Modern Vintage

Punked-out serving platter: White opaque milk glass with studded rim and bottom
 

Everything Old Is New Again

London, England has Portobello Road; Brimfield, Massachusetts has the Brimfield Antique Show; and Paris, France has the Marche aux Puces de Clignancourt.  In your neighbourhood, you might find yard sales, tag sales, or estate sales; antique shops, junk shops, or consignment shops.  Whatever you find, wherever you find it, what they all have in common is a bevy of used goods that often show the hallmarks of beautiful design, skilled craftsmanship, and exquisite execution.

While well-designed, quality home goods are timeless in their appeal, how do aged furnishings become contemporary?  How does a Depression era platter, a decades-old dish set, or a centurial chaise become new again? 

To start, let's agree that being modern is not necessarily about being newly minted; rather, it is more about being fresh -- an fresh approach, an intriguing combination, a unique juxtaposition, be it in furniture, dishware or home accessories.  Layering vintage items with contemporary pieces keeps things feeling clean and up-dated, not stodgy and jumbled.  Strong lines and graphic designs never feel dated, and pulling together pieces from various decades ensures your space doesn't feel like you're stepping into a time warp.  Besides creating an environment that is eclectic and autobiographical with items that can often be purchased at incredible prices (particularly when compared to their present-day counterparts), you are reusing and repurposing one of the countless consumer goods our civilisation has produced, saving it from destruction or a landfill.  And really, what could be more modern than that?

Sourced Locally

Found in my backyard: delicate organic etching on clean-edged
geometric shaped Depression era fruit cups; also of note, the swirl-rimmed
dessert plates and bead-rimmed serving vessels in deep emerald

Clear colours and strong graphic designs on juice glasses (bottom shelf)
and shot glasses (top shelf)

A perennial favourite and always classic, antique blue and white
china can bring a sense of history and touch of vibrancy to a modern
interior

These jugs hold their own in visual weight and rustic appeal; they would
look great clustered together on a shelf in a white-walled room

In my mind these are the ultimate juicers; particularly lovely is the one
in centre back with its scalloped edge

Traditionally constructed black wicker set cries out for a bold
fabric pattern on the seat cushions in need of refurbishing

 

 

The Take-Aways



Top: a Wedgwood leaf patterned platter cradles a garden find -- a perfect
but abandonned robin`s egg; Bottom: from a set of five,
an octagonal Depression glass emerald-coloured plate presents
a scattering of peony petals



 



Images: D. Sleziak



A Fine Fifty

From the new collection by Manuel Canovas

For me, the love affair began just a few years ago, when flipping through a magazine, I turned the page and came across this image for an ad campaign: a bold and graphic floral print in rich red, acidy citron, deep green, and purple-tinged fuchsia tempered by touches of black and white and presented on a natural linen ground...

It took my breath away.

Who?  What?  Where?  immediately began racing through my mind. 

Who designed such a gorgeous pattern; what was the name of this print and the company which produced it; and, most importantly, where and how could I get my hands on it?

Since then, I have discovered that, Misia, as it is known, is part of the Serena print collection by the Paris-based fabric house Manuel Canovas, and this year marks the firm's fiftieth anniversary.   Begun in 1963 by a young textile designer, the company that bears his name is know for their quality fabrics in bold designs that may draw on historic references but comport a modern sensibility.  Of particular note are the unusual and compelling colour combinations, the lush patterns and the elegant appeal of their textiles.

To celebration their anniversary, the latest collection is inspired by the visual richness of India, a favourite destination of the company's founder.  A sampling of their designs is pictured below; scroll through, but be prepared: like me, you might just find one that stops you in your tracks and steals your breath away.

New collection samplings

A new favourite: Solange in Framboise



Dara, in Turquoise, is a 100 per cent
cotton print; exquisite in Noir, too

Woven solids



Kazan in Rose Indien; modern take,

classic appeal

 

 

Fresh colour palettes

 

 

Beautifully soft and oh-so-desirable takes

on a classic -- nothing fussy here

 

 

Mix and match in a rich colourway

 

 

Parfum d'Ete in Bleu Canard

 

 

A detail of Beauregard

 

 

 

For these images and more, visit www.manuelcanovas.com

A Little Bit of Herve in My Life

Dream room: Interior design by Muriel Brandolini with wall sconce and side table by Herve Van der Straeten

Gimme Shelter

Do you ever open a shelter magazine and find yourself gazing at a room that you -- immediately, instinctively -- are drawn to?  The response is visceral.  There is no thinking here.  For you, it is just so right.

In one of my favourite magazines, I discovered my dream room a few years ago.  When I first laid eyes upon it, the image simply took my breath away.  Like Alice stepping through the looking glass, I wished I could tread through the frame of the picture and find myself in another world, that world.  And then I stopped and paused and asked myself, "What makes this room so appealing?" 

Was it the repeat floral pattern of the blooming branches, the embroidered silk panels, and the tufted wool rug?  Why, yes.  Was it the rich yet restrained colour palette?  Indeed.  Was it the unorthodox furniture placement?  Absolutely.  Was it the modern simplicity and downright beauty of the wall sconces?  Oh, yes.

And then, I found this room...


Mirror mirror
  

And then, this one.


Contemporary bronze chandeliers in a not-too-contemporary space

 

Hmmm.  I began to see a pattern here.  Was it the interior designer?  No; they varied.  Was it the location of the homes or obvious wealth of the interiors?  Oh no.  What it was, I quickly surmised, was the objects that in my mind made the rooms -- the statement mirror over the bed, the organic orb light fixtures whose contemporary design creates tension with the traditional architecture of the space.  Who it was, was Herve Van der Straeten, the creator of these objects.

Tell Me More

A Parisian trained in the field of engineering, Herve Van der Straeten is an independent designer, who eight years ago, was still relatively unknown in North America.  Each year, his showroom in Paris features a single collection of 25 to 30 objects created in his own workshop.  Employing skilled craftsmen of dying trades and newly apprenticed artisans, he produces furniture (much of it limited editions), lighting and objects that combine the triad of quality, beauty and elegance with an edge.  If you think this all sounds very expensive, it is. 

The desirable but largely unattainable

But Van der Straeten began his foray into the design world by creating jewellery -- beautiful pieces that feature organic shapes, textures of hammered gold, and fluid finishes of lacquer and enamel. With a collection featuring numerous pieces, including earrings, necklaces and cuffs, and available through major retailers, this was the way for Herve to find his way into my life (and if you love what you see as much as I do, yours too).

   Just one of the most desirable, attainable

and readily available!

Now when I see my dream room, I don't imagine stepping into it, but rather I see myself stepping out into the real world with my piece of Herve Van der Straeten gleaming on my wrist, while some chic stranger glances my way and thinks, "Wow, that cuff.  It is so her; it is just so right."

Portrait 

 

Van der Straeten with work and at work.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images via Elle Decor, Neiman Marcus and the World Wide Web.

 

Between the Covers: A Good Life



Between the covers -- pages just waiting to be delved into

Last in this three-post series on recommended
reads, Living in Morocco by Barbara and Rene Stoeltie is a visually rich tome that brings readers the authentic Moroccan lifestyle from homes in Marrakesh, Tangier, and beyond.  The individual homes featured offer a highly personal take on living in Morocco and move far beyond the atypical lantern or tile to bring items such as modern art, sixties designs, and 19th century English furniture successfully into the mix; a superbly stunning book, it underscores the eclecticism of Moroccan design.  In addition, the layout is superb, the text is multilingual, and the book includes a glossary of Arabic and Moroccan terms so that readers can distinguish between a dar, a ksar, and a riyad with ease.  If our homes truly are a reflection of our lives, these home owners enjoy a very good life indeed.

Authors Barbara and Rene Stoeltie, former artists and

gallery owners, include incredibly alluring images such

as these details of a garden gate (left) and a star-shaped

pool with roses (right).

 

 

 

Cover shot from Taschen; top photo D. Sleziak

Other images from the pages of Living in Morocco

Between the Covers: A Good Look






Cover shot
 

Hey Good Looking

The recently published, W: The First 40 Years,  chronicles the Who, What and Wow of the fashion magazine's first four decades.  Begun as a large-format bi-weekly publication that sought to capture the latest scoop in fashion and in the lives of the fashionable, today it is a monthly magazine that fuses fashion, fame and art.  More than just a collection of arresting images, the book includes essays that chart the evolution of contemporary culture as captured and created by the publication.  This is a book that is worth a second look.

Cover shot via Chapters/Indigo;

Top image from www.Wmagazine.com with text overlay

View Finder

Liberty of London ceramic tile window display 

Imagine...

 

the prettiest scrap of antique Belgian lace from the collection of the Victoria and Albert museum morphing into a visually delicate yet graphically appealing window shade, or...   

 

a classic photographic series becoming the striking border for your deeply coloured, contemporary furnished dining space, or...

 

a text written by the Royal patron of Portuguese exploration, Henry the Navigator, becoming the paper that backs the bookcases in your nautically

theme library, or...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                             

a most beautifully painted Chinoiserie panel         

rendered as a black and white mural gracing

the cupboard in your sitting room...

 

 

 

 

Imagine this and so much more. And then, turn your vision into reality.

 

 

Discover...

A 19th Century Mary Hillier photograph canvas rests on a sideboard
 

Surface View, a British-based firm with an on-line playground that links collections with curators (their wording for you) and blows the possibilities wide open -- any image can be produced in any number of formats, from ceramic tiles and wall decals to mounted prints, epic posters, lampshades and wall murals. Your role is to bring the two together.

 

Explore...

 

and browse the collections of places like the National Portrait Gallery, the Ashmolean Museum, the Royal Horticultural Society and the National Maritime Museum plus other image repositories like the Getty Images Gallery as well as works by contemporary designers and artists.  Select your image and your product and voila, your classic car wall decal will be on its way in no time.  Employing a workshop of skilled craftsmen who digitally re-master images from original sources, they combine cutting-edge technology with old-world care and responsible environmental practises.  So, for that one-of-a-kind accent piece that will set your rooms off from all others, set Surface View within your sight.

 

All images via Surface View


Rise Up

Oprah advocates that our homes should rise up to meet us. What a compelling notion.

Fragmented hand-painted 18th-century Chinese wallpaper

Don't you agree that the best homes are the ones that reflect the owners and meet their needs?  Our homes are an intimate expression of who we are.  Yes, intimate.  Think about it.  When we leave our homes, countless strangers see how we present ourselves to the world, while only those few we invite into our homes, see us in that oh-so-personal environment which we create for ourselves and within which our daily lives unfold.  And, according to Oprah, this space should rise up: It is not just a repository for all of our "stuff," but a place -- one hopes -- of comfort, of joy, a refuge and a shelter; a space that celebrates our lives and who we are.  The means by which a home can accomplish this are as varied as the owners who reside within them.  For one, a tattered treasured find is pieced together like a collage to make the most of a beautiful old paper, and a bedroom is transformed.  How exquisite.

The beguiling beauty of the papered wall
as viewed from hall

For another, it might start with a prettily painted front door, the kind that evokes a sense of welcoming calm every time you see it.

Alternatively, you might prefer a door that radiates sunshine and makes you smile; once you open it, a tranquil oasis awaits you.

Perhaps you value a relaxed, comfortable environment with sink-into-me-and-stay seating that encourages prolonged conversation...

Or, you're a glitz-and-glamour guy or girl, who feels most at home in a light-filled, art-graced room of sophisticated elegance.

Whatever your style or taste, here are a few ideas on how your home might rise up to meet you.

For Your Consideration: Why don't you...

 

Only bring in things you really love or really need.  This doesn't mean your space needs to be bare-bones minimum.  Look at the kitchen below -- it's chocked full of china, but with the restrained palette and the beautiful presentation, it wows. 

Clear the clutter.  Closely linked to the philosophy above, and supported by sound organisation, when everything has a place, clutter can be kept at bay.

Add a dose of your favourite colour (if it isn't there already!) somewhere, anywhere.  It is guaranteed to bring you joy every time you see it, so indulge.

Give the things you love centre stage for easy access.  This homeowner ensures her favourite books are close at hand for daily perusing by making them the core of her coffee table display. 

Honour mementos.  Placing meaningful family photos in the space the family most often uses -- brilliant!

Skip the trends and embrace your personal style.  Not a touch of mid-century modern, industrial chic, or whatever the latest trend is, just simple, fresh beauty.

Finally, be inspired by interior designer, Michael Whaley who painted his front door his favourite colour: a deep but vivid purple.  "It makes me smile every time I come down the driveway," he states, "and I love how it complements the green glaze of my [garden] pots." (House Beautiful, Sept 2012)  Now that's a home that is certainly rising up.

Images via the following: Elle Decor, House Beautiful,

Martha Stewart, tumblr and Vogue