Design books are a great resource and something I love to collect.
Design books are a great resource and something I love to collect. I am always keeping an eye out for new releases that might be full of inspiration. While design books are an investment for me, they make great coffee table books for anyone interested in interior design. Here are a few new books I can’t wait to browse through.
Windsor Smith, Homefront: Design for Modern Living
Charlotte Moss, Garden Inspirations
Anouska Hempel, Ansouska Hempel
Nicki Haslam, A Designer’s Life
Netherlands based artist Peter Gentenaar works with paper to create huge, undulating sculptures.
Netherlands based artist Peter Gentenaar works with paper to create huge, undulating sculptures. These enormous, but delicate, sculptures grew from Peter’s initial work as a printmaker. When working on engravings, he often found that commercial paper wasn’t thick enough for his engravings. He then began to experiment with making his own paper and learned that by using a specific method of beating the pulp, creating sheets with thin ribs of bamboo, and then allowing the pulp to dry, the shrinking of the pulp pulls the bamboo ribs in such a way as to create these rolling, unique sculptures. In developing his artistic process, Peter even built his own equipment to achieve the results he wanted.
I love the free from element to Peter’s work. The pieces remind me of sea creatures; very graceful and eloquent. They have magnificent scale, but are delicate and feminine in a way that is really pretty. The way color is integrated into the sculptures is just striking.
Many of Peter’s sculptures are suspended from the ceiling; others are free standing or hung on a wall. His work can be see all over Europe as well as in Abu Dhabi. You can see more examples of his work on his website.
Image from a vignette I created for Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.
Located in scenic Westchester County near Tarrytown, Blue Hill Farm is a fantastic destination for food lovers and families.
Located in scenic Westchester County near Tarrytown, Blue Hill Farm is a fantastic destination for food lovers and families.
The restaurant, Stone Barns, is a four season farm to table affair. The menu mainly features seasonal items either grown by the farm or sourced locally. The building itself is beautiful and provides the ideal back drop for the food. Rather than choosing from a menu, diners are given a list of ingredients being used in the kitchen on that day to build a unique tasting menu. Each course is crafted to showcase these ingredients with such creativity. In winter, you might experience smoked kale or hake with mussels. At other times of the year, you might experience zucchini pasta or beet burgers. Dining here is a whole experience; when you visit, you may be selected to meet the chef and watch him cook. It’s very different, and not your traditional restaurant.
One of my favorite aspects of Blue Hill Farm is that it is a true working farm. From spring through fall, you can take your kids to see how the farm is run. In addition to the many gardens and greenhouses, Blue Hill is home to chickens and sheep. After touring the farm, a stop at the Cafe and Grain Barn lets you recharge with snacks, salads, and baked goods. Or, you can try Blue Hill Farm’s very own yogurt.
To learn more about Blue Hill Farm or to plan a visit, go to their website. You can also find them on Facebook.
Edmund de Waal is a British ceramics artist who studied his craft in England and Japan.
Edmund de Waal is a British ceramics artist who studied his craft in England and Japan. His recent work explores ideas about collections and how objects are grouped together. de Waal has had major installations in museums around the world, from London to New York. His pieces have a minimalist quality, yet often look natural. He often combines his pottery with materials such as wood or acrylic to create stunning compositions. His large scale installations are particularly memorable.
One of the interesting things about de Waal’s art is how each piece interacts with its display. How it is displayed is part of the art itself. I found de Waal’s work through a client and immediately fell in love with the simplicity and scale of it. It’s so nice when a client is open about their art interests and shares exciting things. I always go a step further to see what they’re looking at and why they like it. In de Waal’s work, I see peace and serenity.
Phaidon has published a monograph on Edmund de Waal, a tribute to his artistry with ceramics as well as his acclaim as a writer. This book includes incredible photography detailing de Waal’s daily life in his studio and his most famous installations. With contributions from writers such as AS Byatt and architect Deborah Saunt, it’s a work of art itself and a great addition to the library of any art lover.
You can see a full online gallery of Edmund de Waal’s work on his website.
Today’s Method Monday features a neutral scheme based on a grey palette.
Today’s Method Monday features a neutral scheme based on a grey palette. I love this combination of fabrics and furnishings for the variety of textures. The use of white elements brightens everything up and the overall feel is modern and sleek, but comfortable.
Image from a vignette I designed for a Mitchell Gold furniture event.
I love the idea of pure creation represented by a collection of well-used paintbrushes.
I love the idea of pure creation represented by a collection of well-used paintbrushes. The anticipation of how the brushes will be used on a blank canvas is really inspiring to me. The more paint you see on the brush, the more you know someone is using them as tools of creation.
New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art will be showcasing an exhibit to mark the one hundredth anniversary of American artist Robert Motherwell’s birth.
New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art will be showcasing an exhibit to mark the one hundredth anniversary of American artist Robert Motherwell’s birth. He founded the New York School, an art movement that included Jackson Pollack and Mark Rothko, and was a teacher, writer, scholar, and champion of fellow artists. I have been so into art lately, and this is one collection of work that I don’t want to miss.
Motherwell traveled through Europe and spent time in Mexico, experiences that not only influenced his art but allowed him to create lasting relationships with other artists. He was, in fact, a crucial link between the American art world and its European contemporaries. His work is an important part of the Abstract Expressionism movement, featuring bold brushstrokes, dynamic movement, and simple shapes.
Robert Motherwell’s work will be on exhibit at the MET through July 26. To plan a visit, see the MET website. You can also learn more about Robert Motherwell and see more examples of his paintings at The Dedalus Foundation. His work can also be viewed in the Robert Motherwell Paintings and Collages trio of books from Yale Press. I absolutely love this set — they make great coffee table books.
