Art Architect

A touch of mirror

0 komentar 21.32 Diposting oleh Marleen

I have this great tray on my coffee table (Victoria Hagan 'shagreen' tray from Target) that has seen many different lives. Tonight I went to my local hardware store and had them cut some mirror to fit inside. I love it, especially at night. Lets look at some of the previous versions of it.

Previously, it had just been some cork I had glued down that you can see here around the bric-a-brac. The tray has been this way for the past year. The turquoise square is a large glass coaster of sorts so I had somewhere to set my drink and not stain the cork!

In an even older version ( 2 years ago) I had a gold and black patterned paper on it. The paper was easy to replace if it got dirty, the cork however was not and held stains easily. I think the mirror is the best version! What do you think?

Label: Interiors, just for fun

domino sale, ny trip

0 komentar 20.23 Diposting oleh Marleen

I spent the weekend in NY and had a wonderful time. The first item of business was the much talked about Domino 'tag' sale which was really exciting: talk about a crowd, though! I was lucky to get there early enough thanks to Heather, David Jiminez and some other friends who are morning people: AND Heather brought her famous cookies wrapped with an orange ribbon! I have to admit I ate 3 bags of them over 24 hours. They're addictive!

You can read what the Habitually Chic Heather bought HERE. Pictured below are my finds but I can't help kicking myself over what I did NOT buy: a bolt of gray rough silk fabric that would have been perfect for a table cloth (or 4 or 5 really) for $3, 2 big boxes of gray waterworks subway tiles for $20, 2 totally chic waterworks nickel sconces with black shades for $100 - ARGH -the ones that got away!

What I did get was this tortoiseshell and silver teacaddy and charming antique photo montage of children cooking. What i most liked about the picture (which Heather thrust at me telling me I must buy it!!) was the unusual size and BEAUTIFUL wood frame. It was a bit dusty and sad looking, but nothing some wood soap and orange oil can't fix! Now it's really cute and going onto the gallery wall!

I convinced my friend Eric to get this lovely plaster corbel with greek key design on the side. I should have saved it for myself though, haha!

While walking from the Kips Bay Showhouse on Sunday down to see the exhibit of important jewels at Cartier (you have to go, it's amazing with 100s of items - 2nd floor, don't miss it!), I was passing Bergdorf Goodman, trying to be good and not go in when I saw the windows.

I recognized the staging of the famous Cecil Beaton photograph of Charles James dresses from the 50s (my favorite image in the world) out of the corner of my eye. My heart stopped - I turned and saw these creative windows devoted to 'the model as muse' and ran across the street to get a closer look. The sun was just right to get the ultimate amount of glare unfortunately, but you can still make out whats going on.

These were well known images of fashionable models and actresses right at the corner near the Plaza. Everyone was stopping to look (hard to get a photo with no people walking by!).Erte inspired, perhaps? I'm sure this is based off a famous image as well - anyone know?

It was a great trip and I have my friends to thank for that. Hope you all had fantastic weekends! Head to NY to see Kips Bay and the Cartier exhibit immediately!

Label: magazine, shopping, travel

Hillwood Gardens

0 komentar 19.05 Diposting oleh Marleen

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Label: DC, flowers, Gardens, Washington

Clarence Moore House

0 komentar 19.26 Diposting oleh Marleen

The embassy of Uzbekistan has always intrigued me. Housed in a beautiful Beaux Arts style townhouse near where I live, the most interesting thing about it is the juxtoposition with its very modern neighbor. I have taken 100's of the two over the years!

The modern building next door - I love the old with the new!

Elevation of the mansion by the architect, Bruce Price.

Saturday I was able to tour the first floor and it was as beautiful as I could have wished. Original woodwork, lightfixtures, mouldings - a preservationist's dream come true! Built in 1909 for Clarence Moore by the architect Bruce Price of blonde brick and limestone 'dressing', the home soon became the embassy of Canada and housed this function until 1988.

The entry hall. Not shown here are the beautiful black and white marble floorsI didn't miss out on photographing these AMAZING marble sconces lining the entry hall.These have to be original. Aren't they amazing?!Probably the most interesting sconces I've ever seen!

Ceiling detail in the entry hall. Exquisite plasterwork!

At the rear of the LONG entry hall is the stair hall -seen above.

This ancient fireplace stands at the foot of the stairs. You can see a glimpse of the marble floors.

Clarence Moore was a coal magnate from West Virginia who only lived in this DC house for 3 years; he sunk with the Titantic in 1912. His wife owned the house for years but rarely used it as she was never in DC after remarrying. She sold it to the Canadian Goverment in 1927 for $375,000 with an additional $100,000 for the furniture! What a fortune that was in the late 20s!

To the right of the entry hall are 2 small salons with delicate plasterwork. Between the 2 is a small hall and original powder room. Above the 1st salon contains textiles from Uzbekistan.

After the Canadian government vacated the premises for their new larger (and uglier) embassy on Pennsylvania Avenue, the government of Uzbekistan bought it in 1992. I have to give them credit that unlike many other countries, they have respected this great home and continue to preserve it.