Dovecote Decor

All my blog friends have been talking about outdoor spaces and ways we can stylishly and comfortably commune with the beautiful summer Earth and Skies. There have been so many ideas and creative posts to enjoy, so Benji suggested we talk about his friend, Anne Girault of Boutique Tents, whom he met in design school. Her bespoke tents are as stunning as the guests attire, inspired by couture, event invitations, and of course, the hosts style. Forget Omar...

And think impossibly chic

Anne Girault

Detailed creations, that are simultaneously exotic and urban. 

 Anne names this creation for Tara Guerard of Soiree: "The Waldron." Her designs are so personal and alive for her, that her creations become intimate friends:

"This gent is the essence of restraint and tailored perfection. Mind you, not for a loss of detail, but only the most sensibly executed ones. While to some he cuts a formal figure, we praise his pedigree and provenance as rare in this age."

 Tents within a tent, create intimate architectural spaces around a central dance floor, with lounge areas echoing an era of sophisticated night clubs.  With a large tent like this, Anne creates the smaller perimeter tents, valences, decorative roof liners and draperies. She likes to hide all of the construction elements. Combined with the geometric dance floor, we are transported to a middle world of time and space suspended. 

The tent party reminds us of that we are invited to a unique and special moment in our lives. In Anne's incomparable prose, she describes her favorite handiwork:

 "This little gem is a match for the wandering soul, the weary traveler who seeks shaded solace, repose and a kind aperitif. "

Tomorrow, it will all be gone, and reconfigured in a completely different way.

Unforgettable sophistication, with contemporary lounging and dramatic lighting takes us back to elegant Hollywood or Palm Beach eras, that spark the imagination. We are transported to the days, when people smoked with flair, and used martini shakers. I am looking for Sean Connery, Clark Gable and Gregory Peck! 

This elegant pavilion would be perfect at the edge of a terrace, in the garden, or by my imaginary swimming pool, and tennis court. Dinner for 8? 

After collaborating with the event planner, often Tara Guerard, Anne goes to work in her Charleston atelier. She has three "really bad ass" sewing machines that she personally uses to piece together Sunbrella fabrics. 

Anne is a completely self taught seamstress--note the stenciling applied to the ceiling cloth. The traditional vernacular becomes instantly fresh with a Matisse-like applique to the valence. She is inspired by myriad sources and periods from campaign tent styles, made famous in the Napoleonic era, Medieval variations, or Indian and Eastern themes. 

The Maharaja Tent company has some wonderful historic photos and descriptions of luxurious tent settings, or what bloggers currently dub as "glamping." Many other designers have created tent inspired rooms. 

A Turkish tent exhibited in a Swedish museum inspired the great Italian designer, Renzo Mongiardino, whose clientele was described in his obituary: "to resemble a kidnapper's wish-list. "

Roomscapes: The Decorative Architecture of Renzo Mongiardino

© 1993 Rizzoli International Publications Inc New York

ISBN 0 8478 1553 6

The council room at Malmaison, reminiscent of the great campaign tents, inaugurated this opulent Empire style. 

Elegant tents, are also designed for the four legged crowd.

Anne's animal friends entertain in style!

The Thomas A. Gray Auction featured this fantastic tent door hanging, which I did not win. I was going to hang it over my dining room door. Stitched in Farci, the words: "With God's help, we will soon be winning," sounded encouraging to me. 

This is Boutique Tents latest creation. It is packing for Denver, you are the first to see it! Tell us your romantic, tented, dreamscape fantasies--canopies, valences, dressing tables...

As, always, I leave you with a quote... 

“I got in an argument with a girlfriend inside of a tent. That's a bad place for an argument, because I tried to walk out, and had to slam the flap.”

 Mitch Hedberg quotes (American Comedian, 1968-2005)