Precious Metals

Goldthorpe & Edwards go for the gold (and silver) at the Vassar Show House in suburban Philadelphia.

Jen Renzi -- Interior Design, 7/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Every cloud has a silver lining, as partners J. Wesley Goldthorpe and Anne Edwards of Goldthorpe & Edwards were recently reminded. For their room in the Vassar Show House, the designers had originally planned a vivid color scheme of emerald green, hot pink, and canary yellow. Three weeks before opening day, however, they were informed that the drapery and upholstery fabrics they had ordered would not arrive in time. "So we went to plan B," says Goldthorpe: an inspired gold-and-silver theme dreamed up as an 11th-hour replacement. The duo converted the jewel-box of a space, originally a passageway from the entry to the conservatory, into a sophisticated seating niche—"a place to sip a Martini," quips Edwards. "The small scale of the room really dictated the design," explains Goldthorpe; he and Edwards custom-designed the diminutive, tufted seating to recall the glamour of 1920s Hollywood. For all surfaces, including the floor, "we wanted a slick, pure silver look—almost like sheet metal," says Edwards. It took seven layers of silver, a top-coat of light gray, and a metallic finish to finally achieve the desired glossiness. Reflective objects and accessories, glittering beads, and decorative painting further heighten the panache. Although Goldthorpe deems the over-the-top silver gilt-bronze statues "a little borderline," he nonetheless concedes that "we are always after a bit of drama and sparkle in our work."