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La Dolce Vita di Fendi
Fendi Casa’s Dining RoomLUXURY LIVINGFendi Casa made a stunning ultra-chic showhouse (the first of its kind) at NYC’s ubber cool Setai Hotel. The world famous iconic Italian designer unveiled a contemporary home collection in the posh quarters of the private residences at 400 Fifth Avenue. I was quite impressed with their Italian fashion and accessories brand, which were sleek, modern and sophisticated.For this highly anticipated project, FENDI CASA has transformed the expansive three-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom penthouse 2N into a vision of contemporary elegance.
With a clear focus on rich materials and clean lines, the 3,292-square-foot residence features their own leather sofas and chairs, lacquer furniture, signature rugs and chandeliers in tones of champagne, ivory, black and chocolate, meticulously paired with the property’s lush hardwood and stone finishes. As a final touch, modern art from the renowned Hirschl & Adler Galleries were on loan to create a stunning, visually compelling image only rivaled by the breathtaking, floor-to-ceiling views enjoyed from every room.In choosing 400 Fifth Avenue as the locale for its first New York City show home, FENDI has selected a building acclaimed for its inspired, contemporary design and exclusive amenities and services. Opened in 2010, the 60-story building encompasses a collection of 169 upper-floor private condominium residences, along with the award-winning hotel Setai Fifth Avenue, named the 2012 Best Hotel in New York City by U.S. News & World Report Travel. “It was extremely important for us to partner with a building that evokes a similar design sensibility,” said Raffaella Vignatelli, President of Luxury Living – FENDI CASA. “With the exceptional penthouse at 400 Fifth Avenue, we have found an ideal environment in which to showcase FENDI’s trademark style.” Designed by Gwathmey Siegel & Associates and expertly appointed by interior design firm DAS Concepts, 400 Fifth Avenue boasts imported Italian cabinetry, hand-laid black-oak flooring, stone countertops, state-of-the-art appliances and panoramic, floor-to-ceiling views. Among its many exceptional offerings, the building houses Ai Fiori, the three-star Italian restaurant from celebrated chef Michael White, along with Bar on Fifth, Auriga Spa and Julien Farel Salon. Residents also have access to premier hotel services, including in-home catering, valet parking, linen and turn down service, and housekeeping, as well as unique on-call services such as pharmacist, physician, dentist, airport transportation and childcare.
For more information about The Residences at 400 Fifth Avenue, visit www.400fifthavenue.com or contact the sales office at (212) 736-3500.
Family Room
Guest Bedroom
Living Room
Master Bedroom“We are so pleased FENDI has chosen 400 Fifth Avenue as the site for its first New York City show home,” said Giuseppe Rossi, executive vice president of Bizzi & Partners Development, developer of 400 Fifth Avenue. “For more than 80 years, FENDI has established itself as a world leader in high fashion and design, renowned for its innovation and commitment to using the finest materials. We share in those same principles and are delighted to collaborate with this esteemed company.” -
Objects of Desire
Large sculptural vase,
circa 1963, stoneware
31″H x 15″W x 5.5″D”“The shapes are very organic and sensual with surfaces that are rough, tactile and reflectthe nature of the clay itself in both color and texture.”
Hurricane Sandy has been pretty tough on us New Yorkers, but nothing can and will keep us away from some of the most outstanding art exhibitions going on in this city. One such showing is from Magen H. The gallery will debut a small, but ambitious show of La Borne 1940-1980: A Post War Movement of Ceramic Expression on Thursday, November 8th from 6:00 – 8:00PM. The show’s official dates are Friday, November 9th until Saturday, December 15th.
La Borne 1940-1980 is an an exhibition and sale of post-war French ceramics from the La Borne, a dynamic movement of avant garde artists who were at the forefront of transforming ceramics and pottery from the purely decorative into an art form … sculpture. The movement was parallel to Abstract Expressionism of the 1940s through 1960s.This is the very first time that these modern and desirable pieces, over 100 museum-quality ceramics and sculptures from artists who worked in the remote town of La Borne in western France including Jean and Jacqueline Lerat (founders of the movement), Elisabeth Jouilia, Vassil Ivanoff, Pierre Digan, and Hildegund Schlichenmaier among others, will be available for purchase here in the United States. This exposition is a fine opportunity for collectors to discover these sculptural ceramics that have never been seen altogether and never before exhibited in this country.Gustave Tiffoche Vase circa 1960, stoneware26″ H x 20.5″ W
Long dish/plate, c. 1958, stoneware4″H x 34″W x 8″D“There is an unexpected beauty to these pieces that are the opposite of one-dimensional pottery such as Sèvres and Vallauris pottery- they open a dialogue with the viewer, alluring, they make you want to interact with them are best appreciated up close and from all angles.”Left: Monique Lacroix-Mohy, Sculptural bowl, circa 1960, stoneware.Right: Remi Bonhert large vase circa 1960, stonewareThese pieces are so rare that they can only be found in private collections in France as well as at the Musée des Art Décoratifs, The Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Musée Nationale de Céramique de Sèvres. The relevance of these artists is already being recognized; Musée Nationale de Céramique de Sèvres has just opened a retrospective of Jacqueline Lerat. Interestingly the movement attracted a large number of female artists and the show represents a good cross section of their work.Joelle DeroubaixLarge Stone Ware Vase ca 1970Yves MohySculpture vase c 1960-62 stoneware, signed
Hugues MagenImages courtesy Magen HAll rights reserved -
My Kind of Town
The Empire State Building
Illustrated by OllywoodDeco CityNew York, once again, took center stage in the world’s scene this week. Hurricane Sandy came, and left a devastating impact, not only in this great city but throughout the east coast. New Yorkers are no strangers to tragedy, and overall, they are to be saluted not only for the spirit they showed, but also for how they handled the latest dark chapter in their lives. This hurricane was the biggest storm that ever hit the big apple, and nothing can take away the tragic consequences that it left in the lives of so many whom were directly affected. But in the face of this horrible experience, I couldn’t help but notice the beauty that still surrounds us, whenever I walked down the streets of this whistle stop. I marvel at its famous skyline. The sheer size of it all is simply astonishing!
The prodigious Art Deco architecture that is now an intricate part of so many of our lives is a clear reminder that in a resilient town like this one, New Yorkers themselves have an uncommon knack of being survivors. In the face of adversity, they too can become a beacon of hope that is synonymous with these prominent buildings. Sandy baby, you can never take that away from us.
The Wonder City
Historical: The 1934 State Fair in the Big Apple
Never overshadowed: The Chrysler Building under fog. New York is arguably one of the most popular jazz cities in the world
Gotham City: Every town needs a hero. We love this poster of the 1989 film BatmanIconic: An Art Deco poster from the 1930s
The Chrysler Building
A stunning illustration of the new World Trade CenterNOTE: 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. -
A Natural Gift for Art
Gondelor et ses petits
Jean Arp: A COLLECTION OF WOOD RELIEFS AND COLLAGESIn keeping with the art theme for this week, allow me to introduce to you the talented works of Jean Arp. His reliefs and collages are the subject of a major exhibit at Blain|Di Donna, a gallery located inside the Carlyle Hotel on Madison Avenue. Since its opening late last year, the gallery has been THE destination for serious art lovers and collectors. Jean Arp, A Collection of Wood Reliefs and Collages, will be on view starting today, November 1st until Tuesday, December 11th, 2012. The core of this whimsical and colorful exhibition is a collection of unique painted wood reliefs and collages coming on public view for the first time in America.This group of works by the artist, demonstrates the importance of the interplay between form and color, as well as the developmental nature of the works’ physicality–from the streamlined surfaces of his paper collages to the heightened sculptural dimensionality of the wood reliefs.
De continent qui auraitArp’s forms are amoebic, embryonic, and referential of natural organisms. The “moving oval,” (you simply have to see it in person, it’s gorgeous!) so evident in these works, was the basic form that the artist referred to throughout his oeuvre, and which he never relinquished. The colors are vivid and joyous. Arp’s ambition was to harmonize man and nature and he used his art as a vehicle to achieve this. He aimed to create art as nature creates life, and his collages and reliefs employed a fittingly biomorphic vocabulary.
Sans titre
All images courtesy Blain | Di Donna“The cycles of nature and of art—from collage to wooden form to print to painted form—are reconciled, as light and dark, sun and night are included in a redemptive circle of creative energy.”
Mary Ann Caws, Distinguished Professor of English, French and Comparative Literature
at the Graduate School of the City University of New YorkArp and the print publisher Louis Broder collaborated on many projects and publications, beginning in 1957. Their most ambitious was an album published in 1966 titled Le Soleil recerlé (The Re-circled or Re-ringed Sun). Arp created the paper collages in this exhibition as a prerequisite for this publication’s prints and then created the unique painted wooden reliefs on view. Therefore, each medium informs the other directly, forging their interdependence; spatial tensions result from their oscillating relationship between flatness and depth, light and dark. Early Friday morning, I will post more pictures of the press preview on our Facebook Page. Say tuned!BLAIN|DI DONNA is located at: 981 Madison Avenue, New York City. The opening reception for the show is today, Thursday, November 1st from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. -
Shine On!
A few of us from the office were invited by Architectural Lighting Magazine to attend the 2012 Design Awards last week. The ceremony was held at The New York Times. As a residential interior designer, I haven’t had a full scale opportunity to work with various lighting professionals as often as I would of liked. So to have been in the company of some of the most illustrious individuals in that field was an eye opener, and brought to mind, once again, the importance of good lighting. In the age of Instagram, and Facebook, many people, including me, see ourselves as a self professed photographer. The trouble is, we often neglect the vital fact that good lighting is often the deal breaker.This past summer, I witnessed an excellent example of good lighting in the form of an outstanding installations which Bruce Monro did by transforming Longwood Gardens, located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, into an illuminated wonderland. It left me with a few positive conclusions, one of which were – I’ll never look at lighting in the same way ever again.
Images courtesy Arch LightingTo read the article appropriately called: Daydreaming in Light that was penned by Arch Lighting editor, Elizabeth Donoff, visit: www.archlighting.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.
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Luxe Living in The City
Luxe Living, The New York PostThe idea for this post came to me last Wednesday morning, as I was thumbing through the various newspapers that were gathered at my doorstep. The oldest paper in town, The New York Post, just launched a section called “Alexa Luxe Living”. Like the name suggests, this new section is focused purely on the luxury real estate market.Their first installment began with a 12-page broadsheet dedicated exclusively to high-end real estate coverage, as a free insert in the newspaper.
Alexa Luxe Living showcases the most exclusive real estate for sale in and around the city. Wednesday’s first edition took its readers inside Manhattan’s elite properties, offered brokers and buyers gossip and curated new design ideas and trends.
The cover story featured some of the most gorgeous photographs of the most expensive apartments currently on the market, such as a $95 million (no this is not a misprint) 8,000-square-foot seven-bedroom at the Sherry-Netherland, overlooking Central Park; or a $75 million 14,547-square-foot triplex in the Heritage at Trump Place.For the more “frugal buyer”, Luxe Listings showed seven glamorous apartments for under $20 million throughout the issue. Thee was also an exclusive look inside writer Susan Fales-Hill’s apartment on Park Avenue. Housed in a 1908 Edwardian building, one of the first apartment houses on Park Avenue, the 2,000-square-foot classic seven with 10-foot ceilings, three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a maid’s room and a formal dining room, is meticulously decorated in bright and cheery colors with Fales-Hill’s family memorabilia and books adding her personal touch. But the East Side is not Susan’s final destination. She says, “I’d like to die on the West Side. I want to be an old lady at Zabar’s with my walker knocking people out of the way.” Celebrity chef Eric Ripert designed the Poggenpohl kitchens at Chelsea Green on West 21st Street, including energy efficient appliances and ultra-sleek grey and white cabinetry.The “On the Flip Side” column features the tale of club and restaurant owner and New York’s wildest property fanatic Michael Hirtenstein. Despite his most recent dust-up with Extell Development’s Gary Barnett over an apartment at One57, Hirtenstein has done well flipping multi-million dollar apartments in Manhattan.Last but certainly not least, is a section that I find most interesting. New York City’s top tastemakers show what’s hot now in home design. This included tips from Thom Filicia, Celerie Kemble, Brett Beldock, Ron Wendt, Michael Patrick Smyth, Margaret Russell, Newell Turner, Amanda Nisbet, Ellie Cullman and my good friend, David Scott.
Images courtesy The New York Post -
A New Identity
Cheska Mask by Rachid KhimouneThe art exhibitions at Friedman & Vallois have always held my interest. So imagine how pleased I was to learn that the gallery, best known for their exquisite art deco furnishings, were getting ready to showcase an exclusive major art exhibition of French artist Rachid Khimoune starting next week Thursday, November 8th until the 21st of December. This is a big deal because the last time Khimoune was in the big apple showcasing his work, the year was 1986, when the New York City harbor celebrated a selection of French artists on the occasion of the centennial of the Statue of Liberty.Rachid Khimoune is a self proclaimed “assembler”. His art work is so entrenched in the history of tribal art, that at first glance, one will think it has been around for decades on end. He deftly uses materials which he qualifies as being miscegenation, a melding of a sort. With the use of manhole, he keeps on reminding his fans and critics of the poetic license of every single human expression, similarly the discarded wall outlet, or other salvage material are offered a new life from their insignificance. The materials that he uses mirror and embody the philosophy that the minority can have a positive influence in the majority. His recylced materials look and feel like the real thing. His work further suggests that knowing oneself, there’s no more room for fear. And so by working with these items, Rachid has truly found his true identity.
Small Bull
TortoisesOn the occasion of this exhibition, Rachid Khimoune will be presenting a recent series of totems, masks, and tortoises. He expressed this dramatically in June 6, 2011, when he installed a thousand tortoises on Omaha Beah, commemorating the landing of Allies in France marking the beginning of the conclusion War War II.
Wedding Groom Mask
African Woman
The Couple MasksRachid Khimoune will be present at his opening reception on Thursday, November 8th from 6 – 8 PM at Friedman & Vallois: 27 East 67th street, NYC, NY 10065. RSVP at: 212 517 3820.
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Central Asia’s Fashion Week
ON THE RUNWAYT with Loris DiranHeaded by Uzbekistan’s own Fist Daughter Gulnara Karimova and her Fund Forum Association, Art Week Style which took place in Uzbekistan’s Capital city, Tashkent, on October 4th through the 9th, focused on bringing together various international designers and artists in events ranging from Fashion shows to Master Classes for the country’s students. It was quite a cultural exchange for all involved and it introduced me to a country that, outside of some very vague geographical references, I knew relatively nothing about. I came away with it understanding the Central Asian region with an appreciation for an ancient culture that dates back to the reign of Gengis Khan and Amir Timor. The historical landmarks, the texures and literal fabrics of this land are truly inspiring. I never know where the next source of inspiration for my collection will come from.
Loris Diran’s Fall 2012 Fashion Collection
Carolina HerreraAmong the designers attending were: Versace, Carolina Herrera, Matthew Williamson, Dolce and Gabbana, Temperley London, and Hoss Intropia of Spain, as well as Me!
Life of the party
All roads leads to…
Founder and CEO of Loris Diran LLC
Loris DiranImages courtesy Loris DiranAll rights reserved -
Cold As Ice, and Twice as Nice
Pictured: Nicole Miller, Michel MercureAs you saw on my previous post, the Ice Theatre of New York’s 2012 Fall Gala took place this past Monday. It was a charming evening hosted by the founder of the company, Moira North, benefiting Richard “Mr. Debonair” Dwyer of Ice Follies and Ice Capades fame.Festivities included a performance featuring Mr. Debonair himself, and his “Dwyer Girls” – former World Champion and Olympian Tai Babilonia, former Olympic Champion Dorothy Hamill, former World Champion Linda Fratianne, former Olympian Jojo Starbuck all dressed in Nicole Miller.
John and Sinead KerrThe Company performed pieces from its repertory, including works from NYC dance choreographers and Artistic Director Douglas Webster. Ryan Bradley, the 2011 US Men’s Champion, was the guest performer and some of the performers included World Team Members Kim Navarro & Brent Bommentre, and 7-Time British Champions and Olympians Sinead & John Kerr. Dick Button was Honorary Chairman and Co-Chairs included Natalie Carey, Aja Zanova and Tom Collins; attendees included Joan Erdheim, the new Chairman of the Board, former Olympic Champion Sarah Hughes and family, John MacColl, Debbie Gordon recipient of the Ice Angel award, Michel Mercure, Brigitte Altenhaus, Charles Pavarini III, Randall Tarasuk, Nadine Ahmed, Donna and Andrew Ryan. More pictures of the evening can be found on our Facebook Page.
Dorothy Hamill, Charles Pavarini III
Michel Mercure, Moira North ( Founder of Ice Theatre New York ), Richard Dwyer
Emily Hughes, Sarah Hughes, Rebecca HughesImages courtesy of Kenny Jacobson -
Designer’s Top Picks
Ready when you are Mr Demille… Movie Star by Gloria Vanderbilt, 1stDibsPhoto courtesy High End Weekly™
Chaotic poetry: Geometric wonders: Herve Van Der Straeten Sconces
Iconic Gio Ponti Candelabra from Christofle
All laced up: The Hello Gorgeous rug is ubber chic and glamor personified
Power to the people: Fernand Leger, Le Cirque Tapestry
Domestic Bliss: German Engineering: The world’s most expensive and luxurious vacuum cleaner. Artists in Berlin, Germany have takenover 100 hours to hand-encrust the HYLA GST with 32,000 genuine Swarovski ElementsHyla-usa.comNOTE: 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.
