If any of you have been reading laurel home for a while, you’ll know that I’m insanely obsessed with anything having to do with a Greek Key Pattern. It’s like close encounters of the Greek Key kind.
Greek Key rug. Greek Key pillow. And Greek Key-esque sofa trim. I love it all. Someone once said it looks like Jackie Kennedy Onassis (may she rest in peace) should be lounging here. haha! I dunno.
A Jewish Hungarian girl from Evansville Indiana who grew up in a blah, nothing 50’s ranch that looks freakishly the same as it did 50 years ago is hardly cut from the same cloth as our Jackie O.
Still… we weren’t complete peasants.
Somewhere in the deep recesses of my obsessed brain, I remember this stately dwelling near the shores of the Ohio River.
When my grandparents came down twice a year from Chicago, my grandmother would take me to this grand old hotel built in the 1920’s. The Hotel McCurdy. I have always gravatated to this era.
Today, I’m going to share with you lots of wonderful ways to use Greek patterns along with some fabulous resources and links to some cool tutorials.
I’ve been using Greek Key drapery trim since 2002— at least! The recent installation of this dining room prompted me to write about the classical Greek Key pattern which also just happens to be the hottest design trend!
above and below, interior design and photo by Laurel Bern (the clients owned the table, chairs, sideboard, lighting and silver. We did everything else.)
Here’s a closeup. duh.
Incredible living room with a double layer of elegant trim on the draperies. The grasscloth looks to be by Phillip Jeffries. Love his stuff!
Set of three reconstituted garden urns from Denhams
I’ll take them all. Now, if only I had a garden!
THE bathroom we did last year with the Greek Key border. For more of this bathroom click here.
In my travels, I found some gorgeous dresses with Greek Key patterns. Hmmm… maybe there is such a thing as reincarnation. I’ll take either of these!
How chic is that dress!
Metropolitan Museum of Art – Dress, American (!) cotton and wool, circa 1862
The Greek Key design persisted into the 20th century
This is the Princess Helen or Elena (later queen) of Romania.
It’s supposed to be a tiara. What’s funny is that over the years, the tiara got pushed further and further up her head.
you can also read about the history of the Greek Key Tiara here
Pair of Mid-Century Greek Key lamps from 1st Dibs
Photo: Lee Kleinhelter for Lonny
vintage tumblers. You can find a lot of great vintage items like this on Etsy. All of the vendors on there take a heavy dose of nice pills and the prices are usually very reasonable.
Achingly pretty!
May gives a step by step tutorial on how she made this awesome top on this desk with washi tape. (whatever that is)
Fabulous vintage outdoor Greek chairs from Circa Who
Sorry, they are no longer available. Circa Who is a fabulous resource in beautiful West Palm Beach, Florida. Problem is, their stuff is sooooo fabulous, that it doesn’t hang around for very long. But if you like mid-century and/or Hollywood Regency, you’ll be in pig heaven either in their store or website.
They don’t credit the source but it also looks like it might be from Circa Who.
How fabulous are those pillows? Wonderful colors. Love the painted legs on these charming chairs.
This is a waaaay cool company called O’verlays. What are they? They’re lightweight, synthetic decorative panels that come in zillions of patterns. AND, if they don’t have what you’re looking for, they can make a custom design. I did that once for a door. I sent in a drawing and they produced the overlay very quickly.
I could see using them on the apron of a table too! Did I mention that you can paint them?
Fabulous Design by Honey Collins using Schumacher grasscloth. I found another example where it was also done on the ceiling. Love that! Photo: Bruce Buck
BHDM Design via Lonny
How sick are those fiddle leaf trees? They make the room! Love the layered rugs.
From a trip to see my son Cale and his lovely girlfriend Maureen in Boston, a year ago. That’s Jasmine resting on the fabulous old floor of the home they were tending to.
Well, that’s it for now with the Greek Key. Oh, I’m sure that it’ll be back!
I’m a classical girl!
xo,
