Loving this Moore & Giles + Brad Ford designing for good collabo…

This one-of-a kind, “Great American Woody” was designed by Brad Ford for Moore & Giles with consultation from Jim Meehan. Outfitted with Moore & Giles leathers, it was designed to offer the ultimate in luxury tailgating and showcase the art of high-end entertaining outdoors.

Following its launch at DINING BY DESIGN New York 2011, it has traveled to some of the most exclusive design and epicurean-related events across the country. It is now the leading item on DIFFA’s “30 for 30” auction on charitybuzz.com featuring 30 exceptional, one-of-a-kind auction packages to commemorate 30 years of fighting HIV/AIDS.

To learn more about the auction and to register, please click here.

-S

Born from playful experimentation with vintage lighting components, APPARATUS is the creative collaboration of Gabriel Hendifar and Jeremy Anderson. Aged brass, painted glass, and found objects are assembled by hand to create eclectic, utilitarian fixtures. The result is a warm glow that is at once time-worn yet undoubtedly modern.

Gabriel Hendifar is a unique creative, in that he straddles between fashion and interior disciplines. He has designed for couture label JMary and is now part of the Raquel Allegra creative team. His interior design work has been photographed for Elle Decor and can be seen at gabrielhendifar.com. 

-S

Hi friends,

I’m excited to share a home tour and business profile about my company on Apartment Therapy today. You guys know me well, but maybe the piece will still surprise you… who knows!

*There’s also a link at the bottom of the article for a complete spread of images of my place.

** Big thanks to photographer Bethany Nauert!

Photo | Antoine Verglas

D.B. Kim, Associate Principal at PYR, designed this Swan chair for Swarovski as part of The Pink Swan Project to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

His Inspiration:

“My design inspirations are from the patterns of healing power: radiating lines and beautiful rays from the Swarovski crystals. The sensual and organic form of the Swan chair transforms as a perfect canvas for the pattern and crystals. I would like to thank Swarovski team for their support and the opportunity.”

This one-of-a-kind chair will be auctioned to benefit BCRF on charitybuzz.com.

Auction runs October 1–31, 2011.

The May issue of Design Bureau Magazine is on newsstands now, featuring my piece on the “The Black Apartment.”

Brand New Rules

When deciding on a design for her new digs, Cindy Gallop had only two requirements: number one, that when night falls, her apartment feel like a bar in Shanghai; and number two, that her  place be the ultimate bachelorette pad. “I want any guy who walks in through the front door to be a sure thing within two minutes,” she proclaims.

Not exactly surprising requests to those familiar with Gallop, a  25-year advertising vet known for her work with such clients as Coca-Cola, Johnny Walker and Polaroid  during her time as chairman of British ad agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty. Gallop left the corporate world to reinvent herself as a one-woman social networker with sites IfWeRanTheWorld.com and MakeLoveNotPorn.com, the latter of which she launched during her now-infamous  speech at the TED conference, which was laced with acerbic commentary on pornography in modern culture.

Great design starts with who you are, and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.

Gallop’s  brazen attitude and personal mantra of being “un-blackmail-able” is apparent throughout her  home, which has become almost as well-known as she has. Known affectionately as “The Black Apartment,”  the dark-hued space is housed inside the  former New York City YMCA — yes, the one made famous by the song.

“The Black Apartment is great for personal brand positioning, because it’s shorthand for what I’m all about to anyone walking into it,” she says. “People have said they find it a great space for being taken out of their normal business environment, and therefore being encouraged by their surroundings to think more creatively and innovatively. ”

Filled with trinkets and treasures from her travels around the world, the space is as unusual as Gallop herself. Among her favorite items? “Rikki Tikki Tavi, my stuffed fighting mongoose.” But contrary to what one might think, black — the color that permeates every nook and cranny of the space — is not Cindy’s favorite color. “I like red because it’s strong, bold, cheerful and with a Chinese heritage — just like me!”

Text by Sean Yashar www.theculturecreative.com

Photos by Matthew Williams  www.matthewwilliamsphotographer.com

(Above: A never-before-seen Fuse Lighting chandelier makes the showcase house feel more like a treasure hunt.)

It’s that time of the year again, to check out all of the design eye candy at the Pasadena Showcase House. One of the oldest and largest house & garden tours, the showcase is in its 47th year.  This year’s house, a 1927 Paul R. Williams in La Canada, (LAX Theme Building, Beverly Hills Hotel, Saks Beverly Hills) is as important as Los Angeles, historic architecture gets! The show is running through May 15th.

A big thank you to my friend, designer David Dalton, for taking me on a guided tour.  Be sure to check out David’s design of “The Great Room,” which is filled with a healthy dose of oversized glazed floral chintz, a lively palette of geranium red, carnation pink and marigold orange, not to mention textured fresh whites anchoring the color scheme while black lacquer elements lend a certain polish to the décor.  In other words, the fabulousity level in this room is off the charts!

The Vitrine and Specific Merchandise are pleased to announce POP UNDERSHOP, a 4-day presentation of limited editions, handcrafted furniture, and unique works of art made by our favorite artists, designers, and architects.

Fitzroy Gallery Basement, 77 Mercer Street, SOHO

Opening Reception:
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 6-9 PM

POP UNDER SHOP Hours :
Thursday, April 14th – Sunday, April 17th, 11-7 PM.

Featuring work by:
Sarah Crowner
Workstead
Dino Sanchez
Amanda Keeley
Andrew Zarou
Fern
Jamison Carter
Dina Weiss
Yahia Ouled Moussa
Rachel Peloquin
Jason Rosenberg
Denyse Schmidt
Quinnford + Scout
Winter Session
JP Thurlow
Morgan Maclean
Tanya Aguiñiga

POP UNDER SHOP marks the debut of a new edition by Sarah Crowner. She created an original watercolor/collage drawing that was then printed onto 36” square silk charmeuse scarf. Edition size of 100. This is the first limited edition project published by The Vitrine label. Sarah Crowner is a visual artist living in Brooklyn, NY. Her artistic practice is a multi-disciplinary one, moving between painting, sculpture, book making, and textiles. Working with the traditions of the early 20th C, like the Bauhaus, this silk scarf is both a functional, usable item, but also an artwork and part of her ongoing body of work as a contemporary artist. The original watercolor / collage drawing will be on display and the scarves will be offered at a special reduced price for the pop_under.

POP UNDER SHOP will also feature new handcrafted furniture by New York based Jason Roskey and Maggie Goudsmit of Fern; new wall-mounted lighting by Brooklyn architects, Stefanie Brechbuehler and Robert Andrew Highsmith of WORKSTEAD; stackable birch plywood lamps, produced in three sizes and in an edition of 20, by Dino Sanchez; A one of kind quilt by Denyse Schmidt and High-End Handmade Accessories by Rachel Peloquin, Tanya Aguiñiga, Yahia Ouled Moussa and Winter Session. Limited editions will be available by artists Amanda Keeley, Jason Rosenberg, J.P. Thurlow, Quinnford + Scout, Dina Weiss, and Andrew Zarou as well as unique works by Los Angeles artists Jamison Carter, and Morgan Maclean.

The Vitrine is the Paris based online boutique and dream project of Blaire Dessent. Specific Merchandise is the store-front-project-space curated by Brooks Hudson Thomas. Specific is proud to show new work by artists, designers, architects and musicians along with unusual found objects.

Interior and Still Life photographer, Jonn Coolidge, began his career after graduating college with a degree in Graphic Design. After exploring fashion photography, he had a chance opportunity to shoot an interior story that would end up changing the direction of his photography. It was in the world of interior photography that Jonn felt the perfect communion of his skills as a graphic designer and photographer. Today he divides his time between New York and Los Angeles working with such notable clients as Tom Ford, Neiman Marcus, B&B Italia. Gucci Group, Kravet, West Elm and Williams Sonoma Home as well as contributing regularly to such publications as Elle Decor, Veranda, Interior Design and House Beautiful.

Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jonn for another special installment of  “If Design Were…”

SY: If design were an object?

JC: One that combines elements of architecture, sculpture and painting. A Donald Judd Sculpture.

SY: …a song?

JC: The one that inspires me to be creative. It will different tomorrow and on and on.

SY: … a film?

JC: Fellini’s Satrycon. Lush, Decadent, Fantastical, Fragmented artistry.

SY: …a memory?

JC: An ever fleeting one.

SY: …a moment?

JC: The moment I realized I was falling in love.

SY: …an era?

JC: One that has not happened yet. The future is exhilarating.

SY: …a place?

JC: Monument Valley, Utah.  A place where you are humbled and overpowered by the power of nature.

SY: …a Person?

JC: Woody Allen. He combines wit and neuroticism and don’t forget narcissism.

SY: …an animal?

JC: It would be my dogs… Duh!

SY: …a city?

JC: Tokyo.

SY: …a food?

JC: Chocolate. Rich and addictive!

Image | Tim Street-Porter

With his celebrated interiors gracing pages from Architectural Digest to Vogue Living, Jeff Andrews’ designs are stunning achievements in their beauty, comfort and livability. Jeff got his start as an innovative choreographer, but this designer brought his in-demand moves to the interior design world more than a decade ago.

What sets Jeff Andrews apart in the world of design is his natural talent for taking bold design concepts and infusing them with warmth, sophistication, and most importantly, a sense of home. Andrews’ signature style is plush and contemporary with an eclectic mix of modern and quality vintage pieces. His monochromatic palettes are calming to the eye and soothing to the spirit.

Jeff Andrews built his business by word-of-mouth beginning with the home of Eleanor Mondale. This television host and daughter of former Vice President Walter Mondale was inspired by Jeff’s style and asked him to take a crack at interiors. They have since completed four projects over the years. As her homes began to receive recognition among the industry and design enthusiasts, Andrews went on to work for other creative leaders including television & radio personality Ryan Seacrest, actress America Ferrera, actor Michael C. Hall, NBA star Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian, choreographer/director Jamie King (Madonna, Britney Spears), Italian director/choreographer Luca Tommassini (Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams), and the Greenberg family (Skechers footwear).

I had the pleasure of interviewing Jeff Andrews for another special installment of “If Design Were…”

SY: If design were an object?
JA: Then people could buy it directly and my job would be obsolete.

SY: …a food?
JA: My friend Luca’s home made gnocchi. Perfection.

SY: …a moment?
JA: That last ray of light before the sun sets in Maui.

SY: …a memory?
JA: My first trip to Paris.

SY: …a place?
JA: Heaven

SY: …a song?
JA: “A House Is Not A home” Streisand. My first design client Eleanor Mondale used to sing it to me. She still does.

SY: … a film/video?
JA: Casablanca

SY: …an era?
JA: Late 1950’s to mid 60’s. Think Mad Men.

SY: …a person?
JA: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

SY: …an animal?
JA: Zebra

SY: …a city?
JA: Paris