Apr 172013
 

PleasedToMeet Very Pleased To Meet

I spotted this company’s products in various hotspots around New York and liked their style instantly. Pleased To Meet is the lovechild of two German designers, Daniela Könn and Marcel Hornung, who met and fell in love whilst working in New York. Founded in 2004, they now have a lovely range of simple and charming designs spread over a variety of paper-based goods, contemporary eco ethics with a hint of mid-century style illustrations. Good colour choices too. They do have stockists worldwide but they also do international delivery so no need to panic. Here are my top-picks.

1.) I Love You wrapping paper, €2.60, 2.) New York wrapping paper, €2.60, 3.) Fawns wrapping paper, €2.60, 4.) A Good Catch wrapping paper, €2.60, 5.) Flying Birds notebook, €5, 6.) Lovebirds notebook, €5, 7.) Travel Journal, €19, 8.) Paris notebook, €7, all available from their website.

Apr 122013
 

NYC Shopping Many Treats To Be Had

I was pretty restrained on my recent trip to New York despite the many treats to be had. The choice was out of my hands. I had to be. I’m soon to be moving home and property in London isn’t cheap. Needless to say, the mortgage company would not be sympathetic to my pleas and tales of cushion-love in NYC, however lovely it was, so, well-behaved I was. This doesn’t mean that I don’t sit here at my desk and dream. I confess, the Cole Haan shoes and the birdie letter opener came home with me, but then they don’t count, as they both fall under the ‘practical’ category. For future reference (for myself and any one who fancies treating a hard-working Finch), here are my top nine shopping treats from the great city across the pond.

1.) Gramercy Oxfords in nubuck rooftop and sunlight, $198, Cole Haan, 2.) stone house door stop, $31.90, West Elm, 3.) Petrie armchair in fawn, $2,199, Crate And Barrel, 4.) Petrie ottoman in fawn, $1,248.75, Crate And Barrel, 5.) birdie letter opener, $12, MOMA, 6.) Dauville gold glazed bowls, from $11, Canvas, 7.) Map of New York decorative sheet, by Charles Lahti, $20, Kate’s Paperie, 8.) porcelain pitchers by Ryota Aoki, from $148, The Future Perfect, 9.) Acciaio dining chair, designed by Max Lipsy, $1,500, Matter

Apr 102013
 

Moonish 1977 Ode To The Moon

sunspots Ode To The Moon

Moonish music Ode To The Moon

One of my highlights of New York’s Architectural Digest Home Design Show, which I attended as part of Modenus’ BlogTourNYC, was this stand showing the work of Brooklyn-based designer-maker company, Moonish. Marine-grade plywood is dyed, silk-screen printed and cut down into 6″sq tiles with magnetic backing. The wood grain is visible through the dye, allowing for the natural qualities to show, giving the decorative tiles a warmth not usually associated with their ceramic cousins. Their application also differs, no messy grouting required here, this wall treatment is purely magnetic. Allowing design flexibility and a freedom from the usual constraints of surface decorations, you can chop and change as often as you rotate your footwear, should you wish. This also makes them reusable, a detail that is rapidly becoming the most attractive USP a product can have, in an age of economic and environmental uncertainty. All of these positive pointers and we haven’t even got on to how good looking these little wooden squares are. Well, I don’t really need to say anything, they do all that’s necessary for themselves. Just look at them! And if you tire of diamonds, change it to chevrons, …if you bore of chevrons, …change to diamonds. So much to love, so little time (such good colours too). Go get them.

From top to bottom: ’1977′, ‘Sunspots’ and ‘Music’ designs.

Apr 092013
 

Future Perfect Yes, The Future IS Perfect

On a recommended tip by a now-native New Yorker (thank you, Liz!), I made sure that I fitted a trip to The Future Perfect in Manhattan. It wasn’t a venture wasted. In amongst a good list of interiors stores in the SoHo/ Nolita area, this by far was my favourite design shop, and the closest to my own personal taste. Nicely laid out, there were little treats to be discovered in all corners of the store, from well-known companies to lesser-known designer-makers. It was also nice to see a large range of products from my own London favourite, SCP (and no shortage of Donna Wilson‘s knitted delights). Royelyn (the shop attendant) indulged me a small tour of my favourite goodies, and also a discussion on slang and the linguistic differences between Brooklyn, Manhattan and London. Good times. Here are my top 9 items (international shipping available).

1.) Reunion bowl, by Pieke Bergman, $165, 2.) Mirror standing shelf, by Garth Roberts, £3,650, (this is far more amazing in person than you can see from the photos. It’s gorgeous), 3.) Bluff City pendant light, £750, 4.) Moon Dance Rug Small, Domestic Construction, $63 (sale price), 5.) Watering Can, Copper, Paul Loebach, $99 (available from May), 6.) Facet Bowl, by Piet Hein Eek, $956, 7.) Tree Trunk Chair in Green Velours, by Piet Hein Eek, $2,858, 8.) Crescent Brass Bottle Opener, by Oji Masanori, $60, 9.) Glacier Double Old-Fashioned Glass, Purple, for Artel by David Wiseman, $439

Apr 042013
 

No4 BlogTourNYC: No.4

1.) Bespoke Global: bringing artists and craftfolk’s work to the fore. Facilitating communication and encouraging non-high street retail. 2.) the fantastically cheerful carpet in the reception of the Fab headquarters, 3.) Du Verre‘s ‘Rise’ cabinet handle by Christopher Smith of East Main Design (available in three finishes and 4 sizes), 4.) a selection of Prehistoric stone bracelets on stands, just a few of the many treasures on sale at interior designer, Vicente Wolf‘s showroom, 5.) Pomegranate cabinet handle, in satin brass, by metalsmith designer, Heinz Pfleger, sold by Du Verre (available in different finishes and sizes), 6.) a detail in the corner of the Fab photographic studio. Lovely colours.

With many thanks to all the Modenus‘ BlogtourNYC sponsors: Miele, Mr Steam, Silestone by Cosentino, Blanco, Poggenpohl, Du Verre, Barber Wilsons, NKBA, Jenn Air, Victoria + Albert Baths

Apr 022013
 

No2 BlogTourNYC: No.2

1.) dinner being made using Miele‘s Brilliant White Plus range by Little Owl‘s chef, Joe Campanale and our very own, Gem Barton, 2.) Joe Campanale’s fellow chefs at work, 3.) Miele’s Brilliant White Plus H 4886 BP BRWS+, 4.) dinner (1 course of 4), 5.) The view from the Miele showroom over East 58th Street, complete Spring blossom and pendant lamps, 6.) Miele’s Brilliant White Plus H 4086 BM BRWS Speed Environment, 7.) our big black stead which took us around New York on the Corcoran Real Estate tour (with thanks to Miele and Corcoran).

With many thanks to all the Modenus‘ BlogtourNYC sponsors: Miele, Mr Steam, Silestone by Cosentino, Blanco, Poggenpohl, Du Verre, Barber Wilsons, NKBA, Jenn Air, Victoria + Albert Baths

Apr 012013
 

DayOne BlogTourNYC: No.1

1.) looking through the Poggenpohl window at Park Avenue, 2.) Poggenpohl logo detail on one of their sleek kitchen cupboard handles, 3.) A section of Blanco‘s beautiful sleek Silgranit II sink in cinder with an iconic New York cab in the background, 4.) a selection of Poggenpohl’s work surfaces including the new ash wood veneer on display at the media breakfast held on the first day of BlogTourNYC, 5.) a variety of Blanco’s taps (faucets) including the new Alta Compact  in four of the 6 available colours, 6.) Silestone by Cosentino‘s worksurfaces in situ, 7.) a branding detail on the Blanco brushed steel plug (stopper), 8.) an excellent choice of quartz surfaces including the 6 new Nebula colour options (suitable for bathroom and kitchen) from Spanish company, Silestone by Cosentino, 9.) Sona Vessel bowls at Michael Aram, 10.) wall detail at Michael Aram‘s W 18th store.

With many thanks to all the Modenus‘ BlogtourNYC sponsors: Miele, Mr Steam, Silestone by Cosentino, Blanco, Poggenpohl, Du Verre, Barber Wilsons, NKBA, Jenn Air, Victoria + Albert Baths

Mar 082013
 

Alley Oop Alley Oop

I saw this on It’s Nice That and liked it so much that I thought I’d feature it here too. It’s a collaboration between furniture maker, Eric Trine, and designer and illustrator, Will Bryant. Now, I’d not heard of either (sorry) so I’m rather delighted to have two new people’s work to investigate, especially looking at how super these photos are. Cracking chalky-pastel coloured geometric furniture in 80s album sleeve style set ups. Beeeouuuutiful. Alley Oop is actually a curated exhibition set up of items (which are all for sale), in downtown LA shop, Poketo, possibly a little bit too far to visit during one’s lunchbreak unless you’re in sun-drenched California, so you’ll just have to get your fix from these photos.

Mar 052013
 

Other Criteria Bridging The Gap

Other Criteria sees the bridging of the big, wide gap that spans between shops and galleries, offering a collection of Damien Hirst’s and other contemporary and emerging artists’ work in shop format. Strictly speaking, they’re an art publishing company, but with this venture sees the opening of two retail outlets in London. Predominantly led by Hirst’s foray into the world of interiors, which is a combination of the curious and the unrealistic, this is a nicely curated selection of homewares for the boldly designed-inclined. Definitely worth a visit if only to indulge the parallel universe fantasy, you know the one: where you’re a millionaire living in a humungous house on Hyde Park without restriction on either space or financials. In terms of prices, do not be fooled, this is far more gallery than shop. With prices around £30-£50k for a rug, this isn’t shopping for the faint-hearted, but then we knew that with the location of the shops. Speaking of the rugs, it was the rugs that I fell in love with, being exact copies of Hirst’s Spin paintings, these hand-knotted wool rugs are fabulous bursts of colour and look fantastic, and all yours as long as you remortgage.

1.) ‘Spot’ clocks, small £305, large £490, 2.) wallpaper range, prices from £205 per roll, 3.) ‘I Am Become Death, Shatterer of Worlds’ bone china plate, £33.50, 4.) ‘Beautiful Primal Urges’ rugs, 100% wool, small £30k, large £50k, 5.) ‘The Rape of Persephone’ wallpaper, £250 per roll, 6.) ‘Beautiful Self-indulgent Spin’ chair, set of 6 chairs, £30k, 7.) ‘Beautiful, amore, gasp, eyesgoing into the top of the headand fluttering painting’ bone china plate, £22.50, 8.) Malambra/ Aquamarine large vase, by Paola Petrobelli, £2,800, 9.) acrylic ashtrays, around £450.

Other Criteria, 36, New Bond Street, London W1S 2RP (020 7629 5800), or, 14, Hinde Street, London W1U 3BG (020 7935 5550)

Feb 142013
 

Alexandra Von Furstenberg Pop Goes The Furstenberg

Strictly speaking, I’m not a neon fan. As far as I’m concerned I’d be happy if it got stuck where it last poked its head up, back in the 80s. But these I could go to town for, though as they’re totally out of my budget so I’m not worried that I may throw neon-caution to the wind and go wild in the aisles. Alexandra Von Furstenberg (yes, another prodigy child of a celeb) first dabbled with neon interior products back in 2008, and these trays and bowls are her latest range. Available at the supercool, always bang-on-trend Conran shop, they will set you back a pretty penny, but homemade cocktails will never have looked so good.

From the top, down: Soiree tray, £350. Chiclet bowl, £165; Lotus bowl, £900, Cocktail tray: £295, all made from acrylic, and then, at the bottom, Cocktail and Soiree trays stacked. Available from Conran, in a range of neon colours.

pixel Pop Goes The Furstenberg
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