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"  Dominique de Menil in a Charles James gown seated on a sofa of his design, 1951. The Menil Archives, the Menil Collection, Houston. Courtesy of Charles B. H. James and Louise D. B. James. Photo: F. Wilbur Seiders. Fashion&amp;#039;s finest will converge at the Metropolitan Museum of Art&amp;#039;s Costume Institute Gala next week to toast to the opening of Charles James: Beyond Fashion. Following the much-buzzed-about ball, the exhibit celebrating the career of the twentieth-century Anglo-American couturier will open to the public on Tuesday, May 6. Hundreds of thousands are expected to soak up the glamour and resplendent architecture of James&amp;#039;s ball gowns in the newly renovated Costume Institute through August 10. But, perhaps, what the exhibition won&amp;#039;t showcase is a less talked about yet equally intriguing layer of his talents: interior design. Few know that James was more than a designer of wearable art, his design process, that focused on a use of sculptural, scientific, and mathematical construction, extended to the home.  Menil House living room, Charles James sofa in foreground, 1964. The Menil Archives, the Menil Collection, Houston. Photo: Balthazar Korab. The Menil Collection in Houston, Texas\u2014aware of this opportune time in history when all will be talking about James\u2014is resurfacing a decor commission made by one of his most beloved clients in an exhibit A Thin Wall of Air: Charles James. In 1950, local art patrons John and Dominique de Menil (the couple&amp;#039;s extensive art collection is housed in the Renzo Piano-designed Houston museum) tapped James to elaborately decorate their stark-for-the-time Philip Johnson-designed modernist house\u2014this scene wildly shook up the traditional River Oaks neighborhood. Opening on May 31 and running through September, this parallel exhibit will act as a micro to the Met&amp;#039;s macro retrospective,highlighting the conversation between his fashion and interior creations. Here, we take a glimpse at James&amp;#039;s flair for decor courtesy of images that will be showcased at The Menil.  Dominique de Menil wearing a Charles James designed day suit seated on a chaise lounge of his design, patio of Menil House. The Menil Archives, the Menil Collection, Houston. Courtesy of Charles B. H. James and Louise D. B. James. Photo: F. Wilbur Seiders.  Dominique de Menil&amp;#039;s dressing room, Menil house, 1964. The Menil Archives, the Menil Collection, Houston. Courtesy of Charles B. H. James and Louise D. B. James. Photo: Balthazar Korab.  Hallway, Menil House, 1964. The Menil Archives, the Menil Collection, Houston. Photo: Balthazar Korab. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/news/a2188/charles-james-interior-design-elle-decor/>