As usual, 1st Dibs has a huge selection of fabulous new pieces. Here are some of my favorites:

Glam pair of french cobra sconces

France
1960’s
Pair of French brass sconces in form of a cobra, newly electrified with vintage metal shades. Converted from candle sconces.  This pair would look amazing on either side of a door or a large bookshelf.

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=437641

Silver leafed pagoda console by James Mont

USA
1950′S
This Beautiful silver leafed Pagoda console by JAMES MONT retains its original silver leaf finish which is in outstanding condition. The console has three cut out decals which support the pagoda top and has three drawers, with the center one which is braded “JAMES MONT DESIGN”

Measurements
height: 27.25 in.
depth: 19 in.
width/length: 6 ft. 5 in.

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=440319

Feather Headdress

Cameroon
late 20th century
Ceremonial feather hat worn by Fon(kings) and senior dignitaries in various kingdoms of the Grassfields region of Cameroon. Originally the coloration of this kind of hat was more subdued and its construction allowed folding in for storage. Later on the colors became more vivid and the construction more rigid. It makes a wonderful and easy to use decorative element.  I love hanging these on walls to add a textural element to the room.  The feathers and the color are fun and bring a bit of whimsy as well.

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=441002

A pair of porcelain elephant lamps

Italy
1980’s
A majestic pair of Italian ceramic elephant busts that have been mounted on acrylic
bases and wired as lamps….Funky and fabulous!

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=439732

Beautiful Swedish Rococo Writing Desk

Sweden
Circa 1760
Period Swedish rococo writing desk, circa 1760, with original hardware and secondary blue paint. Three drawers in the bowed front with a smaller drawer just under the drop leaf. The interior features two banks of three drawers on either side, as well as other drawers and compartments. Original bun feet.  This desk is similar to a secretary I purchased for a client ( you can see it in my portfolio).  I can’t tell you how many requests? comments I get on that piece.

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=440345

Ox Weathervane

American
19th century
Attributed to Howard & Co., Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
Ca. 1854-67.
The imposing size suggests that this Ox Weathervane was made on commission for a large barn. It is perhaps the largest example by Howard & Co. known to date. It is an exceptional piece based on its sculptural form, size, and virtually untouched condition. I love the way the colors fade on this piece.  Measurements:  height: 22 1/2       depth: 6 7/8       width/length: 35 in.

Pressed Botanicals

France
20th Century
A collection of herbiers from the 1900’s. The color preservation is out of this world… they are quite spectacular, but it person they are even more magnificent.

12 available.
Inquire for more photos.
Sold individually.

Measurements
height: 22.5 in.
width/length: 17.25 in.

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=435947

French Console

France
mid 1800’s
Dark walnut shows through the soft, aged gray paint.

Measurements
height: 30 in.
depth: 29 in.
width/length: 10 ft.

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=438148

Pair of branch coral lamps on coquina stone bases

USA
Late 20th C.
A pair of branch coral lamps, mounted on coquina stone, with matching finials. I love the green shades and how full the coral branches are. Perfect for a large room that needs some fun.

Measurements

height: 31 in.
width/length: 16″
diameter: 7.5 in.

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=439801

19th century anglo indian carved swing

India
19th Century
Fully hand tooled swing, teak wood. Used for the Royal Queen’s palace during British Raj in India.  This is your statement piece.  This would look incredible at the edge of a garden or in a grove.

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=440468

Happy Shopping!

xo,

S

I recently met up with the lovely ladies at Vanderhurd to see their latest besopke designs in fabrics, carpets, and accessories and was blown away.  Those who know my design aesthetic know I love color and Vanderhurd’s products do not disappoint in that category.  I have always been a huge fan of their products ( see my previous post on the Crosby Street Hotel in Soho) and was not let down by the latest additions. They offer endless options for carpets: hand woven flat weave wool, linen, hemp, hand-knotted cut pile and loop linen, silk, hand knotted cut pile Nepalese wool/ silk blend, felted wool, Tibetan silk, New Zealand wool….the list goes on and on); fabrics: block printed, hand stitched, hand printed, vintage; and accessories: cloisonné trays and lamps boasting chevron-esque geometric patterns reminiscent of a Missoni print..  A few of my dream carpets, fabrics, and accessories are below.

Above: The pruple, black, and ivory silk dhurrie (Rhonda Amethyst) is a fun choice for a room when paired with neutrals. I love the soft taupe and peach hexagonal silk dhurrie and would pair it with a neutral rough grasscloth on the walls for a livable but beautiful room.

Above: A silk grey and grey stripe dhurrrie with metallic threads woven through.  This would be an amazing runner in a stairwell.  The metallic threads catch the light and the grey is so soothing.

Above: Silk zig zag dhurrie in the most fabulous sorbet colors.  I am picturing this with high gloss lavender walls and white furniture.

Above: The green, black, and aqua carpet on top is a nice thick rug (Cordoba Emerald) made of hand knotted cut pile wool.  The black and white carpet below is made of 100% hemp and is surprisingly soft.  Vanderhurd has also come out with a line of sisal carpets that are truly beautiful.

Above: These linen carpets were a favorite.  I would love to use one instead of sisal.  The colors are so vibrant and the woven linen is beautiful.  The pattern you see above is a hand woven cut pile and a hand woven sumac- creating a tripe like pattern.

Above: Vanderhurd’s hand embroidered textiles are the ultimate in bespoke fabric. Employing intricate French knot, “Satin” and “Kanta” stitches, the collection is available on natural coloured linen or cotton cloth, or on any of the patterned fabrics, and has been designed to compliment their collection of hand printed textiles. In addition to the collection, they can embroider any design in any colour cotton thread on any cloth. The standard width of their base cloths is 44 inches, but requests for custom widths can be accommodated.

Above: more hand embroidered fabrics.

Above: Vanderhurd’s hand printed fabric designs are entirely modern in form and colour, although they derive from antique Indian block print motifs. This marriage of ancient techniques with contemporary design—informed by a great knowledge of the history of textiles, manifests their design philosophy. The textiles are hand block printed or hand screen printed on a selection of natural base cloths—linen, cambric or chanderi—and the colour palette reflects our quintessential juxtaposition of soft and vibrant shades.

Above: a few more examples of their hand embroidered fabrics

Above: Vanderhurd routinely designs custom pillows, bedspreads and headboards, and offers in house upholstery services.

Above: Antique African Indigos.  These Indigos are woven by the Koulongo and Abron weavers from the Bondoukou region of the Cote d’Ivoire and by the Nigerian Yoruba people.  These cloths were woven on small looms as narrow strips, which were then sewn into ”Wrappers” worn as skirts by both men and women.  Vanderhurd New York’s Creative Director, Emilie Jean, an avid collector and dealer of tribal and antique textiles has introduced them to Vanderhurd’s repertoire.  Also, their presence in Vanderhurd’s showroom makes perfect sense, given Vanderhurd’s commitment to handmade, unique textiles, and to sustaining the culture and tradition of exceptional indigenous craftsmanship.

Above: The pale purple and pink silk and the gold silk with chartreuse border are two of Rocio Moreno’s silk fabrics.  Rocio Moreno, a well-known interior designer in Spain, has long been a traveler to India where she developed her collection of exquisite hand-woven silk brocade textiles.  The weavers she works with there are unique in that they continue to employ the complex technique of weaving silk brocades by hand, in the same way as they were produced in the 15^th and 16^th centuries in Venice as well as the Imperial Moghul court in India, where all the court rituals and its economic structure were built up around the symbolism, cost and almost mystical stature of the silk.  Today the weavers Moreno works with continue to produce silks for temples and palaces across the East, for the Dali Lama and the Royal Family of Nepal.  Moreno was fascinated by the workmanship, quality and texture of the brocades.  Up until the weavers produced her designs, they had only ever produced very traditional textiles.  Moreno’s designs are totally modern in form and colour, although they are derived from Ottoman motifs.  The result of this marriage of ancient techniques with contemporary design informed by a great knowledge of the history of textiles is Rocio Moreno’s collection, and as such, very much in the spirit of Vanderhurd.

Above: Their beautiful cloisonne trays and lamps.

To see many more examples of their beautiful work visit their website: http://www.vanderhurd.com/

xo,

S

Summer is my favorite season and that is due, in large part, to all of the summer days and nights spent in Newport, RI. The seaside town is set amidst historic buildings, cobble stone streets, and some of the nations best known ( and impeccably preserved) mansions.  You can charter a motor or sail boat to take in the spectacular coast line or hop on a bike or walk the city to get a feel for it’s charming streets.

1. Grace Kelly and Louis Armstrong on the set of High Society filmed in Newport. A must see!

2. Dinner and dancing at The Sky Bar on the top floor of The Clark Cooke House. After 11:30 pm the tables are cleared and the DJ starts spinning, finish up the evening with a rendition of “God Bless America”.  The heirloom tomato salad and lobster ravioli are my favorite dishes.  Make sure to save room for their famous “Snowball in Hell” for dessert (a chocolate brownie, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and shaved coconut lit on fire).

3. Surfing at Bailey’s as photographed by Slim Aarons

4. Newport to Bermuda Race June 2010

1. Grab a cocktail ( preferably a dark n’ stormy) and watch the sun set on the lawn of The New York Yacht Club.  On a side note, I was married here and it is one of my favorite locations.

2. Images 2,3,6, and 7 are various levels of The Clark Cooke House ( the Sky Bar is the top) which in my opinion, is the best restaurant in town for dinner.

4. The Newport Bridge at Sunset

5. The Black Pearl is located right next to the Cooke House on Bannisters Wharf and is the perfect spot for lunch or go to the annex for a hot dog and clam chowder.

7. The Boom Boom Room is the night club in the basement of The Clark Cooke House.

1. and 2. The Elms was the summer residence of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Julius Berwind of Philadelphia and New York. Mr. Berwind made his fortune in the Pennsylvania coal industry. In 1898, the Berwinds engaged Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer to design a house modeled after the mid-18th century French chateau d’Asnieres (c.1750) outside Paris. Construction of The Elms was completed in 1901 at a cost reported at approximately $1.4 million. The interiors and furnishings were designed by Allard and Sons of Paris and were the setting for the Berwinds’ collection of Renaissance ceramics, 18th century French and Venetian paintings, and Oriental jades. The elaborate Classical Revival gardens on the grounds were developed between 1907 and 1914. They include terraces displaying marble and bronze sculpture, a park of fine specimen trees and a lavish lower garden featuring marble pavilions, fountains, a sunken garden and carriage house and garage. These gardens were recently restored.

Mrs. Berwind died in 1922, and Mr. Berwind invited his sister, Julia, to become his hostess at his New York and Newport houses. Mr. Berwind died in 1936 and Miss Julia continued to summer at The Elms until her death in 1961, at which time the house and most of its contents were sold at public auction. The Preservation Society of Newport County purchased The Elms in 1962 and opened the house to the public. In 1996, The Elms was designated a National Historic Landmark.

3. The Tea House at Marble House. Marble House was built between 1888 and 1892 for Mr. and Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt, a summer house, or “cottage”, as Newporters called them in remembrance of the modest houses of the early 19th century. But Marble House was much more; it was a social and architectural landmark that set the pace for Newport’s subsequent transformation from a quiet summer colony of wooden houses to the legendary resort of opulent stone palaces.

Mr. Vanderbilt was the grandson of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, who established the family’s fortune in steamships and the New York Central Railroad. His older brother was Cornelius II, who built The Breakers. Alva Vanderbilt was a leading hostess in Newport society, and envisioned Marble House as her “temple to the arts” in America. It was designed by the architect Richard Morris Hunt, inspired by the Petit Trianon at Versailles. The cost of the house was reported in contemporary press accounts to be $11 million, of which $7 million was spent on 500,000 cubic feet of marble. Upon its completion, Mr. Vanderbilt gave the house to his wife as a 39th birthday present. The Vanderbilts had 3 children: Consuelo, who became the 9th Duchess of Marlborough; William K., Jr., a prominent figure in pioneering the sport of auto racing in America; and Harold, one of the finest yachtsmen of his era who successfully defended the America’s Cup three times. The Vanderbilts divorced in 1895 and Alva married Oliver H.P. Belmont, moving down the street to Belcourt. After his death, she reopened Marble House, and had a Chinese Tea House built on the seaside cliffs, where she hosted rallies for women’s right to vote. She sold the house to Frederick H. Prince in 1932. The Preservation Society acquired the house in 1963 from the Prince estate.  In 2006, Marble House was designated a National Historic Landmark

4. The Breakers is the grandest of Newport’s summer “cottages” and a symbol of the Vanderbilt family’s social and financial preeminence in turn of the century America. Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) established the family fortune in steamships and later in the New York Central Railroad, which was a pivotal development in the industrial growth of the nation during the late 19th century. The Commodore’s grandson, Cornelius Vanderbilt II, became Chairman and President of the New York Central Railroad system in 1885, and purchased a wooden house called The Breakers in Newport during that same year. In 1893, he commissioned architect Richard Morris Hunt to design a villa to replace the earlier wood-framed house which was destroyed by fire the previous year. Hunt directed an international team of craftsmen and artisans to create a 70 room Italian Renaissance- style palazzo inspired by the 16th century palaces of Genoa and Turin. Allard and Sons of Paris assisted Hunt with furnishings and fixtures, Austro-American sculptor Karl Bitter designed relief sculpture, and Boston architect Ogden Codman decorated the family quarters.

The Vanderbilts had seven children. Their youngest daughter, Gladys, who married Count Laszlo Szechenyi of Hungary, inherited the house on her mother’s death in 1934. An ardent supporter of The Preservation Society of Newport County, she opened The Breakers in 1948 to raise funds for the Society. In 1972, the Preservation Society purchased the house from her heirs. Today, the house is designated a National Historic Landmark.

5. and 6. Doris Duke’s Rough Point. Frederick W. Vanderbilt built this vast English Manorial house in 1889 on a dramatic, windswept promontory on Newport’s Cliff Walk, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. In 1922, James B. Duke, the founder of fortunes in electric power and tobacco, and benefactor of Duke University, purchased Rough Point. In 1925, James Duke died, leaving his enormous financial legacy to twelve-year-old Doris, his only child. Rough Point became one of Doris’s several very private retreats.

Doris Duke had a keen eye as a collector and followed this passion throughout her life. Representative artists within the collection include Renoir, Van Dyck, and Joshua Reynolds as well as artisans of the Ming Dynasty. Upon her death in 1993, she bequeathed the estate to the Newport Restoration Foundation, the organization she founded to help preserve Newport Rhode Island’s architectural heritage.

7. The Tennis Hall of Fame

Places To Stay:

1. The Inn at Castle Hill overlooks the mouth of Newport Harbor and Jamestown.

To reserve a room: http://www.castlehillinn.com/

2. The Chanler Hotel is perched right above 1st Beach at the beginning of the Cliff Walk.

To reserve a room: http://www.thechanler.com/

3. The Hotel Viking is the perfect spot to be right in the center of town.  From here it is an easy walk to tour the mansions, browse antiques on Spring Street, or walk down to dinner on Thames Street.

To reserve a room: http://www.hotelviking.com/

Real Estate: Below are a selection of beautiful homes that are currently for sale in Newport. Visit  www.liladelman.com or www.gustavewhite.com for details.

If you want to see more of Newport and read about the architects and the people whose homes they designed go to amazon for the following books:

www.amazon.com

xo,

S

One of my favorite designers is holding a tag sale this Saturday on One Kings Lane- Bunny Williams! You will have special access to Bunny’s hand-picked treasures at up to 70% off retail.

A few of my favorite rooms designed by Bunny are below:

Visit the sale on Saturday: http://www.onekingslane.com/Events.aspx

Happy Shopping!

xo,

S

I loved the June 2010 House Beautiful. Below are my two favorite homes and a page with great valance examples.

Relaxed beach house designed by James Howard

The shape of the bottom of the roman shade is great. A fabric roman shade is a great way to warm up an otherwise sterile kitchen and the shape at the bottom follows the pattern – showing you put some thought into the details.

I am a huge fan of tortoise shell blinds – a chic way to add privacy to a room while letting in sunlight. The wicker sofa and club chair are in two different stains. A white painted bobble chair and two different side tables added to the mix show how a room can feel pulled together without being matchy-matchy. The pair of glass lamps unifies the space. The green and white stripe on the sofa and club chair are a great summery touch.

The above image is a close up of the wave molding and the upholstered linen walls in the dining room. I adore upholstered walls and done in this neutral linen adds texture and softness to a room without feeling fussy.

To create symmetry in the room they made an arched bookshelf to mirror the arch of the door. Thus creating a space where two side chairs feel comfortable. Again we see the white painted bobble chair and a pretty rope backed Orkney chair. The walls are painted in a pale but strong blue.

I have always loved Oscar de la Renta’s 4 poster bed with the crenallated canopy. The canopy adds a sense of whimsy and security when you are snuggled up for the night. The bench has a fun base shape and the soft blue gray walls create a tranquil yet happy guest bedroom. I love the turquoise gourd lamp from Mrs. Howard- what a great pop of color.

The page above included a variety of valance styles. All beautiful and with distinctively different feels.

Another favorite was the Historic New York House With Color by Jeffrey Bilhuber.

I love Jeffrey Bilhuber’s designs so I was thrilled to see his Locust Valley, New York country home “Hay Fever” that dates back to 1668. I think he definitely succeeded in keeping the “soul” in this house. Nothing feels precious but the colors are magical- just what you want in a summer home.

The black painted pine floor ( look at those floor boards!) lets the sisal carpet and soft blues and yellows float off the floor. You can paint a floor black and still have a light airy feeling room. I love how he threw in a punch of purple on the sofa. The above room was originally an entrance hall but he made it much more welcoming by adding the large round table, a sofa, and chairs.

The library floor is painted a lacquered green ( an idea borrowed from Monticello). The baby blue fabric on the chairs and the red lamp shades makes for an interesting room. The acid green walls in the next room pack a happy summer punch.

Finally the shot of the acid green room (Benjamin Moore’s chic lime) in all of it’s splendor. The large sisal ( from Beauvais) dresses down the more formal valances and fun chinoiserie fabric. Notice all the different shaped chairs ( most of which are slip covered). Red and white ticking stripe, wicker, soft blue, varying lamp heights, mirrored door surrounds ( a nod to Nancy Lancaster) , and texture make this room memorable. The room is exciting yet comfortable mixing humble and high.
xo,
S

Sorry to be M.I.A.- we have been out in “the field” shooting a completed project in East Hampton, installing clients on the Upper East Side and Tribeca, and scheming up a storm for an upcoming show house! No time to update the blog. In all of this madness we found the time to join a fabulous new website called Decorator Tag Sale ( www.decoratortagsale.com )

Finding the perfect piece of designer furniture for your home has never been easier! Decorator Tag Sale brings buyers and sellers from all across the world together on one site to view home furnishings chosen by famous designers.

From modern furniture designs to vintage antiques, designer furniture to collectibles, Decorator Tag Sale offers the consumer an opportunity to visit a decorator’s warehouse online and purchase their high-end furniture at discounted prices.

There are many fabulous designers who joined and have posted pieces they selected now on sale to the general public. Among them are Amanda Nisbet, Christopher Coleman, John Loecke, and….us!

The site was written up in the New york Times on Thursday and has been getting lots of visitors. Some of the items you will find include:

Click on the following link for a one way ticket to accessorizing your home: http://decoratortagsale.com/designer-view/?d=273&page=1

Happy Shopping!

xo,

S

I was referred to this article in Garden & Gun ( don’t you just love the name of this magazine?) by one of my cousins and I had to get this out there.

If you’re looking for an original piece of Kentucky Thoroughbred history, chances are George Gatewood of Longwood Antique Woods has it. Based in Lexington, Gatewood specializes in reclaiming horse barns slated for demolition or no longer in use. But these aren’t just any old horse barns. Gatewood’s collection includes such finds as original stall doors from Faraway Farm, the birthplace of Triple Crown winner War Admiral, and hoof-worn paving bricks from Hamburg Place, the stomping grounds of multiple Kentucky Derby winners since its founding in 1898.

Gatewood’s mission began when he watched a bulldozer barrel through his family’s 200-year-old farmhouse in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, to make room for an industrial park. “It was just awful to watch,” he says. Since then, his team has meticulously pulled some two million nails from 500 structures, preserving wood and other materials that otherwise would have been lost to history.

For do-it-yourselfers, Gatewood will ship the materials directly to you, or his team can also install antique flooring, beams, and mantels, or even create one-of-a-kind furniture. “These barns are not being used,” he says. “They will expire and fall back into the earth. It’s nice to know you can sacrifice those buildings and someone will honor them for a long time to come.”

You can see the magazine and the above article on Garden & Gun’s website: www.gardenandgun.com

Visit the Longwood website and look for everything from salvaged beams, to doors, to log cabins: http://www.longwoodantiquewoods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=5

xo,

S

Heading down to Palm Beach for a long weekend for some fun in the sun and lots of antiquing for clients!

xo,

S

In the next few weeks Christie’s has a series of exciting sales. The Post War and Contemporary Art Sale as well as the Impressionist/ Modern Art Sale will bring a great number of spectacular pieces to the auction block. Get your catalogue online now and get ready to start the bidding!

Post War and Contemporary Art Featuring Works From the Collection of Michael Crichton

New York

Sale: May 11th and May 12th 2010

Lot 35: Yves Klein

Le Buffle

Painted in 1960-1961

Lot 45: Andy Warhol

Silver Liz

Painted in 1963

Lot 7: Jasper Johns

Flag

Painted in 1960-1966

Lot 19: Pablo Picasso

Femme a la robe rose

Painted in 1917

Impressionist/ Modern Art Sale Featuring the Collection of Mrs. Sydney F. Brody

New York

Sale May 4th and May 5th 2010

Lot 6: Pablo Picasso

Nude, Green Leaves and Bust

Painted in 1932

Lot 10: Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Femme Accoudee

Painted in 1887

Lot 22: Henri Matisse

Nu au coussin bleu

Painted in 1924

Visit the Christie’s website for more information: http://www.christies.com/

xo,

S

We love our sample sales! One fabulous one coming up that should not be missed is the John Robshaw Sale:

You will find all sorts of goodies for your home. Nothing says spring and summer like John Robshaw.

Happy Shopping.

xo,

S

Todd Romano’s shop is always a pleasure to visit. His love of color, fabric, and pattern comes through in each piece he has selected for his store.

In addition to his unique collections of antiques, furniture and unusual decorations, he carries wool dhurrie rugs designed by Langham and Fine, exclusive fabrics by Tillet and Northcroft and Bob Collins ( a favorite of mine- whimsical and brilliantly colored), and accessories. He also carries hand thrown ceramic lamps by Christopher Spitzmiller, which offer a unique custom like quality and are represented in a multitude of styles and shapes not to mention an exquisite color palette.

Recently relocated to The Fine Arts Building, in the heart of the design district after seven years on Lexington Avenue, his expanded showroom attracts regular traffic from America’s top decorators and tastemakers. Go to his store to experience his unique vision and well edited assortment that he has become famous for.

All the chairs in the store are special. Fabulous shapes, unique fabric, and fun scale make each one special. The quilting on the small grey chair is beautiful.

Throw pillows galore- Todd Romano keeps his store stocked with throw pillows upholstered in vintage yet modern prints in chic colors.

These wool dhurrie rugs designed by Langham and Fine are simply beautiful in person. I am eyeing one for my apartment. You can order custom sizes and colors.

1. Great Gatsby anyone? I love these glasses.

2. Lavender boxes- perfect for your dresser to keep stationary, jewelry, photos.

3. Tall mercury glass vase- the shape is beautiful and the silver fades on the neck for a clear finish.

4. The chinese dragon head on top of the armoire is huge and fantastic. What a fun prop!

5. The lamps, the silly ceramic frog cachepots and the beautiful deep greeny teal lacquered desk are all standouts.

Christopher Spitzmiller sells his hand made lamps here and they have a fabulous display. I love them all. The new baby lamps are perfect for an entry hall console or desk.

Visit the store:

The Fine Arts Building
232 East 59th Street
4th Floor
New York, New York 10022
(212)421-7722

9 am- 5 pm

xo,

S

The rain is making it’s way back to New York City and aside from curling up on the sofa and watching a movie what else is there to do? Shop via your computer at One King’s Lane! If you are not all ready a member….hurry up and join. They have daily sales on items that are normally available to the trade and are available to you at great prices.

Join Now: http://www.onekingslane.com/InviteFriends.aspx

Today- Curry and Co

A favorite vendor of ours that sells chandeliers, chairs, occasional tables, and accessories

A look at a few pieces that will be for sale:

A beautiful chair that would look stunning at a vanity or small desk

Hammered metal cocktail table- so stylish!

gold side table- I love the rings

Mirrored vanity

Mirrored console table

Tomorrow- Taste Maker Tag Sales featuring Nathan Turner

Nathan Turner’s L.A. store

A few fabulous antique and vintage finds from his store in L.A. that should be available tomorrow:

Settee embroidered in vintage suzani

Set of large vintage maps

Hand painted theatrical fresco

Tan and pink ikat throw pillow

Vintage glazed ceramic pot

Leather stools/ side tables for Elite Leather- perfect for a nursery!

Set of 6 framed bird prints

Happy Shopping!

xo,

S

A man after my own heart. He has impeccable taste and is a master at restoring old homes and renovating new homes with an eye trained on the details. This is what makes a house feel warm, lived in, and special. If you are looking for that historic home but want the modern amenities (pipes, bathrooms, and infrastructure) than Gil is your man.

G.P. Schafer Architect, PLLC, is a small, full-service architectural firm specializing in traditional residential architecture. Based in New York City, it is directed by Gil Schafer III, who won a Palladio Award for a Greek Revival home in upstate New York in 2002.

City Home:

Gil renovated his 900 square foot apartment in a west village town house and it is perfection. While 900 square feet may not be a lot of space, it can still feel like home. His careful use of detail and space planning turned this apartment into a beautiful livable space. The apartment features 12-ft. French windows that overlook the street. The windows were rebuilt and the integral jamb-panel folding shutters were re-created to match the ones that would have been there originally. The dining table doubles as a desk.

When he purchased the apartment it had 13-ft. ceilings, 12-ft. windows and a few original Italianate/ Victorian elements remaining from its original form: three adjacent parlors in an 1850-60s townhouse. The previous owner had renovated and overlaid Modernist elements on the historic interior.

This was all to change as Schafer “sought to restore period detail to a much-altered fabric while exploring several architectural themes.” After 18 months of design and construction, completed in May 2002, the apartment now resembles a “Minard Lefever interior of the 1830s with the glamour and mischief of a David Adler/Frances Elkins interior of the late 1920s and 30s.” Where plain, pallid walls had existed previously, a rich terra-cotta finish now furnishes a backdrop for Ionic columns, custom moldings, a scagliola mantel and other details.

“One of the challenges was the high ceilings,” says Schafer. “There is actually more square footage on the walls than on the floor, and this enormous height was a daunting problem. It was a challenge just trying to proportion things to the scale of the space. The doors are taller, for example, and I had some new furniture built to accommodate the ceiling height. The volume of the space makes lighting a challenge, too.” Schafer’s solution was to use numerous lamps throughout the apartment, combined with strategic uplighting, following the examples of David Hicks, a decorator he admires.

A tall bed inspired by a French steel “campaign” bed from the 19th-century was used in the cube-shaped bedroom, which, like the other rooms, has 13-ft. ceilings. The walls in the rear of the apartment were upholstered to create a quieter environment.

Country Home:

His country home “Middlefield” outside of Millbrook, NY. He bought the land and started construction in 1997. He was finished 14 months later ( he knows how to stay on schedule- what a dream!)

Determined that his house look as if it had been built in the 1840s, reflecting the local Hudson Valley vernacular, Mr. Schafer studied local examples and consulted sources including pattern books by the 19th-century architects Asher Benjamin and Minard Lefever.

The end result, a temple-with-wings structure, is rich in period details. Doric columns front a two-story central portico flanked by a lower kitchen wing on one side and an enclosed porch on the other. The pediment above the portico has a fanlight, and the front door has sidelights and a transom window. The main entrance opens onto a long hallway, with a double parlor dining room and living room off to the side. Mr. Schafer also incorporated historically appropriate molding profiles, stair balusters and pocket doors.

When you enter his website the logo “Creating Places That Enhance The Enjoyment of Life” greets you. I couldn’t agree more.

website: http://gpschafer.com/

xo,

S

John Robshaw is offering up pillows, block prints, and accessories he has found in souks all over the world. To purchase visit his website below:

http://www.johnrobshaw.com/souk.htm

xo,

S

If you are a fan of architecture Paris should be on the top of your list for a visit. Everywhere you turn you see beautiful buildings that have been there for hundreds of years. I can spend the whole day walking ( and eating) around the different arrondisments in Paris and still be thirsting for more the next day. I never tire of seeing all that Paris has to offer. Below I have listed a few of my favorite sites, museums, shops, and restaurants.

The Louvre was built as a fortress in the 12th century and then converted into a royal palace in the 14th century. It’s current appearance goes back to the 15th century when the original fortress was demolished and the wing along the Seine was built. During the 16th and 17th centuries the palace was extended and the Tuileries palace was added to the west of the Louvre. In the 19th century the Richelieu wing was added. It became a museum of art in 1793- The MET in New York was opened 79 years later in 1892.

The pyramid was built in 1989 by renowned American arichitect I.M. Pei. The modern glass entrance not only brings light to the ground floor, it also adds a wonderful modern element to the historic background which is the Louvre.

Musee Marmottan, originally built as a hunting lodge in the 16th arr., is now a small museum that holds the world’s largest collection of Monet paintings. This is by far and away my favorite museum. The home itself is stunning from the hand laid floors designed in intricate patterns, the paint colors on the walls, the drapes, the moldings, the decorative painting, and the antiques are all stunning. Then you get to view the art!

A brief history:
Originally a hunting lodge for the Duke of Valmy, the house at the edge of the Bois de Boulogne was purchased by Jules Marmottan in 1882 who later left it to his son Paul Marmottan. Marmottan moved into the lodge and, with an interest in the Napoleonic era, he expanded his father’s collection of paintings, furniture and bronzes. Marmottan bequeathed his home and collection to the Académie des Beaux-Arts. The Académie opened up the house and collection as the Museum Marmottan in 1934.
Though originally a showcase for pieces from the First Empire, the nature of the museum’s collection began to change with two major donations. In 1957, Victorine Donop de Monchy gave the museum an important collection of Impressionist works that had belonged to her father, Doctor Georges de Bellio, physician to Manet, Monet, Pissaro, Sisley and Renoir, and an early supporter of the Impressionist movement. In 1966, Claude Monet’s second son, Michel Monet, left the museum his own collection of his father’s work, thus creating the world’s largest collection of Monet paintings.
Jacque Carlu, then curator of the museum, built a special exhibition space for the Monet collection in a lower level of the museum. Inspired by the hall designed for Monet’s Water Lilies murals in the Musée de l’Orangerie, the large, open room allows visitors to see a progression of Monet’s work, as well as to view his canvases both up close and from afar. One of the most notable pieces in the museum is Monet’s Impression, Sunrise (Impression, Soleil Levant), the painting from which the Impressionist movement took its name. The painting was stolen from the Musée Marmottan in 1985, but recovered five years later and returned to the permanent exhibit in 1991.

Best Vintage Clothing/ Accessories Shopping: Les 3 marches de Catherine B has more hermes and chanel vintage pieces than you could dream of. I found beautiful handbags, scarves, and jewelry.

The most fabulous garden shop with a stunning display of taxidermy on the 2nd floor: Le Prince Jardinier/ Deyrolle

Prince Louis Albert de Broglie knows a thing or two about cultivating one’s garden—it was tending the one at his château near Tours that inspired him to create a shop that caters to the gardening art de vivre. In addition to offering handsome tools and other accoutrements, this store specializes in the kind of gear—country-chic jackets, aprons, and natural fiber bags—that has a life well beyond the garden. ” Your garden is beautiful, your tools should be as well”.

The enthusiastic response allowed the prince to twice rescue Deyrolle on the second floor of his shop: Founded in 1831, this unrivaled cabinet of curiosities—part taxidermy shop, part museum—was saved from bankruptcy by de Broglie in 2001, only to be gutted by fire in 2008. When Deyrolle’s space rose from the ashes in late 2009 ( there is a Phoenix on display!), “naturalized” circus animals had returned to the floor, as had other curios of the natural world, from boxes of mounted butterflies and iridescent insects (Yves Saint Laurent was a collector) to assorted crystals, shells, a polar bear, beautiful butterflies and bugs displayed in shadow boxes and bell jars as if in flight, as well as various species of roosters.

Le Prince Jardinier: http://www.princejardinier.com/

Deyrolle: http://www.deyrolle.com/magazine/

The Marais District: The oldest district in Paris has fabulous shopping, people watching, and dining. It is a mix of SoHo and the West Village.

Favorite spot for lunch- Chez Janou. The chocolate pudding is a MUST

Antique Hunting in The Marais: Between the Seine and the Marais the village of Saint-Paul has many shops to choose from.

Au Bon Usage – 21 Rue Saint Paul- a connoisseur of Thonet Furniture

http://www.aubonusage.com/aubonusage/index-en.html

Aux Trois Singes – A decorative shop with all the beautiful odds and ends to fill up a bookshelf of curiosities. Must-have traditional garden objects such as a beautiful watering can with the blue paint rusted off in the most perfect way. You will also find amazing one of a kid pieces for your New York terrace or country home.

Aside from the Marais district you must go to one of the local flea markets in Paris. I have found many treasures for clients and for myself.

Les Puces de Saint-Ouen – found in Clignancourt. This is a huge flea market (largest in the world) and can take days to wander through. It is best to get there early as many of the goods are picked through after lunch. I like to start on the left side from the the top of Rue des Rosiers with Marché Malassis which sells furniture and objects from the 18th and 19th centuries. Marché Dauphine is next and has a bit of everything. You will find art, furiture, books, vintage clothes and jewelry. Next up are Marche Serpette and Marche Paul Bert which both have a wonderful selection of mirrors, art, antique luggage, hardware, and kitchen goods.

Marche Vernaison holds many stores but the Moments & Matieres stand has amazing pieces that are perfect for propping clients homes for photo shoots. Old silk fabrics, beautiful colored rope, lamps, beaten up chairs from the 18th century, coral, pedestals, a tailor’s dummy, a plaster bust of napoleon, skulls, shells, and apothecary bottles.

2 of my favorite dinner spots:

1. Email ahead, way ahead, to get a reservation at the hottest table in Paris, Hidden Kitchen. The 10 course meal is served in the chef’s home ( a young couple from Boston, MA). You will be one of 16 guests and the location is emailed to you the week before your dinner. Below are images of my favorite courses.

2. When your stomach gets a bit tired of all the butter and cream try the best Italian restaurant in all of Paris, Le Cherche Midi. Two brothers own and run this marvelously quaint spot. We started with a huge rucola and parmesan and a plate of the assorted meats for the table. The mozzarella de buffala is flown in twice weekly from Naples. For the main course, I had to try a pasta and went with the home-made ravioli pomodoro with basil and ate every last bite. The pasta with white truffles was also, as you can imagine, amazing. With only a few tables be sure to make a reservation a few nights in advance.

22 Rue Du Cherche Midi, 6^{th Arr.}

http://www.lecherchemidi.fr/

This was just a taste of all we saw and did in Paris. I hope you found it inspiring and helpful for your next visit.

xo,

S