I heard that the Colefax and Fowler Mayfair office which was the home to Nancy Lancaster was going to shut down during summer so I made a point of going to see it before I went away on holiday.
These are the pics I took in June.
These are the pics I took in June.
This two pics are the room just before you enter the famous yellow room on the 1st floor.
As this is an actual showroom for the antique division of the design firm, this famous Yellow Room tends to always look so different. ( Please click on link for other pictures by another visitor.)
This corner is on the ground floor and what doesn't come across very well is the trim and the execution of the fabric covered walls.
This is the latest window by Charlotte Olympia.
So I thought today I had to go to see the famous yellow room one more time.
They had this sign out and the lady inside says that it will close around October so if you are in London please do go and have a look around as one isn't sure what it will become after the showroom closes.
I took some more random photos for your viewing.
This room is on the ground floor and I am not sure what its original purpose used to be.
My friend and I got to go into the garden which is usually closed off but as it has been so hot the last few days they had opened the doors.
This space is not special on its own merit but more wondrous when taking into account the location.
Some lovely garden furniture and accessories also available for sale.
This staircase is the rear entrance from the garden to the famous yellow room.
Once again the yellow room looking different but yet always the same.
There is a sale being held in the showroom so it is holding a lot of product.
There is a sale being held in the showroom so it is holding a lot of product.
But still beautiful.
I took a friend for a tour after lunch with me and as expected she loved it.
His pictures on the wall were beautiful and I now forget who they were taken by.
His art was surprisingly bourgeois and wouldn't have looked out of place at a wealthy white collar worker's home.
Sorry for the slack editing but if I try and make it look professional which this blog isn't then I wouldn't publish it and there are times when I just want to share some posts I think some of you may like without me yapping as I have nothing to add except for - ain't it lovely!
Have a lovely weekend x
That shade of yellow reaaly enhances without overpoweing...wonder if the Sun was influenced by this room?
ReplyDeleteIt is a naturally dark room so the yellow just works without being garish and yes my first living room was yellow bc I was missing the sun but not sure if that was her reason.
DeleteI watched Sotheby's David Bowie video and it went on and on without saying anything or showing anything. Your preview gives a hint why.
ReplyDeleteThe exhibit was one room plus an alcove bit which was actually quite small considering the hoopla. It if wasn't for the Bowie connection then it would not have made news Jim!
DeleteIt is all very lovely indeed! Thank you for brightening up my day with a bit of art and culture.
ReplyDeleteSSG xxx
Have a lovely warm weekend SSG xx
DeleteThank you for sharing this and all the lovely photos. Makes me sad. I visited the Brook St. C & F twice with my young daughter. They were so nice and genteel. Now it will be like all the commercial design spaces. What I enjoyed besides the history of the place was that a non-professional could just walk in and be very welcomed. Most places are to the trade and even if open to the public, not really welcoming. Brook Street is wonderful, also has the great Handel House Museum which also has the Jimi Hendrix room.
ReplyDeleteIt is really sad and I am going to go one more time at least bc for some reason they haven't been told what it will be after it closes but the yellow room is actually listed so it will stay as is but that doesn't mean the public will have access. The Handel museum is also a great spot indeed!
DeleteThanks for the tour of this beautiful showroom! I was there about 10 years ago. From classic Arts and Crafts center tables to fine Staffordshire pottery, they had the most exquisite and tasteful English antiques. Very tempting to fly over to catch the sale and start my next container.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Loi - you have to come and see it and visit!!
DeleteThank you Naomi for your pics of the yellow room. Have seen photos occasionally in magazines or design books but don't recall the views of the lovely leafy courtyard. It's a part of design history - so it's good that at least it will be preserved. Hopefully, they'll have the occasional open day.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoyed your hols! We're finally back now - still catching up with everything that needs to be done, including sorting out a tap that sprung a slow drip and managed to flood the kitchen floor, damaging a beautiful khilim. Two days after arriving home we flew to Melbourne for a wedding. So still a bit jetlagged and deranged. Weddings these days seem to last at least three days, what with the pre-wedding parties and the post wedding brunches that seemed to be going all day when we left. It's jolly cold here. About 7C maximum. Looking forward to warmer weather in Brisbane and the Gold Coast soon.
What do you think of the US elections! Scary or what? It will bring out the Maddies to vote and the rest might just stay home because they can't bring themselves to vote for either. Though G is inclined to think that old school Republicans might come out at the last and vote Hilary rather than see Trump get in. Best wishes, Pammie xx
Glad you are home safe Pammie! I am sure you had an amazing time but can't help but think that you can't help but think of Nice with an added dimension of sadness as I know you were just there in June. I don't believe the polls in the States and think it will be anyone's win - it will surely be the lowest turnout ever though so that much I will predict. Cruz demonstrates the Republican side but then many Democrats feel that way about HC. I am a bit politcally exhausted though! Were you able to vote while you were away for the Oz elections? Do Aussies do postal votes or did you queue up at a Aussie consulate? Anyway - glad you are safe home xx
DeleteThanks, Naomi. The place we stay in Nice is about four-five minutes walk from where it happened, the street leads directly into the Promenade des Anglais (but we'd left Nice well before). The poor people who own the little hotel struggled through winter after all their bookings were cancelled because of the attack in Paris - now everyone will cancel again. Our friend who owns the apartment where we stay in Paris is quite old. He's finding it very difficult to adjust - he sent us an email saying "we'll just hang on - what else can we do, or where can we go? It could happen again anywhere." So sad.
DeleteWe voted in the Oz elections at the embassy in Paris. In the last few years we've had a system where you can do pre-poll voting, both in Oz or overseas. Usually at least a couple of weeks, you can vote during working hours on any weekday. It's brilliant. No queues or hassles. Then on the way back our taxi was rammed from behind when the driver following didn't notice we were slowing down for a blockage ahead. The car just crashed straight into the back of us. We've both got a bit of whiplash, G especially, but guess we were lucky. Funny thing, I'd only just been saying the day before how we hadn't seen a single traffic, then we were in one.
Turnbull has a great challenge on his hands here trying to govern and do deals with the independents - dreaders some of them.
More eyes than usual will be on the US elections this time - such candidates - and at such a key time, as others in Europe are showing signs of moving to the Right under the influence of populist politicians. Interesting times ahead. Pammie xx
How convenient for you but sorry to hear about the car incident - I hope you were ok and got that sorted out there and followed up in Oz. I have to say I didn't follow the Aus elections as we had our own huge thing going on but politics everywhere surely isn't dull! x
DeleteHow convenient for you but sorry to hear about the car incident - I hope you were ok and got that sorted out there and followed up in Oz. I have to say I didn't follow the Aus elections as we had our own huge thing going on but politics everywhere surely isn't dull! x
DeleteLovely tour of an iconic showroom. Sad to think we are close to the end of an era when this one bows out.
ReplyDeleteI hope a fashion house will take over and have fashion shows there at least but yes - def end of an era!
DeleteI have TWO yellow rooms!The KITCHEN and my BEDROOM...............LOVE YELLOW!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for the TOUR............I have GOT to get to ENGLAND!THird BLOG today that SPEAKS to me and says MAKE PLANS ELIZABETH!!!!
Thank YOU for the motivation!
XX
My very first living room of my own was yellow but only to mimic the sun and wasn't a fashion statement! x
DeleteI love that place- visited over Christmas and we just comment how ridiculously expensive the real estate must be now. It's one of the most beautiful houses I be seen - and the little courtyard!
ReplyDeleteEaten comments....
ReplyDeleteWhere do my comments GO?
ReplyDeleteHi Lady Sarah - I always put comments on approval but wordpress and blogger are always at odds in the IT sense. I adore that house and whoever takes over the lease will be very lucky though I can't imagine any other business doing it justice like Colefax. Hopefully it is a fashion house so we can access the yellow room but fingers crossed it is not a hedge fund otherwise it will never be seen again!
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