Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Salisbury & Manus Purveyors Of Fine English Style

As the English sales person is wont to say: Madame (or Sir), today I have some fine goods to offer for your inspection and enjoyment.
Really. I have an English friend who owns a business in New York who still speaks this way, and I adore him and his pretty way of speaking to me.

If you love English style decorating, you couldn't get more English than the company Salisbury & Manus. They have a bricks and mortar address in New York City: 136 East 82nd Street, phone: 212 794-3044, and they are open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM.
If you don't live in or near New York, they have a terrific catalog, and an on line site that is chock full of smalls, fabric, wallpaper, gifts, accents, lighting, and tabletop HERE.
I picked out a couple of smalls that I really like, including this red tole tray.They carry a pretty complete line of fabrics for drapery and upholstery, including this classic Osborne and Little check.

I love love love this little Chinoiserie stool with the upholstered seat.My friend, the interior designer Michael Pelkey, says good looking waste baskets are the hardest small finishing touch to find when he does a project. I think he'd like this little prince-in-waiting.
Salisbury and Manus also have full services as interior designers. Their look book is classic English Country. It's a timeless look many homes on the East Coast and in the South have. No matter how many Mid Century Hollywood Regency trends that come and go, this comfortable and pretty style endures.

A wonderful shingle style mansion was home to the 2003 Southampton Designer Showhouse, and was designed by the firm of McKim, Meade & White at the turn of the century. This is the pavilion space off the library that heads to the pool. This is a bright and inviting space that compliments the light that is so singular and prominent to Hamptons living. Utilizing Scalamndre fabrics and trimmings of bright yellow and blue with regency inspired porcelain and furniture, the space comes alive. I especially love the wallpaper...


...as you can see by an example I am using in my kitchen in New Orleans. Of course we'd like to do a complete renovation of the kitchen, but until we can do it, I covered the hideous white Formica cabinets with wallpaper. Actually the hubs did it, and I think he did a great job! He removed all the doors, lightly sanded them, and then applied the paper. Then we added new hardware.
This is a photo of me (I was a blond for many years!) sitting outside my installation at The Southampton Designer Showhouse. I posted this a long time ago, but if you'd like to revisit it, you can go HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.
Salisbury and McManus designed this whimsical and fun wet bar. Mirror visually enhances the space. The stenciled the floor and trompe l'oeil book wallpaper finish this charming room.
The living room of this Greenwich, Connecticut home is a great showcase for the collection of antiques. Floral chintz at the windows and on the upholstery allow the room to feel cozy and warm. Incorporating this decorative scheme allows a room to feel inviting and warm while still utilizing important pieces of artwork and furniture.

Capturing the intensity of the garden surrounding this house, the dining room was papered with a Brunschwig & Fils verdant striae. Stark sisal carpeting was the perfect foil for the collection of country antiques.
This two story family room features a Lee Joffa large scale green and white plaid used to upholster the walls. This fabric is very similar to the Osborne and Little fabric swatch I showed you from the catalog.
Antiques and bright colors enhance this Fifth Avenue (New York City) entrance hall that transitions into the dining room. I love the black and white floor.
This table scape in a New York City apartment library creates an interesting focal point. S & M are adept at layering, don't you think?
This New York City living room is a perfect setting for an important collection of furniture and paintings. The fireplace is painted to imitate marble. The yellow walls are very English, and I count at least five prints being mixed to good effect.
This five-story townhouse was home to the 2000 Showhouse of the Millennium. S & M were assigned the entryway and staircase, which is unified with Scalamandre custom floral wallpaper and Stark custom carpeting. Theatrically scaled antiques and furniture are used for this large volume space.
This is the third apartment Salisbury and Manus decorated for these clients. That's the kind of repeat business we all would like to have! A spectacular collection of English regency furniture and artwork fill this Fifth Avenue pied-a-terre. A custom fabricated Stark carpet grounds the space to allow for a calm and inviting interior.
This is a sprawling contemporary ocean-front home designed by the architect, Norman Jaffe. African, Asian, and Irish vernacular have heavily influenced his work. Knowing the architect's inspiration led to the use of country Chinese furniture with over scale upholstered seating in the living room. A series of Travers fabrics helps to make this space visually appealing.
This Hamptons master bedroom looks out directly onto the ocean below. A large scale Manuel Canovas fabric is used to upholster the walls which makes this room cozy and comfortable.
This Hamptons guest room comes to life with a Christopher Norman water melon wallpaper and a Clarence House lime floral fabric.
The dining room of this Hampton home reflects the ocean near by, and provided the opportunity to showcase a collection of blue and white porcelain. Manuel Canovas floral material is used for the drapery that depicts a motif of blue & white china
This wonderful penthouse apartment with solarium and terrace is filled with light and color. A collection of 18th & 19th Century prints representing a hunting theme, is showcased. An Old World Weavers material for the drapery treatment and upholstered sofa depicts a steeple chase to complete this equestrian theme.
This master bedroom with its half tester bed and upholstered walls provides a charming refuge. Nina Campbell toile material is used for the drapery and bed for its soft color tones.
You can take the girl out of New York...Despite my recent foray into Last Century fun, our master bedroom once echoed the classic look that Salisbury & Manus employs. English and French Country were my first decorating loves, and you never forget your firsts.
The Bois Rose carpet is by Stark, and used to accent the collection of original artwork and antiques. A mix of luxurious fabrics by Cowtan & Tout and Pierre Frey are used to upholster the seating to compliment the colors in the carpet.
Madame (and Sir), I hope you enjoyed the little tour of Salisbury and Manus, and I hope you give me the opportunity to serve you again.

I think it's good to keep in touch with the classics, despite the allure of the young and new.

5 comments:

annechovie said...

Great post! I love what you did with your kitchen cabinets - very clever! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your comment!

Anonymous said...

Wow that is a beautiful and comprehensive post! I really enjoyed you blog and LOVE that portrait of you, it's fantastic! Glad you came by, let's stay in touch and thanks for the things you said :)

Visual Vamp said...

Wallpaper is a girl's best friend when it comes to hiding ugly sins. Sort of.
It's been four years since we did the cabinet doors, and they have held up pretty good. Of course I baby them a bit, and this probably wouldn't work for a huge family with kids.
As ever, thanks for reading and writing and blogging...

cotedetexas said...

this is new to me - fabulous!

Visual Vamp said...

Let's take a trip to New York and go shopping!