Samarkand Bliss

It's raining.  A drizzly, implacable London rain making a guest appearance in Hollywood. Fog everywhere, looming over the Kodak Theater and the Capitol Records Tower.  I'm waiting for Ricardo, my wonderful curtain guy, to come over and hang my Peter Dunham "Samarkand" living room curtains. 

I chose the colorway above because my walls are painted Farrow and Ball's "Green Blue" and I wanted them to be a subtle backdrop to the rest of the room.  Goodness knows I have enough going on in there already.

For an entire year now, I've been avoiding photographing the windows.  I either crop them out of frame or have people move away from them whenever I take a picture.  Very occasionally, they make it into a shot.  

See what I mean?  They're big barren spaces of nothingness.  When we moved in a year ago, the previous owner had left some voluminous swagged "Gone with the Wind" curtains that resembled ball gowns from an antebellum Bette Davis movie.  I'm sure they cost a fortune, but they didn't work.  Underneath were the slatted blinds, so we've been living with those ever since. 

Doorbell.  Excuse me.

(One hour later)

Ricardo works fast.  I'm back.  They're up.  I'm ecstatic.  They completely change the whole room, don't you think?

I specifically chose cornices over curtain rods because I wanted to add some height and drama to the room.  Plus, I like the feeling of traditional coziness they provide.  When the curtains are closed, you can see the lovely border along the inside edge which emphasizes their verticality.

I think the pattern's large scale works as an effective backdrop to the room: expansive enough to add texture but subtle enough not fight with the other patterns.  I couldn't be happier. We're having a dinner party on Saturday. Maybe we can eat in the living room.

For those of you who may be heading to LA soon, do yourself a favor and stop by Peter's beautiful store, Hollywood at Home.  It's one of my favorite places in the world, and is such a wonderful showcase for the brilliant interior and fabric design that Peter does so well.  The vibe is glamorous, aristo-bohemian, globe-trotting chic.  (Think Jackie Onassis in Jaipur or Jemima Khan in St. Tropez.)  If you're lucky enough to see him there, be sure to say hello, as he and his welcoming staff are as kind a set of people as you're ever likely to meet.