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Posts Tagged ‘Blogfest 2013’

skyview landscapes. bunny mellon photo

Garden designer, stylesetter, and philanthropist Rachel “Bunny” Mellon She designed and planted a number of significant gardens, including the White House Rose Garden, and assembled one of the largest collections of rare horticultural books.

In Winter when all the flowering plants have collapsed, I feel this is the time to go outside and look at the structure of your garden. I love walking through the garden on these frigid days. It helps me anticipate the return of spring and what it will bring. I believe that weather is one of the most critical design issues for a garden. I think good design features the many faces of the weather. I feel that you have to establish some structure- some good bones.  Good bones can be built upon, or stand on their own.  Structure in the landscape in our zone has to take the winter season into account.

skyview landscapes Boxwoods

In Vanity Fair some years ago this, below, stopped me.  A kindred spirit.  Who exactly is Bunny Mellon?  In the fullness of time, may she keep returning to your radar, as she does mine.

skyview landscapes. bunny melonMellon was born into a pharmaceutical fortune in 1910 (her grandfather Jordan W. Lambert manufactured Listerine) and married into a banking one in 1948, when she wed Paul Mellon, her second husband. Mellon’s greatest acclaim came not from her masterpiece acquisitions, however, but from her self-taught skill at sculpting the natural world.

skyview landscapes architectrual digest

Garden designer Lanning Roper, called her “the leading landscape genius in America.” Far less known are the remarkable interiors  she created in the dozen-plus residences that Mellon and her family occupied in the U.S., France, and the Caribbean.

skyview Bunny Mellon design

Relatively small, intimate houses were Mellon’s preference, livably elegant and skirting clear of pretension. “Make it look like we just brought it down from the attic,” Mellon told Bruce Budd, one of the decorators she worked with (the roster also included English master John Fowler and American tastemaker Billy Baldwin).

skyview Bunny Mellon design Oyster Harbor yard

In every room in every house, Mellon placed what she called “standing herb trees,” which she developed in 1952 while recovering from tuberculosis, having been inspired by topiaries seen in the medieval manuscripts and early garden manuals.

skyview Bunny Mellon standing herb trees

A bird painting by Balthus hangs in Bunny Mellon’s bedroom in her villa at Antigua’s Mill Reef Club, where decorative artist Paul Leonard created Swedish-style painted floors that mimic stone paving; as Mellon once said, “I liked the way marble floors reflect light, but these are warmer and quieter.”

skyview landscapes. bunny melon Antiqua Residence

November 24, 2014 I read an article that saddened me, it said:

Southerby’s Auction house says its multi-day sales of Racel Bunny Mellon’s  furnishings art, jewelry, and other objects totaled $218 Million.

Three works — two paintings by Mark Rothko and a fancy vivid blue diamond — fetched over $30 million.The 9.75-carat pear shaped gem set an auction record for any blue diamond.

The benefits went to The Gerard B. Lambert Foundation. It supports The Oak Spring Garden Library in Upperville, Virginia, which houses Mellon’s collection of works related to landscape design, horticulture and natural history.

Bunny pasted away at the age of 103, in March of 2014. This lost was felt through out the design world. Rachel Bunny Mellon had her first garden epiphany as a young girl she wrote “This towering forest of scent and white flowers was the beginning of ceaseless interest, passion and pleasure in gardens and books,” she wrote. “Like a magic carpet it has carried me through life’s experiences, discoveries, joys and sorrows. In sadness especially, it has been a hiding-place until my heart mended.”

Thanks for letting me share some of my favorite gardens with you! Stay tuned…

XOXO

M

 

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Kips Bay Showhouse 2013

Kips Bay Showhouse 2013

As I mentioned in my last post, this was one of the most memorable weekends I’ve had. We went full-out for three days and one of the highlights was the Kips Bay Showhouse.

My favorite Room was the Dining Room:

Dining Room

Dining Room photo by Courtney Price

Design by Kristen McGinnis Design Inc.

This photo cannot relate the how beautiful this room was, the amount of work that went into the space was apparent just by the finish on the blue lacquer walls, the faux finish over the gold leaf on the ceiling was done by Maya Romanoff. OMG! it was exquisite, and the lighting over the table… This branch with LED lighting was magnificent (again I’d like to point out the finish on the walls, just amazing!).

Kristen Mcginnis Designs

Kristen Mcginnis Designs

The art: Al Held Thalocropolis 1966 Acrylic on Canvas 84 x 72 inches, (also in this room but not pictured, Al Held Acracropolis 1966, acrylic on canvas, 84 x 72).

The buffet in the dining room, this piece was sensational,  it truly was another piece of art in this room…

Sideboard Kips Bay Dining Room

Kips Bay Dining Room

Buffet is by Vincent DuBourg – Bronze Double buffet Nouvelle Zeland 2011 Collection of Chum Langhome

Wendel Castle Bench

Wendel Castle Bench

This bench over looked the two-story atrium, you can see Denise Maurer peaking through the railing on the lower level!! The bench was made by Wendell Castle,  an American furniture artist and a leading figure in American craft. He is often credited with being the father of the art furniture movement. Kristen told me this bench was made by him at 84 years of age. Again this at every turn of the head this room was astonishing!

Gomez Assiciates Drawing Room

Gomez Assiciates Drawing Room

(Above) The Drawing Room, beautiful Loto Chinese Carpet, Doris Leslie Blau

Sitting Room/Barbara Ostrom

Sitting Room/Barbara Ostrom

This was another great use of a small space, the Sitting Room:  ceiling mural by I-Faux-Professional Decorative Finishes Andrei Chichkine, Inc., the Drapery and sofa fabric by Jerry Pair/Dedar.

Judy King 4th fl. Landing Aquatic Pass

Judy King 4th fl. Landing Aquatic Pass

The 4th Floor Landing was so beautiful, I would love to have the art work! Art By Modern Aquatics Series: Central Park #1, 2 & 3 Richard Bettinger Studios

Now there were so many great rooms, I could on and on seriously! This Bath blew me away!!  Toward the end of our time at Kips Bay, Denise Maurer and I made a stop in the kitchen to sip the Champagne!

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Okay let’s get  to the giveaway!!

This giveaway was sponsored by Kravet Blogfest 2013, and  HGTV Magazine,  One lucky winner will receive a Dyson DC 47 Animal Vacuum!

Dyson Vacuum

Eligibility to win the Dyson DC 47 Vacuum:

1) Check out my past blog  read about Blogfest 2013 and tell me what where the Kravet Blogfest 2013 lunheon with Thom Filicia was held.  Name the place in a comment on this blog post.

2)  Share this giveaway on either Facebook or Twitter and tell where you linked (FB or Twitter.)

3) Like my Facebook Page

So you know what to do, like my Facebook page, Tweet about this blog and giveaway, and answer the question above! the drawing will be held on June 30th!

I want to thank Kravet again for their inspiration,  HGTV Magazine and Dyson! Visit Kravet’s blog Inspired Talk take a look at the Highlights from our weekend! See more photos on Blogfest2013 Facebook

 

As Always stay tuned …….

 

XOXO

M

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Blogfest 2013 was simply AMAZING! Starting out last Sunday morning, we headed to NYC to be blown away by bright colors, interesting texture, contemporary furniture, light fixtures and textiles, not to mention the Designers who create and inspire the industry!

The Three Day BlogFest was a wirl wind of shows, the 25th.ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair), cocktails at Jonathan Adler’s on Madison Ave NYC, The Kips Bay Showhouse,  a luncheon at the Hearst Towers sponsored by HGTV and another cocktail party,  with Alexa Hampton, Tony Barratta, Johnathan Adler,  to name a few of the influential people and design Icons that we were able to rub elbows with, at Newel Antiquities. Here are the DESIGNING WOMEN! As Denise Maurer of Maurer Interiors, calls us at Grand Central Station the beginning of our journey:

Grand Central Station, Starting Out for Blogfest 2013

Grand Central Station, Starting Out for Blogfest 2013

Kickoff Blogfest 2013 at Johathan Adler's

Kickoff Blogfest 2013 at Jonathan Adler’s

Jennifer Powell was the coordinator of this incredible conference, packed with three days of unbelievable events, star-studded luncheons and events that exhilarated and inspired us.Jennifer Powell

Jennifer Powell, Communications Manager and truly the star of this event!

Tufted Headboard, and fabulous bedding!!!

Tufted Headboard, and fabulous bedding!!!

Just one of the inspirations from Johnathan Adler on Madison at the kickoff party for Blogfest 2013!

Javits Center For ICFF

Javits Center For ICFF

African Rug company Nanimarquina

African Rug company Nanimarquina

To be sure, when more than 500 exhibitors from around the world put on a show, as they did at ICFF, you can expect diversity. But you should also be able to pick out coherent strains of form, material or style. This rug of Shakespeare Head from Milton Glaser Shakespreare in Africa was certainly one of the exhibits that caught my eye.

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Inspiring furnishings from ICFF

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Kips Bay Showhouse 161 E 64th St. New York, New York

Tuesday morning started at Kips Bay Showhouse 2013 this event was exhilarating, and something that I have wanted to be part of as a designer, being able to visit this showhouse was a check off the bucket list of life for us. This 5 story upper east side town home, built-in 1899, has about 5,640 sq ft, 4 bedrooms 4.5 baths, a 2 story atrium, front and rear terraces, a garden and an elevator. Every year, celebrated interior designers transform a luxury Manhattan home into an elegant exhibition of fine furnishings, art, and technology.

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Coutney Price and Christy Davis

Courtney and Christy were taking photos for this event, I had the pleasure of meeting both of these talented women and enjoying their company on this trip.

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Marla Millar and me!

Doodle Home graciously sponsored breakfast, for the Blogfest group, as we sipped champagne in this $16 million space it was easy to get the feeling of how it would be to live in luxury. Marla introduced herself to me and we chatted about  Doodle home and what they do for the professional interior designer. Doodle Home helps manage the tasks that interrupt the creative process and leaves us to do what we do best “Create and Inspire beautiful interiors”! We quickly became good friends I’ll look forward to working with her and hopefully spending some time together! The kitchen was designed by Christopher Peacock, but we will save the showhouse rooms for another post!!

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Hearst Towers where HGTV sponsored Lunch with Kravet!

This was the beginning of Blogfest 2013, this social engagement was incredible!  I spent last Monday afternoon at Blogfest 2013 at Hearst Tower, enjoying lunch, with lots of great sponsors,  like HGTV, Kravet, Neutrogena and Valspar. Also giveaways from HGTV magazine’s editor in chief Sara Peterson who was so cute and welcoming. The designers Thom Filicia and Alexa Hampton were informative and incredible. Candice Olsen was suppose to be the guest speaker with  Thom Filicia, but she misplaced her passport and was not able to board the plane. We were disappointed to hear that she was not present, but things quickly turned around when Alexa Hampton was announced as her replacement! Replacement hardly fit the bill, I would say our “Treat”! The room was on the 44th floor, the view, well it was the exquisite !  The decor was colorful with pink and green tables, valspar painted pots filled with pink Hydrangeas for an eye-catching table scape.

Pink and Green Delight

Pink and Green Delight

Beth Greene, warmed up the room opening our program!

Beth Greene, warmed up the room opening our program!

Beth Greene, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Strategic Branding for Kravet, opened the event, it was a beautiful day, with astonishing views and a Designer cast!

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Thom Filicia, enjoying Beth Green speaking!

Thom Filicia was amazing, he moved us with his designs and shared some of his strategies. He was animated and hysterical at times with his comical antidotes about life, his larger than life personality took center stage as he spoke about his own past and present design work.

The giveaways!

The giveaways!

There was so much fun going on at the HGTV Blogfest event, but the one that really took top billing for me was the giveaways, Valspar paint, Moen Rain Shower heads and a pair of dyson Vacuums! Well as luck would have it I was busy chatting with Denise Maurer when I heard my name called, I stood up and didn’t even realize I had won the biggest giveaway!! As soon as I receive the vacuums,  I’ll figure out how to post a  giveaway and some lucky perosn will enjoy a new Dyson vacuum with me. Stay Tuned as always for details!!!

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Newel Antiquities

Newel is the most extensive decorative and fine arts gallery in the United States, having been a premiere destination for international collectors and designers for over 70 years. Housed in a six-story building in East Midtown Manhattan, it showcases over 10,000 extraordinary works from around the globe dating from the 17th to the 20th Century, and is also involved in the creation of original pieces and reproductions.

Newel’s story began in 1939 when Meyer Newman founded the company as a prop house for Broadway shows and later assembled an unmatched inventory of works that he hand selected in Europe following World War II. Since the days of the original Broadway production of “My Fair Lady,” Newel has played a significant part in the supply of period furniture, art, and decorative objects to the motion picture and television industries, including such noted features as “The Godfather”, “Sex and the City”, and “Boardwalk Empire”.  In addition, fine retailers such as Bergdorf Goodman and Polo Ralph Lauren regularly incorporate Newel pieces into their masterful window displays. The gallery is also proud to have remained a family business and is currently in its fourth generation of ownership.

This was the ultimate place for cocktails with the incredible talented designers who joined us, we hob knobbed with design icons such as:

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Alexa Hampton

Alexa Hampton, she is truly as warm and as down to earth as you can get. Her gracious personality made her so approachable. She is as beautiful as her designs, this was the highlight of my trip. I have been in awe of her designs for many years, and wish I could have the chance to work with this talented woman, meeting this auspicious designer was truly an honor!

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Kravet

Tuesday Morning: We ended this conference with a trip to Kravet Designs for a great breakfast and where we were privy to some of the newest designs,  some that we were not even able to take pictures of, because they had not been released to the public. Beth Greene who was our hostess for the tour took us through through the building, educating us on everything from digital printing of designs on fabric to the development of how ideas originate and how the art work is developed!

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Aerin Lauder

Aerin Lauder is as beautiful as Estee Lauder, she shines and her softness comes alive in the fabrics and colors that she introduces to fabric. Many shades are similar to eye shadows, but her favorites she shared were the neutrals especially the brown chevron!

Kravet Fabirs Aerin Lauder's new line.

Kravet Fabrics: Aerin Lauder’s new line.

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Maurer Interiors, Aerin Lauder, Designs by Michele for Styleland Interiors

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Betsy, myself and Denise

Ending our day with dinner at Brazil Brazil, on the famed restaurant row in Manhattan,  328 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036. We ate drank and did a little merry-making!!!!

This was on our way home, we definitely had a wonderful three days, Many thanks to Kravet, HGTV, Valspar, Neutrogena and all of the people who worked so hard to make this event the success it was! On the train ride home it was time to wind down, Good Night Denise! I’m sure she was having spendid dreams!!!

Silly kid tricks r for kids

Sleeping beauty!!

As always stay tuned, for pictures of the interior of Kips Bay Showhouse and the Dyson Vacuum Giveaway!!!!

XOXO

M

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Kravet: Ted Fall

Kravet: Ted Fall

Yesterday was my day at Denise Maurer Interiors. We met with Ted Fall our Kravet consultant, he was excited to talk about some new fabrics, carpets and wall coverings from Kravet, Lee Jofa and Brunschwig & Fils. Here are some highlights from our meeting! Here is Ted  Fall holding up one of our favorite fabrics of the day!!!!

Ted Fall Kravet

Ted Fall Kravet

Brunschwig & Fils Le Jardin

Chinoiserie Le Jardin

Chinoiserie Le Jardin

Le Jardin Chinois Collection celebrates the fantasy and timelessness of chinoiserie. This as you know from past posts is a design that intrigues me! It takes me to an elegant faraway place and holds my imagination. European trade with China brought about a passion for chinoiserie, a style that captured fantasies of Chinese life ~ephemeral pagodas, long-tailed birds, men in coolie hats, flower laden vines. During the 18th century, French artist Jean Baptiste Pillement combined Chinese themes in a particular and stylish manner which proved to be very popular. Jean Baptiste Pillement  was a painter and designer, known for his exquisite and delicate landscapes, but whose importance lies primarily in the engravings done after his drawings, and their influence in spreading the Rococo style and particularly the taste for chinoiserie throughout Europe.

Brunschwig & Fils

Brunschwig & Fils

In 1941, Brunschwig & Fils founder Roger Brunschwig went off to war and his wife, Zelina, took over the family business. Mrs. B, as she was affectionately called, was a woman of great style, sophistication and inventiveness. Mrs. B is credited with developing the brand and aesthetic of Brunschwig & Fils as we know it today and for introducing scheming into its marketing efforts. Her motto “Good Design Is Forever” still holds true today.

These new collections bring a colorful approach to design with linen embroidery and crewel. Featuring bright colors, bold graphic patterns, geometric, abstract and comtemporay linear patterns that range in both vivid colors and neutrals. We were all inspired by the colorful animal prints, paisley, and Ikat fabrics that are the trend this season!

Some other fabrics Ted Fall shared with us…

Mulberry Fabric

Mulberry Fabric

Johnathan Adler

Johnathan Adler

Here are some Cheveron patterns that again have made a comeback with Johnathan Adler for kravet!

Cheveron earth tones

Cheveron earth tones

Thanks to Ted Fall for his time and sharing Kravet, Lee Jofa and Brunschwig & Fils designs in new carpets, wall coverings and fabrics. I’m looking forward to going to New York City  May 20-21, 2013 and visiting Blogfest 2013, hope to see you all there!

Blogfest 2013

Blogfest 2013

                                                                                              Blogfest 2013!!!!

Kravet is once again hosting for Interior Design Bloggers a two-day event.  Featured designers and design collaborations: Candice Olson, Thom Filicia and Sara Peterson. Also sponsors include Kravet, Lee Jofa, Brunschwig and Fils, Newel (whose showroom I’ve visited on many occasions and actually met Mr. Newel on one of my visits!) New York Spaces, HGTV Interiors, Wilsonart, Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse and ICFF.

Here is some information you’ll need:

This event is: Private

Admission Fee: $100.00
On Twitter: @blogfest2013

Please click on the widget on my sidebar for a link to the site and register!!

As always stay tuned for more adventures in Styleland!!

XOXO

M

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