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Monday, July 30, 2012

Designer fails: Lush, plush fur

I love Adrian Pearsall's work. In fact, he's probably my favorite American designer. If you hadn't figured that out already, I'm sure the post I wrote a few days ago left no doubt. Almost all of his designs completely sweep me off my feet. One in particular is a white gondola sofa we sold about a year ago. I still think about it wistfully.


Adrian Pearsall gondola sofa...a definite SUCCESS

In my opinion, that's one classy sofa. When Mr. Pearsall was good, he was very, very good. But not all his designs should have made it off the drawing board. 

I think that's a fair observation to make about the work of most designers, so I'm starting a new series about designer fails. As I run across pieces I think should never have been brought to fruition, I'll share them with you. And to prove I can be objective, I'm starting with the designer I most would have liked to meet and whose recent passing I have sorely grieved. So forgive me, dear Adrian, but I have to give two thumbs down to lush, plush fur. 

A few months ago, we sold a Pearsall sofa upholstered in green plush. We lovingly called it Oscar the Couch, and it was fun and kitschy...but it was on a beautiful gondola base and could easily have been reupholstered if one were so inclined. There was also a matching chair. However, the pieces were bought by two different customers. Sometimes a room can hold only so much kitsch.


Adrian Pearsall plush gondola sofa...a SUCCESS when toned down with less kitschy pieces

Honestly, I can't find one thing about this red and chartreuse room that I like except the plants. Granted, it's a 1972 design and not his mid-century work, which goes a long way towards explaining his lapse in good taste. (After all, most of us who were adults in the 70s and 80s have a few photos of our homes or of ourselves taken during those decades that will remain forever locked away.)

The lush, plush sofa and chairs are bad enough, but lush, plush floor lamps and a lush, plush coffee table too? Yikes. And after all Pearsall's beautiful mid-century walnut, what's up with that shiny metal trim that looks like Paul Evans-meets-the Partridge Family? Just goes to show that nobody's perfect.


10 comments:

  1. A Pearsall gondola (like the first one) in charcoal grey or moss green is right at the top of my "must have" list. They're simply stunning. The white looks really nice as well, but I'm far too clumsy to own anything with white upholstery.

    Not really sure what everyone was doing in the 70's but they really had a knack for making odd furniture. Plush needs to stay where is belongs: on children's stuffed animals.

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    1. I'm sure many a good designer bemoaned the bad taste of the 70s and 80s, but they probably had to force themselves to bend to the will of the consumer if they wanted to stay in business. I can't imagine that Pearsall was happy about having to produce that collection.

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  2. Yay! I can post my comment now!

    I'm going to have to disagree with you on the lush, plush room. I like the throw pillows. :)

    However, I love the green gondola sofa. Those colors from the late 1960s are the ones I have done my kitchen / living room / dining room in (it's all one big open space - a great open layout for a 1959 home).

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    1. haha...I hadn't noticed the throw pillows. I think I was blinded by the glare off that metal.

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  3. I remember the 70s as being carpeted. Everyones home was carpeted except for ours. I have friends who had living rooms of chrome and red carpeting. Ugh.

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    1. Oh, our allergies during those days! Can you imagine all the dust (and worse) trapped in shag carpet?

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  4. wall to wall carpets, dingy color schemes, too much bling and too much drama..no wonder 80s fashion and decor are a thing of the past

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    1. I agree. There was nothing about that room that could ever stand the test of time.

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  5. Ha ha. I missed this one. Oscar the Couch. I even LOVE green, but wouldn't go near that. Kitties would be ever so happy.

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    1. Yep, that would be one gigantic plush toy for pets to destroy. :)

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