Eric Cohler the Mixmaster

Eric Cohler has been dubbed the “Mix Master” because of his deft ability to blend traditional and contemporary design. Recently, I attended Eric’s presentation at the Marketplace Design Center in Philadelphia. Eric discussed his past, his concepts and his inspirations. Eric said “we all need a past to find the here and now.” I can understand how his experiences have provided a solid foundation for all of the wonderful designs he produces. By sharing Eric’s wisdom, perhaps I can help you fashion a space that suits your lifestyle in the here and now.

Since he was a young man, Eric has come in contact with a myriad of contemporary, traditional, and historic influences. Driven by a passion for design, Eric weaves contrary elements into interesting furnishings and spaces. His work includes fabric collections, carpet design, appliance design and more. 

Eric Cohler's newest fabric designs: The Lodge Collection for Lee Jofa

Eric’s passion for interior design developed at an early age. When he was just a boy of ten, a few decorating episodes on the “I Love Lucy Show” inspired Eric to rearrange the living room. His mother was an interior designer so she was not pleased with her son moving the furniture. However she left the bergeré chairs where Eric had placed them and a design star was born. 

Some contemporary influence came from the home of his great grandparents. George Keck was the architect for “The House of Tomorrow” at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. In 1937 Eric’s great grandparents hired Mr. Keck to design and build their Bauhaus style home. His great grandmother had stated one requirement, “I want the house of the day after tomorrow”.

The family business, Kuppenheimer Clothiers imparted a traditional influence. Kuppenheimer was a company known for quality textiles and classic taste. Eric is a trained art historian; he holds a master's degree in historic preservation from the Columbia University School of Architecture and a certificate in design from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

Here are some photos that illustrate how Eric Cohler pulls it all together:

The Library, at Eric Cohler’s weekend home in Connecticut. Eric used a striped wall covering horizontally to visually widen a narrow space. The textiles in this space have geometric lines for a contemporary feel, mixed with chair frames in classic 18th Century styles.

 

Bedroom design by Eric Cohler. Black and white, yin and yang, wabi – sabi… Contemporary and traditional are not the only things that Eric contrasts in a design. He likes to create frisson - friction or tension in room. Eric professes that "tension holds things together".

This vignette is from Eric Cohler’s Manhattan home. The frames used are contemporary, but the photographs being framed are both vintage and contemporary. Since childhood Eric has loved the work of David Hicks and he uses one of David’s carpet designs here. 

Hanging the artwork Salon Style is a classic technique, one that Thomas Jefferson employed at Monticello.  There is a photo of the parlor at Monticello showing artwork hung salon style, but after several attempts to obtain permission to use the photo, I have not received a reply. A special thanks to Marc Leepson at Saving Monticello, for helping me track down this photograph and trying to help me obtain permission for use. 

If you would like to see more artwork hung salon style, check out Jennifer Boles post on her blog The Peak of Chic.

As I mentioned in a previous post Eric also discussed "The Power of Passion".

Eric summed up his presentation with what I believe was the most important design concept he shared: 

“Nothing is in good taste unless it suits the way you live”.   Eric Cohler

Nemours Mansion and Gardens

Being a member of the ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) definitely has its perks. My all time favorite thing to do is touring historic homes, and last week my local chapter organized a group trip to Nemours in Delaware. This exquisite Mansion and gardens has recently reopened after undergoing a $38.6 million dollar renovation. 

Alfred I. DuPont built Nemours for his second wife Alicia Bradford Maddox DuPont between 1909 and 1910. The mansion was designed by the prestigious New York architectural firm Carrere and Hastings. The design of Nemours is loosely modeled after Le Petit Trianon, the beloved home and gardens of Queen Marie Antoinette. After Alicia passed away in 1920, Alfred married Jessie Dew Ball. The mansion was furnished over time by Alfred and Jessie. The DuPont’s procured many outstanding antiques, such as; Marie Antoinette’s musical clock, a chandelier that was Lafayette’s, and a leather chair from Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Alongside these fine antiques, there are quality pieces that were purchased at department stores. The eclectic collection of exquisite items throughout Nemours creates the ambience of a tasteful home that was lived in, not a museum of period style. For Architecture and Interior Design aficionados, Nemours is a treasure trove.

Functionality has been incorporated throughout the home. Indoor plumbing was a novelty when Nemours was built; however, the bath suites feature walk in showers as well as soaking tubs. Even the workout room in the basement is equipped with two shower stalls. The bowling alley converts to a home movie theater and is adjacent to the shuffleboard room. Cork flooring was used in the kitchen for the comfort of the staff. Cork flooring was also used in the billiards room in the areas surrounding the tables. Attesting to the durability of cork, the original material is still in the billiards room, the kitchen floor was replaced in 1970 and has served through forty years of tourist traffic.

As a boy, Alfred worked in the powder yard of his family’s gunpowder business. As a young adult, Alfred was running that business, and he invented machinery to accomplish things in a more efficient manner. His hands on training gave him a clear understanding of the processes required to run the mill. His education and skills gave him the ability to mechanize those processes. This passion for mechanics is also apparent in his home. Alfred designed machinery to produce ice, an apparatus for carbonating and bottling water from the springs on the estate, and many other devices. The electricity for the home was provided by a diesel fueled generator. In the furnace room you will also find two large hot water heaters. Alfred was prepared for mechanical problems; if something broke down he had a back up. Alfred’s mechanical spaces are also immaculate; the boiler room is cleaner than the average kitchen. For guests that appreciate ingenuity, there are a lot of interesting things at Nemours. 

Indoor photography is not permitted, but on the balcony and when touring the gardens you may take photos for personal use. From Mrs. DuPont’s suite you can step out onto the balcony and enjoy sweeping views. This photo overlooks the Southern Gardens. The Parterre or Boxwood Garden is the first of three garden rooms that compose the Southern Gardens. 

The servants’ wing is also visible from the balcony.

The conservatory is an interior space, so I was unable to photograph the walls covered in trelliage; however, the treatment was continued on this exterior wall.

Our docent pointed out that the fresh arrangements are created using floral and plant material gathered from the gardens. The hall was graced with a single Magnolia grandiflora bloom that sumptuously perfumed the room. This photo was taken of the magnificent tree from which the bloom had been cut.

When you step out of the mansion’s main entrance and descending into the gardens, you are walking through a series of garden “rooms”. First you see the Vista and the Reflecting Pool at the bottom of the stairs. Beyond the Reflecting Pool you catch a glimpse of the gilded statue, which stands at the center of the Maze Garden. The Colonnade creates a background for the scene. 

The Vista is also known as the Long Walk, each of the urns that line the Long Walk contains a small fountain.

The rowboat that floats in the Reflecting Pool is a reproduction of the 15-foot Whitehall that Mr. DuPont kept there. The Reflecting Pool holds 800,000 gallons of water. The fountain in the center is composed of 157 jets arranged in a 40-foot diameter. 

The Colonnade, built as a memorial to Pierre Samuel DuPont de Nemours and his son Eleuthere Irenee DuPont. The pair of red marble urns are from one of the many palaces of the Austro-Hungarian emperor Franz-Joseph.

After passing through the Colonnade you arrive at the Sunken Garden. The view looking down upon the Sunken Garden, and across the lake to the Temple of Love. The temple is a reference to the gardens of Le Petit Trianon, which also culminate in a small, round temple style garden folly.

The Mansion was closed for a three year period. During that time curators, conservators, and craftsmen were busy with a number of projects. Electric wiring was upgraded; sprinkler systems and climate control were installed. Paint colors were returned to their original brighter colors; window treatments and some of the carpets were reproduced. Fortunately many of the original oriental carpets are still intact and on display throughout the mansion. In the gardens, landscape material has been pruned, removed or replaced to restore them to their original grandeur. 

With the majority of the restoration work completed Nemours literally sparkles as brightly as gold. One of the projects restored the statue “Achievement” by Henri Crenier. Paint has been removed and 23 karat gold leaf applied to restore it to the original splendor.

Restoration work continues, but the mansion and gardens will remain open during the completion of the remaining projects. The greenhouse is slated for repair in the coming year and other out buildings will also receive attention in the future. One of the stipulations in the will of Alfred I. DuPont was that his trustees maintain and preserve Nemours Mansion and Gardens “for the pleasure and benefit of the public”. 

In celebration of the Beatles 50th Anniversary: Century Furniture embraces Beatlemania with unique furniture design

The Beatles at the Indra Club 1960 - More photos at The Beatles Source

It was August of 1960 when a group of extraordinarily talented musicians from Liverpool settled on the name for the band. John Lennon formed the group in 1957 with some school friends, and later that year Paul McCartney and George Harrison joined. The early years were shifting with various band names and band members. The initial name was the Black Jacks, which was quickly changed to the Quarrymen. They recorded a demo and continued to perform as the Quarrymen until early 1959. In 1960 John, Paul and George were joined by bassist Stu Sutcliffe and drummer Pete Best. It was suggested that they change the band name to the “Beetles” as a tribute to Buddy Holly and the Crickets. They became the “Beatals” for a short time and went through a series of name changes that included “Long John and the Beetles”, “Silver Beetles”, “Silver Beats” and the “Silver Beatles”. They finally settled on the “Beatles” that August, and the most famous band in history was born. The Beatles abandoned their jobs and schools in Liverpool and went on to Hamburg. As the Quarrymen they had played at the Casbah Coffee Club and the Cavern Club. The first venue they played as the Beatles was the Indra Club on August 17, 1960. 

To mark this event Century Furniture has designed this seating piece which they describe as follows:

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of one of the most legendary bands in history, Century Furniture embraces Beatlemania this spring. More than simply a band, the Beatles united countries, races and people of all walks of life. Their legacy—the ideals of peace, love and acceptance—resonate just as strongly today as they did during the social and cultural revolution of the sixties.

Paying tribute to their anniversary, Century marries an iconic Beatles tapestry to the graceful and simple lines of their Mendocino settee, itself an eco-friendly sustainable frame with soy based cushions. This marriage embodies the social consciousness that the Beatles embraced and creates a piece of memorabilia that would complete any Beatle maniac’s collection. 

Michael, of Fab 4 art helped me determine which photograph was used to create the tapestry. The photo was taken during the Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band photo shoot. There is a very interesting story behind this photo shoot and the process to create the album cover. On the cover, the images of many notorious people create the background crowd. Study those images and you will find May West, Bob Dylan, Marilyn Monroe, Karl Marx, Oscar Wilde, Shirley Temple, Lawrence of Arabia and more. The cover of Sgt. Pepper's was designed by Peter Blake and the photo shoot took place at Chelsea Manor Photographic Studios on March 30, 1967. Both Fab 4 art and The Internet Beatles Album websites provide detailed insight on the album cover.

This unique furniture design tells a story and celebrates history. The most successful home interiors become sanctuary for the family that lives there. Spaces are welcoming when they surround you with things you love, reflect your passions, evoke memories or transport you to another time and place. 

What do you think of this settee? Is there a place in your home or business where you can imagine this?

How was the name "Fonthill" Chosen?

If you follow the Architect Design ™ blog you have probably seen at least one of his excellent posts on Fonthill Museum, Mercer Museum, and the Moravian Pottery and Tileworks. This Spring the traveling architect visited Doylestown in Bucks County, PA and toured all of the Mercer sites. His series of posts are packed with great photography and a wealth of information. In this post dated April 20, 2010 a guest poses a question in the comments section. “How was the name "Fonthill" Chosen? Is there any relationship between the choice of this name to William Beckford's legendary Fonthill Abbey, with it ever evolving towering Spire?” 

In the Entrance Hall at Fonthill Museum there is a display case full of interesting items. There are copies of many original Mercer documents, photographs of Henry at various ages, a page from the guest registry at Fonthill, sketches and pages from Henry’s notebooks. These two pages give us a glimpse into Henry’s ideas for naming his castle. 

I added a red arrow to this document to call your attention to one particular comment “Fonthill abandoned because of similar names in England & America”. Henry Mercer’s castle is located on a hill and natural springs are abundant throughout the grounds. You can see from the list of possible names that hill, water, spring and font are repetitive. Font means spring, choices such as Springhill, Fonthill, Northwell, and Hillwater seemed to keep recurring to Henry as describing the essence of the property. Although it was initially abandoned, in the end he returned to the name “Fonthill”. 

 The Spring House at Henry Mercer's Fonthill 

Construction of Willliam Beckford’s Fonthill Abbey was begun in 1795 near Hindon in Wiltshire, England. In Aberdeen, Scotland there is a bed & breakfast named Fonthill. In Ontario, Canada they have a town called Fonthill. There are also two estates in the United States bearing the name. Robert M. T. Hunter’s estate “Fonthill” was built in 1832 in Essex County, Virginia. He was known for serving as United States Senator, Confederate Secretary of State, and a Confederate States Senator during the Civil War. In the year 1847 Actor Edwin Forrest purchased farmland overlooking the Hudson River, in the Bronx neighborhood of Kingsbridge. He had a castle built for himself and his wife Catherine to reside in. Forrest chose to name the property Fonthill after William Beckford’s Fonthill Abbey. Construction of Henry Mercer’s Fonthill began in 1908.

 The Gazing Pool at Henry Mercer's Fonthill

By the way, the “M” in Robert M. T. Hunter stands for Mercer. Henry Chapman Mercer’s father had family from Maryland and Virginia. I wonder if there is a connection. Does anyone out there know if there is a relationship? Does anyone know of any other estates or castles named Fonthill?

 This stream feeds in to the gazing pool shown above

The water flows out of the pool and intersects with another stream in the woods

One of Henry Mercer's concrete bridges crosses a stream

Researching my family history gives personal meaning to Memorial Day

“Time will not dim the glory of their deeds”

General of the Armies John J. Pershing

My father has this family photograph of his uncle. The photo is mounted on an old piece of cardboard with hand written captions above and below.  The handwriting is my great grandmother's; it is faded and very difficult to read.  I scanned it into Photoshop and zoomed in on the image to decipher it.

The top reads:

Prvt. Joseph Brady Collins II

Co. AA136MGBA

Camp Lee Virginia

April 28, 1918

Sailed on June 23

The bottom:

Gave His Life for His Country

October 28, 1918 (Gas Poison + Bronchitis

Pneumonia) at Toul, France

In Active Service

There is also a photocopy showing two of the pages from my great grandmother’s journal. Half of the words are indecipherable. Today is Memorial Day and I want to share this photograph, so I am driven to discover more. I know he is buried in France but I am not sure where.

First I googled “WWI servicemen buried in France” and one of the burial sites is Meuse Argonne which is something I recognize in the journal. But the journal context is about the offensive being from September 25th to October 1st 1918. From the journal I can also decipher “Flanders” and “Belgium” but those dates listed are early November and my great uncle passed away on October 28th. Flanders Field is an infamous burial site in Flanders. I wondered if his remains were transported to Belgium.

I was never a fan of the details on war history but now I have a personal interest. Searching the Meuse Argonne offensive I find a plethora of information. This offensive was the largest operation and victory of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. The American General John J. Pershing led the offense. This event is also known as the Battle of the Argonne Forest, the Grand Offensive and the 100 Days Offensive. According to Wikipedia “The objective was the capture of the railroad hub at Sedan which would break the rail net supporting the German Army in France and Flanders.” There were 26,277 American soldiers killed in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, which is the largest number of U.S. dead in a single battle. In spite of a great number of casualties by October 31st, they had advanced fifteen kilometers and finally cleared the Argonne Forest. This offensive proved to be the final straw, and German troops began to surrender in large numbers.  It was on November 11, 1918 that the Armistice was signed between the Allies and the Germans.

I tried searching “WWI Co. AA136MGBA” and found nothing. It’s rare that Google comes up empty but it did. I tried a few other things and finally searching “WWI Camp Lee 136th” led me to New River Notes.  This page contains a detailed itinerary of the 37th Buckeye Division and as I am reading it I find that the dates and places are lining up almost precisely with the journal. Handwritten words that were previously impossible to ascertain are suddenly clarified. I am certain that this was my great uncle's path. Understanding this I surmise that the journal entry appears to be an accounting that my great grandmother obtained of the division her son traveled with. I begin to plot the locations on Google maps; maybe I can determine which of the cemeteries for American soldiers is closest to their route.

Click here to see my map on Google

I look for additional family notes and find three letters written to my great grandmother in December of 1918 from the army chaplain. In the first he is returning a letter to her she had written to her son, he believes that she has already received from the government an official report of her son’s death. His letter is compassionate and he takes the time to offer her some details: “the pneumonia, though, was too severe to be successfully checked. It came as a result of the irritation of his lungs by gas at the front” Further on in the letter “ His body is buried at the new American Cemetery near this old city of Toul; and from it the view sweeps away across the fields….” “there it will rest in faithful keeping until the government determines what is to be done with the bodies of the soldiers that lie in France.” The second letter contains an apology “I am so sorry to see by the date of these letters to him (her son) that the government’s notification may have been very slow.” In the third letter it is apparent that she has received word of her son’s passing and he is answering her questions. Again burial is mentioned “The Government announced some months ago that the bodies of the men who fell in France would be carried back to America after the war.”

I know that his body was not returned to America, therefore it may still be in the American Cemetery closest to Toul France which is the St. Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial at the western edge of Thiaucourt France.

I can check with my aunt to see if she has anymore family notes or journal pages that verify the cemetery. However, the time spent researching is invaluable; I now have a lucid understanding of WWI history, France’s geography, and a visual idea of how the French countryside appeared to my great uncle. I also have a reverence for my great uncle, my great grandmother, all service people and the mothers of those who served.

Outdoor Living Rooms

Outdoor living rooms continue to grow in popularity, and they are not just limited to southern climates. With the addition of a chimea or a fireplace the season can be expanded. Homeowners as far north as Canada are increasing their living area by creating an outdoor space. If you are in a northern climate and want a true three season space think about adding a sunroom or conservatory.

The fireplace extends the season for this outdoor living room. The Portofino collection by Summer Classics features never-rust aluminum frames with a resin wicker designed to weather the elements.  Even area rugs can be woven of fibers that can be used outdoors. Photo courtesy of Summer Classics.

Because demand is on the rise, the number of products available continues to expand. Go beyond the grill and install a complete outdoor kitchen. Define your outdoor rooms with architectural features, such as a pergola. Fabrics designed specifically for outdoor application can be used to create a divider, curtain or even a cabana. Outdoor furniture is designed for dining and lounging. Add a television and a sofa and you have a new family room. (Careful planning and professional installation are a must if you use a TV outdoors).

 

The Denpasar collection by Richard Frinier for Century Furniture. Exotic styling includes Dutch and Indonesian Colonial elements with references to Balinese architecture. Constructed with Sunbrella fabrics, aluminum frames and synthetic woven fibers, this furniture can withstand outdoor exposure with routine maintenance.Photo courtesy of Century Furniture. 





Another great way to outline a room is with the flooring. There are many choices for the great outdoors. A terrace or patio can be fabricated from stone, brick or stamped concrete. Decks can be constructed of wood sourced from a supplier following sustainable practices, or built with a recycled product.        

 

Occassionally I find the time to enjoy my own backyard. Watching the fish and listening to the water flow through the ponds is very restorative.                      

There are several ways to enhance the relaxing ambiance of nature. Consider a water feature, such as a pond with waterfall, or a bubbling fountain. The sound of running water is very soothing. How about piping in your favorite tunes from your iPod? Professionals are expert in wiring hidden speakers and balancing the acoustics for your space.

Expertise in home automation can also be applied to your outdoor lighting projects. Light levels can be adjusted – brighter levels if you want to host family game night – decorative lighting to highlight a special feature or low light levels for a romantic atmosphere. One of the best reasons for an outdoor living room is to enjoy the landscaping and gardens. Correlate the placement of your living space to optimize the views, scents and sounds of the garden. 

The Power of Passion

Have you ever found yourself pondering something random, and then coincidentally a related topic comes up again the same day? I was driving into Philadelphia last week and thinking of my nieces and nephews.  They are part of my daily litany, for each of them I take a moment to be thankful for their good fortune, or pray for support if they need it.  For one nephew, I am grateful for his talent with automobile mechanics and more importantly that he recognized his gift, pursued it, and succeeded.  As I was driving I began to reflect on his situation.  He first started to pursue accounting and found that was not his strength.  After completing some accounting coursework in college, he decided to take a course in auto mechanics. 

I had attributed his success to mechanical talent, perhaps inherited from his paternal grandfather.  But I began to wonder, was it talent, or a passion for all things automotive that motivated him?  Since he was three years old, maybe younger he has loved cars.  Even at that age, he could identify the make and model of most automobiles. Throughout his childhood he collected and built all kinds of scale model cars.  So maybe it wasn't his ability, but the excitement and anticipation of working on real cars that propelled him through his educational program.  It has been a year since he graduated and he is gainfully employed in a tough economy.  When I see him he is more animated, outgoing and energetic.  Pursuing something he enjoys has positively affected all aspects of his persona.   

I arrived in Philadelphia to hear Eric Cohler speak at the Marketplace Design Center.  Lee Jofa Fabrics has just launched a new collection designed by Eric.  He gave a brilliant presentation of his design work and talked about what motivated and inspired him.  Eric repeatedly mentioned the "Power of Passion" and the role that it plays in success.  He pointed out several infamous people and their passions.  Julia Child and her love of cooking, and the Kennedy family with their passionate involvement in politics.  Eric's own zeal is portrayed through his dynamism. 

  

I drove home wondering, was my nephew's gift the talent, or the passion?  I concluded that they are both splendid gifts, and have contributed to his success.  But I believe the passion will carry him much farther than the talent.