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Sitting Pretty!
Timeless BeautiesBack in October of last year, I published this piece on Stylish By Design, and from time to time, I found myself going back to it, not just for the obvious design genius of Marcel Breuer, Eileen Gray, Thonet, and Le Corbusier (to name a few), but also to remind myself as to what a great chair should feel like. It does not matter what the chair looks like, it’s the way it makes you feel that is important.This Michael Thonet’s Settee is quite at ease with both traditional, and modern interiors. The outline of this settee is simply beautiful. Bentwood is as modern then, as it is now.
The ULTIMATE in great design and comfort.Eileen Gray Transat Chair
For a small and unobtrusive chair, the B-167-3 Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin is unusually comfortable, not to mention inviting. The shape is much more functional than a casual inspection would suggest.
In contrast to Paulin’s chair, I find the Archair 12 by Poul Kjaerholm to be rather uncomfortable, as the back rung cuts painfully across the spine. But it is an absolute beauty. The chair is greatly influenced by Thonet’s bentwood forms, but it has it’s own and unique fresh take as a tubular steel.
No question, this chaise lounge by Le Corbusier is simply one of the classics forcomplete, egocentric comfort.
The Wassily chair by Marcel Breuer was greatly influenced, believe it or not, by the colonial chairs of long ago. This is a welcoming and beautiful chair, both aesthetically and physcially satisfying.
T Chair by William Katavolos, Ross Litell, Douglas KellyIn such a structure, this functional chair shows the results of imposing preconceived decisions on the logic of forms in combinationNOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you. -
Chanel for less
Coco before Chanel, celebrates the design legend and we do the same here by bringing some of our favorite Chanel-inspired look – for less.
From Left:
Jacket: Marks & Spencer. Skirt: Matalan, Pearls: Topshop, Shoes: Hobs
Jacket & Skirt: Ted Baker. Shirt: Hobbs. Brooch: Debenhams.
Hat & Shoes: Hobbs
From Left:
Iconic Chanel jackets with their clean cut lines, round neck and contrasting colors at the collar and cuffs are often imitated today by famed designers, including Max Mara.
Far Top:
Chanel’s signature ballet shoes
Bottom left:
Bloch Shoes, and Chanel
From Left:
French Connection’s “little black dress” and Urban Outfitters boots
Audrey Tautou as Mlle. Coco Chanel in the new film, Coco Avant Chanel
From Left Clockwise:
Pants: Slim and chic by Chloé , Ring: 24-carat gold and jade by NazanineTassoudji. Hat: Bailey of Hollywood, Necklace by Asos. Shirt: Kenneth Cole -
Swarovski Crystals in Home Décor
Swarovski crystals really shine when used in lighting fixtures such as chandeliers or pendants. This pendant light from David Malik is a simple form that highlights the strands of sparkling crystals.
And in case you were thinking you can find Swavorski crystals on everything but the kitchen sink… here is a simple white bathroom sink embellished with crystals. Bathroom light bounces off of these crystals nicely! There is also a matching bidet and toilet.
E X C L U S I V EHigh End Weekly™ would like to thank Arcadian Lighting for writing this guest post, and look forward to collaborating with them in the future.We’ve seen Swarovski Crystals sparkling on everything from phones to dog collars, jewelry to shoes. When it comes to home decor, Swarovski crystals can also add the same sparkle. You might be surprised to see where we’ve found crystals in home decor, from faucets to light fixtures, wall art to pillows. Swarovski crystals are a hot trend right now in high end home decor and furnishings. Here are eight ways Swarovski crystals will shine in the home.
Designed by Francesco Lucchese for Fabian, these contemporary lights featuring Swarovski crystals look more like sculptures than lighting fixtures. These are available in a pendant light, wall sconce and floor lamp in either black or matte glass.
This Italian design firm has a line of furnishings decorated with Swarovski crystals. The floor lamp, side table and leather ottoman are all embellished with crystals. Look at how they dazzle!
Interior Concepts by WandaSmall Swarovski crystals can be used to embellish textiles, including accent pillows. This one has a nice contrast between the crystals and linen cover.
A luxury carpet from Tappeti is sprinkled with Swarovski crystals. The twinkling crystals add sparkle to the carpet.
These tiles from Alfalux Ceramiche have Swarovski crystals embedded in a random pattern that imitates water droplets. A few of these tiles mixed in with plain tiles would add a subtle sparkle to the bath or powder room especially when lit from above by a crystal chandelier.
Swavorski crystals can be found embedded in bathroom fixtures, such as this faucet by Maier. This would be a glamorous addition to a powder room.
Content provided by Arcadian Lighting, a site that specializes in top quality lighting fixtures at extremely affordable prices. Come visit us today!NOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you.
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Art We Love This Week
A r t For E v e r y B u d g e tSaatchi Online provides the global community a new way to discover art and get discovered. Whether you are a new or seasoned art collector, interior designer, or simply an art lover, you will be as engrossed as I was, once you’ve entered their online store and viewed hundreds of prints and original art.Saatchi Online is a partner to the Saatchi Gallery London, who recently re-launched, and quickly attracted over 60,000 new international artists and connected them with buyers. The site is a dream come true for interior designers, like myself, who can now browse through hundreds of art for their interior projects, and choose between a variety of design style, color or mood. You will find some distinguished amount of prints, original artwork, and even sculptors that fit any project at any budget. I learned through their headquarters, based in Chinatown in Los Angeles, California, that the main goal of Saatchi Online is to help create sustainable careers for artists, by promoting art, finding buyers, and ultimately providing the opportunity to make more. Saatchi Online is a thriving social marketplace, helping community members sell original works of art as well as prints. Originally conceived by Charles Saatchi, the new Saatchi Online is led by CEO Bruce Livingstone, founder of iStockphoto. It is affiliated with the Saatchi Gallery and Charles Saatchi, who is a majority shareholder in Saatchi Online along with Balderton Capital.
Karien Deroo – Our Father
Susannah Martin – Fraulein -
Christie’s Interiors Sale
Low-key elegance ruled at Christie’s Interiors SaleIn case you missed this month’s Christie’s Interiors Sale, I encourage you to keep their next one in mind, by visiting their website’s calendar. It was the kind of sale that was right for just about anyone’s budget, and this year, like the preceding ones before it, didn’t disappoint.A pair of massive bone-inlaid oak vitrine cabinets Mid 20th CenturyDuring the three day sale, the gavel went down on several items for as low as $65! Now that’s what I call Recession Art. Darling, don’t we just love a bargain?
Although I personally didn’t buy a single item for myself during the July sale, I did familiarize myself with what was “on the menu” by rummaging through the pages of their catalogue, while I was traveling, a few weeks back. Two words stuck out on my mind, when I thought about writing this post – Easy Elegance. These pieces are perfect for the young art collector, or the individual with a secondary home in the country. The bone-inlaid oak vitrine above is massive, yes, but it can be a good fit for a big or moderately sized room, providing that it remains the leading presence.
Charles Arnoldi (American, b. 1946)SuitorEnough spark to light a fire! This piece from Arnoldi is a great conversation piece, and adds just the right amount of color for a muted interior or a space that is in desperate need for some ambiance.
A sepik river mask from Papua New GuineaComing across the unexpected in any interior can be refreshing. I truly like the sense of whimsy, the geometric shapes and natural colors of this mask. I must admit that I envy the one who got away with it!
Claire Falkenstein (AMERICAN, 1908-1998)Centrifugal IIII love art which carries a sense of movement. This shadow box from Falkenstein is a good beginning for those who are looking to start collecting some of her work.
A gilt-brass and textured brown leather circular coffee table,
by William (Billy) Haines, Mid circa 1950
There was a fair amount of furniture from legendary Hollywood designer, William Haines, at the Interiors Sale, this year. So if you were able to snag a couple of his works, more power to you. I found this coffee table to be extremely sexy. With its gilt-brass geometric shaped legs, it fits right at home in the country or the city. And what’s more, it’s small enough to move around , when the occasion calls for it.A set of six bronze, copper and gilt metal circular ashtrays,
by William (Billy) Haines and Michael Morrison, circa 1050
Rustic chic! Instead of using these as ashtrays, I would have them around as serving trays when entertaining guests, or simply use them in the bathroom as soap dishes.
A red lacquered two tiered side table,
by William (Billy) Haines, circa 1950
There’s a primitive look to this table which is right for just about any type of interiors. A little red is just the right amount of color to accentuate any space. Plus it’s small enough to use as a bench when you’re in a pinch.
A pair of French oak and rush low chairs, Mid 20th Century
This pair brings to mind a “Provencal” setting. Giving the simplicity of its clean lines, the silhouette is quite alluring and believe it or not, they’re very comfortable (I sat on those myself during the viewing).
A set of three French oak stools,
late 19th/Early 20th CenturyThese circular top antique French stools could be quite useful in a library, don’t you think? Whenever I buy a table or a chair, I always look at its legs since that usually determine the common thread I’m seeking for the project. With their modern sensibilities and Eastern adaptations, these stools are a crowd pleaser.
A French oak curved bench, attributed to Guillerme et Chambron, Mid 20th CenturyI can easily picture this bench with one of Ralph Lauren’s “summer house” colors which he currently carries. Either the bright orange, or the sultry yellow fabric will do. Yes, even William Morris would of been proud of this piece.NOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you. -
The Weekender: Alexander Calder
Left: Hair comb, 1940, dBrass wire. Right: Pinwheel and Flow, 1958, Oil on Canvas
Left: Pierced Stone, 1944, Bronze. Right: Kiki de Montparnasse (II), 1939, Wire
Rat, 1948Sheet metal, leed, wire and paint
Left: Object with Red Ball, 1931, Wood, sheet metal, wire, and paint. Right: Four Woods, 1936, Walnut, and sheet metal
Left: Untitled, 1930, Oil on canvas. Right: Vertical Foliage, 1941, Wire, sheet, metal, and paintAlexander CalderJuly 22, 1898 – November 11, 1976
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The Art Lover
Art Deco PostersThis month, I spent a fair amount of time in Connecticut. While I was there, I indulged in some of my favorite things: sailing, antique shopping, and of course, catching up with old friends. One such old friend asked me if I ever heard of the Samuel Owen Gallery down on Jefferson Street.Being that I do not remember names quite easily (I am more like the “visually inclined” type), my reply was negative. But as soon as we drove down to Stamford, and I stepped inside the gallery, I realized that this was the same place that my husband’s friend have been sending me email updates on, from time to time, over the last year or so. Anyone who knows me know that I simply cannot get enough of anything that is Art Deco related. The Samuel Owen Gallery boasts some of the most comprehensive art deco posters. Situated in a 5,000 square foot loft, what you’ll find inside this art lover paradise will be just about any vintage prints from Art Deco, Art Nouveau to Mid Century. They even have a fair amount of fine art posters from Andy Warhol which ranges between $400 to $58,000, as well as prints from Robert Deyber, and James Rieck.
Louis Vuitton Cup by Razzia
Nitrolian by Leonetto Cappiello
Venise Simplon Orient-Express by by Pierre Fix Masseau
Dubonnet Vin Tonique Au Quinquina by A.M. CassandreFor tips on collecting art, please visit the following websites.Oprah: How to Collect Art
NOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you. -
Royal Watch: William and Kate’s Tour of North America
As an avid Anglophile, I’ve kept a keen eye on the tour of North America by royal newlyweds William and Kate. On their first official international tour June 30 through July 10, HRH the Duke of Cambridge and HRH the Duchess of Cambridge (aka William and Kate) stylishly traversed North America at a whirlwind pace. Touching down in Ottawa, they toured Montreal, Prince Edward Island, Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories and Calgary before heading south to California. To view their Canadian itinerary go to the 2011 Royal Tour of Canada by the Duke and Duchess Cambridge.Getty ImagesOn July 9 William was victorious in a charity polo match in Santa Barbara, before the couple turned heads that evening at their first red carpet Hollywood event, a gala at the Belasco Theater celebrating rising UK film actors in support of the British Academy for Film and Television Arts. With Kate again wearing a gown by the house of Alexander McQueen, the royal couple mixed with Hollywood stars including Tom Hanks, Barbra Streisand and Nicole Kidman.
In addition to tracking the charities, organizations and sites visited by William and Kate, part of the fun for royal-watchers was answering the proverbial question, What is Kate wearing? From favorite designers like Erdem and McQueen to DVF, Smythe and Ted Baker, with Nike and J Brand thrown in, Kate has taken on the role of a new royal with her own sense of style, often mixing and matching from her existing wardrobe (a three-year-old trenchcoat was brought back out of the closet.) You can follow Kate’s sartorial splendor at two engaging blogs: What Kate Wore, and Kate Middleton Style.
Following the exuberance of William and Kate’s royal wedding April 29, the latest royal tour got us thinking, what about souvenirs and commemorative memorabilia to mark the occasions? British monarchy collectibles are nothing new. Potters and artisans have produced wares for the public to hail royal events such as coronations and weddings since the restoration of Charles II in 1660. Three years later, when the king married Catherine of Braganza, collectibles in glass, majolica and pewter were produced to celebrate the match. By the age of Queen Victoria and the manufacture of affordable, transportable china, Brits began collecting decorative plates, mugs, pillboxes and figurines on a widespread scale.
The Victoria & Albert Museum has collected royal wares from over the centuries, displaying everything from a silver-gilt cup honoring the coronation of James II in 1685 to a Fenton plate marking Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in 1887 and even a Staffordshire mug marking the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
To mark William and Kate’s tour after the pomp and circumstance of their spring wedding, which an estimated 22.7 million Americans rose early to watch live on television or web-streaming, UK retailer of prestige collectibles Compton and Woodhouse decided to bring its collection of royal commemorative wares to this continent for the first time. Launched in June, www.comptonandwoodhouse-us.com has issued commemorative china plates marking both the wedding and the Canadian tour, with photo images of the royal couple surrounded by gold filigree. (Curiously, the Canadian tour plate apparently features a depiction of the couple the morning after their wedding; production deadlines prevented waiting for a portrait from the actual tour, we assume.)
Complementing its long association with British purveyors of fine china and glassware such as Spode, Waterford and Coalport, Compton and Woodhouse also is offering subtler William and Kate items such as Wedgwood Royal Wedding China and the Dartington crystal royal wedding bowl.
The British Monarchy’s own official royal wedding commemorative line has been approved by the Duke and Duchess and includes a tankard, eight-inch plate and pill box in English fine bone china. Each piece bears the couple’s entwined initials in gold and silver surmounted by the coronet of Prince William and the wedding date. The pieces are handmade exclusively for the Royal Collection in Stoke-on-Trent using methods that have remained unchanged for 250 years. Each item is individually decorated and then embellished with several layers of burnished gold and platinum before a final layer of gilding in 22-carat gold is applied by hand. The official Royal Wedding commemorative range can be purchased from the Royal Collection’s online shop.One of the more unusual collectible offerings, again from Compton and Woodhouse, is a 10-inch figurine of Kate in her McQueen wedding dress by noted British sculptor Carolyn Morton (renowned for her life-size bronze bust of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Makthoum, Ruler of Dubai and Vice-President of the United Arab Emirates.) Available for shipment in September in a limited edition of 5,000, the figurine features hand-applied detailing approximating the intricate lacework of the headline-making dress and bone china flowers in the bouquet made by the famed artisans of Stoke-on-Trent. Fifty artisans were involved in the production of each figurine. Kate, the future queen, joins a line of Compton and Woodhouse Royal Bride figurines including likenesses of Queen Victoria and Diana, Princess of Wales. May this latest royal fairytale continue apace.
Sculptor Carolyn Morton creating the Duchess of Cambridge bridal figurine.By William Weathersby
NOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you.You May Also Like
When Punk Meets High Fashion
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10 Chairs – Perfect For Your Gardens
Have a Seat, and Relax!From the Tuileries Garden to yours, this stylish and versatile chair is one of my all time favorite from France. Available through American Country Home Store.
Nan Quick’s Lorenzo Love Seats are absolutely breathtaking. These unique pieces are quickly becoming the quintessential summer garden chairs from the US and the UK. Available in orange, yellow, red, blue, purple and green.
Segno Armchair, The Conran Shop Both elegant and durable. A knock out in any given garden. Love the geometric lines!
Certified teak meets tubular steel. The wood backing is a perfect example of a classic garden chair design mixed
with modern lines.
Brilliantly designed as a piece of sculpture or garden furniture. Available at Edge Company
Classic Adirondack chair from LL Bean
The Balance bench from Janus & Cie
Reclaimed teak from salvage wood. It’s all about being green and beautiful. Garden Boutique
Paris Art Nouveau Metro Platform chairs from Liz Sherman Antiques.
Available through 1stDibs. -
Maison Goyard
How Do I Wear My Scarves?
Let me count the ways…Maison E. Goyard’s new addition to their iconic luggages are an array of colorful scarves which comes in blue, white, orange, and pink! Of course, pink!
No travel plans for this summer? Keep in mind that a little accessory goes a long way.
NOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you.
