Country in the City

I'm still trying to complete my collection of Architectural Digest books. Just recently, I bought Architectural Digest American Interiors, published in 1978. I have to say that it's not one of my favorite AD books, but there are some profiled interiors that still look charming today.

Take, for example, this Upper East Side home of designer Thomas Morrow III. What's unique about the home is that it is an 1835 farm house that was built on the former Carnegie estate. (Because it was listed as a New York City historical landmark, I'm assuming that it's still there. If you know, please tell me.) According to the book, the house still had its original paint and 18th c. wallpaper when Morrow bought it sometime in the mid-20th century. Morrow said that the house had been neglected for years before he purchased it, although its structure was sound and its floors were in remarkable condition. While Albert Hadley helped Morrow to make a few architectural changes, it was Morrow who was chiefly responsible for the design of the interiors.

What's notable is that in addition to being an interior designer, Morrow was also an artist and a textile and wallcovering designer whose firm, Hannett-Morrow, was based in the house. You can see many of the firm's textiles in the photos below. What I find most interesting is that the adjoining living rooms look like a very elegant and glamorous New York apartment (one with overtones of Albert Hadley and Billy Baldwin,) and yet the other rooms like the master bedroom, the dining room, and the conservatory look like something straight out of a quaint country cottage. It's kind of an anomaly, and a most striking one at that.




There were two adjacent living rooms, each being 15 by 20 foot. The two photos above show one of the living rooms...







...while these photos show the other living area.






The Library. The artwork above the mantel was done by Morrow as well as a few friends.





A guest bedroom looks like something straight out of a French country house.





The master bedroom was like a sophisticated, stylized version of a country bedroom.





The rustic dining room.





The conservatory.







All photos from Architectural Digest American Interiors, Richard Champion photographer.