Michael Taylor Interior Design

<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLy1Hg8xNUe6O-TzQKTotrUg8Kn0PC20pGUR0UFh7Cvz_mLLuBW1HFkrOajYfEm9PnPme1hlbPyOC-AG-Q2eg41SHP2Bk4NmhhvLLkFXwp8uUQeXnUvUaW-t1pEIkw065ByeuPKzALOKK7/s1600-h/035%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="Patricia Gray " border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5cJzETFp1qWtefQwaoRE2oQ1Fkr0nAVHJDxOzMGeHzmkLgiNEsyCjMNKF2_1nXJ1O2abjXKPRH7kncD6KeB1x_8zDuvaNeAv0bZxuUbeFZmGOEH_dIT_Jrkmw6wfT1h2BDLJ30dHlaxk/?imgmax=800" style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" width="295" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMAeJaNro3kIvJkUkAOVQXDoqsinIy0XZBTDHpwae788cMZL6WfAX68gUnUGAmEoBLYr1oUe53we8N2jeOu4NLokSpu6Fk2rtVzK_p4KtzTuFosudaYLvwTSYSC1jRq_iIQQPmdygbB3i/s1600-h/image%5B5%5D.png"><img alt="Michael Taylor Interior Design" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5ZGbpC2tjsPtgN_vu-BK_s8p8G2rplDVzcNkkL37lWjTfSWWcmQ666ssG2cLgSWpqm5FaTK_hWviCBAX6zqClP3PPiqCcOhZAN2Ij1qHl-EI9CNdk6TGSe2fwqEW4yN5am_p9IM8HTCL/?imgmax=800" style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" width="178" /></a> </p><p align="justify">I recently received <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Taylor-Interior-Stephen-Salny/dp/0393732355?&camp=212361&creative=383957&linkCode=waf&tag=wwwpatriciagr-20" target="_blank">Michael Taylor's</a> new book, Michael Taylor Interior Design. As most of you who read my Blog know, I was greatly influenced my Michael in my formative years in Design School. Not much has been published on his work outside of a few articles in Architectural Digest, so this has been a highly awaited book for me. Michael Taylor was dubbed the <strong>"James Dean of Interior Design"</strong> by Diana Vreeland and "the best decorator in the United States " by society and fashion photographer Cecil Beaton. Michael Taylor revolutionized interior design in the 1970's and 1980's with the <strong>"California Look".</strong> Taylor brought the outdoors inside with neutral palettes, natural light, large-scale furniture, and organic elements, especially stone, slate, wicker, and plants. His interiors expressed his love and appreciation of California and the outdoors. They were casual, comfortable, uncomplicated, and free of clutter. So much of what he created, we now take for granted, but he started it all. </p><p align="center"><img alt="Michael Taylor Interior Design" height="355" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2000/01/taylor/arar01_taylor.jpg" width="500" /> </p><p align="justify">Taylor believed that nature was man's best friend. His first shop was located in San Francisco and a notable neighbour on the same 500 block of Sutter Street was Williams-Sonoma (circa 1956). Taylor was particularly taken with the imported oyster baskets that were originally used to transport oysters from the coast of France to Paris. Their heavy natural weave appealed to Taylor. They had a profound effect on him. He began to use them as vessels for towering plants and trees - fishtail palms, ficus, and Zimmer linden - creating a look that became fundamental to his interiors. He believed that plants prevent "a room from feeling over-decorated", "soften the light" and <strong>"help a room breathe and feel alive"</strong> and thus initiated "the plant in a basket craze" with these baskets that he purchased from his neighbour - Williams-Sonoma back in 1956.</p><p align="center"><img alt="Michael Taylor Interior Design" border="0" height="452" src="http://www.michaeltaylordesigns.com/images/media_pc05_03.jpg" width="500" /></p><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><p><span style="font-size:78%;">Above: The San Francisco penthouse Taylor designed for Al Wilsey and Pat Montondon, circa early 1980s. </span><a href="http://www.michaeltaylordesigns.com/recenteditorials.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:78%;">Michael Taylor Designs archives</span></a> </p><p align="justify">Taylor was a proponent of <strong>white walls and ceilings</strong>. His interiors glowed with a specially formulated "Michael Taylor White". <strong>(Never pure white "Michael Taylor White" was a mixture of warm colors with a beige tone.</strong>) Although Taylor's rooms were known for their neutral palette, he always "advocated a strong secondary color and repetitive use of printed fabrics for a 'certain purity' and bold unified effect." He also clarified that "There is a tremendous amount of color in my rooms, but there are not many colors." In his formative years of his career he came to idolize the renowned decorator Francis Elkins (1888-1953), who has been quoted as being <strong>"one of the guiding forces in the whole development of what is the American style today".</strong> Taylor saw himself as Elkin's greatest disciple, and he believed completely in her genius. Michael Taylor died at the young age of 59 at the prime of his career. His work and the <strong>"California Look"</strong> that he invented continue to influence interior design today. The forward in this book is written by his good friend Rose Tarlow, herself a Design Icon in her own lifetime. </p><p align="center"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Frances-Elkins-Interior-Stephen-Salny/dp/0393731464/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234719928&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><img alt="Francis Elkins Michael Taylors Mentor" border="0" height="250" src="http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/11000000/11000485.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Private-House-Rose-Tarlow-Author/dp/0609604724/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234720025&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><img alt="Rose Tarlow The Private House " border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7f14V9ISxsegVikWATZGfF5jQ_ycZCrfId35cUtaB3mgWYsrJtXHCefVSY0XiAtIPRAVKeR8ba69XAvoyuzl1bQh4YfaZfa35tTRi9GNrmK5BvmufAPSq_OQviIZVMAOjWHBhJtjW2zg-/?imgmax=800" style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" width="191" /></a> </p><p align="center"></p><p align="justify">Michael Taylor was known for his <strong>extravagant shopping marathons</strong> which are legendary. When Taylor entered a shop, he always paused at its threshold and scanned the entire showroom. He had the reputation of being able to home in quickly and precisely on the finest pieces of inventory. He "never forgot beautiful things. He constantly absorbed everything he saw and banked it as a source of reference." He imparted his depth of sensitivity to his clients, and made them aware that <strong>"it's got to sing and talk back to you, and be A plus, plus if it crosses the threshold"</strong> of your house. At Taylor's death in 1987 he had amassed an enormous trove of beautiful objects. Their was an auction of 1355 lots, including his clothes, books and orchids. The following is the official auction catalogue with several color photographs of the furniture and objects in their rooms and in place in the garden with a nice foreword by Paige Rense, Editor-in-Chief of Architectural Digest. I got my copy from the Bill Hall at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.highvalleybooks.com" target="_blank">High Valley Books</a>.</p><p align="center"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Estate-Michael-Francisco-Butterfield-Catalog/dp/B000PRRUI8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234727406&sr=1-2" target="_blank"><img alt="The Estate of Michael Taylor " border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvlqMjbuPPddtAYYzV3L0jXfscI6Lb2IHUKn2bR9sqJeuIoXYDfscRrKV4pfrCYb3bqmYGWDRVIp8uWm9k1pB2kQ4hyRQsFTapNSBgvZXQxNPDmMI1wwNbyKOpUA5zI3jzue4zxYFKaoh/?imgmax=800" style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" width="212" /></a> </p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Private-House-Rose-Tarlow-Author/dp/0609604724/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234720025&sr=1-1"></a><p align="left"><strong>Interesting Statistic:</strong> <em>House and Garden magazine devoted a record <strong>eighteen covers and more than one hundred articles</strong> to his work over a period of thirty years.</em></p><p align="center">Previous posts on Michael Taylor: <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2007/07/michael-taylor.html" target="_blank">Michael Taylor - Good Design is Timeless</a> <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2007/09/david-ward.html" target="_blank">David Ward Artist for Michael Taylor</a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Top photo </span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://patriciagrayinc.com/" target="_blank">Patricia Gray</a></span><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" height="200" id="Player_5501bdc4-20b0-4f37-9fe7-13bf04bcd129" reinit="reinit" reinitswf="reinitswf" width="600"><param name="_cx" value="15875"><param name="_cy" value="5291"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fwwwpatriciagr-20%2F8010%2F5501bdc4-20b0-4f37-9fe7-13bf04bcd129&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param name="Src" value="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fwwwpatriciagr-20%2F8010%2F5501bdc4-20b0-4f37-9fe7-13bf04bcd129&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param name="WMode" value="Window"><param name="Play" value="0"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value="LT"><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="NoScale"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value="FFFFFF"><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="false"><br /> <embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fwwwpatriciagr-20%2F8010%2F5501bdc4-20b0-4f37-9fe7-13bf04bcd129&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_5501bdc4-20b0-4f37-9fe7-13bf04bcd129" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_5501bdc4-20b0-4f37-9fe7-13bf04bcd129" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="200px" width="600px"></embed></object></p><noscript></noscript><p align="center"><strong><a href="http://patriciagrayinc.com/"><span style="font-size:78%;">Patricia Gray</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design,<br />architecture, and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.<br /></span><a href="http://patriciagrayinc.com/"><span style="font-size:78%;">© 2007-2009 Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog</span></a></strong></p>

Michael Taylor Interior Design

I recently received Michael Taylor's new book, Michael Taylor Interior Design. As most of you who read my Blog know, I was greatly in...

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A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever

<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_-QYE2UC1jbgJfAoAabAVIMqyuxWK9W31MKpSNgJHi230mti4mfAYC4WDFNDf_JNBB0e1Bhk16GK0jR64yfcW1d0q2UnYBPq3g1XUFGZfHjiiFXqsOTIZ_UFQ8tpH5SFJy7Q3hi1hdyS/s1600-h/A+Thing+of+Beauty+is+a+Joy+Forever.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325851597903156242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_-QYE2UC1jbgJfAoAabAVIMqyuxWK9W31MKpSNgJHi230mti4mfAYC4WDFNDf_JNBB0e1Bhk16GK0jR64yfcW1d0q2UnYBPq3g1XUFGZfHjiiFXqsOTIZ_UFQ8tpH5SFJy7Q3hi1hdyS/s400/A+Thing+of+Beauty+is+a+Joy+Forever.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 273px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <p align="center">A <b>thing</b> of <b>beauty</b> is a <b>joy</b> for ever:<br />Its loveliness increases; it will never<br />Pass into nothingness; but still will keep<br />A bower quiet for us, and a sleep<br />Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.<br /><br />A favourite picture and a favourite poem of mine that I am linking together<br />to wish you all a<strong> Happy Weekend</strong>.</p><p><span style="font-size:78%;">A <b>Thing</b> of <b>Beauty</b> is a <b>Joy</b> <b>Forever</b><br />From John Keats' epic poem, <em>Endymion</em>, 1818:<br />Picture from <a href="http://www.makanyane.com/" target="_blank">Makanyane Safari Lodge</a>, South Africa</span></p><p align="center"><strong><a href="http://patriciagrayinc.com/"><span style="font-size:78%;">Patricia Gray</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design,<br />architecture, and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.<br /></span><a href="http://patriciagrayinc.com/"><span style="font-size:78%;">© 2007-2009 Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog</span></a></strong></p></div>

A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet fo...

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Janus et Cie - The Ultimate Teak Umbrellas

<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5mFZJ-ocVIebGxVmlHrWBk9ezbEachp8Qb9VI0RRmePQtkeNwX0JvChrpqZe9iWylg_FhOld12rK64HGy5VoCUJB3EF7x8kY8m_KwlPPBS-a3Gw9JAmPuPnoLx0upzCRHsnR3SCz3gcr/s1600-h/Janue+et+Cie+Teak+Umbrellas.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325528666946162674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5mFZJ-ocVIebGxVmlHrWBk9ezbEachp8Qb9VI0RRmePQtkeNwX0JvChrpqZe9iWylg_FhOld12rK64HGy5VoCUJB3EF7x8kY8m_KwlPPBS-a3Gw9JAmPuPnoLx0upzCRHsnR3SCz3gcr/s400/Janue+et+Cie+Teak+Umbrellas.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 335px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: hand" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size: 78%">Janus et Cie Teak Octagonal Umbrellas</span></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="justify">Janus et Cie makes the ultimate in teak umbrellas. I am fascinated by the attention to detail and craftsmanship they put into their umbrellas. The brass pulley assembly and the leather strapping is what makes this teak umbrella a work of art. I like to refer to it as the 'Hermes' of umbrellas. How wonderful to sit under this umbrella and gaze up into the beautiful design of the interior. Janus et Cie's teak is plantation harvested and is truly an investment that will give years of pleasure. </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzq8HBLFnt80kMIAZhd7Df8YhI3mgppvmfDCmuWyNMXbv1tvDlGzso9_RKXZzFGLce3kpJJqfRAdxSWP4l-GUNZ4k7kE45SESScD_BZA-DB3as4zPipBE4ASDCT6OzIHsHHqxY7K267OZ/s1600-h/image%5B14%5D.png"><img alt="Janue et Cie Teak Octagonal Umbrellas / Care and Maintenacne of Teak " border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFXCn7Bco68oB2kDNrAnGf3tm0pXvDyyvz8o3J-4iXn79fJF0oHsTQNQSNdN3nTnYsfKCGPZlPc_giJ8i_aRulgpLb0gn_4wZb4YTgMhDvTgiai7lHM94JWS2WjHV66BB-2x_sE-W-ESq/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="358" /></a> <br /><span style="font-size: 78%">Janus et Cie Teak Octagonal Umbrellas</span> </p> <p align="justify"><b>Care and Maintenance for Teak: Teak</b> is a wood that has traditionally been used on ships because it is strong and durable, and <b>because of it's ability to stand up under humid conditions.</b> <strong>Teak</strong> is one of the best woods for outdoor furniture and umbrellas because it requires little or low maintenance depending on the look you want. If teak<strong> </strong>is left untreated it will weather to a beautiful <strong>silvery gray patina</strong>, while retaining its strength and durability for many years. Weathering can be accelerated by washing the teak with a mild soap solution and the addition of a teaspoon of bleach to a gallon of water. Rinse with clean clear water. If you want to keep the natural beauty of teak, treating it with good quality teak wood care products will enable it to keeps it's characteristic golden honey golden color. If oil is applied to teak, it must be done to a perfectly clean and dry surface. <strong>Proper care and maintenance</strong> of your teak umbrella and teak furniture will enhance its beauty for years to come. <br /> <br /><font size="1">Other related posts you might be interested in: <br /></font><a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-care-for-lucite.html" target="_blank"><font size="1">How to CLEAN and CARE for LUCITE</font></a>      <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2008/04/patio-furniture-deluxe-clover-chair.html" target="_blank"><font size="1">25 Top Patio Chairs</font></a>    <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2007/06/dont-you-love-this-photo.html"><font size="1">Summer Inspiration</font></a><font size="1"> <br /></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://patriciagrayinc.com/"><font size="1">PATRICIA GRAY INC</font></a><font size="1"> is an award winning interior design firm writing about lifestyle and <br />WHAT'S HOT in the world of interior design, architecture, art and travel. <br /></font><a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/"><font size="1">2011 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™</font></a></p> </div>

Janus et Cie - The Ultimate Teak Umbrellas

Janus et Cie Teak Octagonal Umbrellas Janus et Cie makes the ultimate in teak umbrellas. I am fascinated by the attention to de...

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