Christopher Guy

Highly styled, beautifully executed, lushly designed! Having designed for some of the finest hotels, cruise ships, and luxury retailers in the world, as well as movie sets, Christopher Guy Harrison embodies refinement and sophistication, fusing classicism with modernism.

The signature end table; the lyrical ampersand form connects the legs with a seamless flourish.

Art Deco inspired, the figure-of-eight dining chair.


Quite the tete-a-tete, with signature Chris-x legs and rattan detailing.

The double door cabinet with mirrored frontage.

Hand-carved mahogany in ribbon form frames the tufted headboard.

Micro-bevelled mirror panes are surrounded by a gilded edge.

"The finest and most enduring designs tend to be simple in their execution." ~ Christopher Guy

"Mad Men"-Inspired Tufted Bed Headboard

If you are like me, you have been captivated by the third season of AMC's "Madmen", a television drama following the lives of the top-brass of an advertising firm on Madison Avenue in New York during the early '60s. In addition to the fascinating story line, the show features an eclectic collection of furnishings that immediately draw the eye of any design-savvy individual. The bed shown above is the first foray I have seen into recreating a piece on the show.

The Draper Bed, named after the character Don Draper, is modeled after the bed that appears in his bedroom. Its subtle upholstery is sure to draw fans of the classic style. "Upholstered beds offer sophistication, color and comfort compared to wood beds," said Jeffrey S. King, vice president of Marketing at ClubFurniture.com. "Many people like to lean against the headboard while reading in bed, and the padding in upholstered beds allows them to do this comfortably." The bed's attractive design should appeal to fans and non-fans alike, and it is available for purchase online.

The Russell Bed by Joe Ruggiero for Miles Talbott

This fully upholstered bed designed by Joe Ruggiero for Miles Talbott is yet another gem from his recent collection. The bed is both visually appealing as well as a welcome place to sleep off a hard days work. The headboard is available in leather or fabric, tufted or non tufted back and with or without nail heads. I like my bed designs to feature original, innovative design but also not go over the top in terms of flamboyance or extravagance. Above all other pieces, a bed should focus first on comfort and second on aesthetics. I believe this piece has the best of both worlds and offers designers a solid choice for a modern bedroom.

Baker's New Additions

Baker Furniture, founded in 1891 by Dutch immigrant and craftsman Siebe Baker, has been a hallmark of design excellence and uncompromising quality for more than a century. This year, Baker has introduced new pieces in five of its collections, from the ornately carved and gilded pieces of The Stately Homes Collection to the uniquely diverse collection of classic 17th, 18th and 19th century European and Asian designs that make up the Collector's Edition.

Here are a few of my favorite new additions from Baker:

Irish Puca Table from The Stately Homes Collection: Hailing from Moore Abbey, this Irish Rococo carved mahogany Puca Table features a superb demi-lune shaped top laid with a hand-painted faux black marble top veined in gold and random scattered bronze patterning. An elaborate frieze pierced with scrolls rests above three shaped cabriole legs finished in figured maple veneers. The legs are carved on the knees with grimacing leprechaun masks and terminate to distinctive claw and ball feet.


Asian-inspired Occasional Table from Collector's Edition: The slight scale of this table contrasts its bold design elements. The black gesso top is decorated in a cherry blossom and bird chinoiserie design finished in gilt. The table is supported by four faux bamboo legs.


Upholstered Bed from The Milling Road Collection: This collection, which spans more than 50 years, built its reputation on bringing the marketplace relaxed alternatives to classic traditional forms. The French-inspired bed, crafted from mindi wood — an abundant, sustainable resource that when expertly cut reveals a fiery veneer — features a deeply tufted upholstered headboard surrounded by a scalloped wood frame with matching footboard. Wood side rails join the head and footboards. The bed is available in queen and king sizes.


English Arm Sofa from Ease Into Comfort: These pieces, designed with an increased seat height and shallower back depth, offer ergonomically supportive design without sacrificing style. The English Arm Sofa features three seat cushions, three back cushions and two 16-inch square throw pillows, with a choice of three fills. Any of Baker's 22 standard wood finishes can be selected for the feet and customers can choose from more than 1,600 Baker fabrics or provide their own material.


Sectional from the Simply Baker Upholstery Program: Baker's Simply Baker upholstery program brings simplicity, availability and affordability to the marketplace with a selection of upholstered pieces available at three levels of customization. This sectional, designed for level two, is scaled for urban settings and adds a modern component to the program. All pieces in this program are crafted with hardwood frames, eight way hand-tied springs, Baker Comfort Down cushions and available with a shortened lead time.

To sleep, perchance to dream...

We may not all relate to these words spoken by Shakespeare's Hamlet in his most famous soliloquy, but we can certainly find a comfy place to lay our heads in these beautiful canopy beds.
Hamlet himself would have been very much at home in the Tudor Poster Bed from Elijah Slocum with its hand-carved English Oak bulbous and gadrooned posts, paneled ceiling and arcaded headboard.

Beautifully simple Shaker style, the Farmhouse Canopy Bed in mahogany from Pottery Barn.

The Portica Canopy Bed by Room & Board is sleek and contemporary in brushed stainless steel.

Exquisite detailing in the hand-painted gold leaf vine trailing up the posts and the luxury of the button-tufted headboard make this Julia Gray Regency Four Poster a spectacular focal point.

Looking like it grew in Sherwood Forest is the Bard's Bed from Ironies.
Striking crotch mahogany is used to glorious effect in the headboard on the Barley Twist Four Poster Bed designed by Kerry Joyce and available through Dessin Fournir.

"To all, to each, a fair good-night, and pleasing dreams, and slumbers light" ~ Sir Walter Scott

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

From the cheeky to the classic, there lies a hint of the beast within these charmers.

The only thing missing is the furry mane, but you can hear the roar of the Le Lion Stand in the Jacques Garcia Collection by Baker, making a powerful statement in blood red.




Let's continue our tour of the African veld with the iconic Tusk Table in the Bill Sofield Collection by Baker, it is especially interesting in silver gilt.



Antony Todd through 1stdibs.com has one-upped the Tusk by offering elephant heads carved to perfection in a 19th c. Anglo-Indian artifact.


Oly Studio has put a whole new spin on curling up with the dog by the fire. Their Ajax Armchair is certain to be your best friend, especially with the Ari Side Table holding your favorite drink.
Can you just picture this beast of a bench lurking in the shadows, one might think a werewolf had taken kindly to your secret garden, rather than Oly's Arthur.



Erica Brunson's Taylor Console seems as ancient as the legend of the unicorn, with the patina of age and the delicate legs of the mythical equine.



Might Dransfield & Ross's Abydos Bench and it's fearsome wolves have howled Cleopatra's enemies into submission?




One can almost hear the lush melody of the bird perching on the branches of this sweetly delicate accent table from Pier 1, and the reproduction of the Merit Oppenheim "Traccia" table through Eccola on 1stdibs.com is just missing a few feathers, but none of the charm.

Starting your own zoo is everyone's childhood dream, yes?