EASTERN EXPOSURE

March 28, 2018

EASTERN EXPOSURE

TAKE OUT
Many years ago Frank and I happened upon
Portland Oregon's Lan Su Chinese Garden.
There within we discovered an urban oasis
of zen peace, quiet, and beauty. The art of
gardening is a passion shared by many far
eastern cultures. Yet one of the places I've
always longed to visit is Dawnridge - Tony
Duquettes' oriental fantasy in Beverly Hills.
A pastiche of all sorts of faux asian exotica,
it elegantly takes one to a much better place.
Yet nothing could be more American given
it's amazing artifacts were crafted of found
everyday objects such as hubcaps and antlers.

GARDEN VARIETY
We've all been hooked since the first westerner
was exposed to asian influences. Centuries later
eastern art, design, cuisine, and culture are both
exotic and yet all too familiar. Just look around
your house. Chances are you own a few pieces
plucked from a take out menu of eastern design
elements. Whether Chinese, Japanese, or any
far east derivative - all work perfectly. When
east meets west it's sure to deliver a wow to
any space - inside or out. Take this charming
inlaid pebble patio from last year's Kip's Bay
Show House. While an ancient technique was
beyond fresh and modern centuries later.

SITTING PRETTY
In their purest application, each asian culture's
design aesthetic is based on a highly disciplined
world view. One in which everything has a time,
place, purpose, and reason for being. Consider
this lovely Qing dynasty garden seat currently
in our shop. It's design is if nothing else highly
practical. Created to provide outdoor seating it's
porcelain exterior easily withstands whatever
comes it's way. Come rain or shine, cutouts on
the top plus an open interior and base insure that
this beauty goes with the flow. No wonder given
dragons and clouds are more than pretty pictures.
They symbolize the power to bring on the rain.

OUTSIDE IN
Beyond the garden, beautiful objects such
as this serve a purpose even in a modern
home. We have one placed in a corner of
our master shower. Not only is it a lovely
place to sit and stew, it's also the perfect
height for perching one's foot for a quick
pedicure. Plus it's ceramic and thus can be
easily cleaned with any bathroom cleaner.
And what could be more chic yet practical
than placing one of these "stools" next to
a comfy chair. Or better yet position one
or a pair as "cocktail" tables in front of a
sofa as we've done in our sunroom.

SPRING AWAKENING
Currently we're more than tempted to keep
this fabulous pair of Chinese garden seats
for ourselves. Standing tall at 21" they're
not only the perfect hue for our home - but
would look more than amazing on our new
brick terrace out back. Fortunately for you,
we're resisting temptation and hope to sell
them quickly! Which means that you too
can have your own porcelain throne! But
hurry... I'm not sure how long I can keep
Frank from bringing them home. Come to
think of it, that may not be such a bad idea.
After all, spring will be here any day now!