Behind the Scenes: Powder Room

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A bold wallpaper called
‘Antinous’ designed by the Viennese designer Dagobert Peche in 1922 is the dominant element in this Central Park West Powder Room, and is available through the shop at The Neue Galerie.

The patinated bronze washstand was fabricated by Klaxto Vederstein with honed Uba Tuba stone top, while the ‘Aero Retro‘ lavatory fittings in satin nickel sink are from Waterworks.

The custom ‘Cay Lanterns’ with two candles and antiqued mirror backs are from The Urban Electric Co. The Arts & Crafts suspended ceiling light was found on eBay.

The custom mirror is patinated copper clad over a wood frame from Bark Frameworks. The photograph seen in reflection is by Emmet Gowin – represented in NYC by Pace/MacGill Gallery.

 

Christopher Spitzmiller: Handcrafted Lighting Made in NYC

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Elegance – Quality – Beauty – Sophistication

What’s not to like about Christopher Spitzmiller lamps?? 

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I am on a continuous search for distinctive lighting for all of my design projects, and tend to avoid manufactured lamps, with the exception of Christopher Spitzmiller.

Crafted by hand and with heart, the lamps have been wonderful additions to a number of my projects (as evidenced in the image of a bedside table above.)

Who is Christopher Spitzmiller? What is it about his products that are so special? And what’s next? I decided to investigate…

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#TBT – Living Room – circa 1990

The seating arrangement on one side of the living room balance a baby grand piano and an antique French daybed on the other side of the room. The tailored furniture is upholstered in golden hues, deep purple, and vibrant leafy green has the room feel luxurious yet inviting.

 

I designed this Living Room 25 years ago, but this photos is from a year ago. After visiting my friends and former clients a couple of years ago I found that the project had held up, literally and figuratively, so I went in and shot new photos of an old project.

The ‘story’ here is in some ways about the importance of making thoughtful decisions in the design process in the interest of providing enduring value.

Anchoring the room are two custom Carr sofas from Jonas upholstered in Gretchen Bellinger ‘Applause”cotton velvet – and yes, it is the original upholstery.

A Pyrex glass cylinder ‘Saladino Lamp’, designed by John Saladino in 1971, sits on a table behind one of the sofas

The Barcelona Table designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1929 is from Knoll, and was a piece of furniture that we reused from the previous incarnation of the home. The accessories are American Arts & Crafts purchased in the early days of David Rago Auctions.

The table sits on a wonderfully washed out Antique Garden Tabriz area rug that provides understated classical richness to the room, subtly contrasting with the wool sisal carpet below.

A print by Joan Miro circa 1970 hangs over the custom limestone fireplace surround inspired by Carlo Scarpa.

In the foreground area are a pair of T-stools designed by Pierre Chareau in 1927 – iconic Modernist objects that provide additional seating.

In the right corner is a Klismos chair designed by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings.

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#TBT – East Coast Rooms – 2000

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It may be wishful thinking, however as an antidote to the Winter blues here’s an optimistic look back at images of a house designed for Summer enjoyment that might be a welcome respite for us all.

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In 2000, author Anna Kasabian came out with her book East Coast Rooms: Contemporary Portfolios from 40 North American Interior Designers 

Kasabian is a freelance writer, journalist and the author of 14 books. Her writings on interior design and architecture, art, food and cooking, luxury and historic real estate, garden design, home and garden preservation projects and New England have been published in regional and national magazines.

 

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An antique English Art & Crafts table and vintage American lamp add a level of ‘architectural’ interest to this modest Entry Hall.

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Sea Grass and linen slip-covers and unlined linen curtains on stained wood rods evoke easy breezy Summer days. The graphic silhouettes of an eclectic mix of antiques – Aesthetic Movement, English Arts & Crafts, French and American – balance the heavier fully-upholstered pieces in the room.

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A pair of vintage steel chandeliers hang over the custom table, surrounded by a set of caned circle-back chairs with arms from Robert Lighton.

 

 

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The iron bed and plaid cotton area rug recalls simple old-school summer houses. The shutters are applied to the wall beneath the windows to ‘correct’ their awkward shape and placement on the wall, while adding more visual cues reminiscent of days gone by.

Donald Judd – Double Take

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Donald Judd (1928-1994) Chair,1993 – Finish Color Plywood – RISD Museum

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A double take is an act of quickly looking at something that is surprising or unusual a second time after looking at it a moment earlier.

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The RISD Museum often focuses attention on a single object in an exciting program they call ‘DOUBLE TAKE’ where two different art/design educators or curators offer different perspectives or ‘takes’ on a single object in the museum collection. I have seen a number of these dialogues, they are fantastic!

One the items being featured in a new series DOUBLE TAKE: COLOR is a chair that I gave to the Museum designed by Donald Judd

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