James Andrew Design - Illustration by Scott McBee

I’m quite thrilled and honored to be a part of this year’s Rooms With A View Design Show.

Founded by my mentor, the legendary Albert Hadley, as a venue to support the Southport Congregational Church, it has become one of the most important social events of the season in Connecticut.

There you’ll find a series of vignettes, or mini room settings, designed by some of the most celebrated interior designers from the Northeast. This year’s theme is being called “The Next Generation,” with, as you might have guessed, a focus on rising stars. Of course there’ll be a special tribute to the iconic Albert Hadley, and in this spirit I’ve been taking great pleasure in designing my room with a nod to Hadley, the man who’s been called the “Dean of American Design.” Scott McBee’s able hand has imagined my vignette (above) I think quite perfectly.

I’m being most graciously sponsored by the superlative Scalamandre fabric house and I’ll be using all of their luxurious fabrics and trims in my vignette. I’ll also be featuring a spectacular selection of old and new pieces from some of my favorite dealers and artisans, including Frederick P. Victoria, H M Luther, Topher Carnes, Tucker Robbins, Yale R Burge, French Accents, and the brilliant work of our very own Scott McBee to name a few.

Do mark your calenders! The opening gala preview party is Thursday November 3rd , 2011 6 PM, and the show will be open to the public Friday November 4th 2011 to Sunday November 6th.

I hope to see many of you there!

James Andrew at the H. M. Luther gallery - photo by Justin Williams.

My decorating style has been described as eclectic, and as you might know I have a penchant for mixing traditional and contemporary elements when creating that perfect touch of upscale elegance. Needless to say, I’m always thrilled to find a gallery that shares my aesthetic! One such gallery is the highly esteemed H.M. Luther. They always have an exhilarating mix of contemporary and antique objects, and with an eye for the unusual—they describe their taste as one that “favors the atypical and particular”— you can see why I might champion them. In operation since 1947, they’ve been bringing their clients a highly curated selection of furniture and exceptional objects of interest from the seventeenth through to the twentieth century.

Coffee table designed by Alexander Gerard.

On my last visit to H.M. Luther, I was quite taken by several pieces including a pair of William Haines Hostess chairs covered in ivory kidskin, a rare and possibly unique coffee table designed by Alexander Gerard, a superb set of 3 sapphire blue glass tear drop vases by Per Lutken, and a regal 19th century English painted cast iron sculpture of a talbot passant all of which I can’t wait to incorporate into my latest projects. Do make a point to visit H. M. Luther often, you’ll be sure to find objects to pique one’s imagination.

William Haines Hostess chairs covered in ivory kidskin.

I am wearing a charcoal tweed tyrolean suit and feather weight purple cashmere turtleneck sweater both by Gucci, wool and silk scarf by Etro, aubergine suede “Eton” boot by Yves Saint Laurent, pale blue peccary gloves by Sermoneta, bad cop sunglasses by Dior and my fragrance is Creed Aventus – portrait by Justin Williams

James Andrew at the H.M. Luther booth.

The International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show is host to the finest dealers from around the world and is one of those can’t-miss events in my line business. With out a doubt one of my very favorite dealers at this show has got to be H M Luther. They always bring the most exceptionally high caliber pieces – each accompanied of course with a tantalizing provenance. I thought to bring our WIJW the smallest sampling of their stable to give you some idea of why a visit to H.M. Luther’s booth is always first on my list.

A RARE CARVED WALNUT CENTER / CONSOLE TABLE DESIGNED BY SIR EDWIN LUTYENS.

A PAIR OF SWEDISH GRACE PERIOD EBONIZED AND UPHOLSTERED CHAIRS BY UNO ÅHREN FOR MOBILIA.

A PAIR OF CARVED LIMED OAK PEDESTALS STAMPED AND LABELED ON THE UNDERSIDE: SANS EPOQUE ROBSJOHN-GIBBINGS

Posing (top) amidst all of this sublime beauty I’m wearing a black wool flannel peaked lapel jacket by Gucci, A Yves Saint Laurent pocket square in paisley and camouflage silk, dove grey cashmere turtle neck and grey flannel pants both by Gucci, cobalt suede demi boot with black gros grain trim by Pierre Hardy.

There have been many varying accounts regarding the meeting and ensuing relationship of the Roman Emperor Hadrian and his beloved Antinous. After Antinous drowned in the Nile (for unknown reasons), the grief stricken Hadrian decreed Antinous a god and Antinous was to become forever associated with Egyptian Nile related god Osiris, as well as the Roman Bacchus. The ideal beauty of Antinous has been the subject for countless sculptures through the ages, garnering particularly noteworthy interest by collectors during The Enlightenment.

Always one to be drawn by a thing of beauty, I was doubly pleased by such a fantastic story!

Here at the superb H.M. Luther gallery, I’m pictured next one of a pair of sculptures depicting the lovely Antinous in Egyptian dress – a masterwork that would no doubt have met with the approval of the Emperor.

The Sheremetov pair at Ostankino.

There is an almost identical set to this pair in the 18th century Russian summer palace of the Sheremetov family – see above. I’ll be working toward having a set like this in my dream home someday!

I’m wearing a mint green cotton jacket, white cotton voile safari shirt, lavender micro corduroy pants, python loafers and white leather bag all by Gucci, purple alligator belt with sterling buckle by Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford pocket square in lavender and brown silk polka dots, glasses are by Dior.

I am seated on one of a set of four Swedish Grace Period zebra wood and ebonized birch dining chairs. I am wearing a dazzling metallic silver down parka by Ralph Lauren (a remnant from my days as an interior designer at Ralph Lauren), gray cashmere turtleneck and black wool flannel pants by Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent black leather “Windsor” loafers, black leather tote by Gucci, and red leather gloves by Sermoneta to add a pop of color.

I am wearing a cotton beige suit ( another great between-seasons choice ) by Gucci, Tom Ford pale blue cotton glen plaid shirt, Charvet blue and white silk pocket square in a vintage 60′s pattern, Seaman Schepps silver pearl with pale blue sapphire cuff links., Hermes blue leather belt with silver buckle, Yves Saint Laurent black leather “Windsor” slip on shoes.