dgsinteriors

Mirror Mirror on the Floor.

2014-05-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

Before the invention of the mirror, a fascination with all things shiny began with the dawn of man and woman, when they first espied themselves in a pool of water.

Chinese mythology says that an alternate world existed behind every mirror -- a world filled with fantastical creatures which easily traveled between the two worlds -- until they began to wreak havoc. The portal would then be permanently sealed.

An updated stainless steel take on a classic
Chinese chair by ACF China.

Sideboard by Julia Gray Ltd.

In Greek mythology, Narcissus, not realizing that he was seeing himself, fell in love with his own reflection.

Narcissus marble by
John Gibson, 1838.

Side table from Century
Furniture.

Grove nickel studded console.

Masters of the Surrealist movements from Jean Cocteau to René Magritte have utilized the mirror as vehicles to blur the line between dreams and reality.

Jean Marais in Cocteau's 1950 masterpiece, "Orphée"

"The Dangerous Liason"
by Rene Magritte

By Rene Magritte, 1937.

Perhaps the mirror's position as between dimensions continuously draws us to them. Do they exist merely to satisfy our vanity? to check for fly-away hairs? cat hair on our black jackets? to re-apply lipstick? Or are they meant to convey a truth in a much more profound and ethereal way?

I don't know.

Console from Neiman Marcus.

For me, I've always been drawn to mirrored furniture -- perhaps because I am a fan of Old Hollywood. The past, because it is no longer in existence...at least in our dimension...has a romantic appeal which the glamour of Old Hollywood certainly satisfies. It was all about vanity and, let's face it, most of us are vain.

Accent tables from
Neiman Marcus

Haute House Claire
Mirrored Ottoman from
Horchow.

Side table from Hooker Furniture.

Side table from Arteriors
Home.

Sophia Buffet at Macy's.

Designer tip #1: Less is more when it comes to bold statements like mirrored furniture; if overused, mirror pieces can easily spill over the border into "tacky-land". However, if you dare to make an over-the-top statement, do it with taste. And for that, you may need to consult a professional...with taste.

Designer tip #2: No mirrors on the floor or ceiling.

*Thanks to Jennifer Vandemeer for correcting my grammar once again.

Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Sitting on a Park Bench...in Paris.

2013-11-07T12:26:00.000-08:00

It's fall and the weather has segued into brisker temperatures here in the northeast. But with a minimum of bundling up, it permits sitting outside; perhaps to read a book or to write a love song smoking a Gauloise. OK, I'll take us out of the 1960's to save our lungs and replace that cigarette with its modern electronic counterpart, and the book with an iPad, but you get the picture.

Banc bench from the Le Jardin collection at Cote France.

At any rate, this is what came to mind when I espied this whimsical take on a traditional park bench from French furniture company Cote France. Like a refugee from the island of lost toys, "Banc" is its furniture counterpart. Intentionally forlorn and asymmetrical, it is functional sculpture. Instead of a traditionally weather-worn wood look, it asserts itself into a 21st century garden with a bold splash of color; very simple and exceedingly clever.

Though I was unable to locate a photo of Jacques Brel sitting on a park bench (I am sure he did sit on a park bench at some point), it took little or no effort to locate one of him smoking...perhaps a Gauloise. Don't try this at home, folks.

"Je ne suis pas a vendre. Vous comprenez? Et je veux vivre ma vie comme je le veux." ~ Jacques Brel

*Edited by Kristi Saare Duarte.

Blackfish - Official Trailer (HD) Documentary, Orca

2013-10-25T13:18:00.001-07:00

Ghost Town

2013-10-07T13:37:00.000-07:00

At first glance you might surmise to be the remains of an old abandoned Tuscan villa. Majestic and antique, it looks like a house I would like to own. But then again, maybe not: this small scale version of an Italian-style villa was erected for the "soul" purpose of housing the remains those who have passed on.

Happy Halloween.

It's just one of hundreds of mausoleums situated in Buenos Aires' La Recoleta Cemetery. Recoleta Cemetery is purported to be one of the most beautiful and architecturally exciting above-ground cemeteries in the world. It is the resting place for a plethora of the once wealthy city's most elite Argentinian families. It's infamous residents range from that of former presidents, dictators and statesmen to renowned actors and writers, and even a grand-daughter of Bonaparte.

Evita slept here.

Eva Duarte remains one of it's most infamous inhabitants, and though the Duarte family tomb is aesthetically less pleasing than some others that span the cemetery's 14 acres, it is an important destination point nonetheless.

If you are as big a fan of old cemeteries, as I am, you can only imagine my bitter disappointment during a 1980's trip to Paris: a chance to visit the city's famous Pere Lachaise Cemetery was unintentionally thwarted. The most visited cemetery in the world, it includes the graves of the most illustrious figures in the Parisian art, literary and music world. The likes of Chopin, Moliere, Modigliani and Colette have found their final resting place here...not to mention Jim Morrison.

Visits to the cemetery in Recoleta have given me plenty of solace since that missed opportunity in Paris so long ago. Like Pere Lachaise, it reads as a miniature version of it's own city; showcasing Buenos Aires' various architectural styles and former opulence.

Clearly, at one point, money was no object; Byzantine, Art Nouveau and Neo-Gothic themed monuments are but a few of the many architectural styles represented here.

City of sighs against a bustling Buenos Aires skyline.

Eternal companions in the form of weeping ladies and guardian angels offer peace to the living and the dead.

Now this is frightening...it looks like no one has been
in to dust for awhile!

*Edited by Jennifer Vandemeer.

** All images snapped by yours truly.

2013-08-25T08:21:00.002-07:00

"Offerings of Light" a memorial exhibition of the paintings and studies of Theo Stavropoulos is being hosted by myself and the Lehman College Art Gallery in Bronx, NY where the artist taught for 25 years. The exhibition will run from September 3 - 26th. For further information and the artist's biography, here is the link to the press release: http://www.lehman.cuny.edu/vpadvance/artgallery/gallery/

Notes about the artist’s works:

Theo Stavropoulos, c. 1976.*

After suffering an early introduction to the atrocities of war, a foundation could have been set for a potentially dark existence. But early on, art became Theo’s diary and the theme of inner light his personal arsenal against the abyss of negativity until the end of his life. Theo, who embraced a philosophy that no time barrier actually existed between the past and present, felt that inner light was a pathway to that connection as well as one to humanity.

A strong religious foundation, revisited later in his life, and two significant mentors had the strongest influence on the evolution of Theo’s work. His earliest mentor was his first art teacher in Greece: Giorgios (Yorgos) Gounaropoulos, a surrealist painter and pioneer in the Greek modern art movement in the 1930’s. His works encompassed classical elements from antiquity and modernist thought infused into light-flooded, dreamlike imagery gently abstracted by “Gounaro”. For a reference point, please see Gounaro's "Landscape" 1935 easily searchable on the internet.

Theo Stavropoulos, Shield, 1976.* Photo by: Eduardo Duarte.

Gounaro’s influence is apparent in Theo’s artwork; light as a dominant tool in explaining the coexistence between past and present, resulting in a subtle play between two dimensions.

“A painter paints because he has no time not to paint.” ~ Josef Albers

Josef Albers, a pioneer from the Bauhaus school and father of color perception, was another profound influence in Theo’s life and art. Besides being a father figure to Theo, the tremendous impact of Albers’ philosophy, teachings and disciplines helped to shape the body of his work and subsequent role of teacher.

Albers explored the relativity of color and its endless possibilities within the format of simple geometric confines, the most notable example being in his “Homage to the Square” series. In Albers’ ground-breaking testament to the magic of color, he focused on color as an infinite entity, not merely as a tool used in defining objects. It was Albers' mystical thought that profoundly affected the way Theo would ultimately perceive the world without and within and then translate it on to his own canvases. Theo typically only used a minimum palette of colors in his paintings but was able to make a color appear that may not have started out on the canvas to begin with. This was another example of Albers’ influence.

"For Dominique", 2001, acrylic on canvas.* Photo by Eduardo Duarte.

This exhibition is presented in mostly chronological form, spanning nearly five decades of the artist’s work. While Theo’s earliest paintings evoked a more gentle homage to classicism in contemporary form, works produced in mid-life saw an emergence of bolder abstraction, many of his canvases containing an unearthly emission of light. The evolution of Theo’s abstracted figures (both in his paintings and countless notebook studies) are an integral part of this exhibit. They have taken on many forms; some lyrical and some unapologetically uncomfortable and have been the artist’s constant companions for the last two decades of his life. Works produced by the artist in his last decade revisited former his former experimentations with undulating inanimate forms, organic imagery such as in the floral themes, fragmentation of light and finally, his decision to embrace a bolder use of color.

Untitled, c. 2000 - 2006, acrylic on canvas.* Photo by Pat Genova.

Theo’s evolution as an artist encompassed constant rediscovery and experimentation combined with the revisitation of aspects of his early artwork. From his earliest known works containing warm tones and classical elements that reflected his cultural heritage, to seemingly otherworldly imagery in the form of inanimate and human-like apparitions, they are a visual testament to the artist’s personal journey through life.

Unititled, c. 1990 - 2005, acrylic on canvas.*

Unitled, 1991, wash and ink on paper.* Photo by Pat Genova.

~ Dominique Stavropoulos-Williams

This exhibiton is sponsored by Dominique Stavropoulos and curated by Professor Pat Genova, CUNY. Special thanks to Professor Flavia Bacarella, chair of Lehman College Art Department, Susan B. Stavropoulos, Claudio P. Williams and Amei Wallach, Art Critic and Filmmaker.

~Edited by Kristi Duarte.

*Rights for reproduction remain with Dominique Stavropoulos Williams.

This Caught My Eye.

2013-03-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

"Garbo's Eye" Natural linen

Recently, while web surfing, I came across the page of a fabric and wallpaper company called the "Cecil Beaton Fabric Collection". I stopped short on the image of a wing chair upholstered in a simple linen fabric, printed with a mad repetition of eyes. The name of the print is "Garbo's Eyes". Pictured against a portrait of the iconic silver screen star, the photo taken by Cecil Beaton in the 1930's.

I was immediately drawn to it's obvious quirkiness and bold design statement. That this particular textile design did not read 'creepy" surprised and delighted me. Could it be because it is a representation of the divine Garbo--her ocular allure skillfully captured by the great Cecil Beaton? Taken from one of many of his whimsical designs, "Garbo's Eye" is from a series of charming sketches he created for Zita Ascher's fashion collection in the 1940's . The licensing for the sketches were recently acquired from Ascher's heirs by the UK-based interior design company, Beaudesert, and they have created a delightful collection of inspired fabric and wallpaper designs.

Cecil Beaton may be most famous for his photographic portraits of celebrities, but he was also an award winning costume designer, interior designer and diarist. A very close friend of Garbo and later, her lover, it's likely the sketches of her eyes were drawn from life.

www.cecilbeatonfabrics.com

Greta and Cecil in the 1940's

*Edited by Jennifer Vandemeer

Happy (belated) Birthday Grand Central!

2013-03-23T14:19:00.000-07:00

Grand Central Terminal, one of the world's most beautiful train depots and surely one of New York City's proudest architectural achievements, is celebrating it's 100-year anniversary. As tempting as it was to present an abridged version of my design school paper on this magnificent Beaux-Arts masterpiece, I chose instead to spare myself...and you. Due to the centennial celebration, there is currently a wealth of literature and information out there and one more post about it may seem a tad redundant.

OK, I plead some redundancy, but I promise not to be boring. I offer some lesser known anecdotes about Grand Central, hence the post's subtitiling: "Did You Know..."

Fit For Emperors:

The layout of the station and many architectural elements--including it's abundance of columns, archways and vaulted ceilings--were modeled after the elaborate baths of Imperial ancient Rome.

Floor plan and reconstructive rendering of the Caracalla Roman Bath.

Grand Entrance:

Two pink marble grand staircases modeled after those in the Paris Opera House were designed for the station's main concourse, but only one staircase was originally built. As we know, a second staircase has since been installed. Who can guess which one is the original?

Area 61:

Beneath Grand Central rests a hidden platform containing the infamous unlisted "track 61". Once directly linked by private elevator to the Waldorf Astoria's garage, it was made available to the likes of FDR and other illustrious VIPs of the era. It has long since been sealed shut, but still houses the original presidential train car and elevator constructed to accommodate FDR's armored Pierce Arrow--for secret trips between the hotel and his home in Hyde Park, NY. So why can't the train car be transferred to the surface for viewing by the public? Because it weighs too damn much--to the tune of 142 tons! Apparently a glimpse of the abandoned platform is possible when leaving the lower level of the station. Keep your eyes pealed for it when traveling on the Metro North!

Franklin Roosevelt's private train car on track 61.

The Four Faces of Seth:

Did you know that the faces on the four-sided clock at the information booth are made of opals? Designed by Connecticut's famous Seth Thomas Company, the clock has been estimated by Christies to have a whopping value of $10-$20 million dollars.

Stairway to haven:

Did you know? within the information booth on the main concourse is a hidden staircase to a room inside the lower booth on the dining concourse level. It was designed as a break room for the station's booth employees. No doubt a day's full of stupid questions can take a toll on your sanity!

Luxury Rental:

Though not exactly a secret these days, once in awhile I like to get a drink at the slightly "hidden" and off the beaten-path, Campbell Apartment. Located on the balcony level on Vanderbilt Avenue's side, it was first leased by John Campbell in 1923 from William Vanderbilt (whose family built Grand Central). The interior was remodeled by Campbell to evoke 13th-century Florentine palazzos. It is a sight to behold with it's massive leaded windows, baronial fireplace, painted wooden ceiling beams and other Neo-Gothic design elements. From rush hour on up, and at week's end, it is quite crowded and can be a bit of a struggle to get a drink at the bar. There is actually a waiting list to sit down for drinks in the main living room which has been tastefully refurnished in Art Deco style. Not surprisingly, the bar is pricey, but the opportunity to enjoy the opulent splendor of America's robber barons, is a real treat.

The Campbell Room in Grand Central Terminal.

Saint Jackie:

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Jackie Kennedy Onassis was a key figure in the fight against the proposed demolition of Grand Central in the mid-1970's. It was slated to be replaced by yet another banal steel and glass building typical of the era of anti-adornment. After New York's Penn Station had met a similar horrific fate in 1963-1966, Jackie went to bat in 1975 and together with a host of New York's glitterati, formed a preservation committee in order to save the threatened Beaux-Arts structure. A long hard battle was fought which eventually found it's way to the supreme court. Victory was won in 1978. Brava, Jackie!

Here is an excerpt from her letter to then mayor, Abe Beame:

"Is it not cruel to let our city die by degrees, stripped of all her proud monuments, until there will be nothing left of all her history and beauty to inspire our children? If they are not inspired by the past of our city, where will they find the strength to fight for her future?"

Jackie with Bess Myerson and Ed Koch on the right. Can anyone identify the gentleman with the groovy glasses to the left?

Grand Central Terminal during wartime. This surely solves the query about the second staircase.

Grand Central almost empty at 6am, Saturday morning, after work on an overnight shoot in Manhattan.

*Edited by Jennifer Vandemeer.

Gastronomic Desire at The Drugstore.

2013-01-21T18:39:00.000-08:00

My husband and I recently took a trip to historic Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay, a charming seaside village settled by the Portuguese in the 1600's. After checking into our hotel, we asked the concierge to recommend a good restaurant in the area. "You must go to El Drugstore," he responded, "you'll really like it". ("El Drugstore"--Uh, okay, thanks, we'll be sure and check it out...maybe). Hoping to avoid a potentially over-priced tourist trap, we decided to pass on that. At the nearest café, we instead enjoyed perfectly good traditional fare: chivito, an artery-hardening but incredibly delicious Uruguayan sandwich: a thin slice of churrasco beef, with cheese, olives, totatoes, ham, mayo and a fried egg. This was accompanied by papas fritas (French fries) and a bottle of agua con gas (seltzer).

Chivito

Our homeless amigo is also a fan of chivito and waited patiently for our leftovers.

The following day, while taking in the sights of this truly enchanting city, we happened upon two antique cars parked on a cobblestone street--one of them filled with flowers in the trunk. I love old cars...I mean, I really LOVE old cars, so I went over to inspect them and take a few pictures. At some point we realized that we were standing in front of the very restaurant that had been recommended to us back at our hotel. "El Drugstore" had me at the 1929 Model A Ford. It's interior was set up for an intimate dining experience for two, complete with table and place settings. To my dismay, my husband steadfastly refused to eat in a car. After several attempts to change his mind and a tolerable amount of moping, I finally gave in and we ate dinner inside the restaurant that night.

Upon entering the restaurant, one encounters a strikingly funky décor; a kind of fun-house chic style interior with walls painted in primary colors--every inch of them awash with bold paintings and posters. The café has four rooms, some tables covered with polka-dot tablecloths accompanied by coordinating folding chairs. The rooms in the back are decorated with an unapologetic plethora of furniture styles, accented with assorted found objects ranging from children's toys to object d'art.

There was Frida...

And Geisha....

Marrakesh....

And Spanish Rococo...

Anyone who knows me well knows that I tend to seek out restaurants and bars with plenty of atmosphere. As a designer, I am inclined towards the aesthetic by default and it would follow that I need to have my visual senses satiated. "El Drugstore" certainly did not disappoint on that front, and even though it bordered on over-the top-eclecticism, I was delighted by it's fun and quirky style. That aside, when it comes down to brass tacks, if the food isn't good, a restaurant is bound to fail. I certainly will not return to a place that does not have good food. I have seen mixed reviews regarding El Drugstore's extensive menu, which includes seafood, tapas, fusion and vegan fare. But as far as we were concerned, our gastronomic experience was nothing short of orgasmic. While I enjoyed the chivito a day prior, I am not typically a big meat eater. So at El Drugstore we opted for a mélange of seafood platters, one of which was a sumptuous platter of gambas al ajillo (shrimp with garlic). We accented our meal with a excellent Clerico (white sangria). Muy rico!

Even the menu was cool...

There's no denying it's a tourist destination, but the prices were manageable, and our meal was great--not only would I recommend it, I'd go back in an instant.

"El Drugstore" has an outdoor café, music at night and takes reservations.

179 Vasconçellos
Colonia, Uruguay

TEL: 011-598-522-5241

Paradise Lost: City HallSstation.

2012-11-14T11:05:00.001-08:00

"The only paradise is paradise lost." ~ Marcel Proust

If ever there was an inclination to compare a New York City subway station as an underground Shangri-La, downtown Manhattan's abandoned City Hall station comes close to earning such a title.

In 1900, construction began on New York City's City Hall Station in lower Manhattan. It opened October 27, 1904, as the city's showpiece terminal stop. It celebrated a newly innovative system of underground travel within city limits.
Part of the first subway line operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT), it ran between City Hall and 145th Street. Originally named the "Manhattan Main line", it is now known as the "Lexington Avenue line".

The architect and builder Rafael Gustavino, an immigrant from Valencia, Spain, designed the City Hall station. Gustavino was noted for his use of self-supporting vaulted arches and his patented "Tile Arch System". This system represented a brilliant structural, aesthetic and economic innovation. Gustavino adopted and improved upon the rediscovery of 14th-century Catalan system of timbrel vaulting and renamed it "cohesive construction". He substituted bricks with 3/4- inch thick terra cotta tiles, and traditional mortar with Portland cement. He then layered the tiles over one another in patterns that followed the curves of the ceiling, resulting in wider arches and vaulting. The comparatively lighter weight of the tiles to the traditional brick and stone construction likely explains this achievement.

Underworld opulence: several stained glass skylights emanated a heavenly light from above. It was additionally lit with eleven chandeliers.

Early construction photo of City Hall Station.

Old photograph of station's ticket booth.

In 1945, the station closed due to lack of use; at the time, only 600 or so passengers used the station daily, and this was at the pinnacle of subway travel in New York City. Additionally, train cars had been widened and lengthened for a growing population. The train platform was not only not long enough to accommodate additional train cars, but it also had such a tight radius it was difficult for the trains to loop around the station in order to head back uptown. Plans by the New York Transit Museum to reopen the station to the public were cancelled in the late 1990's. Today it remains abandoned and unused.

Original entrance outside of City Hall.

If you would like to catch a glimpse of this magnificent station, you have several options. One would be to take the #6 train down to the last stop, Brooklyn Bridge station. Remain on the train and it will eventually loop around, and, as you head back uptown, you'll be able to catch sight of it. Another option is riding on the #4 and #5 trains heading from Brooklyn. Finally, you can actually enjoy a tour of the station if you become a card-carrying member of the MTA Transit Museum.

This blog post was inspired by the recent hurricane that devastated much of the New York tri-state area and is dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Many people suffered losses of their homes, belongings and lost water and power. Three weeks later, many residents of particularly devastated areas such as Far Rockaway in Queens, are still without heat, electricity and water. Much help is still needed if you'd like to volunteer and/or donate. I am posting links to a few of the many organizations through which you can assist in the relief effort. Thanks in advance.

http://www.redcross.org/templates/render/render.jsp?pageId=11400031&scode=RSG00000E017&subcode=paiddonationsearch&gclid=CNOvrYm0x7MCFQyk4Aodh1YA7A

https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/onetime.cfm?source=AZD120000S02&gclid=CIjdqfizx7MCFQWe4Aod6xsACw

https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=2692

http://www.ujafedny.org/hurricane-sandy-volunteer-opportunities/

http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/keeping-pets-safe-during.html

*Edited by Jennifer Vandemeer.

2012-10-13T18:12:00.001-07:00

It's Halloween time and I wanted to share some of my most favorite places that have left a deep, and yes, lasting haunting impression.

Kioni windmills in Ithaki, Greece

In 1989, I travelled with my father to the island of Ithaca, Greece, to meet my Greek relatives who had a house there. In the Ionian Sea, Ithaca is host to the Kioni windmills that were possibly constructed in the 12th or 13th centuries. No longer operating in their utilitarian capacities, they now grace the landscape as haunting mementos of antiquity having long since fused into organic extensions of this magnificently rugged island.

Hotel Boulevard Atlantico in Mar del Sur, Argentina

Hotel Boulevard Atlantico, Mar del Sur, Argentina

In 2007 I travelled with my husband to the sea resort town of Mar del Sur--a good five hours drive from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I had heard enough about this idyllic, unspoiled spot and its resident imposing Neo-Classical structure known as the Hotel Boulevard Atlantico. I knew I would instantly fall in love with it. The Hotel Atlantico was built in the 1880's as a luxurious destination stop for the wealthy that could afford to flee the heat of the city and its cholera outbreaks. Ultimately, the train, which was intended to reach Mar del Sur, never made it that far and ended instead in Mar del Plata--a resort city 45 minutes away. The hotel's history is lonely and forlorn: it really never functioned as the luxury resort that it was built to be due to financial ruin of the original owner and it basically went downhill from there. After a few short stints as a hotel, it was a hospital for cholera victims, many of whom are buried in the back of the hotel. But it's most notorious tenants included Mafioso squatters in the 1990's. Ultimately, time, the elements, and human indifference destroyed most of the structure. Yet, it still remains standing today as an imposing reminder of a once glorious past in a very humble town. The last time we tried to get a tour with the current owner of the hotel, the city had condemned the building. Some palms might have been greased, as the owner is back to conducting tours in order to raise money for renovation of the grand hotel and I look forward to finally seeing the interior of this magnificent building on our next visit.

Morris Jumel Mansion, NYC

This is the house where my ancestor lived. Built in 1765, the Morris-Jumel mansion that sits atop a hill in New York City's Harlem, is reputed to be very haunted, and yes, George Washington slept there. My ancestor was Aaron Burr, who lived in this house with his wife, a member of the Jumel family. Though I did feel the presence of spirit in the house--how could one not? --I experienced no particular paranormal incidents. That said, it has been known to be fairly active in that respect, and I look forward to future visits.

Interior of a jail in Jerome, Arizona.

Ruin in Jerome, Arizona.

During Easter vacation in the mid-1970s, my mother and I traveled to Arizona to visit my great aunt Alice. One day, we drove through the town of Jerome, a partial ghost town. I never forgot the fascination of experiencing both the unease as an unwelcome stranger passing through an inhabitated ghost town, and the urge to stop and explore this dilapidated town. It appeared so unreal, it resembled a movie set. But, it was the home of the living, and the dead, who regarded us as unwelcome strangers and beckoned us if we dared, come forward. While driving through, a few Native Americans peered at us dully from their broken, windows as if to say: there is nothing here to see, white man, keep moving along. We kept moving along and I am sorry we did as it's now a bustling tourist destination, and being far too crowded, the ghosts, I am sure, have long since moved out.

Fallen structure on Little Chebeague Island, Maine.

Little Chebeague is a small island connected by a sandbar to Great Chebeague island in Maine's Casco Bay. Once a bustling summer colony and year-round home to a handful of farmers, the United States Navy took over the island for recreation and training durning World War II. Sadly, the houses fell to ruin and no one returned, so the island eventually became a state park. I have spent practically every summer on Great Chebeague Island and always went on a pilgrimage to Little Chebeague, where we explored and crawled through its decaying houses. When I was a child, many of the houses were still standing with paint and plaster on the walls, and even full of some furniture. I imagined who lived in the houses, what their rooms looked like, how they decorated their homes...

As I return year after year, I tend to feel the spirits strongly attached to their homes, long after so many of the structures have at last disappeared.

Ye Waverly Inn, Greenwich Village, NYC.

Having grown up in New York's Greenwich Village, my family dined many times at the historic Ye Waverly Inn, located on the corner of Bank Street and Waverly Place. It was a favorite place to go when my grandmother came to town and took us all out to dinner. She favored American food and I remembered that their specialty was chicken potpie, which she always loved to order. I continued to frequent the restaurant well into adulthood and went back fairly recently for a drink at the bar. It had been newly renovated and really looked lovely. But I miss the the musty old place with splintered benches we once sat in for our quiet dinners by the fireplace. I understand it is now uber-trendy. Reputed to be one of New York City's most haunted places, I wonder if there is indeed any room for the spirits of the paranormal variety with the current influx of "A-list" celebs? There goes the fourth dimension...

Ansonia Hotel, NYC.

At first glance you might think this building is in Paris, but it is in fact the Ansonia Hotel in New York City's Upper West side. To me, it is one of the grandest, most dominating structures in the city. All my life I have felt not only in awe of the magnificent Beaux-Arts architectural masterpiece, but also, felt a bit of fear and intimidation whenever nearby. My heart would actually start to beat, faster. Well, maybe I need some past-life therapy to look into the fear factor, but it is safe to say it is one of my most favorite buildings in the city.

Before it became a luxury apartment building, it was built as a residential hotel. A little known fact is that it was also intended as the original "green hotel" in that the architect envisioned a self-sufficient structure boasting the only known rooftop farm. Many luminaries stayed and lived in the hotel, including Babe Ruth, Theodore Dreiser and Igor Stravinsky.
I had a personal relationship with the hotel; I attended many dance auditions back in the day when the building was somewhat rundown and renting out studio spaces. Thankfully, the plan to demolish the building (a popular thing to do in the 1960s and 1970s) was fought-off and the hotel became a landmark in 1980.

St. Louis Cemetery in New Orleans, LA.

Ladies decorating a grave in St. Louis Cemetery in 1900.

'Je suis la papesse de voudoun' ~ Marie Leveau, a permanent resident of the St. Louis Cemetery ('I am the pope of Voodoo' in Creole)

The Saint Louis Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana, is the name of three Catholic cemeteries, the earliest of which was opened in the late 1700s. They are exquisitely architected above-ground cemeteries designed in the European tradition. One of the reasons I find above-ground cemeteries so fascinating is because they resemble small cities. I remember being in New Orleans during the Jazz Festival and could only view the moonlit tops of the mausoleums behind stone walls. New Orleans is a city that can safely be described as one of the most haunted in the U.S. I had the pleasure of visiting three times, but the St. Louis cemetery only once, due to the fact that cemeteries are closed during festivals such as Mardi Gras and the Jazz Festival. It's best to go during a quieter season if you want to partake of the ultimate haunted experience in New Orleans.

Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, Holland.

“Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” ― Anne Frank

The house where Anne Frank spent several years in hiding may be haunted with her spirit but not as a spirit in unrest, despite the horrendous eventual cause of her death. This catacomb of both hope and despair where she spent the bulk of her teenage years, fostered an illumination of thought virtually unmatched today. She was basically a prisoner in her own home long before her family was sent to the camps. Like a prisoner in a jail cell, she suffered very little privacy (more than devastating to a teenage girl) and was only able to look out from the darkness into the light of the bustling world outside. No longer did she have the luxury to enjoy the gift of everday life. Yet, she was so evolved that she was able to not only record her daily thoughts and grievances but to also move ahead of them: she found a light which included a deep understanding and love for all of humanity, despite what some of humanity was capable of at the time.

Bosque Energetico, Miramar, Argentina.
Photo by Dominique S. Williams

The Bosque Energetico is an energy forest located in Miramar, Argentina. Although I can't say that I had a life- changing experience, I did witness some unusual instances within this small forest along Miramar's coastal road. There is a definite energy there as we, on numerous occasions witnessed twigs and branches of all sizes and weights level out right before our eyes when placed on the tips of pointed tree knots. The energy was so blatant, it was almost visible to the naked eye. I did also feel a certain sense of calm and serenity within the forest but it is a forest and trees are good for grounding ourselves--it never hurts to hug a tree especially if it contains paranormal energy. If you are ever in the area, check it out--it's worth the trip, and not far from a spectacular beach.

The Grand Canal, Venice, Italy.

I would be remiss if I were to not include the city of Venice, Italy in my list; one of the most magical and haunted cities I have ever visited. Sorry, Disneyland, I have no interest in visiting you, for this is the real magic kingdom. Hey, Venice survived plagues and occupations, Casanova and floods. What's not to love about the ghostly residue of this truly gorgeous city? It was even so beloved and revered that it avoided being bombed by enemy forces during World War II.

I would love to hear your feedback as well as your own favorite haunted spots!

"It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness."

DGS Interiors: Conversation pieces

2012-06-19T19:26:00.001-07:00

DGS Interiors: Conversation pieces: Sometimes we talk a lot and say nothing and we write a lot and say nothing, but it sure looks pretty on fabric: Fauteuil from Cote Fr...

Conversation Pieces

2012-06-16T08:53:00.001-07:00

Sometimes we talk a lot and say nothing and we write a lot and say nothing, but it sure looks pretty on fabric:

Fauteuil from Cote France
http://www.cotefrance.com/

Several thousand years ago, writing was invented as an alternate means of communication to oral and illustrative forms traditionally used in historical documentation. The invention of writing implemented the typographic use of symbols and signs in order to translate language two-dimensionally. Without going into depth about the evolution of the use of the written word since the high times of Mesopotamia, it is safe to say that we have repeatedly enjoyed it's use in art and interior decoration over the subsequent centuries:

The writing is on the wall: This fabric can be used to upholster furniture, as a window treatment or wallcovering:

Document brown design fabric
http://www.ballarddesigns.com/

$153.85
http://www.etsy.com/

Shades of the past:

Shaker rug
http://www.bddw.com/

Empire lampshade
http://www.ballarddesigns.com/

The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say. ~Anaïs Nin

bonjour bon nuit burlap pillow

Conversation rug

http://www.overstock.com/

Dresser
http://www.anthropologie.com/

There seems to be something inherently comforting about being surrounded by visual conversational companions in the form script writing on the wall and on fabric and alphabetic characters on furniture and accessories. They are inanimate, they do not communicate audibly, they seem in fact, nonsensical, but is that really true? They do not seem to make a statement in the obvious sense but perhaps in a far more abstract one. What was formerly invented for the sole purpose of communication now finds itself regenerated as tangible poetic residue, ever reminding us of our important connection to one another. And though nothing replaces human companionship, the evidence of one of man's most important visual inventions created from the mysterious vault that we call the mind, breaks down the walls of cosmic dimensions.

Talk to me:

Bookcase

http://www.saporiti.com/

Vintage container for metal parts, $165
http://www.etsy.com/

Be obscure clearly. ~E.B. White

The famous Belgian surrealist artist, Rene Magritte, used the written word in many of his artworks in order to impress a philosophical statement that what one might perceive to be real, was in fact not. This was a familiar theme in the philosophy of surrealism. His famous paradoxical series: "Ceci n'est pas", used the written word as art in order to impress upon the viewer that what was thought to be a recognizable object in the painting was not really what it seemed to be, but in fact, a mystery that might never be solved. In this case, the written word is used as a vehicle not to label or record what it is, but what it is not:

Signs of the times: Ce n'est pas un signe. (This is not a sign.)

Signage, once created solely for identification, as a warning or for directional purposes, have in present times experienced a morphism into unique forms of decoration in many homes and commercial institutions. Ordinary objects now became artistic statements, a classic surrealist concept. These ghostly apparitions of their former occupations now act as poignant reminders of the paradox of existence and non-existence.

Coming or going?

$1,095 http://www.1stdbs.com/

Enter-Exit Welcome Mat, $19
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/

Ok sign, $2,400
http://www.1stdbs.com/

Vintage bus destination map, $1,800

http://www.hollywoodathome.com/

This just about says it all.

A Mansarded Italianate in Maine

2012-05-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

The United States Customs House

I have spent almost every summer of my life in Maine and a good portion of it in the city of Portland where incidentally, I was born. After my parents retired and and moved up there from New York City in 1990, I have since enjoyed every season up there and to this day, it remains to be one of my all-time favorite cities. From the time of my childhood up until now, Portland saw a tremendous evolution in it's massive renovation from being a virtual ghost town back in the 1970's (which purely for romantic reasons, I confess to missing) to a bustling tourist and cruise ship destination which, according to a New York Times article written a few years ago, boasts the highest amount of restaurants per capita in the United States. The restaurants are good, too.

Portland, Maine once enjoyed the status of being one of the most important seaports in the country with a rapidly growing customs business in the 1800's. After a massive fire destroyed most of it's commercial buildings in 1866, the city was rebuilt.

A city rife with mostly Victorian style structures, it hosts an amalgam of many different revival styles conducive to the architectural era. The Customs House is one such prominent example. The Italianate style building that still stands today near the city's waterfront was completed in 1872 under the architectural supervision of Alfred B. Mullett.

Palazzo Ducale in Genoa, Italy

The Italianate style derived from the Renaissance Italian palazzos and was one of the most popular revival styles in the Victorian Era from the mid to late 1880's. The buildings were boxy in shape but had a more open and airy feel as well as less symetrically rigid design than the Greek Revival style. Most notable architectural details included the use of wide cornices, doors and windows with overhangs with the wide use of ornamental brackets underneath them. The building is dominated by rounded windows which are framed with attached doric columns and a balustrade surrounds the entire building.

The Neo-Baroque and Second Empire style became a popular architectural vogue in the United states in the 1870's and was heavily influenced by the fanciful architecture built under Napoleon III in the 1850's and 1860's in France. One of the most prominent characteristics included the element of the Mansard roof which is a steeply sloping roof shingled with slate as seen on the cupolas on the Customs House. Mansarded roofs became highly popular in both Europe and the United States after the construction of the Musee de Louvre in Paris and were designed to functionally create more interior space than traditional sloping roofs.

Mansard roof on the Louvre Museum

The Mansarded roof has always held a deep fascination for me as it strikes me as a mysteriously handsome design, yet also an elegantly disfigured and spooky one. The evolution of this roof style historically traces back to the Gothic era. Today, we think of it as the archetypal element for haunted mansions infamously portrayed in such scary movies such Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" and on the majestically decaying abode that houses the twistedly wholesome Addams Family, one of my all time favorite cartoons created by the inimitable Charles Addams. Perhaps this is one reason it holds such a ghostly allure for me, but as an architectural enthusiast, the real-life counterparts are always a joy to behold.

Restoration of the building was begun in 1998 and it is listed in the National Registor of Historic Places. It has maintained most of it's architectural integrity due to very little changes made to it.

312 Fore Street, Portland, Maine.

Huh?

2012-04-19T20:33:00.002-07:00

I was looking at a design trend report today when I happened upon this um...chair from a well-known modern furniture company and felt compelled to feature it on my latest design post. The identity of the company and the designer shall remain nameless of course, but I do want to thank them for providing me with yet more comedic material.

You could look at this as a Rorschach test: for instance, to me, it looks like someone went out and shot the Michelin Tire Man, quilted him and then recycled him into a "cozy armchair suitable for any space". OK, that might be an extreme interpretation, but extremely tacky furniture is bound to foster some modicum of emotional imbalance.

Going forward, I feel inspired to do a regular post on what not to furnish your space with. Perhaps I could call it: "The latest abomination of the week"? "Furniture from Hell"? or, "Why oh why was this not on the Titanic"?

Hey, this reminds me of the classic "Puffy Shirt" episode on Seinfeld.

OK, I'll stop.

2012-04-04T18:46:00.000-07:00

It's official: Orange is the new black!

PANTONE, the world's most renowned authority on color, named "Tangerine Tango" the color for 2012. These days, the bold reddish-orange hue is found worn on clothing, lips and nails and used in interior design to make a unique design statement.

http://www.tibetfurniture.com/

Hand-blown confetti glass, set of 4, $34
http://www.directfrommexico.com/

Ottoman cube covered in vinyl fabric.
http://www.etsy.com/

Color trend decisions are not random: there is always a method to such choices and timing. Orange is a bright, warm and exotic hue. Countries known for embracing and encorporating bright, warm colors such as those in Central and South America have become popular destinations for many Europeans and Americans. Argentina is one such example. For the last several years it has been saturated with tourism, not only due to the strength of the monetary exchange but also due to the enticing blend of both ethnic and European architectural and interior styles. Additionally, tango dancing has become a craze all over the world, and I am personally jonesin' to take a few classes myself!

Orangentinian tango (ouch...I know).

Orange colored wallpaper

Orange, a color traditionally used in signage and advertising, by it's sheer brilliance, commands attention. Psychologically it is a color associated with self-confidence, cheeriness, warmth and flamboyancy. These are traits much needed these days as our forlorn global economy has reaked emotional havoc on our collective psyches. Whether you are a fan of bright orange or of the more subdued variety, there is an orange out there for everyone and it blends and complements others very well.

Oushak Carpet
http://www.1stdibs.com/

Catch episodes of "Mad Men" on AMC

Immensely popular TV shows such as "Mad Men" which premiered in 2007, have catapulted the world into a renewed love of 1960's style. Items with bold patterns and coloring typical of the mid-century fashion and "Mad Men chic" have flown off of the retail shelves in the last few years. It is no surprise that a hue such as "Tango Orange" would have eventually found it's debut as color of the year.

Tangerine colored telephone
http://www.sagemcom.digital.co.uk/

http://www.zarinfabrics.com/

Shag rug.
http://www.homedepot.com/

Murano glass orange chandelier
http://www.lamurrina.com/

Chair, sample sale: $1,950
http://www.brightchair.com/

Beaded Moroccan Mirror, $100
http://www.etsy.com/

Antique Amalero Pots
This wall color would make a bold
statement in an entranceway, small
room or on one wall!
http://www.mexicanstyle.com/

House in the Czech Republic

Why shouldn't orange animals be in vogue too?
To help save the orangutans, go to
http://www.orangutan.org.uk/

Green Day

2012-03-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

"For 'tis green, green, green, where the ruined towers are gray,

And it's green, green, green, all the happy night and day;

Green of leaf and green of sod, green of ivy on the wall,

And the blessed Irish shamrock with the fairest green of all."

~Mary Elizabeth Blake

Anglepoise lamp
http://www.limedesign55.co.uk/

Gorgeous green bathroom tiles.

Door in Morocco

We all know that green symbolizes the Emerald Isle and St. Patrick and consequently, it is the most pervasive color in the natural world. No wonder it is one of the top two favorite colors next to blue.

And yes, it is easy being green. It is considered soothing and relaxing and it the color used most frequently in hospitals and health care facilities as many years of research have proven it to be instrumental in lowering stress and anxiety levels. 'Green' is also the poster color for the ecology movement because of it's abundance on the planet.

Alternately, there are several instances of the use of the color green when referencing envy and jealously. In ancient Greece jealousy and envy was said to cause a buildup of bile in the system thus causing skin to turn a green, sickly pallor. The poetess Sappho utilized the color green describing a forlorn lover and Shakespeare referenced the "green-eyed monster" in Othello and "green sickness" in Antony and Cleopatra.

Outdoor pillow from Pier 1
http://www.pier1.com/

Fringed Matisse shade, $49.95
http://www.anthropologie.com/

"What color should be seen

Where our fathers' homes have been

But their own immortal Green?"

~Author Unknown

Green lantern, $20
http://www.realsimple.com/

Set of two mod stacking chairs, $67.99
http://www.target.com/

Lime green telephone from the 80's
sold on Ebay.

Crystal wine glasses from Waterford.

Lantern, 29.91
http://www.lampsplus.com/

St. Patrick's Day in New Orleans
Photo by Taylor S. Kennedy for National Geographic.

May the Irish hills caress you.

May her lakes and rivers bless you.

May the luck of the Irish enfold you.

May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2012-02-29T20:23:00.001-08:00

"The Blues is Life."

~ Brownie McGhee

"Winter blues": a term commonly referred to these days as "seasonal affective disorder," affects millions of people who otherwise spend the rest of the year in a relatively healthy mental state. It is a syndrome mainly associated with the winter months and the accompanying emotional malaise that results from the proper lack of exposure to sunlight. I confess to a profound susceptibility to the winter doldrums myself, at times feeling compelled to jump out of a first floor window.

But I digress...

Although the color blue has commonly been associated with sadness and a sense of hopelessness, one should also be reminded that it also serves as a metaphor for creativity, wisdom, heaven and optimism for the future.

Chiffonier Noir et Cuir on sale. To the trade
http://www.cotefrance.com/

Regarding the psychology of the color blue in interior design, it is considered a clean and relaxing hue; great for bathrooms and bedrooms alike as well as for children's spaces. Blues tend to radiate an overall calming influence conducive to inspiring study and higher work production. It is also a color generally favored by both sexes as it inspires a feeling of serenity. In fact, blue has been documented to lower the heart and body temperature rate.

I've noticed that one of my most popular posts is "Who Doesn't Love a Sale?" What better incentive to leave those those blues outdoors whilst releasing a few endorphins and shopping a great sale? I will be happy to keep you informed of any exciting home design or floor sample sales that fall within my radar.

Currently, here are a few of my favorite on-sale picks...in blue of course. They are sure to chase away some of those nasty 'ole winter blahs. Bring on the blues...

Block print bolster. Sale: $138.75
http://www.gracioushome.com/

Wallpaper. Sale: $69.95
http://www.anthropologie.com/

Raccan Ottoman
To the trade
http://www.profiles.com/

Commode with folding doors
http://www.niermannweeks.com/

Tufted ottoman. Sale: $174.95

http://www.jossandmain.com/

Large cobalt Blenko glass vase.
Sale: $300
http://www.1stdibs.com/

Duvet cover. Sale: $29.99

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/

Mesh back eco-friendly computor chair.
Sale: $89.99
http://www.bizchair.com/

Pillow. Sale: $55.95
http://www.jossandmain.com/

Fez canister. Sale: $30
http://www.berbertrading.com/

Recycled glass tiles
10% off
http://www.susanjablon.com/

Burst 5' x 8' rug. Sale: $161
http://www.fab.com/

Mahalo Painted Economy Ukulele.
Sale: $21.99
http://www.amazon.com/

"My blues are so simple, but so few people can play it right"

~ Muddy Waters

If you need help designing your space in blue or otherwise, do not hesitate to contact me as I can save you time doing research. I will work with your style and budget in order to create a beautiful and harmonious environment just for you. I have access to the trade showrooms and have knowledge of a wide range of resources both in the US and abroad. I will be happy to give you an additional 20% off of my trade discount when applicable.

I invite you to contact me with any questions you may have regarding any of these items.

I Don't Think so...

2012-02-12T11:39:00.001-08:00

Warning: If there is anyone out there who even remotely admires this atrociously gaudy Valentine-inspired chair, stop, drop and roll and contact me immediately! A free one hour session of intensive design therapy focusing on embracing and not fearing the tasteful will be offered to you. This sesssion will include a complimentary detoxification which in turn will successfully lead to permanent rehabilitation from any such future inclinations towards the tacky.

I will be more than happy to arrange a yard sale for you as well.

Oh, and there is a matching bench....but that will cost you extra.

OK, I'll stop.

HAVE A TASTEFULLY MOD VALENTINE'S DAY!

Sustainable Love

2012-02-05T17:30:00.000-08:00

When I was thinking about what to write for my Valentine's Day post I couldn't help but be reminded of the day's status as a Hallmark holiday; created solely for commercial purposes rather than for any deeper significance. It's not that I haven't enjoyed my share of the typical celebratory indulgences that accompany the Day. In fact, I have no problem with red roses, chocolate truffles, and receiving a nice piece of bling now and then. Additionally, I see no reason not to enjoy a nice glass of extra Brut champagne and dinner at a romantic restaurant.

Acacia Heart Bowl, $18
http://www.serrv.org/

But nowadays, as a recovering hedonist, age and the economy seems to have brought about a change in my overall outlook regarding the blatant commercialism of so many such modern day contrivances. The plethora of visually tacky reminders in the form of store displays that accost us for weeks preceding Valentine's Day seem to burst the bubble of any genuine romantic inclinations that may have come naturally.

How the origin of the the discovery of the concept of romance progressed from a day created to honor a martyred saint is curious. But as it did eventually evolve into one commemorating love during the Middle Ages, it begins to stand apart as something purer and and more meaningful

Beeswax Heart Pillar Candle
$16.95
http://www.planetonegifts.com/

This scenario of searching for the real meaning of a Hallmark holiday brings to mind Linus' explanation to Charlie Brown about the real meaning of Christmas as it does the Grinch's famous epiphany that "Maybe Christmas...doesn't come from a store..."

The good news is that Valentine's Day is very good for the economy and that this year more than half of US consumers will be spending money on Valentines day gifts, up over 10% over last year. So in honor of this Hallmark holiday, hope for a restored economy and the celebration of love, I have come across some sustainable and socially conscious Valentines gifts that are unique and affordable not to mention good for the soul.

Pictured at the top of the page: Soapstone from Kenya

The Fatrine Self Help Group soapstone artisans are located in Kenya. They produce custom made, beautiful soap stone carvings such as bowls and plates for local and export markets. They provide work for about 15 families, many widows suffering from HIV and AIDS. One goal is to eradicate poverty in the surrounding community and for each member to be able to have health insurance.

http://www.giftsoflife.org/

Fair Trade Felt Flowers, $8
http://www.globalgoodspartners.org/

Sweetheart Gift Box of chocolates,
$22
http://www.serrv.org/

Stone Hearts Set: Hearts for Haiti
$14
http://www.globalgoodspartners.org/

Valentine Dog Toy, $12.50
http://www.olivegreendog.com/

Red Rose Cushion
http://www.starfishfairtrade.co.uk/

Gorgeous Goat
http://www.bynature.co.uk/

•In Sudan and Bangladesh, a goat can be a lifesaver, providing enough milk to keep the whole family healthy. Goats can also be bred and sold, allowing poor parents to generate the income they need to pay for education and vital medicines for their children.

"The One"
Ethically sourced flowers
http://www.arenaflowers.com/

All you need is love.

All you need is love, love.

Love is all you need.

~ The Beatles

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Shadow People

2012-01-21T08:36:00.000-08:00

Why are we so fascinated with our own silhouettes? After all, aren't they just opaque manifestations of our own likenesses? We live with our own shadows daily yet we often times forget that they are there at all. Still they remain faithfully attached to us; constant and quiet reminders of of our solid representation in the universe. They appear and dissipate at will, as ghostly apparitions often do. Steadfast in following us everywhere as ethereal appendages to the end of our days, our shadows are at times so distorted from our actual form, they at times serve to act in both frightening and comforting capacities.

Ironically, the art of silhouette making was created in France in the late 1700's as a cheap alternative to traditional portraiture. "Silhouette" came to be synonymous with anything made or done cheaply thanks to Etienne de Silhouette, Frances prime minister who had imposed harsh economic sanctions upon French citizens. So despite our current fascination with such elegant and seemingly aristocratic looking art pieces, they are instead traced to the most humble of circumstances.

Sihlouette portrait cutting competition circa early
1900's.

Cameos and the art of silhouette-making have enjoyed waves of popularity over the past couple of hundred years. and Once again we are seeing a resurgence of them in both fashion and interior design

A simple solution: a silhouetted
neo-classical figurine upholstered on the back
of a side chair creates a very elegant design
applicable to both traditional and contemporary interiors.

Osborne & Little wallcovering

The implications of the shadow are vast. It has historically evoked connotations of both good and evil and of separateness and unity. In Jungian psychology, the shadow acts as a complementary element to our conscious persona: the absence of inner light implies a lack of awareness and connection to our own capacity for thought, sensitivity, and compassion. Yet without the acknowledgement of the shadow there lacks the potential for complete awareness and wholeness. Neither light nor shadow can exist alone. Therefore the connotation for good or bad is negated; the shadow, connected to the light, exists within a neutral and mutual partnership.

Acrylic on canvas by Theo Stavropoulos

“What is your substance, whereof are you made,

That millions of strange shadows on you tend?” ~ William Shakespeare

Photo by Everett McCourt
http://www.everettmccourt.com/

Wallcovering by Duralee
http://www.duralee.com/

Wallcovering from Osborne & Little.

"Best in Show" by Osborne & Little, $163 a
roll.

For further information on the wallcoverings available to the trade, please feel free to contact me.

Barbara Barry chinaware

A simple lamp and shade from
Target which I refashioned.

My friend Martha Hamilton created these exquisite Lace-like silhouettes using the ancient craft known as "Scherenshnitte" (German paper cutting).

For more information on purchasing her artwork, please contact her at ChebIs32@aol.com

Iconic silhouette of
Alfred Hitchcock

Happy New Year

2011-12-27T19:28:00.001-08:00

But can one still make resolutions when one is over forty? I live according to twenty-year-old habits. ~Andre Gide

This post is short and sweet due to a rather hectic end of the year, but I just wanted to share with you a few festive products and images for New Year's Eve. I am thrilled to have 19 countries plus viewing my blog, Please continue to stop by, I would love to hear from you. I want to wish everyone a very happy, healthy and peaceful new year!

Dominique

New Years Eve Party Glitz And Glam Hats by Booptey Lu, $25
http://www.etsy.com/

1700s Paris Inspired New Years Eve Printable Cupcake Topper
And Wrapper Set by PaperScissors Cake. $4.99
http://www.etsy.com/

I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me. ~Anaïs Nin

Crystal champagne glasses festooned with 700 white and pink
diamonds, $400,000. (Yes, you read right!)

"Champagne...the wine of kings, the king of wines."

~ Guy du Maupaussant

Vintage lustre champagne glasses, $19
http://www.ebay.com/

"three be the things I shall never attain: envy, content, and sufficient Champagne".

~ Dorothy Parker

http://www.sandlegowine.net/

http://www.laurentiwines.com/

Above left: Krug Champagne Clos du Mesnil 1.50L 1998, $2,124.00....a tad above your budget? Mine too. Above right: May I suggest this excellent value which was a most welcome guest at my own wedding: Duval Leroy NV Brut Champagne, $28.95

"Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right"

~ Mark Twain

New Year's Eve in Paris

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right". ~Oprah Winfrey

Times Square on New Year's Eve, 1950's

New Year's Eve ball, Times Square, NYC.

Vintage noisemakers, $19.00
http://www.ebay.com/

Nouvelle année heureuse, mes amours!

Decorating for Dummies

2011-12-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

Make that decorating with dummies. Mannequins and dress forms seem to be quite the design fetish du jour these days as many interior designers seem to be utilizing them more and more in their projects as unique accents and alternative works of art. I confess to a personal fascination with them myself as to me, they represent existential manifestations of our alter egos. There something so poetic about the stillness and muteness of these arresting human forms that seem to evoke a profound sense of vulnerability and fragility. I can easily see why they have historically inspired artists to use them as poetic apparitions in order to relay an allegory of the human condition.

This cluster of vintage of wig heads would look
fabulous as an art display on a console.

Originally created for commerce, mannequins and dress forms gradually found an evolution into the art world. They were countlessly used as haunting metaphysical subject matter in many works of fine art and photography notably created during the Dada and surrealist art movements of the mid-20th century. The most famous artists utilizing the subject of mannequins sometimes disfiguring them in order to relay an allegory of the human condition were Giorgio de Chirico, founder of the metaphysical art movement (pittura metafisica), Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp along with photographers Clarence John Laughlin and Man Ray, to name just a few.

"The Disquieting Muses"
by Georgio de Chirico

The current trend of using mannequins in interior design tends to elicit more of a light-hearted and humorous response rather than a philosophical or political one as a work of art might do. As the profession of Interior design most assuredly encompasses many aspects of fine art theory and philosophy, it differs in that it is a trade created solely for clients. It is another form of art, but in the end, dictated mostly by practical concerns. Having been originally been manufactured as decorative objects for commercial use, mannequins allow interior designers to insert a bit of whimsy and perhaps even a more quiet human statement into their designs.

http://www.vollfischbacher.ch/

Weathered mannequin
hands.

Dress forms and mannequins add a unique addition to any room, not to mention acting as conversation pieces. Much of the fascination of them lies in the fact that they exist both as utilitarian and sculptural objects. They can be placed in the bedroom, used to drape a beautiful shawl, fill in an unused corner to stand alone or maybe be grouped within a variety of differing sizes and shapes in order to make a unique design and artistic statement.

Elegant apartment in France

Isn't this fascinating that the wicker dress form and iron chair mimic and complement each other at the same time? They have been brought together as an odd couple to create a marriage of lightness and elegance offset by the charming vintage-style shoes.

Angel dress form, $145
http://www.etsy.com/

Mannequin with cone and sphere by Man Ray

Vintage hat mannequin head.

Broken Mannequin, $13.95
http://www.etsy.com/

Flank these on either side of a modern
white sofa accented with black pillows.
http://www.ebay.com/

Zig-Zag Dress form, $300
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/

Mannequin hand, $275
http://www.johnrsneddenltd.com/

I found this doll-like bevy of lovely vintage mannequin heads and small mannequin all for sale on Ebay.

Robert Doisneau, Paris, 1968

Manuel Abravo,
"Mannequin with a Voice", 1930-35

1950's shop display mannequins, $499
http://www.ebay.com/

"Mano" Roubini rug.
To the trade.
http://www.roubini.com/

Mannequin cushion, 49 British pounds.
http://www.housetohomeco.uk/

James Dean

Buster Keaton and twin friend

Mannequin and Sculpture, 1940's.

I love this photo. Possibly shot for a fashion publication, it is an exquisite example of alternative reality. There is profound poignancy represented in this image as the seemingly perfect fashion mannequin seems to be the one full of human emotion. She looks to be ironically eyeing the fuller figured feminine torso with envy. It's as if we can read her mind and she is saying: "If only I could be a real woman".

This art mannequin
belonged to my father.

Bordello Chic

2011-11-14T16:28:00.001-08:00

8 X 10 Deco image, $30 http://www.etsy.com/

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Wallpaper by Zoffany. To the trade
http://www.zoffany.com/

When people ask me what kind of style best defines my work, I generally like to describe it as Eclectic and Transitional with a twist of the whimsical. Then again, I once told a friend that I love the look of "Bordello Chic"; a distinctively darker, sensual and more urban version of the once popular Shabby Chic style. Perhaps due to growing up around antiques and used furniture borrowed off of the streets of lower Manhattan, it was then that I cultivated an early fascination of anything old.

Antiques are so alive in many ways because of their history and time warped existence; each piece having an interesting story to tell.

Are they vessels containing heavy spiritual presences and perhaps that accounts for why so many of us can relate to a shared fascination of the vintage and antique?

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Dog (ahem) Kennel Buttoned-Bed by George Smith

http://www.georgesmith.com/

" Bordello Chic" also known as "Speakeasy Chic" emerged as a very popular new design trend in LA in 2010. It reflected a renewed hunger amongst trend-mongers for the decadently extravagant decor reminiscent of palatial Robber Baron homes, gentleman's clubs, not to mention bordellos, from the bygone Victorian and Edwardian eras. It encompasses aspects of the Gothic, Rococo and regency styles updated with a modern sensibility and infused with a twist of danger. The element of the dangerous serves as a reflection of a sexually provocative present day subculture masked with a veneer of old world elegance.

The HBO mega-hit tv series "Boardwalk Empire" pretty much sums up the current fascination for the vintage and the dangerous and the timing of the show's emergence is certainly no coincidence. Set in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1920's prohibition era, it has enjoyed widespread acclaim for the overall quality of the production not to mention it's historical accuracy. So if you want to get a glimpse of what an American bordello looked like in 1920, you might want to catch this show. I will warn you that the sometimes violent content of the show is not for the faint of heart (myself included) but it is a great show and I am a big fan of Steve Buscemi.

HBO's "Boardwalk Empire"

Pair of Louis XVI style armchairs
http://www.gallerieversailles.com/

http://www.rubelli.com/

Victoriana has a more decidedly prominent and heavier feel to it and is unarguably to most, an over the top style. Rich colors such as crimson red, deep purples, blues, golds and blacks were used to invoke an intensive atmosphere. Typical elements in Victorian salons included large tufted velvet furniture, heavily woven textiles like brocades and damasks along with large bullion fringes and tassels. On the walls a plethora of moody oil paintings might be mounted on red walls or purple flocked wallpaper. On the rich wooden or marble floors would be scattered several examples of exotic Persian carpeting and animal skins (Faux nowadays, please) These were just a few of the elements reminiscent of an elite and extravagantly insular world that existed from the late 1800's into the early 1900's.

Mirror by Maitland-Smith. Available through
Henredon.
http://www.maitland-smith.com/

Louis XV style vanity chair
http://www.graymorell.com/

Serena Screen
http://www.olystudio.com/

Laver Kirman, 9ft 3in X 15ft 8in
http://www.clarmontrug.com/

Euphrates Rug, $2,998
http://www.anthropologie.com/

Louis XV Commode. To the trade
http://www.cotefrance.com/

http://www.wolfhomeny.com/

I espy ed this fabulous window displayed while out playing in NY's
Flatiron district. Take a look at the wonderful array of luxurious fabric and
furniture choices.
http://www.wolfhomeny.com/

Victorian bust of a lady, $495
http://www.gothicroseantiques.com/

Kosta Boda Amazonas Sculpture, Gold, $2,800
http://www.kostaboda.us.com/

Looking for Bordello Chic on a budget? Here are a few flirty alternatives guaranteed not to break the bank:

Ziegfield Follies

Bottoms up. Set of 4 wine goblets
made in Mexico, $79
http://www.thehungersite.com/

Have a drink at The Auction House, NYC

Damask velvet burnout curtain, $59.95
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/

Faux leopard faux-fur throw pillow, $43.49
http://www.overstock.co/

Round velvet pintuck pillow, $34
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/

Wallpaper

http://www.ecocentric.co/

Popi Chair, $349
http://www.pier1.com/

Double-sided canvas screen, $123
http://www.furniture-direct.com/

Crank up the phonograph, honey, and throw on some Rudy Vallee. Vintage phonograph from the Good Will auction site.
http://www.goodwill.com/

Black tufted headboard.

Dorsiere oval mirror in
glossy red lacquer.
http://www.mariesmanordecorating.com/

The Back Room, NYC

Flocked pillows, $19.99

http://www.target.com/

Alluring Mirror (very apropos name), $179.95
http://www.pier1.com/

Vintage nudie postcards
http://www.fuego718.com/

Body polish, $8
http://www.thehungersite.com/

Home Sweet Haunted Home

2011-10-21T07:39:00.000-07:00

"From my rotting body, flowers shall grow and I am in them and that is eternity." ~Edvard Munch

Wreath with Crows, $69

http://www.williamssonoma.com/

Midnight Wall Sconce, $49.95

http://www.zgallerie.com/

Bronze Catacomb Sign, $695

http://www.gothicroseantiques.com/

Pierced Floral Sugar Basket with Red Lining, Sale: $372.00

httpwww.horchow.com/://

Scull Soap, $6

http://www.theevolutionstore.com/

"Oh, may I join the choir invisible. Of those immortal dead who live again."

~ George Eliot, The Choir Invisible

Happy Halloween. Are you afraid of the dark? I'm not. In fact, at times, I consider the dark to be my friend and Halloween to be one of my favorite times of the year. Like many, I enjoy the costumes, artifacts, symbols; all the relative accoutrement's associated with the season of the witch. The seemingly dark aura that surrounds such a spooky and haunted holiday seems to infer that it is inherently negative and associated only with that which is evil. But, in fact, the history of the origins of this ancient post-summer celebration suggests otherwise.

Girl in Web. Primitive hand hammered iron stand, $95

http://www.gothicroseantiques.com/

The practice of All-Hallows-Even (evening) finds it's origin in the Celtic harvest festival of Samhain, the earliest association of which (witch) is found in the Catholic celebration of All Saints Day dating back to around the 8th Century. This practice was kept up in the 16th Century by the Gaels and the Celts in the British Isles. One of the most recognizable of objects associated with Halloween is the Jack-O-Lantern, which originally acted as a symbol in remembrance of souls held in Purgatory.

The more modern imagery of Halloween borrows itself from such Gothic Victorian novels as Frankenstein and Dracula along with many horror movies from the 1930's and 1940's.

Catrina
http://www.fuego718.com/

The celebration of The Day of the Dead or El Dia de Los Muertes begins it's festivities starting November 1st in many Latin American countries, most notably Mexico. It is also celebrated in South America and many Catholic countries in Europe as well. It is all at once a solemn and joyful event that basically focuses on the remembrance of family members who have passed on. Many family social gatherings take place during the two days of this holiday and include trips to cemeteries where their loved ones rest for eternity. The celebration of the Day of the Dead has gained much popularity here in the states, possibly due to the assimilation of said Latin cultures into ours as well as an evolutionary response to a puritan heritage never having engaged in such traditions.

Day of the Dead
http://www.fuego718.com/
(Located in Williamsburg, NYC)

Recently this curious cat crawled her way through the Internet and visited some of her favorite virtual haunts digging up a smattering of unusual and peculiar objects as well as some very cool home furnishings reminiscent of the spirit, imagery and colors of Halloween. You may fancy such curiosities as mere decorations to be enjoyed during the holiday that comes but once a year, or perhaps you are truly possessed by a lifelong fascination of the unseen and mysterious and have a need to outfit your home as such. I have included many symbolically inspired examples that serve to to evoke deep introspection with an invocation to revisit to the inner vaults of the mind.

I hope you enjoy the plethora of examples I have procured for you as potential inhabitants to reside in your three-dimensional abode. At any rate they are here to enjoy now as you can't take them with you and I doubt that Halloween is celebrated in the afterlife. I am going to assume that after we depart this life that we know, the big mystery is over. But who knows..maybe only the shadow..

Window treatment. To the trade
http://www.vollfischbacher.ch/

Linen upholstered wing chair, $1,898
http://www.anthropologie.com/

Pillow, $128
http://www.anthropologie.com/

Skeleton image on pillow. Download image for $1
http://www.etsy.com/

Valence, $32
http://www.shopplasticland.com/

Check out the hauntingly beautiful "Chair Series" from artist Pat Genova

http://www.patgenova.com/

"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

Little Lizzie Borden, $185
http://www.gothicroseantiques.com/

Talon Candlestick, Tall, $58

http://www.anthropologie.com/

“My mission in life is to make everybody as uneasy as possible. I think we should all be as uneasy as possible, because that's what the world is like.”

― Edward Gorey, Ascending Peculiarity: Edward Gorey on Edward Gorey

Firescreen, $370
http://www.horchow.com/

Black beaded trim. To the trade
http://www.kravet.com/

To the trade.
http://www.vollfischbacher.ch/

Black Crow Coir Mat, $27
http://www.uncommongoods.com/

Hand woven carpet

http://www.kravet.com/

Ghost Chair by Donghia. To the Trade

http://www.donghia.com/

Wall covering. To the trade.
http://www.leejofa.com/

Halloween Ghost - Needle Felted Miniature, $79
http://www.etsy.com/

Pair of Vintage Bergeres upholstered in Black patent leather
with white gesso finish. C. 1940
http://www.janshowers.com/

Hand-crafted witch black hat society purse, item# 180738217689, $65
http://www.ebay.com/

Italian marble coaster, $15
http://www.theevolutionstore.com/

Gelatin silver print of "The Unborn" by the great Gothic Surrealist photographer Clarence John Laughlin. It is signed by the artist.
http://www.stephendaitergallery.com/

Photography by Everett McCourt
http://www.everettmccourt.com/

Crystal Flower stems - black - set of three, $23.85
http://www.zgallerie.com/

Pere Lachaise Cemetary, Paris

I could not end this blog without mentioning that more black cats and dogs in animal shelters are less likely to be adopted and more likely to be euthanized than any other shelter animal. Animals are neither objects nor accessories, but I could not pass up the opportunity as an animal lover and activist to promote adopting a pet rather than buying

one.

"Sami" is available for adoption

http://www.petsalive.com/

Happy Halloween.

Skeleton figurine, $11.69
http://www.target.com/

When Your Room-Mate is Your Best Friend.

2011-09-09T14:32:00.000-07:00

Generally, when we think of pet-themed decor, we tend to think of cutesy/overly kitchty items that do little but clutter your home with objects destined to end up on a yard sale table somewhere and seriously downgrade your overall level of maturity. I love my cat, but it is unlikely that you will find a velvet painted portrait of her playing poker hanging on my wall, or her bloated ceramic likeness sticking her head in a fishbowl, on my kitchen countertop. The thought of that just makes me shiver. This does not mean I don't have a sense of humor and do not believe in incorporating it in interior design. In fact, I believe there is a definite place for humor and whimsy, but a fine line has been known to exist between trendy quirkiness and downright tackiness.

This blog entry is dedicated to fashionably oriented pet owners everywhere who are interested in incorporating animal themes into their spaces and utilizing practical design solutions to living with their pets while maintaining aesthetic integrity. Whether in a home environment or a veterinary office, there are a myriad of design possibilities for those of us who love animals. I have come across some fun ideas for home decor filled with humor, charm and whimsy. Please note: all price points are represented here as this is a democratically inspired design blog.

I found these very unique animal-themed french style chairs on the Cote France website. Above left: #9202 Bergere A Orielles, $11,595, above right: # 9203 Fauteille Medallion, $4,611. To the trade only.

www.cotefrance.com

Stain-resistant line of fabrics designed by famed weimaramer photographer William Wegman for Crypton.

www.kravet.com

Pet Mats Cat, $35

www.momastore.org

Michael Aram Dog Bone Frame, $59
www.gracioushome.com

Sock Monkey Blanket, $40

Cat and Terrior Pillows, sale: $69.99

Unique eco-friendly and socially concious gifts from www.uncommongoods.com

Ok, ok, I admit it -- I like cute and kitchty sometimes! These adorable vintage porcelian doggie figurines from occupied Japan were just too darling to pass up. Item #300574878703 buy it now price: $14.99 on www.ebay.com

White Rabbits Duvet Cover, $69 - $79 at www.urbanoutfitters.com

How about a glamorous photoshoot with your best friend or an artistic portrait capturing the essence of your furry kid(s)? Animal (and human) portraits by arist and photographer Wanda Behrens.

www.redleashstudio.com

Pick up this book by renowned pet and design expert Julia Szabo for practical and pretty design solutions to living with your fuzzies.

www.amazon.com

Legendary silent film actress Mabel Normand
photographed with her cat.

Poster for "A Dog's Life".