At this Market there were more fake books than usual. And they were unusually attractive. Still, I’ve rarely used this type of accessory, no matter how attractive (and reasonably priced). I’m too much of a reader and book lover, I suppose, to fill an entire bookcase with beautifully bound volumes of empty pages. Far better to go antiquing and find a bargain in a genuine set of old books that have retained their quality binding. They don’t have to be first editions or famous authors, just as long as they are real books with a real history.
Archive for April, 2010
You Can’t Judge a Book by It’s Cover
A Sofa for all Sizes
I can be very comfortable on a sofa my husband finds too short. Conversely, if my husband is comfortable I sometimes find myself with legs dangling. Of course many sofas have a happy medium but another option is this contemporary design, which allows you to easily change the rear cushion height. Each section’s cushion can be changed, and the sofa looks good with any combination of heights. And if you’re lounging, the chaise at either end is the ultimate couch potato’s friend, for TV viewing or snoozing.
Tiracath Cake
This is an interesting and, according to my guests last weekend, delicious variation on Tiramisu. Crush a package of Pepperidge Farm Bordeaux cookies into a powder and blend with 1 soupspoon of melted butter. Pour into a 15-inch round openable cake mold and tamp down. Then add 2 teaspoons of un-flavored gelatin to 2 tablespoons of cold water and let sit. In another dish combine 6¾ oz of light cream with 2½ oz of sugar, beat like eggs and add 4¼ oz of mascarpone. Mix well and keep on the side. Now put 3¼ oz of milk in a pan with a vanilla bean and add the gelatin mix. Bring to a boil and let cool. Take out the vanilla bean, slit to remove the grains and insert them back into the mix. Now add the vanilla mixture to the cream and pour over the crushed cookie powder. Put in fridge. Next warm 6¾ oz of light cream, add 2¼ oz of dark (70%) chocolate plus another gelatin/water mixture as above, blend until smooth and pour over the cream mixture. Keep in the fridge overnight. Delicately remove from mold and serve. The result is irresistible-or so I’ve been told on good authority!
For the Tennis Player Who has Everything
If I knew a client was mad about tennis (like my son, who owns a substantial collection of old racquets), I might consider placing these three-foot long tennis racquets. They’re well made and decorative and would look nice on the right wall. In fact, the right wall might be in my son and daughter-in-law’s apartment! A cool birthday present, perhaps.
Market Posture
This is what I do at Market: I walk the boundless showrooms and try out the merchandise. In the case of chairs, beds and sofas it means a lot of sitting. I’m rather small so I have my husband sit as well, and between us we rate the pieces for comfort. There are a variety of factors involved, from depth to height, frame construction to cushion stuffing. Quality manufacturers make comfortable, durable furniture, and I owe it to clients to choose pieces that not only look good but feel good and are built to last. So I am constantly bobbing up and down in the showrooms, checking out the feel good factor.
A Bag to Remember
Choosing the right bag to lug around at Market is crucial. It needs to be able to carry the many brochures and samples I pick up in my meanderings, be lightweight and not too bulky. This bag worked perfectly, in addition to looking great. What I wasn’t prepared for was the attention it received. Wherever I went my bag was the star attraction. Exhibitors and buyers went out of their way to complement the basic design, fabric and colors. For the record a client of mine, Donna Dixon, produces the bag through her company Paradise Bags.
Bird House Wine Rack
Last month I wrote about a farm I’d love to renovate in France that included a large birdhouse. Here’s a more conventionally sized birdhouse I saw at Market that has been converted into a charming wine rack. I’ve seen many ways to store wine, but this has to be one of the most imaginative.
The Dinner Party/Poker Table
For the couple who want to impress both their poker playing friends and dinner party guests, this table I saw at Market opens two ways: hinged pieces enlarge the table for dining or gaming. Or conceivably both dining and gaming at the same time, which might get confusing, as well as messy. Perhaps not a best-seller, but definitely a winner in the novelty department.
When You Have to See It In Person
Photographs have their limitations, one of which is choosing wood finishes. When I go to Market it gives me the essential ability to see in person all the colors and textures of the wood finishes offered by a manufacturer. Recently I was considering a desk that looked great in the catalog; in person the finish was entirely different, and I decided to pass.
Spotted at Market: Cherub Ready for AARP
Usually cherubs are cute and cuddly, but this garden sculpture looks like he’s ready for assisted living. In addition to carrying even more weight than your average cherub, his glum expression and jowly face remind me of a particularly well-coiffed Sunbelt retiree.
