It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad (Men) World...in New York City, of course.

Hello friends,

Once again, apologies for the sparse blog postings lately - I'm going through a little internal struggle with whether to post photos of C on here or not.  I want to share them with you but at the same time I want to protect her too - you know?  So while I'm continuing my internal debate, I'll share some photos that, thankfully, the very talented photographer, Jamie Beck, has graciously shared with the world.

I first came across these photo's on one of my favorite blogs when I was sick as a dog and stuck in bed this past Christmas.  I immediately fell in love, and thought to myself that I could actually live in that apartment (with a couple of modern adjustments, perhaps - the bathroom and kitchen most of all, for convenience's sake).  I just loved the simple yet glamourous furnishings, the pop of color in every room and....of course....the absolutely incredible views.  It just oozes the Mad Men sophistication and elegance that I have always loved.  And if you know me at all you know that I long to step back in time to the earlier part of the 20th century - I often think I was born in the wrong era.  So this is right up my alley.  Now to let you see just what I'm talking about....

This might be my favourite photo of the set (although it's hard to say that because there are so many incredible ones).  And that tufted green velvet couch?  Perfection - in love.  It might be my favourite colour green, too.   I wonder about all the people who sat on that couch and what they talked about over the years.  And I'm dying over that oversized tapestry.  Here's a closeup:

 I'd love to know the story of where that came from.

More fabulous green, made even more amazing by the addition of cerise pink.  Can it get any better?

Why yes it can - just look at that view.  Are you kidding me?!?! (And don't you love how even the rug has touches of green and hot pink?).

(That's her granddaughter)

I. DIE.

Now back inside.....

I find myself wondering who has played that piano (apparently a Hungarian pianist-friend often tinkled those ivories), and what did they sing?  Did people dance to the music, too?  Can you imagine a party in that room - I can and I wish I could travel back and be a fly on the wall (or - better yet - a guest).

Imagine cocktail hour in this space?  Amazing.

Shaken, not stirred....naturally.

Love the bamboo silver bar tools.

Now...the kitchen.  Let's talk about the kitchen.

Wouldn't you just feel like Betty Draper on that phone?  I love that the wall paper is pink and green, and the green tile on the kitchen floor?  I would never pick that but it just works here - especially with those green topped stools.  

This kitchen is seriously like stepping back time.  I mean just look at this:

Have you ever seen anything like that in your life?  Admittedly, it's a smart space-saver for a NYC apartment, but who would think of it?  And after you're done preparing your breakfast in that wonderful little kitchen, you can enjoy it here on perfect pink chairs...

On fabulous pink china (which I LOVE):

And how smart is this for dinner parties:

Working from home in a space like this?  Don't mind if I do (especially sitting a chair like that):

My heart is made happy by the old fashioned stationary set.  All that's missing is the in-office bar and Don Draper.  Still not convinced on the office?  I bet you'll change your mind when you look out the window (if you're a NY-er and know where this is, please tell me!):

Now the bathroom.  How great is that Pucci-esque wallpaper, love it all over the door:

And now her bedroom:

Hello, vintage upholstered headboard.  I'm pretty sure the owner of this bed and I have a few things in common, the least of which being our love of upholstered headboards.

And her bathroom...

Which also has a view, naturally...

And a dressing room....

And here's the lady herself:

How glamorous is she...in pink, of course - clearly her signature color.

Her name is Madelaine Felkay.  She arrived in the United States in 1948 after escaping communism in her home country of Hungary.  As Beck discovered when she went to photograph the apartment, Felkay married the owner of the Tip Top Brush Company, and became a true-blue Manhattanite, hosting bridge games and throwing parties in this spectacular apartment that has a "million dollar view of Central Park South".  When I first viewed these photos, she was 94 and still living alone in that apartment.  I just discovered, however, that she passed away just a week after I saw these photos.  Although of course I didn't know here it still made me feel sad - the end of a Manhattan era.

This photo just captures so much - there she is sitting on my favorite green couch in a beautiful cerise pink dress, her signature color, of course.  I like to imagine that this photo was taken at the end of the night, after all the guests have left her soiree.  She's tired, but happy and content after a wonderful evening with friends.  All she has to do now is curl up in her bed and enjoy her absolutely perfect apartment.

I hope you enjoyed looking at these photos as much as I do - they just never get old for me, kind of like that apartment....still effortlessly stylish, fifty years later.