Parish-Hadley Tree of Life: An Intimate History of the Legendary Design Firm by McCarthy Brian J. & Williams Bunny

Author:McCarthy, Brian J. & Williams, Bunny [McCarthy, Brian J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stewart, Tabori & Chang
Published: 2015-10-05T21:00:00+00:00

Along the Fifth Avenue elevation of this residence, the rhythm of windows—each with an integrated bench—creates a dramatic architectural effect and invites one to enjoy the park view. Fluted friezes ornament the overdoors of the dining room passages.

To this day there is always a sense of family when working with fellow Parish-Hadley alums. Those of us who grew up and out from Parish-Hadley carry a respect for the discipline of decorating. And I have observed that Parish-Hadley decorators hold a reciprocal respect for the discipline of architecture. We work together on projects for clients who understand that they can count on our attention to marrying the decorative arts with the demands of an exacting architectural context. There is also a respect for the unique work of landscape architects, engineers, audio-visual technicians, and artisans of metalwork, millwork, plaster, or stone. As Ehrmann advised, we “listen to others,” and know that “they too have their story.”

In the early days of my dream-realized independent practice, I was energized designing a house for my family. I had three children, and I hoped to create a retreat for all of us—nothing too elaborate, something perhaps modest, but comfortable. I found land in Chatham, New York, with an existing house. Establishing a family retreat thus turned into a carefully honed restoration of an existing Greek Revival farmhouse. The completed project was published in a magazine, including a photo of my family posed before the front entry to the farmhouse. Photos of the project also included the adjoining stone shed, a former dilapidated stone heap that I had enjoyed overseeing to reconstruction. I sent a copy of the published article to Albert Hadley, and in generous Albert fashion he wrote me back a most favorable critique: “It looks so ‘beautiful’ and inviting, colorful and comfortable.” His postscript said it all: “I could easily live quite happily in the little stone shed!” That note—from the mentor who taught me the power of modesty, of simplicity, of understatement, of restraint—that note is a treasure to me.

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