COOL, CLASSIC TILE AT BEDROSIANS

I was recently at Bedrosians Tile and Stone (an awesome resource for product here in SLC) and happened upon some really beautiful tile that brought back memories of my time in the Paris metro, small town Portugal, and particularly my father's intense love of all decorative tilework.

Now I just need a project for these....

And my favorite-

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...

 



WEARSTLER FASHION STYLE

I LOVE Kelly Wearstler's interiors.  Just love them.  Her layers of texture, shapes, and periods really come together wonderfully.  Here is a very small sampling from her website-

 

However, I recently checked out some of her Fall 2012 clothing collection, and I hate to say it, but I am not sure if her talents translate.  I know everyone is supposed to be able to do everything creative these days, but some of the below styles make me wonder...

 



BUCKET LIST ITEM # 3

 

French Furniture Heaven.  That is what the Getty is. (I know, I know, they have some artwork there too.) I was also able to visit the Getty Museum in LA this summer, and wow, Mr Getty must have purchased the very best of everything from France.  What a collection!  Across the board, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical and Empire, they have it all.  I have to share a small sampling of the ridiculous amount of photos I took!  Furniture lovers, make the pilgrimage!

 

I am such a sucker for the details, and what details!  OK, just a few more...

BUCKET LIST ITEM # 2

I was also lucky enough to visit a room I have loved and hoped to visit for many a year.  The Peacock Room by the great James McNeill Whistler at the Smithsonian's Freer Sackler Galleries.  This is not just a wonderful room due to the beautiful Aesthetic Movement decor created by Whistler and amazing pottery collection housed within it, but also for the wonderfully colorful story of the room's creation.  After hijacking the entire project from the architect, and after several disagreements between Whistler and the room's owner, he in fact locked himself in the room to be certain of finishing it as he desired, and nobody else.  The owner Mr. Leyland was less than thrilled about this, and often fought with Whistler through the locked door before Whistler actually painted two peacocks fighting each other to represent the two men.  Or at least so I have been told.  I never heard what Leyland thought of the final result...

All photos courtesy of the Freer Sackler website.

For more information, visit the museum's website here.