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

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

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

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

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

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

February 26, 2008

A Beautiful Launderette

Outfitted with its own version of cruise control, Miele’s Honeycomb Care super-capacity laundry collection rivals the ease of a luxury SUV. Not surprisingly, the machines, which are priced around $3,200 for the set, were engineered in Germany to cater to the American penchant for large appliances and are able to accommodate loads as large as 70 pounds. Its namesake beehive-shaped steel drums are said to help clothes last up to four times longer due to a patented design that cuts the size and number of drain holes. As for use, Miele spokesperson Lori Dolnick says, “We’ve stripped away the guesswork. Indicate the type of clothing you’re washing, push a button, and start.” The system sets water level, temperature, and time. Likewise, the dryer’s Touchtronic microprocessor monitors the drying process for materials as diverse as cotton and cashmere. However, the machines’ custom settings allow control freaks to stay in charge. (800.843.7231, www.miele.com)

―Linda C. Lentz

February 12, 2008

More to Tile Than the Bath

Italian tile company Bisazza’s new showroom on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles takes visitors through a series of rooms designed to demonstrate the multitude of uses for mosaic tiles outside the bathroom. Just beyond an entryway of striped mosaic columns rests a black-and-white study featuring walls adorned with the Winter Flowers Collection (shown) and the dark tile and ebony library housing the Italian company’s entire tile collection, which ranges from richly saturated monochromatic mosaics to vibrant floral motifs, fabric patterns, and geometric compositions. Also on display are pieces from the recently launched Bisazza Home Collection, which includes tables, chairs, mirrors, and lamps. (323.782.9171, www.bisazzausa.com)

January 29, 2008

Glass Act

January 15, 2008

Ochre’s Lights Up New York

British home design company Ochre has brought its innovative lighting concepts, such as the wavy stream of light in the Artic Pear chandelier (shown), to this side of the pond via its New York store in Soho. The store’s dramatic buffalo-horn and coconut-shell chandeliers hanging from the 14-foot ceiling is one example of the company’s exotic creations. Ochre also offers custom lighting and a range of unique furniture and home accessories. (212.414.4332, www.ochre.net)

 —Skye Mayring

January 2, 2008

Moss Grows West

New York’s renowned design emporium Moss has opened a second location in the heart of Los Angeles’ design district on Melrose Avenue. Where Moss’ New York shop is famous for its towering stacked glass cases filled with everything from pens and alarm clocks to Tom Dixon chairs, the minimally designed L.A. outpost functions more like an art gallery, presenting limited-edition pieces set against a stark white backdrop in a sprawling 3,500-square-foot space. Upcoming installations include the comic book–inspired furniture of Italian designer Guido Crepax (shown) and porcelain figurines from German company Nymphenburg. (323.866.5260, www.mossonline.com)

—Samantha Brooks

December 18, 2007

Status Soaker

The House of Tetard, Haudiquez and Grisoni, also known as THG, knows a thing or two about luxury appointments. This French company creates fittings and fixtures dressed with Lalique crystal and Bernardaud porcelain. But a recent collaboration with Hermès is opulence at its most divine. The Art Deco–style bathtub encased in tooled Hermès leather (shown) is an example of the company’s new made-to-order program. Discerning customers may have their personal architect or designer work with the company to specify this model (from $40,000) or choose from a select group of leathers, tubs, and vessels to develop a uniquely customized piece. Good things come to those who wait: The minimum lead time is approximately 20 weeks. (954.425.8225, www.thgusa.com)

—Linda C. Lentz

December 11, 2007

Kelly Wearstler Closes on Second Home at Bergdorf Goodman

December 4, 2007

Taking Care of Business

Akilah E. Kamaria provides a broad range of personalized services for men in transition who require a little pampering or organizing. Her Los Angeles-based Hemancipation, which she calls a lifestyle management company, provides everything from concierge services to interior design, and she’ll even stock a client’s refrigerator with his favorite foods and wine bar with his preferred selection.

“My clients are very busy men who want to get on with life, work, and golf,” says Kamaria, who often works with men who are recently divorced or relocating for business. “They want me take care of the rest—from ordering furniture to stocking the kitchen—and they want it done as invisibly as possible, without a lot of face time.” She gets to know her clients through an in-depth profile that includes information about their favorite sports, cigars, and vacation spot, and even relatives’ birthdays to be sure he never misses them.

In alliance with some of the luxury industry’s top retailers, Hemancipation’s other services include image consultation, personal shopping, and retaining a personal chef, nutritionist, or trainer. “Busy men don’t want to make 25 phone calls to get something done,” explains Kamaria.  “They want to contact one person and move on.” With that in mind, Hemancipation clients work with only one person from the organization, but behind the scenes there may be as many as 15 people servicing requests, booking appointments, and making sure that the client’s life is as close to stress-free as it can be under the circumstances.  (888.473.0876, www.hemancipation.net)

—Jessica Taylor

November 1, 2007

Porsche Goes from 0 to 60 With Kitchen Design

In keeping with its sleek, innovative, and high-tech characteristics, the newest Porsche Design concept has found its way into the kitchen. Poggenpohl collaborated with the Porsche Design team to create a kitchen that bears a masculine side. The minimalist construction features glass, aluminum, and a grainy oak with the color and texture of driftwood throughout the cabinetry, which is custom made to accommodate built-in appliances and a flat-screen television. The purist design is carried out through cabinetry that is void of handles (employing an automatic opening and closing system) and an integrated lighting system. (dexigner.com/design_news/poggenpohl-porsche-design-kitchen.html)

—Alexandra Foster