May 29, 2014

Refueling the Tank ~ Hello from the DR


Hello from the Dominican Republic!

15 years ago I was lucky enough to "Say Yes" to my partner in crime and have been enjoying that decision every day since. 



As a celebration, we decided to include our kids and take them on a week long adventure in the Dominican Republic. 

After the very harsh winter in NY, and truly a few hard long years, I think we all needed this time to just refuel the tank and spend time as a family relaxing and spending time laughing, estimg and enjoying each others company. 

At the moment, I am feeling pretty blessed and grateful that we were able to share this island with them. 



We are staying at Balcones del Atlantico in Las Terrenas, a great resort on the peninsula of Samana, consisting of many very large and well designed apartments. Even on holiday we like convenience and our independence - for all of you that have children, you get what I am talking about!!

Having a self contained apartment for us is a must while on an island for a week, with kids that have very healthy appetites,  and when we all want to be able to have our own space and schedules. We are thrilled with our choice!

Our apartment is fantastic, and so well laid out and designed..




And the beaches are stunning with water in all shades of blue, crystal clear and just the right temperature to spend all day in the water. Last month, the new restaurant - Porto - opened with a great new Peruvian chef & the food was amazing!



Set on the beach, and with a great wide open floor plan and perfect design for the setting we ate every item on the menu during our stay!














I highly recommend this hotel .. This island.. And especially this little area off the beaten path just making the moments a little more adventurous and all the more special. 






Now, off I go for one last dip in the water.. Back soon!





May 26, 2014

Kips Bay Showhouse - Part 3 - Kitchen and Closets



Two key areas of any home, and those that make every "organization junkie" such as myself, happy, are always Kitchens and Walk-In Closets. The two examples in this year's Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse do not disappoint.




via
Lady Penelope’s Dressing Room, by Christopher Peacock, inspired by the British secret agent six-wheeled pink Rolls Royce...
via

pair that with same great Thibaut grasscloth, an antique crystal chandelier, and a splash of "60’s pop" with the Patterson Flynn Martin carpeting and  - BAM!





All the custom cabinetry, all made through Christopher Peacock - a brand that is synonymous with luxury and high quality finishes. From the doors and the moldings to the weight of the frames, this closet was extremely well built and finished.





Even the Vintage Gucci clothing perfectly match the exteriors of this lusciously gumdrop pink closet... 


... but I think the ultimate extravagance, has to be the custom 24K gold hammered hardware, which not only was beautiful but so fantastic to the touch. Every detail matters in design, and in this room those details were very well attended to.



From the closets, to the kitchen and scullery - Matthew Quinn's “Cooking with St. Patrick” looks out at New York city's Madison Ave and St. Patrick's Cathedral, with 10 foot high ceilings.




An enviable space to say the least, not only for the size but also these spectacular surroundings which played an influence on Matthew's design especially in the custom cabinets flanking the central window seat.

Custom cabinets, detail of metal inlay. Window treatments  - Reminiscent of a Church Organ





I fell in love with this custom, Matthew Quinn Collection Ormond Hood.The bronze details are beautiful accents against the raw material of the limestone. The blue crackled tiles are pretty sensational as well.. as you can tell, I pretty much was ready to take this kitchen home with me!




These gorgeous counter-tops and corner (YES, CORNER) sink are in “HELIX” in the suede finish Silestone by Cosentino, and it does feel like suede and pairs up so well in contrast against the Grothouse Lumber Company wood table. It is pretty fantastic!

Light Fixtures . Profiles
Luna Globes by Downtown at Profiles hang brightly above the counter and this kitchen design is a true example of how well mixing metal tones can lead to a very successful design match. The golds and bronze tones bring life and energy to the soft muted grays - without each other the final energy in the room would have been so very different.



The large stainless steel and brass fronted refrigerator, breakfast garage and wine cabinet are consolidated on a tall wall of custom grey stained cherry cabinetry with decorative display above






Moving on to the Scullery, which in fact is the size of many "real" New York city kitchens, the painted blue cabinets house ample storage for food and culinary tools, a microwave, sink, and a secondary dishwasher, oven, and warming drawer.


A strong Circa lighting light fixture and Doris Leslie Blau area rug center the room, and hardware nickel plated details along the edging of the shelving are simply more examples of the attention to each detail that Matthew has brought into even this secondary area.

“YOKE” SCONCE AND “DARLANA” CHANDELIER - Circa





A personal favorite, is making great use of the additional between the window and sink for a private herb garden that would make any food lover proud.




I will continue to share images from my visit to Kips Bay over the course of the next few weeks, but if you missed the first two posts:
Layers of Elegance
Layer of White
please head there now..
and in the meantime, I suggest you visit as it is one of the greatest showhouses every year. The teams have all put in so much effort into every design and the location is magnificent. Do not miss it!


*all images, except where mentioned - (c) Jennifer Mehditash for Dec-a-Porter

VISIT
For tickets / events please click here

Show House Dates
Open to the public
May 1 – May 29, 2014

                                                                                                                                                                                                       
     Sun. - 12pm - 5pm
     Mon., Wed., Fri., Sat 11am - 5pm
     Tues. & Thurs. 11am - 8pm



May 24, 2014

Kips Bay - Part 2 - Layers of White




Hello dear readers, and Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Let me delight you this long weekend with a continuation of my visit of the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse from the last post, Layers of Elegance, today I wanted to share how many of the designers took on the use of WHITE in very successful ways.

Whether white was the predominant color such as in the design by Daryl Carter, that took on with many entrances and doorways, and yet was able to create a place of solace and rest with various areas of reading and lounging through a creative layout and floor plan.


image courtesy - Kips Bay


The space is an assemblage of meaningful pieces – represented with classical antique shapes in conversation with modern forms. Varying in nature, they capture attention by complexity, utility or even humor; and serve as an homage to the refined envelope           - Daryl Carter



Personally, in my own design schemes, white is most certainly not my "go-to" color as a base throughout my own design schemes. I enjoy the layering of texture and color too much, however I can so greatly appreciate how difficult it is to achieve a successful design scheme while using white tones as your primary.




In the case of Daryl's room, I think he did just that!




With a whimsical brush stroke and sense of humor, Daryl keeps the palette very subdued and yet for those that take the time to enjoy this room and all of it's many details, it really is exceedingly well 'composed'.




image courtesy - Kips Bay



Carrier & Co. Interiors.'s designers, Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller, featured AD 100 and Elle Decor "A List" of top designers here create an asymmetrical lounge layered with gold tones on white.


Stanley Schoen mirrored wall -
image courtesy of Kips Bay

image via (Architectural Digest)
The highlight of the room, a Calico Wallpaper, also featured at this year's ICFF last week, creates a marbleized pattern which plays so nicely against the more traditional paneling as seen in this "BEFORE" shot.



Calico Wallpaper - Kerson Gallery mirrored console
image courtesy Kips Bay


Mirrors, artwork and decorative accessories skillfully placed enable us to appreciate the many areas of this room.





The warm charcoal gray drapery panels, frame the view and act as an anchor for this otherwise light and reflective space..



with the lush fabrics of Pierre Frey throughout the room, how could they go wrong?!



David Tood in Kips Bay


San Francisco based firm, ODADA  - Mr. Diaz-Azcuy, David Todd Oldroyd and Greg Stewart, all have strong architecture and art backgrounds, and showcase their talent in this design.

image via (Architectural Digest)



Taking on this room particulalry posed a challenge to this team, as the lighting feature in the ceiling, with its very strong blue light was a feature that could not be removed nor manipulated in any way.




The wood paneling may also have been off putting to some designers with it's very strong traditional feel, however they took it all in stride and very creatively added these white panels encapsulating the room within the existing room to allow for a transition into a more contemporary and modern aesthetic.


Ronnie Genotti - Wall Art 


We wanted to highlight that with a dialogue between the old and the new, the light and the dark, the softer shapes and the more angular. The two chaises in opposite corners of the room reinforce the idea of opposition in the plan itself. The room becomes a place for a modern couple to be together and apart at the same time - ODADA


Similar to how Juan Montoya added layers of internal wall structures within the existing "box" the team of ODADA, made great use of the existing space and brought it screaming into the 21st century.








Tony Ingrao & Ingrao’s Creative Director Randy Kemper bring natures finest inspiration into every detail and selection made in this design.


image via (Architectural Digest)

Ron Arad fireplace screen
It is what you assemble in a room that makes it modern, even antiques can be modern when used properly. - Ingrao








Form and function, exquisite installation art, sculptural custom furniture and textiles all play a part in creating the harmony within this design.


"...The extraordinary fire screen by Ron Arad is a work of art itself as is the beautifully crafted chandelier by Jeff Zimmerman,  the tables by Joris Laarman and John Lewis, the cabinet by Paul Evans, the dining chairs by Charpentier- all of which create an environment of powerful individuality brought into harmony by the soothing neutral palette of a classic room.." - Ingrao



“UNIQUE GALAXY CLUSTER”, 2013 is an illuminated sculpture / light fixture consisting
of hand blown soda glass spheres, by Jeff Zimmerman 





JORIS LAARMAN’S CUMULUS TABLE, 2010 via Friedman Benda woven texture and nerve like steel and aluminum interwoven within resin to create this web like effect to great results.





Doris Leslie Blau crocodile rug, 

So much more to share from my visit to Kips Bay over the course of the next few weeks - but I do suggest you visit as it is one of the greatest showhouses every year. The teams have all put in so much effort into every design and the location is magnificent. Do not miss it!


*all images, except where mentioned - (c) Jennifer Mehditash for Dec-a-Porter

VISIT
For tickets / events please click here

Show House Dates
Open to the public
May 1 – May 29, 2014

                                                                                                                                                                                                         
     Sun. - 12pm - 5pm
     Mon., Wed., Fri., Sat 11am - 5pm
     Tues. & Thurs. 11am - 8pm
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