Carolands House Visit, Part II: The Buatta Touch

The Ladies Lounge - the curtains reminded me of those made for Evangeline Bruce by John Fowler, an early mentor to Buatta

Many times the only difference between "good" and "great" is a small detail, but what a difference it makes. While touring the storybook Chateau Carolands, I found my attention constantly drawn to the beautifully finished soft furnishings dreamed up by the Maestro of Passementerie, Mario Buatta.

The Men's Lounge

Students of curtains, take note of the generous length of the panels that puddle most attractively on the floor - lining and interlining are key to achieving this look.....

A favorite Buatta chintz in the Loggia

Taffeta Festoons - is there anything more swoon-inducing?

a symphony of blue and yellow - cording, buttons, and tassels finish the seat cushions in the dining room

The Johnsons, the owners of Carolands, love to play cards - who needs real cards when you can have needlepoint ones which very conveniently leave hands free for highballs

My (teeny-weeny) Homage to MC

Tufting, leopard print, sky blue, and lots of trim.... a small gesture in a small New York city apartment....

"You can go to Sears-Roebuck for a self welt!"

So said a friend as she was advising me on the recovering of several items. Gimp, fringe, tape, cord, tassels - the world of passementerie can be an overwhelming one to navigate, but it is these details which can transform a plain Jane chair into a Zsa Zsa Gabor.

While revisiting the Safra sales catalogue last week, I remembered how struck I was by the beautifully detailed upholstery when viewing the sale at Sotheby's a few years ago. As I am increasingly in a Castaing frame of mind, it is probably no surprise that I'm responding to the many Napoleon III touches Mrs. Safra and her decorator Howard Slatkin adopted.

Here are a few for your pleasure....

a set of 6 Directoire painted and parcel gilt chairs

Mid 19th Italian Painted and Parcel Gilt Stool in the form of a chaise longue