Category: Trends & Tips

New York International Gift Fair

Twice a year, every year, NYC is host to the New York International Gift Fair.

Twice a year, every year, NYC is host to the New York International Gift Fair.  This fair is so huge, it can’t be contained to one venue and sprawls across Piers 92 & 94 as well as the Javits Convention Center.  This year’s fair ran from August 18-22 and included a huge range of vendors displaying new products and lines for the upcoming year.

The Gift Fair just has to be experienced in order to have an idea of the magnitude of the event, but I can tell you, I was like a bat out of hell at this year’s fair!  There’s such a crush of people, all wanting to be the first to spot that must-have, hot item or trend.  Everyone from designers to retailers flocking from vendor to vendor so that I had to suppress the urge to yell at everyone to get out of my way because I had some serious looking to do.  It’s a lot of contagious energy, creativity, and enthusiasm for the incredible world of design that just permeates the atmosphere and inspires you to see and experience everything!

This year I stumbled across some really great things at the Gift Fair.  Some of the first vendors to catch my eye were Michael Partenio and Stacy Kunstel with Dunes and Duchess.  What I love about their line is that they focused on an idea and let that idea evolve.  Dunes and Duchess creates these stunning candelabra pieces, all made in Connecticut.  Used as-is or with a shade, the pieces are substantial with great shapes and a beautiful, high lacquer with so much sheen.  The colors are beautiful, but they can customize products using your own color choices.   They also make incredible tables in almost any size that are practical but very chic!

Another aspect of the Gift Fair I love is that it’s a great source for pre-made pillows.  There are a lot of great designs without having to go the custom route and sometimes a bit of instant gratification is really nice!  I found some wonderful pillows from Design Accents and their sister company NBR Home.  From Design Accents, these cowhide pillows with a hint of gold really present well in a room.  The quality is good and the metallic hint is subtle enough to avoid being gaudy.

NBR Home offers a more upscale product with some very cool designs and colors.

I definitely went a little lamp happy at this year’s Gift Fair.  Mr. Brown, a division of Julien Chichester, has these lamps with a mid-century vibe, just really stunning pieces.  I’m a big fan of the turquoise lamp.  It has a Kelly Wearstler, high-impact feel to it.  I also love the standing lamp.  It looks like a piece of sculpture and would make a great choice for ambient light.

As for furniture, I saw some pieces I love from Design Legacy.  They have a transitional kind of furniture that is really unique.  I am head over heels for the secretary desk.  It has great height and scale and a geometry on its face that I love.  With storage and a flip down desk, it’s a wonderful piece.  I also really like the table and the chair with a nod to one of my favorite designs, the Greek key.  These pieces are an ideal way to freshen up a space.

My last find at this Gift Fair actually involves a search that started a year ago.  While at the New York Gift Fair last August, I found a product that I knew would be perfect for a client.  I was so excited about it, but I somehow misplaced the information and could not find it anywhere.  This year, I went to the Gift Fair with a mission.  I was determined to find this one product again, even while knowing my search amounted to looking for a needle in a haystack.  I knew this product would be in an area of the fair with everything from tabletop items to Christmas decor, from kids’ stuff to books.  I made my way as closely as possible to where I remembered seeing this particular product last time and finally found what I was looking for!  It was the best moment of the Gift Fair for me!  What I’d been looking for were these amazing frames from Wexel Art.  Made of plexiglass and magnets, the frames are a contemporary way to display art or photographs.  Changing the art in the frame is a quick and easy process, making it particularly suited to displaying kids’ artwork or family photos.  The frames come in all sizes, including custom measurements.  I can’t wait to use these to create a whole gallery for a client.  This time, I absolutely won’t lose the information!

Patricia Urquiola

Patricia Urquiola is an architect and designer who was born in Spain but now lives and works in Milan, Italy.

Patricia Urquiola is an architect and designer who was born in Spain but now lives and works in Milan, Italy.  Her talented design work has earned her quite a bit of recognition over the years.  Her products were selected for the Italian Design 2001 exhibition and for International Design Yearbook 1999 and 2001. In 2001 she was chair of the jury for the 19th CDIM Design Award and was lecturer in the Domus Academy. In recent years, she has received numerous awards including A&W Designer of the Year and Design Prize Cologne. In 2011 her set of glass vases All Ambiq has been exhibited at Glasstress, a collateral event of the Venice Biennale.

I first discovered the work of Patricia Urquiola during a Southampton project where I used one of her pieces — the Nub Chair.  It’s comfortable and sweet and introduced me to her other items.  I quickly became a big fan of her very cool sculptural furniture.  Her clever designs are intricate and composed of the layers I look for when designing.  Her pieces are truly works of art, showing how Urquiola is thoughtful of lines and details that never feel harsh.

Patricia Urquiola Fat Sofa

I loved the Fat Ottoman/Coffee Table – the Fat Sofa is another great piece from the same line. It looks so comfortable!

Nub Chair

We installed this Nub Chair in Southampton and it is absolutely gorgeous!  The detail on the back has an organic feel.

Canasta B Italia: Fabulous for the exterior!
Bohemian Seating Collection

The leather tufting of the Bohemian Seating Collection makes you want to cuddle up in this chair.

Vieques Agape

She even has the bath covered!  The steel tub is so chic.

Crinoline Collection

The Crinoline Collection is a wonderful blend of bronze, natural fiber and polyethylene weave.  Fabulous height – truly a sculpture.

You can follow Patricia Urquiola on Facebook .  Her posts are in Spanish, but she also features photos of her work.

Color Obsession: Gold

The metallic luster of gold is something I think of as a texture, more of an accent than an overall color.

The metallic luster of gold is something I think of as a texture, more of an accent than an overall color.  In a lamp or light fixture, gold tea leaf on a ceiling, gold brings a really beautiful, monochromatic bit of glam to a room.  Gold is  a warm, reflective way to jazz up a space and my particular choice for jewelry!

1.  Bedroom by Kelly Wearstler

2.  Beaded Handle by Collier Webb

3.  Grace Studios Metallic Wall Papers

4.  de Gournay Wall Paper

5.  Ryder Small Vintage Lamp from Arteriors

6. Zig Zag Tray

7.  Dress by Givenchy

8.  Charlotte Olympia : Lorelei Shoes

Favorite Things: Mirrors

Here are some of my favorite examples of mirrors in all shapes, sizes, and styles.

Mirrors make essential home accents.  They provide reflection and lighten a space and can even make a room appear larger.  I even really like the distortion of a convex mirror!  Here are some of my favorite examples of mirrors in all shapes, sizes, and styles.

1.  JS Driftwood Mirror2.  Pampa Mirror by Edwina Hunt3.  JT Mirror by Mclain Wiesand

4.  Ramo Mirror

5.  Entwined Dolphins Wall Mirror

6.  Octagon Bullseye Mirror

7.  Starburst Mirror from Mondo Cane

8.  Bubble Mirror – Tower 20

9.  Downtown – Laurel Convex Mirror 

10.  Moxham Mirror

11.  Shell Mirror

12.  Chinoiserie Mirror

Lauren Gelgor Kaplan Ceramics

I often visit Bungalow in Westport, CT, as a source for my clients, and it was during one of these shopping trips that I stumbled across some really stunning pottery.

There’s a great shop in Wesport, CT called Bungalow that offers unique furniture, antiques, home accessories, and jewelry.  I often visit Bungalow as a source for my clients and it was during one of these shopping trips that I stumbled across some really stunning pottery.  The artist behind these incredible pieces is Lauren Gelgor Kaplan.

Lauren Kaplan was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Her early creativity was heavily influenced by her grandfather’s paintings and sculptures.  She began creating her own ceramics and pottery more than 25 years ago, inspired by the surrounding African bush and native wildlife like the zebra.  Lauren spent a few years living in Europe and now lives in the United States, but her life in Africa still inspires her work.

I am just mad for this pottery!  I’ve purchased many pieces of Lauren’s beautiful art.  Each unique piece has so much texture and individuality.  They can be grouped or stand on their own as home accessories.

I’m not alone in my admiration of Lauren Kaplan’s work.  Her work has appeared in atHome Magazine, New England Home, and Westport Magazine.  She’s also recently been featured with an incredible window display at Bergdorf Goodman!

 

Color Obsession: Yellow

The color yellow makes me think of summer and the warmth of the sun.

The color yellow makes me think of summer and the warmth of the sun.  It’s an energetic and vibrant shade that, I have to admit, I’m just lately being drawn to.  It’s not a color I typically present to clients, maybe because I grew up surrounded by it in my mom’s house.  I feel good when I’m wearing yellow, I just don’t often design with it.  Now, however, I find myself liking yellow more and more.  Not a pale yellow, but a bright, saturated hue ideally suited to long summer days!

1.  Vionnet Spring/Summer 2012

2.  Gracie Studio Wall Panel

3.  Isabella Dining Chair

4.  Stenciled Staircase via the style files

5.  Little Angel 318 from Benjamin Moore

6.  Fendi Fall 2012

7.  Yellow Field by Vincent van Gogh

 

Snakeskin

Snakeskin is a big texture I like to use in small doses.

Snakeskin is a big texture I love to use.  It’s not something to use in abundance, but in small doses snakeskin is very chic and trendy.  It definitely creates a look!  And with all this faux stuff available, snakeskin texture isn’t limited to belts and boots.  For accessories and accents, snakeskin gives a modern, edgy look.  You can find it in a variety of colors and patterns, but one thing all snakeskin has in common is a rich feel that people can’t help but want to touch.

Jimmy Choo Irena Shoe – My every day go to shoe!
Snakeskin sunglasses from Lanvin.

 

Python belt by Lara Bohinc.
Yves Saint Laurent snakeskin cuff.

The same approach to using snakeskin in fashion applies to interior design.  A little goes a log way and packs a big punch. Snakeskin isn’t for everyone, but it’s a great textile and medium to bring out a bit of daring — very graphic and sexy.

Boa vinyl wall covering from Osborne & Little
Snakeskin lamp by Robin Brooks NY
Two’s Company Ottoman
Living room with snake skin accents. Photo by Eric Roth.
Ashley Stark’s Entry – Vintage snakeskin bench.

 

S.R. Gambrel

One of my favorite design firms, New York-basked S.R. Gambrel was founded by Steven Gambrel in 1995.

One of my favorite design firms, New York-basked S.R. Gambrel, was founded by Steven Gambrel in 1995.  Gambrel studied architecture at the University of Virginia and has had his designs featured in publications such as Elle Decor, House and Garden, New York Magazine, and many others.  He also recently published his first book featuring his own design projects titled Steven Gambrel:  Time and Place.

Steven Gambrel: Time and Place

S.R. Gambrel’s designs are bold and masculine with no reservations.  His work’s unexpected grandeur comes from a flair for pulling elements together.  He uses an eclectic mix of pieces for dynamic results.  I’ve found that seeing things from Gambrel’s architectural view makes me a better designer.

A great combination of colors in this Southampton space.

Steven Gambrel’s incredible interiors often include his own custom designed furniture, rugs, and lighting.  He carries his love of modern married with traditional to his furnishings.  Gambrel’s designs show careful attention to the impact of details.  Each piece could be an antique or found item.  Urban Electric recently launched a collaboration with Steven Gambrel featuring a collection that celebrates hand-made American craftsmanship.  The line is elegant and modern with pieces that are functional and practical but still exhibit interesting scale and attention to detail.

Malplaquet by S.R. Gambrel for Urban Electric
The Grayfoy pendant by S.R Gambrel – The hand-blown violet glass is subtle yet so sophisticated.
Stanton Chair: The contrast channel and button detail is key!
Lighting by S.R. Gambrel.  Gorgeous!

Color Obsession: Turquoise

Turquoise is a summery hue that really resonates with me.

Turquoise is a summery hue that really resonates with me.  It’s clean, fresh, and works great as a little accent or a bigger splash of color!

1.  Gracie Studio hand painted wallpaper

2.  Rhys Chair from Anthropologie

3.  Turquoise necklace by Alexis Bittar

4.  Alexander McQueen

5.  Quadrille Fabric

6.  Turquoise seas in Tekek, Malaysia.   photo credit

7.  10th Street Tufted Sofa

8.  Christian Louboutin 20th Anniversary Unzip 100 Suede Sandal

9.  Ceramic Vase lamp from Vaughan

Lunch with Barbara Sallick of Waterworks

A couple of weeks ago, I had the fantastic opportunity to have lunch with Barbara Sallick, owner of Waterworks.

Barbara Sallick

A couple of weeks ago, I had the fantastic opportunity to have lunch with Barbara Sallick, owner of Waterworks.  It was really nice to meet someone so inventive and to be able to pick her brain.  I found sitting with her and talking woman to woman to be so delightful.  As someone who focuses on creating interiors, it’s fascinating to me to speak to someone who instead focuses on creating a product.  What Waterworks does is very specific, constructing items that must be precise down the the millimeter while maintaining the high standards of elegance for the product.  They really must think of everything throughout this clever process.

Waterworks was founded as a plumbing supply company in 1925 by Sam Grogins, Barbara Sallick’s father.  In 1978, Barbara and her husband Robert set out to bring their vision of beauty and perfect performance to a part of home design that often lacked attention.  Their son Peter later joined the company and Waterworks became an industry leader with a well-deserved reputation for craftsmanship and design.  With the growth of Waterworks, the company hasn’t lost its vision or mom and pop feel.  They truly listen to designers and have honed in on an ideal balance of functionality and gorgeous design, inspired by history rather than trends.

Henry Collection. Great profile and industrial flare; the column also comes with a reeded texture.
Voltaire free standing tub.
Humboldt Four Leg Washstand: Great size for a powder room!
Tampico Brush: Very cool accessory for the bath!

What I love about Waterworks is the diverse styles they offer.  They don’t just offer fittings, they offer an entire bath experience that truly has something for everyone.  The Studio Line, for example, is very accessible and well done.  The Henry line is designed so beautifully, with so many different facets.  Honestly, I can see uses for Waterworks elements in the kitchen and beyond.

Thermostat Valve: A more modern approach and my favorite for childrens' rooms.
Worth Stationary Mirror: Available in white too! Love it!
Gilbert Light Fixture: Great to mix with others in a kitchen.
Drake metal and linen stool. Who says this has to be used in a bathroom?

If you want to also pick Barbara’s brain about her thoughts on design you can access her excellent ideas through her blog, The Perfect Bath.  Barbara is also the author of two books:  The Definitive Guide to Designing the Perfect Bath (self published, 2006) as well as Waterworks: Inventing Bath Style (Clarkson Potter, 2001).