“COLLECTING” IS PART OF our DNA. From earliest times, we have collected food, clothing, and shelter to survive. But once those basics are met, we look around and find something new and glitzy to make our hearts beat faster. Marjorie Merriweather Post (1887-1973) was a preeminent 20th century collector. She grew up in wealth and turned that into a megafortune as CEO of General Foods, notably embracing the new idea of “frozen foods” in the 1920s. With her fortune secured, she next decided to build a life that would make her happy.
The dismaying dearth of intellectual rigor in our popular culture has been parried with an overly- zealous esotericism among the architectural elite. This clique of influential architects has been given a much louder voice by their precocious benefactors than befits their numbers and yet their stamp upon the contemporary architectural landscape has been profound.Fine Arts MagazineMore
Knoll Associates showroom, Madison Avenue, NY, NY. Florence Knoll, Designer, 1951; Robert Damora, Photographer, 1951
November 10, 2008
In this, the last interview Robert Damora gave before his death in March, 2009, I explore his work as an architectural photographer and learn more about his commitment to his craft. Honed by training at Yale and his unfailing attention to the minutest detail, Damora was once described by architect, Walter Gropius as, “the best photographer of architecture in this country.” Here then, is his very personal story, told by Damora himself and by those who cherished him and his remarkable work.
Olive Branch Dish: 2″ high; 4.5″ dia.; Stainless Steel, Oxidized BronzeLittle did Michael Aram know the role that providence would play in his life while on a trip to India twenty years ago. As a recent college grad with a degree in fine arts and a care-free style, a trip to New Delhi to visit a sister and some friends seemed like a splendid idea. But, Aram’s trip was going to be different—on this trip he would discover his ‘true life’s work’.
On arrival, his senses were first piqued by the distinct, yet odd aroma of baking molasses! He would soon learn that this unusual ingredient was used in a sand casting process. He sought out one local craftsman in particular, who spent hours turning metal into utilitarian objects like scissors or buckets. The beauty of the finished products and the creative process used to create them caught him completely by surprise. The skill of these local artisans reflected a hand-wrought aesthetic often hidden by the locals to disguise the fact that each piece was, in fact, crafted by hand. Aram recalls these early, seminal experiences as ‘mind-blowing’.More
As the movers and shakers of the handmade rug industry, the interior design trade plays a pivotal role in shaping the end consumers’ purchasing decisions. After focusing on the greenness of the handweaving process from the manufacturers’ standpoint (See “Special Green Report—Handmade Rugs—The Original Green Floor Coverings,” ARTES (Oct. 13, 2009), this article takes a hard look at what the country’s most reputed and green-attuned designers and other members of the design community are thinking. Do they view handmade rugs as an eco-friendly floor covering as compared to machine-made?
Noted New York-based interior designer Darren Henault of Darren Henault Interiors, says, “To me, the fact that handmade oriental and decorative rugs are green seems only logical and obvious.” However, for most members of the design trade, awareness of handmade rugs as being green is limited, if not virtually nonexistent. States Laura Bohn of Laura Bohn Design Associates, New York, NY whose work has been featured on CNN Style and HGTV: “I didn’t know that and never thought of it until now!” Adds Mary Douglas Drysdale of Drysdale Design Associates, Washington, DC: “As a group, the designers’ mission is to make things look good and is focused more on instant gratification which is not born out of long-term thinking.” Echoes designer Annette Stelmack of Stelmack & Associates III, Denver, CO and co-author of Residential Sustainable Interiors:1“ For [most] designers, the greenness of floor coverings is not a major preoccupation.”More
With the explosion of the green movement affecting everything from automobiles to furniture, rug importers and manufacturers are taking a fresh look at their production methods only to discover that their industry has essentially been green all along. Others are developing ways to enhance the green credentials of their handmade rugs in terms of dyeing, washing, and recycling the waste generated during the production process. While significant strides have been made by the machine-made carpet industry towards making it more eco-friendly, carpeting is still mainly produced from non-renewable petroleum products which ultimately account for up to an estimated 5 billion tons of discarded product—up to 1% of U.S. landfills—most of which is non-biodegradable.
The Verde Collection, Design, Ve-06 OAT. Courtesy of Momeni, Inc.
While nylon can be recycled, the availability of such facilities is still limited. [2]Moreover, from a health standpoint, carpeting would appear to incur a greater incidence of ‘outgassing’ due to their higher chemical components and irritants namely dust and molds. Most offensive from the green standpoint are carpeting’s chemical treatments and synthetic backing. As for handtufted products, they are dismissed by most industry experts from being green despite their wool content because of their latex backing. More
Cutting edge architecture has come to Modesto, California. The owners of this custom residence worked closely with architectural designer, Conrad Sanchez of Blue Design Studios, lighting designer, Randall Whitehead and interior designer, Nicki West to create a home around their extensive collection of established and emerging contemporary artists. The team also includes custom home builder, Mark Sweet of Mark Sweet Construction and electrical contractor, Bruce Trussler of Kirkes Electric whose combined talents were able to create outstanding results from inventive concepts. The end product is a striking and cohesive collaboration that shows how a team of design/build professionals can craft something that flows seamlessly between all the specialties involved on behalf of a forward-thinking couple who were pmodesto final-extart of the decision- making process from day one.More
Windows are a beautiful and essential part of any home, but they also contribute to higher energy costs by heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. This article explores ways to reduce heat gain and loss with window technology, window film and window coverings to help save you money.
Window Technology: The two most important terms to know when buying windows are the U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Co-efficient; both are measures of the window’s energy efficiency. The U-factor rates heat loss. The lower the U-Factor, the better the rating. The Solar Heat Gain Co-efficient measures heat gain by how much UVA and UVB light can pass through the window. Generally, the lower the number, the better the rating – depending on where you live.More
‘Country French Kitchens add color and style to the American Home’
left: A touch of eclecticism, whimsy and a touch of joie de vivre for a home’s most important room
We Americans possess an enduring fascination with French culinary arts, French design, and indeed, the French art of livin g. Joie de vivre tugs at our heartstrings and continues to pull us, inspire us and motivate us to infuse it into our own living spaces, lifestyles and families.
This chandelier shows off the homeowner’s prized copper collection, illuminating the counter sitting area
No singular room in the home moves us towards joie as does the kitchen. It is the heartbeat of the home, the room where roasts are basted and hearts repaired, where recipes are filed and homework checked. The kitchen serves purposes as varied as our family members’ personalities, yet requires our earnest attempts at infusing joie de vivre—the cheerful enjoyment of life—into those human beings whose lives we are nurturing.
The French have always embraced this notion of infusing joy into everyday routines and personal spaces. They have long recognized the value of nurturing: with nurturing meals and conversations; with loving preparations and presentations. And we desire to impart this to our home and families, regardless of how far we live from authentic French culture.
Bringing color to life and life to color in the fascinating world of color planning
Leslie Harrington wants you to believe.
As a color expert, she sees the difficulties people have in putting color into their lives. “It’s a risk to move in the direction of bold or lively colors,” she says, “because color can be intimidating. Many couples come to my studio having reached an impasse—particularly older couples. Because they can’t agree, they reach a compromise—a non-color for the walls or fabrics in a room.”
Leslie observes that younger couples and individuals (under 40) have less difficulty making color choices. “They see color commitment like so many other aspects of their lives—dealing with constant flux in their careers and living situations means they are more comfortable with a risky color choice because it can always be replaced. Twenty-to-forty percent of all paint is purchased to cover a mistake,” she explains.More
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