Paul Raeside + Olga Naiman

Last week I had the pleasure of working with two extraordinary people, Paul Raeside and Olga Naiman, on a photo shoot for House Beautiful.  

Paul is an amazing photographer based out of NYC and London. He specializes in shooting interiors and food and is one of the nicest people one could hope to meet. You can see his work at paulraeside.com or follow him on twitter at paulraesidenyc.

Olga is a fantastic stylist and event designer whose work you can see in many publications including Veranda, Real Simple, House Beautiful and Food & Wine. She has an incredible eye and knows how to make a room look its best and come to life. You can see more of her work at aparat.us or follow her on twitter at olganaiman.

PAUL RAESIDE

OLGA NAIMAN-APARAT

BDDW Auction

To celebrate their 10th anniversary BDDW is auctioning off over 200 items. This is a fantastic opportunity to get one of their beautiful pieces at a fraction of the price. You can view the lots live at their 5 Crosby St, NYC location or bid on line at this link, BDDW AUCTION.  The auction starts today and ends May 1st.

Cy Twombly at the Gagosian

The art world lost one of its greats when Cy Twombly past away last July. However, I am glad to hear that his last works will be on display at the Gagosian Gallery in LA April 27-July 9. Gagosian Gallery, 456 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Forts

There is something so universally appealing about forts for kids. I think Columbia architecture professor Janet Foster summed it up well in todays New York Times article The Walls Came Tumbling Down when she said " Little kids don't have permanent control over their spaces. They can make a little space. It's about having their space, taking control of it. Fundamentally, that's what architecture is all about."

I love these pictures from photographer Mark Lund's series"Living Room Fort" capturing kids at play in their own little worlds.

Wythe Hotel

I am looking forward to checking out the Wythe Hotel, opening on the waterfront in Brooklyn May 1st.  The 73 room hotel will be located in an old factory from 1901 and feature an Andrew Tarlow restaurant called Reynards.  80 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY 11249

Alex Katz at the MFA

I am looking forward to seeing the Alex Katz exhibit at the MFA, which is on April 28-July 29. Viewed as a precursor to Pop Art, Katz has an elegant way of depicting people and landscapes using flat color and a seductive emotional detachment.

Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

Chanel Paris-Bombay Collection

I am so inspired by Chanel's Fall 2012 Paris-Bombay Collection. It is amazing how Karl Lagerfeld was able to capture the essence of India in the Henna painted handbags and gloves, richly embroidered clothes and raw cut stones without loosing the quintessential Chanel look. Even the tiny details like the buttons incorporating the Chanel logo and an elephant, fuse Parisian and Indian culture seamlessly.

All images via The Coveteur.

Little Collector

I think art is really important in kids spaces. It does not have to specifically be for kids but it is great for them to be able to relate to it. I just found this site called LittleCollector that specializes in contemporary art for children. It is a great place to find original art created with the active imagination of children in mind.

Fivestory New York

Opening on April 18th in a town house in NYC,  Fivestory is already being dubbed as New York's version of Colette. The brainchild of former gallerist Claire Distenfeld, the shop will feature a selection of international designers never sold before in the US and exclusive collaborations with New York based companies. 18 East 69th Street, NYC

Gerhard Richter Painting

If I could own a painting from any living artist it would be one of Gerhard Richter's works. That said, I am looking forward to seeing the new documentary film entitled Gerhard Richter Painting. He gave filmmaker Corinna Belz access to his studio for 2 years. From the reviews it sounds like she captured an amazing dialogue between the artist and his materials, thought process and working methods. The film is now playing in theaters nationwide. 

Some of my favorite Richter works: