Back in January 2006, we wrote a post entitled Eight Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Interior Designer. The eight questions were part of an article in Home magazine and we linked to the magazine.

We like to link to an article and highlight several questions in our post, rather
than list all the questions. That way people go to the linked site and we both benefit from the traffic. One of our frustrations looking back at some of our posts is that not all articles are archived. If you click on the link above, you land on the magazine’s website, but it’s the June 2008 issue and the “Eight Questions…are gone!

It’s been awhile, so, because of inflation, we’ve come up with our own eleven questions:

1. Do I like the designer? Can I spend a lot of time with him/her? Good communication is a must. Working with an interior designer involves some give and take. You will share ideas, and the designer will contribute insights and advice based on his or her talents, knowledge and experience. Depending on the scope of the project, you could be working with your designer a couple of weeks to many, many months.

2. Do I get that he/she is trying to understand me by asking a lot of questions? The key to success is really getting to know you in the early stages and how you and your family use your home and your interests.

3. Does the scale of my project really warrant an interior designer? Even if you think you could accomplish the redesign, do you have the time and inclination? You need to be realistic about how much money you are willing to spend. Include in this estimate the cost of all raw materials, new furniture, labor for installations, and possibly a designer.

4. How do you charge for your time? Designers may charge by the hour, which can be anywhere from $35 to $300, and these costs can quickly mount up. Others may offer a free first consultation, and then quote you a flat fee on the basis of your discussions. Some may charge for the first meeting in advance and then a fee for the whole project based on the estimated hours. Some may bill you for hours used each month. Some may bill each month a level amount. Some may get a designer discount and pass some or all the savings on to you. Whatever the basis on which your interior decorator is paid, make sure you both agree on the budget.

5. Can we accomplish the redesign and stay within my budget?

6. I can’t decide if I like the design. Do I still have to pay for it? “Yes! When you decide to hire an interior design firm, you have decided to trust the design recommendations of that firm.�

7. Are you available for conversation about changes and fine tuning? A good designer knowing you may present you with several options and give you the choice of one or the other. ASID recommends: “Minimize changes to your plan. Each part of the design will affect the whole. Changes or special requests can require any number of adjustments that will add time and expenses to your project.

8. My friend doesn’t like your ideas. Why shouldn’t I listen to her/him? If you have to ask this question you should probably have hired your friend.

9. Can I go to the local Design Center? With or without you? Of course, just let them know that you are working with a designer and his/her name.

10. What if a piece of furniture comes damaged? The furniture store should inspect the furniture when it arrives. The designer should also inspect the furniture before it goes to the client. If something is missed or it breaks when it is used, the designer and the furniture store will work together with the vendor to resolve any problem.

11. How long does it take to receive things, once they are ordered? Here’s a guideline (though individual vendors may vary):
Upholstered Furniture: 10-16 weeks depending on vendor.
Casegoods – Chests, bookcases, tables, hutches, etc.: 8-12 weeks depending on vendor.
Window Treatments: 6-8 weeks depending on size of job
Accessories, Lamps, Art Prints, Silk Flowers/Plants: 4-6 weeks or less.
Rugs: If machine made, 2-4 weeks. If hand knotted, 3-4 months
Wallpaper/Fabrics: 3-5 days.

Several websites contributed to this list of questions and their answers:

Apartment Therapy LA Good Questions: Hiring an Interior Designer
ASID Working with a Designer
Nancy Werneken Interior Design Frequently Asked Questions
Lynle Ellis Designs Before You Hire an Interior Designer
NWSID Why Hire an Interior Designer?
CCIDC Frequently Asked Questions About Certified Interior Designers
Directory M articles Interior Decorator

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

There is one design legend who I fear is slipping into obscurity, and it would be a dreadful shame if that happened. That person is the late Sybil Connolly. If some of you are not familiar with her name, I'm sure you would recognize her work.

Born in Wales to Irish/British parents, Connolly began her career as a clothing designer, first in London and later setting up shop in Dublin. Proud of her Irish heritage, Connolly worked tirelessly to promote the native crafts of Ireland. Many of Connolly's clothing designs incorporated tweeds, woolens, and most notably Irish linen. In fact, Connolly garnered praise and notoriety for her pleated linen dresses. The handkerchief linen was so fine that it took nine yards of linen to make 1 yard of pleated material. Much adored in Ireland, Connolly also developed a devoted fan base here in the States with Jacqueline Kennedy, Rockefellers, and Duponts becoming clients. (You might recognize the official portrait of Kennedy below in which she is wearing a Sybil Connolly design.)

As the swinging Sixties and early 1970s rolled around, Connolly's designs fell out of favor with the liberated woman. Refusing to capitulate to the latest trends, Connolly once said "There comes a time in everyone's life as a designer when you have to decide whether you want to create the beautiful or the merely fashionable. Sadly, there can be a conflict between the two." With her glory days of fashion design waning, Connolly ventured into designs for the home. And this, to me, is the work that is most striking.

Connolly designed collections of textiles for Brunschwig & Fils and F. Schumacher as well as tabletop items for Tiffany & Co. Ever the champion of Irish handiwork, Connolly incorporated Irish motifs- flowers, basketweave, and the like- into most of her creations. In fact, I'm sure many of you recognize Tiffany's classic Tiffany Weave China which was designed by Miss Connolly.

But her greatest work of all had to have been her beautiful home on Merrion Square in Dublin (in my opinion, one of the most charming areas in all of Dublin). With the ground floor dedicated to her design business, Connolly's private quarters were comprised of the upper floors as well as a mews house. Her home reflected her style, her elegance, and her passion for the best that Ireland had to offer. Connolly once remarked: "Perfection is not human and we shouldn't pretend that it is. The ideal house should look lived in, as if somebody reads the books on the shelves." This sentiment is one with which I agree wholeheartedly and one which I have tried to convey on this blog, although not as eloquently as Miss Connolly.

Back in the mid-1990s, I had the opportunity to hear Sybil Connolly speak while I was employed with Tiffany & Co. Unfortunately, a fellow employee fainted and Connolly's talk was cut short. It was something that I always regretted, especially as Connolly died a few years later. But, I suppose I can take consolation with photos of her work. As you can see, she had a varied, productive, and fruitful career, and it is one which deserves some posthumous attention.

(An aside: when I was researching this post, I came across a New York Times article from October 1980 announcing a buffet dance at the downtown Rich's department store here in Atlanta. The dance was a benefit cook-off for the March of Dimes. And...Sybil Connolly cooked a marinated lamb, Robin Roberts of Clarence House made deviled chicken breasts, and Mary Jane Pool prepared an avocado salad called riboon. Now that was a stellar event! Had I been older and known who these people were at the time, I would have paid my $100 to attend.)


The Mews House's cheery yellow Living Room. The plaster shells on the cornice were duplicated from some real shells that she purchased in California with Tony Duquette.


The Living Room in the main house. The curtains were made of an Irish floral fabric.


Connolly's bedroom which was inspired by her antique Angoulême porcelain. Connolly found the Angoulême patterned wallpaper in London, and she then had the Irish textile industry copy the same print onto linen. Nancy Lancaster was so taken with the charming green and white bedroom that she asked Connolly if she could copy it.


A table set for tea in Connolly's garden


The dining room of the Mews House. Connolly's collection of blue and white Irish delftware grace the walls. It also looks as though the panelling on the walls was actually painted on in shades of blue.


The dining room of the main house. The wallpaper's floral print is fuschia, which grows wild in Ireland.


A blue and white toile that Connolly designed for Brunschwig & Fils (Image courtesy of The Hunt Museum)


"Tipperary" wallpaper designed by Connolly for Brunschwig. Do you think this looks like the Angoulême print in her bedroom?


A glazed chintz pattern, "Lily of Galtee", designed for Brunschwig (image from The Hunt Museum)


Tiffany Weave china, designed by Sybil Connolly



The late, great, and discontinued china pattern known as "Mrs. Delany's Flowers". Designed for Tiffany & Co. by Connolly, the floral pattern was inspired by amazing collages created by Mary Delany in the 18th century. Delany was admired throughout England and Ireland for her charm, intellect, and artistic skills. She used thousands of pieces of colored paper to create collages of flowers.


A paper collage by Mary Delany, c. 1777. Delany's collages inspired "Mrs. Delany's Flowers". (Collection of the British Museum)


One of Connolly's famed pleated linen dresses (photo courtesy of The Hunt Museum).


Jacqueline Kennedy's White House portrait, painted by Aaron Shickler, features Kennedy wearing a Sybil Connolly gown. (Image courtesy of The White House Historical Association)

There is certainly a lot going on design-wise in California right now. So much so that it's becoming difficult to stay on top of things out there. First off in Los Angeles, those gurus of fabulous furniture David Serrano and Robert Willson of Downtown have started a new venture- Outside Downtown. The shop's aesthetic is warmer and a bit more casual- perfect for beach or country houses. Think lighter finishes and stain resistant fabrics. This is definitely my idea of relaxed glamour (All images at top are shots from Outside Downtown.)

And further up north in San Francisco is designer Kendall Wilkinson. I always make sure to stop by her shop on my twice yearly trips to San Fran. Wilkinson is set to launch her Home collection which will include a bright blue leather tufted chair (which I believe is similar to those she featured in her show house room a few years ago) and a glass and lucite table- very glam. Wilkinson also has a wallpaper and fabric line in the works. I'd say she is definitely a designer to watch.

So... have you booked your trip to California yet?


A vignette of Wilkinson's shop


The soon to be famous blue leather tufted chair, inspired by one designed by Albert Hadley


Another shop vignette


Part of Wilkinson's new Home collection- a glass top table with a lucite base.

1. invest in the best
Instead of filling a room quickly with things you can afford, enjoy the process and slowly add pieces you absolutely love.
2. borrow your own clothes
If you love the hue of a blouse (or anything smooth-textured), bring it to a paint store to be scanned and reproduced.
3. lighten up
Reflective, sparkly fabrics and wallpapers draw light into any space.
4. work with what you've got
Play up a room's assets. If it has high ceilings, put up really tall curtains. If it's a dark box, don't try to alter it—painting it bright white will only make it seem dingy; instead, go for cozy.
5. lights!
Even in small rooms, aim for at least three light sources—ideally a floor lamp and matching table lamps—to banish gloomy corners.
6. go antique-chic
Invest in one fabulous antique per room, to set the tone for the entire space.
7. think outside the welcome mat
Don't neglect your entryway! Think of it as an appetizer for what comes next. It should reflect your home's overall style but also contain something special, so guests want to see more.
8. collect more
Collect something that speaks to you. No matter what it is, there's impact in numbers.
9. skirt the issue
Skirted tables in offices or entryways can hide all manner of ills: shoes, kids' backpacks, mail—even filing cabinets.
10. beyond wallpaper
Upholstering, rather than papering, walls yields a layer of softness and luxury for about the same price.

i think all of my blogging colleagues received this email today so i’m assuming we all jumped at this story about new works from allan the gallant, formerly known as itte studio. based in barcelona, allan the gallant is a pattern studio that is now producing some fantastic textiles, patterns and wallpaper. all of the images jumped right off the screen for me and just begged to be posted so i’m going to let the images to do the talking. all i know is i want my house covered head to toe in that wallpaper above. how fantastic is that? click here for more information on allan the gallant.

it’s our third week focusing on australia and our latest regional roundup focuses on brisbane, australia’s third most populous city. today’s line up stars tiel seivl-keevers {tsk-tsk}, mel robson, jason grant {inkahoots}, tiffany shafran, and alex tebb. we’ll be back tomorrow with our final australian roundup so be sure to check back, but in the meantime, click here to check out today’s designers (there are many more below the fold). [thanks again to all the fabulous designers! all the roundups can be found here.] -anne

[aussie porcelain above by mel robson. check out her feature below]

Tsk-tsk

1. Where are you from? Where do you live now?
I’m from Australia. I have lived in many different cities here, but I’m currently living in Brisbane, Queensland.

2. Describe your work
Most of my work is illustrative. I create original artworks or limited edition prints for children and grown ups. I’m exploring a range of themes including matryoshka dolls, birds, flora and fauna.
My works are mostly small in scale so I can finish them!

3. How is your work influenced by where you live?
I live in a warmer climate so the outdoor lifestyle does influence my work. I pay attention to the wildlife around me, particularly the birds and I enjoy the colours of where I live. Brisbane is a very light and sunny place.  I’m very close to the ocean and some of Australia’s best beaches, but it is the trees and hills that I feel closest to. I often pick up leaves and pods on walks and take them home to study.

4. Where do you go in Australia when you want to feel inspired?
Melbourne. It is home away from home for me. I lived there on several occasions and it is so full of life. Art, craft, design, good food. But locally I enjoy being in a park near the river, or going to a few suburbs here that have hidden shopping treasures. Also the gallery of modern art has a continual range of exhibitions and displays catered for all ages. It is such an amazing space.

5. How would you describe the Australian design scene?
I think here we are influenced so much by so many different cultures and countries. We then somehow take bits of pieces from that, combine them with our surroundings and it becomes quite unique to anything else. There are so many good Australian designers who have emerged over the last 10 years and I really get a sense that a lot more quality design is about to bloom..

6. If you could go anywhere where would you go?
Today, somewhere a little warmer like Fiji! But I really am keen to go to Japan. The history, design and food really interests me.

Check out more of Tiel’s work here and her blog here.

Mel Robson

1. Where are you from? Where do you live now?
I grew up in a little town called Murwillumbah (which means place of many possums!!), but I now live in Brisbane (right in the middle of the east coast of Australia) and have been based here on and off for the last 15 years or so.

2. Describe your work
I make objects from porcelain. I design and hand make ranges of functional and decorative objects for the home, as well as limited edition and one-off exhibition works. I use a lot of text and imagery on my pieces which I draw from a whole array of sources - old letters, wallpaper, photographs, maps, recipes, sewing patterns, excerpts from old books and magazines etc. I take lots of old things and work them in to new ones.

3. How is your work influenced by where you live?
I’m probably influenced more by the built environment rather than the natural environment - the architecture, the buildings and houses. Brisbane has grown a lot in the last decade and is a real mish mash of old and new. This doesn’t always work so well but there are little pockets where the old and the new sit comfortably, even beautifully, together.  I like this. Its something I try to achieve in my own work – weaving together the past and the present, integrating them.

4. Where do you go in Australia when you want to feel inspired?
I find that I get most of my best ideas while I’m walking. I like to go hiking, so our national parks are pretty inspiring for me. There is nothing like wandering along deserted trails for clearing the mind and making space for new ideas. At the moment though I walk mostly around my local area, which is an old area of Brisbane filled with charming houses and shops full of character (and characters)!

5. How would you describe the Australian design scene?
I think Australian designers have a good sense of humour and often approach design with a sense of playfulness and wit. We are good at sarcasm and laughing at ourselves and I think this is often reflected in the work of our artists, craftspeople and designers.

6. If you could go anywhere where would you go?
Hmmmmm…..where wouldn’t I go?! I’d like to spend more time in Europe, particularly the Scandinavian countries.

More of Mel’s work here, and her website (under construction) here.

Inkahoots

1. Where are you from? Where do you live now?
I was born in New Zealand and now live in sunny Brisbane, Australia.

2. Describe your work
I’m part of design group Inkahoots that includes Robyn McDonald, Ben Mangan, Joel Booy and Kate Booy. Rather than privilege market agendas of commodification, the studio promotes visual communication as an important tool of cultural critique and transformation. The work is visually adventurous with a strong typographic focus, and aims to be daring and searching, not for the sake of newness, but to give expression to a changing society.

3. How is your work influenced by where you live?
For a long time Brisbane was a politically oppressive and culturally conservative place you needed to escape. So it bred a resilient underground oppositional culture that continues to influence the city. The rainforests, bush, and beaches around Brisbane are incredible. And the scale and pace of the city makes it both a great place for work and play, and for playful work.

4. Where do you go in Australia when you want to feel inspired?
I’m not so comfortable with the idea of chasing inspiration.

5. How would you describe the Australian design scene?
If it were a super hero it would be one of those characters with random control over their super-human powers.

6. If you could go anywhere where would you go?
Satori.

Click here for more by Inkahoots.

Posted by Bluelines

We dropped in (not physically, of course) to ask her if her creative process translated to bricks and mortar.

5 Questions for Jessie Randall, Designer, Loeffler Randall

1. So, is picking out plumbing hardware as challenging as churning out a collection?
Picking out plumbing hardware is the worst. We spent our Christmas vacation buried in plumbing fixture catalogues (Davis & Warshow, McMaster). My husband picked out all kinds of fancy fixtures, but my most favorite are the industrial toilet and urinal we put in the boys’ bathroom. They are so simple and functional. They look better than any of the other stuff, in my opinion. The renovation was a massive project. We have a lot on our plate with the house, the twins and the company. So juggling it all was the hardest part, but it was fun.

2. What one thing do you have to have in your home (even amidst contractors)?
As much natural light as possible.

3. What are you most excited about when the house is complete?
The boys’ room is my most favorite part of the house. I put in a lighted diorama in their room that was modeled off of the one in my friend Bronagh's children’s store in Williamsburg, Sweet William. I also love the color of the walls in the boys’ room, Pensive Sky, a pale grey blue-green that is so calming and relaxing.

4. Taking away anything from the renovation that will infuse your upcoming collections?
I don’t tend to use lots of pattern and print in my collections, but in my house I put up several patterned wallpapers (Osborne & Little, Second Hand Rose, Walnut Wallpaper). I love them and they give so much character to the house. It’s gotten me hooked on prints, so I may incorporate more in my collections.

5. What do you think will be the most often used room of your house?
Who knows? We’ll have to see once we move in. I am guessing it will be one particular area because with two flights of stairs and twins, I am probably going to want to stay put.

morning eye-candy: new plates from a series called “between us women” by lisa bengtsson. you may remember lisa’s wallpaper (here and here) but this new series was just launched at formex in stockholm. each image is representative of a woman in one’s family and each plate has a saying on the back associated with that member of the family. you can view more of lisa’s work right here.

A friend of mine introduced me to a wonderful source of handmade wallpaper. According to the Grow House Grow site and creator Kate Deedy, the wallpaper designs are are inspired by a lifelong love of storytelling. The paper can be purchased in rolls or by the sheet, and each pattern is available in three different color combinations. I think the Sweatpea print (part of the Cottontail collection) would be great in a kid’s room. But switch it to the tapioca color scheme, and it’s all grown up! –Erica P.

• So many beautiful things in my inbox this week. I am speechless over this one. Misha Handmade Wallpapers selects, produces and distributes silk hand-painted wallpapers. You must must must go to their website and drool. Misha also creates stunning contemporary furniture with a twist. Clean modern lines combined with rich, luxurious, hand-painted papers reviving historical patterns. Trust the Italians to take wallpaper to the next level. Go.... what are you waiting for? Swoon.




• Oh my, oh my, oh my!!! More beautiful furniture, some of the most stunning organic lines I have seen for a long long time. The company is Ode Chair .... contemporary organic chairs hand made in Northumberland, England. The creative genius behind them is Jolyon Yates. Must have please please.




• Lina lives in Stockholm, Sweden and has a home styling company. She's just started a webshop C'est la vie Home featuring pretty little decorating objects as well as luxury chocolate and tea. In Swedish of course but that's what page translators are for. Beautiful pictures speak all languages. Check out her blog too. Good luck with your online business Lina!




• Caroline from Belgium recently started her blog, Carrie Can, as a way of collecting and sharing her inspirations and work with her readers. Pop over and say hi!




• Another new blog alert. Designer/artist Annie Coggan emailed to introduce Chairs and Buildings. "I am a new faculty member at Mississippi State University teaching design studio and furniture design. (I was in Brooklyn and teaching at Parsons and Pratt for 10 years). This new life has given me time to organize my thinking for lectures and projects so I started a blog as a sketchbook." It's visual food for thought.




• Jonathan Adler has gone country? Yay? Nay? Or Ye-ha!




• Have you seen the blog Lime in the Coconut yet? Love Linda's profile - "Living life in a humble Florida hacienda...surrounded by family, dogs, art and PLENTY of sand on the floor. Oh, and a lizard or two that always seem to find their way in the open doors and windows. Hey, what can I say...Sometimes it just isn't pretty. But it IS home." The blog is full of eye candy with special emphasis on tropical style.




• Where does Erin from Design for Mankind find the time? The woman is a creative dynamo. She's collaborating with the Art House Co-Op, an Atlanta-based gallery on The Scavenger Project. "We're making a book and we need your help! We're going to send you a list of 24 things which will end up being the 24 chapters of the book. Each chapter is a reference to a moment, scenario, or item and we need your help visually representing each item." Find out more here.




• James Saavedra from Decor Fellow has a new online magazine fellow* and it is soooooooooooooooooo good. Stylish and right on the trends. Can't wait for more!

A few months ago I picked up a used book at My Sister’s Closet in Chamblee. I wanted to share it with you and never got around to scanning. Lately I was reminded of it because Carolyn Roehm’s A Passion for Blue and White was showing up all over the blogs. It’s on sale at amazon for $37.80. However, while I’m sure that’s a gorgeous book, I am loving the Stephanie Hoppen book I picked up for $5 (it’s at around $17 at amazon right now). It’s called Blue and White Living and though it was published ten years ago, it’s amazing how current it is, though I suppose blue and white is a classic that never goes out of style. Hoppen picked up on wallpaper prints, exotic Mexican and Moroccan touches, great bookcase arranging and even the ikat that’s so hot right now. Here are a few images from Hoppen’s book:

book cover images from amazon.com

all other images from Stephanie Hoppen’s Blue and White Living.

I was so excited to open the October issue of House Beautiful and see an article on "Happy Prints". Because you see, this is totally me. As I'm writing this post I'm sitting in my bedroom, and it's depressing me terribly. The walls are coated in wallpaper primer which make them look cold and sterile. I am counting the days until my wallpaper- yes, a print- arrives so that my bedroom can be transformed into a room that makes me feel chic and happy. In the meantime, I have to get up and run into another room to look at color and my other prints for a temporary lift.

I adore prints that have pep and spunk. I love prints that make you stand up and take notice. Of course I do believe in the old adage to beware of too much of a good thing. In fact, my love of prints has forced me to be a ruthless editor. I've got so many that I would love to use but... not enough space and too little time.

The way I work with happy prints is by toning them down a bit with the use of sophisticated color. Because my other love is color. I absolutely cannot live without it. The irony of it all is that I don't wear color. Occasionally a little pale blue, but mostly blacks and grays. Not only is this practical, but it makes me feel elegant too. But in my home I prefer prints with pizzazz combined with rich color. And when I say rich I don't mean bright, because that's not me either. I'm thinking creamy blues, mossy greens, aubergine, even powdery pink.

Now, I'm not immune to the charms and the quiet elegance of a neutral room. In fact, one of my very favorite Billy Baldwin rooms is one that is rather monochromatic and neutral. But for my own home? It's all about color and prints. Because at the end of the day, that is what makes me happy.


Chinoiserie prints always make me sing, especially those that are not so serious. I have two chairs upholstered in "Ping" (Scalamandre), and they make me very happy.


And all of Sister Parish Designs' prints are upbeat, especially "Chou Chou"


How about Meloire Reverse from Quadrille/Alan Campbell? This might just get your mind off of the economy- at least temporarily!


"Asparagus Plaid" by Brunschwig is such a funny print. While it's not my style, I can definitely see where it might make others smile.


Again, not a print for everybody, but it might be just the thing for a porcelain collector. "Imari Trophy Plate" by Carlton Varney


Prints don't have to bold, colorful, or whimsical to make you happy. I used this Tyler Hall print- "Exeter"- in my old powder room, and it gave the room some flair... which in turn made me happy!

Image at top: A room designed by Albert Hadley- in my mind, the pied piper of the happy, handsome, and understated print. His fabric and wallpaper for Hinson is by far my favorite.

And no, it's not the spatter pattern that is discussed so frequently in episodes of "CSI". It's "Spatter", and it's one of my favorite Hinson prints. Designed by Harry Hinson in 1974, the print was inspired by the spatter motif found often in Colonial ceramicware (this according to a 2001 New York Times article). The article also mentioned that it's a print that counts Albert Hadley and Jeffrey Bilhuber amongst its fans. I've also read that Billy Baldwin used it in his Nantucket home, but I can't find a photo.

So, just where can you use a print like "Spatter"? Well, Harry Hinson used it in his East Hampton home (shown above), and I was thrilled to see it in another Hamptons house designed by Tom Scheerer (and featured in the August '08 issue of House Beautiful). But I do think you can use it in a city home too. How about in a powder room? Or a kitchen? Just think of "Spatter" as a modern take on early Americana.

And speaking of Americana, I was curious about Hinson's supposed inspiration for this print. Just what was spatter and how was it used during Colonial times? Well, one of the prime examples is spatterware. According to a ceramic curator at Winterthur, spatterware was originally manufactured in England where it was known as spongeware. As spongeware was not particularly popular in England, most of it was shipped to the American colonies where it became known as spatterware. And it was here in America where spatterware became extremely popular, especially amongst the Pennsylvania Germans. Sponge and spatter painting was also used on furniture, walls, and floors during this era.

So although I can't corroborate whether Hinson was actually inspired by spatterware or not, it's something to ponder. If you would like to learn more about spatterware, you should visit Winterthur. Henry Francis du Pont was a major collector of it, and there is a magnificent display of his collection in Spatterware Hall at Winterthur. Or you can read more about his collection here in an interview with du Pont's daughter, the lucky recipient of some of her father's collection.


(Many thanks to everyone at Winterthur for assisting me in my research of spatterware.)



Two images of Scheerer's fabulous wallpaper selection for an East Hampton cottage (image from House Beautiful, Aug 08; Simon Upton photographer).


A Spatterware platter, c. 1825-1855, Staffordshire England. Does this not look modern to you? Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont; image courtesy of Winterthur.


Spatterware pitcher, c. 1825-1855, Staffordshire England. Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont. Image courtesy of Winterthur.


Four examples of Spatterware jugs, c. 1825-1855, Staffordshire England. Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont. Photo courtesy of Winterthur.

Image at top: "Spatter" in blue and white on the walls and curtains of Harry Hinson's East Hampton dining room.