Dover Street Market New York + Prada

I'm looking forward to the opening of London's Dover Street Market in New York on December 21st. The retail concept started by Comme des Garcons founder Rei Kawakubo will be located in a 7 story Beaux Arts building in the Kips Bay area on Manhattan. Miuccia Prada has designed a line exclusively for the store called Prada Dover Street Market New York, featuring twists on classics from past collections. The store will also feature collections from Saint Laurent, Nike, Alexander Wang, Casely Hayford and Louis Vuitton. 160 Lexington Avenue, NYC.

Holiday 2013

Some of my favorite gifts this holiday season:

ERCOLONO JEWELRY BOX, Barneys New York

TED MUEHLING CANDLESTICKS, ER Butler

PONDICHERRY CANDLE, Cire Trudon

BROWN MALLEE BURL VESSEL, Gallery NF

MAZE CORRESPONDENCE CARDS, Dempsey and Carroll

SCALI SALVATORE SRLS, Barneys New York

HANDCRAFTED MIXERS, Jack Rudy

PEWTER COCKTAIL SHAKER, Gallery NF

ROSE TEA CART, Blackman Cruz

ASTIER DE VILLATTE NOTEBOOKS,  John Derian

LULU FROST STARDUST PENDANT, Dress Boston

GLOBE TROTTER LUGGAGE,  Globe Trotter

Ira Yeager

I am usually not drawn to bright fanciful artwork but I adore the playful portraits done by Napa Valley artist Ira Yeager that hang in the home of Alexis Swanson Traina.  He paints an eclectic array of subject matter ranging from Wappo Indians to Marie Antoinette's peasants to landscapes of the Napa Vineyards. Here are some examples of his work.

 Image from Lonny

Vineyard Study #10

Wine Vendor, 2006

Venice Gritti Palace + House of Waris

For the next year Jewellery designer Waris Ahluwalia will be displaying the 'House of Waris Rare' installation in the newly restored Gritti Palace Hotel in Venice.  The collection will feature handcrafted pieces that Waris collected from 40 independent artisans from more than 14 countries around the world. 

When asked about his philosophy on the exhibit he said, "it affirmed my belief that craftsmanship is not a thing of the past, or a fleeting trend of today, but a timeless practice that connects mankind with each other, with the earth, and with the great unknown."

Italian jeweler Delfina Delettrez's stone hand blacelet located in the Gritti Palaces' Explorer Library

Stefano Zanin for House of Waris mirrored rhinoceros sculpture

American artist Tim Rowan's sculptural tea bowls

Turkish designer Ribat Ozbek embroidered cushion

All photos from Wallpaper*

The Wes Anderson Collection

I am really excited about the new book The Wes Anderson Collection by Matt Zoller Seitz.  It provides the first in depth overview of Anderson's life, work and artistic vision. The images are interwoven with interviews from the renown director to capture the spirit of his unique sensibility. 

John Derian Furniture

John Derian has added another storefront to the two he already has on Second Street in NYC. Last week he opened John Derian Furniture to focus on upholstered pieces that he designed based on his travels. Most of the pieces are 17th, 18th and 19th-century European and American designs that have been tweaked.  

8 East Second Street, NYC

Images from NY Times

Cole's-Greenwich Village

I had the pleasure of eating at Cole's Greenwich Village this past weekend. Located in the triangular space across from Jackson Square Park, the restaurant had a cozy neighborhood vibe. The design incorporated both retro and contemporary elements to evoke a feeling of 1950's Greenwich Village.
They had a superb cocktail menu, filled with classic drinks with a twist.

Here is their recipe for the Cole's Negroni with Lavender Ice:

To make lavender ice: In a saucepan, bring 1 quart water to boil with 4 teaspoons dried lavender flowers, remove from heat and let steep 5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large ice cube tray and freeze solid.

To make the cocktail: In a mixing glass stir 1 ounce Nolet's Dry Gin, 1 once Campari (or Apersol) and 1 ounce Capano Antica Sweet Vermouth with regular ice, then pour over a lavender ice cube in a rocks glass and garnish with an orange twist.

Diaz + Wearstler

The October addition of Elle Decor features Cameron Diaz's New York City apartment done by Kelly Wearstler. My favorite room was the emerald and brass kitchen with ebony cerused oak floors. The jewel tone and metallic color combination is unexpected and enchanting.

DRESS BOSTON + GALLERY NF

I was thrilled when Dress Boston co-owners Jane Schlueter and Martha Pickett approached me a few months ago to design a new store on Charles Street for them. Previously on Newbury Street for 7 years, Dress has been a long time favorite of mine.  Jane and Martha have a real talent of combining designers that are current, modern, and consummate closet staples. With designers such as Vanessa Bruno, A.P.C, Loeffler Randall, Current/Elliott and Fiorentini + Baker they bring a unique mix to the Boston market.

They not only wanted a store that had clean modern lines to complement their clothing, they also wanted to include home accessories and furniture in their new location. I am excited to be featuring custom, sourced and vintage products under the label Gallery NF. These products will also be available soon on gallerynf.com.

Dress Boston will officially open their doors tomorrow at 70 Charles Street in Beacon Hill.