a guest room, the master, a little girl's bedroom, and a little boy's bedroom.

This is a book shelf in the little girl's room.


There is a charming mural painted over the marble mantle in the little girl's room.


Bruce is a well known set painter. He's done extensive film and stage work. He painted all the murals including this fabulous headboard in the master bedroom.


The third floor has an office taking up a huge loft like space. An industrial style desk has been ordered for this space.


Back downstairs on the main floor is a state-of-the-art kitchen. The lady of the house is a professional chef. Bruce did the most beautiful Ventian plaster on the kitchen walls that I have ever seen!


Bathrooms are the next thing I want to show you.

This is the master bath. I love the wallpaper, also from Flavor Paper.

It's called Kashmiri and you can get it HERE


The master has handsome separate double sinks. The bathroom reminds me of an English gentleman's bathroom.


The downstairs powder room has amazing modern bronze fixtures.


And more wallpaper from Flavor Paper, this one a humorous print called Chinatown Toile.


This is a Limited Edition wallpaper designed for the NYC Chinatown Soccer Club’s Adidas sponsored clubhouse in Vienna, Austria for the 2008 European Cup. Chinatown Toile can be printed in any color, but production is limited to 100 rolls total. Get it HERE


Outside at the back of the house is you can see the second floor gallery where the nanny's room and a playroom are located. The doors on the first floor open to the kitchen.


You can see to the front of the property from this corner. The pink house belongs to the neighbor.


This is a catwalk that connects the main house to the old servants quarters which is now a guest apartment.


A brick patio by a swimming pool makes for typical New Orleans nights and days passed with ease and enjoyment.


Even though the house is still a work in progress, and the house was not styled for a photo shoot, and I chose to just show special details, I know you got a sense of all this beauty behind closed doors.

This is the first in a series that I will continue to bring to you, as good generous folks invite me in to share hidden treasures not normally seen.