Airstream Penthouse Trailer Park - The Grand Daddy Hotel - Cape Town, South Africa

The world is looking to South Africa with the soccer World Cup happening right now. Even though I am not there in person, but in sunny suburban New York, I am fascinated by this Airstream Penthouse Trailer Park that functions as a hotel located in Cape Town. Seven of the iconic American Airstreams made their way to the Penthouse terrace of "The Grand Daddy" hotel and every single one has been decorated by a very creative Capetonian. I love the design and eclectic feel of this place and looking at all the pics, I want to pack my bags and head straight to South Africa. Hopefully one day...

Le Labo - Fragrance Lab

A friend introduced me to Le Labo and we made the trek to the fragrance lab on Elizabeth Street in Nolita (New York).  The Le Labo boutique looked like a very stylish lab and I was instantly impressed by their perfumes. Exquisite perfumes that are hand mixed and filled into bottles that are customized. This is not any old perfume counter, but a place where perfume is made and sold the way it should be. High quality perfumes created to be as individual as the person wearing it. Le Labo fragrance labs can be found all over the US and Europe and you can also purchase it online. If you are in the area, visit one of their stores, you will instanly fall in love and take home a personalized perfume that will garner you many compliments.

233 Elizabeth Street

New York, NY 10012

(212) 219-2230

lelabofragrances.com

Books as Art

Books can create artful installations in one's decor and I had to share this image of this very artsy library wall. I have never seen anything like this and really like this. Very avant-garde.

The Selby for Louis Vuitton

If you have been following my blog, you may have noticed that I have a huge admiration for The Selby. Love his work and love, love, love his new campaign for Louis Vuitton.  The campaign is called "The Journey of a man's wardrobe" and takes you around the world "The Selby" style. Take a look here!

http://press.louisvuitton.com/TheJourneyOfaWardrobe/

Design at MoMA

I have to admit that I badly neglected my blog over the past couple of weeks. I started a great new job in the design world and have been so busy with the training that I didn't devote much time for anything else.  But I am back and get ready for more posts soon.  I made my way to MoMA though, taking a look at their current design installation and I am sharing my images with you.  I am familiar with the Modern's design collection and was rather disappointed in their installation. It is a small space and the collection does not follow much of a time line.  The signage is very difficult to read or non existent and everything seems to be cluttered together.  I really enjoyed  viewing the design collection at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich and have to say that showing the works in a larger space in chronological order makes much more sense.  Nonetheless, the works are spectacular. 

 

 

May in New York City

I love the energy of May in New York.  The weather is starting to get summery and almost everybody is still in town before the "unofficial" summer starts at Memorial Day and people start to get away every weekend.  A lot is going on now and if you love art and design as much as I do, May is the perfect month.  The Post-War and Contemporary Art auctions at the big houses are less than two weeks away and the art market is eagerly waiting on how these auctions will fare.  I am hoping to make it to Christie's to take in a preview of the works up for auction and I will post some of my favorites below.  I also can't wait for ICFF, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, which is also only two weeks away. A lot of the museums have opened new exhibits, the Farmer's market is going full force and life is beautiful. Throughout May I will post some of my favorite happenings this months and I am off to read the Design magazine that is part of the New York Times today and I need to fill out my paperwork for my summer CSA. 

Andy Warhol (1928-1987)

Multicolored Retrospective Painting (Reversal Series)

signed, titled and dated 'Andy Warhol 79 multicolored retrospective reversal series' (on the overlap)

acrylic and silkscreen inks on canvas

50½ x 64 1/8 in. (128.2 x 162.8 cm.)

Painted in 1979.

Jasper Johns (b. 1930)

Flag

signed 'Johns' (on the underside); signed again and dated 'J. Johns 1960-'66' (on the reverse)

encaustic and printed paper collage on paper laid down on canvas

17½ x 26¾ in. (44.5 x 67.9 cm.)

Painted in 1960-1966.

Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997)

Two Apples

signed and dated 'rf Lichtenstein '72' (on the reverse)

oil and magna on canvas

20¼ x 24 in. (51.4 x 60.9 cm.)

Painted in 1972.

John Graham (1881-1961)

Circus Horse

signed and dated 'GRAHAM XXXXII' (upper left)

oil on canvas

20 x 24 in. (50.8 x 60.9 cm.)

Painted in 1942.

Conrad Marca-Relli (1913-2000)

Summer Noon J-L-20

signed 'MARCA-RELLI' (lower right); signed again, titled and dated 'MARCA-RELLI J-L-20-68 'SUMMER NOON' (on the reverse)

oil, canvas and burlap collage on canvas

53 x 72 in. (134.6 x 182.8 cm.)

Executed in 1968.

Eva Hesse (1936-1970)

Untitled
gouache, ink and paper collage on cut-out paper
5½ x 3¼ in. (13.9 x 8.2 cm.)
Executed in 1965.

All images courtesy of http://www.christies.com/

 

Living Walls - Green Living

The LA Times featured an interesting article on "Living Walls" in Venice, California.  I love the idea of a manmade green wall, for aesthetic reasons and even more for green reasons.  Bringing green into the cities is a big part of sustainable living and with the space issues in many big cities, walls and roof tops are now more and more creatively used. Below are a few pictures of manmade walls and walls that had decades to develop their green "patina". I hope to see much more of that and I am also excited that many roof tops are now being used to grow food.