On our wish lists for a while now: sleek Cutipol cutlery from Portugal, made by a family-owned company in the village of São Martinho de Sande.
Above: Goa Five-Piece Brushed Steel Cutlery Set; $66 at Task in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Above: Five-Piece Set of Rondo Cutlery; $75 at Horne.
Above: Goa Brushed Steel Salad Servers; $60 at Task.
Above: Steel-Tipped Chopstick Set; $25 at Task.
Danish graphic designer Mette Bonavent of Oh So Fine created this stylish and straightforward weekly planner to answer the endless question,"What's for dinner?"
Bonavent's work evokes the subtle hues and simple minimalism of her native Scandinavia, infused with the chunky fonts and retro-cool illustrations of her own style. We especially like this planner, a functional piece of art intended to bring a little order to everyday household chaos. With a chalk marker, write down everything from daily meals to soccer games to theater dates—then simply erase and start over anew every week.
Above: Printed on recycled paper using vegetable inks, the Food Planner Poster comes with a chalk marker; €60 from Oh So Fine.
Above: The poster is available in two color palettes, which are inspired by Bonavent's love of the outdoors. "I choose colors that work well with elements from nature: wool, wood, stones, and fresh flowers," she says.
Bring a touch of springlike green to the winter interior with watery green glass; here's a roundup of examples.
Above: A kitchen in Uruguay on the European Real Estate Network, via AT.
Above: An entryway in Belgium by Natalie Haegman, via Belgian Pearls.
Above: More green/blue glass in London, via Inspace.
Above: A living room with vintage glass buoy, photographed by Debi Treloar.
Above L: Bottles in the sunlight, via Inspace. Above R: A bedside table, via Martha Stewart.
Above: A collection of complementary vases on a London mantelpiece.
Here's an idea worth considering: Dress as decor. Why let your favorite frock languish in the closet when you can display it as wall art?
Take a cue from the rooms below (go a step further and layer with necklaces or scarves for a dash of color and sparkle). Stay tuned: Next week we'll be featuring our favorite under-the-radar Belgian-based dressmaker.
Above: An architect's house in Australia (featuring a "dress" wall hanging), via Desire to Inspire.
Above: In last week's Style Counsel feature, we featured Heidi Swanson's Sofie d'Hoore dress.
Above: An Oscar de la Renta Dress with a vintage Lanvin necklace; photographed in the New York home of Amanda Ross by The Coveteur.
Above: A dressmaker's form serves as a display opportunity; image via Jill Danyelle.
Above: A citrus green dress adds a dash of color to Jane Cumberbatch's London bedroom.
Above: A noirish silk slip, against a black-painted armoire, illuminated by a black Jielde light; Vt Wonen via Vosges Paris.
Above: Brooklyn boutique owner Eva Gentry likes to display fashion ensembles in her urban residence.
HANGERS
Above: We like Toast's Silk Velvet Padded Hangers; £12.60 for a set of two.
Tropical colors and midcentury style predominate in Café Vitoria's modern take on a classic Portuguese cafe.
Set in the newly hip historic center of Porto in northern Portugal, Café Vitoria is an all-day gathering place open from noon until two in the morning. A group of architect/designer/artist friends worked with architect Miguel Tomé to create multiple eating areas within two stories of the hundred-year-old building. Downstairs, Thonet chairs mingle with relaxed couches in the front rooms where light meals are served throughout the day and cocktails make the rounds at night; the back rooms are sleek glass cubes that overlook an outdoor space. Upstairs, white tablecloths and ornate wood paneling set an elegant scene in the restaurant where seasonal local dishes are featured. All of the furniture is vintage and came from Pedras & Pêssegos, just down the road.
Above: Colorful wooden chairs by Danish designer Borge Mogensen punctuate the cool gray space.
Above: The plants were added to bring a bit of jungle to the space; they also help keep the air fresh through long smoky nights.
Above: A plastic shark (with real shark teeth) provides some whimsy in the relaxed front rooms of the café, where people snack on local favorites like chickpea cake and salted codfish. The mix of seating includes classic Thonet bentwood chairs.
Above: In the upstairs dining room, the traditional wood paneling of the original building was preserved, providing an intricate backdrop for the clean lines of the chairs by Peter Hvidt.
Above: The back rooms open directly onto a garden where people can eat, drink, and smoke when the weather cooperates.
Above: The garden hardscaping is decomposed granite, an inexpensive and plentiful local material.
Our friend Allison, a perpetual design sleuth, turned us on to this retro-inspired shade, a steal at $68 at Urban Outfitters. We think it's a perfect way to spruce up a rental apartment or add a glimmer to a drab space.
Above: Brass Tiered Pendant Shade: $68 at Urban Outfitters.
Above: The shade requires an bare-bulb pendant light; consider the Economy Silver Minimalist Bare-Bulb Pendant Light; $38 at Junkyard Light.
Designer and event planner David Stark takes over Haus Interiors in Nolita with a limited-edition line of products.
We stopped by the grand opening a couple of days ago to chat with Stark and interior designer Nina Freudenberger of Haus Interior and to learn about their collaboration (they met at a RISD alumni event not long ago and developed an instant rapport). They decided to collaborate on Wood Shop: an installation of products inspired by Stark's own crafts shop in Brooklyn, featuring hand-turned vases, decorative objects, table linens, whimsical Valentines, printed pillows, and clocks. The offerings are available at Haus Interiors on Elizabeth Street (as well as online) through the month of February. "Retail is like a party," said Stark. If it's good, as in this case, you don't want to miss it.
Photography by Sarah Sobel.
Above: The transformed storefront of Haus Interiors.
Above: Turned Wood Poplar Vases were crafted in a Brooklyn woodworking studio; they have holes fitted with glass test tubes so they truly function as vases; $100 to $170, depending on size.
Above: Vintage Washed Linen Napkins with contrast topstitching; $60 for a set of four.
Above: Shop Placemat, inspired by carpenter's work pants ($25), shown with Vintage Washed Linen Napkin with red topstitching.
Above: For wood lovers: a take on the classic Valentine's chocolate sampler. Each “chocolate” is a different type of wood and the enclosed heart-shaped page identifies wood types; $125.
Above: The Smartply Cake ($150), paired with a Stripe Denim Placemat ($25), makes a tantalizing display.
We've been enjoying the dip-dyeing trend, so we couldn't resist sharing these charming rattan poufs.
Spotted at La Galerie Vegetale in Paris, these paint-dipped poufs are made by Kok Maison, a Parisian manufacturer of woven furniture founded in the 1920s. Make your own by acquiring a plain rattan pouf; it's a good idea to do a light sanding of the area to be painted, especially if the pouf has a lacquer finish. Then pour latex-based paint into a large tub, and dip the pouf to the desired level. Alternatively, use painters masking tape to define the area to be be painted and use a brush to achieve the look.
Above: An engaging trio of Poufs from La Galerie Vegetale; €80 to €145, depending on size.
Above: To try this at home, pick up the banana-fiber Alseda Stool from Ikea; $29.99.
For those who can't get enough of the striking patterns of Portuguese tile, here's an inspiring book.
Tile Designs from Portugal (The Pepin Press), by D. Hurtado de Mendoza, features more than 100 traditional tile designs, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The hardcover book comes with a CD of all the patterns in high-resolution formatd, so that you can use them in your own creative projects. The book is $24.99 from the Pepin Press, which has published a whole line of books on tile from various locales.
On our dreamed-of destination list: the Pensao Favorita, featuring a low-key bohemian ambiance.
Discovered via Yatzer, the Pensao Favorita is located in Porto, the Portuguese capital of the north, known for its wineries and cuisine. The interiors, by French designer Sam Baron, feature an assemblage of vintage pieces mixed with modern furniture, and the hotel's structural transformation was orchestrated by local architect Nuno Sottomayor. For more information, go to Pensao Favorita.
Original Post Date: April 2010
Some firms specialize in pitch-perfect historic renovations; others focus on modern architecture. It's rare to find a firm that can segue gracefully between the two, like Dutton Architects in Los Angeles.
The firm (a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory) recently completed a complete renovation and substantial addition to a 1924 Spanish Revival adobe house. Over the years, the home had gone through several ad-hoc additions, so the architects went back to the original volume in front and created two new wings on either side to make it a courtyard house. In back, the architects added a clean-lined pool house. It is a credit to their skill that the newly expanded residence is as true to the historic design and materials as the guest quarters are to modernist architecture. "I loved working with and against the original structure," says principal John Dutton.
Photography by Undine Pröhl.
Above: Through his handsome Spanish Revival-inspired homes, architect John Byers helped define Southern California architecture; the Zimmer House has been named a historic landmark by the city of Santa Monica. The structure is notable for its adobe walls, which are two feet thick. In addition to restoring the walls and their coat of lime plaster, Dutton Architects rebuilt the roof with reclaimed roof tiles and replaced the Douglas fir columns.
Above: To the right of the entryway, which features original tilework, is the living and dining area. The pendant light is the Alegre from Steven Handelman Studios in Santa Barbara.
Above: In the dining area, a heavy wood table is paired with the slim-lined Jason Chairs by Walter Knoll. The sconces are hand-crafted antique reproductions by Ray Ferra in La Brea; the chandeliers are from Steven Handleman Studios.
Above: The firm extended the house back, adding a wing with a covered walkway on either side. The architects had to excavate and remove two floors to get to the original terracotta flooring, restoring it with custom 10-inch-square Terra Bella tiles from Mission Tile West.
Above: The family's Jack Russell terrier sits on a terracotta door sill, custom made by Mission Tile West. The bench is an antique from the Owings Gallery in Santa Fe.
Above: The entire kitchen wing is new, but the architects continued with the adobe construction and exposed beam ceilings of the original home. The Caesarstone countertops are three inches thick: "They're extra-chunky to match the thickness of the adobe," says Dutton. "We wanted a modern kitchen, but not one that was too sleek—it had to have a real materiality." The cabinet fronts are bleached quarter-sawn white oak; the flooring is wide-plank American oak. The kitchen island pendants are Jill Pendants by Tango Lighting.
Above: The opposite wing contains the bedrooms, with a walkway that is enclosed in glass. "Originally, my client wanted to walk outside to get to all of the spaces, but then he got married and had a child, so they decided they needed a little more protection from the elements," says Dutton. The steel windows are from Hope's; the wall sconces are from Steven Handleman Studios. Throughout the house, all ceilings and trim is Douglas fir, stained with Cabot's Semi-Solid Cordovan Brown Stain.
Above: The bedroom wing is also a new addition. In the study, a wood-beamed ceiling, terracotta floor, and fireplace with traditional herringbone pattern of bricks ground it in the past. Note how the skylight has been carefully incorporated so it appears to be a renovation of an original structure. The pendants are the Alegre from Steven Handleman Studios.
Above: The master bedroom has a soft arch over the bed and a built-in bench (tiled in hand-painted Talavera Tiles from Mission Tile West). The chandelier is the Hallstone from Steven Handleman Studios.
Above: Off of the kitchen, there is a covered patio with a fireplace. The sofa is from Roche Bobois and the chandelier is the Bizet from Steven Handleman Studios. To the right, the property transitions from the past to current day with a contemporary firepit; the guesthouse is just visible beyond.
Above: The guesthouse still has echoes of the historic structure. "I wanted to keep the same materials throughout the site, but I wanted the details and design to get progressively more modern," says Dutton. The lines are cleaner and the corners are sharper, but there are flat terracotta tiles on the roof and the exterior has a stucco finish.
Above: The best of both worlds: Running along the back of the property, a pool with an infinity edge keeps the focus on the views to the Santa Monica Mountains.
N.B. To see the home's floor plan, go to the Dutton Architects website, click on Selected Projects, and and then go to La Mesa Residence; the floor plan is the last image in the gallery.
Last week, editorial staffer Alexa and I discovered Le Dans La, the blog of French stylist Aurélie Lécuyer, and found ourselves admiring her whimsically romantic interiors.
Lécuyer recently moved from Paris to an old converted schoolhouse in the countryside, and her interiors feature a humble mix of vintage furniture, Ikea finds, and classic French pieces, all accented with dashes of color provided by vibrant linen pillow covers from Merci in Paris. To see more, go to Le Dans La. N.B.: Tomorrow we'll be doing a Steal This Look post on the room of Lécuyer's toddler.
Above: The old stone schoolhouse, converted into a house, where Lécuyer lives.
Above: Lécuyer's vestibule features a traditional French half-painted wall.
Above: Lécuyer uses dip-dyed traditional French market baskets for her grocery outings. If you like this look, consider our recent DIY post: Make Your Own Dip-Dyed Pouf.
Above: Lécuyer's couch features piles of linen-covered pillows from Merci in Paris.
Above: A detail of her black-painted mantel.
Above: A trio of black Russian nesting dolls.
Above: A rattan chair with a pink linen pillow from Merci.
Above: Lécuyer's table is surrounded by mismatched vintage chairs and covered in a Fog Linen tablecloth.
Above: A polka-dotted ball adds a whimsical note to the kitchen.
Above: An Iris Hantverk brush hangs from a vintage rack in the kitchen.
Above: A collection of Picardie tumblers.
Above: A mint green Jielde lamp provides kitchen illumination.
Above: Lécuyer sells her handmade shoes via her online shop Albert et Henriette.
Last year's documentary Bill Cunningham New York had us entranced with the New York Times' iconic street-fashion photographer.
Cunningham can be spotted out and about wearing a classic French work jacket, worn for decades by the country's laborers. Mimic his look by acquiring your own version.
Above: Bill Cunningham at work; photograph by Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist.
Above: Original Bleu de Travail French Work Jacket from Le Laboureur in Burgundy; $150 at Hickoree's.
Above: The jacket sports many useful pockets.
Above: An interpretation of the Le Laboureur jacket from Tokyo-based fashion label Beams: The 100-percent cotton Beams+ French Work Jacket in cobalt blue is $505 at Unionmade.
Good friends of mine in London recently invited me to spend a week with them at their French mas, or farmhouse, near the Alpilles, a small mountain range in Provence.
My friends are Greek but live in London; they bought this house at the beginning of the millennium as a meeting place for friends and family scattered all over the world. I'd been to the house before on family holidays, but this trip was different, as it was the first time I observed the place through the lens of my camera. I found myself appreciating anew the interiors of this rambling stone farmhouse, which is filled with an eclectic array of objects, each with their own meaningful and interesting story.
Above: The entrance to the mas features a stone door frame, typical of the farmhouses in this region; the exterior light fixture is a converted lantern.
Above: The painted wood chair is from a local garden shop which specialized in products from India (it's since closed).
Above: A paper-cutting of the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland sits on the mantel of the traditional stone fireplace. The Bohemian glassware marks each year the couple have been in the house, and the wicker baskets are from local markets.
Above L: A portrait of an imaginary person by local artist Alexandre Peutin, purchased from a local gallery called Le Grand Magasin. Above R: A Greek icon, a treasured wedding present from a relative.
Above: The exposed stone construction of the farmhouse would typically be covered by plaster.
Above: Around the house are small tables displaying objects from interest around the world, including a collection of late 19th- and early 20th-century Greek cigarette boxes made in Dresden and shipped to countries in the Mideast, foreshadowing today's global marketplace.
Above: The kitchen is practical and functional. On the counter, bay leaves from the garden are laid out to dry on a tea towel.
Above: Linen aprons from the local markets adorn the back of the kitchen door.
Above: The terracotta tiles on the floor and stairs are part of the original farmhouse.
Above: The Provencal quilt was purchased in a local shop; the print is of a wall in Yemen by an unknown photographer.
Above: The homeowners asked local artist Emmanuel Sayagh to add decorative touches on various walls throughout the house. In the guest bathroom, the toilet-paper holder, originally designed to hold hand towels and soap, was found in the local brocante, or flea market.
Above: The walls in the master bedroom were also painted by Emmanuel Sayagh. The wardrobe is an old French kitchen cupboard with French linen covering the cabinet openings, and the colorful baskets are from the local market.
Above: Red accents on a Swiss cross-stitch pillowcase and Provencal quilt complement the gray walls.
Noticed (and admired) lately: Installations of mixed industrial lamps, for an unstudied look.
Above: The interiors of Viajante in London feature a mix of reclaimed vintage industrial lights.
Above: A trio of wall-mounted industrial lights in the Atelier Mecanic in Romania, designed by Corvin Cristian, via Yatzer.
Above: A pair of mismatched industrial lamps in the Greek home of Alketas Pazis, via Yatzer. Photo by Vassilis Skopelitis.
Above: Architect Paul Mrozinski uses a vintage printing table and swing-arm lights to do drafting at his house in Provence, featured in via Caroline Clifton Mogg's recent book, A Space of My Own.
Above: The Cafe Kafka in Barcelona, via Yatzer.
Above: The Cafe Kafka in Barcelona, via Yatzer.
On my recent trip to Provence, I visited the Hôtel Nord Pinus in Arles' Place du Forum, which resonates with the ghosts of Hemingway and other noteworthy artistic figures including Picasso and Cocteau.
As the gateway to the wild Camargue, the city of Arles is famous for its bullfighting, cowboys, and its artistic and exotic personalities. Despite being closed for the season, I could still sense what the hotel was like in the 1950s when it was famously run by Nello, the clown, and his cabaret singer girlfriend, Germaine. Frequent guests would have included artists, writers, singers (Edith Piaf and Yves Montand), and bullfighters who had come to fight in the Roman amphitheater down the street.
When current owner Anne Igou purchased the hotel in 1989, she restored the interiors with an eclectic personal style that ensures that the hotel's illustrious past meets the 21st century in style. “The Hôtel Nord-Pinus belongs to the memory of all Arlesians," writes Christian Lacroix on the hotel's website. "As a child, it was for me the temple of vacationing, of high society, and above all of bullfighters. As if it were an initiatory trip taken the other way round starting from the Place du Forum, but without leaving it, to reach Paris, Spain, the world."
Above: The Place du Forum was the subject of Vincent van Gogh's famous painting Cafe Terrace at Night. A street sign has been installed on the remains of a Roman monument, which peers through the 19th-century facade of the Hôtel Nord Pinus. Photograph by Christine Hanway.
Above: The Hôtel Nord Pinus is housed in a classic French townhouse. Photograph by Christine Hanway.
Above: The dramatic height of the lobby adds to the allure of a an exotic room where midcentury furnishings and colorful Moroccan rugs sit on top of marble-tiled floors. Photograph by Miguel Rio Branco.
Above: In the lobby hangs a black-and-white photo of an African landscape scrawled with passages from Karen Blixen's Out of Africa (it's by the iconic adventure photographer Peter Beard, who is a personal friend of the hotelier). Photograph by Peter Beard.
Above: A black-and-white photo by Peter Beard contrasts with colorful textiles. Photograph by Christine Hanway.
Above: The great bullfighters of the 20th century, who came to fight in the Roman amphitheater of Arles, stayed in this room. Photograph by Anne Cantat.
Above: The Apartment has a terrace that looks out onto the Place du Forum. Photograph by Anne Cantat.
Above: Simple arrangements of peonies decorate the lobby. Photograph by Peter Beard.
In her rustic home In Nantes, stylist Aurélie Lécuyer creates a playful, graceful, yet somehow sophisticated space for her toddler, a little girl.
Yesterday, we wrote about the calm interiors of Lécuyer's house (see House Call: Aurélie Lécuyer in France). She styled her child's room with dots of color and carefully considered toys. Here's how to achieve the look with Liberty of London fabric, vintage-inspired toys, and colorful garlands.
Above: A string of lights add color to the room.
Above: Bright linen pillows from Merci in Paris are scattered across the bed.
Above: A garland of paper dots and a row of orange playthings.
Above: Lécuyer added a touch of color—some coral carnations—into this simple image.
Above: The Very Hungry Whale Embroidered Pillow; $80 from Coral and Tusk in Brooklyn.
Above: The Millbrook Iron Bed from Restoration Hardware is currently on sale; prices start at $399.
Above: Cable & Cotton's String Lights are offered in your choice of color combinations; $39 for a string of 20 lights.
Above: Use Japanese Washi Tape, shown here in hot pink, to affix images to the wall; $3.95 from In the Clear on Etsy.
Above: Pillows from Merci in Paris; contact Merci for pricing and availability. In the US, West Elm has similar Washed Linen/Cotton Pillow Covers; $19 each.
Above: Liberty of London's Pepper Fabric; £3 for 54 inches of fabric from Lab Boutique.
Above: The Mini Pom Pom Garland is 85 inches long; $13.50 from Party Mart on Etsy.
Above: Children's Rabbit Mask; $4.95 from Any Mask.
Above: 7-Inch Goldfish; $2.98 at Amazon.
Above: Rens Sheepskin; $30 from Ikea.
Spotted on Laura Parke's A Girl Who Makes: milk bottles transformed into vases, wrapped in twine with a touch of neon color.
For instructions on how to re-create this look, see below.
Photography by Eric Linebarger.
Materials:
Instructions:
Wrap a baby in the same exquisitely soft wool used for kings and queens with these Liberty Born blankets from Scarlet & Argent.
Scarlet & Argent is the new retail arm of Hainsworth, a British company that has been spinning its fine products since 1783. Hainsworth fabrics can be found in fashion lines like Paul Smith and Pierre Balmain to Princes William and Harry's uniforms for the recent royal wedding. Just a few months ago, Hainsworth started Scarlet & Argent to add elegant wool goods to its designs. Made in the Pudsey, Yorkshire mill that's been in the Hainsworth family for seven generations, the line includes everything from throws to cushions. But we especially love the idea of silky newborn skin snuggling up to these warm blankets, made out of 100-percent lightweight Merino lambswool and trimmed in delicate floral borders of Liberty cotton lawn.
Above: The Liberty Born Blanket is available in two sizes: "pram" for strollers and a larger "cot" for cribs. Shown here in pram size; £90.
Above: Detail of the Liberty-printed pink trim.
Above: In addition to pink, the Liberty Born Blanket is also available with blue trim. Shown here in the larger cot size; £105.
Why are the French so good with children's furniture? Here's a roundup of nursery furniture featuring clean lines, streamlined forms, and modern shapes—we see these beds as a good investment in a young person's burgeoning design sensibilities.
Above: The Louis Wooden Bed is made of pine and costs €1,200 from Serendipity.
Above: A clean-lined pine crib from Serendipity.
Above: Vintage Cradle on Wheels; contact Serendipity for pricing.
Above: The Leander Convertible Bed can grow with your child; €960 at Smallables.
Above: Leander Suspended Cradle; €395 at Smallables.
