observations éclat

a grand villa

2012-06-04T09:34:00.000-05:00

having spent a significant amount of time in florence, italy, this yatzer article on the grand hotel villa cora brought me back. all of the details grand and minuscule have been revived, yet not necessarily with the intent to recreate what had once been. there is a sort of modern "polish" that has been applied that simplifies the forms, stream-lines the profiles and adds a couple extra flecks of pigment, rendering truly stunning spaces.

eye on: azadeh shladovsky

2012-05-31T09:39:00.000-05:00

it can't be easy to shape metal into graceful curves or fashion individual pieces of wood snugly together and then wrap them with a perfectly polished band of nickel or chrome. azadeh shladovsky can do it and the final product looks like it was just meant to be. the ideas behind her work are simple and refined with the use of natural materials to form clean, uncomplicated shapes that result in a distilled elegance. each piece is a little jewel for the home. azadeh's tumblr is evidence of her astute attention to colors, textures and the tiny details that are so easily over-looked.

via azadehshladovsky.tumblr.com

friday finds

2012-05-25T13:38:00.000-05:00

this happy bunny sums up the feeling i had yesterday as i wandered the local antique mall. i rarely buy but i love the search, imaging the former lives these items had, where they came from and who owned them. most of all, i love to imagine how they could make my house interesting. i like to hide little figures in with my books as a fun little surprise, and a big sculptural object can always stand at the center of attention on a table or guarding your front door.

images: wit + delight; éclat

dining...in style

2012-05-24T14:57:00.001-05:00

in certain instances i love to see sofas paired with full height dining tables. i prefer it done in small spaces/homes when there's no formal eating area so you're "forced" to create a comfortable little place to eat and lounge. there is absolutely no reason this can't be glamourous. pairing a small vintage french sofa with some other period pieces can really do the trick.

designed to be memorable

2012-05-23T10:24:00.000-05:00

a couple things i'm interested in architecturally as well as in interior design are scale and mass. so many different elements are born from and feed off of them: spatial definition, optical illusion, the play of light and shadow, groundedness versus loftiness, and...drama. they are elements that i would like to explore more within my own work because i think they help to make spaces surprising and memorable.

images: pinterest; david hicks in LA; john lautner

tobia & afra scarpa: the soriana sofa

2012-05-22T08:54:00.000-05:00

via kwid

i had no real knowledge of the above sofa and chair set prior to my obsession with this room by kelly wearstler.

it, however, was not love at first sight.

not for the sofa (or for wearstler's work but that's changed and is a story for another day). these pieces kind of puzzled me at first, i really wasn't sure i liked them - kind of bulbous and creature-like. were they cheesy? where they too much? probably definitely too much money. after having this image constantly pop back up on my computer, i became intrigued. they are really quite interesting pieces of furniture (i could go on about the lamps too but will spare you/me).

here are some details that give a little insight as to why these end up on sites like 1stdibs and in some of the swankiest auction houses:

designed: around 1970 by tobia scarpa and his wife afra. tobia is the son of carlo scarpa who was an absolutely amazing architect. if you are ever in venice definitely go to the querini stampalia foundation. tobia and his wife were in glassworks but branched into furniture design right around the time that italy was beginning to embrace and master industrial design practices.

via artnet

produced: by cassina, a company that still puts out many iconic pieces from designers such as leCorbusier, charlotte perriand, and frank lloyd wright to name a few. cassina saw opportunity in shifting from hand-craft to serial production and in doing so they invited designers and architects in on the collaboration. the focus was on materiality and technology and how the latter could inform new ways of creating. more info here and here

defining characteristics: the frame of each piece is actually external, it appears between the front fold of the seat and base, and at the rear where it supports the back rest. around the same time period, tobia and afra were designing other pieces that utilized cold shaped polyurethane and injected materials to create shape [the coronado sofa for b&b italia]. i believe that the soriana set was born from ideas behind traditional methods for giving furniture shape [it's skeleton] and the capabilities of the new plastics and foams that were becoming available. the play between hiding or not hiding structure, the materiality of that structure and then the relationship between the hard steel and the soft billowing quality of the foam covered in leather. their goals were oriented towards developing "accessible luxury design" using the newest technology and a variety of fine materials to ultimately create the "essence of relaxation" - i could totally take a nap on that sofa.

via 1stdibs

the soriana set is no longer in production [that i have found] but they are available. these aren't pieces that you'll come across every day. they're not being churned out and sold in your local big box furniture showroom - while there is nothing particularly wrong with that furniture. these are pieces that people collect, pass down to their children, or recirculate to others with a discerning eye.

we have to ask...why?

2012-05-21T11:02:00.000-05:00

why does furniture cost so much money? after skimming the "top 10" list in ell decor i'm always a little put off - by the lists they come up with and occasionally by the two proud designers who are credited with finding the best-ofs. on plenty of occasions i've looked at that list and thought i just saw a chair like that at ikea last weekend and it only cost $39.99…why does this one coast $7,011? and why are these two grinning at me like that? are you seriously suggesting that these are the best choices…that one table you picked looks like my grandpa's work bench! But, on the other hand i get it. not all the time, but i do get it. there are designers, styles, and pieces that have truly become iconic for a variety of reasons, and it's not to say that their popularity hasn't been influenced by trends or even celebrity. i'm interested in some of the more tangible reasons as to why, when you read the captions in an editorial, a piece is usually called out with a designers name attached - "an edward wormley table is paired with a palshus lamp". There are interesting reasons as to why certain designers and specific pieces end up in the interior design hall of fame. i'm not really looking to give history lessons, but (and this is primarily for myself because i have no real idea if anyone out there even looks at this thing/blog) i'd like to keep learning and on some level i feel like i need to remind myself that design is important. in my opinion, spaces become a whole lot more interesting when a little knowledge and history are layered in. so, i want to (occasionally) use this blog to shed a little light on this topic. if anything, i'll learn something.

wedding wishes

2012-05-16T11:52:00.003-05:00

a friend of mine is getting married this coming fall so of course this has gotten me thinking about the perfect gift. aside from choosing an item off of the ol registry, i like to include something hand-picked and special. i'm loving the little salt and pepper shakers from michael aram, especially the pears or the figs. we received a set of monogrammed totes for our wedding and they have really come in handy for trips to the beach and weekend get-aways. the bride-to-be lives by the sea so i've included some ocean-themed items as well. here are some thoughts...

items: pears by michael aram; woven totes at jason home; turkish towels at lekker home; and crab canape set at michael c fina

crafted: roll & hill

2012-04-19T11:12:00.002-05:00

i have been really impressed by the designers for roll & hill. each of them artists in their own right, the running theme of their work seems to be richness of material, and impecable craft. the entire collection gestures to nostalgia for the past while maintaining a streamlined edginess of futuristic design. each fixture is timeless and almost like a little piece of jewelry for the interior.

backyard living

2012-04-16T14:55:00.001-05:00

it's that time of year, the yard is starting to look good, the sun is out and the neighbors are firing up the grill. sometimes you just need a couple new items to jumpstart your own little back-yard oasis. i tend to go for a light-colored chaise that won't fade or get too hot, and then throw in some little accents like tinted lanterns, bright cushions and a fun umbrella.

items: chaise; umbrella; lanterns; pillow; chair; dinnerware; throw

images: garden design magazine

inspired space

2012-04-13T08:30:00.014-05:00

inspired by yesterdays post, i thought i'd put together a little shopping list of my own to get that slimmed-down parisian style. i think the key is to look for simple shapes and to find decorative objects that can stand to be the center of attention. trust me, this is not always easy.

items: sofa; three glass vases; red chair; rug; black lamps; console table; wagner woven chair

eye on: sarah lavoine

2012-04-12T08:32:00.001-05:00

described in the new york times as a designer of "perfectly imperfect interiors". the spaces lavoine creates are rich in contrasts, at times bare bone simple, and they are all deeply sophisticated. she manages to create sleek, edgy interiors that welcome life and the chaos that happens along with it. oh, and she's incredibly beautiful herself.

images: sarah lavoine; interiors magazine

pattern me pretty

2012-04-10T08:30:00.001-05:00

patterns abound these days, from the runway to runners, pillows, poufs, table linens...they're everywhere. and there are so many beautiful ones to choose from whether your taste runs wild or a bit more refined. i like to balance big bold florals with tone on tone geometry or vice versa - a great way to brighten up for spring.

the sartorialist

images: one; two; three; four; five; six

flex space

2012-03-08T14:48:00.001-06:00

so yes, i've been a bit m-i-a, buried in a couple different projects and thus neglectful of other interests, yikes! anyway, a client of mine enjoys the occasional impromptu dance party but she lives in tight quarters. this got me to thinking about pieces that you could just fold up when the dance moment arises. how fun! here are some [very quick] ideas...

images: one; four

happy weekend

2012-02-11T10:33:00.000-06:00

image: [spinnaker] via osborne & little

super natural

2012-02-09T08:25:00.005-06:00

heidi swanson of the blog 101 cookbooks has been featured recently over on remodelista here and here (and probably a handfull of other times because she's so cool). i thought i'd make a little post about her because i recently picked up one of her cookbooks titled Super Natural Every Day. i have to say, it's not only a beautiful book, but it has me excited about eating real, good food. it also has me rethinking my kitchen and how i might make organizing it fun and pretty.

images: two; three

old is new, and better

2012-02-07T13:05:00.003-06:00

when poring over the countless design magazines out there, it's hard to ignore the significant role that vintage pieces play in modern day interiors. some of the most interesting spaces are composed of a mix of old and new, or mostly old and some new.

i was first introduced to the world of vintage furniture as an intern working in nyc. i was constantly asked to source items from little antique shops all over the country, and for outstanding prices i might add. while some (most) of it was over-the-top, there is something to be said for "investing" in a piece that holds some greater significance in the world of design.

have a look on ebay (above), you might be surprised at what you can dig up. try a really skeletal or structured piece to add a little contrast to upholstered furniture.

buy the frame and make your own cushions

the glass shelving above might cost an arm and a leg but try this piece also from ebay. you might even put it on its side and...coffee table

images: one [curated]; two; three; four; five [own entity]; six

feeling blue-ish

2012-02-02T14:31:00.000-06:00

i always seem to gravitate towards aquamarine and turquoise for spring, it's so bright and happy and it can play nice with almost any palette.

sources: jcrew; shopbop; som; boconcept; ylighting; westelm
images: pinterest; kelly wearstler

side tracked by side tables

2012-02-01T14:23:00.000-06:00

nickey kehoe struck again with another amazing home makeover in this month's house beautiful. as always i love everything they came up with, in particular the paul mccobb coffee table of which i am now in need...naturally. this led to a little mid-day brain storm of potential candidates that might make the cut, the CB2 variety for a little punch of color.

images: one; two; three; four; five

grey days

2012-01-25T10:03:00.000-06:00

in stark contrast to the musings of the previous post, today is one of those days. who doesn't love grey though? add a little pop of fresh, bright green and you're back on the sunny side.

images: one; two; three; four

palm wonderful

2012-01-23T13:02:00.000-06:00

it's around this time of year that i start to dream of a beach get-away where i can lounge in a hammock strung from two royal palms and sip a piña colada. if only. perhaps the banana leaves by rose cumming will do the trick for now.

images: one; two; three; four

not your grandma's afghan

2012-01-18T08:14:00.004-06:00

my mom is a knitter, which is great because she's always looking for a project and I've got plenty of ideas. here are a few to feast your eyes upon.

no longer a kaleidoscope of dizzying geometric patterns, knits can be modern, simple and another great way to add texture to your space.

images: martha stewart; westelm; cococozy; pinterest

pastel punch

2012-01-16T10:52:00.000-06:00

after watching a bit of the golden globes last night, i was inspired by all of the dusty pinks, powdery blues, and ivories. really loving what dvf has going on for spring...

images: dvf; hb; bm paint

what to do with those books

2012-01-12T10:32:00.001-06:00

i absolutely love a space layered with books. not only do you end up with a treasure trove of knowledge at your fingertips, the space acquires dimension and texture. try layering your sofa or your bed up against a backdrop of books, then tack on some big bold framed images for even more interest.

images: one, two, three, four, five

to shed or not to shed

2012-01-11T08:00:00.011-06:00

fur accents and accessories have been really popular as we all know. i'm just not sure i'll be ready to say goodbye to it for the spring, it adds such luxurious texture. here are some reminders that it doesn't necessarily have to hibernate during warmer weather.