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

Tabletop

Porcelain ashtray by Hermes, $620

Dora Maar vase by Jonathan Adler, $295

It seems like people struggle the most with selecting decorative objects for their homes. Furniture and wall color and curtains are easy, but tabletop items are a little bit more tricky. Decorative items should have both aesthetic and sentimental value. So, ideally, you collect pieces as you travel, and thus each piece also stores a memory of where you were, who you were with, and how you felt when you bought it. But if you're on a deadline and just want to furnish a room, my advice is to find a few starter pieces and save space for additional items to add later.

For a while there, it seemed like everyone had these Dora Maar vases and Hermes ashtrays, but I still think they can look great. I know Jonathan Adler gets a bad rap with design gurus--they say he is too whimsical, and some of his stuff really is. I hate whimsical, but this vase is interesting and adds just enough levity to brighten up a bookshelf or coffee table.

Alexander Calder

Calder in his Paris studio, 14 Rue de la Colonie, fall 1931

Alexander Calder is one of the most famous artists of the 20th century--and for good reason, too. He revolutionized sculpture by using wire to essentially draw pictures in three-dimensional space, and is credited for having invented the mobile. Some people see nothing special in his abstract forms, but I think his work--especially his paintings--are incredibly beautiful. Obviously originals are best and signed prints are cool too, but I don't quite know what to think of unsigned prints and posters. I think collecting today is a lot like fashion--it's good to mix high and low. But a pair of Prada pants is one thing, a $2.5 million painting is a different beast. And a room with originals and prints has a different feel than a room with all prints. But I guess if it's done tastefully--good prints, nice matting, and a good frame--there's no reason why it shouldn't look okay. What do you think?

Carlyle Hotel

Carlyle Hotel, New York

The lobby at the Carlyle in New York is, I think, one of the most sophisticated spots in the city. The off white/black/yellow-gold color combination is really punchy, so it probably wouldn't work for a living room or bedroom, but it's great for a lobby or foyer--a place where you only pass through for a few moments. The two Calder paintings on the far wall go perfectly with the sentiment of the room--modern, bold, and rich. The real crown of the room, however, is the translucent Waterford blown glass chandelier. It's a really genius solution for a slick marble and lacquer-clad room with a strict color palette--and it is also just really beautiful. A chandelier like this would really work well in almost any double-story room with a modern decor; I think it really speaks for itself. I know two designers, Thierry Despont and Alexandra Champalimaud, collaborated on the Carlyle interiors, but I'm not sure if they were responsible for the lobby. Whoever did it, it works.

Horloge happy

Tank Solo 18K Yellow Gold by Cartier, $3750

Louis Cartier designed the Tank Watch in 1917, inspired by the Renault tanks he'd seen on the Western Front in WWI. GQ just did a profile on the history of the Tank, which has been a style staple since its conception. I like the 18K Yellow Gold version with the black leather wristband--clean, understated, and kind of Old World.

Indoor Chaise Lounges

Residential project in New York by Alex Papachristidis

These chaise lounges are great. I think indoor chaise lounges make so much sense. They are comfortable, chic--perfect for watching a movie or curling up to the fire with a good book. This particular layout looks great because the dining table grounds the end without the armrest/back. In a traditional living room, however, traditional sofas work best. This is a really great look though. Alex Papachristidis' work is so simple yet sharp and innovative--I think he is one of the designers out there to watch.

Leather Headboards

White Elephant Hotel Residences in Nantucket by Alexandra Champalimaud

This leather headboard look is both old-fashioned and modern. It's like taking your grandfather's old leather smoking chair and bringing into contemporary bed design. The rich caramel shade of the leather contrasts beautifully with white linens, and the beige base of the room allows for splashes of color. 

Wing Chair for Cozy Den

Celine Tufted Wing Chair by Celerie Kemble for Laneventure,  $2211.

Wing chairs were originally designed to protect the delicate skin of gentrified ladies against the cold drafts of Northern castles. The "wings" trap the heat from the fireplace, thus these chairs have been traditionally positioned around the hearth. I think a pair of them would look great in any room with a central fireplace. This one is velvet and button-tufted... it's both clubbish and cozy--great with a matching ottoman, too!

Bedroom in White and Grey

Residential project in Martha's Vineyard by Alexandra Champalimaud

I love the gauzy white curtains here, with the white trim, linens, and carpet. The black wrought iron curtain rod looks great, and I like the wrap-around effect that covers the interior door. Big glass table lamps create a really airy, breezy look.