EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

I was interviewed yesterday for House Smarts, a syndicated TV show on home improvement. The topic was French Country style, and it was a pleasure to share my passion for an approach so central to my cultural tradition. The backdrop was a client’s home (thank you so much!) that features many elements of French Country, so it was easy to illustrate the significant design themes. I’ll post a link to the video as soon as it appears.

Located opposite New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, this spacious pre-war apartment is the second Manhattan dwelling designed by Belle Maison for a sophisticated, culturally active couple. The design grew from the floor coverings; hand woven Nepalese, Hamadan and Ushak rugs were chosen, whose color schemes, patterns and textures led to the furnishing choices. The style is contemporary/traditional, mixing comfortable furniture with antiques, framed by an eclectic collection of art. Here’s a quick video tour.

Friends tell me that my pace as a chef is very speedy, but I can’t compete with this video.

one minute Apple pie from Animi on Vimeo.

We worked on a charming house at the New Jersey shore, which included several renovated bathrooms and bedrooms. The result can be seen in this one-minute video, progressing from empty shell to finished room. The tile work in both baths is spectacular, and the rugs, wallpaper and furniture create a luminous environment in harmony with the tranquility of the shore.