Interior designers

Free design consultation with award-winning designers

Written on April 27, 2011 at 11:43 am
By Doris Athineos

Consider cruising the five-day Spring Show NYC as 65 dealers from around the country strut their stuff at the Park Avenue Armory. The show opens this Thursday and all opening-night proceeds benefit the ASPCA which explains the spotlight on animal-themed antiques. At the press preview, we fell for an ancient bronze ganesh, a pair of dashing Chinese porcelain hawks, a powerful terra-cotta Mastiff (above), and eagle-topped bull’s eye mirror, but you may also leave with one of the  leashed critters (up for adoption!) greeting guests at the door Thursday evening. On Friday night, Traditional Home’s award-winning “New Trad” designers will offer one-on-one design consultations gratis so come armed with your photos, paints chips and floor plans. There’s also a chance to bid for more extensive consultations with designs pros Patrik Lonn and Sara Gilbane, among others.

Never has the Armory looked more alive!

Cyberspace 1st Dibs lands at The New York Design Center

Written on February 17, 2011 at 4:08 pm
By Doris Athineos

Do you even remember what shopping was like before 1^st Dibs?  Still, we miss the random encounter with a bold antique that suddenly crosses your path. Now you can have it both ways. The online powerhouse 1^st Dibs, which connects shoppers to 1,000 art and antiques dealers around the country (as well as Canada, Paris and London), just opened a loft-like pavilion at the New York Design Center (200 Lexington).  No longer confined to cyberspace, design devotee can now cruise the merch of some 50-plus dealers spread out across 33,000 square feet. The selection is tightly edited by  Michael Bruno and only the boldest, most beautiful objets make the cut.  This is a collection of art, antiques and furnishings with a point of view.

What’s different is that you get a real sense of a dealer’s style walking around their room-size booths. We fell in love with special exhibition curated by Roger Prigent of Malmaison. Does anyone not love the over-the-top, glow-in-the-dark Lucite sleigh bed that once belonged to makeup diva Helena Rubenstein? Mr. Prigent’s large shell mirror by Renzo Mongiardino is killer too. Love the lavender walls, sparkling Jansen chandelier and Palm tables by Serge Roche (1898-1988). The mood was very romantic and somehow exotic.FOUR STARS

The monochromatic black assemblages by Philadelphia artist Maria Nevelson are just the kind of random encounter that will keep you coming back for more. “She’s the granddaughter of Louise Nevelson,” explained dealer Eve Kelly Herman of Highland Park. Who knew? Check out the steampunk style furnishings at Get Back Inc.

What did you find?

And now for something New…

Written on February 7, 2011 at 3:54 pm
By Amy Bleier Long

We are very excited to be collaborating with Lonny magazine founders Michelle Adams and Patrick Cline on our online-only edition which will feature totally original content. So we were thrilled when some of the top design bloggers were able to join us for a dinner last week where we introduced our 20 New Traditionals – the fabulous interior designers to watch in 2011 – who are being featured in Trad Home‘s inaugural issue which will be live April 12th.

We had fun celebrating the upcoming launch, especially with such a well-dressed, design-loving crowd! So, a very big thank you to our blogger friends and congratulations to the interior designers selected as our 20 New Traditionals!

Here are some pictures from our dinner at Freeman’s on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Enjoy!

New Traditional designers Anne Maxwell Foster, left, and Suysel dePedro Cunningham, right, both of Tilton Fenwick with Beth Brenner, Traditional Home’s publisher.

Marisa Marcantonio of StyleBeat and publicist Elizabeth Blitzer

New Traditional designers Ron Marvin of Ron Marvin Design, Callie Jenschke, left, and Nicki Clendening, right, of Scout Designs

New Traditional designer Ryan Korban, Nicole Gibbons of So Haute, and Michelle Adams of Lonny magazine (and guest editor of Trad Home)

New Traditonal designer Robert Passal of Robert Passal Inc., Beth Brenner, Austin Bradley of Robert Passal Inc., and New Traditional designer Tom Delavan

Joanna Goddard of A Cup of Jo, Beth Brenner, Stacy McLaughlin and Michael Bruno of 1stdibs, Austin Bradley

Sarah Firshein of Curbed National, Amy Preiser of AOL’s Shelterpop, Beth Brenner and Nicole Gibbons

Listening to Michelle Adams speak are, seated: Patrick Cline of Lonny magazine, New Traditional designer Patrik Lönn of Patrik Lönn Design, Doris Athineos of Traditional Home, Michael Bruno, Marisa Marcantonio, Tom Delavan, Elizabeth Blitzer, Julia Noran of The Editor at Large, Robert Passal, and Austin Bradley. Standing: Beth Brenner and Blaire Rzempoluch of Traditional Home.

The other side of the table: Francesca Connolly of Remodelista, Brad Ford of Design Therapy, Stacy McLaughlin, Amy Preiser, Michelle Adams, Sarah Firshein, and Ron Marvin.

Also thanks to New Traditional designer Nina Freudenberger of Haus Interior, Katie Armour of The Neo-Traditionalist, Ellie Somerville of Lonny, Coco of CocoCozy, Amy Wicks from WWD, and Gabriella Karl on behalf of CasaSugar, who attended but are not pictured.

Congratulations to our other New Traditional designers who couldn’t join us:

Amanda Malson and Jolene Ballard of Domicile Interior Design

Sasha Adler and Lauren Gold of Nate Berkus Associates

Jeff Andrews of Jeff Andrews – Design

Jayne Michaels and Joan Michaels of 2Michaels

Erika Powell of Urban Grace Interiors

Megan Rice Yager of Megan Yager Design

Amy D. Morris of Amy D. Morris Interiors

Kim Winkler of Westbrook Interiors

Lisa Sternfeld of LSID Inc

Jamie Herzlinger of Jamie Herzlinger Interiors

Heidi Bonesteel, Michele Trout, and Jill Hall of Bonesteel Trout Hall

Sara Gilbane Sullivan of Sara Gilbane Interiors

Frost-smitten cabinetmaker goes fractal

Written on January 5, 2011 at 12:41 pm
By Doris Athineos

Inspired by the patterns of frost fogging up his windows, cabinetmaker David Lamb grabbed his sketchbook. Then he began reading about fractal geometry. “Mathematicians explain that frost and wood-grain patterns are fractals–self-replicating patterns,” says Lamb, who phoned Traditional Home from his studio in Canterbury, New Hampshire. After contemplating frost and fractals, Lamb settled on the design for his dynamic demilune table (detail above) which he named “Palladian Frost-Birch Fractal.”  Wow!

Lamb turned math into art. The pattern of the veneer looks like the facets of a diamond. And the crotch-birch grain pattern looks like a rippling tide. “All the nooks and crannies are another fractal feature,” explains Lamb. “The Bauhaus school of architecture is so sterile and reflects straight Euclidian geometry shapes. I prefer more detail. Fractals are all around us–snowflakes, frost, ferns, mountain ridges.”

The “Palladian” reference refers to the half-circular shape (“like a window”). We love the sweep of the stretcher, which Lamb explains is “the same curve as the apron.”

Lamb has other ideas he would like to explore if a patron were to commission another piece based on fractals. The demilune table pictured here isn’t for sale. For a closer look at the work of New Hampshire’s Artist Laureate  (and a member of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters Association), tap into David Lamb cabinetmaker.

sweetness and light

Written on December 1, 2010 at 4:41 pm
By Amy Bleier Long

When asked to do a feature vignette at the Lampworks showroom in Manhattan, designers generally bring in a cabinet here, a console there, and it’s all a slightly serious undertaking (Albert Hadley has done one). Interior designer Felicia Zwebner, founder of her own firm, Art De Triomphe, decided to attempt her most ambitious installation ever and go outside the box and off the floor.

Her initial inspirations were fall, but not pumpkins and hay bales, and the outdoors. Her love of France led her to ideas of eating outside and vineyards. A little bit of Johnny Depp in Alice in Wonderland and the vision was complete.

photograph: (c) 2010 Dwight B. Tobin

A canvas floor cloth is painted to look like the sky, and the stairs are a rushing waterfall, both by Faux Time Design. Ceramic mushrooms and butterflies dot the faux rock formations. An extra bit of whimsy is the French-inspired taffeta hot air balloon.

Tilt your head 90 degrees to the right and take in the “blue stone patio” with table fabricated by Window 25 and Pierre Deux wheat-back chairs, Kravet fabric (as the tablecloth) with Samuel & Sons trim, as well as the birch canopy. There are so many sweet details, such as the burlap seat cushions also from Window 25; I love the tiny one on the child’s chair. It took a lot of effort and finger-crossing to pull off this wall-mounted scene.

Of course, the light fixtures are the real stars. Hung or mounted at different heights is a mix of new, custom, and vintage indoor and outdoor pieces in varying scale. A favorite fixture was the Vaseline glass-and-iron pendant from 1925. You can see its milky-colored sphere in the center of the above image.

Felicia’s installation could have fit perfectly in our October Enchanted Forest story, don’t you think? It’s a totally fun way to show off the beautiful range of products at Lampworks, and it should be up until late winter, if you get the chance to stop by. Lampworks owner Bebe Regnier says that this sort of display is exactly what draws her to Felicia’s work: “Everything has precise detail. It’s its own little world, like she’s created a movie set.”

The Lampworks showroom is located at 231 East 58th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.

Save the Date: Perks in Palm Beach on September 30

Written on August 30, 2010 at 11:02 am
By Amy Bleier Long

The beginning of fall is always a good time to shop. When Tory Burch is giving 10% off, it’s a great time to shop, and when 10% of the evening’s total proceeds benefit the American Red Cross Greater Palm Beach (FL) chapter (which serves seven counties!)—well, what could be better?

Traditional Home is partnering with the American Red Cross Designer’s Show House in 2011 and fundraising starts with a kickoff event on September 30. Stop by Tory Burch’s Palm Beach boutique from 6 to 8pm and enjoy 10% off Tory’s gorgeous, approachable fashions, plus cocktails, wonderful swag bags, and sweet treats from Southern Belles Cakery.

While there, enter the raffle for a chance to win prizes including dinners for two at Ruth’s Chris West Palm, Morton’s, and more!

The local Red Cross chapter has also teamed up with month-long restaurant event Flavor Palm Beach, so after you shop, bring your receipt to Top of the Point to receive a cocktail on-the-house with, or without, your dinner (advance reservations required for dinner).

Be sure to RSVP to bb@flavorpalmbeach.com by September 15 for a fun night out, and help raise money for a wonderful cause!

Shopping fundraiser event

Tory Burch boutique

150 Worth Avenue

Palm Beach, FL

September 30, 6-8pm

 
Complimentary cocktail

Top of the Point

777 South Flagler Drive

West Palm Beach, FL

Movin’ on up to the East Side: 38th annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Written on August 19, 2010 at 6:43 pm
By Amy Bleier Long

This week, we received the wonderful news that the Kips Bay Decorator Show House has found a home for 2010 and is underway. Normally presented in the spring, this year’s previously-secured property fell through because someone purchased the townhouse and wanted to move in right away, forcing the project to be postponed.

The new house marks the 38th year of the event and fundraiser, which garners about $1 million each year for the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, and receives 20,000 visitors over a four-week period. The non-profit Boys & Girls Club serves more than 13,000 children by providing after-school and enrichment programs at 10 locations in the Bronx.

A recently-renovated 17-room mansion at 106 E. 71st St in Manhattan was selected and will feature the work of designers such as Vicente Wolf, Katie Ridder, and Sherrill Canet (a full list of designers is at the Show House’s website). I can’t wait to tour it and see each designer’s inspiring ideas and applications.

The house is open to the public starting October 14 and remains open until November 11. Tickets are $30 and include the journal and sourcebook.
 
Here are a few highlights from recent past Kips Bay houses:

For those of you who said you like mixing modern art into your decor, this room from Jed Johnson Home (2007, photo: John M. Hall Photography) is one of my all-time favorites.

 
 

A beautiful feminine bedroom from Charlotte Moss, 2008 (photo: Francis Smith)

 
 

In Philip Gorrivan‘s tailored bedroom, art doubles as a compelling headboard (2008)

 
 

Looking from the living room into the dining room, both designed by Stephen Miller Siegel (2008)

 
 

A dramatic chandelier captures attention in this 2006 room by Larry Laslo. (photo: Evan Joseph/Alex Barrymore)

 
 

Another example of Jamie Drake‘s phenomenal command of color (2007, photo: Nick Johnson).

designer visions

Written on July 28, 2010 at 1:15 pm
By Amy Bleier Long

The proliferation of the Internet, social media, apps, and online collaboration has prompted a handful of interior designers to offer their expertise online at discounted rates, the caveat being that you do the measuring and the shopping. But that means you can set the budget and timeline, and have a little fun!

So far I haven’t come across a service that is as much of a bargain as Designer at Home. And if you haven’t yet used an interior designer—or are on a budget—this might be for you.

Read more

Arkansas Traveler: Antiques & Design

Written on July 21, 2010 at 4:26 pm
By Candace Ord Manroe

Strength in Numbers

Written on May 26, 2010 at 1:31 pm
By Doris Athineos

For decorative arts devotees, nothing is better than finding lots of fine furnishings and art all under one roof. Better if the roof covers all periods and styles as well as (clearly marked) reproductions and contemporary craft.  Look no further than midtown Manhattan where you’ll find Center44 (222 East 44th Street), a few blocks west of the United Nations.

Proprietors Paul Plumadore and Jim Tindell are the kind of people who make the business of buying and selling antiques pure pleasure. They’ve invited 75 dealers to display furnishings in room-like settings and the results create sparks of brilliance. Mod, see-through lucite chairs rub up against a 300-year-old walnut chest-of-drawers. Fornasetti plates (by Rosenthal) rest on a metal table fashioned from discarded oil drums. The decorative mix, from old Ethiopian crosses to Italian modern (Gio Ponti chairs) reflect the way we live now.

Paul, a former dancer with the Paul Taylor Dance Company, designed the look of the Center while Jim handles sales southern style–friendly and gracious (chalk it up to Alabama where he was born).  Shoppers include a-list designers Bunny Williams, Kelly Wearsler, Amy Lau and Albert Hadley to name (drop!) a few regulars.  The atmosphere invites meandering (and so does the shop layout). Introduce yourself to Paul and Jim before you begin. They can help, but you’re free to browse. Most of the individual dealers leave it up to Paul and Jim to handle sales. Don’t be surprised if a few hours pass before you come up for air. And prices? Affordable. Visit and tell us what you find. Center44 earns four acanthus leaves * * * *  (And the super-groovy hanging lights throughout the block-long showroom are among the best we’ve seen anywhere in NYC.)