Category: Shopping

Shopping at The Met with Vyna

The Metropolitan Museum Gift Store
“To the making of many books there is no end…” And The Metropolitan Gift Shop is an authority on supplying the world’s most outstanding reading materials. After a recent visit to the New American Wing Galleries for Paintings, Sculpture, and Decorative Arts, I decided to commemorate the occasion by visiting the gift shop and adding a few more books to my home library. I’m in the process of doing some research for a garden that I’m designing, and dedicating to the memory of my mother, and found the Gardening section had the right amount of variety of designs and styles which were quite helpful. In addition, I picked up a number of books ranging from architecture, fashion, and decorative arts. Would you like to find out exactly which ones were my favorites?


ARCHITECTURE








ART





DESIGN













FASHION




GARDENING





INTERIORS




All images by High End Weekly
All rights reserved™

Shopping In London For A Spring Wedding!

Ladurée Cakes

Burlington Arcade: London’s Ultimate Shopping Destination

This post is dedicated to our London readers, and all the fashionable crowd, who wish to shop at one of England’s chicest address – Burlington Arcade. Whether it is planning your wedding list, selecting your engagement ring or buying a present for hte bridal party, Burligton Arcade, Britain’s first shopping arcade, has the answer. I like the fact that it’s away from the mainstream, and elegant brides and grooms, and anyone who is shopping for a posh and special wedding, can see bespoke pieces to match British boutique wedding – something which the Burlington Arcade offers with unrivalled aplom!

Mark Lord, the head Beadle at the Burlington Arcade comments: ‘The Burlington Arcade is an un-rivalled destination for both UK and international consumers looking for a truly bespoke wedding experience. From the ring room at Richard Ogden to the tranquil perfume profiling room at Penhaligon’s, the enclosed arcade is an oasis away from the busy streets of London. It takes time to decide who you want to marry, do that decision justice by taking the time to get the attire right for your big day. I certainly did, I bought my wife’s engagement ring at the arcade. I see many couples visit the Arcade and each couple has a memorable British experience. It doesn’t get better than that.’

33″ Extra Deep Suitcase with wheels from Globe-Trotter
Bluebell Eau de Toilette Spray

Eye-catching engagement at Susannah Lovis
Dragées Ladurée
Scroll Art Deco Feather Hair Piece
Deep Suitcase … with wheels!
Romantic and captivating Endymion from Penhaligons
Crockett & Jones
Burlington Arcade, UK

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.

Christofle: The Silver Spirit Takes Off


Spring 2013 will mark a year since the venerable french tableware company opened their flagship store on Madison. The art of their trademark designs has ultimately raised the bar for other high end silversmith makers since 1830. But, how have they evolved? Very well from the looks of their latest collections, and from the stellar list of designers, including the late Andree Putman, that keep collaborating with them by making their original design even better. Check out these stunning photographs from Christofle which I have saved for months on end – just for you.


French-born interior designer Stéphane Parmentier designed Christofle’s flagship store on the ultra chic and trendy Madison Avenue neighborhood. Stéphane actually began his career in fashion working for Lanvin, Hervé Léger and Karl Lagerfeld. He later took another role as art director for the Givenchy and Montana ready-to-wear collections. In 2000, he traded in his dress form for a drawing board, founding his own interior architecture agency in Paris. That was when he became an instant globetrotter, working in Paris, London and Miami! In 2012, he was appointed art director for the home furnishings division of Printemps department store and has since worked on the renovation of the Orange headquarters in Paris. His latest creations were shown last November at Themes & Variations, a gallery in London. Stéphane is a marvelous person and an incredible inspiration!

Stunning: Christofle’s New York Flagship Store on Madison Avenue


Christofle is an excellent silverware choice for the well appointed house. Although I found their staff a little distant at times, there’s no mistaking the high quality of their products, and their revered heritage. Mise en table, all these elements are a sure crowd pleaser. Christofle is located at 846 Madison Avenue (between 69th and 70th Street), New York City. Tel: 212.308.9390.

Decorate your Home with some of The World’s Finest Linen

Feux de bangale by Patricia J. Kha
From Paris with Love
It’s often said that the devil is in the details. And looking at the embroidery of Patricia J. Kha, an experienced artist who follows a very tight and precise technical descriptions with accuracy and skillfulness, I tend to agree. Last month, I was given a private viewing of her collection, since I was linen shopping for a client’s guest bedroom. After seeing a single pillow case, I was struck by the way the design resembled a true work of art. The needle point was so fine, so detailed, that the motif bore a strong resemblance to a hand block fabric, but au contraire, it was hand made with love.


Patricia Kha’s work showed the necessary diligence required to execute the delicate work that is essential in haute couture. I was so pleased to have been introduced to her work, and she quickly became my go to source for rare and fine linen. To view more of her work, including her monogram pillows, visit: www.architecturalwatercolors.com/alphabet.html. Her fine line of home hand-embroidered linen is sold exclusively in the United States through Patricia Mentor: patriciajkhausa@gmail.com Tel: 917-664-1098.

Patricia J. Kha
“An Architectural Alphabet is an exhibition and book project from Patricia Kha which comprises 26 small-format watercolors incorporating the letters of the alphabet in architectural or garden-themed vignettes. Taking their inspiration from Ancien Régime France and the Grand Tour, the watercolors evoke the playfulness and exoticism that inspired the architects and garden designers of the period.”

Des jours et des nuits 
Custom sizes and colors available

Becoming A Domestic Diva

Vyna St. Phard, and Michael Aram
Photo courtesy High End Weekly™
A Cheerful Invitation
In my opinion, everyone who appreciates the pleasure – and the importance – of preparing a meal for family and friends, should also appreciates the importance of setting up an elegant table. On Tuesday morning, I was invited to visit Michael Aram‘s flagship store on West 18th Street, and was just delighted to see his fine porcelain collection, designed to reflect the way we are entertaining today in the modern world. His pieces incorporated ease and comfort without sacrificing grace and detail. I’ve always liked Michael’s designs because they’re perfect for parties, celebrations, get-togethers, sit-down dinners, brunches and fabulous holiday buffets.

Constructed of Limoges bodies with exceptionally executed graphic details, the pieces remain sturdy enough to withstand everyday use. Each motif stands on its own but can also be combined with any or all of the texture patterns to create many variations of place settings. The designs are also carefully managed to integrate perfectly with Michael’s existing array of metal, glass, wood and stone serving and decorative objects.
 All the body shapes are exactly the same, so you can mix the plates any way you want
and know they’ll always look beautiful.

The result is an exquisite table every time you use them…casual when you want to be, more formal when the time is right…with motifs that go from two-dimensional expressions in the place settings to fully sculptural executions in the center of the table.
This table setting was styled by yours truly. Michael called on various design bloggers to create
a table setting that will incorporate his new collections along with his old pieces. 
The bouquet arrangement is from his fabulous team.
Incorporating the outdoors into his designs is one of the many strenghts of Michael Aram’s body of work.
This simple yet elegant tabletop setting called for a little mix and match – silver and wood accessories
equal a congenial mariage.
Photos courtesy HL GROUP
The fun continued at the office later that day, when I mixed Michael Aram’s glamorous coasters
with pieces from Jasper Conran and Gerard Nouri.
Our office table adorned with a Michael Aram’s coaster from his new collection as well as his old cat and mouse tray (“abstract” photo taken by our intern Jerome Massi).
Photos courtesy High End Weekly™
Renown international designer Michael Aram
Photo courtesy HL GROUP

There’s No Substitute for Grace

Out & About                                                                          
This past Tuesday evening, Ice Theatre of New York (ITNY), the nation’s premier ice dancing ensemble founded by Moira North, hosted a very festive Sip and Shop event with J McLaughlin at the women’s and men’s stores on East 72nd Street and Lexington Avenue. The store featured a mini-ice skating rink where one of Ice Theatre’s skaters Elisa Angeli performed throughout the evening as guests shopped for the upcoming holiday season.

Among the guests were Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. Joan Erdheim and Martin Erdheim, Olympic Champion and long-time skating television analyst Dick Button, Diana Taylor, Lucy Curly-Brennan, Ice Theatre’s Artistic Director Douglas Webster, Executive Director Jirina Ribbens, Ritchie and Charlie Scribner, Martha and John Glass, Debbie Gordon, Vyna St. Phard, Molly Schaeffer, Felicia Taylor, Brooks Huston, Polly and Harrison Lyman, Virginia Budney, Courtney Gibson, David Zenker, Melanie Holland, Scott Salvator and Michael Zabriskie, Kim Erle and Nina Reeves.
Jirina Ribbens, Dick Button
Charlie Scribner, Dick Button
Robert Palomo, Elisa Angeli, Robert Bardin, Nina Reeves
Harrison Lyman
Nina Reeves, David Zenker, Douglas Webster, Elisa Angeli
Michael Zabriskie and Scott Salvator (with their adorable pet, Butch) Vyna St Phard (centered)
Diana Taylor, Jack Lynch
Douglas Webster, Felicia Taylor
Elisa Angeli
Photos courtesy Norbert Schramm
All rights reserved
Ice Theatre of New York, the nation’s premier ice dance ensemble, challenges conventional definitions of figure skating by creating works that integrate the sensibilities of contemporary dance, music and art. In addition to building and performing works of the highest artistic merit, ITNY reaches out to the next generation of skaters and audiences through its exemplary education, community outreach and training programs. ITNY was the first ice dance company to receive dance program funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Shop Like A Parisian

Parisians take their shopping very seriously. After all, it is the birthplace of haute couture and hard core fashionistas take this business to the highest possible level. Whether they’re window shopping from les grand magasins, or quietly ushered inside the more intimate boutiques for their “first look”, Parisian men and women shop at ease in a city that offers just about anything from the unique to the sublime.

For me, the one shop which I often found myself admiring (and yes, sometimes gawking at their goods!) is Colette. There is no other shop in Paris like it. Since its opening in 1997, the store has thrived as an arbiter of Parisian cool, eclectic high-end fashion, designer collaboration, and it is also home to some of the silliest, unexpected books and knickknacks. The owners of Colette, Sarah Lerfet, and her mother, Colette Roussaux  have impeccable taste and a keen sense of humor.

     213 RUE SAINT-HONORÉ 75001 PARIS
   www.colette.fr