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Experiencing Design
We tend to describe our style in terms of juxtapositions: alpine elegance, casual contemporary. Building on the visual associations imbedded within each word, we present our aesthetic interpretation of what an elegant interior looks like within an alpine setting, or how laid-back modern pieces can feel when mindfully arranged. And yet, descriptions and images can only evoke so much; to fully understand an interior, you must experience it.Such is the motivation behind the first-ever Western Des . . .
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Modern Tradition
Traditions abound this time of year, but to avert any trace of rote celebration, we breathe newness into our holiday rituals. We embrace tradition while forging new customs. We test out new modes of merriment. The tree we trimmed in white last December will find cameos of color this Christmas. It is this concert of new memories and old, creativity and tradition that makes us sing this season and beyond.The inspired balance of contemporary and classic defines Verellen a collection born . . .
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Erudite Exhibition
The very definition of a bibliophile, the late financier Robert S. Pirie spent six decades building a matchless personal library. His collection, slated for auction next month at Sothebys, represents the finest archive of 16th and 17th century English literature in private hands. The auction exhibition we designed opens next week on Friday, November 27 at Sothebys in New York and runs through the auction dates, December 2-5.Robert Pirie surrounded himself with rare works, books a . . .
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Limitless Talent
Love architecture, be it ancient or modern. Love it for its fantastic, adventurous and solemn creations ... that enchant our spirit and enrapture our thoughts.True to his word, Gio Ponti loved architecture so much, he let design dictate every detail of his life, from the ceiling of his Milan apartment to the silverware he used during dinner parties. His prolific devotion to all things aesthetic make him an enduring icon of 20th century design.In a career spanning more than 50 y . . .
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Sourcing Textures
For a year after art school, Craig Spankie lived in a cabin in the wilds of New Zealands South Island. He found his rustic roost no windows, no electricity wholly inspiring: A builder since boyhood, he went to repair the roof only to find a peeling mass of material perfect for his art. So he carved out a chunk for use in one of his collages.A correction: To call Spankies work collages seems too tidy. Nor does mixed media suit. Spankie c . . .
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The Last Layer
The concept of layering is an inescapable reality of winter in the mountains. No one forgets to sport that last bit of warmth, be it a scarf, hat or gloves. But layering can be overlooked in interior design. In our experience, the last vital layer akin to a cashmere beanie is art and artful accessories. Art and thoughtful accessories such as memorabilia or treasures add the final element of personal expression to an otherwise eloquent interior. Artistic addition . . .
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Greatness Magnified
Isaac Newtons Opticks, widely considered one of the great works of science, achieved further greatness last week at Sothebys: The presentation copy given by Newton himself to astronomer Edmund Halley, his loyal colleague, supporter and publisher trumped its high estimate of $600,000 to fetch $1.33 million as part of the early December auction of the Robert S. Piries peerless collection of rare books, fine art and decorative objects. A remarkable moment in the . . .
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Salvage Beauty
The wonder and surprise of the holidays can feel diluted by adulthood. For an infusion of finely-wrought fun, we turn to Petit h, an offshoot atelier of Herm s, the iconic French luxury brand and one of our exclusive lines. The harness workshop Thierry Herm s opened in 1837 has since become the global benchmark for luxury. And yet, even amid Herm s immaculate manufacturing process, excess exists to the dismay of Pascale Mussard, the great-great-great-granddaughter of the brand&rsq . . .
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Luxury in Motion
Traveling, this time of year, can be stressful. To ease any anxiety, we offer a meditation on luxury in motion. Perhaps the mere act of imagining yourself in a Poltrona Frau-outfitted locomotive will assuage the angst of your reality.True to its name (poltrona is Italian for armchair), Poltrona Frau has been synonymous with luxury seating since its founding in 1912, when Renzo Frau opened a leather workshop in Turin specializing in handcrafted Chester armchairs. Flash forward a c . . .
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A Toast to History
Cocktailing is an American invention, born of prohibition and the corresponding liberation of the modern woman. No longer bound by Edwardian ideals, she embraced her individuality and independence by going out to private soir es and lounges in progressive attire: A short sheath with a matching hat and gloves. Donned only in the early evening, this stylish frock sassy for the early 20th century was later dubbed a cocktail dress by Christian Dior. By the . . .
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Material as Muse
We can count on one hand the number of times we have been awestruck by a museum exhibition. Not to say we dont find many shows extraordinary; quite the contrary. But as exhibition designers, we apply a critical eye to the method by which masterworks are presented to the public. So when we find ourselves standing speechless in a gallery, we want to share the sensation with others. Such was our experience at Picasso Sculpture, on view now at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC.The landmark s . . .
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Beauty in Utility
Eloquent design can electrify even the most mundane objects. Consider the pill box designed by Pauline Deltour for Puiforcat. A simple square of polished silver, the etched lid ends in a smooth circular clasp an artful reinvention of a prosaic piece.Deltour considers this design (and the collection it belongs to) a game of round and square, a dynamic begun by Art Deco visionary Jean Puiforcat at the early 20th century. As a fourth-generation master silversmith, he introdu . . .
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