The Selby @ Colette

So this isn't exactly news, but The Selby made an appearance at Colette this spring and it looks like it was pretty great. I was there in March but didn't see it. Now on exhibit is Karl Lagerfeld/Maison Michel.

Barcelona Pavilion

Barcelona Pavilion by Mies van der Rohe

Widely viewed as "the most beautiful building of the twentieth century," Mies van der Rohe's Pavilion was built in Barcelona for the International Exposition of 1929. The building was used for the official opening of the German section of the exposition. Notable for its simple form and luxurious materials--marble and travertine--the Pavilion also inspired Mies' most famous piece of furniture--the Barcelona chair. (I've always loved the look of the Barcelona chair, even though it's become a virtual staple for Midtown lobbies.) I remember reading about the Barcelona Pavilion my sophomore year of college in a 20th Century Architecture class. I was struck then--as I am today--by simultaneous simplicity and extravagance of the structure. Whether working on interiors or exteriors, the task of the designer is to incorporate these two qualities to achieve a sense of balance. Perhaps Mies is so revered today because he is able to do precisely this and make the entire endeavor look perfectly seamless.

Smart-looking lenses

Matt Damon in Robert De Niro's The Good Shepherd, 2006

Browline glasses comprised almost half of all glasses sold during the 1950s, but they seem to now be experiencing a resurgence. They were created in 1947 by Jack Rohrbach, then a vice president at eyeglass company Shuron Ltd. I just bought a pair of browline sunglasses on St. Marks--haggled the price down from $20 to $11 with the Indian street vendor. For those of you on a more comfortable budget, Ray-Ban has just issued (or reissued) their Clubmaster lenses, which evoke the cool sentiments of Buddy Holly, Malcolm X, Michel Foucault and other Cold War-era stars.

Kevin Costner in Oliver Stone's JFK, 1991

Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's Malcolm X, 1992

Clubmaster by Ray-Ban, $140

Hotel-style beds

Bowery Hotel, New York

There's nothing better than slipping into bed at a luxury hotel... the crisp, pressed sheets, the stacked down pillows, and the immaculate plush duvet that you can just sink into. If you want to attain a hotel-like vibe in your home, headboards are widely available:

Gramercy Bed by William Sonoma Home, $2750

Fairmont Leather Headboard by Restoration Hardware, $1950

Color Intelligence

Residential project in Bel Air by Michael S. Smith

Residential project in New York by Tom Scheerer

More than anything else, the wall color sets the tone of a room. A bold, patterned wallpaper creates a very different feeling than a solid neutral wall. In general, for rooms in which you'll be spending a lot of time, warm colors are best--stick with beige, tan, eggshell. I stay away from light blues and deep colors--I think color should be introduced in splashes, through art and upholstery and floor coverings. I also really like light heather gray walls... its neither warm nor cool but can look really comfy and chic. Check out this sophisticated look below by Jeffrey Bilhuber:

Residential project in New York by Jeffrey Bilhuber

Pace Prints

Kenneth Noland, Days and Nights, 2008

Francesco Clemente, Self-Portrait with Lemon Heart, 2008

So I found the solution to my original/print conundrum from yesterday. Signed prints. They actually retain a value of their own, as they are approved and signed by the artists--and they are bought and sold like original paintings and photographs. Pace Prints on East 57th Street is one of the best. It offers original lithographs, etchings, aquatints, screenprints, etc. from a great mix of artists from the 15th century to today. I found these Kenneth Noland and Francesco Clemente prints on their website, but I'm going to check out the store tomorrow... they have locations in both Midtown and Chelsea. I wonder what the going rate is for a limited edition Ken Noland. My guess is $10K. How far off can I be?

Books books books

Stefano Tonchi's Manhattan Apartment

One of the simplest, and most personal, ways to add warmth and comfort to any space is to display your books. I read quite a bit so I have books everywhere, and I think it's a great look. Above is New York Times Style Magazine editor Stefano Tonchi's bookshelf in his Manhattan apartment. It's chock-full of art books and monographs and looks perfect as is--a bit out of sorts and visibly in flux. Below is a stack of books in New York-based interior designer Ryan Korban's studio apartment. As you can see, no bookshelf is even necessary. As long as you've got some great reading material, you're good to go!

Ryan Korban's Manhattan Apartment