emilies interiors

Maxmara

During the Fashion Weeks in NY, Milan, Paris and London last spring, I made a sort of forecast what colors the industry would pick up for the new lines in furniture|  upholstery | accessories. The results were to experience in Milan during the Salone di Mobile with a majority in sober color schemes in black, charcoal and brown. This observation was similar to the Fall/Winter 2010 collections hanging in the racks of Saks and Bloomingdales. Possibly the current business makes consumers want to purchase luxury goods that are less posh and more sustainable. If my assumption proves right, than I’ll be very happy with the times to come. People will get bored of the subdued palettes and will yearn for happy colored accessories to match with the browns, charcoals and blacks.

Chanel

Bottega Veneta

Ralph Lauren

Map NYC area nearby Williamsburg Bridge

When I was checking the area around the Manhattan side of the Williamsburg Bridge I had the feeling that this neighborhood is the newest place to live after the Meatpacking District , Chelsea and Brooklyn. Some new apartment buildings  have been arisen between the old houses. This mix of classic architecture and today’s  innovative design  is rather daring and gives an industrial |  creative edge to this area close to Canal- and East Houston Street. Herewith some impressions of my wonderings though Norfolk Street and Rivington Street.

Norfolk Street impression

Shop without a Name @ Norfolk Street

Shop Without A Name front

Industrial design @ Deli Rivington Street

Old versus Renovated

Falai @ Rivington Street

Falai's Front

View of Brooklyn & Williamsburg Bridge

AW 2010, new arrivals CB2

You might have  learned from my previous posts that  my style is the combination of old with new in simple but chic settings. When I made my usual rounds through NYC, looking for stores in vintages furniture and antiques I was too happy to get acquainted with CB2. This fresh formula in today’s design in furniture and accessories is located not only in NYC (6 more in California, Illinois and Georgia) and is part of the Crate &  Barrel emporium. I picked some new arrivals to show you that CB2 is cool and definitely a reason to visit. If you live outside the US, you can make an international order request. So all the more reasons to visit http://www.cb2.com

Odyssey table

Hatfield rocker

Cachao Dining Chair

Powerline Sculpture

Encore Chair

Rose Line Table Lamp

Wolfhome

If you are in need of cushions in silk, velvet, linen or print in any of this season’s  color palette; just visit the Wolfhome store on 936 Broadway! This store in exquisite textiles (the owner of this retail formula is the founder of Silk Trading) just opened last June and is an asset to NYC (if I may say so as an accidental tourist). Unfortunatly I did not shoot any photo’s, but this NY Daily News article will give you more insight about its founder Warren Kay and his NY store. PS If you have no time to visit the store, than go to wolfhome-ny.com or order some swatches over here.

The Chinese Porcelain Company

On my way to Bloomingdales I bumped into this elegant setting, soberly dressed in the windows of The Chinese Porcelain Company. The combination does not exist of more than 5 items but its styling presents the flare of an antiques dealer whom is not afraid to match very old Chinese vases with a marble side table from the period between 1800 and 1900. The drawing of the 20^th century steamer tops this off and functions as the show stopper.

The solution behind this daring match is the layering. The top is very expressive and graphical in its design. This letter feature bridges the decoration of the antiques vases that have a primitive, organic like pattern in duotone that accords with that of the table’s marble top. The bottom of the table is very decorative but does not hurt the simplicity of this antiques and precious ensemble. I hope that this inside scoop does  inform you a little  how to mix & match styles, coloring and patterns. Tomorrow more about Wolfhome.

The Chinese Porcelain Company is located on 475 Park Avenue @ 58^th Str.

Design Within Reach

Last year I visited this store and was happy to experience its collections in classics and fifties inspired furniture. So for this year it was obvious to pay to them a new visit.My eyes fell upon the Bantam sofa, that has a lot of similarities with the Florence Knoll sofa. I think the design of the Bantam sofa is less rigid than that of the Florence Knoll sofa. This Bantam sofa has been upholstered in a George… , sorry forgot the second name. If I lived in NYC I would buy this sofa (two seater) in combination with a Florence Knoll (three seater)  and have them both upholstered in a cotton canvas. In order to give this combination a simple chic flavor, I would let the cushions finish with a piping in a contrasting color.  The address of Design Within Reach is 903 Broadway and the url is dwr.com.

Restoration Hardware

According to the Delta Sky Magazine (June edition) Restoration Hardware is the fourth on the list of the top 4 furniture stores worldwide (Ikea on 1, Pottery Barn is the second, Crate & Barrel is third). For me as an European the brand is unknown, but not for long. According to a sales women from the Broadway store there is a chance that Restoration Hardware store will settle down next year  in France or the UK!

Dusk & Shore

Last week I visited the RH store with an entry on Broadway &Fifth Ave and I was impressed by its line in Latex paint. The brand has two tones in blue that I have not found yet within the lines of European manufacturers. The smokish light blue (Shore, Bord De La Mer) and the navy blue (Dusk Crépuscule)  are super and I would love to apply them in a kitchen, a study or a boys room. These wonderful tones are to find back in Restoration Hardware’s bath linen. The combination of rich American cotton and the hotel quality makes you run for the cash register and to purchase a set for every bathroom, sink or toilet you own.

Bath linen Restoration Hardware

Sale at ABC Home

ABC Home on Broadway is my fav store for its mix & match of styles | brands and accessories. Another feature that I like is The Conran shop in the basement. This British store chain in design furniture and accessories is best for its basics and classics. The shop has been named after Sir Terence Conran, the founder of Habitat and publisher of his many food bibles and interiors books. The combination of the rather clean and crisp products of The Conran shop blends perfectly with ABC’s boho style.

ABC Rugs with Particia Urquiola table for EMU

Due to the World Soccer Cup, the first floor of ABC Home store was in African style with a Moroso display of Tord Boontjes chairs. This presentation matched really well with the Oriental | Tribal collections in fabrics, rugs, curtains etc. Hopefully you will not get tired of my love for wired furniture. Like the Emu line by Patricia Urquiola.

EMU furniture

African theme at ABC home

ABC Home

EMU tables

I like to end this report about my ABC pilgrimage with the happy ’see again’ of the rugs by Carpet Reloaded for Moroso.

Here in combination with an Egg Chair.

Carpet Reloaded

Times Square on the 21 th of June 2010

Last week I was in NYC and sent some pics with my mobile phone to this blog roll via Moby Picture. Unfortunately something went wrong and the posts did not emerge. So in this decade where news should be delivered within 24/7, I dare to share with you some inspirations that are a week old.

Mac's store front with interactive wall paper at the back

Let’s start at Times Square. My hotel was the Best Western on 48 Th Street and every morning I enjoyed a Starbucks breakfast with a fresh copy of the New York Times at Times Square. Last Monday I was surprised by a group of Yogis welcoming the arrival of the summer and some football fans of the Dutch team, all dressed in orange.

Best Western President Hotel

Next stop was Fifth Avenue with the aim to wonder at the displays by Louis Vuitton and Bergdorf Goodman.

Louis Vuitton on 5th Ave

Paris chic by LV

The yellow in the black and white color scheme of LV’s window is the smart third that makes this setting vibrant and Paris chic.

Bergdorf Goodman

The displays by Bergdorf Goodman’s are full of inspirations. This World Soccer Cup- inspired display with a pair of Christian Louboutin’s high heels made me see that grass green with chalk white and a leopard pattern is a daring but fresh combination.

Bergdorf Goodman's display of a pair of Louboutin's high heels

The next blog post is about my favorite ABC Home.

Aquartis Building, across the Amsterdam ZOO

With joy I would like to share with you the results of my latest ‘ dress to sell’  commission. The subject of this project is a four-room apartment in the Aquartis building, situated across the Amsterdam Zoo. The owners asked me to style and photograph their beautiful and valuable home. I must say it was fun to do this and together with my clients managed to prepare this apartment for a relaunch within 24 hours. Have a look for yourself and experience the differences between the old and new situation. If you would like to see  the complete results of the photoshoot, click here for my Flickr photo album.

Apartment (first floor) for sale

Living before

Living after emilies was asked to dress this amazing apartment

Nice seating for morning paper and coffee

Dining area before

Dining area before

Dining area after

Master bedroom before

Master bedroom before

Master bedroom after

Bathroom before

Bathroom after

Bedroom for guests before

Room for guests after

Study before

Study after

Kitchen before

Kitchen after

The next blog posts will appear next week for the reason that I’m off to New York to meet my collegue Donna Dazzo. She is the owner of DesigntoAppeal, a Home Staging company that serves New York City and The Hamptons.  Thanks to her I’ll attend a RESA meeting next Monday!