la Petite Gracie Collection

As an interior designer, I am fortunate to be surrounded by beauty on a daily basis. With all of the beautiful things I get to peruse ranging from textiles to furnishings, there are inevitably some things that simply stand out from the rest. Gracie pieces unequivocally fall into that category.

Gracie is a company that has long had a piece of my heart. I have made numerous moves throughout my adult life and I can say at this point thus far, there are three items that have made every single move and have remained fixtures in each home. It just might be safe to say they are family by now. These pieces are my “vintage” John Edward’s Hughes Gracie panels (pictured above). I have the fondest memories or peeking through the sample panels in the John Edward Hughes Showroom with such admiration for their beauty.  I also have a long-time respect for the Gracie name in terms of Heritage Brands and the importance of such a special piece.  Of course anyone can attempt to emulate the original, but to me, when that happens, the specialness and “soul” of the piece is lost.

Founded in New York City in 1898, Charles R. Gracie began his business selling custom furnishings and lamps which later expanded into Chinese and Japanese furniture in 1920. Gracie later went on to become the first company to import hand-painted wallpapers to the United States since the 1700s.

To this day Gracie wallpapers remain highly sought after having graced the walls of the White House to Winfield House in London. Not only did they pave the way for such designs to flourish because of their exquisite design, but the brand’s legacy and family history creates distinction between them and the design houses who followed.

Mike and Jennifer Gracie, the brother and sister duo, are continuing their great grandfather’s legacy as the fourth generation leaders of Gracie.

“Today, each panel is still hand crafted in China, by same studio that the Gracie family has worked with for over 50 years. Each newly created paper still carries with it the same motifs, craftsmanship, and air of grandeur that have defined the Gracie brand for the last century.”

“Gracie wallpapers are truly one-of-a-kind. They are wall coverings, sure, yet they are exquisite pieces of art with the ability to transport you to another era. From the subtle wrinkling of rice paper producing an aged effect, to the glazes creating a vintage patina, everything is exactly the way the client wills it to be. Their use of time honored materials like papier chinois, silk and tea leaf, really lend themselves to these captivating designs. It’s not an overstatement to say that when you’re in a Gracie room, you are living within a piece of art. The artisans responsible for the exquisite chinoiserie wallpaper have backgrounds in fine arts, and whether it be custom order or classic motif, their expert attention to detail shines through in every design.”

The “la Petite Gracie” collection was the very first concept we dreamt up leading up to the launch of Christian Ladd Home. The idea behind the creation of Christian Ladd Home was providing a space where unique items and collaborations as well as heirloom-quality pieces could be made accessible. Gracie has long been a fixture in our homes and hearts and we are so thrilled with how these petite pieces turned out. We hope you love them just as much as we do!

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