Home Interior: Michael Taylor

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Michael Taylor Interior Design

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-AjGra9Cx3XjECI5PUsb1Lnm-Nz9PSuk1kfo1CBWw1xgjHgh6ip9eggIZoC_bkVtJplu-gezOybYqh0igTsKuXmIG3SA5kWTc6KHuc4bmFByXT-qIt1GBqN5fPIleRCDGricck7gCHne/s1600-h/035%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="Patricia Gray " border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdszxXlt-yvfrF1m5qlik_THuC8_Mu18PymepC7uwpPYjsp5rK7ApXr3T-nTAy09f100l3C43f3Wsw79waL9KjJA3Rj0qqUzFrygCEfaiIrSIfMeRC3Ym18gisqPOWHva9SZepthN-xRyN/?imgmax=800" style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" width="295" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2OJXBdTNZxit3Siw5YIHmUuLrAQQR9PQwBzrB082JbAC2I5GBxKHYZySUyJ2PpAZSwtB6DF52xYRwoMjaRULIFvTJwwmmLSnGCkwIrLVEWhGhsOlDjM0FGm3hYLFzm3QLgvQ_YXu-HXa/s1600-h/image%5B5%5D.png"><img alt="Michael Taylor Interior Design" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROGDW0afAdJT_s3JMVCz0883FoQTbaEvHOjGJAl_4k66LgSCho9E-Vvckf3PLnWTmuITroxQTKe7mNR_pnIVTZBYZrcrzMwJfIFS8-XJ1ZYD10jveFEtLXQb7SsUKKTRX9ToRmHX5EcFt/?imgmax=800" style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" width="178" /></a> I recently received <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Taylor-Interior-Stephen-Salny/dp/0393732355?&camp=212361&creative=383957&linkCode=waf&tag=wwwpatriciagr-20" target="_blank">Michael Taylor's</a> new book, Michael Taylor Interior Design. As most of you who read my Blog know, I was greatly influenced my Michael in my formative years in Design School. Not much has been published on his work outside of a few articles in Architectural Digest, so this has been a highly awaited book for me. Michael Taylor was dubbed the "James Dean of Interior Design" by Diana Vreeland and "the best decorator in the United States " by society and fashion photographer Cecil Beaton. Michael Taylor revolutionized interior design in the 1970's and 1980's with the "California Look". Taylor brought the outdoors inside with neutral palettes, natural light, large-scale furniture, and organic elements, especially stone, slate, wicker, and plants. His interiors expressed his love and appreciation of California and the outdoors. They were casual, comfortable, uncomplicated, and free of clutter. So much of what he created, we now take for granted, but he started it all. <img alt="Michael Taylor Interior Design" height="355" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2000/01/taylor/arar01_taylor.jpg" width="500" /> Taylor believed that nature was man's best friend. His first shop was located in San Francisco and a notable neighbour on the same 500 block of Sutter Street was Williams-Sonoma (circa 1956). Taylor was particularly taken with the imported oyster baskets that were originally used to transport oysters from the coast of France to Paris. Their heavy natural weave appealed to Taylor. They had a profound effect on him. He began to use them as vessels for towering plants and trees - fishtail palms, ficus, and Zimmer linden - creating a look that became fundamental to his interiors. He believed that plants prevent "a room from feeling over-decorated", "soften the light" and "help a room breathe and feel alive" and thus initiated "the plant in a basket craze" with these baskets that he purchased from his neighbour - Williams-Sonoma back in 1956.<img alt="Michael Taylor Interior Design" border="0" height="452" src="http://www.michaeltaylordesigns.com/images/media_pc05_03.jpg" width="500" />Above: The San Francisco penthouse Taylor designed for Al Wilsey and Pat Montondon, circa early 1980s. <a href="http://www.michaeltaylordesigns.com/recenteditorials.html" target="_blank">Michael Taylor Designs archives</a> Taylor was a proponent of white walls and ceilings. His interiors glowed with a specially formulated "Michael Taylor White". (Never pure white "Michael Taylor White" was a mixture of warm colors with a beige tone.) Although Taylor's rooms were known for their neutral palette, he always "advocated a strong secondary color and repetitive use of printed fabrics for a 'certain purity' and bold unified effect." He also clarified that "There is a tremendous amount of color in my rooms, but there are not many colors." In his formative years of his career he came to idolize the renowned decorator Francis Elkins (1888-1953), who has been quoted as being "one of the guiding forces in the whole development of what is the American style today". Taylor saw himself as Elkin's greatest disciple, and he believed completely in her genius. Michael Taylor died at the young age of 59 at the prime of his career. His work and the "California Look" that he invented continue to influence interior design today. The forward in this book is written by his good friend Rose Tarlow, herself a Design Icon in her own lifetime. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Frances-Elkins-Interior-Stephen-Salny/dp/0393731464/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234719928&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><img alt="Francis Elkins Michael Taylors Mentor" border="0" height="250" src="http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/11000000/11000485.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Private-House-Rose-Tarlow-Author/dp/0609604724/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234720025&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><img alt="Rose Tarlow The Private House " border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7pEMJseXZ8N62zhRYHaqeMGuLaS5mt6cfED_5N09sxMU3P4s-mh7-av3SVMbDxAVIFSvp8nK6bc0UphlSmUiqrNWkfUusMhwTMISV2gXph7HUA3KmsoZ2rEk0_yAQANM-gIws_Ag4oWZ/?imgmax=800" style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" width="191" /></a> Michael Taylor was known for his extravagant shopping marathons which are legendary. When Taylor entered a shop, he always paused at its threshold and scanned the entire showroom. He had the reputation of being able to home in quickly and precisely on the finest pieces of inventory. He "never forgot beautiful things. He constantly absorbed everything he saw and banked it as a source of reference." He imparted his depth of sensitivity to his clients, and made them aware that "it's got to sing and talk back to you, and be A plus, plus if it crosses the threshold" of your house. At Taylor's death in 1987 he had amassed an enormous trove of beautiful objects. Their was an auction of 1355 lots, including his clothes, books and orchids. The following is the official auction catalogue with several color photographs of the furniture and objects in their rooms and in place in the garden with a nice foreword by Paige Rense, Editor-in-Chief of Architectural Digest. I got my copy from the Bill Hall at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.highvalleybooks.com" target="_blank">High Valley Books</a>.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Estate-Michael-Francisco-Butterfield-Catalog/dp/B000PRRUI8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234727406&sr=1-2" target="_blank"><img alt="The Estate of Michael Taylor " border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVldz0RjMHI7sFaej6XhUnqiK8BKV7C90tE1VrOFN6nlllvq1Wza6XOrnuERrbA2-QaZg5vb4GvJNh102lQF7g1ggCnyLdq9nJlxbWpPHg4aDZpI8r0oW2lUZIFJ3eIlkmXg0B__QxrmJ/?imgmax=800" style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" width="212" /></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Private-House-Rose-Tarlow-Author/dp/0609604724/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234720025&sr=1-1"></a>Interesting Statistic: House and Garden magazine devoted a record eighteen covers and more than one hundred articles to his work over a period of thirty years.Previous posts on Michael Taylor: <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2007/07/michael-taylor.html" target="_blank">Michael Taylor - Good Design is Timeless</a> <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2007/09/david-ward.html" target="_blank">David Ward Artist for Michael Taylor</a> Top photo <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.com/" target="_blank">Patricia Gray</a> <object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" height="200" id="Player_5501bdc4-20b0-4f37-9fe7-13bf04bcd129" reinit="reinit" reinitswf="reinitswf" width="600"><param name="_cx" value="15875"><param name="_cy" value="5291"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fwwwpatriciagr-20%2F8010%2F5501bdc4-20b0-4f37-9fe7-13bf04bcd129&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param name="Src" value="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fwwwpatriciagr-20%2F8010%2F5501bdc4-20b0-4f37-9fe7-13bf04bcd129&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param name="WMode" value="Window"><param name="Play" value="0"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value="LT"><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="NoScale"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value="FFFFFF"><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="false"> <embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fwwwpatriciagr-20%2F8010%2F5501bdc4-20b0-4f37-9fe7-13bf04bcd129&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_5501bdc4-20b0-4f37-9fe7-13bf04bcd129" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_5501bdc4-20b0-4f37-9fe7-13bf04bcd129" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="200px" width="600px"></embed></object><noscript></noscript><a href="http://patriciagrayinc.com/">Patricia Gray</a> writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design, architecture, and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you. <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.com/">© 2007-2009 Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog</a>

Michael Taylor Interior Design

I recently received Michael Taylor's new book, Michael Taylor Interior Design. As most of you who read my Blog know, I was greatly in...

10:11 AM

David Ward artist for Michael Taylor

<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYv3L18HHUvDpVs5c9e9dISiKWVAPghC-f6RX8kVT-OGFY0NrPgMIWNTREVyZIiPNuszugAdFw7ObhkwS3MQ-cTrNA9Li1xiKv1luf7Se_K9kvA5K5UPTfeGU100s5yasuIWSEay-LglwY/s1600-h/House+%26+Garden+Feb+1991+2jpg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106915066226231522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYv3L18HHUvDpVs5c9e9dISiKWVAPghC-f6RX8kVT-OGFY0NrPgMIWNTREVyZIiPNuszugAdFw7ObhkwS3MQ-cTrNA9Li1xiKv1luf7Se_K9kvA5K5UPTfeGU100s5yasuIWSEay-LglwY/s400/House+%26+Garden+Feb+1991+2jpg.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Michael Taylor House and Garden Feb 1991 Artist Charles Arnoldi </div><div align="center"> </div>Below is a picture I <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2007/06/calling-cards.html">posted </a>awhile back titled Calling Card Chic. I had the pictures in my files for awhile and had always liked it but couldn't remember where I had gotten it. To my surprise yesterday the artist, David Ward, who had done the organic stick art on the wall in this very same picture contacted me. I have long been an admirer of Michael Taylor's work and did a retrospective <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/search/label/Michael%20Taylor">posting</a> on his work that showed the room above with his signature trademark, with this same stick art. Also I was recently in the Michael Taylor showroom in Chicago where David Ward has another piece of this artwork. As a designer I have so many images running through my mind on a 24/7 basis that I don't always consciously know the sources for everything. So I think it is quite serendipitous that David contacted me to introduce himself and I was able to piece all these images together, and above all to have found the artist of this fantastic artwork. That is another reason, among many, that I love the blogging world. You make connections that you might never have made. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106897671608682706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGjQjU0HXPZ6MR9etGBw1XMb5M20X0f7zkCpveaYcC7tM7sJiZmhkASP0s8cRWBuMzWEAuIpamKJGMZVwHruwy8s94PAIxKN29FRXsC6R5qmERnPSMJQ_3jyh6zMGwHkDWdwQKyF9t1Jc/s400/pr07_02z.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /> Michael Taylor headquarters designed by Jeffrey Weisman of <a href="http://www.fisherweisman.com/">Fisher Weisman </a> Stick Art by <a href="http://www.sticks-n-stones.net/index.shtml">David Ward </a><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZu8vtFuJMwqyQ6uHiADxUGKrJeZfEvIDQGAMpG-5HgN6P3E-tEdkZT9BubhYEozo0ZsK7oZkh7UON81yxnWnW0zTUb_RhkwzXgOgyeIJCIqFKjxlyM0RjWMk26pNXIHYTysux0oxN3ByA/s1600-h/lantern.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106897551349598402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZu8vtFuJMwqyQ6uHiADxUGKrJeZfEvIDQGAMpG-5HgN6P3E-tEdkZT9BubhYEozo0ZsK7oZkh7UON81yxnWnW0zTUb_RhkwzXgOgyeIJCIqFKjxlyM0RjWMk26pNXIHYTysux0oxN3ByA/s400/lantern.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a>This is a lighting fixture that David has just completed for a Tea Bar called Teance in Berkeley California. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.chengdesign.com">Fu Tung Cheng </a>is the designer and owner. Fu Tung Cheng also has a stove hood fans that he has designed for <a href="http://www.zephyronline.com/#page=chengcollection/2">Zephyr. </a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAXROdgBe5TX4ShnfR2ZrUjDEeAcTAfArh5tExsOjPWDF9JH8NTktp7zgG9OBq142YU1OUlhKjc4RMpZAKAVObzr_gfLabsjRQMFL44bjvTEUbCULmmAqWhG6Sh8VN7zDDBU5ZUo0sGBJ/s1600-h/b.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106897413910644914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAXROdgBe5TX4ShnfR2ZrUjDEeAcTAfArh5tExsOjPWDF9JH8NTktp7zgG9OBq142YU1OUlhKjc4RMpZAKAVObzr_gfLabsjRQMFL44bjvTEUbCULmmAqWhG6Sh8VN7zDDBU5ZUo0sGBJ/s400/b.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a>David Ward also does rock art, which I think is stunning and bold. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2m4XCqWJmnqP6uKRQ4G16W2LxfIalm6lmqWFMhjwRhXhvQKW9sAsIiDdvJN7Y-wqC4oRq-liPzkze4NDBZIZAMV54SuJuaQhvInqtnpdP4ARVV_Pyl7kRyiqpJNmCq3K7kIdFwst3raRf/s1600-h/aa.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106897323716331682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2m4XCqWJmnqP6uKRQ4G16W2LxfIalm6lmqWFMhjwRhXhvQKW9sAsIiDdvJN7Y-wqC4oRq-liPzkze4NDBZIZAMV54SuJuaQhvInqtnpdP4ARVV_Pyl7kRyiqpJNmCq3K7kIdFwst3raRf/s400/aa.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a>More of David's designs above and below <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUZI9B7rjdhdzAzganXl3ZMdW9HqlcYck0nGWW_XmH7R2jaH9AbRhhE2jU542nD0gLNHav8iWc1sitRMOO7QDI1h-PmaP6CfQ2yUDcioTRFcfVjUHDOvSztQayA8fyqG13MuHHvbGEpVO/s1600-h/a.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106897267881756818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUZI9B7rjdhdzAzganXl3ZMdW9HqlcYck0nGWW_XmH7R2jaH9AbRhhE2jU542nD0gLNHav8iWc1sitRMOO7QDI1h-PmaP6CfQ2yUDcioTRFcfVjUHDOvSztQayA8fyqG13MuHHvbGEpVO/s400/a.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a>Visit David's web-site <a href="http://www.sticks-n-stones.net/index.shtml">http://www.sticks-n-stones.net/index.shtml</a> </div>

David Ward artist for Michael Taylor

Michael Taylor House and Garden Feb 1991 Artist Charles Arnoldi Below is a picture I posted awhile back titled Calling Card Chic. I had the...

6:28 PM

Michael Taylor - Good Design is Timeless

<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix69o-eXSel4hoWWyw6GU0EjA_fkec4rBfv5cpWqBqj03_kohaUTEYlWMsk1PMAmWeA-ZVibRdGqBoTvjaLH6JyhX-A8TY27Qzse5hdQxHj-qJg0gPDX4r9OzK-QD80vVh8aWEqmudFriV/s1600-h/Snap30.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088364939309477506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix69o-eXSel4hoWWyw6GU0EjA_fkec4rBfv5cpWqBqj03_kohaUTEYlWMsk1PMAmWeA-ZVibRdGqBoTvjaLH6JyhX-A8TY27Qzse5hdQxHj-qJg0gPDX4r9OzK-QD80vVh8aWEqmudFriV/s400/Snap30.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a>With the possible exception of Hollywood, no single force has brought California to the world more powerfully than Michael Taylor. More than a quarter of a century after he created the California look - Taylor, for many, still epitomizes West CoastStyle. The James Dean of decorators is how Diana Vreeland described West Coast designer Michael Taylor <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088373649503153826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0GOdKqH1oMcmiFLs0JKLO_Q7v1SxyC9doEOf9QLbd41VbFhZur3P_QQvmhTau724z-afQy55mPtO-1ZluytSLeRC1ABJIj0nlaRPgSdSOSo8hLLh3eFt61_7kXkOSrCBDDZ2OSzxX-I_/s400/House+%26+Garden+Feb+19912.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" />I was a student in Design School when the picture below of Michael Taylor's work was published in Architectural Digest . I was totally in awe of his work. Nothing had been done like this before. It was revolutionary and very fresh. I became totally mesmerized by all things "Michael Taylor". The fixation is still going on. In the project I did that was featured in Architectural Digest I used Michael Taylor fabric on a sofa that I custom designed. Whenever I am in LA or San Francisco I make it a point to visit his showroom at the Design Center. He was one of my greatest mentors that I drew inspiration from and wanted to emulate. It was interesting to me to learn that his 3 greatest mentors were women: Syrie Maugham, Elsie de Wolfe & Francis Elkins. I just wish that he had lived longer. He passed away in 1988 at the age of 59. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7CYdolTd1XjE4nOCdN6NcfAJJJkL8M8NzdFVwjOmchu34k8iRiC2gi53Op78o9XS1PjbLUfIHLobCk8T5GDZ33Ani752a-DQalSQT2j17GtmtZe6AaTypXRG30eUM78-xwaQvjcjoalV/s1600-h/michael+taylor+AD.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088351165349359154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7CYdolTd1XjE4nOCdN6NcfAJJJkL8M8NzdFVwjOmchu34k8iRiC2gi53Op78o9XS1PjbLUfIHLobCk8T5GDZ33Ani752a-DQalSQT2j17GtmtZe6AaTypXRG30eUM78-xwaQvjcjoalV/s400/michael+taylor+AD.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a>Consistently denouncing the cluttered and pretentious, he had a simple ethos: "When you take things out, you must increase the size of what's left." This spawned the widely emulated California Look, which in the latter part of his career was characterized by oversize furniture and signature elements, including Yosemite slate and fossilized stone; plump geometric cushions; logs; wicker; and lots of mirrors, all against a muted backdrop of white on white or beige on beige. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNv0bTOYN9JkDlpZaoSG5e6xQWi68raRaoelsCHerqn6UQPEKOIvvVInfiBH0TZMXNn7dsO0tNQJ7ilcCYRm5Wjj5yb-X3dTyWHeEUFxRZVCIp_XU1g-vweCUlZaxTuBCi2Mhig7x8X9D/s1600-h/michael+taylor+AD+Jan+2000.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088350546874068498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNv0bTOYN9JkDlpZaoSG5e6xQWi68raRaoelsCHerqn6UQPEKOIvvVInfiBH0TZMXNn7dsO0tNQJ7ilcCYRm5Wjj5yb-X3dTyWHeEUFxRZVCIp_XU1g-vweCUlZaxTuBCi2Mhig7x8X9D/s320/michael+taylor+AD+Jan+2000.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrLmMjp_sc8jeUm4e-gktHiTzWmAXogACOuL6kAw3c1OvGkraoTAE3jOQ9bsw7JxRWFpRr8l6VJjPfEKU4wuP2PLVn38oJyM4Lfk-xbyl-_-rFXHJut-jbtGpHYo7CKegW8R20VrqE84m/s1600-h/michael+taylor+AD+Jan+2000+1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088350469564657154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrLmMjp_sc8jeUm4e-gktHiTzWmAXogACOuL6kAw3c1OvGkraoTAE3jOQ9bsw7JxRWFpRr8l6VJjPfEKU4wuP2PLVn38oJyM4Lfk-xbyl-_-rFXHJut-jbtGpHYo7CKegW8R20VrqE84m/s320/michael+taylor+AD+Jan+2000+1.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a>Michael Taylor was born in Modesto, California in 1927 and found early inspiration at a neighbor's house, where he first saw the work of Elsie de Wolfe. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCG6TASSCSja-6UKYNOWFR5eN42tnkgk-Gs9bbYdH6U8ftkJkkJ5kkTmEcVjU7Hi4xcXadUWbdt3Vc-bkI628hAdq8UGJhxW2XcGzQao5zgHIDYkv-DFaBuSUS7RfUozxSjlTrkqO5HUAC/s1600-h/mtSnap21.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088350276291128818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCG6TASSCSja-6UKYNOWFR5eN42tnkgk-Gs9bbYdH6U8ftkJkkJ5kkTmEcVjU7Hi4xcXadUWbdt3Vc-bkI628hAdq8UGJhxW2XcGzQao5zgHIDYkv-DFaBuSUS7RfUozxSjlTrkqO5HUAC/s400/mtSnap21.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a>Syrie Maugham, the British decorator who helped create the all-white look popular in the 1920s, provided another source of inspiration to him. A third influence was American decorator Frances Elkins (Taylor acquired a substantial portion of Elkins' estate, including pieces originally from Syrie Maugham). <div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyR9383Z92fQDcYFzLjLGB4t1mZxCE2fOOkQRzwJ5ylSfeTf_UKwy9zUnleKBcBeu4AECAHCIKhoRWA9sWMezIK9tz5_k_GM0sqJvklxcULbuEdHzcGGiqDigAqjOZW4q6LwpCy-XG4gEH/s1600-h/House+%26+Garden+Feb+1991+2jpg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088349941283679682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyR9383Z92fQDcYFzLjLGB4t1mZxCE2fOOkQRzwJ5ylSfeTf_UKwy9zUnleKBcBeu4AECAHCIKhoRWA9sWMezIK9tz5_k_GM0sqJvklxcULbuEdHzcGGiqDigAqjOZW4q6LwpCy-XG4gEH/s320/House+%26+Garden+Feb+1991+2jpg.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo13PXl0GmX4kiCAELCdtSutyIcvhDgt4DHDiEC_TUI0PmV8chJtv1ZnVjBh4w7hM20Lj8XCw3HIxfQK3FPaUrG2LZ88tT18UL1RIj0dG_6eXES9zmX_IshcRx-j2AH6bexLtoeXErjSXH/s1600-h/Schiaparelli+sofa.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088349803844726194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo13PXl0GmX4kiCAELCdtSutyIcvhDgt4DHDiEC_TUI0PmV8chJtv1ZnVjBh4w7hM20Lj8XCw3HIxfQK3FPaUrG2LZ88tT18UL1RIj0dG_6eXES9zmX_IshcRx-j2AH6bexLtoeXErjSXH/s320/Schiaparelli+sofa.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Schiaparelli sofa Taylor rivaled the legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland in his use of maxims - "Red and green should never be seen!" was one of his favourites. "If in doubt, take it out!" was another. </div> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088374083294850754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBh8dclGQPjRLzT9vYdsTqfJJms4P3KXYTKP5p4gzqoDFBJeLI9wMozRaT97_PsNRKh6k4fgK3XKVZg18M9bWvQA81jMa2dsBs8WrRadUwVoto-v4b080ZW9pviGvS2LDhL7hVU-hwiMNK/s320/House+%26+Garden+Feb+1991+3jpg.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /> <div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZkhmVnTGtcepqmKWlffZbEXM9fDJSqUqFf0EJF6wboXNdSPBN3t9CWZGJH2V11woxg9PRuFao2FZKL23prsvDRbTPV4S1QcfKCv2D2oeCD4KcHeG70vFeo9kSgc9TzI4tM_CdfsBAFZf/s1600-h/House+%26+Garden+Feb+1991+1jpg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088349649225903522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZkhmVnTGtcepqmKWlffZbEXM9fDJSqUqFf0EJF6wboXNdSPBN3t9CWZGJH2V11woxg9PRuFao2FZKL23prsvDRbTPV4S1QcfKCv2D2oeCD4KcHeG70vFeo9kSgc9TzI4tM_CdfsBAFZf/s400/House+%26+Garden+Feb+1991+1jpg.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a>Taylor believed that white was the most efficient color for capturing natural light. </div><div align="left"></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088366730310839954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQ9Cb0_frP_Y3qxc105VSvIv8qmkdD_0yo6Rmz2uvzSpzY6QbM6XtNkuXD3D88L6Di-jcw8W9-mgiJxg8dcTo4wmsXUCGfC0Lhyphenhyphen26PNPwOGUvW9Y6ychQS928FONCCkOcwSRM-xciYaj6/s400/michael+taylor+AD+Jan+21.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" />This is a room Michael designed circa mid 1950's in Modesto, California<a href="http://www.michaeltaylordesigns.com/mediaarchives.html"> </a></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.michaeltaylordesigns.com/mediaarchives.html">Photos and text from Michael Media Archives </a>- <a href="http://www.michaeltaylordesigns.com/mediaarchives.html">Michael Taylor Designs</a></div></div>

Michael Taylor - Good Design is Timeless

With the possible exception of Hollywood, no single force has brought California to the world more powerfully than Michael Taylor. More than...

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