My 9 ‘finds” – 1stdibs at NYDC – last night attending Mario Buatta & Ellie Cullman booksigning party

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Last night I attended an event at the New York Design Center. It was a night to toast design legends, Mario Butta and Ellie Cullman, who were there participating in a book signing. The night was sponsored by another iconic player in the design industry:  1stdibs.com and as always, when these events take place on the 10th floor of  NYDC, it’s a chance to see literally thousands of gorgeous objects, vintage and otherwise, that are on display in 33,000-square feet of space. Here items are on sale from over 54 1stdibs® dealers from around the country, as well as a few international dealers

I love looking online as much as anyone, but as a design devotee there’s always an extra thrill seeing things close up; it’s an experience all its own. Of course it makes you want said items even more! I wandered the various showrooms and found some pesonal favorites that I’d like to own. Get ready — last night’s items are surprisingly diverse. From orange velvet chairs with fringe on the bottom, (which Mario Buatta also selected as one of his ‘finds’) to leather and wood campaign stools, to a charming and very cool French desk lamp, that is a simple and perfectly designed.  There are  always a lot of great items up there, so that’s the point of  making it up to the 10th floor, the range of items is vast.

My picks last night:

1. A pair of low back armchairs upholstered in orange velvet with fringe. $5200.Booth 47

2. A pair of mid century Grosfelt House 43 ” slipper chairs/settees Circa 1950s $8500, Booth 36

3. A pair of brass & crystal andirons, 1960-70. $3500. Booth 48

4. French modernist balancing swing arm sconce, 1950s. $3800. Booth 54

5. Fantastically colorful, with a bold graphic pattern, Limoges porcelain plates in a limited edition.

6. T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings leather slipper chairs, 1950s. $15,500. Booth 53

7. A Pietra Dura box with inlay spider, $525. Harris Kratz.

8. Cocotte Diablo desk lamp, 1950s. $1500. Booth 54

9. A pair of campaign stools by Cleo Baldon for Terra furniture, 1970s. $6200. Booth 45.

NYDC – 200 Lexington Ave, NY, NY.

We’re Proud: A Designer Previews Interior Designer gets another big award

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At Designer Previews we’ve always been proud of the talented group of interior designers and architects we represent; but we tend not to brag. But, today, I can’t help but share good wishes to one of our — and the world’s– favorite interior designers: The uber talented Jamie Drake. For me to shine the right light, I guess it should have a lavender hue, to spread some wondrous color around, so “think” lavender, please. You see, Jamie has never seen a color he doesn’t love. Well, especially if it’s purple.

Tonight, those bon vivants lucky enough to be attending the Fashion Group International Galaxy 30th anniversary awards, with super stars March Jacobs and Robert Duffy, you’ll be on hand to see Jamie receive the award for interior design. He’s in great company, among other recipients, for fashion, are Alexander Wang, Angela Missoni and Christopher Kane.

This is hardly the first award for Jamie. He’s received oodles of them and has been on every “best” list ever printed. He’s been at this for 30 years ( or is it more?!) and he deserves it all.

Jamie  knew from a young age that design was his calling; choosing to study at Parsons and The New School, in NYC. Today, he’s among the most sought after of designers, and it’s a privilege for me to work with him.  See, it’s not only about his creativity; his exuberant and daring use of color; his elegant glam factor; or his love of luxury; for me, it’s really about his depth: It’s his multifaceted vision that holds me spellbound. His eye is always dialed to just the right “on” position. His range is vast — from period traditional to eclectic to modern.

Here, a few photos of Jamie’s work, including one from a project for a very particular client– Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who wanted Gracie Mansion redone in 3 months.

Also, a recent Architectural Digest story on Jamie’s own new home in a Manhattan high rise.

Kudos to Jamie for all his great work. Have a great night Mr. Drake – you deserve it!

First 3 photos: Orange, purple, turquoise, yellow, luscious fabrics, romance, sumptuous, edgy, elegant, modern, beautiful, luxurious, unexpected…..words for Jamie’s work are best kept to the point. The images speak for themselves.

bottom photo: The stunning parlor room at Gracie Mansion in period style, but so fresh, check out the rich color and the stunning green Schumacher velvet on the chairs.

The rich history of modernist architecture in the Hampton’s is jeopardized by too many development spec houses

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This past weekend I had the chance to show a friend, who hadn’t been here in 20 years, what the Hampton’s, so beautiful this time of year, looks like now. He had read a lot about the massive development taking place.  Being an architecture buff, he wanted to see again some of the iconic houses, like the reknowned Charles Gwathmey house, designed in 1966, in Amagansett. It’s a seminal work, always referred to when discussing modernism in the Hampton’s. Gwathmey along with Michael Graves and Richard Meier dominated modern American architecture in the 1960s and ’70s. Then there are modernist houses out east such as one (by the also revered) late Norman Jaffe, built in 1977, featuring massive sloping walls of stone and glass. Sadly, after 20 years designing houses in the area, few of Jaffe’s works remain in original condition.  However,  this Jaffe home, perhaps the only to have survived intact, is in East Hampton.

There are some wonderful architects working out east today, (see my website architecture page for some examples). Unfortunately however, the Hampton’s is now being over developed, with houses that aren’t part of the vernacular. It’s changing the landscape dramatically, and my friend was stunned to see the change and how the area is a haven for developer spec houses.

The New York Times recently delved into this subject, and I was quoted, along with the esteemed architecture critic and author, Paul Goldberger.

“I’m concerned that the Farrellization of the Hamptons and the suburbanization of the Hamptons are linked,” said Donna Paul, a Sag Harbor resident and owner of Designer Previews, a company that matches architects and designers with clients seeking to build custom homes. “These are houses being punched out in record time, and that will make the tone and feeling of the Hamptons more generic.”

Paul Goldberger, a Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic who has written extensively about the Hamptons, said Mr. Farrell’s company had spawned a host of imitators matching his architectural look, if not his company’s quality. “If I see one more shiny new gambrel roof, shingled house I’ll scream,” Mr. Goldberger said. “It’s become a hopeless cliché, almost a blight.”

 

Charles Gwathmey’s modernist architecture.

An interior shot of one of Charles Gwathmey’s modernist, now iconic Hampton’s houses.

A Norman Jaffe modernist house built with a sloping wall of glass and stone.

A Design Hotel in Athens with the most amazing beds — find them in New York’s Soho

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A recent Greek sojourn began with a night in Athens, made special by my choice to stay outside the city center, in the leafy neighborhood of Kiffisia. I zeroed in on the destination, the Nafsika Hotel, because I knew they had Coco-Mat beds! I had stayed in other hotels where the beds were featured, and after a 13-hour, two- flight trip, I knew I was guaranteed a good night’s sleep.

The hotel not only features the aforementioned beds; it’s a branded hotel, operated by the esteemed Greek lifestyle company Coco-Mat, www.coco-mat.com. Ecological comfort and consciousness along with good design  have been the mantra at Coco-mat since the company first launched their mattresses in 1989.

At Nafsika, bicycles are offered and encouraged as a means of tranport to see the beautiful neighborhood. Delicious healthy food is prepared in the open kitchen off the chic, comfortable lobby, where white linen covered furniture is casual and welcoming.

In the guest rooms, of course, the bed is the star–and the sheets that dress it– made of all organic linen in pale, earthy colors, are also dreamy. As I slid between the sheets, on that incredible mattress, within seconds, my jet-lagged body drifted into the most delicious sleep I’d had in months.

In the morning I discovered the beautiful garden, it was quiet and I was surrounded by lush greenery and a canapé overhead. Yummy Greek inspired healthy food was served. The hotel staff is eager to please and welcomes weary travelers with warm hospitality; a trademark of both Coco-Mat and Greece.  If you want to head into the city center, it’s easy to take the nearby Kiffisia subway, and be hassle free.

OK, just as you were thinking of going to Greece (good idea) to check out the beds, and becoming intrigued about Coco-Mat; if you’re in NYC, you’re in luck! Just head downtown to Mercer Street in Soho. There, a modern, two-level store features the full range of beds, mattresses, toppers, as well as sheets, towels and furniture.

What makes these beds so special is the simplicity of the concept: everything is organic and metal free. Springs have no role in a Coco-Mat mattress, but natural rubber and coconut fiber, as well as seaweed, horsehair, cactus fiber and wool do play a role,  in these utterly unique, indescribably comfortable mattresses. The beds can be customized for body type and sleeping preference because of the layering system, which can create isolated support for different parts of the body. And, ( I can’t believe no one else has thought of this) each layer is wrapped in removable, washable covers. Too smart, right?!

The Soho Coco-Mat store carries a full line of natural pillows, and furniture. The company is among the most successful in all of Greece, and now has 65 stores, (as cool as the Soho store) in 12 countries,world wide.

If you want to really get what Coco-mat is about, click here, http://www.coco-mat.com/?i=coco_us.en.hotels and tour some of the most astonishing hotels around the world. I promise you, this will be impossible to resist.

COCO-MAT SOHO store: 49 Mercer(between Broome St & Grand St) 
New York, NY 10013 
(212) 431-2626   www.coco-mat.com

Hotel Nafsika, http://nafsika.coco-mat-hotels.com/

new modernist rug collection expresses mood through the colors of nature, from art work by Joseph La Piana

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Carpet and rug making is a centuries old tradition where the artistic vision has been expressed by an individual maker, who was also the weaver. In the 20th century, modern artists such as Paul Klee and Pablo Picasso, discovered rug design. They, along with Pierre Cardin, Verner Panton and Ottavio Missoni, all began to extend their creative vision to this medium; designing carpets for interiors, which were equally modern. Now, Joseph La Piana, the New York based artist, is among them.

La Piana’s recently launched collection of rugs has been done in partnership with the venerable custom carpet and rug boutique, Patterson Flynn & Martin. The collection is in all 8 of the company’s showrooms across the country.

The result includes wondrous interpretations of his artwork, with a palette of natural hues that reminds us, especially at this time of year, of the colors in nature. That idea is always in La Piana’s eye, as a keen observer, he is entranced with form and shape, and what occurs with the interplay with light. His work is an abstract expression of these natural occurrences. Therefore, the rug imagery features abstract, biomorphic shapes, or at times a range of subtle to vivid striations of color. The rugs literally mirror La Piana’s canvases, drawings and photographic work. In this collection, he often deconstructed larger works, to adapt smaller sections of them. Then, once woven with wool and silk these new iterations of imagery become their own evocative story. The muted color palette is earthy, with warm grays, sepias, mulberry, and soft browns.

These rugs will look perfectly at home in a modern interior, an eclectic mix, or even contemporary designed room. The rugs are timeless, like nature, so they lend themselves to many kinds of interior design.

There are 24-patterned rugs in the collection, and any can be ordered in a hand tufted or hand knotted version. Most are combinations of wool and silk. See all at: www.pattersonflynnmartin.com, available to the trade.

Left image- Fresh Pond (in rich magenta) is all silk and hand-tufted.

Indigo Ink- wool and silk and hand knotted

Fluid Movement-wool and silk, hand knotted,