NEW YORK, NEW YORK

A quick work trip to Manhattan always breaths some new life into me, especially when it is a balmy 50 degrees on February 1st.

THE HUDSON!

The last time I was in New York back in September I was able to cross off another bucket list item...a stay at the Philippe Starck designed Hudson Hotel!  While I have had drinks and dinner there many a time, I never had the chance to stay and it was great to get the full experience and sleep in one of the very tiny guest rooms!

While the design throughout was excellent and amazingly not at all dated (of course, it is Starck, hotel design guru after all), I must admit I was underwhelmed with hotel management and for the hefty price tag I think I will stick with drinks from now on, probably not even dinner anymore due to the fact they have redesigned the main restaurant, no longer a Starck creation :(

FAMILY HEIRLOOM LOVE

On my last trip to Norway I checked out some family heirlooms I always loved as a child, and looks like I might the only one in the family interested in keeping these (the only one that did not find them spooky as a child!)...  They need some TLC, but just imagine the possibilities!  Now just have to figure out how to get them across an ocean!

BROWSING THE CHELSEA FLEA MARKET

Love the quirky mix of, ahem, junk.  But you never know what might be unearthed, I have, in my New York days, found some remarkable pieces at this market.  Alas, not this trip!

KOONS RETROSPECTIVE

I was happy to be able to visit the Jeff Koons Retrospective at the Whitney Museum while I was in NYC last week.  I have always found his 'balloon animals' quite delightful, and always found the artist quite intriguing and seemingly a brilliant marketer and salesman.  I am still not entirely sure how he got anyone to promote his early work or why anyone purchased his work before he was famous.  But the retrospective gave me a much better understanding of the sweep of his career, his wit and ideas behind his works.  I still feel the 'balloon animals' and other works from his 'Celebrations' exhibit are his strongest by far, but I am happy to see how much these works actually have weight and emotion behind them.

It was also great to see one of his early iconic works in person, despite the fact I don't totally understand the physics of it.  Yes, the ball is actually suspended in water, and it is slowly sinking...

And of course the wonderfully iconic Bubbles the Chimp with Michael Jackson

And one I had not seen before, which is secretly my favorite...(anything Rococo, you know!)

I was not completely sure on these however (featuring the artist himself and his wife)...

In particular after window shopping just down the street and spotting what I can only imagine was Koons' inspiration for the works...

The exhibition was tinged with some sadness for me, as I am sure it will be the last visit to the Whitney at their original and current location on the Upper East Side.  They will soon move to a new, flashy, Reno Piano-designed building on the very hip and young Lower West Side somewhere between the Meatpacking and Chelsea, next to the High Line; a move I am not very on-board with yet.  I love the 1966 Marcel Breuer building, within easy walking distance of the Met, the Guggenheim and the Cooper Hewitt.  I will miss the Whitney in my favorite NYC neighborhood.  But good luck to them with all those cool hipsters downtown!

A LOVELY DAY IN THE CITY

I am just back from a wonderful trip to my homeland (pics coming soon), and had the good fortune to have a very long layover in my second favorite city (sorry, Big Apple, Paris will always win).  I had enough time to take the train into the city and walk from Penn Station up to the Met and not only get my annual summer fix of the breathtaking NYC skyline on the Met rooftop, but also my fix of fine American furniture in the American Wing, my favorite enclave of the museum.  So, I share my lovely day in NYC with you...

The latest installation on the rooftop of the Met, by Dan Graham, unfortunately I think most of these installations are overpowered by the view...but I love the astro turf!

The American Wing and some of its beauties-

This wood is to die for...

You know how I love that Greek Key...

And of course the Temple of Dendur hall, stunning space and stunning view of the city-

And then it was back to the airport... a perfectly perfect day in the big city.

SOTHEBY'S FIRST DESIGNER SHOWHOME

I love to see Sotheby's expanding their marketing into non-traditional auction house realms, with their recently opened gallery and now their first designer showhome in New York.  And what a wonderful concept, with six designers able to raid the upcoming sales lots and select items for the showhome!  Can you imagine having full access to the Sotheby's warehouse for furniture and art shopping?!  What a dream come true for any designer that appreciates antiques and fine art.  Yes, I would be in absolute heaven.

And the best part about what Sotheby's is doing, is that they are promoting the use of antiques in a contemporary context, a philosophy and cause very close to my heart, and they actually make a wonderful statement about this on their website-

"We hope that these spaces will demonstrate how good pieces of fine and decorative art can transcend time and space and that the dialogue between these pieces within a contemporary context not only allows the viewer an opportunity to reflect upon the pieces’ historical and art historical importance, but also gives these pieces new meaning and significance in the world of today."

My only regret is that I am not going to be there in time to see it this spring.  My next NY trip just barely misses it.  Oh well, its on the calendar for next year! (Oh, and of course, there is the other regret that I will likely never be asked to be a contributing designer... but one can always dream!)

More info on the showhome here.

MISSING AMERICANA WEEK

As Americana week kicks into high gear this weekend in the big apple, I must admit I feel a bit glum not being there.  Americana Week has traditionally been the MOST IMPORTANT week of the year for American Fine and Decorative Arts collectors and dealers such as Leigh Keno and Hirschl & Adler, as well as one of the most important weeks for all high-end dealers. Not only is the impressive Park Avenue Armory Winter Antiques Show on, but both Christie's and Sotheby's hold their best Americana auctions. Despite the weather, this week is like spring break for antiques collectors and dealers alike.  Yes, we are a strange breed.

Why I am so glum you see, is not only that I am just not able to drool over these pieces, but also because I was lucky enough to work the Winter Antiques Show as an intern while I attended Sotheby's Institute, and attend all the auctions.  The Winter Antiques Show is such an unique experience even to visit, and getting to know the vendors, understanding the value of pieces, and seeing behind the scenes was just fantastic.  

Thanks to 1st dibs for showcasing some of the most impressive pieces from the Winter Antiques Show here, Christie's shares their gems here, and Sotheby's here. So at least I can feel a bit like I am there:)  A few that caught my eye- (don't tell anyone, but I would reupholster all of these if I ever got my hands on them...)

Jewels by JAR at the Met

I was lucky enough to squeeze in a quick trip to the Met Museum during my two day visit to New York in early December.  There were, of course, a number of fantastic special exhibitions I was able to spend a bit of time at, and I must say that while all were fascinating, only the Jewels by JAR exhibit left me drooling.

However, it took me several minutes to even realize I was in fact looking at a remarkable collection of precious and semi-precious gemstones, not just costume jewelry.  I could not imagine it was possible to see such a collection all in one place, in a small, narrow, and poorly lit gallery (the lighting of course made each stone sparkle all the more).  Just the thought of the insurance required on the exhibit was mind-boggling. 

Once I established the amazing pieces were all made of crazy expensive stones, I became transfixed by the remarkable high level of craftsmanship unlike I have seen in any shop window along 5th Ave.  JAR, the creation of jeweler Joel A. Rosenthal based in Paris since1978, is know for its amazing use of pave settings, creating, as the Met notes, a "painterly effect", with colors blending seamlessly and delicately.  

My favorite piece was this tulip, one of the most detailed, realistic and dramatic thing I have ever seen done in stones.  It was so three-dimensional, and the colors so natural, it seemed as though the flower would actually wither if anyone touched it. Here is one application of the Pantone 2014 color Radiant Orchid I am totally and utterly on board with!  Lets hope (for my husband's sake) I am unable to find their shop next time I am in Paris :)

Alas, photos were not allowed, and the catalog was quite the tome, not easily portable cross-country, so since I am unable to share additional photos here, I say, New Yorkers, go, go now!  

Photos courtesy of the Met website.

COLLECTIVE .1 DESIGN FAIR

There are lots of times I miss NYC just for NYC, but then there are times that I miss being in a city with so many design events.  This week I am missing the first Collective .1 Design Fair.  The new fair's mission seems excellent, with a great mix of contemporary and historic pieces as they state on the website-

 

"Collective is a new design fair in New York City that will present a cohesive, curated selection of contemporary design and historical pieces from galleries around the world."

 

It seems to be a relatively small, select group of exhibitors, but that is not a bad thing, seeing as many of these fairs are completely overwhelming.  A few of the interesting exhibitors that caught my eye were Lost City Arts , Jousse Enterprise, and 21ST twenty first .  Here is the full list of exhibitors.

 

The other thing I love is the cross-promotion with 1st dibs, so I can actually view some of the pieces on offer... a few of my favorites-

 

From Sebastian + Barquet-

 

A Sofa by Folke Jansson (even though it is Swedish and I don't like the fabric)

 

 

And this crazy chair, Half Dollar by Jonny Swing-

 

And this amazing Wendell Castle desk and chair from Lost City Arts-

 

Sigh... will have to plan a trip next May!

TO NYC

I was lucky enough to be in the Big Apple and surrounding states a week before Sandy hit, and it is odd to think of the destruction that has occured.  And believe you me, I understand it.  I lived in Miami when Hurricane Andrew hit.  So here's to NYC, NJ and CT, good luck getting back on your feet and hang in there!

And a few good memories from my recent trip...

Always the skyline (at Park and 53rd):

I visited The Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking for the first time (on my cool hotel bucket list for some time now):

 

 

And I was able to take a Sunday stroll down the Highline Park (the old elevated rail line transformed a few years ago into a very cool park) which has just fab views of the city and Hudson River.  I hope it was not too battered by Sandy...