The Decor Impresario: Alan Tanksley
Posted on May 12, 2009 by Decorati
New York-based designer Alan Tanksley is directing a photo shoot of the interiors he recently completed for a 19th-century townhouse located in Manhattan’s West Village. Today, he is playing the role of Cecil B. DeMille, but if he has an alter ego it is more likely the imagined inhabitant of a library room he fabricated for a Hamptons show home—a young and sophisticated collector of significant contemporary art and furniture pieces as well as books about architecture and design. Though Tanksley candidly admits he does not possess the deep pockets of his figment occupant, he shares his penchant for warm, comfortable environments encompassing a multitude of destinations that engage the eye and mind with powerful emotional hooks.
High-paneled wainscoting and deep coffered ceilings were inherent in the original space, but transformation of the small shell into a truly versatile retreat that could cater to a variety of interests without feeling staged or cluttered required a keen attention to lighting, color, and scale as well as a deep knowledge of modern masterpieces.
“Lighting was a huge consideration. It not only needed to serve the functional aspects of reading and entertaining, but it also needed to help create the various destinations for these activities and strike a balance among them.”
“This project embodies all the residential needs that a variety of light sources can satisfy,” says Tanksley. Apart from numerous recessed lights, picture lights, a floor lamp, and several table lamps, the designer hung a riveting chandelier by artist Gary Ponzo made with 4,000 paperclips. It can be made in various sizes and obtained through Tanksley’s firm.
Why are these Alan’s favorites? Keep reading to find out.
The designer worked with Clarence House for all the fabrics in the room and with Farrow & Ball for the paints. “The use of color on the ceiling is a recent development in my career,” he says. “But it adds a great deal of visual interest. This space wanted a bit of levity and I chose a pale gray blue to reference the nearby ocean and the sense of open sky one experiences in this locale.” The soft tone completes the envelope established by the neutral organic tones of the grasscloth wall covering, the wainscoting, and the white oak floor. Tanksley lent a medium dark brown hue to the latter, which he achieved by combining several MinWax stains “with no red in them, he says. A flat weave area rug cut from a Patterson, Flynn & Martin broadloom carpet tops the planks. The wainscoting in the room is painted in a drab algae tone.
“All the elements of the shell are meant to recede and play a supporting role to the star players, which are the great silhouettes of the furniture and artworks. They, in turn, are meant to play a supporting role to the owner and his interests.”
Tanksley gave the silk curtains a tailored look. “I’ve been through the excessive design and decoration phase; the days of broad swags are pretty much over,” he states. “But I do appreciate dressmaker details.” Rather than add trim or fringe to the curtains, he created a blue French pleat on the leading edges that foster a modern traditional feeling. “I did the same sort of thing on the sofa pillows,” he says. “I believe luxury is found in appreciable but subtle details.”
Tanksley shaped a gaming and puzzle area by means of a cerused oak 1940s French game table topped with a petit point panel. “It can also be used for dining,” says the designer. He reproduced chairs designed in 1950 by prominent French designer, Jules Leleu, and used these to create a sense of architecture around the table. He sells these to the trade as well through ATI (Alan Tanksley Inc.); the originals outfit his office. “With this design, you get a comfortable armchair that is only 22” wide; it’s a great pull-up chair,” he says. Here, the chairs are covered in an algae-colored Clarence House calfskin. Between the two windows, an octagonal ca. 1970 Karl Springer beveled mirror surrounded in nickel-edged embossed alligator leather hangs over a low mahogany shelf unit. The library chair, custom made by Luther Quintana Upholstery, is covered in a cotton botanical print featuring sepia tones on a cream ground.
Tanksley anchored the entrance area of the room with an oak and bronze chest by leading contemporary French furniture designer Ingrid Donat, who is represented by Barry Friedman, Ltd.
“ingrid’s designs reference those of Diego Giacometti and are released in editions of eight. All her works are marked by a subtle use of found detailing.”
The pulls on the hand-carved drawers are bronze castings of the faces of her children. Above, a bold print echoes the golden tonalities of the chest and a diminutive 19th-century Swedish bergere chair from Sentimento. A 1930s French lamp bridges the artwork and the chest. To bring light into the vestibule’s dark corner, Tanksley designed a folding screen comprising two panels, each formed with three wood-encased beveled mirrors. “I make them in various sizes and they’re available through my company,” he says.
Tanksley grounded the seating area with a low custom sofa featuring mattress detailing and Clarence House’s linen weave “Mistilino” upholstery in a mocha hue. “You can climb into the sofa to read,” he says, “but it’s also a great spot for stretching out and taking a nap.” Its texture introduces an approachable tactile quality into the scheme and makes for a forgiving surface.
The 1960s American coffee table is made of a large tree root topped with an amoeba-shaped sheet of glass.
“I have many grand pieces in the room. The table’s organic form and its natural driftwood base serve to ‘bring it all home’ and temper the hauteur.”
The custom bookcase, made of green enameled steel elements encased in a cream-colored, double saddle-stitched leather surround (a reference to Hermes), sits long and low to the floor. He hung a large photograph by David Parker above the bookcase and topped it with a collection of 19th-century tortoise shells from Amy Perlin Antiques; both the image and the shells provide earthy touches to the setting.
“I like a lower line on my furniture so it nestles down,” says the designer.
A small chair upholstered in a honey-gold suede from Clarence House and trimmed in nickel-plated nailhead fleshes out the seating. Tanksley reproduced this chair on the basis of a 1940s French tub chair; it joins a 1954 prototype of a Danish chair made of bent plywood from Christina Grajales, Inc. “It has the designer’s markings and approvals scrawled on it,” says Tanksley.
Photograpy by Eric Boman.
Alan’s Favorites (From Left to Right)
1) Pendant by Boyd Lighting- My friend Laura Kirar’s lighting collection for Boyd lighting, 2) Arcadia Side Table by Donghia - Super chic, 3) Dresser by Antoine Proulx - I love Mr. Proulx’s work, very architectural, with a refined and modern references to industrial furniture. We just had a dresser made for a house in Vail, Co., 4) African Bed by Tucker Robbins - African pieces, work well in modern or contemporary spaces. This bed feels substantial and architectural, and adds an organic.richness to any environment, 5) Designer Sales - I love looking at the items that Designers have selected, designed, or need to move on for reasons unknown. You can really find some treasures!,6) Beach Street Bench by Duane Modern - Great for use in an entrance hall or at the foot of a bed, 7) Winter Works on Paper - David Winter has the most extraordinary collection of images you can imagine. He is a great and reasonable resource. 8 ) Cone Table Lamp by Lesley Anton - Gorgeous shape with rich, organic glazes, 9) “Jean-Pierre” Desk by Helene Aumont - Perfection, 10) “Diana” Credenza by Jean de Merry - We are having one made for the entrance of a waterfront house on the north shore of Long Island. It will elegantly set the tone for much of the furnishings throughout the home., 11) Reve End Table by Newell Design - Elegant and sumptuous materials, makes a perfect lamp table or bedside stand., 12) “Veronique” swing arm sconce by Remains lighting - Elegant, refined. and different from the typical swing arm fixture.
Great article on girandoles-I always wondered if I was pronouncing it right...
Dena
Cannot wait to see the room in person! Bravo Alan. Hope to see you there.
Esther
Alan, having experienced this wonderful room in person,it looks as elegant and approachable as I remember. You truly are a master of modern refinement. Beautiful work! LK
Hi Allan,
What a great looking room, love the paperclip pendant!
Dan.
I think that David Parker’s piece (in the last .jpg) will look even better without a picture frame… unframed panoramic photographs offer a sleek modern touch to the room.
More such pictures here for your viewing pleasure.