December 25, 2008
Illuminating Art
The latest collection of one-of-a-kind light fixtures from San Francisco-based Das Art is made from honeycomb onyx, a translucent stone known to exist in only one mine in Park City, Utah. Artist Drew A. Schnierow uses the onyx to create table lamps―or what he calls glowing orbs where the light appears “bright enough to read by, but softer, more romantic than candles.”
Schnierow creates the pieces in his Bay Area studio and sells them in select galleries throughout the country. The material is unique because of the onyx’s veining, which turns from white to black when the fixture is illuminated. For the past five years, Schnierow has created special commissioned lighting for interior designers, architects, and private collectors, experimenting with different materials until he discovered the onyx at a stone supplier near his studio.
Although each piece is custom-designed, Schnierow’s latest collection will focus on the theme of the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. The collection will culminate in about 100 pieces, each of which takes from two to four weeks to create, depending on the size of the piece. Fixtures range from about $2,500 to $5,000. (www.dasart.com)
—Alexandra Foster
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December 8, 2008
Minds for Design
The Paul Kohn Design boutique in New York is the culmination of 20 years of design collaboration between the store’s owners, Elaine Paul and Barbara Shaltuck Kohn. The two friends, who enjoyed success in their respective careers as a trial attorney and investment banker before following their passions for home design, have worked as interior designers for the past two decades, and amassed personal collections of handcrafted artisan pieces, antiques, and collectibles from around the world. The partners created the retail environment to evoke the rich, layered aesthetic of a “life well lived,” Elaine Paul says. “We wanted people to feel like they were visiting a friend who just happens to have really great things.”
The Tribeca-area boutique is divided into rooms, each curated with a mix of modern and vintage pieces. Many of the pieces and home accessories are exclusive to the boutique, including a collection of ceramic artist Matthew Solomon’s original, signed bowls (shown). The boutique also specializes in a limited collection of furniture in mesquite, a dense wood native to the American southwest known for its rich, warm color. Designers Kohn and Paul are available for custom home design consultations by appointment. (212.977.5050, www.paulkohndesign.com)
—Alexandra Foster
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November 24, 2008
Tiffany’s Personalized Porcelain
Tiffany & Co. is offering a new level of personalization for its clients: customized hand-painted fine porcelain table settings made by its Parisian atelier. Clients are invited to meet with a Tiffany’s artist to develop a personalized pattern, which is then sent to Atelier Le Tallec, where artists further enhance the design and hand paint it on porcelain plates.
“We saw an increased interest in personalized products, things that clients can put their signature on and make their own,” says Allen Nissim, director of silver jewelry and gifts at Tiffany. Only 12 artists work at Le Tallec, each trained in the 375 signature patterns of flowers, scrolls, and birds inspired by patterns found in museums and porcelains owned by French royalty. Clients can choose from these 375 designs with personalized additions, or they can work with designers at Tiffany to create a completely new pattern. When real estate mogul Andrew Borrok, who moonlights as a chef for friends and family, requested a set of dishes to suit his every gastronomic creation, Tiffany’s and Le Tallec worked together to create a black-and-white monogrammed crest design with platinum metal detailing that has been imprinted on the more than 400 pieces requested by Borrok. The process usually takes anywhere from six months to a year, depending on the design and order size, although Borrok’s settings, started 14 months ago, will not be completed until late 2009. Each piece is hand painted by one artisan, taking up to eight days to complete from start to kiln firing.
So far the atelier has worked to design settings for special occasions from weddings to anniversaries, but urns decorated with images of the beloved family pet are also a popular request. A minimum order starts at $20,000, with a five-piece set averaging around $5,000. (www.tiffanys.com)
—Alexandra Foster
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November 14, 2008
Sitting on the Edge
Israeli artist Ron Arad is known for creating furniture that is as artistic as it is utilitarian. A comprehensive show of Arad’s newest work, “Guarded Thoughts,” will be shown at New York’s Friedman Benda gallery from November 6 through December 20. His latest work explores altered perception of light and movement and includes Southern Hemisphere, a massive, upright arc of steel chair that may twist or rock when a person is seated. Arad’s 30-year career combining art, architecture, and design has focused on interpreting sculpture and seating, tempting balance, and posing visual challenges through hands-on craftsmanship. Solo shows throughout Europe have included a major exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, while museums that have acquired his work include New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum.
A retrospective of Arad’s work opens at Paris’ Centre Georges Pompidou in mid-November then travels to the Museum of Modern Art in New York in August 2009. (212.239.8700, www.friedmanbenda.com)
—Alexandra Foster
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October 28, 2008
From Driftwood to Decor
Marsia Holzer spent two decades designing costumes for high-profile rock stars on tour, including the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and Elvis Presley, as well as for Broadway shows such as Hair, before finding her true passion in life―salvaging felled trees to create organic furniture and lighting for her own company, Marsia Holzer Studio. One might find the change in careers mystifying, but Holzer’s one-of-a-kind designs still require imagination and customization, this time between Holzer and the client requesting the piece.
Holzer uses recovered exotic wood that has fallen in storms to create slabs for tables, which she affixes to handcrafted bronze, steel, or glass bases. The wood retains the natural shape of the tree, often with blond sapwood running down the thick sides, creating the illusion of a live tree poking up through the floor. Kayaking near her home in the Hamptons, she scours beaches for driftwood that will later be cast in metals at a foundry in Scotland. These casts serve as the bases for table and floor lamps, complete with drum shades of parchment or fine Irish linen. Holzer works with clients from selecting the slab of wood to choosing a base and finish. The mesh chandelier with metal tree branches (shown) is $4,200. Pieces in her collection range from $6,000 to $28,000. (www.marsiaholzer.com)
—Alexandra Foster
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October 14, 2008
Modern Americana
Most weekends, you’ll find contemporary American furniture collector Todd Merrill shuttling between country estates across America seeking great discoveries for his Bleecker Street gallery in New York. He has spent the past few years gathering what he believes to be the greatest examples of American studio and custom furniture of the post-war decades, from the 1940s through the 1990s, showcasing 27 designers in his latest exhibition “Modern Americana: Studio Furniture from High Craft to High Glam.” The sale, from October 28 through November 30, will feature a selection of furniture designed by James Mont, Samuel Marx, and Karl Springer, among others. It includes two cabinets from Paul Evans―one of which graces the cover of Merrill’s new book on the exhibition. “I spent years trying to track them down,” Merrill said about the Evans cabinets. “I consider them two of the best examples available of this period of design.” Items in the Merrill collection range from about $1,000 to more than $300,000. (www.merrillantiques.com)
—Alexandra Foster
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September 23, 2008
More Cooks in the Kitchen
SieMatic, maker of bespoke luxury kitchens since 1929, opened its first showroom in the Northeast in downtown Boston in early September. The luxurious space, one block from Boston Common, presents six custom-designed kitchens including models of its new Beaux Arts collection. Inspired by 19th-century New York and Chicago Beaux Arts-style architecture, the new designs mix traditional and contemporary elements and can be customized to incorporate homeowners’ most beloved items, new or old. Among its special commissions was outfitting the exterior of a refrigerator with unique wood from the West African Afara tree to give the appearance of an antique Chinese wedding cabinet. Another client requested that an heirloom chandelier be positioned over the kitchen island, and SieMatic also created a 10-foot-wide stainless-steel hood and oversized range for a large family. Custom designs start at about $40,000 and include installation. (www.siematic.com)
—Alexandra Foster
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September 9, 2008
Monica Rich Kosann Unveils a Shop at Bergdorf Goodman
Photographer Monica Rich Kosann will open her first shop-within-a-shop at Bergdorf Goodman in New York next month, showcasing her vintage-inspired home collection. Kosann and her husband, Rod, began their business in 2002 with a collection of vintage cigarette and cigar cases, powder compacts, and lockets to showcase Rich Kosann’s photography for her high-end clientele, often monogramming the pieces for a personal touch. The couple expanded their personalized frame and collectible business into a lifestyle brand, now incorporating a wide range of home, jewelry and fashion accessories. The sterling silver, enamel and leather image cases, photo albums and picture frames range from about $200 to around $10,000. (www.Bergdorfgoodman.com)
—Alexandra Foster
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August 26, 2008
Fit for the King of Siam
The King of Thailand’s own craftsmen spend at least six weeks hand-cutting, sanding, and inlaying 5,000-plus pieces of luminous mother-of-pearl into intricate designs for Manop Rachote’s limited-edition chests and boxes (about $2,675 to$4,460). In addition to royal artisans, the Bangkok-based home-design duo Stephen Bennett and his eponymous partner also seek out artistry and technical skills in local villages with women’s cooperatives in the hills of Northern Thailand. Their indigenous “triangular-shape grass” weaving forms the basis for the Nan Hand Weave basket collection (shown), while other villagers carve mango wood into stylish modern interpretations of ancient Thai monk bowls. Manop Rachote’s picture frames, wrapped in a full spectrum of alligator, crocodile, iguana, pony, python, and stingray, add a touch of Thai exoticism into any interior design, while pure organic beeswax candles infused with natural flower, herbal, and plant elixirs developed by an ayurvedic doctor emit negative ions to counterbalance urban pollution. Desire rather than design philosophy underlies their varied inventory. Every item originates in Thailand, sometimes called the Land of Smiles, so it is no surprise to hear Bennett describe the motivation behind what they design as “whatever beauty puts a smile on our faces.” Manop Rachote is available at J Banks Design Ltd in Hilton Head, South Carolina (843.681.5122, jbanksdesign.com), Jeffrey Lamb Home in Miami Beach (305.861.0747, jeffreylambhome.com), and in Bangkok (662.254.3438, www.manop-rachote.com).
—Cynthia Rosenfeld
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August 12, 2008
At Home in Greenwich
Paris-born Claire Maestroni has a knack for uncovering unique, high-end furnishings and accessories from around the world for her Greenwich, Connecticut store Mis en Scene, which in French means “setting the stage.” Opened last year, the expansive store offers a range of international, artistic furniture, lighting, rugs, hardware, accessories, and more. Beyond great design, Maestroni seeks out collections that have a story either through an age-old craftsmanship or original use of material or design concept. Most of the designs are exclusively sold in the U.S. through Mis en Scene including Zimmer and Rhode’s German-made furniture, Royal Botania’s high-end outdoor furniture, and Atelier Vierkant’s Belgian-made decorative urns, which are used by prestigious architects and designers such as Peter Marino, but up until now not available through retail. (203.422.0567)
—Jill Newman
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July 29, 2008
An Icon Celebrates Four
Icon Interiors, a boutique furniture showroom in West Hollywood, Calif., is celebrating its fourth anniversary with several new collections from emerging and established designers. Owner Stacey Dunaux’s favorite new pieces come from lighting designer Jeremy Cole, whose contemporary line is available at only two locations in the United States. Cole’s Aloe Gold suspension lamp (shown), inspired by the agave plant, is made from ceramic, acrylic, and aluminum with gold finish, and is available in five sizes from $3,800 to $26,000. Dunaux has also chosen several pieces from Italian furniture company Giorgetti, whose woodworking craftsmanship is evidenced by the Dora dining chair: composed of solid beech, covered in saddle leather, and custom made with an ergonomic backrest for $2,300 to $3,240. “I want customers to come here for collections they can’t find anywhere else and to find items that will make their homes complete,” says Dunaux. (www.icon-interiors.com)
—Alexandra Foster
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July 15, 2008
Italia in Chicago
Maxalto, an Italian furniture collection, has opened its first U.S. boutique in the heart of Chicago’s gallery district. Established more than 30 years ago, Maxalto is the more classic division of the design company B&B Italia, which is recognized for its chic, modern line of furniture. Under the design direction of Antonio Citterio, Maxalto is known for traditional techniques formerly used in cabinet and lute-making to create its walnut and rosewood furniture. The collection, which is also sold in its Paris shop, ranges in price from about $2,350 for a small table to $9,400 for a sofa. (www.bebitalia.it)
—Alexandra Foster
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May 20, 2008
Black and White and Mosaic All Over
Iconic French architect and interior designer Andrée Putman brings her unique style to the furnishings world with a new collection for Bisazza home design, launched at the Salone del Mobile 2008 for Milan’s Design Week in April. The Entrevue collection by Putman couples Bisazza’s trademark mosaic tiles with the designer’s signature stark, contemporary style. The round Zenith table, shown, portrays the designer’s minimalist styling in mosaics. Available in both white Corian with a yellow gold mosaic and gray Corian with white gold mosaic, the center of the table is illuminated by a light source hidden beneath the mosaic tile. The handmade collection ranges from about $67,500 to $87,000. (www.bisazza.com/usa/)
―Alexandra Foster
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May 6, 2008
French Design Comes to New York’s Chelsea
French furniture dealer Renaud Vuaillat has opened a flagship New York gallery specializing in limited-edition modern furniture by European designers. Twentyfirst/Twentyfirst, which opened in late February, offers unique design objects and furniture, including Vuaillat’s own modern collection and rotating group collections from emerging artists. Vuaillat has sold furniture in Paris for 15 years, both at the Clignancourt flea market and later at his own gallery in St. Germain. His New York gallery will customize any piece in the collection, which ranges from about $2,500 to $50,000. Among the pieces presently available are François Corbeau’s polished tin drawers, $45,000 (shown), and Bernar Venet’s waxed steel sofa, $42,500. (917.353.7587)
―Alexandra Foster
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April 22, 2008
Crystal Clear
Baccarat, the renowned Parisian crystal house established in 1764, has commissioned two designers to create special collections for 2008. New York interior designer Vicente Wolf’s “Latitude” collection of rippled crystal vases, bowls, and candlesticks ($90 to $6,660) is based on his signature design philosophy of simplicity and integrity. Rising star Stéphanie Balini, a recent graduate of Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, a top French design school, won the Comité Colbert’s Young Designer’s competition with her “Damoiselles” glassware for Baccarat last fall, and the crystal maker produced the 12-piece collection, which debuted for spring. The distinctive crystal glasses ($2,500 for a set of four) feature garlands of flowers on clear crystal, scattered with wheel-engraved designs in both black and white (shown). (www.baccarat.com)
―Alexandra Foster
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April 1, 2008
Three-Star Dinnerware
Massimiliano Alajmo, the youngest Italian chef to attain Michelin three-star status at age 32, has moved from the kitchen to the dining room with his latest project, tailor-made tableware. The 15- piece collection called In.Gredienti is made by the German china company Rosenthal, and each piece is named for the dish best served in it. Riso, with a deep small bowl and large spill-proof sides, is designed for risotto, while Pasta has an indentation along one side of the inner bowl for twisting noodles onto a fork. Alajmo drew inspiration from his own dishes at his family restaurant Le Calandre in Padua, Italy, where he received his legendary three stars, to design the shape and thickness for each piece. The collection is now available at Le Calandre and through Rosenthal distributors. (www.rosenthalusa.com)
―Alexandra Foster
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March 11, 2008
San Francisco Gets Tai Ping Outpost
Tai Ping, the 50-year-old master of custom carpets and rugs, has opened a showroom at the San Francisco Design Center, its fourth U.S. outpost. The newest collection is Empire (shown), which references Japanese kimonos and Ottoman paisleys. The five designs in the collection layer dull silk and flax linen over hand-tufted, semi-worsted wool to create refined patterns, each available in two colorways. In addition to its new collections, the Hong Kong-based company will work with clients to custom-design carpets and rugs. (212.979.2233, www.taipingcarpets.com)
―Skye Mayring
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