The Well-Appointed Catwalk

Designer Discovery: CUCHARA

2013-05-23T17:29:00.000-04:00

image courtesy of CUCHARA

At once edgy and elegant, CUCHARA is the brainchild of Edi Caneda. The young Toronto-based designer names '90s pop, grunge and hip hop among her influences, and all are on display in her colorful collection of jewels.

Pairing both faceted and uncut stones with gunmetal chains and spikes, Caneda's designs call to mind those of Lizzie Fortunato and DANNIJO. Fortunately for us, though, there's a pretty significant difference in price point, with handmade CUCHARA pieces topping out at $250.

The label's recent launch stateside has set my expectations high that we'll be seeing plenty of pieces in stores soon. Until then, you can find the collection at CUCHARA's website and locally at Recess in Winchester.

Desert Steel by Eric Carroll

2013-05-21T12:20:00.000-04:00

clockwise from top: Prickly Pear / Blue Agave / Fish Hook Barrel Cactus / Birds of Paradise
[photos via Desert Steel, found via Unica]

You would think even those lacking a green thumb could keep cacti alive, but for the most helpless of gardeners, Eric Carroll's Desert Steel sculptures are a saving grace. The galvanized steel is guaranteed not to corrode, and the verdigris patina is amazingly realistic. Some models incorporate torches (flaming saguaro, anyone?), and if you're willing to shell out the big bucks, you can even plant a steel palm tree.

Written Portraits for Dutch Book Week

2013-05-17T17:54:00.000-04:00

top to bottom: Anne Frank / Louis van Gaal / Vincent van Gogh / Kader Abdolah
[via Coroflot and Behance]

Remember those clever posters for the Colsubsido Book Exchange? Well, they have some serious competition.

To promote Dutch Book Week, digital artist Raphael Dahan and Amsterdam advertising firm Van Wanten Etcetera created these posters playing off the theme of the biography. If you speak Dutch, look closely: Each book contains the biography or autobiography of the person depicted.

Wearable Art at MassArt's 'STUDIO 621'

2013-05-16T14:14:00.000-04:00

Wearable Art by (top to bottom): Emelie Bergh / Marsha Tiova / Samantah Cruz

Last night saw some bright new talent take the runway for "STUDIO 621," MassArt's annual student fashion show. It's one of the events I look forward to most each spring, but I had to miss out this year due to another commitment.

Thankfully, though, the PR folks sent me some fabulous photos (and they're much clearer than anything I could hope to snap from the audience). I've posted the whole album on Facebook, but above, you'll find looks from what is always my favorite portion of the evening - Wearable Art. Each piece is designed by a MassArt sophomore and constructed out of such materials as computer parts, lottery tickets and window blinds. It's like a Project Runway challenge gone terribly, terribly right.

Check out the rest of the photos here.

Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf's

2013-05-14T12:57:00.001-04:00

[video courtesy of Entertainment One]

You may have already seen the trailer for Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf's, but have you seen the behind-the-scenes intro to Matthew Miele’s new documentary? Karl is uncomfortable, Manolo feels repulsive, and Robert Verdi calls fashion documentaries a dime a dozen. Amazing.

Maybe it's shallow, but I have a special place in my heart for Bergdorf Goodman. Any store that can suck you in for six hours at a time and make you abandon plans to visit MoMA (it only happened that once, I swear!) is truly something special. So, I'm just a wee bit excited to attend a screening of Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf's tonight.

While the film is already playing in New York and L.A., it arrives in Boston theaters on Friday. Keep your eye on Twitter, and I'll let you know what I think after tonight's screening.

Macalister Mansion by Ministry of Design

2013-05-11T15:17:00.000-04:00

[all photos via Macalister Mansion]

I have a split personal when it come to design. While part of me is enamored with the clean lines of modernity, another is drawn to bling like a magpie. Danish midcentury or Rococo, Italian contemporary or Baroque - there's no way I could choose. The tricky part comes with trying to incorporate both the modern and the ornate in one space, which is why I'm so blown away by Malaysia's Macalister Mansion.

As a member of Design Hotels, the Macalister Mansion stands out for its mix of architectural styles. Along with owners Dato Sean and Datin Karen, Singapore firm Ministry of Design took on the renovation of this 100-year-old colonial mansion, both preserving the original characteristics of the building and creating a thoroughly modern and whimsical boutique hotel.

Take a look inside...

[found on Yatzer]

Midweek Covet: Antigona 3D Bag by Givenchy

2013-05-08T13:22:00.000-04:00

Medium Antigona 3D Geometric Figures Bag by Givenchy

As if the Antigona wasn't covetable enough, Givenchy had to go and make it in the most perfect shade of blue and add geometric studs. I know I wrote a whole diatribe on "it" bags not long ago, and I stand by my statements, but it's just plain hard not to fall in love with something so beautiful!

Unfortunately, the blue version seems to be sold out everywhere, but the bag is still available in black for a cool $2810.

12 Lucite Heels for Summer

2013-05-06T12:04:00.000-04:00

Corista Suede and Lucite Open-Toe Sandal by Sigerson Morrison ($450)

Whether lucite, plexi or acryllic, clear heels certainly make a statement. The key is to make sure that statement is more chic than stripper. Here are 12 pairs that keep it classy without playing it safe.

Peggie by French Connection ($94.99)

Manda by Donald J Pliner ($298)

Soiree Sandal by Jeffrey Campbell ($139.95)

Chase Sandals with Lucite Heel by L.A.M.B. ($325)

Leslie by Kate Spade ($358)

Cam Suede & Snake-Print Leather Sandals by Sigerson Morrison ($475)

Heddie Lucite Heel Sandals by Loeffler Randall ($325)

Canvas Plexi Wedge Slingback Sandals by Stella McCartney ($1,025)

Patmos Sandal by Diane von Furstenberg ($325)

Sasha Pump by Senso ($205)

Theone Lucite Heel Sandals by Stuart Weitzman ($398)

Spellbound Collection by Graham & Brown

2013-05-02T14:40:00.001-04:00

top to bottom: Fairytoile Wallpaper / Mermaids Wallpaper / Cobweb Wallpaper

I'm loving Graham & Brown's Spellbound collection of wallpapers, newly available at Design Public! Inspired by Gothic fairytales, the most showstopping of the papers are darkly dramatic and just the right kind of creepy.

Click through for more of my favorite selections...

Goddess Wallpaper / Starstruck Wallpaper / Miror, Mirror Wallpaper

Midweek Covet: Wanda Nylon Raincoat

2013-05-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

Raincoat by Wanda Nylon ($850)

I have no intention of spending $850 on a piece of plastic, but wouldn't this trench by Wanda Nylon be wonderful on a rainy day? It's the wearable, mod equivalent of a bubble umbrella! Here's hoping one of the fast fashion chains comes out with a knock off before summer thunderstorms roll in.

2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase

2013-04-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

top to bottom: Playroom by Martha Angus and Eche Martinez / Atelier by Antonio Martins / Salon by Matthew Leverone
[all photos by Janet Palk via Houzz]

Throw together 27 designers, give them an 8,000-square-foot Georgian mansion as a canvas, and let them have at it. It sounds like the premise of a half-baked Bravo TV show, with stylistic discord as the inevitable result. Instead, it's the story behind the 2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase.

I have no idea how these things work - whether designers consult with one another or have their plans approved by some larger committee. Whatever the case, the individually designed spaces in this Pacific Heights home are both completely distinct and completely cohesive.

View more of my favorites after the jump...

Living Room by Catherine Kwong

Dining Room by Heather Hilliard

Family Kitchen by Alison Davin, Jute

Master Bathroom by Síol Studios

Water Closet by Kelley Flynn

Teen Girl's Room by Applegate Tran Interiors

No doubt that last photo threw you for a loop. I admit that it doesn't fit in terribly well with the rest of the house, but I just love the idea behind it: The designer conceived of this space as the bedroom of an artistic teenage girl rebelling against a beauty-queen mother. Now doesn't it all make sense?

Natural Kingdom by Ted Baker London

2013-04-25T14:37:00.000-04:00

Natural Kingdom collection
[photo courtesy of Ted Baker London]

Spring has sprung, and Ted Baker London is ready for it! The label's feminine prints never cease to inspire, but the latest looks especially have me dreaming of warm days in English gardens.

The new environmentally-friendly capsule collection, "Natural Kingdom," features soft pencil drawings and bright, photographic flowers, butterflies and insects, all on recycled cotton and polyester. As an addition to the regular SS13 collection, you won't find these pieces at Ted Baker's Newbury Street store, but most are available online.

Tel Aviv Photo Diary

2013-04-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

A quiet nook in the Google office overlooking downtown Tel Aviv. Thanks to the soon-to-be Mr., I've seen quite a
few Google offices across the U.S., but none with a space as inviting as this one.

Things have finally started to settle down in Boston, and now that I've managed to peel myself away from CNN, how about those Tel Aviv photos that I promised?

As a true design hub, Tel Aviv and its surroundings have churned out such talent as Ron Arad and Alber Elbaz. And that's not to mention its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its architecture or the world-class Design Museum Holon, just south of the city. Visit after visit, I'm always amazed by what I find in blissfully air conditioned little shops and on unassuming street corners.

The most striking buildings in Tel Aviv are usually in the Bauhaus style, but this one caught my eye for its Asian influence.

A sampling of the wares - all by Israeli designers - at Collect Design Shop in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood

A greenhouse roof drew me into Gavriel, a home and garden shop also in Neve Tzedek...

...where I spotted one of the most charming tablescapes that I've ever seen.

And, finally, some ubiquitous shoe porn. I didn't catch the name of this shop, but not to worry:
There seems to be a shoe store on every block in Tel Aviv.

For more on Israeli design, view my three-part series on the country's home-grown fashion, industrial design and architecture.

Boston, You're My Home

2013-04-17T13:49:00.001-04:00

graphic by Aaron Bouvier Design [via Facebook]

I promised you pictures when I returned from Tel Aviv, and I landed in Boston this morning, but it doesn't feel right to move on without addressing what has happened in my hometown. The question is, what can I possibly say?

I could try to wax poetic about feelings of impotence, anger, grief and - most of all - shock, but every word I put to paper just sounds trite. Besides, with my office building now a fixture on the national news, its windows blown out behind a steady stream of smoke and carnage, I can barely bring myself to mute the TV long enough to string a few sentences together.

As everyone else has already said, we are a tough city that will persevere. You know, Dunkin's and Southie and the Revolution and whatnot. Now, it's just a matter of waiting for some sense of normalcy to return. Until then...

Wish You Were Here

2013-04-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

postcard by fontface

I'm sitting in the airport in Tel Aviv right now waiting to take a puddle jumper to Eilat for some much needed beach time. I'll be in Israel until the 17th, so posts will be intermittent at best. As you may remember from these three posts, though, Tel Aviv is quite the design capital, so I'll have plenty of photos to share with you when I get tired of the sun and sand. Until then, have a wonderful week!

Angela & Roi's Donate by Color Handbags

2013-04-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

Top to bottom: Angela & Roi Square Tote ($138), Mini Cross-Body ($79), Palette Cross-Body ($62)

"Vegan" and "philanthropic" are two buzzwords that, in the past, have turned me off when it comes to fashion. It's not that I'm a horrible person; I swear! It's just that a focus on doing the right thing has so often precluded great design.

It's a perception that's shifting thanks to brands like Maiyet, Stella McCartney and even H&M, but the more labels that can talk responsibility and put out a great product, the better. So, thank you Angela & Roi! That's exactly what you've achieved.

Founded by Boston-based lovebirds Angela and Roi Lee (he handles the business, she handles the design), the handbag line operates on the belief that fashion can be utilized to both an artistic and charitable effect. Classic designs in vegan leather and fabric come in a rainbow of hues, and the "Donate by Color" concept means that $5 of each sale goes to a specific charitable cause. Want to support Alzheimer's research? Choose a crossbody in purple. The fight against childhood cancer? Opt for a gold tote instead.

The full color-coded list of causes to which Angela & Roi donates is available here, but it's really impossible to go wrong, philanthropically or style-wise.

Walls Photographed by Jessica Antola

2013-04-02T13:07:00.001-04:00

The Hamptons (top) and a living wall in Paris
[all photos by Jessica Antola]

Jessica Antola is a Brooklyn-based photographer whose portraits and travel photos threaten to outshine her interior shots. What caught my eye, though, is the remarkable attention designers have paid to walls, captured throughout her portfolio. Think far beyond wallpaper to outsized murals, textural collages and even a living, breathing surface.

Paris

Henzell Home, Jamaica

Paris

Istanbul

Jamaica

There is not much information available on most of these designs, but Dwell has an article on that living wall and the Paris home it belongs to here.

Secret Garden by MirkoG. di Brandimarte

2013-03-29T12:57:00.000-04:00

all photos by Oskar Cecere [via Trend Hunter]

Remember that time in 2012 when the world was supposed to end? And I vowed to never mention the Mayan calendar again after posting this? Well, I lied, but it's for the very good reason of bringing you MirkoG. di Brandimarte's Spring 2013 ad campaign, Secret Garden.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the feminine, flowing pastels modeled by Anastasia Silveri make for a striking contrast to the desolate landscape.

Just take the snakes out of the equation, and suddenly the end of days doesn't look so bad.

The Man Cave of Alketas Pazis

2013-03-26T13:07:00.000-04:00

Interiors can so often skew toward the feminine. Monochrome pastel motifs? Rock crystal chandeliers? Yes, please.

Suddenly, though, I find myself with a number of new male readers thanks to last week's custom suit giveaway. (Congrats to John Zukowski, who I announced as the winner via Twitter on Saturday, and thank you to all who entered!) But suit or no suit, I want these guys to feel welcome here. Skip the fashion posts if you must, but stay for the rest, because there should be nothing inherently female in great design.

Just take the home of Alketas Pazis. As the savvy collector behind Temporary Showroom in Greece, Pazis lovingly reclaims industrial objects from the 1900s through 1950s, renting them out for commercials and films and operating as a vintage trading house. It's no wonder, then, that his own living space adjoining the showroom exhibits such eclecticism and attention to detail.

With warm woods, charcoal walls and the requisite mounted stag head, Pazis' home takes the image of the man cave to the next level. No foosball tables or neon signs here; just sophisticated high design without the gilded, girly trimmings.

For more photos from Pazis' home and a peek inside his Temporary Showroom, view the story on Yatzer here.

Animal Chairs by MollaSpace

2013-03-21T11:19:00.000-04:00

Some time ago, I featured a very angry chair by Marcel Wanders, kicking off my fascination with anthropomorphic furniture. Last night, though, thanks to a sale on Fab.com, I became aware of a far less sinister but equally adorable alternative.

A collaboration between California-based MollaSpace and Taiwanese design firm biaugust, these animal chairs are hand-rendered in four species: buffalo, poodle, lamb and pony. Each chair normally sells for $540, but Fab is offering them up for $475 for the next few days. I'd scoop one up myself if I had anywhere to put it.

*Don't forget to enter to win a custom suit courtesy of Indochino!

Win a Custom Suit from Indochino

2013-03-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Lucky Charms for St. Patrick's Day

2013-03-15T17:12:00.000-04:00

Top to bottom: Clover and Horse Shoe ($68 each) by Samantha Faye / Bracelets by Sisco+Berluti /
Large Wishbone Bangle ($240) and Large Pendant Wishbone ($280) by Celia de Flers

Here in Boston, we take St. Paddy's Day very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that I wouldn't recommend stepping outside this Sunday unless you're prepared to join in the green beer-swilling madness. Otherwise, you'll just be dodging revelers.

It only makes sense, then, that we turn to some local jewelry designers for a little luck of the Irish. Samantha Faye's Clover and Horse Shoe necklaces are part of Newton-native Samantha's Freedman's supremely layer-able collection of charms, while Sisco+Berluti's evil eye amulet comes from Westwood sisters Lisa Sisco and Carolyn Berluti

Celia de Flers' Wishbone collection isn't local - this Parisian transplant is based in L.A. - but they say good luck comes in threes! Here's to a very lucky St. Patrick's Day.

Weekend House at Raigad by Matharoo Associates

2013-03-13T15:58:00.000-04:00

[all photos via Matharoo Associates or Architizer]

For years, India has been on my "must visit" list for its ancient relics and rich culture. Never did I consider that it might also be a destination for luxury modern architecture, but Matharoo Associates has opened my eyes. Based in the state of Gujarat, Matharoo's architects are building all manner of unexpected concrete and steel structures across India, including this incredible weekend house at Raigad.

Read the architects' statement and see more photos after the jump.

From Matharoo Associates:

A series of strong images formed the inspiration for the design of this house. Its proximity to the sea made the design reminiscent of an aquatic animal or a marooned ship. At the same time it came to resemble the old forts dotted around and off the coast, reverberating with past practices and histories.

Above the heavy stone plinth sits a long glass box, a social and functional space from which to fully enjoy the landscape. The stone ‘plinth’ houses the family, functional and private areas, in a half basement, while still maintaining views of the coast outside.

Every room in the property receives a view of the sea. The seascape which is the dominating feature of the house we exaggerated by bringing the swimming pool through and into the main house, flanking the upper living room: surrounding the inhabitant with water.

Not too shabby for a "weekend house," huh?

Boston's own "Shoe Obsession:" Acid Tongued Angel

2013-03-11T13:41:00.000-04:00

Cinderella Gone Bad by Acid Tongued Angel

With the new "Shoe Obsession" exhibit now open at the Museum at FIT and the upcoming release of the book by the same name, T Magazine featured some off the most delectable shoe porn fit to print last week. That's New York news of course, but for once, Boston may be right in step.

As it turns out, our city has its own avant-garde footwear designer in Annie Jean-Baptiste, who launched Acid Tongued Angel two years ago through her blog and Etsy store. She now sells designs like the Mermaid (a heel covered in broken sea glass, gold flecks and sea shells) and the Acid Gets Trashed (a junk yard inspired creation of spikes, screws and studs) mainly through fashion shows and word of mouth.

Acid Tongued Angel's signature shoe, the Cinderella Gone Bad (above), is a modern take on the fairy tale glass slipper, complete with broken glass and rhinestone baubles. All of Jean-Baptiste's designs are custom made, ranging in price from $15 for bespoke bows to to $500 for one-of-a-kind heels.

Not enough shoe porn for you? There are more photos from Acid Tongued Angel after the jump.

The Acid Gets Trashed

The Mermaid

The Garden
[all photos courtesy of Acid Tongued Angel]

The Architecture of Terunobu Fujimori

2013-03-07T17:49:00.000-05:00

Top to bottom: Terunobu Fujimori's Charred Cedar House, Coal House and Guest House
[all photos by Adam Friedberg for Dwell]

I first became familiar with Terunobu Fujimori and his Too High Tea House when I was researching tree houses for "Fly Away Home." It was only recently, though, that I realized the depth and breadth of his work.

A modern eccentric with traditional Japanese sensibilities, according to Dwell, Fujimori is not only an architect but also a scholar and professor of architectural history. Just as the Too High Tea House is a quirky, contemporary interpretation of an age-old Japanese cultural establishment, Fujimori continuously looks to the past to inform his forward-thinking designs.

Just take the Charred Cedar House, Coal House and Guest House above. Nothing can be more modern than these structures and shapes, not to mention that precarious cantilevering. Yet, the charred effect is achieved by an ancient, painstaking technique that seals the wood from rain, rot and insects for up to 80 years. (You can see Fujimori demonstrate the fascinating process here.)

The architect completed his own home, the Tanpopo House, in a suburb of Tokyo in 1955,
using volcanic siding and covering the roof and walls in grass and dandelions.

The Jinchokan Moriya Historical Museum, above, was Fujimori's first commissioned building, completed in 1991.

Fujimori wanted this building, which houses the Nemunoki Museum of Art, to resemble a mammoth, but I'm getting more of a humpback whale vibe.

The Lamune Hot Spring House incorporates two pine trees, with their spires appearing to poke out from the roof.

Fujimori often carves his architectural models out of wood. Above (left) is the model for his Too High Tea House,
along with the structure itself.

Fujimori does not have an established firm (he employs a rotating cast of graduate students), let alone a website, but this 2009 Dwell story delves into his background, process and inspiration to wonderful effect.