Paris In The Spring


Pink peonies and the most charming pink and white chair I've ever seen. Jan Showers' showroom, which is decked out like one of those chic left bank antiques shops, reminds me of Paris. 

[Notes on the furniture: 19th century hand carved Louis XV style chair; bronze, nickel and opaline Gueridon, circa 1950 from Paris. Ron Schultz worked with Jan on the flowers for the lunch.]




Last Thursday, she hosted a lunch at the showroom for clients and friends, and I came with my camera and notebook. The sun was out and there was a crisp breeze in the air, which reminded me, too, of Paris in early April.


Here's Jan, looking smashing in a white linen dress by French designer Roland Mouret. "I love how architectural this dress is. It's something I'll be wearing for years," Jan said.


Everyone at the luncheon looked like flowers, I thought.  Jan's white dress has the structured crispness of these tulips, don't you think? 

[Notes on the furniture: The cerused oak table, circa 1940 is from last year's trip to Paris; the sublime blue tufted chair, circa 1940 is one of a pair; and the zebra hide rug is from Jan Showers Collection]




Jan is into white right now (I just guessed), and she loves this vintage white lacquered Japonesque buffet so much that she's considering taking it home with her, she confessed.....




The showroom's vestibule with its French Moderne style starburst inlay....



Everyone fell in love with Ann Strawn's unexpected chartreuse and lavender combination....

I would not have thought to put together these colors, but they are fantastic... 



and, they went really well with the decor.... 


....and these cheerful yellow tulips



Ashleigh Avrea Cathey....


Ashleigh Avrea Cathey, left; and Jennifer McLaughlin, who summed up my sentiments about the smashing showroom exactly. "It just makes you want to go home and redo everything, doesn't it?" 


Now, I was rushing a bit when I took this photo because Jennifer had to hold up her heavy plate for me, so it's a little out of focus. But I wanted you to see this gorgeous lunch created by Food Company, entirely of salads: ceviche served in pretty shells; hearts of romaine salad; beet and cabbage salad. For dessert, we had lemon panna cotta with raspberries.


Spring has sprung: Shelly Musselman, looking radiant in this coral and blue coat....



Jeanne-Marie Clossey, who's chairing the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts gala


I just loved how Jeanne-Marie looked in her neutrals next to all these sumptuous latte colors that Jan has going on in the showroom...


....more latte and coffee colors, mixed with gray blue wallpaper. That flecked bronze glass lamp is from the 1970s!


This is my favorite piece in the showroom. It's a Palazzo banquette from Jan Showers Collection. I'm into coffee colors and taupes right now, if you hadn't noticed...



Brian Bolke, who's also working on Art Ball, to be held on April 25 



Kim Schlegel Whitman, saying hello to Shelly Musselman off camera...




...Rob Dailey, who's working with Brian on the upcoming Art Ball. Look at his colorful pocket square!


Ann Strawn; Beau Black -- I love his pocket square, too.



Sandra Irvine, left; Sara King.



Leslie Bell...she's into freelancing everything now, from yoga to art...


Cheerful young faces: Amy Thomasson, left; Brandalyn Hadley; Philip Vanderford.




Nicole Groth, left; Sheila McAdams...




More scenes from the showroom: the sofa is from Jan Showers collection; the yellow chairs are Louis XVI style; the mirror and table are from Paris, circa 1940.






a pair of fantastic barrel-backed snow leopard chairs....


Look at that great chair hiding in the back behind Kim!

Here's the other one....


An up-close shot of the chair. Talk about shapely! I was told they are vintage Norman Cherner



The showroom, just before everyone sat down to eat...


We all took one of these pretty Tiffany blue gift bags on the way out. Among other things, they held an announcement about Jan's upcoming book, Glamorous Rooms (it has a forward by Michael Kors) and this darling shell box, just right for holding stamps on your desk, or earrings -- if you're like me, you can't talk on the phone without taking at least one of them off....

Fin