Houston Shopping

I lived in Houston many moons ago and I forgot about all of the great furniture shopping in town.

I was back visiting a week ago and I took some time out to go down to the Museum District Antique showrooms.  And I found all kinds of great finds. Beautiful washed wood tables, lounge chairs, and accessories. Incredible European country antiques and lots of one of a kind iron architectural salvage pieces. I ended up buying an antique chandelier and a dinning table.  A very "Varanda" elegant, distressed wood feeling that has such southern charm.   Not budget shopping - but so worth it.

So don't give up on Houston.  If you know where to go, it's a gem.

www.graydoorantiques.com

www.chateaudomingue

 

Bae Sehwa

Furniture or Art?

Korean artist and furniture designer Bae Sehwa is on my style radar.  Im quite enamored with his unique wood furniture. I was recently invited to a private showing of his furniture and I was instantly in love with the soft curves and simple lines.  My favorite piece is his meditation bench ( shown below ) because it truly does have a very zen and quiet visual feeling.

His rare and beautiful handmade pieces made out of walnut have cause a sensation at the Miami Art Basil and the Dubai Furniture Shows. They are objects of desire that only a few can afford. I can't wait to see what else he comes up with next.

So the question remains...art? or furniture?

www.sehwabae.com

Pitt-Pollaro

Have you heard of Pitt-Pollaro yet?

I have been very verbose about my distaste of cheap home products sold by actors and singers jumping on the branding band wagon, but I have to say this is not the same.  Designed by Pitt, made by Pollaro is a new company combining the creativity of actor Brad Pitt and the luxury manufacturing of Frank Pollaro. It is actually cool and unique stuff, not the typical junk sold with the face of a famous actor.  As a matter of fact, you will not even find a photo of the hunky Brad on the web site because the furniture is taking center stage.

Designing luxury and unique clothing, jewelry and furniture is hard. Not everyone can do it and most actor brands are nothing more than copies of original luxury brands. Most actors venture into these fields for financial opportunities. But we all know Brad Pitt does not exacly need a second job, so its evident that he trully loves design and cares about what is put out in his name.

Good job Mr B.P.   Yo have really good design skills and I applaud them.

www.pitt-pollaro.com

Mirrored Beds

 The drama of a mirrored bed!

Some say they are feminine, some say they are Hollywood.  I say ...super sexy. Total drama! And I love them. Mirror is a beautiful material and it brakes the rules of traditional wood furniture. It's an elegant alternative and great way to add some brilliance to a dull room.  Nostalgic, bold, sensual, dramatic.  

Any way you choose to describe it, a mirrored bed is a show stopper and a great place to dream.

 http://www.themirroredbedcompany.com

Mirrored Bathroom Vanities

Tired of wood vanities?

Mirrored front bathroom vanities are so elegant and a beautiful alternative to standard cabinetry. Mirror is a great material for a bathroom because it is water resistant and easy to clean.  It is also reflective and creates a light and airy feel to a any room.  

If you can't afford to custom make a new mirrored vanity, consider buying a standard mirrored cabinet and convert in to your bathroom space. Its a great way to update, sophisticate and make your bathroom a wow spot!

http://www.horchow.com/store/catalog/templates/HP3.jhtml?itemId=cat8330731&parentId=cat14530734&masterId=cat000001http://www.horchow.com/store/catalog/templates/HP3.jhtml?itemId=cat8330731&parentId=cat14530734&masterId=cat000001

Biedermeier

Biedermeier was a design style of furniture  from Germany during the years 1815–1848.  After the defeat of Napoleon, people rejected the French Empire style and longed for peace and simplicity. And this desire was reflected in the era and Biedermeier style which was characteristic of clean lines and minimal ornamentation.

The 1980's had a resurgence of Biedermier style and it because the look of urban homes in New York  and London.  Today it is a rare design choice and not in vogue.  But can I say....I still love the lines of a classic Beidermeier sette.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/64810/Biedermeier-style

Cordless Lamps

Cordeless Lamps have arrived!

The day has come when we can move our lamps around without having to worry about the electric outlet location.  We can take our lamps outside or put them anywhere we want.  We have been cut free of the cord!

Cordless lighting is amazing for the hospitality industry where they are used often in restaurants, outdoor terraces and entry lobbies.  And of course they can be used in residential applications too. Imagine setting a beautiful outdoor dinner table and having small cordless lamps to decorate and illuminate your party. And imagine taking your lamps on your next camping trip!

Of course not all lamps are available cordless but it's a start to have some models and some companies manufacturing the technology.  Options of solar systems, chargers and batteries with long lives create these modern wonders.

I love great design and great ideas!

http://www.modernlantern.com

Moroccan Lights

I have been to Morocco twice and its such an inspiring coutry filled with beautiful architectural details. One of the most memorable features are the great light fixtures and chandeliers that create so much atmosphere at night.

Moroccan lanterns capture an exotic flavor and fantasy of shadows.  They exude soothing, glowing and warm light that feels magic at night. They are usually made out of delicate and intricately perforated metals and some have colored glass.  

WIthout changing your entire home, moroccan lights can be bought and used as the perfect accent to accent your terrace or patio.  

Contemporary Outdoor Furniture

I love the clean lines of contemporary outdoor furniture, and I recently discovered the fabulous Ego Paris outdoor furniture line.

The company believes in the concept of "my furniture" and they custom color or help create custom features for their products. Over 300 colors are available for each piece and each collection has interchangable pieces that can do double duty. Great scale, design and functional style make Ego a line to work with.   

If you haven't seen it yet, take a look at their web site.  Good stuff!

http://www.egoparis.com/

MAKE UP VANITIES

When you think of make up vanities, old black and white movies come to mind.  They seem glamorous and old school. From another time.

The old concept of a proper piece of furniture in the bedroom on which to pull up a stool and sit down to apply make up is gone.  Most women today put our perfume bottles and make up brushes away in drawers and keep their jewelry in a safe.  And since clean and natural makeup is considered sexy,less time is used applying rouge and rollers.

Either way, make up vanities have a sexy look and a cool vibe about them.  I like them. And little girls all over the world still dream about leaving pearls, fresh flowers and glass beauty elixir bottles on a make up table.  Dream on ...

 

Urban Rustic

There is nothing "rustic" about the trend of Urban Rustic.

Im not talking about Colorado log furniture.  I'm talking about refined, exquisite pieces of wood converted into luxury dining tables and unique pieces of art.  Wood dripped in silver to create one of a kind side tables.   Reclaimed old pieces of American Walnut converted into beds that feel primitive, modern, masculine  and elegant. Urban Rustic is all about the warmth of wood worked into skillful contemporary, unique pieces of art.

It all starts with finding the perfect slabs of  wood and selecting the best ones to be worked on. These hand selected slabs are then hand honed and waxed to create a soft texture and feel very unlike machine made furniture.  Each piece is unique and no two pieces are identical since the wood slabs dictate the shapes.  Mixed with contemporary furniture, these pieces of art create spectacular combinations making a room look warm, unique and found.

One of my current favorite manufacturers of this style is Hudson Furniture.  Their showroom in NYC is fantastic and is a great place to indulge into amazing.  

http://www.hudsonfurnitureinc.com

Pastel Colored Patios

Soft and romantic pastel colors are perfect for the summer.

You don't have to design your whole house in overly feminine colors to achieve a lovely romantic feel.  You can simply select a temporary space in your terrace and create an oasis of fresh softness. Cabana curtains, throw pillows, flower pots, throw blankets, and candles all help create that ultra fem feel of Sunday summer afternoons.  

So before all of the great weather is gone, think pink lemonade and cup cakes. Get your romance on and decorate your terrace in pastel colors.

 

The Fabulous French Louis Chairs

Oh! The fabulous French Louis chairs...

They are classic, fantastic and have been invented and reinvented so many times. Unlike other antiques that go in and out of style, the Louis chairs are still current as long as you reupholster them correctly.  Strip off the old damask, get rid of the traditional silk stripes.  Today's antique Louis chairs are being upholstered in bold bright fabrics or refinished in shiny poly chrome paint finishes.

Great design is lasting!  So don't be afraid to us an old chair in a cool new way. Just give it a new vibrant color and have fun. 

 

 

 

POOL TABLES

No matter what your style, no matter what your taste, somewhere out there  a pool table is waiting for your game room.

The fact that we can custom make, design and create any style we want, makes pool tables the ultimate conversation pieces and the funnest piece of furniture in a home. If you can dream it, someone can make it and there are some wild ones out there.

I don't play pool.  So why this blog entry today?  Because I am doing research and selecting a table for an interior design client and I came upon these fun pieces that made me smile.

http://www.mitchell-custom.com

JT FURNITURE

We know Justin Timberlake has got the voice and the moves, but does he have home decor style?

The word is out that Justin is collaborating with celebrity interior designer Estee Stanley on a new members only E commerce company HomeMint, similar to One Kings Lane.

They designed a collection of home goods and accessories, and will also offer one of a kind items as well as art.  JT was quoted as saying, "HomeMint combines my love of interior design with my passion for technology and innovation to create a brand that not only offers quality products, but also a personalized shopping experience."  

If he is as successful at this as he is as everything else the home decor market better watch out!

https://launch.homemint.com/

To Swing

Ahhhh...to swing in the wind!

Everyone loves a swing.  The sensation of free falling in the air.  Maybe it is a feeling leftover from when your mom rocked you as a baby.  But there is no reason to give it up as an adult.  There are so many outdoor swings and daybed designs that are cool, sophisticated and that take you back to your inner child.

I have used old carved Indonesian daybeds, cut the legs off and hung them from tension wire to create beautiful unique patio swings.  They give a soft swing that will gently rock you to sleep out on a shaded terrace.

When was the last time you felt the wind in your hair?

Light Up Your Life

Really cool furniture, with fiber optics and illumination  seem to be showing up more and more.

First it was illuminated disco dance floors and then planners started using white plastic tables and inserting lights to illuminate them for night events.  It seems the trend has caught on and modern furniture manufacturers are making all kinds of fun pieces that illuminate in your home and patio. Some are made out of light colored translucent onyx and some are made out of resins. 

Light up your life with some of the pieces.

 

Sitting Pretty

It's easy to sit pretty out in the sun these days because there are so many choices in cool chaise lounges.

So before you go out and buy the same old, same old chaise lounge, have some fun and do a little research on what is now available.  Great otdoor furniture can easily be found and stores like Janus et Cie.

 www.janusetcie.com

CIRCA FURNITURE

One of my favorite furniture stores in LA is Circa.

The owner / designer, my  friend Jamie Adler, followed the steps of her famous mother Phyllis Morris and created an amazing line of  glamorous furniture.  Circa has touch of vintage, a bit of glitz, and a whole lot of cool.   And if you can't find exactly what you need, Jamie can help design and create custom pieces and finishes.  All of her manufacturing is done in LA to maintain the highest quality control.

The "Starlette Banquette" is one of my favorite pieces.

http://circafurniture.com

Knoll Studios

Knoll Studios is one of my favorite furniture lines because they have stood the test of time and continue to be cool and fantastic.

During design school, I did a short four or five month internship at the Knoll Studio in Atlanta, Georgia.  I learned so much about classic modern design and about the mid century designers and their amazing lives.  I hold dear to my heart all of the old chairs like the Barcelona, the Bertoia Diamond and the Platner.  

For over 70 years the company has been producing some of the most original chairs and they have patented many of the classic designs of architects such as Robert Venturi and Mies Van der Rohe. Today many of their classic chairs are knocked off and replicas can be seen everywhere in stores like Design Within Reach.   For today's lifestyle, they have created some of the best office furniture and executive seating on the market.

Knoll is one of the building blocks for interior designers and today continues to be one of the seating innovators and developers.  

www.knoll.com

On the Fly

The "Fly" is a new fantastic creation by Zanotta Furniture.

The innovative chair ( if it can be called that ) brings a futuristic flavor to the whole concept of seating. Fly is not the ordinary chair or lounge chair. It can’t even be defined properly. It is an unusual seating solution for those who like to feel different and want something cool fun.

It is a simple  combination of carbon fiber and woven fabric. The result is exceptional. The carbon fiber frame provides support and a sturdy frame while the fabric provides comfort and allows you to experiment different sitting positions. You can buy one in the Zanotta stores in NY or Miami and the cost is about $ 9,000 usd.

I want to be on the fly!  Looks so comfy and cool.

 

A crashed Ferrari

Have you ever driven a Ferrari?   Have you ever crashed a Ferrari?

Designer Charlie Molinelli did both!  And when he was done he had the Ferrari placed into a custom designed box and made it into a coffee table.

Charlie says its like keeping an old hero alive.  I think its a creative way to keep old memories alive.  

Glad Charlie wasn't the one on display after the crash!

Hand Blown Glass Chandeliers

Have you ever considered a glass chandelier or light fixture?

Nothing is more breathtaking than a hand-blown glass chandelier. It fills a room with elegance and shines like a star. The beautiful irridescent qualities of glass combined with lighting create such magic and beautiful light in any space.

One of my current favorite glass chandelier manufacturers is Wired.  They have some incredible and very unique pieces.

 http://www.wired-designs.com

McKinnon & Harris terrace furniture

One of my all time favorite outdoor furniture lines is McKinnon & Harris.  

There is something very elegant about the lines and proportions of all McKinnon & Harris furniture. And of course their quality is unsurpassed.  But I think I like the collection because it's playful yet old school classic.  It has a timelessness about it that evokes an English Manor meets American East Coast feel. 

I'm currently doing two homes with McKinnon Harris and I just can't wait to install!

http://www.mckinnonharris.com

Semi Precious Stone Lamps

One of my favorite types of lamps?   Semi precious stone lamps.

Each one is unique because they are made with natural semi precious stones such as rock crystal, agate, amethyst and quartz.   Mounted on simple frames of bronze, glass or acrylic, these stones shine and create beautiful light when lit at night. Semi precious stone lamps have a very masculine feel to them and carry a presence in a room.   They combine the function of providing light with the aesthetics of an accessory.

One of my favorite places to find beautiful new stone agate lamps is at Jan Showers showrooms. But if you are looking for vintage pieces, take a look at Craign Van Den Bullen showroom in New York. 

http://www.janshowers.com

http://www.craigvandenbrulle.com/html/index.html

 

Tribal Moroccan Rugs

When I say Moroccan rugs most people automatically think "colorful flat weave kilims."

But my favorite kind of Moroccan rug is the Beni Ouaraum, which is an Atlas Mountain Berbere tribal rug made out of sheep wool that has a thick fluffy pile.  It's super soft and fuzzy, so probably not the ideal choice for people with babies and small pets.  But it's a perfect bedroom rug and an gives and incredible sophisticated masculine feel to any room.

The patterns on the Beni Ouaraum rugs are fun, geometric and almost look childlike.  Each rug is a primitive abstraction that is completely original to the weaver of the rug. The colors will vary in creams, taupes, grays, browns and blacks, but occasionally a few bright threads might be interjected into a design. Borders and exact repeats are rare in these rugs and despite being an old traditional style, they lean towards the modern ethnic feel.

Because no two are alike and because of the irregular sizing, good quality Beni Ouaraum rugs are extremely sought after by designers and are not cheap.  But they add such a traveled and cool look to a room that they are worth the search.

I recently purchased a large scale extremely unique Beni Ouaraum for a home I'm working on and I cant wait for the project to be installed so I can see  the rug in place!

Chelsea Harbour Design Center

Do you ever shop in London?

London is one of my favorite cities in the world and I love shopping and hanging out there.  If you are a serious design shopper (like myself) you must stop in to the Chelsea Harbour Design Center to catch up on what's available and stylish across The Pond.    

Just like any U.S. Design Center, Chelsea Harbour houses luxury furniture, fabric and accessory showrooms that cater to the trade and bespoke furniture for unique projects. But because the European aesthetics are different, usually the colors trends and styles will vary.  

There is amazing furniture and antique shopping in London, but a stop at Chelsea Harbour is a must!

http://www.dcch.co.uk

Is Summer Really Over?

Summer may officially be "calendar over", but it's still with me.

I don't like living in cold or snowy weather so I seek the sun and live in warm places. Because of that, Im fanatic about patio furniture.  I love being outside on a terrace and close to the beach.

Patio furniture shopping is always a bit dissapointing because there are lots of cheap and extremely ugly knock offs out on the market so I am always excited when I come across fantastic designs that I can use outside and inspire me to lounge.

This year I'm in to B&B Italias new Crinoline and Canasta Collections.  With a modern feel and clean lines these groups are so pretty and casual and they exude beach in such a fabulous way.  The Crinoline chair reminds me of the old wicker Peacock chairs from the 70's reinvented for today.

What do you think?  Love it as much as I do?

http://www.bebitalia.it

Petrified Wood

I'm currently enamored with slabs of petrified wood.

Petrified wood is the remains of fossilized vegetation and trees. It is the result of a tree having turned completely into stone by underground decomposition, when wood becomes buried under sediment and lava.  Due to a lack of oxygen the tree turns to stone yet retains it's original wood look.

Petrified wood can be harvested all over the world but the larger tree diameters make the best and most exotic slabs.  It is a very masculine and timeless finish that can transform any design. 

And if your budget does not allow for a slab, you can always find the small petrified wood pieces and use it as a small side table.  

 

 

A Great Carpenter

One of the most important assets a designer can have in their arsenal?  A great carpenter on their team who does unique wood finishes and can translate a designers ideas and drawings into reality.

We use wood in so many creations from cabinets, to built-ins to custom furniture pieces.  It is such a versataile material and can be used in many ways.   The artistry of a good carpenter who knows how to manipulate the texture and feel of wood can make or break a designer's ideas.   Custom designs require the expertise of master carpenters and it takes years of trial and error for a wood worker to reach acceptable designer levels.  Custom wire brush textures, antique finished and painted layers all take time and patience to create.  They are much more complex than the basic staining of wood.

My advice?  Once you find a master carpenter you like working with, make him your friend!  My best friend's name is Mario.

How sexy is your desk?

How sexy is your desk?

Is your desk cluttered and filled with junk?  Is it stuck in a corner or completely covered in mess? If so, then you probably need more storage solutions and a better desk.  Planning your work space is important because work is good and good things happen there. It is your command center and a place you should feel totally in control.    I spend a few hours a day at my desk and I know that having my space functional and organized helps me work better.  Should this important space be memorable?

The basics of  designing a work space are file storage, out of view printer and scanner areas as well as good lighting.  Book shelving, placement of all electronics, and a pretty, yet comfortable work chair. But the extra mile is to make it sexy and completely personalize the space by having incredible artwork, and personal accessories that tell your story.

My vote for all time sexiest desk?  Bill Clinton's.

Shagreen

Shagreen?

A lot of people do not know what it is.  It's the use of ray or shark skin.  It has been around for centuries but most associated with the Art Deco styles.   The skins have small rough bubbles that make the texture very tactile and appealing to touch.  You can upholster anything or create any shape or form.  It tends to be a luxury material because of the high cost.  But you can buy small items such as boxes or accessories if you just want to add a touch of the texture in a room.

I enjoy finding shagreen 80's style tables and night stands in vintage stores.  They look so updated and current and have a very sophisticated feel to them. If you are in the market for these vintage finds, try and find the old Karl Springer pieces.  

Enjoy your hunt for Shagreen.

My Fabulous Furniture on One Kings Lane

Have you been to the amazing web site of One Kings Lane?

It is a great new way to shop for designer home products at discounted rates.  Each week the curators find collections from different designers and put together selected items that inspire you to get your home looking great.   Each week it's different and once a sale ends the items are removed and a new collection is put up.  It's great fun and a whole new way to shop.

My line of furniture, featuring items I have collected from around the world on my shopping expeditions, will be featured starting tomorrow morning.  I hope you take a few minutes to log on, get registered and preview it.  It's a group of handmade, unique furniture and accessories that you would expect to see in my interior design projects at a discounted rate.

Pass the word on ... forward this to any of your friends who you think might be interested.

Have fun and tell me what you think.  I love hearing from you!

http://oklsandraespinet.cocodot.com/

www.onekingslane.com

Kisses to All

Sensual, luscious red lips have inspired men ... and furniture designers throughout the years!

But the most famous has to be the "Bocca Lip" sofa designed by Studio 65 in 1972.  It is once again being produced and is currently made out of lightly textured red resin plastic which makes it perfect for both indoor or outdoor use and is easy to clean.

How much more fun can you have on a sofa?

Kisses to all!

Glass Furniture and Accessories

Glass is a wonderful and beautiful material for interior design applications.

We have all seen antique glass door knobs.  But how about glass lamps, chandeliers?  or glass tables and chairs? Or glass counter tops or doors? Or a glass tub or sink?  There are so many things you can do with this glossy and durable material.  Unlike wood furniture, glass will not scratch or requiere polishing. Glass is very a sophisticated finish and provides a nice change in textures that reflects light in a room.

Be creative and think of unique ways in which you can incorporate glass in your space.

Cool Recycled Cardboard Furniture

From cheap, to artsy, to green!

We may think of cardboard as cheap and disposable, but cardboard is an affordable material that’s light, versatile and now it's being reinvented into cool furniture. It's easy to ship and is becoming important to serious eco furniture designers.  It's a material that is accessible and when tossed will not cause landfill issues since it's biodegradable.

In the childrens furniture department it has been an incredible material because of the low cost of cribs at $ 99.00  But it can be made into interesting furniture for anyone's home no mater what their style is.   The furniture is unbelievably strong and the best part is that no screws or nails have to be used so there is no assembly requiered. The chairs typically are made from triple or double walls of fluted cardboard that can hold at least 600 pounds. Furniture and decor items can be made from 100% recycled cardboard. When it’s time to redecorate, you can recycle your chairs!  It gives furniture designers the ultimate luxury of working with a green material that is fun and interesting.

Recycled cardboard furniture allows style and fun with no guilt. 

CLOTHING FUSED WITH FURNITURE

Fashion & Furniture have always been intermingled.

The two fields influence each other and work together to create personal style. Usually a person with great fashion lives with great interiors and vise versa.  Fashion designers use furniture to create the moods in their pictorials and interior designers use fashion for color trends. 

Furniture is more permanent and has to be chosen more carefully  due to cost and scale.  But the same design principles of color and imagination have to go into clothing and fashion.  Both fields are influenced by exotic locations, nature and new materials.  And its fun to see products that try to tie the two together.

Will we ever use bentwood chairs or lamp shades to dress in?  Will corset chairs or torso chest of drawers ever be stylish?  Maybe not. But its fun and creative to see the two arts combined.

 

PATIO UMBRELLAS

Ok people! Stop using basic white patio umbrellas!

Live a little and go wild outside!  Today there are lots of choices and fun patio umbrella designs that can enhance the style of your outdoor space.    Even through patio umbrellas are utilitarian, they can have have pizzaz and character. The market umbrella is not the only available design.  You can now find beautiful modern shapes and have custom sizes made.

European love their striped umbrellas.  Asians love their floral parasols, and Americans - well we have been bland until now.  Find your style, have a custom painted umbrella design, add color, add a banding or a contrast interior,  create a new shape.  Its up to your imagination and creativity to incorporate something new to your patio.

CLIVE CHRISTIAN CABINETRY

Clive Christian is a worldwide British luxury brand that specializes in upscale carpentry and custom furniture.  The company employs a team of artisans that impeccably handcraft cabinets for the crème de la crème of homeowners ranging from Oprah Winfrey to Celine Dion.  Each design is custom and priced accordingly, but do not expect anything under $100,000.   The Clive Christian designs have been copied by everyone, but no one can match his intricate detail and perfection.  His work is for clients who expect and only want the best.

An odd addition to a cabinet designer - Clive Christian also can be credited for selling “the world’s most expensive perfume.”  The Imperial Magesty, a decadent fragrance packaged in a sparkling Baccarat vessel, is topped with 18 carat gold and a five carat diamond that cashes in at $215,000 a pop! 

Clive Christian spares nothing for luxury!

http://www.clive.com/

 

WILD & CRAZY CONCEPT FURNITURE

Much like Lady Gaga's clothing, the following photos of wild conceptual furniture are not quite ready for mass appeal.  Even though they border on the comical, I enjoy looking at these fun designs  because they show an outside of the box creativity and they become more like art than furniture.  

I'm not sure any of these will end up in one of my interior design projects anytime soon.  But I do appreciate the thought and effort the designers have made to try and come up with something  fun and new.

 

 

 

 

 

MARCEL WANDERS

Ever heard of Marcel Wanders?

Most people have not.  He is an incredibly talented and creative product and industrial designer from Holland who was first noticed when he released his "knotted chair" in 1996.  Winner of countless design awards, Marcel is known for his unique and quite dramatic use of textures and space. With a definitive “WOW” factor, his style is sophisticated while unexpected yet still completely functional. 

Marcel has collaborated and designed for huge brand names such as Swarovski, Phillipe Stark, Poliform, Puma, Target, B&B Italia and Baccarat.  He has a vast array of products in the marketplace include furniture, tabletop and home décor.  Some of his pieces have been featured  at the MOMA in New York and San Francisco, the V&A Museum in London and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.

One of his new fun designs is the quirky and sexy “Happy Hour Chandelier” from  which a woman hangs upside down from the center and pours  champagne to her guests. Marcel  certainly has a humorous side.  His work is both inspirational and fun!  I love it.

http://www.marcelwanders.com/index.html

 

 

Fashion Designer's Home Collections

 It seems the trend for all successful fashion designers is to move their brand name clothing lines in to the  home collection arena. Every fashion designer from Lilly Pulitzer, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Liz Claiborne, Versace to Missoni has a lifestyle collection.  And I often wonder ... do we really need Issey Miyake vacuum cleaners?  Are Valentino dishes really innovative?   Does anyone like Versace ceramic tiles? Is America that obsessed with brand names that we buy home furnishing based on a recognizable name?

The king of cross-marketing is and remains Ralph Lauren.  And he did it well.  But have we crossed the line between good taste and good marketing?  Do you really want to walk into a room wearing a Missoni dress and then sit on a Missoni sofa?  I'm simply not sure I want my sweater to match my throw pillows.  Are Americans so shallow that they want to play their life out in a Guess or Victoria's Secret Home?

I'm all for good branding and great design, but I'm worried.  Is the Kim Kardashin Home Collection next?  

Lotus Arts de Vivre

Want to know one of  my favorite accessory lines?  

Lotus Arts de Vivre.  If you are planning a trip to Bangkok anytime soon, make sure and add this to your must-stop-shop list.  I first discovered them in Bangkok, Thailand and I am a huge fan of their unique handmade, extraordinary creations.  I feel like Carrie Bradshaw at Manolo Blahnik's and I can't resist myself when I'm in one of their stores.

The 28 year old company is best known for their iconic jewelry designs with bold colors, animal themed, and jewel incrusted pieces.  But they home accessory line is equally as stunning and is truly luxurious.   Beautiful mother of pearl dishes with silver accent bugs, teak and silver bowls and whimsical frog and turtle serving pieces.

http://www.lotusartsdevivre.com

Kyle Bunting Rugs

Serious designer insider secret: Kyle Bunting Rugs.

I die!   His luxurious unique hair on hide, textured masterpieces and outstanding!  An incredible impact to any room.    Even though there are various styles and collection in the line, you can custom design any pattern or size and make it in any color or hair texture.    You only have to have an imagination, draw up a pattern and they will make it. The possibilities are endless and the style is pure glam. 

Can you see one in your home?  

http://www.kylebunting.com

 

Rock Crystal Bath Tub

Baldi of Italy has the ultimate bathtub available for sale for anyone seeking a bathing masterpiece.   This tub is churned out from a solid piece of 100% the purest white rock crystal from the Brazilian Amazon and then carved in to a monolithic bathtub that is large enough for 3 people and is about as unique as you can get since no two tubs are identical.  It is guaranteed to last over 200 years and is sure to be a jaw dropper.

And the cost?  This iridescent, jewel of a tub will set you back about $780 thousand dollars and can be purchased at Harrod's of London.  The tub is currently on display through July and you can catch a glimpse of it at the Knightsbridge store display window.

Decadence at it's best!

http://www.harrods.com

Adele Bloch-Bauer I

The stratospheric price of $135 million U.S.D. is the largest amount ever paid for an oil painting. In 2006 cosmetics maven Ronald Lauder purchased the 1907 Gustav Klimt's society portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer.

The painting was inspired by Japanese lacquer techniques and Byzantine metal mosaics. Generous amounts of gold and silver leaf were applied directly to the canvas to create extreme luxury.

What's a reasonable price for a one-of-a-kind masterpiece? If the Texas Rangers once paid Alex Rodriguez twice that amount to play shortstop for 10 years, isn't the Lauder purchase of this Klimt painting, which he owns in perpetuity,  a steal?

The Badminton Cabinet

Have you ever wondered what the most expensive piece of furniture in the world is? At  $ 36.7 million US dollars, the "Badminton Cabinet" takes the honors!  It is a rare 18th century cabinet that was commissioned in 17 26 and took 6 years and 30 people to craft.  It is  made out of ebony wood and semi precious stones such as lapis lazuli, amethyst quartz, red and green jasper.   The new record-holder is Prince Hans-Adam II, head of state of  Liechtenstein, the principality between Switzerland and Austria. The cabinet was purchased for the family-owned Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna.

What's your most expensive piece of furniture?

The Half Dollar Chair

I first fell in love with this super cool chair by artist Johnny Swing at the Los Angeles Sofitel Hotel lobby.  The shape is so organic and the concept is so original that it forces you to sit in it.  It is so sculptural and unique with it's exposed frame that it feels more like a throne than a chair.  It is made up of 1,500 half dollar coins and weighs 58 pounds!

What do you think it cost?

Love This Sofa

I love this old French sofa!  I found it at an antique store in L.A. a few years ago and I just had to buy it.  It's one of these "I have to have" pieces and I just adore it.  The scale and size of it are so dramatic and it's incredibly comfortable.  It has a tight back and a super soft down seat and because the arms are low it's the perfect lounge-around piece.

What's your favorite pice of furniture?

Antique Corinthian Column Capital

I love antique stores.  They always have such interesting and unique pieces to get a project started.  I was shopping recently and found this outstanding old Corinthian style column capital made out of wood.  It was the perfect size for a dining table.   I took the photo, sent it to my client.  But by the time I came back the following day some other savvy shopper had bought it.

 

Oh well.  You win some, you loose some!