22Jan

White Plaster Chandelier and Accessories for the Home

Although a white plaster chandelier is very au courant and very frequently used lately, it’s far from being a trend. It would actually be quite silly to think otherwise. These chalky white plaster chandeliers or plaster home accessories have been around for quite some time perhaps as back as 1930’s when Alberto Giacometti brought the material into fashion in Paris. The plaster lightings we see today are mostly inspired by Giacometti’s work. With the help of his brother Diego, Alberto created beautiful and understated home accessories made out of plaster and or bronze. Giacometti created various kinds of home accessories from table lamps, sconces and fireplace mantles in plaster. Often creating pieces commissioned by Jean-Michel Frank who used a lot of white and plaster in his interiors. Another great reminder of the use of plaster in interiors is perhaps the most recognizable of all Serge Roche. He created objects in stucco or mirror which were heavily influenced by the Baroque. Roche’s iconic designs are regarded as one of the most recognizable ones of the 20’s 30’s and 40’s style. A more recent reference to this classically modern use of plaster in home accessories would be the work of John Dickinson. The very acclaimed late American designer from the 60’s and 70’s who created collectable whimsical plaster furniture pieces. One of his very recognizable and coveted pieces is the African table, a great modern interpretation of the original African stool.

plaster chandelier, white plaster chandelier jvia belle vivir interior design blogeffrey bilhuber via AD

As beautiful as these plaster accessories are, they also evoke a sense of whimsy and fun. The imperfect finish of the plaster provides these rooms with a more relaxed atmosphere, which is perfect for our modern days. Room above by Jeffrey Bilhuber via AD. The white plaster chandelier was custom.

plaster chandelier, white plaster chandelier via belle vivir interior design blog Nicky Haslam home

The home of Nicky Haslam in London. How beautiful, whimsical and collected is his home…

08May

The Allure of Painted Floors: Graphic and Patterned Floors

A very uncompromising way to bring pattern and personality into your home decor is by painting your hardwood floors in a graphic pattern. I believe that painted floors are perhaps the easiest way to change and enhance the interior design of your home. There is a plethora of design pattern to choose from, being checkered floor the most popular, and it’s for sure a much more economical way to change your flooring as well as it avoids the hassle of replacing old floors or installing parquet floors. From simple geometric patterns such as Chevron, more intricate parquet patterns painted of wood floors to more elaborate antique-inspired tiles painted on concrete floors, these images of patterned floors below will for sure inspire you to bring the allure under your feet. If you don’t mind getting dirty and embark on a DIY project, Apartment Therapy has a guide on how to paint your floors, you can find it here.

In this dining room, the wood floor was painted in geometric grey and white maze pattern. The decor in this home shows a perfect juxtaposition in a modern interpretation of neoclassical style. Love the amazing detail of the upholstered door.

Julie Paulino Design

For this client in New York City, We painted the floor in a grey and white checkeredboard, diamond patter.

In the tropical bedroom of Bunny Mellon in Antigua, the wood floor was painted in different shades of blue.

11Oct

Pedro Friedeberg’s Hand Chair: Let me give you a hand with that

It’s very interesting how some iconic pieces came to realization out of a simple act. The iconic Pedro Friedeberg’s hand chair is one of those cases. The modern chair was created in Mexico City by local carpenters when Friedeberg’s mentor asked Pedro to give the local carpenters some work. Friedeberg asked them to make a hand big enough so he can sit on. It sounds funny, that’s what Pedro Friedeberg thought, however, the emblematic hand is now a very coveted modern piece of art. Pedro Friedeberg’s style was obviously inspired by surrealism and his designs are loved by many stylish people. I better come up with an idea of a handy necklace.

Since then the chair has been made in many different finishes and sizes and its versatile aesthetic allows for it to be used in either traditional spaces, creating a dramatic and contrasting ambiance, and as well as in modern interiors.

08Feb

The Time of Elegance: Jardin à la Française or French Formal Garden

Chateau Vaux le Vicomte

Jardin à la Française or French Formal Garden is a garden design based on harmony and balance born during The Late Renaissance in France. There French Landscape Architect named Andre Le Nôtre has received all the credit for The French Formal Garden. He got the accolade after he was responsible for the transformation of the gardens of The Castle of Vaux le Vicomte, which after that became to be one of the most spectacular Chateau in France of its time. This Garden design has its origins in Italy during the Renaissance revival. Andre Le Notre is also responsible for the famous The Petit Trianon’s garden which he designed while working at gardens of Palace of Versailles, the beginning of what is today The Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Chateau Fontainebleau and many other spectacular gardens not only in France but also in England, Italy and Germany. The landscape architect was a pure genius as you can see… The Jardin à la Française style combines the use of parterre or bed of greens in geometric shapes divided by gravel walkways, topiaries, fountains or pools in symmetrical patterns in an attempt to create a perfect integration to the Architecture of the Chateaus resulting in a perfect perspective view from miles away.

French formal garden style Palace de Versailles

Palace The Versailles

20Oct

William Hogarth: Serpentine Line and a lot to thank him

William Hogarth 1697-1764 England, was a painter satirist and social critic during the 18th ct. His satiric paintings and engravings mostly covered and criticized social and political situations by ridiculing conventional and social standards of his times. One of my favorite work of his is Marriage à-la-mode, a series of six paintings which were later engraved and published, ridiculing arranged marriages where of course the unhappiness of the entire family ends with the tragedy that covers everything from murder to suicide. Go figure! “Moral: don’t listen to evil silver-tongued counselors; don’t marry a man for his rank, or a woman for her money; don’t frequent foolish auctions and masquerade balls unknown to your husband; don’t have wicked companions abroad and neglect your wife, otherwise you will be run through the body, and ruin will ensue, and disgrace, and Tyburn” And you may be wondering why am I reading all this and you’re right! but William is entirely responsible for what’s called Serpentine Line or Line of Beauty which is the S-shaped curved elongated line that frames an object. He thought that curves, not Sophia Vergara’s in this case, were more dynamic, more interesting to see, more lively and not as dead and static as straight lines. And I so much agree. When my professor said these things in class last year I thought “Clever man!” He probably had no idea that his theory would transcend to furniture, hence the Serpentine sideboard and many more wonderful good looking furniture and sculpture that we enjoy today. Below, a few images that show gracious and beautiful curves.

27Jul

Wednesday Classics, FLAMESTITCH

Chastleton House, Oxfordshire

Flamestitch or Florentine stitch, not to be confused with zig zag, is believed to be originated in Hungary as Hungarian stitch or embroidery. The design that is as old as you can imagine was first found and created as embroidery, which was called in Italy Bargello Arts Stiching, hence the Bargello chairs. It consists in straight up and down uneven zigzag resembling flames. Back in the 1600’s Anne Fettiplace, wife of Walter Jones, had a bedroom and closet ” The Fettiplace Closset” in the Chastleton House, Oxfordshire covered completely in Flamestitch. Mary Mcdonald anyone? You see how nothing is really new?