Here are some of my favorite examples of using brass in interior design!
Brass was a popular finish in the 1970s on furniture and accessories, and in the 1980s brass fittings, plumbing, and hardware were mainstream choices until the clean look of polished nickel edged it out of common use. Lately brass has made a comeback, and not in an over-the-top, opulent manner. Brass can be tactfully done to add warmth and elegance to a space. It can be chic, lend an art deco feel to a room, and have a visually grounding effect. Similar to using gold accessories, brass can be that pop of something extra in a beautiful interior. Here are some of my favorite examples of using brass in interior design!
1. Clarendon Wall Mirror from Crate & Barrel2. Kismet & Karma Brass Tiles by Alloy
Risotto is an Italian dish that developed in the regions between the Alps and Tuscany, and is now appreciated all over the world.
Years ago I found an article on risotto, which described step by step how to prepare this delicious dish. Risotto is an Italian dish that developed in the regions between the Alps and Tuscany, and is now appreciated all over the world.
The type of rice best suited for cooking a good risotto is the Carnaroli, but Vialone Nano and Arborio are good choices as well. Depending on the ingredients used, risotto can be a first course, a complete meal, or a dessert. It can easily be prepared in about 30 minutes.
Carnaroli RiceVialone Nano RiceArborio Rice
The base for a risotto is made using one of the three types of rice mentioned above, oil or butter, and a battulo, which is an ingredient used t0 flavor a recipe and can include chopped onion, garlic, celery and/or carrot. You also need a cooking liquid and one or more types of cheese.
With this base you can make many different risotto dishes depending on your choice of ingredients such as beef, chicken or pork, fish or seafood, vegetables, legumes, or truffles.
Making a risotto is as easy as following six simple steps. I like to make risotto with seafood. The following recipe also includes one of my favorite vegetables, asparagus.
Risotto with Shrimp and Asparagus
Risotto with Shrimp and Asparagus
1 1/2 cups of rice
1 lb of large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 onion, finely chopped
1 cup white wine
4 cups seafood stock
1 bunch of asparagus
1/2 cup finely chopped basil and parsley
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Prepare the shrimp by removing the shell and deveining, if necessary. Rinse under cold water, pat dry, and set aside.
Set a few asparagus stalks aside to use as a garnish. Cut the rest of the asparagus into 1-inch pieces on the diagonal, discarding the bottoms. Steam all of the asparagus for 5 minutes, then place under cold water to stop cooking. Pat dry and set aside.
Place the seafood stock in a saucepan and heat, keeping it warm while you begin the risotto.
In a deep skillet, warm the olive oil. Add the onion (which is the battulo in this recipe) and sauté till translucent.
Add the rice and toast for 3 minutes .
Deglaze the pan with the wine and cook until the liquid evaporates. Add the warmed stock in 1/2 cup increments, allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding more. Continue to cook, stirring, until the rice is tender and creamy, about 20 minutes in total.
Add the shrimp and cook till pink. Add the cut asparagus.
Add finishing ingredients, including the butter, cheese, basil, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Stir well to combine. Place the few whole asparagus on top of the dish with some parsley sprigs for garnish.
Serve this dish with your favorite crusty bread and a salad. Enjoy!
As a design resource, 1stdibs is a treasure trove of inspiration. I love being able to shop sources all over the world for everything from furniture and jewelry to fashion and lighting.
As a design resource, 1stdibs is a treasure trove of inspiration. I love being able to shop sources all over the world for everything from furniture and jewelry to fashion and lighting. When shopping for clients, I can focus on specific categories, like antiques. In addition to everything you can put in a home, 1stdibs features homes themselves. Looking for an estate in the French countryside or a luxury high rise apartment in the city? You can find it on 1stdibs! There are so many unique and beautiful things from a huge variety of dealers. I never get tired of browsing this site.
Unique dining chairs.Jade, coral, pearl, and gold necklace.Large Sciolari chandelier.Bill Blass — A fashion icon!
With the site’s latest updates, it has become even more interactive, making it an incredible tool. When you create an account with 1stdibs, you can save items to your virtual portfolio to make them easy to find for future reference. Even if the items in your portfolio are purchased, they stay there for you to refer to, be inspired by, or simply covet.
A pair of 1970’s black glazed table lamps.Art Deco tray by Laurent Llaurensou19th Century French Napoleon III Salon ChairSolid brass French sunburst mirror.
Shopping online isn’t always the best option. Being able to see an object in person, touch it, and get a truly accurate idea of colors and textures can be an important part of finding just the right piece. The 1stdibs New York Design Center, located at 200 Lexington Ave., is a mecca of design, filled with curated booths and the opportunity to check things out in person.
If you’re not already using 1stdibs, you won’t regret setting up an account now. You can also find them on Facebook, where they feature specific objects, hold giveaways, and highlight designers.
A wine cellar doesn’t have to be obvious, with grape vines on the walls or wine barrel tables.
One of my clients is in the process of adding a wine cellar to their home. While they are working with a wine cellar professional on this project, they have consulted with me on architectural elements like flooring, paint, and lighting. With a 10,000 bottle capacity, this wine cellar is no small undertaking! I find their plans for the wine cellar really interesting and inspiring.
As I watched their excitement over the design of the wine cellar, I thought of my ideal vision for such a space. I like the idea of incorporating traditional wine cellar materials like wood and stone, while adapting these things for a more modern look. A wine cellar doesn’t have to be obvious, with grape vines on the walls or wine barrel tables.
Traditional, but unconventional.I love the catwalk above this wine cellar.A large, sleek space that is spare and functional.
I also like the idea of making the wine cellar more than just a storage space. Rather than keeping the wine out of sight in a place where the host or hostess retrieves it alone, why not incorporate some seating to turn the area into a gathering place? Being able to sit with a a friend or two (or several!) surrounded by great wine sounds like such a relaxing way to socialize.
Wine Station wine cellar, by MAP Architects.A more modern space.
If you like the idea of making the wine cellar a place to spend time with friends and family, it’s not much of a stretch to take the entire place out of the cellar. With modern technology making climate control possible in any part of the home, there’s no reason to confine a beautiful wine cellar to the basement. You can capture the wine cellar look and feel in a not-so-obvious spot, such as a room divider or a nook you aren’t really using. It’s an appealing and practical approach to create a usable wine area in a more accessible part of the home.
This would be such a cool place to spend time!Accessible, functional, and beautiful.Amazing kitchen with open wine “cellar.”Warm and lofty.Even a small area can be a sophisticated spot to display and enjoy wine.
What would your ideal wine cellar (or room!) look like?
Interior design firm Atelier AM is composed of husband and wife team Michael and Alexandra Misczynski.
Interior design firm Atelier AM is composed of husband and wife team Michael and Alexandra Misczynski. Based in Los Angeles, their client list includes Tom Cruise and Katy Holmes as well as Jane and Michael Eisner. After only ten years in the design field, they have earned an incredible reputation for stunning design. They are an amazing duo and a powerhouse of a team.
I love Atelier AM’s worldly, well lived in interiors. The way they use scale and materials ranging from wood to iron is very clever. Their use of reclaimed elements looks fresh, designed for today as opposed to period pieces.
I love how Atelier AM starts with a neutral base and adds fabulous pieces of furniture. The decoration is very simple, but with handsome, rich materials. The interiors are collected and full of history.
Alexandra and Michael’s designs have a chameleon quality, able to adapt to the surrounding environment while staying true to their earthy, organic style. Whether they’re designing an apartment in NYC or a loggia in California, they succeed in creating the ideal look for each project.
One of my favorite design books is Atelier AM’s Interiors. You can also find contact information on their website as well as many more images of their work online through the numerous design sites, blogs, and magazines that have featured this talented team.
Upholstered chairs are a great way to bring a fun, personalized aspect to any room.
Upholstered chairs are a great way to bring a fun, personalized aspect to any room. By creating your own custom chair, you let the piece take on its own personality. With a wide variety of sizes, styles, and fabrics, you can make the chair your own. Combining fabrics and materials and adding details changes the pitch of the furniture. A traditional wing chair with some modern elements can completely change the mood of the room. Chairs don’t have to exactly match; there’s a lot of room to play. I love designing chairs for my clients and seeing the way they really complete the final project! Here are some examples of upholstered chairs I really like.
With the start of Spring this week, the 11th annual Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens is a must see.
With the start of Spring this week, the 11th annual Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens is a must see. The beauty of the orchids, one more exotic than the next, is a fascinating experience to behold.
A glimpse of what the Orchid Show has to offer.
The show, which runs from March 2 to April 22, 2013, is a spectacular exhibit that displays thousands of orchids in the country’s largest curated show. The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory has been transformed into a lush rainforest where the orchids are displayed in an amazing array of colors, shapes, sizes and textures. Tens of thousands of blooms stand out amid stately palms and exotic tropical leaves.
This year they have incorporated into the show Hurricane Sandy storm damaged trees as a design element and an acknowledgement of how orchids grow in the wild. The New York Botanical Gardens has orchids from all over the world, there are more than 7,000 orchids representing 3,075 different varieties in their collection.
The Orchid Show aims to display these gorgeous flowers as they would grow in the wild.
There also are special programs you can attend, including orchid care demonstrations, talks, and tours, to name a few. Located in the Bronx, New York, it is well worth a trip to experience the Orchid Show. Enjoy more photos of these mysterious flowers!
Darwin’s Star Orchid
This year’s show includes a rare event — the Darwin’s Star Orchid in bloom. The Botanical Garden rarely gets to share this flower with visitors while it is in gorgeous full bloom. Visitors often look for this flower, not only because of its elegant beauty but because of its associate with Charles Darwin. Legend has it, Charles Darwin was sent one of these orchids. When he examined it, Darwin theorized there must be an insect with a long proboscis capable of reaching the nectar at the bottom of this long, narrow flower and, in the process, enabling the orchid to be pollinated. No such insect could be found, however, and many scientists ridiculed Darwin for his unsupported theory. It wasn’t until decades later that a hawk moth fitting Darwin’s exact description was found to be drinking from and pollinating these orchids late at night when their activity had been completely unobserved. Darwin’s Star Orchid turned out to be a perfect example of co-evolution.
Black Buddha cross with SpellboundThe Nun’s Habit
To learn more about the show and its special programs or to plan a visit, go to the New York Botanical Garden website or find them on Facebook.
My favorite black and white photographs have to be those of iconic celebrities.
One of my favorite things to do is find just the right artwork for a client’s home. I’m always on the lookout for a sculpture, painter, or photographer whose work would be a perfect fit for a particular client or space. There are certain types of works I seem to naturally gravitate toward, such as black and white photography. The dramatic contrast of this medium is something I have always loved.
Zebra photo by Jenvanw at Deviant ArtPhoto by Annie LeibovitzLipsVintage dancer photo
My favorite black and white photographs, however, have to be those of iconic celebrities. These instantly recognizable faces are legendary in their own right, but when captured in a black and white photo, whether it’s a posed shot or a spontaneous moment, the result is a fascinating piece of art.
Elvis Presley, a major music icon.Sophia Loren, photographed in Rome by David “Chim” SeymourClassic Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany’sJames Dean: Ultra sultry and one of my favorites!The one and only Marilyn Monroe.Another favorite of mine, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, photographed by Ron Galella.
In fashion and design, lucite accents add a modern chic touch.
Lately I have really been loving lucite. For me it evokes the 1970s, a decade that I could happily live in forever. In fashion and design, lucite accents add a modern chic touch. It is strong, crystal clear, and easy to shape into any number of things. Because lucite is nearly invisible, it brings brightness to a space without visually cluttering up a room. It can work with any color and, when done correctly, looks so classy. Here are some examples of lucite pieces that caught my eye.
The current issue of At Home in Fairfield County features a kitchen I designed for a client in Darien.
The current issue of At Home in Fairfield County features a kitchen I designed for a client in Darien. This was a great project with so many fantastic elements. The goal was to design a functional, yet beautiful, kitchen, suited to the owner’s love of cooking and family life with a young child and two dogs. With that in mind, we chose materials that look great but are durable and easy to maintain. In addition, we opened up the area so the owner could enjoy conversation with friends and family while cooking. The kitchen features two islands, a polished marble backdrop, and a gorgeous butler’s pantry. If you haven’t seen this issue, pick up a copy today!
2. Kismet & Karma Brass Tiles by Alloy
4. Brass staircase railing by Kelly Wearstler, image via Elle Decor
8. Iacoli & McAllister Brass Pendant Lamp
12. Brass Door Handle, image via Dwell
