Category: Design

Design as an Art Form

“Collecting Design” by Daniella Ohad

Collecting modern and contemporary design has become one of the most dynamic, influential territories in the international marketplace, a territory that stands at the forefront of style and taste. While at first it was fueled mainly by the fine art market, collecting design has emerged as a discipline in its own right; one that not only dominates interior design, but also attracts those who value living with beautiful things. The design market is now a global barometer of trend forecasting, signifying status and culture. Collecting design inspires scholarly analysis, art fairs, museum exhibitions, and monographs, and was cited recently by the Wall Street Journal as a lucrative avenue of investment. Although collecting design generates tremendous interest worldwide, a dedicated program was nowhere to be found. To fill the gap, I authored the first course exclusively devoted to collecting design, and it is open to everyone.

In the ten-session program, I examine the themes, periods, and styles with the strongest presence in the marketplace, including the American Arts & Crafts Movement, French Art Deco, American Modernism, Mid-Century Design in the US, Italy, and France, the Studio Movement, European Design of the 70s, and Contemporary Design. Each lecture is complimented by dialogues with dealers, collectors, curators, designers, and writers. I have the honor of sharing insights and candid advice from the world’s most knowledgeable experts. Together, we examine exhibitions, publications, auction records, relevant connoisseurship, major design fairs, and the stories behind the scenes. For information and registration: https://www.nysid.edu/academics/continuing-education-professional-studies/collecting-design.


Images courtesy Wright Chicago
Contributing Story from Daniella Ohad

15 Great Patio, and Garden Designs To Fall In Love With This Summer

Minimalist patios are both beautiful and serene. But make sure they compliment the back room, or the overall design of the house

All images via HGTV
Our favorite time of the year checked in last week on Friday, June 21st. Summer is here and, if you haven’t already done so, why don’t you start making provisions to extend the fun by adding an ultra fabulous patio, or garden to your home? A great design can rescue any space. And that includes a town or country home. Here’s to our days in the sun!















Out On The Town: This Month’s Hottest Events

Clockwise: David Patrick Columbia and Vyna St. Phard (Doyle New York), Felicia Zwebner, Bryant Keller, Jennifer Duneier (Irene Mamiye Gallery), Thom Filicia (Mandarin Hotel), Solstiss Lace showroom, Nicky Haslam and Vyna St. Phard (Baroncelli), Irene Mamiye 
and Stephen Dweck (Irene Mamiye Gallery).

Kips Bay President’s Dinner
One week ago at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the annual Kips Bay President’s Dinner raised over $500,000 for the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club. It was a great evening that gathered New York’s influencers and design elite including Dennis Basso, Somers and Jonathan Farkas, Tony Ingrao, Randy Kemper, Vicente Wolf, Thom Filica, Bunny Williams, Margaret Russell, Mario Buatta, Richard and Marcia Mishaan, Jim Lebenthal, and James Huniford, among many others. The Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club choir also treated guests to two performances throughout the evening, the first was ’96,000’ from the Broadway hit In The Heights, the second was ‘The Prayer’, originally performed by Andrea Bocelli.

James Druckman, Tony Ingrao, Margaret Russell, Randy Kemper, Richard Mishaan, Jennifer Steinbrenner, Bunny Williams, Jamie Drake, Daniel Quintero
Tony Ingrao, Margaret Russell, Randy Kemper
Richard Mishaan, Margaret Russell
Thom Filicia
Bunny Williams
Richard Mishaan, Marcia Mishaan
Mario Buatta, Patricia Sovern
Susan Henshaw Jones, James Lebanthal
Jennifer Steinbrenner, Daniel Quitero
Michael Bruno, Lizzy Fraser, Mario Buatta
Kips Bay Boys & Girls
Photo courtesy Patrick McMullan
Irene Mamiye Soho Gallery Opening
New York-based artist Irene Mamiye opens a gallery space at 89 Spring Street in Soho to showcase her fine art photography, furniture from the Chroma Collection, design and video. Mamiye is best known for incorporating various digital imaging techniques into her fine art photography. Inspired by light, color and movement, her work explores the intricate relationship between her complex personal history, the camera’s unique relation to reality, and the visionary possibilities of digital imaging. Mamiye’s work has been exhibited in prestigious national venues, including: Phillips De Pury & Company, Sotheby’s, Art Basel/Miami, HW Gallery in Naples, Hamburg Kennedy NY and East Hampton, 212 Gallery in Aspen, and Cheryl Hazan Gallery NY. 
Irene Mamiye
Irene Mamiye Gallery in Soho
Irene Mamiye and Stephen Dweck
Felicia Zwebner and Charles Mamiye
Bryant Keller and Suzanne Eason
Alberto Villalobos and Mercedes Desio
Dana and Jennifer Duneier
Felicia Zwebner, Bryant Keller, Jennifer Duneier
Randall Tarasuk and Charles Pavarini III
Jack Lynch and Steven Stolman
Michael Gabriel and Eric Hilton
Elyse Mamiye
Nina Reeves and Beth Mitchell
Alyson Mamiye, Lisa Mitchell and Nicole Cohen

Photos courtesy Norbert Schramm

Good Design is Alive and Well!

Marc Newson
Orgome Stretch Lounge, 1993, aluminium and enamel

Collecting design is similar to collecting art. It can get quite addictive for some. With fairs and auction houses offering the best of traditional, modern and contemporary design, there is no shortage to what’s in store for design enthusiasts, and collectors alike.


“I learned to enjoy design as much as art, if not more. After all, you can’t sit in a painting, you can’t cuddle up with a bronze.”
Adam Lindemann
Carlo Mollino, Arabesco table, circa 1950
photo via Bonluxat
Pierre Paulin, Elysee table with interior light, circa 1971
photo via Damisch Danant
Wiener Werkstatte silver vase by Joseph Hoffman
photo via Titus Omega
Jacques Adnet Leather Clock
George Nakashima
Early “Conoid” bench with single free-form arm, 1961
photo from Phillips de Pury via High End Weekly™
Rare and important walnut four door cabinet from Jules Leleu, Maison Gerard
photo from Maison Gerard via High End Weekly™
Arnand Albert Rateau, Table basse aux faisans, circa 1920-1922
Photo courtesy Christie’s
Serge Mouille floor lamp, circa 1953
Photo via Tumblr
Gingko Bench, Claude Lalanne, 1999. Aluminum,
From Sotheby’s December 15, 2012 Sale
Image by High End Weekly™
   
Maarten Baas, Clay Furniture
photo via Maarten Baas
Jean Michel Frank’s sumptuous straw marquetry screen
Photo via Art Deco Masters
Zaha Hadid, Tide for Magis
Image credit Design Boom
Wendell Castle, sculpture from Barry Friedman Ltd
Image by High End Weekly™
Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann. Pair of “gonse” armchairs, 1930-1932. 
photo from Phillips de Pury via High End Weekly™


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.

Top 5 Design Galleries in New York City

DESIGN POWER

In celebration of our 2nd year anniversary, I’ve chosen Design as the main theme for the week. After all, what will a great interior be without great designs? By design, I mean strictly the decorative arts. The design world has long held much interest for me. I find it alluring, and when a client express a keen interest in acquiring an outstanding piece from the applied arts, I work hard on researching and pursuing the very best for their collection. New York City is a haven for this type of art. While I was compiling the list of dealers for this post, I thought of all the outstanding galleries in this town, some of them have been in business for more than 40 years, others just arrived on the scene. It’s impossible to name them all, so I’ve chosen a few favorites. Some I’ve worked with, and others who remain constantly on my radar.

Above image from Anthony DeLorenzo

DeLorenzo has been coined undoubtedly “one of The best Art Deco dealers in the world”. His inventory includes designs masters such as: Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, Andre Groult, Eileen Gray, Eugene Printz.
“In America, design has never really been an important subject.
In Europe, it is part of everyday life.”
Zesty Meyers and Evan Snyderman, R 20th Century Design
The design duo, Zesty Meyers and Evan Snyderman have made R20th Century one of the most distinguished galleries in the city, if not the entire world. They are best known for curating shows of Poul Kjaerholm, Joaquim Tenreiro and vintage Wendell Castel.
Barry Friedman is the proud owner of Friedman Benda. Located in Chelsea, the gallery specializes in some amazing cutting-edge art. He’s also the co-founder of Friedman & Vallois, and sole proprietor of Barry Friedman Ltd, which specializes in painting, works on paper and photography as well as design.
Maison Gerard offers an outstandingly beautiful mixture of fine French art deco, and contemporary design. The gallery has “helped form the collection of Walter Chrysler Jr., now in the Chrysler Museum of Norfolk, VA., assembled the Design Collection of the Utsonomia Museum in Japan; and built numerous private collections.” Founders Gerard Widdershoven and co-owner Benoist F. Drut specialize in Jules Leleu, Jacques Adnet, Jean Girel, Marc Bankowsky, Thomas Boog, Nicholas Howey, Claude Lalanne, Matthew Solomon, Hervé Van der Straeten, and others.

In the heart of the gallery district in Chelsea, Suzanne Demisch is celebrated as a leading specialist in European designs of the 1970s, Maria Pergay, Pierre Paulin, Stefan Zwicky, Joseph-Andre Motte.

Proenza Schouler – When Fashion meets Design

Proenza Schouler textile collection for Knoll Luxe
Being that we’re at the very end of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, I thought I’d pause a bit from all the fashion coverage, and re-introduce a subjet which I deal with on a daily basis – design. The dynamic fashion duo Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, of Proenza Schouler have teamed up with the iconic design company Knoll, in order to produce some of the most fashion forward fabrics for any home decor.

By the way, Proenza Schouler will launch their Fall 2013 collection today at  8PM EST. Be sure to visit their official website later in order to watch the video. As I mentioned previously, Knoll has been working with Proenza Schouler for over a year to translate runway fabrics into those that will meet the rigorous requirements of interior use. All are based on existing fabrics as seen on the runway and have a palette distinctly driven by Proenza Schouler that includes clean neutrals with punches of rich, dramatic colors such as royal purple and deep berry. The overall result is highly innovative line that you can introduce to your home by hiring an interior designer to make it happen. What could be more simple?
Proenza Schouler Spring 2013 Collection
Sandis Inspiration

Fashion forward:Proenza Schouler’s leather and wood shoe
Far right:The 2013 Spring Collection from Proenza Schouler
photo via Vogue
Worth
Canaan
photo via Vogue
Walker
Worth Inspiration
Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Proenza Schouler

I’m dreaming of a White Kitchen …

Gwyneth Paltrow’s New York Kitchen. Vogue Photo, via Hooked on Houses

This year, House Beautiful declared the kitchen as “America’s New Living Room”, and I think that’s an accurate statement. The kitchen is where we gather with our friends and families, and share our “joie de vivre” while we savor its special moments. Here’s a few white kitchen ideas that will make you dream in living color.

Minimalist cabinets, modern furniture, traditional ceiling & lighting, 
classic herringbone floors equals Chic, Chic, Chic
 Instantly update your modernist status with these clean lines, white orchards,
and these bigger than life light fixtures.
 The small black touches throughout this space certainly add to the beauty of this minimalist kitchen.
The look is clean, yet it’s by no means frigid.
This kitchen tends to remind me of watching a futuristic movie with no end on site.
 Speaking of futuristic kitchens…
The many textures seen here certainly shake things up, and break up the continuance of the white palette. The metal table is a sight to behold
Love the Eames chairs. They add a firm structure and stability to a space otherwise not very memorable

Photos via Minimalisti.com

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 New PAD

Pictured: A stunning wing chair designed by Frits Henningsen, Denmark, circa 1940s, Modernity
The Park Avenue Armory reopens its doors to another antique fair this past Thursday, November 8th. The show will end on Monday, November 12th. Salon Art + Design was created by veteran show producer Sanford Smith. It is the first American fair to collaborate with the Syndicat National des Antiquaires, Europe’s most prestigious association of dealers. Most of the dealers were in attendance at the renowned Biennael des Antiquaires in Paris, this past September. Altogether the mix of genres, periods and styles reflected the eclecticism of today’s collector.
While this show highlighted 20th century and contemporary art and design, historic design were represented by the oldest decorative arts gallery in Paris, an Old Master dealer with multiple European locations, and a selection of dealers in ethnographic and Asian material. Collectors in attendance welcomed, once again, the opportunity to pair a Brueghel with a Jean Michel Frank table or a tribal mask with a Le Corbusier painting. The range and caliber of material at the Salon will attract discerning collectors, designers, and art enthusiasts  around the world.
The venerable Tribal art dealer from Paris, Bernard Dulon
Top left: A Teke People Mask, congo, before 1920
Luba: Shankadi people, D.R. of Congo, 19th Century – wood, Galerie Bernard Dulon

Clean lines, overwhelming elegance: Top left – a Jean-Michel Frank’s wooden X lamp covered with tobacco-colored leather, L’arc en Seine 
Galerie Valois
Victor Vasarely, Naissance-Pas, 1958, Painting on panel
Yayoi Kusama “Pollen” chair, circa 1984, Vivian Horan Fine Art
Left: A rare and unique Gaston Suisse, Wooden dark gray and black lacquer furniture (c. 1939) opening with three doors and eggshell on the handles,  Galerie Felix Marcihac
Carpenters Workshop Gallery
An extremely rare large drawing of Le Corbusier
Galerie Downtown
Two door cabinet of welded aluminum, black enameled steel from Paul Evans, Bernd Goeckler Antiques
Wendell Castle
A masterful sculpture by Wendell Castle from “A New Environment”, Barry Friedman
The insightful and playful art dealer Jason Jacques
Horror Vacui from Morten Lobner Espersen, Jason Jacques Gallery
A very whimsical Jean-Marie Fiori bull-dog, lacquered bronze, and signed from Galerie Pierre Dumonteil
A series of stained pine Zig Zag chairs from Gerrit Rietveld, circa 1950s – early 1960s

A single Otto Wagner, post chair from Modernity
A favorite pair of Andre Sormay armchairs, circa 1925, Galerie Alain Marcepoil
Images courtesy High End Weekly™
All rights reserved

Aesthetically Speaking

Ralph Lauren Modern Art Deco Fine Jewelry Collection features bold geometric pieces made from 18-karat white and rose gold with diamonds, emeralds, green agate and black onyx. Designed to represent the distinctive simplicity of the 1930s Art Deco era. Right: Salvador Dali Spanish, Fish Service, marked by Pierre Hugo, Paris, circa 1957, Silver gilt and sapphire. Twelve forks and twelve knives from Doyle New York October 2012 Design Auction.

Left: From Waterworks‘ latest collaboration with Roman and Williams Atlas: An elegant Metal Two Leg Single Washstand. Right: Crinkle bag vase from the Fall Collection at MOMA Store.

From Top Right: Rare English Regency papier mâché tray, circa 1820, on later stand. A capriccio view painted on a green ground – from Patrick Bavasi. Whimsical Duck Feet Lamp by Porta Romana. Available in gold and silver finishes.

Steven Gambrel for Urban Electric Co.

“Steven tends to design a majority of the impact pieces in his projects; so he has been commissioning
custom lighting from us for some time now. We have always felt he was incredibly talented. In particular, we feel Steven truly understands the importance and impact of lighting within a design,
especially through the use of scale.” 

Dave Dawson
President and Founder of The Urban Electric Co.

“The fixtures have a clean aesthetic while also being timeworn in a way that 
can be used over and over in different ways to fit the spirit of the space.”
Steven Gambrel
Interior Designer and Architect
SHINING STAR
New York-based interior Designer, Steven Gambrel has partnered with The Urban Electric Co., and from the looks of things, it’s a very good match. The entire collection which include an assortment of ceiling and wall designs is now available online.

The well respected lighting company has always been known to take great pride in the level of design and attention to detail required for each fixture in their collection; and the renowned architect and designer, Steven Gambrel, is the sort of man they needed for their latest project. The mid-century and American industrial influence in this line is elegant and modern – perfect for that hotel, and residential project you’ve been working on.

Photos courtesy The Urban Electric Co.
What I particular liked about this impressive collection is the individual designs, the scale, and of course, the attention to detail, and selected finishes that Steven uses. Light diffusion also played a key role in the design – tubular bulbs, etched rings and mirror detail allow perfect light emission without having to see the immediate source. All the ten pieces from the collection are both functional and practical.