Everyone out there knows that are many different styles and types of design. There is an endless variety and complexity to everything but, to me the best way is always the simplest, cleanest and paired down to what is essential regardless of style. When I studied at David Howard's the brightest star among many stars was Gelsey Kirkland. Here's a short clip of her in Gisselle from a rehearsal in the late 80's......she is still ahead of her time in technique and in form and style there is nothing extra......like Mozart or Palladio or Mies...only what is essential. Hope you enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-Tgfx5jFkI&feature=related
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
A House in Old Greenwich
One of the best parts of my job is that I get to work with a lot of very cool and interesting people. Some of the most interesting are architects and as with all things they come in all varieties. I'm very privileged to have worked on several projects now with Lucio de Leo of Studio RAI Architects
[ http://www.studiorai.com/ ] he's super talented and he's asked me to help find some antique lighting.
The house pictured here is a new construction that is one of the most fun and quirky and elegant houses I've seen. It manages to be playful and severe at the same time, period and modern. It's situated on a parcel of land overlooking Long Island Sound.
The front of the house with it's shingled roof and stone walls.
The Main Hallway with glorious Doric Columns
One of two cupolas. This one is actually the Breakfast Room
A view of the second cupola's ceiling which is held together by iron bars
The back of the house with the pool
Looking at the Dining Room from the Library
The Glass Elevator which goes up three stories
Looking up from the glass roof
The Kitchen
Wonderful detail of the Center Island
Looking at the Front Hall through one of two oculi
The Breakfast room
The Master Bath
The Master Bath Vanities with shagreen inserts
Lucio in the Downstairs Hall
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
What I'm Loooking at Today: Antiquities: Attic and Roman
I really like antiquities...give me anything Roman or Greek and I'm pretty happy. I came across these nice examples in a sale in Dublin at Adam's they're pretty great.
AN ATTIC RED FIGURE COLUMN KRATER, 5th Century B.C., side A with seilenos and two maeneds, side B with three draped youth, the rim with a black frieze of animals. 40cm high. Provenance : Purchased from Antiquus, 90 Pimlico Road, London 1986.
A SOUTH ITALIAN RED FIGURE COLUMN KRATER, 4th Century B.C., side A with winged Victory between two youths, side B with three draped youths. 46cm high. Provenance : Purchased from Antiquus, 90 Pimlico Road, London 1986
Monday, June 20, 2011
A Nice Powder Room
This is a sweet little powder room, very simply decorated with a large Regency mirror and Empire light fixtures. The wallpaper is Christopher Norman. Neutral colors and classic elements keep the scheme simple, refined and understated.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Critical Gaze: When good intentions lead to Hell......or over restoration
A few posts back I had shown everyone a small Swedish table that I was thinking of buying.....alas, I passed it up....and now I've been presented by a different dealer with a similar [ hoping not the same] table at three times the cost of the original and none of the charm.....which leads us to today's post.....
The Demure Original
The Tart
How much restoration should be undertaken......it does depend on where you are as the some of the English, French and Germans like their furniture to glow in the dark but my rule is this....first do no harm.....do as little as possible and if you must restore the finish use the same types of materials.....there is also that most important matter taste.........some people just don't understand an actual antique patina and will go out of their way to over restore an item and then spend thousands more on new furniture that has been 'aged'....but that's what makes the world go round....and now I wish I had bought that sweet little table.....sigh, weep.....oh well......there will be another, there's always another......
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Yard Work: The crooked straight and the rough places plain.....
Fran and Greg standing on a small mountain of earth with the house beyond
I've been working on a project up in Armonk for a few years now, mostly on paper but, we're at the point where work is fast and furious. The property is situated on a craggy hillock with some nice views but it was an awkward site. Lucio our architect suggested creating a retaining wall which has allowed us to double the size of the front courtyard and relocate the driveway on axis with the main door.
One of several big machines which is moving and filling in....
Two views of the massive retaining walls which will contain the new courtyard
They'll be finished off with brick.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Before and After: New NYC Digs!
So as some of you know, we've been planning on moving back to NYC for a while....with most of my clients living in NY the commute was just a boar...so we've finally taken the plunge and this is it....for at least 4 years.......it's not our 'dream' NYC apt but, it's in Manhattan and it will be dandy when it's put together...I may just feel like a prettier, younger Carrie Bradshaw with less hair and my
Mr. Best.........
Top two pics are our view......there's the Hudson River somewhere behind those trees....
This will be our bed room
The small office where I will work diligently every day........
The dining room/library.....where we will somehow cram thousands of books
The living room......
Our typical NYC 'pre-war' hallway....
Will post afters as soon as they're done......in the meantime off to buy sheets and pillows and water......
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Scheme for a Room: Bed Room in Chelsea
Although most of my clients ask for traditional decoration I'm sometimes called on to do transitional or modern interiors. I'm a big fan of modern but I don't necessarily view it as a style.....it's more a point of view so, you can use old or antique elements in a modern way. The bedroom above is a nice example of repurposing items.
The rug is a good 19c kilim. Bed is vintage Christian Liagre and the antique leather cases make for extra storage. Neutral warm gray walls and a deco lamp, metallic pillow and great sheets complete the scene. Simple, elegant.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Scheme for a Room: Living Room in NYC
Putting a room together is always a lot of fun but not when it's my own. So I've used Ric as my client and the results for our new Living Room will be very masculine and a bit reserved with comfortable furniture and a lack of any fuss. We haven't settled on art work yet and of course HIS favorite bookcase must have pride of place.
Luckily for me Ric's fond of Library furniture.This is a great old chair in a beautifully worn green leather
A modernist 'skyscraper' pedestal will live between the two windows and on it we'll place a 19c Barbedienne bronze
A long Jean Michel Frank style sofa that will be done in slate blue velvet. There will also be two armchairs in brown glove leather
Leaving bids on a pair of 19c lamps ....perhaps we'll win them.
Fabrics; all cashmere for curtains in soft and muted earth tone.I've also found some 17thc scraps that will become pillows......
the blue goatskin on upper right is for four Madeleine Castaing chairs which are going to live in the Library/dining Room we're discussing a japanese inspired wallpaper .....but that's another story altogether
The room is anchored by a mid 19c Persian Heriz in muted tones
What I'm looking at Today: Cartonierre and boxes
I really like French Office Furniture.....These usually tall cases hold boxes made of cardboard sometimes covered in leather or canvas that flip open. Basically early filing cabinets they are now stylish storage or simply an architectural presence in a room.
A tall ebonized case with canvas 'drawers' with stylish lozenge shaped label holders
A more severe example made of wood
A 1940's example that doubles as an architect's desk. The drawers are cream colored embossed leather
The last is actually a 17c style box, not technically a 'cartonierre' but interesting storage.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
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