A couple of months ago I attended a lecture moderated by my former boss, the brilliant Michael Wollaeger. In conjunction with the Decoration and Design Building, Michael had invited a couple of designers published in his magazine, Interiors, to discuss their featured projects. I learned a lot that day; it’s fascinating to listen to incredibly talented people discuss their methods and thought processes. One of the most captivating aspects was Vincente Wolf’s thoughts affordable art. A mega-collector, Wolf spoke of the beauty in children’s drawings and in converting unusual objects into sculpture.
The above shows the foyer he designed. Pictured at right stand two Dogon ladders. An ethnic subgroup that reside in central Mali, the Dogon are known for many things, including stunning cliff-side architecture and wood carvings. When mounted, the everyday ladders they use to access their homes become beautiful, simple works of art. I’ve currently been working with a socially responsible gallery in Boston, the Hamill Gallery, to acquire two for a Westchester project. I truly can’t wait to see how they transform the space.
Out of Africa
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Much cooler than your run-of-the-mill terracotta vessels, these adorable pastel Campy Planters from 
Seattle-based 
Readers of my last blog know I'm a little obsessed with IIitala designer Klaus Haapaniemi and his Taika collection. Happily Satumetsa, his latest dinnerware creation for the Scandinavian company, is just as adorable as the first. As fall approaches it's reassuring to know that sipping from a mug with this whimsical enchanted forest theme will keep me warm and dreaming of spring through the long cold months.
You know the saying good fences make good neighbors? Well good screens make good design and Baker's Paris Snowflake Screen is one of the prettiest I've seen. This makes perfect sense of course since it's part of a collection based on the works of interior design legend Tony Duquette.
After it's January 2008 Maison et Objet debut, Patricia Urquiola's Re-Trouve outdoor collection was at the top of practically every editor's to-die-for list. As soon as I saw it at the Paris showcase I fell in love with the vintage-esque wire frames (a breath of fresh air against all the heavy wood designs), the variety of vibrant colors, and the varying scale (check out that super cool high-back). The only downside? The wait for the fab line to make it state-side has seemed endless. Thankfully, at long last, that day has arrived. It's here through Corcoran!
These days it seems there's nothing more luxurious than the beauty found in natural resources, which is why I'm in awe of Dallas-designer Jan Showers' Mies lamp. Made of Honeycomb Calcite this brilliant yellow creation would work great as a dramatic focal point in any space from modern to traditional.
I'm wild about Philippe Starck's deceivingly simple Louis Ghost Chair for Kartell. The contemporary classic is particularly alluring in an austere black finish.
