Category Archives: . REGULAR FEATURES

December 30, 2009 · 1:01 am

Shopping Trip: Fig in Westport, CT

We always visit family in Westport, Connecticut over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. In addition to catching up with everyone, I manage to find time to shop. This year, in addition to the usual stocking up on staples at J.Crew, I purchased a new duvet for our bedroom, which is in the process of a glorious redesign.

The duvet, by Matouk, is white with a grey border. It’s from Fig, a shop right off Main Street in downtown Westport. Fig is filled with linens and pillows by John Robshaw, Kelly Wearstler, Sferra, Matouk, Missoni, and others. I wound up chatting for a while with the owner, Carlin, who has great taste, and even offered to bring me on a behind-the-scenes tour at the Matouk factory. I may just take her up on it.

PILLOWS

INSIDE THE SHOP

MISSONI SCARVES

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Filed under . REGULAR FEATURES, Home Accessories, Shopping, Shopping Trip

Tagged as Fig, pillows, Westport

December 29, 2009 · 1:18 am

Designer Spotlight: David Hicks

I recently worked with Ashley Hicks, designer and son of legendary designer David Hicks, on an article for eBay’s new lifestyle site, The Inside Source, “Ashley Hicks on His Father, David,” to promote his new book, David Hicks: A Life of Design. The book is worth an actual read, rather than a simple flip to look at the pretty pictures.

What struck me most, besides Hicks’ incredibly privileged, glam lifestyle, was how many of his design innovations endured. A number of features seen in his room throughout the ’60s and ’70s, are au courant today.

Left: David Hicks at home, Albany, London (Derry Moore)

Right: David Hicks, summer 1958 with his pug, Algy (David Hicks Archive)

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CHANDELIERS and ORNATE MIRRORS IN THE BATHROOM

Left: David Hicks (David Hicks Archive) | Right: Vogue

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SHEEPSKIN THROW RUGS BESIDE THE BEDLeft: David Hicks (photo by Norman McGrath) | Right: Robin Pelissier

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DEEP PURPLE PARLORS

Top: David Hicks (photo by Norman McGrath)

Bottom: Steven Gambrel

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FUR THROWS and GEOMETRIC PATTERNS

David Hicks (photo by Norman McGrath)

Left: Jeff Andrews Design | Right: Color Theory

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OVERSIZE FLORAL WALLPAPERDavid Hicks (David Hicks Archive)

M. Design

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ZEBRA SKIN RUGS IN THE LIBRARY

Left: David Hicks (David Hicks Archive)
Right: Alessandra Branca, Architectural Digest

LUCITE FURNITURE WITH BLACK WALLS

David Hicks (photo by John T. Hill)

Spruce Design & Decor

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TRELLIS PATTERNS IN KELLY GREEN

Left: David Hicks (photo by Norman McGrath) | Right: Mark Hampton

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Montage: 26 Spaces Hung with Stars

I didn’t forget that it is holiday time. (Notice the new red header.) In honor of the season I have curated rooms featuring stars. Some are lit, some are simple decoration, all are worthy of a wish. Happy holidays.

Photos: Light Locations; Canadian House & Home; Andra Birkerts; Larry Laslo; Style Files; Flickr-xoelle; Domino; Larry Laslo; Elle Interior Norway; Joshua McHugh in California Home + Design; Sixx Design; architect Marco Costanzi in Marie Claire Maison; Amanda Nisbet; Apartment Therapy; Flickr-Hyasinthivas; photographer Hotze Eisma; Flickr-showletter; Hugh Newell; Rum Interior Design via Apartment Therapy; Style Files; Stephen Knollenberg; photographer Colin Streater; Country Living; photographer Trevor Tondro; Decorology; HGTV via Apartment Therapy.

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Filed under . REGULAR FEATURES, Home Accessories, Montage, Rooms

Tagged as lanterns, stars

December 16, 2009 · 9:47 pm

Shopping Trip: Patch NYC in Boston

I finally made it over to the Patch NYC showroom at 46 Waltham today. What a maze of a building. What an amazing, cozy space. And… they’re having a sample sale! Prices are terrific; definitely stop over for last minute gifts.

Earrings, $10 – $15

Necklaces, $15 – $20

Cotton velvet and vintage textile pillows, $30 or 4/$100

M0re pillows, $30 – $60

Amazing art by the woman who used to work in this studio.

Scarves,$70 – $85

Cosmetic cases, $5

Sculptures by Steven Murphy

Designer Spotlight: Amy Lau Shops eBay

This weekend I put together an article for eBay’s new lifestyle site “The Inside Source” on designers’ wish lists for the holiday season. I asked ten interior designers around the country to shop eBay for something they would like for themselves. Seems fair considering most of the treasure hunting they do is undoubtedly for clients. There was only space for one pick per designer. Amy Lau, whose style I LOVE sent ten. (It is hard to choose just one.) Thank you Amy! Rather then let her a-mazing finds go to waste, I thought I’d share. As you can see, she uses similar elements in her work.

Curtis Jere Flowing Tree Raindrop Wall Sculpture (min. bid $147.50)

While I didn’t find a Curtis Jere in her portfolio, Lau often uses wall sculptures and decorative wall installations. This is an example in a Central Park West dining room.

The table here is similar to the Ico Parisi desk ($7,880) she found on eBay.

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Eames Era Metal Sculpture ($165)

Lau used a freeform metal sculpture on a stand in the entry of this Kent lake house.

The sideboard is mounted on the wall in the above photo. On eBay, Lau admired a freestanding version.

Singer & Sons Walnut Cabinet Designed by Bertha Schaefer ($1,199)

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Lounge Chairs by Knoll

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This Bridgehampton living room is one of my all time favorites. (You’ve certainly seen it here before.) Notice the chartreuse Hans Wegner chair and ottoman on the left.

Here’s another Wegner chair and ottoman in a more neutral palette in a West Chelsea Loft.

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Edward Wormley Dunbar Brass Leg Sectional Sofa ($8,500)

Sectional sofa with clean lines, though more rectilinear than the one above, in a Miami townhouse.

Lau used tall Danish candlesticks on the coffee table above, but admired a pair of mid-century modern ones from Italy on eBay.

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Italian Candlestick Holders (Sold for $104.62)

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1950 Fontana Arte Sconces (Starting bid, $399)

Lau uses sconces with a similar fluid form on either side of this very creative built-in bar in a Central Park West living room. The bar cart is fantastic.

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Lau uses a low open piece next to the window, but I could easily imagine a piece like the Gio Ponti credenza she spotted on eBay in this type of space too.