Authors’ Alcove: The San Francisco Fall Show
Aubrey Beardsley, The Yellow Book, An Illustrated Quarterly, 1894, London
We've always admired Aubrey Beardsley's fin de siècle ink drawing for the cover of The Yellow Book series. Beardsley, who died of tuberculosis at age twenty-five, mastered the art of black and white in his brief life. His night scene depicts an elegant woman transfixed outside a bookstore, with the pierrot figure of the shopkeeper looking on. We hope you are equally transported by the COUPAR-sponsored Authors' Alcove at The San Francisco Fall Show this year (October 17 - 20, 2024, Opening Gala Night, October 16, 2014). Find just a few of the incredible picks highlighted below.
Seeking Beauty, Veere Grenney
In his book Seeking Beauty, London-based international designer Veere Grenney opens his three homes to the viewer: an enchanting villa in Tangiers, an eighteenth-century Palladian estate in Suffolk, and his new London residence. The irony is that the quintessentially English designer was born in New Zealand. After traveling through Asia, he ended up in late 1970s London, opening an antique stall in Portobello Road Market. His entry into design was an apprenticeship with Mary Fox Linton and David Hicks, followed by directorship at the interior decorating firm Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler before founding his company in 1996.
McMillen100 Years of Decorating, Ann Pyne
Not to be outdone by Britain, America has New York's McMillen, Inc., which opened in 1924 under the leadership of Eleanor Stockstrom McMillen (later Eleanor McMillen Brown). Current president Ann Pyne authored the book McMillen 100 Years of Decorating, covering the company's incredible legacy. Mrs. Brown, a graduate of the New York School of Fine and Applied Art (later Parsons School of Design), brought an educated eye to the business. McMillen's clients ranged from socialite Babe Paley to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and past employees included the iconic designers Albert Hadley, Mark Hampton, Tom Buckley, and Kevin McNamara.
Forever Beautiful: All-American Style All Year Long, Mark D. Sikes
Moving on to the West Coast, Los Angeles-based designer Mark D. Sikes penned his third book in the Beautiful trilogy, Forever Beautiful: All-American Style All Year Long—the AD100 and Elle Decor A-Lister excels at creating indoor and outdoor elegance. Reese Witherspoon and Dr. Jill Biden are among his clients. In the book, Sikes profiles a different home for each month. One month showcases a Viscaya-esque estate in Coral Gables that he furnished in his trademark blue and white patterns. Another month spotlights an Old Hollywood Mediterranean-styled guest house. Sikes employed a bold red and blue color palette.
