from an article in Traditional Homes Decorators' Showhouse magazine by Lynn McGill and Heather Lobdell

What started out as a square, white box, with a 1970s-style laminated desk bolted to the wall, a badly worn carpet in "violent" blue, and a single metallic blind hiding the entire expanse of beautiful, diamond-paned windows, is now an exceptionally lovely "lady's" bedroom.  The transformation, achieved by making a big play of a singular, sensational fabric pattern, is nothing short of miraculous.

The English fabric, in shades of goldenrod, green, blue, and white, features a floral motif inspired by an antique Chinese screen.  Instead of limiting its use to the windows and the bed, the designer went the whole nine yards-or, more precisely, the whole 50 square yards-and upholstered the walls.  Decorative gimp, with a dot pattern that looks like nailheads, was used to conceal the seams.  (To allow for re-use after the showhouse ended, the fabric was stapled onto removable wooden slats with batting placed between them.)

Other features that make this space special include a "fireplace" across from the foot of the wrought-iron bed. (Actually, the "fireplace" is just an Adam-style mantel fronted by an antique English coal grate.)  And, to the left of the blue chest of drawers, there's a glass-and-gilt-framed three-panel screen displaying antique botanical prints mounted on silk.  Placed between the two open-arm Italian chairs in front of the faux fireplace is an antique English mirrored "plateau," originally used on banquet tables as a protective under-surface for floral arrangements.  Now placed on a stand, the plateau, found at a London flea market, serves as a charming tea table.

Patricia McLean Interiors, Inc.  mcleanints@mindspring.com    404. 266. 9772