architect design™

If God is in the details Howard Slatkin, interior designer and author of Fifth Avenue Style, is surely a saint. Reading his book is a glimpse into a wonderful fantasy achieved in only 3 years in his New York Pied-a-terre. At first glance I assumed the renovation took place over 20 years.
Approach-ably written the interior photography by Tria Giovan is also breathtaking beautiful. In each scene the room is set as if for a party to which you were lucky enough to be invited. While this over the top maximalism isn't for everyone granted, even the most ardent minimalist can learn something from Slatkin's approach to detail.
No detail is overlooked, both in the apartment and in his daily life it would seem. My favorite image is a lunch for two at a small table set up overlooking the park, similar to the lunch HabituallyChic was lucky enough to have in this same spot! Don't miss her post on her visit. Also don't miss the video tour of Slatkin's apartment at Quintessence.
Slatkin charmingly walks you through the process of finding the apartment and the entire gut renovation and planning stage. I always appreciate a floorplan and the book includes them at different stages of work.
Notice above the wallpaper wrapping the door and even the interesting but different door knobs on each side. Nothing was left to chance. Really, isn't that how the best interiors succeed?
The most talked about space in the whole apartment, oddly enough, is Slatkin's closet. I suppose one might call it a dressing room given its grandness. Custom designed door pulls,  marquetry paneling, antiques - would you even want to leave after getting dressed?
Don't miss Fifth Avenue Style printed by Vendome Press no matter your stylistic leanings. And be sure to remove the dust jacket to see the beautiful cover (first image).
All images courtesy of Vendome Press and Tria Giovan

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the opening night party of the Kips Bay showhouse. I've been so busy packing in preparation for my big move that I haven't had time to share it with you. I wanted to be sure to share my favorite rooms while the show house was still open! I have to say this was the best show house I've seen. In so many ways, the house (actually an apartment) summed up the best of New York design and living with a surplus of talent. My favorites were too many to count on one hand. The entry hall, decorated by Bryant Keller, was a dramatic start to the series of rooms, done up in quintessential New York style with Scalamandre fabrics and wallpaper. One of the trends which was found throughout the showhouse was the use of fur. I know many people hate the cruel stuff, but nothing says luxury to me like a soft fur throw. The room above by David Scott was delightfully cozy.One of my dearest friends I'm proud to say, Raji Radhakrishnan (who actually invited me to the party, thanks Raji!) was the belle of the ball. She is seen here in front of a beautiful leather desk from Ralph Lauren Home. Her room has been widely published and for good reason -it simply was one of the most beautiful, detail laden and creative rooms in the show house (how's that for bias?).She always includes a sophisticated blend of intriguing object d'art and books into any of her spaces, much like her own house - can you see why I'm hooked? Raji created a focal point in a room lacking any architectural features by adding a mantel by Chesneys. The copy of a Sir John Soane mantel has long been on my wishlist for my dreamhouse and I was so happy to see her using it. Raji included works of art by herself as well, such as the photograph of the chapel at Versailles she took years ago while dreaming of including it in her Kips Bay showroom (dreams do come true!). The composition of the pieces, each one delightful by itself, is only enhanced by their juxtaposition. And against those beautiful Venetian plaster finished walls AND ceiling by Judy Mulligan, what wouldn't look marvelous? One of the trends I was happy to see was the attention paid to ceilings throughout the showhouse -Raji didn't leave it at Venetian plaster, this gilded squiggle made for Raji by Christianson Lee Studios was really fun!Speaking of fun, Jamie Drake's room was a riot of color, as expected from the king of color! I loved this chrome lamp used in a corner of his room. He didn't forget the ceiling either, it was silverleafed!Another colorful space was the room decorated by Thom Filicia, seen here in front of his console designed for Vanguard.The ceiling was lacquered in the same beautiful kelly green as the walls. I loved the Kravet curtains.Another room with a touch of whimsy was by Shawn Henderson. What better way to celebrate the city views than with a swing!Multi-talented artist Chuck Fischer decorated a room that was awe-inspiring for his shear talent. Even the entry sign was awesome! The chinoiserie murals surrounding the space were incredibly detailed and beautiful. Speaking of beautiful, the designer Alexander Doherty decorated my 2nd favorite room, a bedroom for a collector. Here again was a soft and cozy enormous fur throw, surrounded by cerused oak paneling; I don't know which feature I enjoyed more. Color was injected into the space with a painted dresser and numerous lamps creating glamorous pools of light. Someone who knows glamour is Alexa Hampton. Her room was the epitome of a classic New York bedroom, so well developed by her father, Mark Hampton. Grand tour items from the past lined a desk facing a very modern city skyline. This bench in the corner of the bedroom sums up both the room and the show house with a simple book title "Luxury Living New York". Notice the fur throw on the bed in the foreground.Be sure to visit this very fitting and special Kips Bay show house before it closes on June 14th!

Sometimes just a pretty picture will suffice. Taken at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

During a quick trip to New York this weekend, I stopped into one of my favorite stores in the city, Fishs Eddy. They carry a pattern of dishes and products with different designs of floorplans; small studio apartments on small plates and palatial apartments on platters. Mugs have section drawings; the perfect gift for every architect or designer on your list! I first became aquainted with the pattern last year when a client would carry her renovation plans in the matching tote bag and they then proved to be very popular Christmas gifts from me!
See the entire collection HERE.

I'Yo Ho! my boys," said Fezziwig. "No more work to-night! Christmas Eve, Dick! Christmas, Ebenezer! Let's have the shutters up!" cried old Fezziwig with a sharp clap of his hands, "before a man can say JackRobinson. . . ."

While in New York the other week in the West Village I came across two stores which were just great experiences and so quintessential 'New York'.