Crazy for khaki!

(click image above to enlarge)
After a weekend of rainbow colors, khaki seems like a nice respite. Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Peacock loves colors, but I also like a nice khaki too. The color khaki comes from the Persian word khak which means dust. Many armies around the world have used the color khaki for their uniforms and camouflage. To many gents, Khakis have become synonymous for meaning casual pants (think chinos), but don’t limit your wardrobe to just khaki colored pants. Here’s some of Mr. Peacock’s favorite khaki colored items:

1) Mr. Peacock adores this cotton khaki tuxedo with contrasting black silk twill detailing and notched collar. The underside of the collar lining is embroidered with tiny contrasting skull-and-cross bones. The pants have black silk twill taping down the legs, with unfinished cuffs (to either roll or have hemmed).

2) This khaki tie is unlined and has selvage at both ends and made with fabric from Japan.

3) I’ve worn out many pairs of checkered Vans, and blue or white Keds over the years…but I’ve never had a pair of khaki canvas Keds like these!

4) A khaki colored twill briefcase, with chocolate leather trim, that is seasonably chic and utilitarian too!

5) This military inspired khaki hat would be great while reading a book at the beach, or just running errands.

6) This mid-century inspired chair is upholstered in a khaki colored army duck fabric—similar to what was used by armies for tents and uniforms. I think the khaki fabric gives it a warm masculine touch and would integrate well with most interiors. It's on sale here.

7) This khaki and black color blocked button down shirt would look great addition to any wardrobe—and would be a great year-round piece.

8) I also like these khaki canvas sneakers with an espadrille inspired jute detailing, and a leather detail in the back. They’re made of canvas, leather, hemp, and rubber.

Khaki, beige, tan, dust...whatever you want to call the color, is a great addition to any gentleman’s wardrobe. Do you have any khaki colored items, besides pants, in your wardrobe?

Dishes stacked to the roof...

Mr. Peacock is swooning over these modular porcelain Italian “Palace” tableware pieces by Seletti. They would compliment my dish collection nicely, and you may already know I like dishes that stack!

Each Florentine-inspired “building” is comprised of six individual pieces, plus a serving dish as the roof.

Even the interior of each dish has “architectural” detailing.

The clever Palace collection includes 4 “buildings”

• a dinner plate building (each plate is 8.6” x 8.6” x 1.1”),

• a dessert/fruit bowl building (each bowl is 6” x 6” x .8” ),

• a small bowl building (each bowl is 4.3” x 4.3’ x 2”),

• a soup dish building (each dish is 7” x 7” x 1.6”).

I immediately thought of Piero Fornasetti when I first saw the Palace dishes. A Fornasetti tea set would nicely compliment Seletti’s modular tableware pieces.

These beech wood cutlery sets are packaged in a printed brown paper bag and would look great with these dishes…or for a picnic.

The Palace tableware collection would look chic displayed on this red Ming console.

The table is set…now what’s for dinner?

Hide your nuts...

Halloween has passed, and before we know it Thanksgiving will be upon us. Squirrels are busy hiding nuts and other goodies for winter. I find people either love or hate this little bushy tailed rodent. When I was a kid, I would watch squirrels raid goodies from my Grandmother LaViolette's garden—quickly grabbing fruit off the trees and skipping away along the top of the fences. She'd run and get her pellet gun and try to scare them away. I rarely see squirrels where I live, although I did see a jack rabbit the other day at my office parking lot. Here’s some squirrels I’m nuts over:

This photo of "The Squirrelton Twins" makes me laugh. You can order a print here.

Mr. Peacock is fond of these carved squirrel bookends. They’re sold as a pair, but one of these wood squirrels would look regal (and vintage) as an object on your desk.

High & low porcelain squirrels: The blue & white squirrel bank looks, at a glance, like a traditional piece of Delftware. But look closer, and you’ll see the detailed and modern hand painted surface. These squirrel salt & pepper shakers look vintage. They could add a whimsical and woodland touch to your Thanksgiving table (they’re on sale too).

This rustic squirrel planter would look great with some mums resting in the acorn. If you don’t have a garden it could simply be used as a vessel to hold something on your Thanksgiving buffet (line it with another bowl or plastic wrap).

A bushy tailed squirrel, or parachuting squirrels both look graphic on these nutty t-shirts.

This porcelain drawer pull (1.75" diameter), with a drawing of a squirrel, would add a touch of whimsy to a nightstand with a drawer.

These squirrel blankets look like they could be a clip from some vintage cartoon.

Of course a squirrel can crack nuts...this nutty squirrel will crack them for you.

A little squirrel pillow (about 7" high) could find a home on a chair, and the back is a vintage patchwork fabric!

I like this home made looking felt squirrel. It's hand-stitched with embroidered eyes and nose.

This matte porcelain squirrel lamp could softly illuminate a dark hall or entryway.

This letterpress card with a squirrel (a set of six) says, “Thank you.”

...and Mr. Peacock thanks you for stopping by...I hope I don't drive you nuts!

Wingin’ It

There’s something very comforting about plopping into a wingback chair with a good book or the Sunday New York Times. The cozy “wings” feel very protective too—shrouding you from any drafts. Many modern wingback chairs have taken on a more fluid and curvy silhouette, as compared to the very linear wingbacks of our great grandparents. There are so many iconic wingback chairs, but here are a few of my favorites.
This Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair is at the top of my wishlist. I don't care if it's a vintage or a new reproduction...

I just love the shape and form of this Papa Bear Wingback Chair—it's like a piece of art.

This vintage wingback is very traditional and rustic, in the spirit of the 17th century...

...I like the open back, and checked fabric.

In contrast, this Bergere wingback is very modern with a fluid silhouette and a somewhat loose interior structure. The chair has a swing movement with fully removable covers. I think I’d like the cover interior in a solid fabric, and the exterior in some sort of modern toile.

Tom Dixon waved his magic wand on this sleek and tall wingback upholstered in mohair velvet.

These masculine black wingbacks have a traditional silhouette, but the glossy black legs give them a modern edge.

This Bel Air Wingchair takes the elements of a traditional wingback and turns it into a chaise. I love the nail head detailing.

Mr. Peacock is swooning over the clean and curvy lines of this modern beauty.

I like the sharp angles of this vintage mid-century wingback (it’s already been sold, but I wanted to share the shape).

I like the tufted backs on this pair of vintage wingbacks chairs upholstered in pale blue linen.

I like the turned wood legs too.

The Italians expertly create flowing, modern silhouettes. This modern wingback chair reminds me of an elegant praying mantis with its long legs.

Mr. Peacock loves this Italian wingback! It has a smaller scale than most, but it still has the comforting attributes of larger scaled wingbacks.

It’s perfect for an apartment too. When I first sat in this chair (in Milan) it wasn’t available in California (long story-fire hazards), but I believe it’s now available here.

Speaking of chairs, this book, Once Upon a Chair, is on my book wish list.

I once found a wood wingback chair frame abandoned on the sidewalk at 58th & Park Avenue, in Manhattan. I wasn't sure if someone was going to load it in a van or something, so I waited and asked people in the vicinity if the chair was theirs. It wasn't, so I hailed a cab and dragged the chair frame back to my apartment. I liked it just as an object without any upholstery, but I ended up upholstering it myself in natural linen.

Hopefully you have a wingback chair (or at least a favorite comfy chair) to plop into this weekend and read the Sunday paper or a good book!

Dish it up...

Mr. Peacock shared his dish queen affliction last fall. Here's a few more of my favorite black & white porcelain pieces from my collection.

This vintage bowl is one of my favorite pieces of my dish collection! I found this vintage Copeland/Spode bowl ages ago at a flea market. I was drawn to the zodiac pattern and the scalloped edge.

Here’s a detail of Capricorn. I always use this bowl (10” diameter) to serve a side dish at Thanksgiving.


I also use this small platter (12”) at the holidays. It’s a vintage Syracuse China plate—probably from a diner or restaurant. I’ve had it a long time—I think I bought it at a yard sale for $2. I like the black scrolling around the top and bottom edge... for some design reason the scrolling doesn't connect.

Here's a detail of the scrolling pattern. I'm guessing it's from the 1940's or 1950's.

Mr. Peacock recently acquired this inexpensive “You Are My Sunshine” plate.

Here’s a detail of the clothespins (drawn with dots) and paperclips that create the circular pattern around the center type.

This little 4” Danish plate is dated 1967 and is inscribed with “Den standhaftige tinsoldat—handmalet.” I think it translates to “The standing tin soldier.”

Here’s one of my small vintage (4”) Fornasetti plates from the Sun & Moon series.


Here's a silly video of Cousin Emmy, and Pete Seeger, performing her rendition of "You Are My Sunshine" —circa early 1950's. Have a fun weekend!

Lounging on leather & chrome…

A late pal of mine, Lee, frequently liked to host huge house parties. The first time I attended one of his parties was in the late 80’s. I took my plastic cup of beer and made a beeline for his pony skin Le Corbusier lounger. I thought I was sitting in some comfy and chic amusement park ride—every now and then someone would slide the recliner back and forth as I held court on this modern throne.

Decades later, I chuckled when I attended one of his parties and watched a trio of young party revelers carrying-on and lounging on the same pony skin chaise. It reminded me of how much fun I had discovering that classic chaise years earlier. The chair only got better with time too—it withstood the abuse from decades of house parties and spilled cocktails.

There’s something very masculine about a leather & chrome chaise, although I admit I prefer the vintage models. Some of the new chrome and leather chaise lounges seem cheap to me—unless they’re made with high quality materials. Unfortunately, that usually means a higher price, but a quality chaise lounge chair can be an investment piece that lasts—like my friend’s Le Corbusier lounger.

This vintage 1920's chaise lounge designed by Mies van der Rohe reminds me of a chic lawn chair—but for indoor use. This beauty in gray leather is vintage, but you can still order new models (I love the red leather).

I like the curved arc of the arm, which was inspired by rocking chairs from the early 20th century.

Here’s another another vintage Mies van der Rohe lounge chair. I could see this in the office of Mad Men (or my apartment).

I love the warm patina of the brown leather in contrast with the cool chrome.

This leather & chrome chaise is new, but you can clearly see the Mies van der rohe inspiration for its clean sweeping curve and tubular tufted leather.

The leather is distressed to look vintage. I haven’t tried it out yet, but it looks very comfortable.

This modern Italian chaise has a unique silhouette—it’s part chair and part chaise. The flat end of this leather & steel chaise, if it were at my place, would quickly become a receptacle for books, magazines, and the Sunday Times.

The clean lines of this vintage leather chaise lounge by Harvey Probber chaise (produced by Brayton International) are very appealing to me. It would look great in a modern or traditional room. I want to relax on it right now and read all of my treasured back issues of Gourmet Magazine!

Mr. Peacock loves the gentle patina of the honey colored leather.

I think this new Grasshopper Chair has a very elegant and sleek silhouette. It would be perfect for any gentleman peacock.

The combination of canvas, leather, and chrome make it very modern and timeless.

I’m not sure if I prefer this chaise in black, natural, dark brown or cognac leather? It's very chic in the natural (above), but I think the cognac would be more practical.

This vintage 1960’s Danish reclining chaise lounge would be perfect for Sunday afternoon catnaps.

The wine colored leather is very masculine, and the detailing is nice too.

Mr. Peacock loves this boxy Italian 1970’s tufted leather chaise. It would be divine in my living room!

It reminds of a chic vintage psychiatrist couch that could have been in a movie with Marcello Mastroianni (playing the shrink of course).

I would love to lounge on this vintage leather chaise and listen to “Songs of Couch and Consultation” from the late 1950's by Katie Lee (the folk singer from Arizona, not Billy Joel's ex). The songs are a tongue in cheek and spoof psychoanalysis. You can sample a few of the songs here, including “Will to Fail” and “Repressed Hostility Blues.” Fantastic lyrics too!

You don’t have to have the “repressed hostility blues” to appreciate a well-designed leather and chrome chaise lounge.

I know leather & chrome can seem very cold, but mixed with the right elements it can be warm and appealing (above-the Mies van der Rohe chaise)—and so comfortable too. Do you have any leather and chrome pieces at your house?