Eric Piasecki

Last week I had the pleasure of working with esteemed photographer Eric Piasecki on a photo shoot for House Beautiful magazine. Eric regularly contributes to the top shelter magazines and has shot monographs for designers Steven Gambrel, Thom Filicia, Juan Montoya and Timothy Corrigan.  He has a phenomenal eye for light and composition. Here is a small sampling of his work.

Tulum

COQUI COQUI, TULUM

I just returned from Tulum, Mexico.  I stayed at the wonderful six bedroom Coqui Coqui hotel.  The beachfront property is part hotel and part perfumery.  The hotel is right on the beach and the vibe was perfect.  The lack of air conditioning, modern amenities, and the salt water stone bath added to the charm.  The views of the Caribbean water could not be beat.   I would recommend highly it for a relaxing weekend getaway. 

HARTWOOD

Tulum's restaurants were highly touted prior to the trip and they did not disappoint.  Hartwood was one of my favorites.  The food was outstanding and the cocktail list was superb.  The Pina Habanero Margarita was a highlight.  Infused tequila, fresh pineapple, and cointreau was the perfect beginning to the meal.  I also enjoyed El Tabano and Casa Jaguar. 

CASA JAGUAR

EL TABANO

Design New England

Last month Design New England magazine asked me to design a tent using outdoor fabric from Janus et Cie for their July/August edition. I drew inspiration from a trip I took last year to Morocco and decided to build a Berber style mediation tent. My colleague Lindsey and I spent a fun afternoon a few weeks ago constructing it at Crane Beach in Ipswich. 

Grey Barn Farm

My favorite summer retreats is the island of Martha's Vineyard.  Grey Barn Farm is a permanent fixture at the local West Tisbury Farmer's Market so it was interesting to see the owner's Chilmark house featured in Architectural Digest. They did a wonderful job maintaining a neutral palette while still staying true to farmhouse vernacular.

Apiece Apart

I am a big fan of the minimalist basics that designers Lauren Cramer and Starr Hout put out through their line Apiece Apart. You can tell by looking at the pieces that they take a lot of cues from art and architectural reference. It is fascinating to check out their notes and see a little glimpse into their thoughts:

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Shopping LA

I just got back from a wonderful trip to Los Angeles. Here are some shopping highlights:

Blackman Cruz

Blackman Cruz is a little off the beaten path but hands down the most unique of the bunch.  The showroom is set in a huge warehouse and features a mix of rare midcentury furniture, industrial finds, bronze skull lamps, and other curiosities. 836 N. Highland Avenue

photo by Lendon Flanagan

Obsolete

Located in Venice, Obsolete contains a fabulous mix of antiques, upholstered pieces, lighting and fine art. The store is arranged in thoughtful vignettes that showcase their finds in a artful manner. 222 Main Street

Lucca Antiques

Lucca Antiques occupies a large light filled space in West Hollywood's design district.  They have a beautiful mix of their own custom pieces and vintage finds. They have a lot more here than in their New York showroom and so it was great to experience the full breath of their products. 744 N. Cienega Blvd

JF Chen

Leave plenty of time to peruse JF Chen's 40,000 sq ft warehouse of treasures. The style and period of his selections runs the gamut so there is something for everyone. 941 N. Highland Avenue

Ping-Pong by BDDW

BDDW is on my go to list whenever I am in SoHo. The small American made furniture company is set in the perfect brick clad space to showcase their impeccably crafted pieces. They are known for their heirloom quality solid wood furniture, traditionally joined, in a number of domestic hardwoods. 

One of their more unique items is this cherry and maple Ping-Pong table. It features a removable leather net hooked on with cast bronze brackets and comes with four leather cased paddles. At a high of 30" it also works perfectly as a dining table when not in use. 

BDDW 5 Crosby Street, NYC