Few interior designers have the credentials of Thomas Jayne, A graduate of the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Allied Arts, he also trained in American decorative arts at Winterthur, earned a master’s degree from the University of Delaware and pursued advanced fellowships at the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Historic Deerfield, and the J. Paul Getty Museum. He then worked in Christie’s estates and appraisal department, and that eventually lead him to pursue a career in interior design. Before opening his own firm in 1990, he worked for two particularly prestigious firms: Parish-Hadley & Associates and Kevin McNamara.
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| Thomas Jayne |
I thought we'd take a look at two of Thomas' projects. The first, his own pied-a-terre in the French Quarter of New Orleans (because it's always fun to see where a designer lives). Thomas and his spouse, Rick Ellis, actually live in New York, but spend a lot of time in this favorite city. The apartment is located in an 1838 Creole townhouse. The second is a home in Westchester, NY which he has worked on since 1998 through the present (clients need updates).
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| The New Orleans Creole townhouse. Remodeled in the 1960's, the exterior lost some of it's details. |
The apartment is only about 1000 square feet, and so the daybed (purchased at Christies) also serves as the guest room. Decorator Albert Hadley once shared with Thomas that the bed was used by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor during a stay at the home of one of Hadley's clients.
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| I'm not sure what the boys get up to in the privacy of their own home, but do notice the pair of angel wings leaning against the daybed. (photo: Traditional Home) |
As an aside, I wanted to show these cards available at the shop Nadine Blake in New Orleans (she is a friend of Thomas'). Wouldn't it be thrilling to have note cards with your own quotes!
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| (photo: Traditional Home) |
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| A little cabinet of curiosities, with Mardi Gras souvenirs. |
The next house, in Westchester, belongs to a serious collector of American furniture and decorative arts. The 1930's Colonial Revival has been expanded over the years to accommodate both the family and the collection. Here Thomas was tasked with making the home a livable space as opposed to a museum. The owner also collects Indian and Himalayan sculpture, and Thomas managed to incorporate these pieces through the use of pedestals. Incidentally, the cover photo is an update to the main stair hall.
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| I love the carving on this Rococo style American chair. |
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| The spectacular wallpaper in this sitting room was re-created by Adelphi Paper Hangings after the original found in the 1752 Webb House in Wethersfield, Connecticut. |
Thomas Jayne has written three wonderful books, published by the Monacelli Press: The Finest Rooms in America (2010), a monograph of his own work, American Decoration (2012) and the recently released Classical Principles for Modern Design (2018) written with Ted Loos.
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| Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman Jr. |
The new book is a modern update of the classic The Decoration of Houses (1897) by Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman Jr. (written before her novels). The book follows the same structure as the Wharton book and is full of wonderful photos (the original had few illustrations). It is witty, insightful, and above all useful. And occasionally he even has the temerity to disagree with Edith Wharton!
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| Thomas Jayne and Rick Ellis, in their NY loft. |
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