Before & After - Chateau Chic

A couple of months back, I got a call from my good friend Heather over at Grange, asking me to zhuzh up their showroom kitchen for What's New, What's Next, an industry event in which furniture and lighting companies at the New York Design Center host parties for media types to promote their new collections. For those of you who may not know, Grange is a French company that's been making beautiful, handcrafted wood furniture for over a century. This year's event, Heather explained, was all about Chateau Chic, during which people would mix and mingle with the editors of Traditional Home, while enjoying the warmth and style of a French chateau.

Here are some of the before shots Heather sent over.     

As you can see, the kitchen had great bones: butcher block counters, nice cabinetry, a rich, warm gray, and best of all, the only working Aga range in New York City outside of a private residence! Martha has one in her stable kitchen in Bedford that I decorated for my first story with Living back in 2006.  

As a culinary student, I learned that if there's anything the French love to cook with, it's copper. Julia Child's kitchen was full of it! Like most things, servingware goes in and out of fashion, but copper is one of those timeless investments that becomes even more beautiful with age. It's one of my absolute favorite collections not only because I love the way it looks—remember our kitchen in Lonny?—but because I use it every day. Well...maybe not these days since just about every piece I own is now at the Grange showroom until Friday. Check it out!       

For me, Chateau Chic was about abundance. It was about having collections of beautiful cookware—pots and pans, skillets and sauciers, cake pedestals and cutting boards—all in a warm palette of materials, like yellowware, copper, ironstone, Bakelite and wood. In my mind, this was a kitchen for entertaining on the grandest scale, where large families would gather for elaborate Sunday dinners, made with all farm-fresh ingredients and served banquet style.      

Art is such a personal thing, but in the kitchen, I prefer images with culinary references. So to add graphic punch to this space, while still keeping it Chateau Chic, I chose this black-and-white botanical from Artaissaince, then framed it in the same way we did our gallery of lithographs at home. Of course, larger-scale art can get expensive, but Artaissaince uses digital technology to size any image exactly to your specifications. I love the way this piece turned out; it transports you, but in a subtle, sophisticated way. 

In the china cabinet, I used more pieces from our own butler's pantry—antique German pudding molds, ironstone terrines, wooden bowls, even a hotel silver cloche—everything you'd need for a feast!

To me, the most interesting spaces always have a good mix of old and new, so to add to my collection of antique copper, I layered in pieces from Mauviel, the most durable and beautiful new copper cookware I've ever seen. These truly are the antiques of tomorrow.

In our house, and whenever we entertain, I love mixing servingware from different eras: 1940s Bakelite flatware from the flea market with an 1800s copper pot my good friend Deborah Buck picked up in Paris. Like most of my collections, I've simply built them up over time—one piece here, another there—until...well...our modest farmhouse kitchen now fills the shelves of a fictional French chateau! 

A working Aga stove and a captive audience could only mean one thing—a cooking demonstration! As a caterer years ago, I used to serve cheese gougères like these at cocktail parties. They're a delicious, almost addicting, savory cheese hors d'oeuvre made with a cream puff pastry called pate a choux and served at wine tastings in France. So with the kitchen all propped, we arrived on the day of the event toting flowers, farm-fresh ingredients, and beautiful candles to be included in every guest's gift bag at Grange.     

Here I am on the Aga making the pate a choux.

A quick piping with a pastry bag...

and into the oven they went.

Now, anyone who's ever cooked on an Aga knows it's unlike any other oven in the world. The entire cooker is incredibly energy efficient, steadily transferring heat from its cast iron core into its ovens and hotplates. For that reason, the process by which an Aga stove releases heat is far gentler than the direct flames of most ovens, preserving flavor, moisture and texture. In my experience, both at Grange and at Martha's in Bedford, food really does taste better. So while my first batch of gougères cooked in the Aga, guests gathered at the front of the house for wine and champagne.

Soon, though, the wafting aroma led them back, as it always does, to the kitchen, where a growing crowd gathered, as though guests in a fancy French chateau.  

Two of the first to stop by were friends Ann Maine and Sabine Rothman with Traditional Home. Ann is the Editor-in-Chief and Sabine, now Senior Design and Markets Editor, I've known for years, ever since my House Beautiful days. Both were super supportive of my new endeavors, not to mention my gougères!

Five or six batches later—didn't I tell you they were addictive?—and more friends stopped by, including Ondine Karady from Top Design and, with Jaithan, Sara Jonas, one of our very first flea market shoppers in Atlanta.  

Finally, a huge thank you both to Alix Lerman and Jim Druckman with the New York Design Center and to Heather Ryan, my longtime friend and collaborator at Grange. I have such fond memories of the trip Heather and I took to Paris years ago. She was at Bernardaud and I was at House Beautiful. Our travels together to the Chateau d'Epoisses in the Burgundy region sparked a shared passion for all things Chateau Chic.  

It may not be the French countryside, but for a few precious square feet of space in a city that never relents, not a bad place to stop and stay a while...  

Comments

[Tobi Fairley]

Eddie, this event looks fabulous! You continue to outdo yourself and I loved seeing the familiar faces at Traditional Home that were at your event. I also just looked through your professional portfolio and recognize so many of those shots...didn't know some of them were your work and I'm so glad to know that they are. I had fun having the yellow secretary recreated last year for a client that brought that photo to my firm from the Horchow catalog and now I know I can give the credit to you for the orginial design. I can't wait to tell my client because she loves your blog. You are an amazing talent. Congrats on your continued successes! They just keep coming!!

[thomas]

Excellent transformation...your kitchen skills coupled with your design skills contributed to the success of the space. Excellent! Loved all of the photos of friends and acquaintances. Looks like fun.

[Donna]

The styling is beautiful...love Grange!

[Suzanne Spina]

Wow! Eddie, you look like you are having so much fun but that must have been very hard work. Thanks for that great post. Tres chic.

[Kathy :)]

WOW, WOW, WOW Eddie....

Do you ever sleep ???

All the best,
Kathy :)

[abby jenkins]

GORGE! I covet everything ... always wanted an Aga but our kitchen here is too small. Next house.
Sorry I missed you in Rye, was running around getting stuff together for the launch, you should come! xo

[sheil]

I always say that Martha is such an icon because of the people that work(ed) for her. I'm beginning to think that you are the reason for her success.

[Bette]

Eddie,

Wonderful display of brillance. All those happy faces too...good show!

Bette

[~ ~Ahrisha~ ~]

Thank you Eddie, for taking us along for the ride! What a great kitchen. I have yet to cook on an Aga. Is there a learning curve involved like with a convection? I really can't get used to it.
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

[The Aesthete]

This is the difference between you and me. I could easily imagine the setting, as you improved it, but I don't know if I could execute it so splendidly. Or source all the objects. Bravo.

[Miss Mustard Seed]

I love all of the copper, wooden utencils and bakelight. I agree that the excess of these cooking items really adds to the wow factor in this kitchen. Beautiful job!

[Rebecca Rebouche]

you genius.

[Kristin Gilbertson]

Genius! I would never mix yellow Bakelite with copper, which is why I don't work for Martha and have an incredibly cool blog like yours. My kitchen wants to be this kitchen for Halloween.

ps. you got robbed on design star.

[debra phillips]

eddie;

your combination of glowing copper, light and dark wood, linen, fruit, candles........mirrored a chateau but also looked like a gorgeous still life. beautiful! and once again inspiring! thank you.
ps....my post of 10-4-09 was on my aga. now i realize that i need elements on top. will be hunting for a biscuit jar and build on my collection of wooden spoons and bakelite knives. you are the best!
www.5thandstate.blogspot.com
xxo
debra

[Charlotta]

You have nailed it!!
The kitchen has been transformed to a magnificent country castle cuisine of the Loire Valley, France!!
The copper collection is simply divine, and I love how you mixed it up with the 'peasant chic' detail and food.

Rustic yet elegant. I am in awe - as usual!

xCharlotta

[Lauren]

oh how gorgeous!!! (not surprised though!!!) looks like such a fun time and your things just look so beautifully displayed!!! and now your pregnant friend is eating chips ahoy at 10:45 pm because your post made me hungry!!

wish i had some cheese. hahaha
byeeeeeeeeeee

[Charla @ For the Sake of Time]

Eddie - I love the way the copper looks with the aged wooden items. It all looks wonderfully delicious. BTW - HGTV is doing some major advertising of your special. We are really looking forward to it.

Charla

[sarah kaplan]

Eddie,

My head just exploded, that collection of copper and everything else you own is beyond!!!!!!!

My only question is when do you sleep?

Sorry that I missed you when to came to the DC, we should all have lunch and remember the good old days with Fantasia and the glue gun,

sak

[Pat's Addition]

Eddie,
Wow, you sure improved and warmed up an already great kitchen. I love the mix of "stuff" old and new. I can understand how anyone can cook/live in a kitchen with clear, sterile counter tops. They have no life or personality. Everything you do has both life and abundant personality, as we saw at the DC Flea.

[Creole Wisdom]

That is simply stunning! Thank you for posting these. I am loving the giant black & white botanical print. I have a colored one in my kitchen now from the NY Botanical gardens and love it. They are very kitchen-y to me.

Also, thanks for your pumpkin ideas. I used them to create this: http://www.creolewisdom.com/my_weblog/2009/10/boo-could-not-be-more-festive.html

Thanks!
Katie @ Creole Wisdom

[Sharon in Chicago]

Just yummy visually (and I'm sure, tastely as well)! I've just been given a copper plate my mom made herself as a teen -- this will inspire me to display it.

[LindsB]

What a stunning collection of copper- I cant believe you had all of that in your tiny NYC apartment at one point!

[Eddie Ross]

Hi everyone!

So happy you like the kitchen!

Countess, great question. One of the best things about the Aga are the lids over the burners. They definitely prevent a lot of spillage, so decorate away!

[Steve McKenzie]

Wish I would have been there.You have a magical touch for decorating and entertaining. The Artaissance and Larson-Juhl looks beautiful thanks. Can't wait to see you guys soon.

[Ivy Lane]

Wow, what a wonderful transformation! Glad to see you getting out EVERYWHERE!!!!

[honey living]

wonderful! thank you so much for sharing all the lovely images. i also love the mix you're talking about - because it makes the pieces not just about where they came from originally, but where they come from in your life and in your evolution as a collector and entertainer.

i also LOVE the large-scale print in the kitchen - i'm in the process of framing a large graphic piece of all different fruits and vegetables to hang in mine.

[The Countess of Nassau County]

I love it but I do have a question.

You kind of surprised me with your choice to cover the back splash over the stove with copper pots. What impact does putting the copper in a spot where it's bound to get splashed and splattered constantly have on longevity?

[Jennifer Sergent]

Eddie -- I'm so jealous you got to cook on the Aga! When I first edited a publication for HGTV in 2004, they looked at me like I was crazy when I wanted to do a feature on Aga cult followers in the U.S., but I prevailed and the feature went in. I think it's time to revist...

[Anne Statland]

Such an inviting space! Beautiful design and looks as if everyone had a lovely time.

[Ms. Bright]

This is fantastic! I adore all of that copper! I started collecting pieces after we were married. And just look at you go...looking cool in front of that hot hot hot AGA! Looking forward to Sunday's hgtv special! Oh, and please...come back to Atlanta and Scott's!

[heleno suassuna]

nice blog, nice ideas...greetings from brazil!

[Evelyn Weiss]

You make a chateau feel warm and cozy with your signature style. Beautiful!

xoxo
Evy

[vicki archer]

Great style up Eddie...xv

[julie - eab designs]

Beautifully styled - so warm and inviting. Congrats on such a successful event!

[Mary Kay Andrews]

Eddie--so gorgeous! I love the little touches--like the silverware piled into the vintage biscuit barrels. Now I know what to do with those biscuit barrels missing lids I always find at estate sales!

[Gina Theodor]

Eddie,
Another beautiful room. I am wondering if you are ever going to be in the Seattle area to do some flea markets. I am so inspired by your style. Thanks Gina

[Design Esquire]

Wow - you transformed the kitchen! I love it.

[pve]

Incroyable! This is what I call romancing the stone! I would love to cry over cutting onions there!
pve

[Dina]

What a difference the copper, wooden pieces, and that black and white print make to the olive backdrop! So warm and inviting!

[Lori]

As always, fabulous! Another success.

[Irina]

Great post, Eddie!!!
Love the kitchen filled with gorgeous copper and Aga. I'm slowly transforming my Hong Kong high rise apartment's kitchen into a French chateau kitchen, as crazy as it might sound.

[Colleen]

Eddie, Eddie, Eddie, and all this time I thought it was Martha that was the genius. It was you all along wasn't it. Beautiful styling.

[Kathy]

It turned out amazing. I love everything about it. Great job!

[Victoria Zlotkowski]

This all looks so delightful! Congrats to such successful evening, wish I would have been there!
You surely are the hottest thing around the AGA...
(You do know how woman feel about a man cooking???)

[Mrs. Blandings]

It looks gorgeous and I know the food was delicious. You are working so hard it is making me tired.