On a Different Note: A Fantasy Interior

Greetings All,

I have a different type of project for you all to take a peek at, it's a fantasy apartment on Park Ave, it's an entire floor. Now as you all know I am rather a bit of a control freak when it comes to design. I like having things done a certain way, my way, but this time around I was asked to help only with the soft furnishings. All of the background decoration, the moldings and anything on the walls was handled by the architect on the job. The clients wanted a really elaborate backdrop, so my suggestion for the furniture was to keep it as quiet and elegant as possible. the centerpiece of the room is an 16' long sofa, back to back and side to side. There is only one color for the seating, crimson red, it's an updated version of what one might have found in 19thc France. The carpet is a huge 18th c Aubusson owned by the clients.

The sofa was so large that it had to be made in 9 pieces and assembled onsite. Here's Bill trying it out at the shop.

The clients wanted a pair of extreme wing chairs so we developed these from 18thc forms. The same velvet was gaufraged with a damask pattern and silk brush fring was used instead of cord. I painted the legs Farrow and Ball Ballet Slipper White so they wouldn't be too heavy looking. These were also made in pieces so we could maneuver them thru the service corridor.

This is a view of the Living room installed. The clients are very happy and I must say my furniture is lovely and remarkably comfortable.

That's all I have for today.

L

What Am I Looking At Today: Neoclassical and a Tortoise Shell

So, as I am still unable to really work anywhere....still a bit of a disaster area in NYC and environs, I've been shopping online.....looking at a few neoclassical items.

A huge mirror....7'x7' really nice gilding

William IV pier table...I have a thing for William IV and tho this is a bit shiny, it's got nice legs

Always like pairs of things and these stands could be used just about anywhere

Simple chairs can also be used in various places and schemes

Tortoise shells...I always buy these when i find them...they can be mounted as lamps or simply put on a wall or shelf...they're great

Well, that's it for now.....off to do some more surfing...but I may try and make way way downtown a bit see what it's like....

What I'm Looking At Today: Working on a Bathroom

I've been working on a redo in Armonk for about a year with architect Lucio de Leo and it's finally coming together.....this is the Master Bath, which went thru a few changes before it got to this point, the clients wanted something modern but the house is pretty classic, so this was our compromise. Clean lines and simple materials with just a bit of detailing on the walls and ceiling.

I came a cross the milk glass fixture which was just right for the space. The tub is getting silver leafed and there's going to be a wool sheer at the window.

We decided on 18" square marble tile and a warm gray for the walls. His and her's vanities mirror each other. Getting there......

What I'm Looking At Today: HI-LOW

A long time ago, when I was still in school, one of my favorite teachers gave me a great piece of advice.....'never compete with your clients' she said. Better words were never spoken and so now that I have been working for about 20 years, where does the time go? I have accumulated a good amount of stuff.....most all of it is from friends or things from various houses throughout the years, none of it is precious in any way.....nothing is terribly expensive but it all has a look and a good memory, so every time my eye lands on an object I remember a happy time or a friend.

I had always wanted a Biedermeier vitrine...don't ask me why.....They were popular in the 80's and 90's and there was a fabulous shop on 10th St, Bernd Goeckler,  that had a huge assortment....and then there was  Niall Smith with his great collection....I eventually found a nice one which we still have....filled with books, on top sits a Deco bust of Hercules from my friend Leo Mavrovitis. Beyond the door is our living room, small but charming, we're decidedly old school but not afraid of a few new tricks 

Plain colors, all earth tones with a bit of blue. The rug came from an auction down south, the sofa is from Crate and Barrel, but the chairs and curtains are custom. The Chinese low table came from my friend Danny. Inexpensive modern lighting and some cool pillows keep it fresh.

The 19 thc portrait is a new find, Ric wants to paint 'Where am I' or 'Who am I' in a translucent glaze...we've started calling it Dorian Gray. The small drawing is from our friend Jim Bloom, the frame came from the Clingancourt flea market and the landscape above it is from a small shop on Rue Jacob in Paris.

One of Ric's pictures above an unsigned  WPA painting. I had bought one of these drop leaf tables years ago at the now defunct B. Altmans....what a great store that was.... and sold it...then we came across a pair that now have a home in our living room....for now...

The Regency bookcase is probably the best bit we own. I got it from A.I.D.S. when I was still in school...eating Ramen noodles and paying off Virgil. The bust was the first Xmas gift Ric got me....so it's always around. Sitting on the right is a small David Salle......I had worked briefly in the 80's with his wife Carol Armitage...there's a small octagonal box from the 80's as well...I got that from Norman Crider when I was his assistant for the armory shows.....funny how everything is something...

Table came from Freeman's, rug is 19th Indian from one of my pickers as is the cartonnier. I think we've had at least 6 different sets of chairs, these are Jansen, the last batch were Madeliene Castaigne, the ones before were 1940 iron and the ones before that are wonderful centennial chairs given to me by Merle Hubbard in the 80's...industrial bookshelves hold a fraction of Ric's books.

Another view looking at our small hallway with another drawing by Jim Bloom and a series of flower prints by Ric. All in all, I'm pretty lucky that I have lots of artist friends and pickers...or I really wouldn't be able to afford myself.....but it's really about having things that are fun and not too precious and as with everything, all meant to be used. And above all making sure that it's not too OTT.