HB Edit - Edition 11
Sharing the things on my ebay watch list that I don't have the space or money for, but wish I did.
After a brief hiatus last week, HB Edit is back.
And having received a shout-out from fellow second-hand aficionado, Rachel Cooney, I am thrilled to welcome a gaggle of new subscribers. Hello! To give you a heads up: if you see something you like, act fast, as this lot are no strangers to a bargain. And scroll down to read about the greatest room of all time, in my humble opinion… Enjoy!
This is quite big, but such a great tray. If I had a generous kitchen, it could sit on top of the counter, beside the oven, filled with oils, vinegars and sauces. Or on a coffee table to break up a piece of furniture. Either way, it’s a fantastic shape, has a lovely patina, and is a pretty attractive price.
While this is on the more expensive side, I think it is so handsome. It’s a very masculine shape, with sharp edges and attractive brass drop handles and shield key holes. And the marble is also in good nick, with pretty shaped edges. Ideally, I would strip this back to be raw pine. Not my usual style, but I think this is just so smart.
Small but perfectly formed. As a waste paper basket in a powder room (read: loo), or even as planter for a slightly larger pot (maybe a geranium or pelargonium). Not expensive, but a good way to bring in some texture to a space. And cheap as chips!
Not to be rude to Schumacher, who we love, but I like this fabric because it looks a bit like a Décors Barbares fabric, which are so pretty but eye-wateringly expensive. It’s a very ‘in’ colour combination - blue and brown - but I like that it is a floral without being chintzy: a really good balance. Maybe one for my own bedroom?
I have spoken about my love of this arm-shape before. This particular chair looks in excellent condition, and I guess that’s what you pay for here. As with many like this, it’s not the chair you want to snuggle down and watch SATC in, but it would elevate a room in a more considered way.
I love a bit of Matégot (tbc if this is genuine), and the sunny weather has me thinking about garden furniture a lot. I really like it when outside spaces are almost decorated like rooms; seating, tables, lighting and composition all considered, for maximum impact. I think this would be such a chic table to throw into the mix, and practical, too, if space is limited.
Scrubbed back to raw pine, filled and re-waxed, this could be a winner of a table. It is a bit smaller, but I think the shape is super smart. Even though the listing does not indicate it being particularly, old, it looks almost Swedish, or Alpine even. I like the trestle ends, and often think lighter wood is better for dining tables. And only £65!
With thinking about outside furniture comes thinking about outdoor fabrics. I have a semi-complicated system at home whereby the cushions have to live outside (under a cover) because we don’t have enough storage space inside (printed and laminated rules are pending - you think I’m joking, I am not). The dream is obviously for the cushions to be waterproof themselves. This outdoor fabric is really smart, would hide any stains, and could stand the outdoors: the holy trinity.
Feature: for each edition, I will feature a person, object, room or place that inspires me.
This week I am writing about Oscar and Annette de la Renta’s Connecticut country house, specifically their library-cum-bedroom.
In my rarely-sought-after, humble and frankly irrelevant opinion, this is one of the greatest rooms of all time. If not the greatest. It’s not an original choice on my part, and it certainly is not to everyone’s taste, but to me this room is a masterclass in decorating.
While beautiful in its totality, the many layers reveal a number of things I love. Firstly, the scale of the room. It is amazing that despite being such a cavernous space, it is so inviting; pockets of the room call out to you, tempting you to sink in and feel totally at ease. The height of the windows, the soft curve of the ceiling and the detail in both the panelling and the fireplace (the model for one installed at Houghton) create a magnificent effect. This backdrop, created by Architect Ernesto Buch, is the ultimate stage for a lifetime’s collection of treasures.
Secondly, the palette. Despite plain, neutral walls, the room is warm and inviting (helped in large part by the bookcases, which bring some architectural interest). The soft, earthy tones of the book spines and upholstery offset the gilding of the mirror (what a mirror!), and it’s as if Oscar listened to all the great interior designers by incorporating red (Nancy Lancaster) and black (John Fowler) into the scheme. The combination of velvet, heavy linen, tapestry and jute also adds depth and interest, and the plants bring freshness, both in colour and by virtue of being alive (this is the only sort of ‘house plant’ I will allow).
And then of course, thirdly, the things. So many things it’s sort of hard to know where to look. Books, objet, candles, trays, matchsticks, pictures, busts, boxes and cards. Traces of life scattered throughout, that still manage to create a sense of order, as if designed (probably because it most likely was!). My favourite piece is the William Kent table, to the left of the fireplace. Reportedly bought in London, but the exact provenance is unclear. It’s intricate and camp, with a chunky wedge of orange marble for good measure, but the stripped pine finish grounds it, and prevents it from feeling too grand. It’s grown up without being intimidating. Just perfection.
And then of course, around the corner, is this magnificent four poster bed. The early Georgian-style bed is upholstered in Robert Kime’s Tree of Life, a fabric that has come to be synonymous with understated country house grandeur. I love the way the square pillows echo the room’s exacting, architectural detailing and cut through amidst the gathered fabric canopy. And the mountains of books paint a charming picture of the de la Rentas, always reading, always learning.
While there are some things I would change (I’d start with new lampshades, pretty much everywhere), I think you could study these images for hours, and trace the genius in every detail. In every corner there is a piece of treasure, a collection of memories, a thoughtful arrangement.
It makes total sense that a library and a bedroom should be combined: they are both personal spaces of intimacy and escape. Writing love letters, reading novels, sleeping.
I hope that one day, albeit on a much smaller scale no doubt, I will be able to create a similar space in my own home. Filled with memories collected over time, curated with love, and displayed with flair. It’s free to dream…
More anon!
Instagram: @hugobeazley
Postal address: 97 Regency Street, London, SW1P 4AL