The Black List

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I am certain I have waxed on about my love of Holland and Sherry: I use their fabrics quite frequently in projects. One of the extensions of their genius is their custom embroidered curtain panels and pillows, fabricated in Switzerland. Wildly expensive, they are none the less akin to haute couture for the home. I recently had a client look at me aghast when I quoted them on a set of pillows, however when I explained the process and broke down the cost, and the UNIQUE nature of the product, they acquiesced. And when delivered, they were over the moon, although I think they seemed to have forgotten the price. 

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Searching for accessories for a project is always exhilarating, and frustrating as the trove of sources has sadly dwindled. It all seems to be very Jonathan Adler, which can be lovely, albeit rather pedestrian. Luckily for residents of the Big Apple, we have The End of History, a gem of a boutique in the village. Every square usable inch of the floor to ceiling shelving is chock full of 20th C pottery and glassware. Arranged by color, it is an inspiration to visit and observe the random combinations of shades, shapes, and mediums.

#midcenturymodern #murano #ceramics #pottery #designaccessories #greenwichvillage #interiordesign

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Billy Baldwin, the design legend, who set the standard by which all that followed are held. A classicist and a modernist, Baldwin established a world of eclecticism, an term that has become so ubiquitous in the design vernacular. With clients like Cole Porter, Babe Paley, Jackie Kennedy, he ruled the design w with his unique and personal expressions of style. It was American style, that embraced comfort and a relaxation that was a break from the aesthetic of Europe. Lacquered walls, parsons tables, rattan and wicker, he loved to used simple pure fabrics such as cottons and wools. His own brown lacquered apartment is legendary. His slipper chairs, Tuxedo and St Thomas sofas, and Porter etagere are being reproduced, and as modern as ever.

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E.R. Butler is one of those company that continues to carry the torch of quality lost in a world of mass production. Their hardware production continues a legacy started in the 19th C, with a hallowed respect for the craft, and the craftsman. Each piece is created with the reverence of a jeweler, the touch of a human hand sadly waning in name of speed and convenience. A visit to the showroom is like a visit to a museum, such is the beauty of the work. I for one, dream of being welcomed home to front door adorned with such magnificence. Here’s to dreaming!

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Wandering around Soho on Saturday, it saddened me to realize that all the wonderful home stores have been displaced by big boring labels. Ted Muehling is one of those gems. However they didn’t move far. Tribeca. I have been a fan of Muehling’s work forever. His treatment of objects as pieces of jewelry is incomparable. He has collaborated with Nymphenburg has produced porcelian pieces of such singular elegance. The eggs, the shells, the robin egg blue, all examples of his nature based beauty. His work with ER Butler has resulted in some of the most gorgeous and varied candlesticks. The shop itself is like a curio cabinet where every vistas is magical.

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Michael Anastassiades is an industrial designer with an extensive portfolio of gorgeous products. I stumbled upon his work at the Flos showroom in Soho. I was instantly stuck by the geometry of form married with the beauty of materials. I have had the Captain Flint floor lamp on my board for months and am just waiting for the perfect project to insert the piece. I always think to myself, when designing a project, “Do I want this for myself?” The answer would be a resounding yes for all these pieces.

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Fortuny fabric has always been a passion. Handed printed in Venice, in the same traditions as were established in the early 20th C. The printing process itself creates an organic material; pattern and color vary from meter to meter, from bolt to bolt.

Fortuny fabric is known for their rather traditional Venetian patterns, most notably their printed damasks, which recall the palazzos of the Grand Canal with walls richly upholstered. However, I personally adore the lesser used patterns inspired by ethnic iconography. They are modern, alive, and vibrant. Fortuny isn’t inexpensive, but a yard or two can transform an interior.

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In the 18th C, dining chairs were widely upholstered in either leather or horsehair due to the durability and resilient qualities of both material. Horsehair is woven from the tail hair of, surprise, horses. Due to the nature of the material, the width of true horsehair textiles is restricted by the raw material, generally ranging from 20″ to upwards of 27″ which is makes it extremely suitable for chair seats. It has also been know to use for wall upholstery, however it’s extreme cost, ranging from $300yd to over $1000/yd, makes it rather cost prohibitive. But a pair of stool, or a single chair in the magical fabric will certainly create a wow factor. and it will be doubtful one will catch the neighbors with the same luxury.

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I just discovered the LG steam closet for refreshing those clothes that don’t need a full blown dry cleaning. Self-contained, it fits in closet and tackles the wrinkles and odors of casual wear and tear such as that linen jacket that looks slept in after an evening out. And at just over $1000, it could be rationalized by counting all the dough saved at the local dry cleaners. 

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I just finish a very inspiring voyage to France and England. The European attention to hardware was striking and something we often relegate to an after thought. The two examples, one from the Chateau at Chantilly and the other from the Robert Adam designed Kedleston Hall, demonstrate why my architect of choice refers to door hardware as the jewelry that completes the outfit. Lesson learned. 

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Haven’t we all gotten board with the whole Waterworks, Ann Sacks bathroom aesthetic. I say minimize the marble and give the granite a rest. I personally am enamored with Moroccan cement tile is glorious pattern. Not only does is have a much more European flavor, the tiles can pattern and color to what a become a generally boring study in shades of white. 

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In the tradition of America’s obsession with British aristocracy and their creation of modern ideal of comfort in a home, I present the perennial Bennison Fabrics. hand printed in England, in patterns influenced by the glory days of the British Empire, Bennison recalls country houses with overstuffed, slip covered, furniture amongst regal trophies of wealth. Interior designers such as Sister Parrish and Mario Buatta have championed this layered rich look, giving instant pedigree to their clients. And although it certainly is not my aesthetic, I find that mixing Bennison into more modern interiors to be both fresh and witty. 

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J’adore all thing French. One of my favorite fabric houses is the venerable Pierre Frey who present a collection imbued with the sense of color and style that are inherently French. However, I never really thought of Frey for their wallpapers, which is ridiculous in view of France’s rich history of papier peint. What a pleasant surpris to discover a range of papers ranging from the sublime sophisticate of textures, to playful, exuberant prints such as Marabout above. Vive la France! 

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The latest trend in interiors, well the past couple for the past couple of years, is the rage for custom embroidery. The process has become an invaluable tool in the arsenal of designer to create something unique, personal to each project, each client. It’s sort of like off the rack vs haute couture, and who doesn’t dream of couture. Until recently, wildly expensive, however with the growing influence of India in the production of quality good, the price has come down, albeit still not for the faint of heart. Taffard is a relatively new source I have been using, and I am just wild about them. One can do just about anything with magical results. Taffard.com

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If I was getting married, and I am not, but if I was, for the sole reason of registering for stuff I would never buy for myself, I would go Buccellati all the way. The Milan based jewelry house, established in 1919, is the height of Italian craftsmanship. Personally, I love their silver work, and specifically their series of bowls based on a variety of flora. Exquisitely chased, these small gems are perfect gifts for any occasion. So if your in the mood, I’ll take the sunflower please.

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The production of hard paste porcelain in Meissen Germany has been continuous since the early 18th C. Chinese porcelain production was a highly guarded secret by the Asians, and their wares were highly coveted by the royal houses of Europe. However, each court was in a race to achieve the domestic crowing jewel, that being hard paste porcelain that was equal to the Chinese counterpart. Germany was the winner and the envy of all. I personally have coveted their Ming Dragan pattern forever. France and England eventually got there too. Meissen is still produced today and much the same fashion as in the 18th C, Still produced and painted by hand, the wares of Meissen remain at the top of their game. Ming Dragon, the pattern above, is one that I coveted for years. I adore the playful dragon, whimsical and animated, and so alive. Unfortunately it is not in the present budget, but I can aspire

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if you watch Feud, the Bette Davis/Joan Crawford melodrama series on FX, for any other reason, watch it for the meticulously crafted Hollywood Regency interiors. Championed by the likes of the great Billy Haines, the style was indeed the height of glamour. One take away seen in Joan Crawford’s bedroom, as recreated, has solved a problem that has plagued me for years. I find wallpaper as an accent wall has always been awkward in it’s transition from the three other walls in the room. Et voila! As shown above, using a vertical cove molding at the corners creates a perfected and seamless segue from one plane to the next. Problem solved, at least for me. The rest of the room ain’t bad either.