I'm so excited about the Spring Summer 2018 menswear collections. From Balenciaga to Hermes, to Fendi, Yamamoto, Vuitton and Balmain, each of the runway shows below is more inspiring than the next. When I'm designing an interior, I often look to the world of fashion to spark new ideas. But that does't stop with women's fashion. I love the androgynous forms and color palettes found in all of the men's ensembles hitting the hottest catwalks. Here's a little eye candy to enjoy on this Monday!
Design
{I N S P I R E D} Gorgeous Finds at NYCxDESIGN /
Talk about being inspired. The makers who exhibited this year during NYCxDESIGN Week—at ICFF, WantedDesign and Sight Unseen's Offsite—were innovative, fresh and a welcome dose of creative energy. While there were so many spectacular finds, I wanted to share a few that especially stood out and planted seeds for my next interior design projects. Get ready for some design magic!
1/ Pulpites, Dear Human. 2/ Erich Ginder. Photo by Amanda Ringstad. 3/ Fauna Fantasía wallpaper in Habana, Grow House Grow. 4/ Aura Mirror in Fluorite, Another Human via Offsite. 5/ Anna Karlin. 6/ Fold Collection, Uhuru. 7/ Coexist Askew Marble and Brass Side Table, Slash Objects. 8/ Luvere Studio via WantedDesign. 9/ Sass Side Table by MPGMB for Souda Brooklyn. 10/ Black Marble Hex Mason Watch, Analog Watch Co.
{F A S H I O N} Taking Flight /
“It’s not enough to have feathers. You must dare to fly!”
Image credit: Balenciaga Fall 2017 / Monica Feudi / Indigital.tv via Vogue
Feathers have been popping up on catwalks, in my favorite boutiques, and just about everywhere you turn nowadays. They're the perfect mix of flashy and fun, and I can't help but find inspiration in them. From feathered fashion accessories to Balenciaga's latest runway show, to Blake Lively’s gold and peacock-hued plumed Versace gown from this year’s Met Gala, these beautiful quills are sure to make your imagination take flight.
Top row: 1/ Heari Feather Bib Necklace via Anthropologie. 2/ Sunrise Feather Hoop Earrings via Anthropologie. 3/ Lisa Blue Bathing Suit, Gasoline Glamour Feather Collar, Glynneth B Necklace. Photo by Ben Cope via Very Very Chic. 4/ Kate Spade Belle Elliana Feather Clutch via Nordstrom. 5/ Prada Slingback Sandals via Barneys New York. 6/ Balenciaga Satin Pumps via Net-A-Porter. 7/ Couture Hat by Arturo Rios via The Feather Girl. 8/ Blake Lively, Atelier Versace, Met Gala 2017. Photo via Harper's Bazaar Singapore.
{D E S I G N} Architect Spotlight: Bjarke Ingles /
All images via BIG
“I call architecture frozen music. ”
I find the above sentiment to ring so true about architecture, but also design in general—I always say there's a certain harmony that comes together when an interior hits all the right notes. There is something especially mellifluous about the work of architect Bjarke Ingles. I've been in awe of his work for quite some time and was delighted to see him featured on the Netflix series, Abstract. So often words like 'visionary' and 'rule-breaker' are thrown around, but Bjarke is rewriting the whole script with each creatively executed and environmentally-minded structure he dreams to life. Here are a few of my favorites.
{A R T} The Writing's on the Wall /
Gallery walls are like a visual puzzle that is so much fun to create. What makes them interesting is the scope of the images that you want to showcase. One recipe that I often use is a mix of different mediums, like we did in our Nantucket beach house (above): Line drawings, photography, oil paintings, sculpture, pastels, posters and collages. When I buy art, I buy it because I like it and then somehow make it fit into the tapestry of a collective.
If you’re looking to make your own gallery wall, one common thread could be a similar color or a similar frame. Using various sizes of images make it feel more like that visual puzzle that gets worked and reworked until it fits just right. The advantage of a gallery wall is that you don’t have to commit to one arrangement; you can change your mind and shuffle the art around as you go, and that way there is no stress when putting holes in the walls. Think seasonal or have your own art show in your house! Make the artwork the pattern and color, and keep all the furniture monochromatic.
A well curated collection of an art or gallery wall can consist of art bought at a thrift shop, your child’s first painting and your great uncle’s watercolor masterpiece. The trick is having the confidence to put it all together. Here are a few of my favorite examples, starting with my very own home.
{F A S H I O N} The Geometry of Design /
All Images via Shihara
A few weeks ago, I posted about wandering into Tomorrowland NYC while shopping for a client in SoHo. Ever since then, I can't get the Shihara jewelry I saw there off my mind! Their geometric shapes immediately grab your attention. For this Japanese atelier, form doesn't just follow function. Rather, the function is designed as part of the form. They're one and the same. Their 3D earrings, for example, integrate the post into the overall aesthetic of the earring instead of being an afterthought. It's such a pure and simple philosophy, yet not everyone gets it quite like they do. Here are some of my favorite pieces of theirs; I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
{D E S I G N} Glass Architecture /
I stumbled upon the unbelievable work of Milano-based design firm Santambrogio | Milano when researching glass formations for a project. To say I was awe-struck by these incredible structures is an understatement to say the least—I was mesmerized and perplexed all in the same breath.
With glass as their muse, Carlo Santambrogio and Ennio Arosio create these stunning homes that are highly cognizant of their environments and leave little to the imagination. From kitchen appliances, stairwells, and interior walls, every element is composed almost entirely from varying grades of glass. There's a tremendous amount of science and consideration that goes into each element of construction.
So throw on Billy Joel's Glass Houses album and journey through these transparent homes...
{F A S H I O N} Chloé Spring-Summer 2017 Collection /
I realize it's February, but Chloé's Spring-Summer 2017 Collection has me daydreaming of springtime in Paris. The Grand Palais—one of my favorite landmarks in the city—lends such a gorgeous backdrop for these free-flowing garments and pretty florals to strut down the catwalk. And I just love the way Clare Waight Keller abandoned tradition with her sinuous setup of the runway and the audience. Enjoy the show!
{V I B E S} Living With Man's Best Friend /
Einstein and Me
“Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.”
Einstein (or as I like to call him, Mr. E.) is a very handsome blockhead English black lab—a true gentleman’s dog. We adopted him in 2011 when he was 2 years old as a released guide dog from the GD Foundation. This means he was trained as a working dog, so he expects to come with you wherever you go. He is a gentle companion who will wait for you until you are done, anywhere you take him. He loves to go for a walk and sniff everything in his path.
Einstein weighs in at 85 pounds and wants to cuddle with you on the sofa and run around the main floor of my house in and out of each room with his favorite toy. He has his preferred spots to nap in but loves to lay on the rug in front of the fireplace.
As a designer, I have made my house dog friendly with polypropylene rugs, darker colored sofas, rooms that are not too precious. Dogs want to be wherever you are, and that is especially true of black labs. I put in a doggy door so he can come in and out as he wishes. Our house would not be complete without him.
One of my favorite times of the day is in the early morning when I come down to make coffee and he greets me by rolling on his back for his morning belly rub and gives me his goofy upside-down smile. So good!
Since the unconditional love and companionship of a dog can’t be beat, I've rounded up some beautifully inspired spaces filled with the essence of puppy love. See? It is possible to be chic and accommodate our furry friends. Enjoy!
1/Photo by Simon Upton via Architectural Digest. 2/Photo by Ryan Tansey via Design Sponge. 3/Photo courtesy of Zak + Fox via Town and Country Magazine. 4/Photo by Patrick Cline for EKB Interiors. 5/Photo via Art et Decor. 6/Photo by Kim Lucian via Apartment Therapy. 7/Photo courtesy Brian Patrick Flynn via DIY Network. 8/Photo by Ngoc Minh Ngo via Architectural Digest. 9/Photo by Scott Frances via Architectural Digest.
{I N S P I R E D} Nocturnal Animals: Fashion Meets Film Meets Interior Design /
Photography by Merrick Morton/Focus Features
With Paris Design Week just recently in our rear view, I'm thinking back fondly on my time studying in Paris alongside my studio-mate Tom Ford. I'm so happy for him and his film Nocturnal Animals. (If you haven't seen it yet, you really must!)
The film itself is truly a work of art, from the writing and storytelling to the directing to the cinematography and especially the acting. But it's important to note a main character aside from the ones played by Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Shannon. And that is the interior design. Shane Valentino reworked the interiors of a Scott Mitchell-designed house to include art, furnishings and materials that are as fashion-minded as Tom himself but austere enough to underscore the emotional, hauntingly beautiful storyline.
{I N S P I R E D} The Magic Of Fonts /
I always say that design is a choice. Even when you nonchalantly select a font to use, every letter tells a story about your choices, whether straight or script, chunky or thin, serif or sans serif. Fonts are always catching my eye, so I'm naturally drawn to artists who have captured the art of calligraphy and hand lettering so effortlessly—like Seb Lester, an artist and designer living in England. All videos of him showcasing his talents are worth watching, but here's one of him drawing water calligraphy using water and colored ink. It's mesmerizing!
And here are a few brands that I love who know just how important it is to choose fonts that speak to their company philosophies. Take the serif font Hermès uses for example—it's classic, timeless, and instantly recognizable, just like the brand itself.
{F A S H I O N} Mish New York: Experiential Jewelry /
Image credit: Mish New York
Walking into Mish's 30 Bond Street studio in NYC isn't like shopping for jewelry at just any jewelry boutique. It's an unforgettable experience that speaks to all of the senses. Beth and I paid a visit to Mish a few weeks ago on a trip into the city—the purple door and green facade called to us immediately of course. (With the fashionable charm and historic architecture outside, you'd think you were on Bond Street in London.) Once we stepped inside, the feast for the eyes continued, from the hand-painted malachite mural, to the upholstered walls with nailhead trim, to the jewels themselves, all on display like pieces in a museum. Made with South Sea pearls and precious stones, Mish Tworkowski's fancy and whimsical baubles, bracelets, brooches and more will stop you in your tracks. See for yourself!
