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Just Married: A Posh Penthouse and Ikea Furniture

Jane Freiman — 2010-05-18T15:40:00 00:00

Filed under: Your Home, Living Room, Projects, Famous Homes, Design, etc, House Tours, Cool Homes, Furniture

Top NY designer Inson Dubois Wood outfits a luxe show house for newlyweds -- affordably.

Inson Wood in the living room of the newlywed penthouse he furnished from Ikea. Photo: Theo Wargo

To create a fabulous show house a designer needs inspiration.

So when Bride's magazine approached top New York designer Inson Dubois Wood to transform a $3.5 million Manhattan eco-luxury penthouse loft into a "Newlywed Nest," he conjured up fictional clients and adopted the theme of "two people coming together to share a common space," as the basic concept.

It's prime time for weddings, after all.

But there was a challenge attached to the project: use Ikea (the sponsor's) furniture. Yes, Ikea Fans, this one is especially for you -- though it's fascinating to see how Wood used affordable furniture to create the posh pad.

So, we're taking a guided tour of the cool 25 x 14-foot living room to find out how exactly Inson pulled together the main space and which pieces he chose for his newlyweds.

"The overall design is about marrying two unique personalities, two sets of belongings and two distinct points of view," he explains. "The theme of 'his and hers' runs throughout the apartment -- you will see [matching] pairs and dissimilar items." He believes that symmetry creates a sense of organization and interrupting it occasionally produces a whiff of intrigue.

So it follows that the large, rectangular living room has two furniture groupings plus an activity area at each end.

For drama, Wood chose a paint-color palette of whites and grays, plus Ruby Red (2001-10) from Benjamin Moore (another sponsor). "I wanted to use neutral colors with splashes of red and dramatic art to activate the spaces. I tell clients not to be afraid of using color. You want to love your home."

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Just Married: A Posh Penthouse and Ikea Furniture

The living room sets the color scheme for the entire apartment. At one end, the show-stopping Klippan Love Seat, slip-covered in poly-cotton Granan red, puts a splash of color against the backdrop of the accent wall painted in Nocturnal Gray (2135-30). A slip cover is "something you can change easily if it's too much," says designer Inson Wood. Overhead, the designer chose the PS Vava Pendant light and to the left of the sofa he placed a white Kulla Table Lamp on a sleek black-brown Vejmon side table.

Inson Dubois Wood

A Posh Penthouse and Ikea Furniture

Furniture arrangements define how space is used. In the main living area, it's great to have a spot like the high-gloss white Besta Burs desk pushed up against the back of the red love seat. There she can park with a laptop, or he can do a solo eat-and-read on girl's night out -- the black cotton Skruvsta Swivel Chair offers padded comfort. To sharpen the focus on the accent wall, paintings by New York artist Michael Dickey (available through the designer) hang over the white Torsby sideboard and between a pair of handsome mid-century-style Ljusas Uvas lamps.

A Posh Penthouse and Ikea Furniture

House-proud newlyweds naturally want friends around to drool, or approve, or both. The impressive Tylosand sofa -- nearly 11-feet long - qualifies as a wow-getter with ample space for pals to flop down. It also anchors the long leg of the L-shape sofa arrangement that forms the spine of the room. To keep the sofa accessible, Wood cleverly devised twin seating zones -- each centered on a 39-inch round Strind, two-tier coffee table. Look carefully and you discover a figure 8 pathway around and between the tables that leads to a seat at every turn.

A Posh Penthouse and Ikea Furniture

Who wouldn't want a living room with a big flat-screen hanging out in the walnut-tone Besta/Framsta wall storage unit? Answer that and you lose. For perched TV watchers there's a pair of Stockholm Cowhide footstools at the far end of the seating area. Also in view: a second PS Vava Pendant light and a couple of Stockholm Easy Chairs in Figur Gray print. Bright red accent pillows on the dark sofa tie in with the bold, red-print Fialena fabric curtains the designer had made from Ikea fabric. (Currently, the red-and-orange Fredrika fabric has a similar look).

A Posh Penthouse and Ikea Furniture

Lofts usually have open kitchens since everyone seems to want space flow. That makes the counter another place to hang out on the aptly-named Urban bar stools. Slim 365+ Lunta pendants track lights are used overhead and the kitchen features a built-in Liebherr French-door refrigerator. The staircase, visible through the kitchen door, leads to a solarium and block-long terrace. How well the 14-foot wide living room is filled-out by the seating plan is made clear by the exposed strip of floor.

A Posh Penthouse and Ikea Furniture

Two Kajsa striped Scandinavian-style wool rugs were joined up to create a single -- and singular 15'2" x 7'7" -- floor covering with stripes running in the same direction as the oak. Looking across the carpet it's easy to see a clear path to the sofa, another Michael Dickey painting tucked between the curtains, and the welcome flood of natural light. White leaf-print pillows at each end of the sofa are covered by Stockholm Blad Fabric.

A Posh Penthouse and Ikea Furniture

Given the "furnished" quality of the living room, the essentials-only dining room offers a visual change of pace. Still, it seats 8 on white Bernhard leather chairs which ring the extendable Stornas table like a strand of pearls. The brown-black color of the table links up with the living room wall unit a few feet away and bronze Venetian plaster panel behind it. A premium wall treatment, Venetian plaster turns out to be 100% green, the designer says, as it combines natural marble and limestone dusts with crushed mother of pearl.

A Posh Penthouse and Ikea Furniture

When asked to describe the newlyweds, designer Inson Wood told the New York Times: "He's a tri-athlete, type A, finance guy. She's a social worker, maybe she works at the Lower Eastside Girls Club." Such a high-energy couple wouldn't think twice about three flights of stairs -- a major design element in the apartment visible via the (13'6" x 10') dining room. For continuity on all 3 floors, Wood specified November Skies (2128-50), a pale gray Benjamin Moore Aura paint now that the for something blue has come and gone.

A Posh Penthouse and Ikea Furniture

The Bride's Newlywed Nest show house is located in Penthouse 2A at the Village Green condominium, an "eco-luxury" building at 311 East 11th St., in New York City. The 2-bedroom, 2.5 bath triplex has 1,970 square feet of interior space and a 2032 square foot terrace. The show house is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through May 22.

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8 Smart Update Ideas From A Top Kitchen Designer

Jane Freiman — 2010-04-30T18:43:00 00:00

Filed under: Kitchen, Your Home, Projects, Design, etc, News & Trends, Experts

Custom kitchen guru Mick De Giulio gives us insider advice on changes to make for a fresh look.

Kitchen designer, Mick De Giulio, is making kitchen product news this year. Photo: Dale Fahey

What people want from their kitchen today: "A great place to hang out in and that means a comfortable space," says top American kitchen designer Mick De Giulio, the man who designed the training kitchens for the Wolf and Sub-Zero appliance company headquarters and New York showroom.

And here's some news: De Giulio, regarded as Chicago's kitchen design guru, is set to achieve rock star status when his signature line of kitchen sinks for Kallista (Kohler's high-end fixture brand) debuts in December. His new book, "Kitchen Centric," (Balcony Press) is "part fantasy, part art book and part field guide " and due out this fall.

Those three reasons are why we wanted to ask Mick De Giulio for smart kitchen update ideas -- ways to get a new look without major renovations. Lucky for us, he offered many more.

"The number one impetus to start a kitchen update project is to replace outdated or broken-down appliances," he explains. "But a kitchen [project] will be expensive even if you're doing a small facelift so it's important to decide where to put your money to get the most impact."

That's why he stresses planning. Before you start, ask yourself three questions: Why am I doing the project? What do I want it to look like? What's on my wish list? Even if you can't afford everything you'd like, "in a kitchen you run into a domino effect. Planning is often overlooked and that can have long-term ramifications," he says. Don't just jump into making changes.

Naturally, there's one kitchen area where it's necessary to tread lightly. Don't mess with the floor. "I've seen people replace a floor by putting a new one in over the old. That locks in the appliances which become impossible to remove. Another don't: area rugs. "You could do it, but you have too may spills and bacteria. I like it clean on the floor."

Once you determine a general direction for your kitchen update, here are eight areas to consider, and why.

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No Overhaul? No Problem! 8 Kitchen Updates Worth Making

Starting with the Windows "The first thing I'll look at is how to gain more natural light," Mick says. That can be key for '70's and '80's era kitchens that have light-blocking, window-hugging upper cabinets. Strip windows down as much as possible, he suggests. "If you can do without window coverings (apart from privacy concerns) I love that," he adds. Blinds or solar shades also are nice, "pick something that's minimal when it's pulled up all the way."

Paul Schlismann

8 Smart Update Ideas From A Top Kitchen Designer

"The first thing I'll look at is how to gain more natural light," Mick says. That can be key for '70's and '80's era kitchens that have light-blocking, window-hugging upper cabinets. Strip windows down as much as possible, he suggests. "If you can do without window coverings (apart from privacy concerns) I love that," he adds. Blinds or solar shades also are nice, "pick something that's minimal when it's pulled up all the way."
Window Shade Sources
Solar Shades, The Shade Store, $122-219
Hunter Douglas Modern Roman Shades, consult local dealers

8 Smart Update Ideas From A Top Kitchen Designer

Transparency adds a feeling of space. "Pick one section, or two doors on one side, or a pantry. Replace those solid cabinet doors with glass-front doors, even with metal frames. You can do sanded glass or clear glass and paint the interiors of the cabinets a different color. That gives you a really fresh, open feeling and impact that makes a difference without the expense of replacing all the cabinet doors. Also, if it's workable to remove sections of upper cabinets around windows "replace those with open shelving," Mick advises.
Cabinet Door Sources
Cabinet Door Shop, priced by size
Ikea Akurum Glass Cabinet Doors, priced by size

8 Smart Update Ideas From A Top Kitchen Designer

Consider the effect you want to achieve by painting walls, the ceiling, window trims, doorways and base moldings as color conveys mood. "Muted tones are more popular right now," Mick says. "Those have a moodiness that gives a nice feeling of comfort."

Because De Giulio often uses a combination of colors like the "flannel grey" and dark maple cabinets from his Beaux Arts SieMatic cabinet line we wondered about recoloring cabinets with stain, or painting them to achieve a similar look. "If you want to go through that whole scene of refinishing cabinets (you need to strip to bare wood to stain, or prime to paint) the dark wood stain can be beautiful. Usually it's easier to do a dark stain than a light one."

Paint & Stain Sources
General Finishes Enduro Industrial Wood Stain, through dealers
Fine Paints of Europe Eurolux Interior Acrylic Paint, selected dealers and by mail
Cabinet Coat, at Home Depot, Ace Hardware
Kitchen Cabinet Painting Tutorial, This Old House

8 Smart Update Ideas From A Top Kitchen Designer

De Giulio often puts polished nickel and brass together in kitchen accessories such as plate racks. "It looks fantastic," he says. So naturally, he believes in mixing hardware finishes and styles. "You could do glass. I like nickel a lot as it's very neutral. The bronzes are nice." Don't worry about upper cabinets in one finish or style and using another on base cabinets. "If you like how something looks [together], go for it."
Cabinet Hardware Sources
Restoration Hardware Cabinet Knobs and Pulls, in their locations and online
Katonah Architectural Hardware, custom orders
Lee Valley, online orders

8 Smart Update Ideas From A Top Kitchen Designer

"Task light is a first to address, both for great effect and for function," Mick says. Under-cabinet lighting for work areas is essential. If it's necessary to use fluorescents "warm white is fantastic," he says. "If cabinets don't go to the ceiling, you might have an opportunity to use ½-inch LED fixtures on top. They don't give off a tremendous amout of light, but it's mood light."

Don't overlook surface fixtures which provide general light and "mount to the ceiling -- an easy change when there's a fixture there already," Mick adds. He also famously combines pendants lights and a pot rack over an island to double up on function.

Lighting Sources
Brighter LED Light Bar 3 Fixture Kit, ElementalLED, $ 122.99
Kichler Kitchen Cabinet Lighting, through dealers
Task Lighting

8 Smart Update Ideas From A Top Kitchen Designer

De Giulio's kitchen photos often show ultra-modern style-setting Dornbracht faucets. "I like simplicity," he explains. I've also used a more traditional style in a very modern kitchen - that looks great. And, he thinks, "Kallista is a great brand."
Faucet Sources (clockwise from top left)
Kallista One Deck-Mounted Bridge Kitchen Faucet, Lever Handles, about $850
Grohe Minta faucet, about $300
For Town by Michael S Smith kitchen faucet, about $2300
Grohe Bridgeford faucet
Dornbracht Faucets

8 Smart Update Ideas From A Top Kitchen Designer

"A really effective way to change the personality of a kitchen is to add a backsplash. It's a fairly easy thing to do." While glass, ceramic and porcelain tiles are favored choices, "stainless steel backsplashes can be fantastic - tiles, polished, or even quilted stainless," he suggests.
Tile Sources
Susan Jablon Stainless Steel Mosaics
Hastings Tile & Bath, contemporary glass and porcelain tile
Ann Sacks Tile & Stone

8 Smart Update Ideas From A Top Kitchen Designer

These elements help personalize a kitchen and make it comfortable. "Find an antique piece to put up against a wall," Mick advises. If there's space, add something upholstered like a tufted leather counter stool, or chairs with seats. "Fabrics are a good way to inject color and comfort." De Giulio frequently uses plate racks, utensil rails and open shelving of his own design to accessorize functional storage. (The lighted pot rack we found, above, has the same dual function).
Accessories & Furniture
Maxim MX 7751 Contemporary/Modern Pot Rack, lightingdirect.com, $358.20
Studio Chair, Crate & Barrel $199
Hudson Camelback Upholstered Counter Stool, Restoration Hardware, $499-$599

8 Smart Update Ideas From A Top Kitchen Designer

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Kitchen Cleaning: 5 Musts & 5 Things to Put Off

Jane Freiman — 2010-03-29T17:10:00 00:00

Filed under: Kitchen, Your Home, Projects, Storage & Cleaning, Storage & Organization, Cleaning

These down-and-dirty tactics provide quick spring kitchen-cleaning results just in time for spring.

Getty Images

Guests can get snoopy when they visit relatives and friends. They'll open a kitchen drawer or a pantry cabinet and get instantly judgmental about what they see. Let us help you make some quick kitchen-cleaning assessments. Here are ten top spring-cleaning tasks - five must-dos and five we think it's fine to postpone - along with tactics and products to eliminate key kitchen ick-factors.

5 MUST-CLEANS

1. Frequently Used Drawers
Who can say how dust, drips and dirt work their way into drawers that are closed most of the time? We all know: Crumbs happen.

How to clean: Empty the contents of each drawer onto an old bath towel (so stuff won't roll and to blot things that need washing). Vacuum, then damp-wipe drawers. I favor lint-free microfiber cloths which are woven to attract dust and dirt. Wash or wipe as needed and replace contents.

Why: Everyone goes into kitchen drawers, especially when helping to put food out or away.

Use: Vacuum crevice wand or upholstery brush. Best are vacuum micro-attachments for cleaning electronics, which do double duty here.

Shopping info (left to right)
Unger Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, 10-pack $20.60, Target
Ziotek 8-piece universal micro-vacuum kit, $8, Amazon
Miracle Cloths (multi-colors), 3-pack, $9.50, Solutions

Left to right: Target, Amazon, Solutions

Drugstore.com

2. Dishware, Glassware, Silverware
At holiday dinner tables, like restaurants, everyone looks at the place settings before the food arrives. Since every spot is visible, freshening "good" china or everyday tableware is essential. Yup, that means rewashing.

How: Do dishes-only dishwasher loads on warm, keeping same-size plates together for easy unloading. Glassware and stainless steel cutlery go together on the hottest cycle for sparkling results. Silver (sterling or silver-plate) does not go in the dishwasher.

Why: Dishes can be damaged by very hot water or heated drying, especially older sets or any with gold rims. Sterling or plate can be harmed by dishwasher detergent. Stainless steel and glassware benefit from hot water (even sani-cycle). Silver requires low-abrasive polishing (yes, tedious we know but it's once a year).

Use: The Society of American Silversmiths care notes for silver, and a silver polish kit.

Shopping info:
Twinkle Silver Polish Kit, 4.38 oz. $4, Drugstore

Amazon

3. Handles, Knobs, Faucets, Doors
During a recent visit with relatives, I hung out in the kitchen so it was hard not to notice sticky, gunky cabinet and refrigerator handles and the less-than-pristine sink faucet. I wiped those down (and kept quiet about it), as well as the pantry door which had an arc of dark smudges.

How: Use a lint-free cloth (I love my microfiber here) and hot sudsy water spiked with an antibacterial or disinfecting cleaner, twisting to clean around knobs, and handles -- and on pantry, laundry room, mud room, garage access and appliance doors. Doors need a wipe-down on each side. With a Flitz touch up, metal handles, knobs and nickel faucets will look new (don't polish anything metal-coated).

Why: These are high-traffic areas, germ magnets and at eye level, so smudges are noticeable.

Use: The National Institutes of Health Household Products Database for cleaning product specifics and safety information, and metal polish.

Shopping info:
Flitz Metal Polish, 1.76 oz., $6.53, Amazon

4. Table Linens, Dish Towels, Sponges
Textile expert and fabric guru Jamie Gibbs, of the Parsons School of Design, is blunt about towels. "Go to Costco or Wal-Mart and buy three new dish towels before guests come and put those out - don't use old ones." And, he says "sponges are breeding grounds for icky. Throw them out like you do a toothbrush, every six weeks." Tablecloths, runners and placemats harbor dust in closets and drawers so those need to be shaken out and aired for a day or two. Cloth napkins need re-washing and ironing since guests can smell them as they wipe their mouths.

How: Gibbs soaks stained linens overnight in hot water mixed with a scoop of OxiClean before washing. Iron flat and damp, he says, then fold. Don't iron-down folds on napkins.

Why: "Never press in creases on fine linens. Every time you fold and press in the crease you are breaking the fibers," Gibbs says.

Use: OxiClean, for soaking overnight. Vintage Textile Soak takes out stains on old linens, as does Forever New Fabric Care Wash

Shopping info:
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover, 3.7 lbs., $10, GreatCleaners
Vintage Textile Soak, 14 oz., $10, Star Spangled Sampler
Forever New Fabric Care Wash, 32 oz., $15, Amazon

Left to right: Amazon, Star Spangled Sampler, GreatCleaners

Ace Hardware

5. Refrigerator
My Mom's refrigerator had assigned parking spots for various foods. These days, nobody has time to keep that up.

How: Evaluate contents of door shelves and pitch anything 3 months old or nearly empty. Check covered dishes and dates on containers. Consult manufacturer's care guide on water temperature before cleaning glass shelves. Add 2 tablespoons white vinegar to warm or hot water. Empty everything to an old bath towel. Wipe down shelves, sides and doors. Clean then dry sticky containers.

Why: Old juice or moldy ricotta in fridges is gross and you don't want loved ones eating anything past its prime. Make space so things don't fall out when someone innocently rummages for a beer or soda.

Use: Replace Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to deodorize. Afterwards, it can be repurposed in pools, to freshen drains or even extinguish fires.
Shopping info:
Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, 1-lb., $3.79, Ace Hardware

FIVE CHORES YOU CAN PUT OFF (for now)

1. Cleaning the Oven - Always a bore. And since it's bound to get heavy use during the holidays, it's pointless to do it before.

2. Vent Hood - This probably hasn't been cleaned for months (or ever) so save it for later, after all the cooking is finished.

3. Floors -- The usual routine should be enough.

4. Under the Sink - Just make a quick survey and move anything that could be mistakenly used (or shouldn't be) to another location.

5. Inside Cabinets - When we renovated the kitchen I couldn't believe the greasy film coating everything. Yuck. But deep-cleaning there can wait. Meanwhile, toss out old plastic containers and put new ones in front for sending leftovers home with friends and family.

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Smart Designs At NYIGF

Jane Freiman — 2010-02-04T16:46:00 00:00

Filed under: Green Design, Shopping, Design, etc, News & Trends

Small-kitchen ideas are always invaluable, which is why I fell for Desu's 1-Line Spice Rack ($200). The sturdy, 30-inch stainless frame works as a platform for 15 colorful spice bottles and holds a bottle of olive oil or vinegar. Think of it as space-smart wall jewelry. Photo: desudesign

Effort-saving gadgets, handy organizers and space-smart gizmos at the New York International Gift Fair

At the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF), New York's largest wholesale trade event, which closes today, there was a ton of great design to be found. As your ShelterPop editors walked the show, we found ourselves thinking about "smart" designs -- items that are intelligent because they make your life easier, because they're good for the earth or because they'll save you money. I found nearly a dozen clever products that present practical, green or more space-conscious solutions for all of us with busy lives. (Because this is a trade show, all retail prices listed are approximate.)

You'll always know what time it is with a clock projected on the wall or ceiling. Custom colors, dimmers and sizes are created by light beams from an igloo-shaped mechanism that sits on a shelf or mounts on a wall. About $200 from Timebeam by Design, London. Remaining photos: Jane Freiman

Candles-in-disguise are easy to create with Lushlife's tea-light cutter ($15). Press and twist the device to hollow out fruits or vegetables, then tuck in a votive. Natural moisture in the foods helps the tiny points of lights burn safely. This gadget will come in handy when Thanksgiving and Christmas decorating returns.

Like-it is dedicated to cool storage ideas like, well these colorful Japanese-made acrobatic stacking laundry baskets ($13 to $17 each). Ridges on the bottom of each basket hold each in place on top of another's handles. Mix and match colors, shapes and sizes to color-code your kids clothes or shortcut sorting chores.

Before you toss out copies of personal documents, you can block out names and account numbers with a Kes'pon ID guard stamp. Press once and indelible ink does the censoring. Stamps come in two sizes ($10 to $20) and ink pads are replaceable. Faster than shredding, stamping also saves electricity.

Colin Ross' eco-cups have twist-on lids and double insulated walls. Each 16-ounce go-cup is thermal BPA-free polypropylene ($8) with a colored gripper band for instant ID. Plus they're microwave- and dishwasher-safe.

This Korean-designed umbrella prototype from ek design, is made with an ingenious cup-holder loop in the handle (about $30), which would prevent mocha latte dribble down the front of your coat when it rains -- so logical!

Yubz (that's short for "why you busy?") specializes in cell phone, mp3 player and iPod accessories like this bluetooth enabled, battery-fueled speaker ($120). They call it the 'Magnum, ' but I think of it as a burrito speaker -- it's the same size and shape as the favorite Mexican dish.

Speaking of Bluetooth, Yubz also showed a retractable, clip-on cellphone ear bud with noise cancellation technology in a range of pop colors ($75-$100). Called the Clipo, it's a little girl-y, but it can't fall off.

USB hubs are rarely as design-cute as this 4-port green mouse ($18) from lushlife; it's a great item for grownups or junior computer users -- can Hello Kitty! be far behind?

Dying to hear more about the latest trends at NYIGF? We've got you covered. Read about tabletop trends and the latest new designs.

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2010 Tabletop and Kitchen Trends at NYIGF

Jane Freiman — 2010-02-03T14:53:00 00:00

Filed under: Shopping, Kitchen, Your Home, Design, etc, News & Trends

Tabletop trends at the winter gift show were a surprising mix of eco and glitz.

Have you ever wondered where the owner of your favorite home goods store finds the cool products she sells? Quite likely it's the International Gift Fair, New York's largest wholesale trade event, which is held twice each year at the cavernous Javits Center. This week, more than 2,700 exhibitors from around the world set up booths at the six-day winter show.

I headed over to the Gift Fair for a little trend-spotting. As expected, there were plenty of "green" products - both in a color and an eco-wise sense. Jelly bean-colored plastics continued to be shown. What seemed unexpected were all the gold, silver metallic and even crystal bedazzled objects. Then again, opposites do attract.

Here are some of the tabletop and kitchen items I spied on my trip (since it's a trade show, retail prices are approximate):

Above: Joseph Joseph's Hands On salad bowl ($40) is a visual pun. Amuse your guests by deftly sliding the pair of salad server" hands" off the sides of the green melamine bowl -- then replace them. Products by this hot young English design firm are sold at the MoMA Design Store. All photos: Jane Freiman

Natural in every way, each 4-piece Fluf rainfall-pattern napkins set ($24.50) contains two hemp and organic-cotton napkins plus a pair of soft, felt napkin rings that clip and unclip easily, then store flat. Edging colors can be mixed, or matched.

Ooh la la! Alain Saint-Joanis is the Dior of French cutlery centered on rare wood handles. His blonde Tonia pattern (5-pieces, $330) have silken boxwood handles sealed to be dishwasher -safe. Rosewood, acacia, and even enameled sterling silver are other luxe options.

I'd throw a dinner party just to use Cake's vintage-style, paper placements. Each tear-off pad of 50 placemats ($9.50) offers lead-gray line drawings on oversized parchment-color paper. My favorite pad mixes cartouches (fancy borders with empty centers) that frame your dishes dramatically. When dinner's over, you can recycle the paper.

Attention toddler moms: Great-Grandma's real oilcloth is back! You may not remember oilcloth's soft, slide-y feel or the wild fruit and flower motifs popular during the 1950s, but Freckled Sage does. Kid messes wipe right off their gingham-edged 48" x 48" lemon and roses cloth ($40).

Linden's Skittles-hued Swedish Anita cutting boards (6" x 9-1/2") have a new twist: A clear plastic snap-on lid. That instantly transforms them into refrigerator-worthy storage containers ($15) or domed tableware. Sleek spreaders ($2) come in the same four colors.

Alan Lee's gold-tone Aurora borealis collection is downright bedazzled. Austrian crystals are applied to the stems of wine and martini glasses, Champagne flutes (sets of 2, $165), and handles of the serving tray (about $210). Their sparkle recalls their namesake northern lights in the night sky.

A friend introduced me to Michael Wainwright's gorgeous tableware, which she collects. A piece like his new gold-bordered, embossed Santorini triple dip bowls and platter ($175) is made to use but artful enough to treat like table sculpture.

Wine and olive oil have never had stoppers like Cake's! Their new embellished floral corks ($32 each) come with three-dimensional rosettes, an heirloom rose and Napoleon's imperial French bee on top.

In days gone by, silversmiths made silver table ornaments in the shape of fruits. Michael Aram continues that tradition in nickel plate. His glam apple-shaped server for honey comes with an enamel interior and an arrow-shaped spoon ($69).

Want to learn more about the winter 2010 gift fair in New York? Read these posts about the turquoise trend and the latest up-and-coming designers.

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Paints that Bring Emotion to Your Walls

Jane Freiman — 2010-01-29T11:01:00 00:00

Filed under: Decorating, Color, Your Home, Projects, Design, etc

Wall-color drama increases with designer paints that blush, turn pale or flash hints of envious green.

Three designer paints brands offer custom wall colors with rich undertones that create amazing effects as light changes in the room.

Bedroom painted Donald Kaufman Color #5, which designer Mariette Himes Gomez calls "the Chanel #5 of paint." Photo: DKC

Color experts Donald Kaufman Color in New York, Ellen Kennon in Louisiana, and C.J. Volk of Citron Paint, in Arizona, mix seven or more pigments in their paint colors -- double the number used in mass-market brands - but they don't use black so that colors can reveal themselves.

Marketed as "full spectrum" paints, their appeal is "complex" wall color. "During the day it's very creamy and rosy. During the evening it's like candlelight," says avid DIYer Ivette Timmins, about Kaufman's #3, which she used in her master bath in suburban Virginia after reading about DKC in a decorating book.

Kaufman is the color world's big kahuna, with an elite client list of designers and architects. "We are artist-painters who specialize in colors for architecture," he says. All we try to do is get someone to paint one room [with our paint]. There is an addictive quality."

Each designer has a tightly edited color range plus a way for consumers to connect directly, via a website, books, blogs, classes or by phone. "Talking to me is included in the price of the paint," notes Ellen Kennon, who often answers when clients call, and helps plan their color schemes.

Ellen Kennon's Gustavian Grey goes grey-blue and grey-green on different walls in a room. Photo: Lori Sawaya

Each brand can be ordered online and delivered to your door. All have sample pots to test colors at home. While Kennon's and Kaufman's paints also are sold through stores authorized to mix their special formulas, Volk has a Citron boutique in Tucson, where she also gives color theory classes.

So what do they cost? "There is no difference in price between my paint and Aura," Volk insists. Since her interior flat retails for $50-$54 per gallon, it's actually $2 less. Kennon's interior flat gallons run $52-$56. Kaufman charges $95-105 - about as high as paint goes. But, Timmins insists, it "was worth the extra money to me. It's gorgeous."

Citron Paint's Soul Sister has hints of a desert sunset. Photo: Citron Paint

"Specialized brands are fine-tuned and honed-down to colors that really are going to work together," explains Rachel Perls, author of Hue, the highly-regarded color blog. "That's helpful for taking away the usual anxiety of having so many different color choices at Home Depot."

Which Full-Spectrum Paint?

While some colors work everywhere, finding a source close to home can make choices easier - and keep shipping costs to a minimum.

Donald Kaufman Color (New York, NY)
Focus: Nuanced whites, neutrals and urban pales.
Colors: 104
Pigments/gallon: 7-13
Top Color: DKC 5 (a warm white)
Phone Order: The Color Factory, 201-568-2226

Ellen Kennon (Saint Francisville, LA)
Focus: Land-sea greens & blues, historical hues, soft golds & yellows.
Colors: 90 stock; 150 total
Pigments/gallon: 7-8
Top Color: "Buttercream is my best-seller. Gustavian Grey is my favorite."
Phone Order: 877-877-7628

Citron Paint (Tucson, AZ)
Focus: Rich earth colors, cool neutrals, high-energy brights.
Colors: 99
Pigments/gallon: 8-16
Top Color: Cool Sheets (slightly warm off-white), Khakis (warm gray), Mr. Darcy (vivid blue).
Phone Order: 520-886-5800

ADD MORE IMPACT TO YOUR HOME
Turquoise: The Color of 2010 -- decor8
How You Can Stencil Your Floors, Really -- CasaSugar
Flowers, Flowers Everywhere! -- Design*Sponge

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Jeffrey Bilhuber is the Designer's Designer

Jane Freiman — 2010-01-26T17:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Books, Etc., Design, etc, News & Trends

New York design icon Jeffrey Bilhuber, with his book Defining Luxury, at a Doyle New York gallery book signing event. Photo: Jane Freiman

Jeffrey Bilhuber has inspired so many New York designers that we wanted to know what inspires him

Jeffrey Bilhuber, the tall, sandy-haired New York design icon, who has famously done houses for Vogue's Anna Wintour, Law & Order star Mariska Hargitay and pop idol David Bowie, is standing in the east gallery at the Doyle New York auction house, on East 87th Street, cell phone in hand, pulling up a photo of his son, Johann Christoph, an adorable 2-1/2 year old.

Bilhuber was at Doyle Monday night, signing copies of his second book Defining Luxury, the Qualities of Life at Home (Rizzoli, $65) two years post-publication.

His appearance was a draw to support the auction of furniture and decorative accessories assembled by three dealers who are Bilhuber' friends: Jonathan Burden, John J. Gredler and George Glazer. The 200-lot sale takes place tomorrow, Wed. January 27, at 10 am with a theme of The Well-Appointed Room. "I like what they sell and I like who they are and they have become my extended family," he said.

Bilhuber believes in "resources we need to inspire and guide us," the subject of his next book -- American Beauty -- due out in the fall of 2011. Those include Crate & Barrel, where he says he's as happy shopping "as I am at Christie's or Doyle" auction houses. He believes in salvaging good things when you renovate, as he did with his latest house on Long Island. He bought a stuffed peacock for his apartment living room on eBay.

This designer's designer is known for classic rooms furnished with a mix of antiques and elaborately upholstered pieces. His sofa skirts are lavishly pleated, finished with decorative trim, or embellished with special fringe. Fine upholstery and draperies are passions and his strengths, two reasons his work commands so much respect. "If you use a patterned fabric for the curtains, you should always use that same pattern on at least one other piece of furniture in the room," he advises.

Still, he says, he would be as happy in a "monochromatic modern setting as I am in an exuberant traditional country house. I would love to do a one-room shack on the beach as much as I would love to do a glamorous, glistening penthouse on Fifth Avenue. I'm open to contemporary ideas and changes. There's nothing I really hate."

Jeffrey Bilhuber's New York living room with its stenciled wood floors, gingham-upholstered walls and a stuffed peacock found on eBay. Photo: Jeffrey Bilhuber

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Winter Antiques Debut on Park Avenue

Jane Freiman — 2010-01-22T13:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Gardens & Outdoor Living, Luxury Living, Design, etc, News & Trends

A luminous hanging dragonfly lamp (71-inches overall) was created by Tiffany Studios of leaded glass and bronze in 1905. Dragonflies were a popular motif then, as now. Geoffrey Diner Gallery (price not available).

From a Tiffany chandelier to small-scale sculpture, animal-loving collectors will find much to admire.

New York's 56th Annual Winter Antiques show - a cultural event with special cachet for its combination of art, charity and commerce - opened today at the Park Avenue Armory. Some 75 top dealers from around the world are showcasing rare antiques from ancient times through the 1970s in elaborate booths filled with fresh flowers.

Winter Antiques is the crown jewel of an intense week of auctions and antique fairs that attracts top collectors and dealers to New York each year. Dealers offer their best and rarest pieces and, on opening night, the New York collecting elite gets a few private hours shopping along with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Once pieces are sold, they are whisked off the floor.

Proceeds benefit New York's East Side House Settlement, a non-profit organization that provides social services to residents of the South Bronx. The show runs until Jan. 31; daily 12 pm - 8 pm; Sunday and Thursday until 8 pm. General admission is $20.

While trends are virtually nonexistent - after all, nothing is new - this is the first time in five years where a clear theme emerged. Animals appeared in so many forms, materials and sizes it seems dealers and collectors have "back to nature" very much in mind.

We loved these two seated cats. Left, a cast-iron cat doorstop shown by Frank and Barbara Pollack is signed and dates to ca. 1930, ($4950). The other (right) is a painted chalkware sculpture made from Plaster of Paris in Pennsylvania, ca. 1860, from Olde Hope Antiques ($6500).

There was a veritable petting zoo at Barbara Israel Garden Antiques. An intricately worked composition stone peacock by Edric Soderholtz of Bar Harbor, Maine, dates between 1925 and 1940. Drill marks indicate it was likely part of a fountain. ($4950).

This English terra cotta dog, made around 1870, is larger than life size ($14,500) and so realistic I could almost hear him bark. I wonder who inspired the sculptor? Barbara Israel Garden Antiques.

The delicate lines of the cast-metal fountain in the form of a heron was made in 1950, fabricated by Pompeian Studios in New York. When installed, water streams out of the bird's beak. Barbara Israel Garden Antiques ($4500)

This incredibly charming Noah's Ark has 53 pairs of animals, all hand-carved and painted wood, made in Germany, ca. 1875. The door of the ark slides open. The animals are displayed on a special wall rack. Robert Young Antiques ($65,000)

Here's a close up of some ark animals which have realistic expressions and incredible detail. Robert Young Antiques.

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Amanda Nisbet Colors Up Floor Lamps

Jane Freiman — 2010-01-14T11:37:00 00:00

Filed under: Decorating, Color, Shopping, Luxury Living, Design, etc, News & Trends

The Yves Klein blue lamp color was inspired by the French painter's signature color. Photo: Urban Electricco

Move over oil-rubbed-bronze. Bold color has come to high-end floor lamps and more is on the way.

New York designer Amanda Nisbet launched her cool "trellis design" Anna Leah lamp in vivid, '60's-era Yves Klein blue as well as vibrant coral last year. Now, she says, the 62-inch high, powder-coated steel column "can be ordered in any Benjamin Moore color." The fabric shade can be tinted, too.

This is the first release of Nisbet's lighting designs for The Urban Electric Co. with "around 9 to 12 more for Christmas 2010," she added.

While I had Nisbet on the phone, I pressed for other great Anna Leah lamp colors.

"Chartreuse green would be fabulous," she said, citing Benny Moore's Apple Green hue and Raspberry Mousse (a fuchsia). Classic white could be equally bold she suggested: "It's so fresh against dark blue walls."

What's great about the lamp's design is the open silhouette that lets its color tango with the walls. And while it's thoroughly modern, it can easily work in a traditional room, or with vintage. I see original Gucci horse-bit shoe buckles in the lamp's interlocking "trellis" motif but Nisbet calls the form "jewelry inspired." Like a lapis gemstone for your house.

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Digital Paintings Make Picture Walls Pop

Jane Freiman — 2010-01-14T10:56:00 00:00

Filed under: Decorating, Color, Shopping, Luxury Living, Design, etc, News & Trends

The Toronto canvas has vivid color inspired by Canadian sunsets. Photo: M-dc Canvas

Digitally-printed paintings are as vibrant and colorful as the originals.

If walls could talk, mine would yell: We need art!

That's why I've been browsing the modern-digital-canvas gallery, or m-dc, an online source for bold, colorful art, which - like costume jewelry - can give you the same effect as the real thing.

While an original painting done with acrylic paint on canvas might cost thousands, m-dc images are digitally printed on canvas with archival ink -- similar to the way fabric is created. Each of the 165 styles has a name and comes in three sizes: small (34" x 25") for $199, medium (46" x 34") for $279 and jumbo (58" x 43") for $379. The largest is nearly five-feet long, big enough to make a statement on almost any wall. The canvases are professionally stretched on wood frames and shipped ready to hang. Plus, shipping is free.

A few images are realistic, like black-and-white tree branches or a seascape on a misty day. But most offer bright colors with abstract shapes or lines. A few resemble the work of famous 20th century artists like Willem de Kooning (Springs) or Mondrian (Amsterdam). No ancestor portraits here.

Technically, these are multiples on canvas, no different than prints or posters even though they look like paintings. I see them as a great color boost in a neutral room, or a way to create a series of images on a long wall without expensive framing. That's something to talk about.

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Which Oven Thermometer is Best? We Ask a Rocket Scientist

Jane Freiman — 2009-12-22T10:08:00 00:00

Filed under: Solutions, Shopping, Kitchen, Your Home

When I needed an oven thermometer as cookie-baking insurance this holiday season, I turned to my pal the rocket scientist for advice. That would be Leena Singh, a Boston-based missile guidance system designer and my go-to-person for anything technical in the kitchen.

I was considering a cool, $25 digital thermometer that sticks to the oven door with a magnet and registers temperature via a wire running inside. What did she think?

"I wouldn't go pfaffing about (Leena's Brit-speak for messing) with anything but a mercury thermometer," she emailed. "There's nothing as accurate."

Then she linked me to Taylor's classic commercial oven guide thermometer - at $9 less than half the price and easy to hang from the rack. It's mercury-free but works the same way. Think of it my own personal hot-space probe, guaranteed to prevent over-browned gingerbread men or under-baked Yuletide kisses.

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Gift Idea: Order-In Haute French Chocolates

Jane Freiman — 2009-12-16T13:19:00 00:00

Filed under: Shopping, Luxury Living

La Maison chocolates spiked with rum, vanilla and coffee. Photo: La Maison du Chocolat

The Source
Exclusive French "house of chocolate"
La Maison du Chocolat

The Goods
Amazingly sensuous ganache candies made of melted chocolate blended with fresh heavy cream. Some flavors have kick of liquor or a crunch of nuts, but all are coated in paper-thin chocolate. Offered at six LMdC shops around the world.

The Secret
An online boutique that ships various tasting boxes, cocoa-coated truffles and dipped dried fruits anywhere. This chocolista's favorites: Jumbo bouchées ($6.50 each) - ganache candies the size and shape of graham-crackers which support the notion that some things really should be too rich, too thin and madly decadent.

Things to Know
In addition to boxed candy, La Maison offers top-quality chocolate bars. The Kuruba (8.8 oz) is the all-purpose bittersweet chocolate equivalent and the choice for dark candy coatings. Armchair chocoholics might enjoy La Maison du Chocolat Robert Linxe, a cookbook written by the founder. Prospective brides should know about the 3 boxes designed for wedding favors.

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