Deal Alert: 25% Off at Vessel

Vessel is having a shopping party tonight. That’s Thursday, Dec. 17th, 6-9pm at the store in Chinatown. Everything in stock is 25% off. Happy holidays! Vessel, 125 Kingston St., Boston, 617.292.0982.


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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

 

 

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

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.

Gio Ponti Credenza Buffet ($18,500)

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Tapio Wirkkala Art Glass Vase, 1957 by Iitalia (min. bid $290)

This is a Tepper Gallery installation in a Kipps Bay Showhouse that Lau designed.

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ARTmonday: InsideOut Sale at the SMFA

On Friday night I went to the preview party for the annual Inside Out art sale at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, compliments of my wonderful friend and artist Lee Essex Doyle, who co-chairs the event. As always, we found plenty to purchase in various shapes, sizes, mediums, and price points. It is the school’s largest fundraiser,with every purchase going towards scholarships.

There are thousands of fantastic student works and ones by alumni, as well as a few pieces by well-known graduates, including Nan Goldin, Ellsworth Kelly, Richard Serra, Claus Oldenburg, and Jim Dine. I took photos of some of the works I liked (and a couple which I bought). You can look at the Flickr gallery of submissions too. The school is next to the museum. If you’re in Boston I highly recommend stopping by. The date are November 18th to November 22nd.

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Shop Alert: Jonathan Adler Comes To Boston

Newbury Street is now officially (and sufficiently) hip. Jonathan Adler is here, all tangy oranges and sparkling blues, velvet and chrome, bamboo and banana. The store is a fantastic colorful treat, much like Adler himself. Many of you know I don’t do the nighttime event circuit. But pass up a chance to meet Jonathan Adler. I think not. (Besides, I’m running an interview with him for “The Inside Source” next week.)

He is adorable and really nice. We bowed down to his willingness to open in Boston – he said he’s always like Newbury Street, and used to visit back in his Brown days. We exchanged eBay, 1st Dibs, and Craig’s List experiences – he tries to abstain, given his obsessive nature and discussed the phenomenon that is Gilt Group. We chatted about his bestie Liz Lang (I had helped her out with web stuff over a decade ago), and jabbered about being Jewish. Bless him for crafting mod menorahs. I took lots of pictures of the store. I’m sure you, like me, would love to move right in.

Jonathan AdlerWhat a cutie!

cocktailsCocktails. Check out the bizarre blue cherries.

blue pillowsI was surprised to see the “etc.” pillow for sale, since I scored one on Gilt Group last week. Turned out they had simply over ordered, so passed on the surplus to Gilt.

vasesAdler’s signature vases. You all know by now that he started as a potter. He called his great success in design “accidental.”

horse and artLove the artwork. Don’t know anything about it. Must learn.

lampsBring on the lamps.

mirrorFunky mirror. More needlepoint pillows.

white vaseLook carefully at this vase.

silver sofaAmazing silver velvet sofa and Curtis Jere wall sculpture.

wallpaperGreat wallpaper for a single wall.

menoraMenorah in the style of a sleek ’70s-esque lightolier.

counterTime to wrap things up . You can’t tell from this photos, but the orange line in the manifesto reads, “We believe Boston is chic.” It is now!

storefrontSee you soon.

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