Say you have a lot of watches, in fact you have a bit of a watch fetish. This decorative box is designed for you. Inside the box are little pockets for each watch behind the nine round porthole-like windows. There is a security system that opens the front of the box to allow entry. So you can display your collection for friends and family while limiting access. Even if your watches aren’t all made by Rolex it’s still a cool way to store and display them.
Among the firms featured at the Maison France show in Manhattan recently was Lapparra, a silversmith of unsurpassed elegance. Yes, these pieces all belong on a dining table, but it’s hard to imagine actually getting them soiled with food. Where they truly belong is in a display case, to look at and admire the design and craftsmanship that went into their creation. I had a long talk with the owner, a former architect who bought the firm recently because he shares the passion of the Lapparra artisans for work of the highest quality.
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.
I was puttering around the New York Gift Show when I came upon this stunning Bulgarian pottery. They are reproductions of designs that go back to the twelfth century, though the Bulgarians draw their inspiration from even further back than that, to the Greek Gods of antiquity. I’ve rarely seen glaze and pigment as vibrant and rich. The pieces are hand-formed by men out of red clay but the designs are created and applied by women. Doesn’t surprise me. In addition to plates the pottery pieces include wine vessels, vases and cooking implements. They also produce exquisite handmade woolen blankets. I’ve ordered some plates and am looking forward to introducing clients to this vivid, graphically intricate pottery.
When I’m in the final stages of a project, finding the right bed and bath accessories can be a difficult and time consuming process. The retail shops never seem to have the colors I need and the collections are never complete. So I’m very excited about finding a supplier with the highest quality goods. I can now order exactly what I need in sheets and towels in every size and color. It definitely makes my life easier. If you find this kind of shopping as frustrating as I do, it might make sense for you to call or come by to find out how to take advantage of what I think are super bed and bath products.
Fichus trees are beautiful, but they are constantly shedding their leaves and sometimes they can inexplicably die. The finest silk (a better word than fake) versions of Fichus can be just as beautiful, need absolutely no upkeep and last virtually forever. Orchids are notoriously hard to grow and maintain, while the silk versions are maintenance free. One client was overjoyed with her beautiful planters and healthy plants until they did what all living things do. She’s very happy with the silk substitutes. The truth is that the best silk plants and flowers are very tough to identify compared with their living counterparts, even side by side. My house cleaner was watering my silk Fichus–which I keep among living plants in my sun room–for months until I informed her that it was doing nothing but creating a damp spot under the planter. I filled the window boxes at our shop with silk poinsettia plants during the winter, giving some much needed color to the grey, cold season. So don’t turn your nose up at silk greenery; with the right planter it can be even better than the real thing.
This kitchen in a remodeled empty nesters’ home in Maplewood has all the best appliances and amenities, but this photo shows the other side of the kitchen. You can see the whimsical chandelier with decorative grapes and leaves, reminiscent of the south of France or Tuscany; an oversize clock that even the most short sighted cook can use to time recipes; granite covering all the counter surfaces, and a display cabinet with a charming pitcher collection. Removing the door at the right entrance and replacing the one on the left with a glass-paned unit has imparted a light, airy feel to this comfortable and cozy space.
In addition to creating pear tarts, I also like to collect pears. On my mantel you’ll find antique pears in wood, alabaster, ceramic, and porcelain, in a variety of colors and sizes. The shape is so expressive and universal, so basic to the natural world.
Looking through my lamp collection I assembled this group photo, featuring a variety of styles. We always like to keep lamps in stock because clients want to see them in the flesh rather than catalogs and they usually take a long time to order. So here is a representative sampling of my current stock, guaranteed to fit almost any need. Please let us know if any of them strikes your fancy.
One of the joys of traveling for me is discovering interesting antique shops. If you enjoy rummaging through antique markets it’s fun to develop a specialty. I started collecting writing boxes many years ago, but quickly found that I didn’t have the space to display them properly, so I moved on to miniature pill boxes, snuff boxes and other cases no more than an inch or two in diameter. The good news is that they take up little space, and when arranged in groups are very decorative. Several tables in my living room house my collection. Miniature cups and saucers or thimbles make equally interesting collections that can be displayed conveniently.
