The BUBBLE CHAIR by EERO AARNIO

A MUST HAVE for Any INDOOR or OUTDOOR Space!

Donatella Versace was photographed in it in 1998… Kylie Minogue rocked it on the cover of Vogue…  Carmen Electra posed with it on the December 2000 issue of Playboy…. The Information Lounge at  the Frankfurt Airport is designed around them.  What am I talking about?  The brilliant, bold and beautiful Bubble Chair by Eero Aarnio, of course!    The Bubble Chair was designed in 1968 by the amazingly prolific Finnish Designer Eero Aarnio, however its sharp futuristic Design makes you think it is the LATEST in furniture Design,  such is the timeless appeal, impact, visual strength and beauty it has, combined with the powerful simplicity of form and function… the Bubble Chair is truly an icon of Design.

I love the conceptual twist of this interior with the Bubble chair hung acting like a swing hanging off the tree in the background

The Bubble Chair is constructed of a tubular stainless steel hoop which supports a completely clear acrylic semi-sphere  (which in effect looks like a giant bubble which has been blown through the hoop… like a child’s soap bubble wand on a Summer day).  This is then suspended using a chrome plated chain and finished with 2 padded leather cushions to make the whole expeience as comfortable as it is visually striking and bold.  Needless to say the end result is something so striking and conceptually appealing that it works in every style interior from uber-traditional or classic to the sharpest of lofts or urban interiors, both commercial or residential.  A secondary feature of the chair (as a result of the materials used and the shape of the bubble itself) is that the occupier of the seat is in effect cocooned by the chair baffling you from surrounding noise (which is why it works so wonderfully in the Frankfurt Airport).  The form and materials result in changing the accoustics of a room and thereby creating a peaceful haven once encased by the chair.   The idea for the Bubble chair is actually a spin off from an earlier Design Aarnio created called the Ball Chair (although the Bubble Chair is a reduction of this design).  As Ludwig Mies van der Rohe once said, “Less is more!”… and the Bubble Chair is a masterpiece of reduction with its sleek, mod, futuristic simplistic form Design.

The Information Lounge at the Frankfurt Airport 

What I love about this piece is that it can be place anywhere.  Not only is it a great indoor chair, it also would work well in an outdoor space (where there is something overhead to hang it from of course).  You can put it in your kid’s bedrooms as a super cool place to read, or have it in the living room as a lounge for everyone to enjoy… I love the idea of having a row of them on a covered porch or terrace overlooking the garden in quiet splendour.  The clear acrylic makes it the perfect complement to any space, no matter what your design scheme may be, however personalizing your chair is easy:  just add your own pillow to complete the look.  Tired of one pillow?  Easy!   Swap it out for another.  I would love to see it in a sumptuous shaggy faux fur in polar white or perhaps a bold coloured patent leather in a faux croc finish.

Aarnio’s own thoughts on the Bubble Chair were as follows:  “After I had made the Ball Chair I wanted to have the light inside it and so I had the idea of a transparent ball where light comes from all directions. The only suitable material is acrylic which is heated and blown into shape like a soap bubble. Since I knew that the dome-shaped skylights are made in this way I contacted the manufacturer and asked if it would be technically possible to blow a bubble that is bigger than a hemisphere. The answer was yes. I had a steel ring made, the bubble was blown and cushions were added and the chair was ready. And again the name was obvious: BUBBLE.” 

IN the GREAT outdoors… a bold modern accent

The Bubble etched and then illuminated with coloured spots

While perusing the latest (and completely luscious) issue of ELLE DECOR (an Interior Design MUST), I became completely enraptured with the home of Spanish Interior Designer Lorenzo Castillo, who many of you probably know from his bold and brilliant interiors featured frequently in magazines Worldwide, his own breathtakingly original Design boutique or his many commercial Designs including the spectacular and famous/infamous Hotel Santo Mauro.  Castillo happened across the stunning structure that would become his home completely by chance and fell in love with its neoclassical stone façade and MASSIVE scale (originally constructed in the 17th century with a new façade added in the 1770s by Ventura Rodríguez, the Architect behind Madrids most famous monuments and structures including the sculpture of Neptune and Cybele on the Paseo del Prado).  Castillo’s apartment in the grand structure is spread over two floors in the historic building and covers about 11,000-square-foot space…all of which required INTENSE restoration, consideration, planning and sourcing of historically accurate details and materials.  It must be stressed that what Castillo embarked upon for his glorious home was NOT a renovation but a true restoration… and in some cases a game of hide and seek..finding items that were of the same period and style that had long gone missing.  As Castillo says in the Elle Decor article “The marble fireplace surrounds had been sold off or stolen during the war, and huge pieces of the decorative stucco moldings had crumbled or fallen off”… so Castillo spent the better part of a year supervising the restoration project while touring Europe in search of period stone flooring, carved stone and wooden mantles, vintage bronze hardware and salvaged Architectural delights.

I LOVE Castillo’s ability to create a look that is at once both Classical, EXTREME elegance fused with a very modern sensibility and USABILITY.  Every gorgeous item is touchable, useable and meant to be lived with …this is NOT a roped off museum.  I especially love Castillo’s mixing of “pedigreed antiques and vintage pieces” (as detailed in the Elle Decor feature). The image of the grand staircase looks like something from a Royal Palazzo, ascending to a gallery where Castillo has continued the extreme elegance theme in the conservatory.

Perhaps MOST breathtaking in the entire home (and that is saying a LOT) is the 120′ long drawing room on the 2nd floor overlooking the Madrid skyline in a stately and almost fairy-tale like manner.  However, from what EASILY could have been a severely serious palatial room that dwarfs inhabitants, has been lightened with humour, wit, sexuality and intelligence with its BOLD mixing of periods, styles, and materials (everything from Second Empire, 19th-century Swedish, Iberian artifacts, Classical sculptures, modern Art and 1950s Italian furniture share the stage with faded antiques and 1970s iconic sculptures).   This space, as Castillo says is fabulous for parties and I couldn’t possibly agree more! Check out the spectacular feature at Elle Decor for the full feature.

I love the Hall of Mirrors (Versailles) sensibility of the informal Dining area.

For some reason the conservatory makes me think of the film The Haunting…but in a good way.

I love the FULL height cabinetry…not an inch of wasted space.

“Bibliostyle”

Incorporating A LUCSIOUS LIBRARY Into Any Space

Once upon a time… nearly every home had a library.  Often known as “the study”, this would be a space – usually an entire room — filled with bookshelves, cozy chairs, reading nooks,  a fireplace and of course … lots of books! But now it seems like the home library is sadly a thing of the past.  There are two strikes against the library: practicality and space issues.  For those who live in apartments and condos, it’s difficult enough to position a queen-sized bed in your bedroom along with your furniture let alone allocating the amount of space in your home needed for a library.  In homes, owners are now dismissing the library option for an office, an extra guest room or a bigger media room – for all the gizmos, gadgets and other hi-tech equipment. Luckily you can have the best of both worlds. (You know how I love to have my cake and eat it, too)

Everyone admires a great collection of books, MANY of us actually LOVE our books as if they are an extension of ourselves and many of my clients want to show their books off.  Why not?  Books are an amazing sources of inspiration and often curious visitors will spend a large portion of their time checking out books in your beloved collection. They’re not just pieces of paper – they’re treasures! They show off your likes, interests and hobbies and remind you of past adventures, cultures and memories as well as what inspires us and symbolizes our life goals.  So I urge you to show them off, BUT to their full Designer effect.

There are many things about the feeling and essence of libraries that makes you want to stay there forever.  Books have a romantic and calming energy about them and libraries remind us of a space that is protected, open and nurturing. So why not combine a place we go to everyday with a space that you never want to leave?  Incorporate a library nook into your already existing space – whether it is a dining room, kitchen, guest room, Entrance Hall or simple entryway.  The dining room as a library is one of my favourite options. I love the fact that a dining room can be as formal as it can be informal.  Plus, I adore that inspirational feeling of dining in a large library — there is something rich, opulent and glamorous about it.  (I love the Downton Abbey feeling of it)

Check out these before and after images (with thanks to Design Sponge  for the images).  The dining room just wasn’t cutting it for the homeowners and I don’t blame them. The space is uninspired, bland, depressing and dated.  But this beige box was quickly transformed into a dark, dramatic and modern space that beckons visitors to curl up and loose themselves to both a great book and a wonderful conversation.  The homeowners splurged on key pieces like the curtains and sculptural light fixture (which really stand out and pull the look together). But what I would suggest to the homeowners is that the dining room could have easily been left intact.  Just place a few chairs around a Saarinen table (which would work much stronger and cleaner in this room) and you’re good to go (mix vintage style chairs with the Saarinen table for a more layered look). What I especially like about this space is that it’s multi-functional.  It could serve as a library, a dining space or a home office (see the little desk in the corner) and a den.  If you’re low on space, this would be an fantastic alternative because it’s many spaces in one! Design trends are definitely in favour of schemes that are both multipurpose and multifunctional.  For small spaces, this is ideal.

One of my favourite sources of “biblostyle” inspiration is Jonathan Adler’s library-dining room.  He paired a white table, green faux bamboo chairs with dark cushions and dark brown bookshelves. This combination gives the space a charming, dark and dramatic library feel that is still appropriate for dining (not too dark!)  Let’s not forget the famous Adler touch: incorporating the horse statuette on the windowsill, the simple flowers on the table and the satellite chandelier brings an element of cheer to the space and stops it from looking too serious.

How sexy is this library and dining space that blends fuchsia, brown and black hues? There’s something about the style of the chairs that lends a sophisticated vintage corporate sensibility but they’re still appropriate for dining.  One of my favourite elements is the orange colour that pops out from the back of the bookshelves. The chandelier is to die for, and works perfectly in the space because it combines the orange, brown and black tones effortlessly and naturally. You can tell that the homeowner isn’t afraid to play with colour and has a brilliant eye for impact.  Pink, orange, black and brown are an interesting colour palette (I personally LOVE it), it’s not something that would initially be your first choice, but in this space the combination is brilliant and captivating.

Some tips:

1. Using wing-backed chairs in the room blends the two spaces.  They can be used as chairs for dining (which are very comfortable and again gives it that luxurious feeling) and they can also be moved away from the dining room and used as a chair for reading. These pieces instantly build a bridge between the library and the dining room so the space doesn’t feel broken up. If you don’t have the space for too many wing-back chairs, just incorporate one or two and place them at the ends of the table like bookends.

2. Your dining room and your living room can easily be swapped. Take this image, for example. It shows a dining space next to a fireplace surrounded by bookshelves. To me, it looks like a space where a living room was with couches, a coffee table and chairs all positioned around the fireplace. Take them out, place in a dining set, and you’re good to go! Your house or apartment just got an instant face-lift! Who says you can’t mix up your rooms? Remember: there are no rules!

3. Bookshelves around your breakfast nook create an instant library that would be used often. The kitchen is a high-traffic zone so why not incorporate a library there? The kids could easily grab a book during their breakfast and you won’t have to go searching for your recipies or cookbooks. Plus, the bookshelves could also be used as storage for your kitchen accessories that you don’t want cluttering your counters.

The moral of this story… ADD some BIBLIOSTYLE to your home decor,  embrace both old and new and layer various periods and styles to create an area with multi-functionality and LOTS of style. Libraries, with their time-worn charm, when added to another room in your home, is the perfect combination to create a Divine Design.

Get Your BLIK On

Remember the days when there were few (if any) alternatives to the paint versus wallpaper conundrum?  Besides those two choices, there weren’t many other options to decorate your walls.  This exact same problem happened one night in 2002 to Architect Scott Flora and food writer Jerinne Neils when they were debating on whether to paint or wallpaper their walls. The problem was that either option wasn’t exactly what they wanted. To further the problem, what they desired didn’t actually exist! Looking to end the tyranny of limited options, they decided to create BLIK.

I ADORE the Blik series of panels and Designs based on original works of Art by the iconic Artist Keith Haring

Blik is a strange and funny name… It reminds me of the name of an Alien (Alf’s step-brother perhaps) or conversely, a twisted Burtonesque children’s fable.  But there’s nothing funny about the success of this company. Ten years after its conception, Blik became the World’s first removable wall graphic company that is acclaimed all across the globe and used in MANY of the hottest hotels, b0utiques, clubs, homes and condos (check out their customize-able section to get the FULL effect).  Thanks to Blik, the wallpaper versus paint dilemma is over, oppression in the design world was lifted, and people were liberated to try something unique, different, flexible and best of all … removable! (This is an especially wonderful aspect for everyone who rents their home and must return it to original status upon moving)

The Keith Haring panels used in a continuous series on a wall creating a sinuous and organic wall that draws in the observer

Unique Ways to Use Blik:

Headboards:  Blik can provide you with a graphic headboard with no “boards” required!  Give your bed a quick and easy makeover and make a bold statement in your space – with little cost or mess!  The headboards come in a variety of designs and countless colour options.  Changing up your room is as easy as stripping away a decal!  Tired of one colour? That’s okay! Just swap it out for another.  HINT… try mixing one of the Headboard patterns with another BLIK pattern to give your headboard wall the feeling of an Art installation.

Add some conceptual whimsy and a bold graphic punch to a Guest room with a BLIK headboard.

To create a stunning headboard look, all you need is a coat of charcoal paint and a BLIK wall tattoo.  First, paint the feature wall a bold colour (try colour matching Martha Stewart’s Francesca Black – and then place your decal on top).  Just remember to not use the same colour decal as the wall colour (or else you won’t see it).  I suggest a white, mirror, or HOT pink stencil against the black hue, which would give the most impact.  It’s a great way to introduce a level of sophistication and style to a relatively simple or modest bedroom.

I love the humour and whimsy of this … sort of headboard…

Patterned Wall Tiles: These patterned wall tiles bring bursts of pattern and colour in a fresh and innovative way. With these tiles you can create an accent over a bed, on an interior door or frame a small section of the wall. They can be repositioned, rotated, combined, crafted and cut in a number of ways.  Plus the decals are eco-friendly and non-toxic so you don’t have to worry about their impact on the environment or a small one or pet sucking on them.

For Kids: Blik is a fun and interesting option to use in a kid’s room because of the cheeky and innovative designs.  One of my favourite Blik designs for kid spaces is this Wee Gallery Growing Like a Weed Growth Chart.  I love the practical element of this Blik design, where you can actually play around and interact with it.  Plus it’s an adorable spin on the growth chart – who didn’t have one of those in their house on a wall or a doorway? It’s something that parents and kids alike both enjoy.

The Weed Growth Chart

Customize Your Office or Business:  Blik is branching out into the business world by offering one-of-a-kind “wallscapes” for not only your home but also your office, retail space, advertisement agency, restaurant or nightclub… and the end result is SPECTACULAR!  If you’re planning an event or looking to rebrand your company, Blik can help with that.  In fact, the company works closely with Architects and Designers from around the globe.

DIY – How to Apply Blik:

Are you new to Blik?  Does the idea of a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) terrify you a bit? Don’t know where to start? Don’t worry! Blik can be applied in these 7 FOOL PROOF and easy steps:

1. Prep  Blik is a bit different than standard wallpaper application. In order for Blik to stick correctly, you first need to prep a dry, smooth and clean surface. To ensure that your wall is clean, just grab a dry cloth and give it a quick wipe down. Don’t forget the corners! If you’ve just finished painting your walls, allow at least 2 weeks for the paint to cure.  I know that seems like a long time; however, applying Blik to a wet surface is a big no-no!

2. Plan Applying your Blik at the spur-of-the-moment can be fun, but what happens if you regret it later? You’ll just cause more work for yourself: the dreaded do-over. So avoid remorse, tape your decals onto your wall before removing the backing. For some decals you may need to cut loosely around the edges so that you have the complete freedom to arrange them as you wish. Step back and give it a glance. If you like what you see … go for it!

 3. Rub In this step, you want to shift the weight of your decal to the transfer tape. To do this, simply lay your design on a hard surface (with the graphic side facing down). Firmly rub – or you can use a squeegee – over the entire backing. Beside your hand or squeegee you can also use a rubber spatula. I also find a credit card it also effective (a platinum Amex works especially well). Don’t be afraid to give your rubbing some oomph.  (No pun intended)

4. Peel Away Slowly, but surely, start at one corner of the design and peel away the paper backing with a rolling action.

5. Attach Using your best precision,h old two corners of the transfer tape – along with the decal – and stick it onto your surface. Smooth one edge onto the transfer first. This is to avoid wrinkles and bubbling. Continue smoothing in a firm and gentle motion all the way down.

6. Remove the tape  So now you’ve applied and attached the decal, now it’s time to remove the tape! Once again, start in one corner and roll it along your surface. If any of the part of the decal sticks to the tape, don’t fret. Just stop pulling, roll back, repress the graphic onto the surface and continue slowly peeling.

7. Enjoy!  You’re done. Good job!

Welcome to the innovative world of Blik! I hope you enjoy your stay and think of “the Blik alternative” the next time you need to revamp your space. It’s fast, inexpensive, BOLD and memorable. Plus it’s a natural choice for creating that edgy, urban look that’s popular with kids, teens, urban spaces or commercial settings.  Don’t forget to follow my 7 easy steps for application and soon you’ll be on your way to Blik Heaven.

I love the simplicity and conceptual twist BLIK offers a modern space

A wonderful example of a BOLD feature wall paint colour layered with a graphic BLIK pattern… Modern, fresh and FUN

BOLD Artworks by Bert Stern, Takashi Murakami, and Alex Katz line the jewel box living room giving it punch, power, visual stimulation and DRAMA…   (I love the Bergamin Designed cocktail table… retro chic meets modern Glamazon)

Exuberant, rich, lush, candy-coated, intense, surreal … ALL of these words can be used to described the personal style of Architect and Designer Sig Bergamin (a veritable rock-star Designer in Brazil).   Bergamin is a Jet-Set crowd Designer, creating fairy tale exuberance’s for clients who have multiple mansions,  jets,  helicopters, yachts, fleets of cars (with drivers)… you get the idea.  But it is not that aspect of his career that interested me.. it was his own personal style when creating a space  for himself that captured my eye.  I was surprised by his own homes layered sense of whimsy, exuberance and BOLD, juicy colour!  Colour that literally envelops you and takes you to another dimension.   His Brazilian estate/getaway is featured in Architectural Digest… showcasing a totally different side of Bergamin’s genius.  Take a look at the photos and see how the layering of colour… UNEXPECTED colour and layered combinations of periods, styles and details, create a totally unique personal space that is a vivacious setting for a summer retreat… NOT for everyone, but truly a bold and beautiful personal statement.

I love that Bergamin used salvage flooring & architectural details and salvage hardware from a nearby 19th-century estate that was being torn down.  I LOVE salvage material and adore the idea of keeping a part of the other historical building alive… showcasing the skill and craftsmanship of the materials.  18th and 19th century French and Italian furnishings live comfortably with modern pieces from Brazil and the U.S.  I also love the way Bergamin uses antiques … NOT as reverential, roped off items BUT to be used, touched and loved daily.  Bold and very personal, this home showcases its owners and their guests beautifully.  Make sure to see the full feature at the ESSENTIAL ArchitecturalDigest.com

The Pedro Friedeberg hand chair immediately sets the tone for the Design…witty, unexpected and unique.

The sharp blue-green of the Living room walls makes the Art pop in a bold almost visceral manner.  Some of the pieces hanging include Art by Alexander Calder and Carla Barth.  I love the layered sensibility of the room with the juxtaposition of the antique chinoiserie chair, empire pedestal table and the bold modern hand woven carpet with the array of modern Art creating a full backdrop screen.

The BOLD and brilliant vintage ikat envelops the guest bedroom giving it an almost Post-Impressionist feeling of pattern on pattern… almost as if you were stepping into an Edwardian painting … the luggage is vintage Louis Vuitton.

The stunningly intense colours of the living room are a melange of periods, colours, textures, fabrics, materials and cultures… It is a very personal space that is dedicated to being a joyous break from Bergamin’s usual hectic schedule.  The fringed sofas are clad in a Rubelli velvet from Donghia and are laden with vibrant pillows giving it a Morrocan feeling while floor to ceiling shelving showcases countless Murano-glass vessels.  A stunning Vik Muniz painting is displayed against the mirrored fireplace wall.

The power of a beautiful (and well crafted) Faux Wallpaper is its ability to transcend the expected and add a sense of Magic, Mystery and INTRIGUE to your Interior Design, whether it’s for your home, office or a retail/commercial setting.  I love their ability to make you question what you are looking at…that Alice in Wonderland principle I’ve spoken about before.  The first question that people ask when encountering faux wallpaper is, “Is it real or not?”.   Faux wallpaper is a fusion of Art and Design, that is sophisticated, clever and imaginative, ESPECIALLY when used in an unexpected application.

This was why I was SO EXCITED to discover the incredible Mineheart, located in Cambridgeshire England (DON’T worry, they ship World wide and have reps for their products globally).  Mineheart produces the ‘Lovable Collection’ of wallpaper (as well as lighting, furniture and sexy accessories). As Mineheart says “The pieces in the collection are selected to inspire us, many tell a story, express a poetic notion, a thought or an experiment, others just make us smile! The pieces are on the boundary between objects of art and mass produced items and many of the products are made to order or produced in small batches by UK based craftspeople.”  Mineheart was launched in 2010 by Designers Brendan Young and Vanessa Battaglia (originally of Studiomold and Young & Battaglia).  The duo is known for their playful approach to design and innovative “re-appropriation of materials and imagery”.

Faux wallpapers visually speak about creating an optical illusion and as such there are many ways that you can use faux wallpaper in your space.  You can commit to using faux wallpaper on an entire feature wall, or hang just one panel or frame a section. For example, rough-around-the-edges planks can be used vertically or horizontally and are the perfect wallpaper idea to warm up a cold condo.  Or inset a nook or bookcase with the library wallpaper to give a sense of depth and mystery, or perhaps add a weathered door to nowhere… giving a room an old world charm and a playful sense of fantasy.

7 Ways to Get Creative With Faux Wallpaper:

1. Apply faux wood wallpaper to a small piece of plywood and lean it against the wall as a room accent.
2. Faux wallpaper the ceiling and paint the walls a solid colour.
3. Use faux wallpaper and apply it to the back of kitchen cabinets, china cabinets, bookshelves – anything with shelving space.
4. Try the concrete wallpapers as a kitchen or bathroom backsplash to give the room an edgy and industrial vibe.
5. Apply the faux wallpaper to a large canvas and hang it on a feature wall to double as art.
6. Apply the faux wallpaper to a big sheet of plywood – approximately the size of a full-length mirror — and apply it to the wall (horizontal), and then on it put your favourite pieces of artwork, framed photographs, etc.
7. Layer the wallpaper to already existing painted walls to give an eye-catching contrast. Who says you need to paint or wallpaper your walls? You can have both!

So next time you want to add texture and personality to your space … think faux.  My favourite wallpapers from MINEHEART are the following:

White Paneling Wallpaper

The White Paneling wallpaper is a visual STUNNER and is inspired by Georgian Architectural details and features white decorative panels with a layering of profiles that give an elegant, classic yet FRESH look.  It can be used to create a bright modern meets historic feeling (think of a stately Georgian mansion updated for today’s lifestyle) and is perfect for doing a single feature wall, an entire room or cutting it up and using elements of it in your Design.  It is printed on 300 gram fabric backed textured paper and is suitable for both domestic and commercial usages.

The Chesterfield Button Back (shown in grey)

I love the visual sumptuousness of this faux paper… LUX and modern at the same time… very visually “comforting” in a way.  The iconic tufted leather look is perfect to creat a sense of luxury and give the feeling of a 19th cent. Gentlemen’s club, boudoir or of course a mental institution… I LOVE the idea of upholstering a dining room with this wallpaper (it comes in a variety of colours), using it in a high ceiling entrance hall beside the stairs or in an office as a rich feature wall.  This paper lends itself to being used in many applications.

Black Wrought Metal Gate

I LOVE the visual power, impact and sex appeal of this faux wallpaper.  It gives the look of exquisitely hand forged iron gates from an old mansion, palace or private club and can be used as a feature wall, insets, cabinet lining or a mixed Design application.  The black background gives a powerful depth to this hand created paper and the forged iron effect varies across the entire surface giving it a shockingly realistic finished effect.  Truly stunning!

White Cast Iron Lace Wallpaper

My personal favourite of the entire Mineheart collection… the White Cast Iron Lace Wallpaper is completely breathtaking in the right location.  (TRULY STUNNING)  Visually inspired by historic decorative metalwork and Architectural elements, the massive scale and deeply ornate fretwork gives this particular paper an utterly convincing and stunning faux effect.  I love the grandeur, the romance, the mystery and the BOLDNESS of it.  I would love to see an entire feature wall covered in it,  recessed nooks, a sunroom wall with a series of french doors, the headboard wall of a bed, an entire wall in an office with a picture rail and leaning photos against it… the list goes on and on.  This paper is open to any usage and endless creative interpretations of it.

The White Planks Wallpaper

White washed simplicity and calm… a shabby chic delight.  The White Planks paper is reminiscent of beach huts, sexy magazine shoots and airy cottages.  Its perfect for an entire room, feature walls, insets, cabinet backs or creative usages (rip it up and use segments).  I love the modern meets rustic sensibility of this paper, very chic.

The White Bookshelf Wallpaper

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one… Fresh, witty, unexpected, bright, minimalist and sexy.  Perfect to create a stunning contemporary sharpness in your office (home or work), use as a feature walls or paper an entire room.  I would love to see the flanking walls of a fireplace treated with this or an opposite wall as you enter a room to truly give the visual magic its full effect.

I became a DOWNTON ABBEY addict a bit later than most… I had missed the first season and read about this brilliantly written, sensationally Acted and Directed British series as a result of the rampant and obsessive LOVE for it in the “blogosphere”.   If you have NOT seen it yet, I truly recommend sprinting out to get the first season DVD.  This  Masterpiece Classics series is of course a PBS extravaganza that has resulted in a new craze for corsets, cloche hats, High Tea and cravats, not to mention an even greater obsessive love for British country “homes”… and by homes I mean the singular spectacle that is Highclere Castle in Berkshire (browse through the gallery of interior, exterior and garden images on their website…truly scrumptious beyond description).  Highclere Castle is owned by the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnavon and has been in their family since it was constructed.  The Carnarvon family have lived at Highclere since 1679, and the current Highclere Castle stands on the site of an earlier house, which in turn was built on the foundations of the medieval palace owned by the Bishops of Winchester for some 800 years! (How’s THAT for lineage)  Like so many, I have succumbed to the magic of BOTH Downton Abbey as WELL as Highclere Castle… in the series Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey in the show) has such a presence that it truly is a main character in the series.  Of course one can NOT speak of Downton Abbey without giving proper homage to the Divine Dame Maggie Smith; her Dowager Countess’ one-liners alone are reason enough to watch the program and relish every utterance and facial expression, Maggie Smith is divine!  The craze for Downton Abbey can be seen in the endless parade of features the show has inspired including  British Vogue, The Washington Post, Town & Country, The New York Times and the holy grail… Vanity Fair.

Highclere Castle was Designed by the iconic Sir Charles Barry  and is in the “Jacobethan” style, referring to the Victorian revival of English architecture of the late 16th century and early 17th century (think Tudor architecture fused with  Renaissance Revival influences and a dash of Gothicism).   During the 19th century there was a huge Renaissance revival movement, of which Sir Charles Barry was a great exponent – Barry described the style of Highclere as “Anglo-Italian Renaissance”…which we now refer to as Jacobethan.  Barry is perhaps most famous for the Houses of Parliament (The Palace of Westminster) in London.   Personally, I adore Highclere’s bold visual combination of the vertical sections juxtaposed against the equally bold horizontal detailing, all of which are in contrast to the slender proportions of the towers.  As well, the stunning, warm and visually captivating Bath Stone used to dress the entire exterior of the Castle is exquisite.   Another instantly captivating feature of the facade that gives it such a fresh, almost modern feeling is the beautiful repetition of the massive windows… windows so large they almost seem impossible/incongruous on a stone structure of this size.  The repetition of them gives the massive structure an openness that both softens the scale and entices the onlooker.

“I am the last link of the feudal system. I’ve done everything I possibly can to keep the ancestral home.” The 6th Earl of Carnarvon

Another fascinating historical feature of Highclere Castle is its Egyptian connection.  Highclere is home to a permanent Egyptian Exhibition, which was founded by the 5th Earl of Carnarvon who, along with his archaeological colleague Howard Carter, discovered the tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun in 1922.  The 5th Earl was an enthusiastic amateur Egyptologist, undertaking the sponsorship of the 1907  excavation of the nobles’ tombs in Deir el-Bahari (Thebes).    Another family story I particularly love is about the 6th Earl … when he threw a Ball for a thousand guests in the 1950′s, he wanted the house to be perfect.  So the crenellations around the towers (made of the very soft yet very beautiful Bath Stone) which were falling apart, were reconstructed for the occasion in hardboard and then back-lit floodlighted in order to give a gorgeous silhouette to the oncoming guests as they drove up the long gravel drive. (Perfection is in the Details…or is it madness).  Highclere Castle is open to the public on a limited schedule…. I strongly suggest a visit.

The Great Salon is the physical and social heart of the Highclere.  It was designed for the 4th Earl by Thomas Allom in a gothic style with rich hand carved stone and walnut decoration and completed in the 1860′s.  The gorgeous wall coverings are made of hand tooled leather and were brought back from Cordoba, Spain by the 3rd Earl and date from 1631.

The STUNNING Music room is a wonderful south-facing room with views towards two of the Gardens follies: Jackdaw’s Castle to the east and Heaven’s Gate at the summit of Siddown Hill.  The baroque ceiling was painted by Francis Hayman in the 1730’s while the walls are hung with Italian 16th century Italian embroideries.

The Great Library of Highclere is actually a massive double room and was used by the 4th Earl of Carnarvon as a “withdrawing” room.  The Earl was an active Tory in Parliament, a member of Disraeli’s Cabinet in the 1860′s and 1870′s and would discuss politics with friends or retire in peace to this his “inner sanctum”. There are over 5,650 books, the earliest dating from the 16th century.

One of 2 Main Staircases…This is the Red Staircase… it makes me think of Edward Gorey’s “A is for Amy…” (if you don’t know the Reference look it up for a laugh)

The sunlight Great Hall with its glorious rows of original skylights.  The 17th century wall coverings are made of hand tooled and painted leather from Cordoba, Spain.  Identical panels can be found at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Highclere Castle’s ground floor plan

The Following images are from a Architectural Digest Feature ON Highclere Castle from 1979.  To see the full Architectural Digest Feature CLICK HERE

A pair of canephorae decorate the gateposts of Highclere Castle … alluding to the “dark splendor of treasures within”, I love that line from the Architectural Digest feature.

Tall gilded columns serve to divide the long axis of the library. The rich tones of the coffered wood ceiling and Caucasian rugs give the room a warm Victorian feeling. On the far wall, a massive double-pediment bookcase is filled with old books, their fine leather bindings creating an additional pattern.

Gothic Pointed arches, decorated with small marble columns, give the entrance hall a feeling of mysterious beauty. 

The living room is seen through a series of arches, and is open to the grandly proportioned central space. Griffons depicted on the iron fireplace flank a Jacobean needlepoint screen, while a portrait of the present earl of Carnarvon, at right, is casually displayed next to a Toledo chinoiserie screen.

Exotic forms of griffons decorate a Regency armchair that attends a Regency mahogany and bronze writing desk. A Louis XVI bronze and ormolu candelabrum on a pedestal illuminates antique volumes in a parcel-gilt walnut bookcase.

I am having a complete Designer Obsession at the moment for the  HORSE LAMP by Front Design for MOOOI … all it is missing is a young Elizabeth Taylor on top and the breathtakingly lifelike and LIFE-SIZED horse is both a Functional light source as well as a brilliant & mesmerizing sculpture.  I adore the slight Alice in Wonderland nonsensical, conceptual madness it gives to a space … elevating a serious or modern interior to that of Art and adding that ever elusive “whimsical” touch.  (I am contemplating ordering one for myself in Black which of course will henceforth be referred to as Black Beauty).

 The Horse Lamp measures in at 7’8″ tall and is made of 100% polyester (it was introduced to the market in 2006 and is available in black, white, silver AND can be special ordered through specialty retailers covered in tiny glass mosaic tile as well).   I love the blurb by MOOOI about the piece “The Horse lamp by Front is faithful to the true dimensions of the animal bringing a touch of nature in fairy-tale style and genuine madness. By rejecting abstraction and taking inspiration from a living creature it delivers a powerful emotive content that never fails to elicit a strong response from onlookers. Who wouldn’t want a horse lamp to light up their home? Furniture to fall in love with at first sight or hate forever.”  Like all works of Art … this piece is bold, awakening and definitely makes a statement.

As the saying goes… a picture is worth a thousand words (albeit I am always verbose even WITH pictures) … I love how the shade almost makes the life-sized horse look as if it is trying to hide from you like one of the elephants from Fantasia wearing the lampshades when they had a bit to much to drink.  The Design group Front base their product Designs on explorations and experiments that “communicate a story to the observer about the design process and the material used” (I love this passage on their process).  Front consists of Sofia Lagerkvist, Charlotte von der Lancken and Anna Lindgren.  I have a desire to saddle it up with a vintage hand tooled leather saddle and horse blanket… I will keep you posted.

I wonder what a grouping of 3 of them would look like in my office… I wonder if they make polyester bails of hay.

I love the idea of a vintage horse blanket tossed over the midsection (or in this case a flag…)

I think I would prefer a single to be in the black colour to boldly pop and a grouping of them to be in the gloss white to give the effect of an Installation Artwork

I wonder how often at parties you would find a guest astride it? ….

]]> http://robindegroot.ca/?feed=rss2&p=3485 1 http://robindegroot.ca/?p=3447 http://robindegroot.ca/?p=3447#comments Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:17:27 +0000 Robin De Groot http://robindegroot.ca/?p=3447

The TATE Chair by Lucca Studio

Exquisite is a word often thrown about nowadays when describing things of great beauty… HOWEVER few items can live up to this anointed title quite as elegantly and brilliantly as the Tate chair by the amazing Lucca Studio / Lucca Antiques.  Lucca Studio/Antiques is famous for their exquisite collection of truly ”one-of-a-kind” Antiques, collected from around the globe (snarfle their website to see the amazing breadth and beauty of their collection)… however it is this brilliant Design by their Lucca Studio division that riveted my attention.  Taking a classic 18th Century silhouette wingback chair but completely re-envisioning the Design by constructing it entirely of wood… AND not just any wood, but ACTUAL reclaimed 18th Century Spanish Chestnut.  The Spanish Chestnut is a species of the genus Castanea (chinkapins and chestnuts) which is contained by the diverse Fagaceae family of beech and oak trees, which are distinguished as the Spanish Chestnut, Portuguese Chestnut and European chestnut.  The wood is lustrous, visually compelling and has such a rich sense of history it becomes the focal point of any room or space you position this gorgeous piece within.  While MANY retailers are now making their own “version” of this Design … this is the Original Design, and as Eddie Monsoon would say “Buy an original Sweetie, D’ahling”.   What I love personally about this Design is that it is actual reclaimed 300 year old wood used in its construction and that each piece is entirely hand crafted by master craftspeople.  The photos (courtesy of Lucca Studio) show the Tate chair in Belgian linen with down cushions.

A 1000 year old Spanish Chestnut Tree

Notice the beautiful hand notching on the detail of the Wing

The patina of the wood is rich and lustrous while giving one a sense of history and intrigue

I ADORE how the natural fissures of the wood are incorporated into the Design (see the back detail)… it gives the piece a sense of antiquity and reminds one of  the unique nature of the material and what the lineage might be of it, as well as its ties to Nature.

The gentle hand carved Cabriole leg is both traditional (in its Design origin) and modern because of its raw, reclaimed usage of the wood.  It is a stunning fusion of Traditional Design meeting Modern day lifestyle.

I love the sense of the welcoming arms of the Wings… it gives the chair an inviting presence… a place you want to sit and reflect, talk or enjoy a meaningful conversation.

I particularly love the severity and bold look of the back of this Design.  It can be seen completely in the round in a space and give a different feeling from every angle…something all true Art should do.

for more of the stunning collections by Lucca Studio & Lucca Antiques visit HERE 

]]> http://robindegroot.ca/?feed=rss2&p=3447 0 http://robindegroot.ca/?p=3297 http://robindegroot.ca/?p=3297#comments Sat, 10 Mar 2012 23:04:24 +0000 Robin De Groot http://robindegroot.ca/?p=3297

The elegant bureau with the black & white theme is instantly made modern with the POP of deep yellow and the graphic patterns

The magic of mirror is that it reflects light, adds movement, visual depth and that Alice in Wonderland magic to any space.  I love the reflecting of the bold carpet upholstered chair in the beside bureau and the elegant but casual arrangement of items and personality on the table.  The room is kept minimal and spare yet with the addition of the bold orange linen bench and the stunning chair the space feels inviting, rich and intelligent.

Being a pet FANATIC myself, I instantly fell in love with the creation of a headboard wall using framed pet photos that take the colour from the upholstered headboard and tie it into the grouping.  The calm elegant palette is freshened with the usage of the BOLD and sensual primary yellow side table with the sharp accents of the sea blue accessories.  This is a space where you and Rover can enjoy the Sunday New York Times in peace and style.

I LOVE the usage of the Campaign style side table with its patina zinc legs with the sharp contrast of the modern, simplistic functional arm lamp and the layering of books, photos and the casual arrangement of leaning the art against the wall.  Elegant yet breezy, inspiring yet subtle…

BIG & BOLD…yet completely organic, natural and inspiring.  I LOVE the usage of the reclaimed barn beams for the headboard with the inset suede panel and the Artisan sculptural knotted tree side table is simply a work of sheer genius.  It is both MODERN and completely natural at the same time…a rare moment of synthesis for those elements.  This space could be pushed in either direction by simply changing out the bedding… as it is now it is a space you want to wake up while being served your morning croissant and Latte.

VERY traditional…YET freshened with tweaking of the extra height in the headboard and the subtle layering of blues and greens…this Martha Stewart inspired space is at once Zen and inviting.

I LOVE everything about this tiny bedside table in this TINY apartment… the lack of size did NOT effect the BIGNESS of their Design vision.  I especially love the usage of the retro phone (in Orange no less)  with the grouping of framed Art and prints on the wall giving the space a academic yet modern retro feeling.  This is the perfect spot to read the latest issue of W magazine.

Another traditional space that is lightened and freshened both by its subtle palette as well as its quiet nature and beach theme.

Zany, Bold, Sexy, Chic and VERY European…this multi-layered space is NOT for the meek.  This is a space to be courted and feted with lovely gifts in Robin’s egg blue boxes with white silk ribbons.

Modern yet soft, inviting and peaceful…this space is given a rich layering with the usage of the 70′s chic bedside table and the beautiful sculptural glass lamp…the pop of pink with the flowers  is for me what gives the space that finishing touch.

I adore the colour palette in this room…the usage of the black wall to pop the white framed photos..the cerulean blue velvet chrome based bench, the white and black bedside table with the cerulean blue glass lamp…it is a stunning, inspiring and gorgeous space perfect for quiet moments or looking alluring…