Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Shopping for Home Funishings - Paris/Thomas Boog

Thomas Boog, friend and neighbor, is a naturalist and his ever expanding creative mind keeps his shop filled with unexpected treasures. Above a lilac colored suede covered buffalo head.

A Cabinet des Curiosities cleverly displays his love for the natural and exoctic. Here, this glass case with bronze fittings is set into the wall, both concentrating the collection and at the same cleanly defining the space which creates a modern take on a very old concept.

Wonderful and fanciful cabinets inlaid with inlaid mother of pearl shells. His newest creations are shell studded starfish mirrors and a painted bronze coral chandelier.

Thomas will create almost any pattern from his seemingly unlimited inventory of seashells. Here is a sample of two cabinet doors that can be ordered in any size and shape. There is a wonderful new sconce in the shop, seen above, of a very contemporary light fixture mixed with the texture of a natural antler. Contrast is wonderful.

Although Boog has always had an affinity for Arcimbaldo, and his early 16th collages, this version is completely original. Constructed from seashells and sprayed all black, these newly crafted images are totally modern.

Shopping for Home Furnishings.....Paris/Hermes

The House of Hermes has opened their first shop on the left Bank on the rue de Sevres. Originally a public bath house, the store has come to define the new culture at Hermes. Along with their own luxury brand of home furnishings, they have now added a full line of furniture including re-editions of Jean-Michel Frank.

The main staircase leading down to the original swimming pool level.

Monday, January 16, 2012

La Cuisine Francaise.....Style: Undecorated!!!



There is nothing like a European Kitchen. Especially a French Kitchen. Usually small and compact, the French kitchen is above all practical. Cooking is high ranking among past times. An enormous amount of time is spent in the kitchen and entertaining at home is like a sport. And the more you do it, the better you become. Where as American Kitchens are often enormous showplaces and usually food, spices, and tablewear are all hidden away, French kitchens are often overflowing with fresh produce, cheeses are kept out at room temperature, often dishes and stemware are exposed for easy access, and more often than not, its because there just isn’t enough storage space. They are usually warm and inviting, even when  modern in feeling.  Accessories, art and personal collections are found in kitchens just like the rest of the home. Formal dining rooms are seen less and less. Kitchens combine both the cooking elements and provide for the social setting. No running to Clive Christian or Christopher Peacock for a kitchen design here. They exist in europe, but are favored by foreigners. Anyhow, the French would never spend that much money on a kitchen. They would rather spend it on food.


This wonderful etegere was found in the Marche aux Puces. Exposed dishware, bowls, tea cups and saucers make for easy access. The Indian Lantern and the wonderful torquoise tea service make a very eclectic addtional to the collection.

Antique Toile Drapery is reused now to make contemporary roman shades and a typically european mini drapery to cover the underneath storage of the sink. A wonderful and important late 18th century oil painting hangs amid a collection of birds. The birds themselves are all made out of feathers. The fabric used on the antique painted chairs had originally been used as wall upholstery in the owners New York City dressing room.


This wonderful kitchen is small but extremely practical. I can personally attest the wide range of cooking that takes place here. The cabinets are all hand painted faux bois. A banquette adds addtional seating under a window and bracketed shelves hold personal collections.


The Makintosh Period Chairs and the old plank table add to the mix, making this very simple space a very much used kitchen for creating and entertaining.

This good friend of mine has wonderful taste and a very creative mind. The Library separates the entrance foyer and the kitchen.

This very un-decorated space uses found objects to create more than just a kitchen.....it becomes a workspace, a dining room, a laundry room and a space that  houses many of the owners personal collections.

The use of dhurry rugs, folding chairs and slip covers mixed with antique chairs gives a very unpretentious feel of warmth and good taste. 

Various collections found on foreign trips hang on the wall,  a pair of oil paintings, exposed accessories, and several mismatched lamps add to the undone look.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Paris


So, Paris........
There is so much to say about Paris that I almost don’t know where to begin. So, Paris......I’m just going to jump in. It will become obvious over the next several months thru comment and imagery what inspiration I draw from this incredibly beautiful, historically rich city.

Commercial Space -
 Fantasy / Organic Design / Technology

While Prada's New Shop on the Rue St Honore is under construction, they have temporarily opened a shop further up the street on the Place Beauveau. Thier obvious reference to the base of the Eiffel Tower is super creative and playful.



The Musee Quai Branly uses Green Technology to create this Verticle Garden on the walls of the Museum




The little known Cafe Gentilhommiere near Odeon took advantage of the blank canvas of the wall behind the cafe to create this imaginative trompe l'oeil of a silhouette of a tree and faux windows to give a sense of fanatasy and grandeur to an otherwise mundane space.


 The newest addition to the group of shops called L'Ecleireur on the rue de Sevigny in the Marais is wildly fantastic in its use of high technology, multi media and art filled space. See the next video to fully appreciate what this very modern, space age shop is about. 

Need I say more? Press the arrow button to play video.



I'll get to the personal significance of this subject in a future blog.
Again, press the arrow key to play video.


I thought this Mens Boutique was definitely in the UN-Decorated style.
Instead of the usual formula for a retail shop, this boutique has seemingly random placed furniture of different periods and styles, a nod to Fornasetti via a creative collage of wallpaper cut outs and the use of rolling racks that one might normally find useful in a back storage room.


Just wandering thru the Marais the other day I came across this  most wonderful 'organic' sculpture. It was in the courtyard of a Hotel Particulier. Not only is it unusual and interesting but it just goes to show that you don't need a landscaper to create a garden.


Thursday, January 5, 2012

Happy Holidays!

Who said it had to look like a Christmas Tree?

On Exoticism - Daphne Guinness Exhibit - FIT NYC



....”fashion today is becoming more beige.” she says. “By that, I mean, everyone and everything is starting to look the same - almost like a Mao uniform. We should be flying the flag of individuality.”
-Daphne Guinness


The images below represent anything but beige! It’s not about the “Mao uniform” and sameness in decoration....this is about creativity, exoticism and individuality.




Exotic, Comfort, Colorful, Shapes


 Form, Function, Colorful, Artistic, Fun
Surreal, Creative, Artistic, Bold, Unique