Chinoiserie in Scandinavia

The October issue of House Beautiful is a real keeper. My favorite feature is this wonderful home of interior designer Nicolette Horn in Oslo, Norway. It unexpectedly combines lots of Chinoiserie in a historic Scandinavian home. I found this article especially interesting because my grandmother was Norwegian and from Oslo. Interestingly, she loved Chinoiserie. The house includes palm trees, blue and white Chinese porcelain, Quadrille fabrics and wallpaper, faux bamboo, pagodas, Chinese garden stools, fretwork, and Chinoiserie furniture and wallpaper. Notice how she combines purple and Chinoiserie in one of the bedrooms. I think using purple with Chinoiserie is going global.

Trending - The Big Chinoiserie Lamp

Nick Olsen

In November, I did a post for House Beautiful on the subject of Glazed Ceramic Lamps that was linked to their December/January issue. The focus was statement lamps like Christopher Spitzmiller's iconic gourd lamps, and how they have become focal points in decorating a room.

What I am also seeing more and more is the size of these lamps increasing dramatically in size. Here is a gallery of some favorite oversized Chinoiserie lamps in rooms - in the past, these would have been deemed far too big. I have always gone larger with lampshades and with hats, preferring the drama of the larger scale, so I welcome this look in lamps. What do you think?

And please stop by The Glam Pad to see my virtual makeover of the powder room today in the Chinese Village House as this series nears an end.

Nick Olsen

Maria Barros

Architectural Digest

via Everything LEB

Eric Cohler

Nathan Schroder

Danika Herrick

Chinoiserie Chic

Katie Ridder

Mary McDonald

Mary McDonald

Palmer Weiss

via the Pursuit of Style

via This is Glamorous

Marjorie Skouras

Bunny Williams

Michael Carter

Lopeti Etu - hat made from Ikea lamps

House Beautiful, Navy, & an Inspiration Board

The new February 2013 issue of House Beautiful (www.housebeautiful.com) has an article "Wallpaper Chinoiserie" that I know followers of Chinoiserie Chic will want to read. This is an exclusive preview. House Beautiful editors have weighed in on some of the best Chinoiserie wallcoverings on the market. I love the dragon paper by Sara Story Design and created an inspiration board around it - a navy blue bedroom.

You'll also want to check out in this issue indigo hued china in "the Best!," a fabulous article for DIYers on the top paint colors for painting furniture entitled "Color Painted Furniture," Greek key and other geometrics in the article "Fabrics Graphic," and of course many stunning rooms with Chinoiserie. There is a Chinoiserie filled home by Ann Pyne not to be missed. This a great issue.

New Series Starts Wednesday

Alessandra Branca

On Wednesday, we will begin a series on a Chinoiserie New Year's Eve filled with tips on setting up a bar with Chinoiserie Chic style, my favorite Chinoiserie cocktails, my daughter's bar cart that was featured in Washington Post Express, setting the New Year's Eve table for those entertaining at home, and much more. We will also have an exclusive preview of a Chinoiserie feature in the upcoming issue of House Beautiful.

Chinoiserie Chic in Online House Beautiful

Bloggers' Decorating Obsessions for 2013

Brass, grass cloth, and camouflage are just a few of the home decor obsessions that bloggers can't get enough of as we head into 2013.

Glazed Ceramic Lamps

"Lamps have become a fashion accessory for the home, the jewelry of a room," Beth Connolly of Chinoiserie Chic says. "I adore gourd-shaped lamps in rooms with chinoiserie elements. Designers seem to favor the solid colors, although blue and white Chinese designs add a classic element."

Living room design by Alexander Doherty

Read the rest of the bloggers' picks here.

I Am In House Beautiful

My favorite shelter magazine House Beautiful just became even better in my book - I am in the new December/January 2013 issue on page 65! And if you have the House Beautiful Connect app on your mobile device, you can unlock the special post I wrote for House Beautiful.