a beautiful old thing....


"It's 18th-Century Chinese. I stumbled across it at an auction, this pile of dilapidated pieces
that nobody else wanted.  I had to have it. I found three large scenes, placed them around the room, and pieced in the gaps and torn bits.  The idea was to create a jewel box effect in the bedroom, with pattern to distract your senses from the tight quarters.  I papered the wall in the spirit of a collage, trying to make the most of a beautiful old thing...."

 David Kaihoi in House Beautiful, August, 2010

34 comments:

Unknown said...

Most days I like to think of myself as " a beautiful old thing".

Concrete Jungle said...

It is gorgeous...

Julie Holloway said...

Wow...that is an inspiring quote for the weekend. Such creativity.

Wunderkammer said...

It is a fantastic piece. I love so impaired. I saw the article in House Beautiful and I loved the house.
Greetings!

*The Beautiful Life* said...

You papered the walls in this? Wow! If you'd like to share room pics, we'd love to see them!! :)

Ruth

Raina Cox said...

That's so stunning. I keep going back to this issue to study this particular apartment.

Have a great weekend!

Kim@Chattafabulous said...

Oh my gosh, Donna, I loved that, and how it didn't even matter to him that it was tattered. That was one gorgeous bedroom!

bluehydrangea said...

I know! I thought this room was amazing!! I also thought is was amazing that 3 people sleep in there!!

Brandi@ Flights of Whimsy said...

This is so pretty! I wish I could see the whole room from that quote!

savvycityfarmer said...

he certainly accomplished his mission, eh?

b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l.

Mona Thompson said...

I love ALL beautiful old things. Have a great weekend.

Sarah Greenman said...

Oh so lovely!

Anonymous said...

The House Beautiful photographs of the David Kaihoi designed apartment can be seen on the Belle Maison blog:
http://www.bellemaison23.com/2010/07/home-tour-tiny-bold-beautiful.html

KO
Florida

Will @ Bright.Bazaar said...

Oh, Donna, I saw the home tour that belongs to this wonderful, battered paper earlier today and I fell instantly for it. it's so lovely.

Thank you for your lovely comment today about my guest post, I was very touched. Have a super douper weekend! Will

ticklishfromadistance said...

So, so beautiful.

Charlotta Ward said...

How beautiful that it spoke to him and that he so lovingly restored it.
It is a beautiful motif and I love it when a piece of history is rescued like this!

Lovely post Donna.

xx C

La Dolfina said...

Now that is green living... I love it!!!

Sarah B said...

Gorgeousness! I'd love to see a bigger pic :)

Anonymous said...

it is soooooooooo so soooooooooo beautiful and inspiring!!

Mélanie A. said...

Love this quote, this antique paper is gorgeous

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Oh...it is a beautiful piece! Stunning! Now off to check out your last several posts. Missed ya. Thanks for your words. They were felt.

Anonymous said...

it's really beautiful!!

Splenderosa said...

I saw this in the magazine & loved what they did. Totally amazing. I would definitely do this, even if I had to buy new and rumple it up a bit. My favorite part would be the hand-painting to put it all together. Great idea.

La Dolfina said...

And you, my friend were the perfect winner of that fab french market bag from Two Maisons :)
Congrats!!!!!!
I love that blog, don't you?
Hope you are having a great weekend.

Ivy Lane said...

love it! and so glad it has a home..and someone who appreciates it's beauty!

Unknown said...

Haven't seen this yet...now I NEED to immediately! Wow!

Unknown said...

OK...just clicked over...amazed by this!! Oh, to be that chic and organized!

Splendid Willow said...

I was certain, you were talking about yourself! (And I got very excited!) But I am sure the panels are being equally loved by David.

Love always, Mon

for the love of a house said...

I ADORED this in HB, and LOVED the story almost more!! Perfection!

joan

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

I loved this and saved it too. I have vowed never to do or ask someone else to do wallpaper again, but if this should come along....

Anonymous said...

Oh I love love love!!!

Anonymous said...

What I forgot to say the first time around......is that this is my absolute favorite room published in the last ten years in any magazine! And "fixing", or otherwise 'restoring' this paper would have been completely fatal!

This is brilliant beyond.....and Bravo!!!

Duealberi said...

very beautiful!love every kind of chinoiserie!

Abigail Lim said...

It is beautiful. Poetic even. Cool. :D