Christo and Jeanne-Claude

“The project is about direction,” said Christo. “I was impressed by the fact that some people who worked or lived on one of the islands were not able to move in other ways if not through boats. I wanted to give them the chance to walk.” WSJ

From June 18 to July 3, Northern Italy's Lake Iseo has been reimagined by Christo and Jeanne-Claude with a floating dock covered in vibrant yellow fabric. Conceived by the couple in 1970, The Floating Piers project is the first large-scale artwork since The Gates project back in 2005. Check out news coverage from the Telegraph to the Wall Street Journal, to DesignBoom. Enjoy!

Wellness

It's summer and missing the exotic flavors of Thailand. A recent trip to Bangkok enjoyed the city with friends and some well-spent time at the beach in Pattaya. It was good to unplug, read books and stare at sunsets. It was a get-a-way to recharge. Thinking about my own work-in-progress at "wellness" I thought I would share some discovered resources. It's on-going for me, to recover lost "energy", so I have looked into and tried different cleanses. I've enjoyed Be Well Cleanse by Dr. Frank Lipman, David Kirshner's A.M. Daily Detox, and Pressed Juicery Cleanses. All have helped over the years to improve my diet and in particular curb sugar cravings. The cleanses also helped me take a (long) break from coffee. Love coffee, but too much. Drinking tea these days and I like getting my leaves from Arbor Teas. Since doing the cleanses I have been into alkalizing greens with WelleCo's Super Elixir to "help maintain your body maintain good nutrition and its pH balance." My wellness wandering also includes more meditation and yoga time. I like my neighborhood yoga studio Yogaraj where all the teachers are great, and the studio is zen with natural lighting and no mirrors. Meditating on regular basis has been a challenge. I've had this meditation app Headspace for a while now and slowly I've been getting better at using it daily. For "healthy" news I came across and subscribed to this lifestyle newsletter Well+Good. With each day, embracing the wellness lifestyle!

Salone del Mobile / Milan Design Fair 2016

Milan's Salone del Mobile is a yearly design event (April 12-17) that showcases creativity and innovations from everyone from everywhere. Reports are in and it looks like 2016 was a fantastic show! The product in most reviews was Patricia Urquiola's beautiful glass credenza (pictured above).  The New York Times wrote that it was "inspired by the artist Gerhard Richter's stained-glass windows for the Cologne Cathedral."

Ren Collection by Neri&Hu for Poltrona Frau / photo Port Magazine

Neri&Hu's design (picture above) was highlighted in a review from Port Magazine. It looks great, refined and yet practical (meant for an entryway but I could also see it in a bathroom).  If you're interested in checking out more from Milan check out cool photos at Yellowtrace and a short video at Monocle. Enjoy!

Glass Bricks

Amazing architectural transparency! Dezeen featured two different projects using glass bricks. First the Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura. Located on a busy street the house encompasses a private courtyard. The highly transparent bricks made with borosilicate, a raw material for optical glass, let in light while keeping city sounds out. Second is the Chanel boutique in Amsterdam by MVRDV. The design used glass bricks in the traditional style to add transparency to the facade. The bricks were made in Venice and bonded with super glue from Germany. Fantastic achievements!

Cement Tiles

Love Cement Tiles! You'll see them used in bathrooms, kitchens, fireplace surrounds, and in/outdoor flooring. There are plenty of beautiful examples on Pinterest. I've used cement tiles in bathrooms, mudrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. When you're looking around you may hear the words "encaustic" or "cement" tiles, two terms for two different products.

Encaustic tiles (or inlaid tiles) are clay based, using different colors of clay that are inlaid into a mold, fired and glazed. The term "encaustic" is loosely borrowed from enamel painting process which includes adding pigments to heated beeswax, making an "encaustic" waxy paste that is applied to a surface using different tools before it cools.

Cement tiles are made with "concrete" a mixture of Portland cement, sand, and water. Pigmented minerals are mixed into the concrete to make colors and then poured into a mold. Instead of being fired, the tile is hydraulically pressed and left to cure for several weeks and no glaze is added. However for "slip-resistance" in bathroom applications, after installation, a penetrating sealer is applied.

Here are my favorite sources for Cement Tiles:

• Exquisite Surfaces
• Granada Tile
• Waterworks

Vogue Italia

A calendar with photos by Tim Walker was included in Vogue Italia's December 2015 issue and this picture is for April. I think it's perfect. Pink castle, paintings and a white pony!

JK Place

Beautiful time spent yesterday at JK Place Malibu.  Read a post at Habitually Chic about "JK Place Malibu" event for one week only. In attendance were the best chefs and makers from JK Place Roma, Capri and Firenze. The party offered culinary delights like a ginger spritz, homemade pizza, burrata and wine from Venice (Venissa). Room fragrances provided by Dr Paolo Vranjes set the ambience for the evening. A delightful event and happy to have been a part of it all.

Hardware

Monday's Top 6 Cabinet Knobs Edit:

1. The Golden Lion Reed Knob
2. Sun Valley Bronze Cabinet Knob
3. Schoolhouse Electric Radcliffe Knob
4. Waterworks Camden Knob
5. House of Antique Hardware Hexagon Knob
6. Restoration Hardware Duluth Knob

Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball paints are rich in pigments and made with natural materials all mixed together using traditional methods. Great paint and colors that set the mood for any interior. Look forward to using Cromarty "swirling mists" / Peignoir "hazy grey-pink" / Vardo "vibrant gypsy" paint colors (images above). Check out the rest of the New Colors for 2016! There is also two videos on Editor at Large (Part 1 / Part 2) where F&B invited designers to have a first look at the new colors at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

Maison Objet 2016

A positive outcome for this January's Maison Objet bi-annual professional lifestyle event in Paris that focuses on decoration, design, furniture, accessories, textiles, fragrances, tableware and much more. I enjoyed editorial recaps from Dering Hall, DPAGES and MyDomaine. Check them out!

Dering Hall's review by Emilio Pimentel-Reid focused on six trends: tropical flair, feminine colors, metallics, graphics, intergalactic influences, and timelessness. I'm attracted to the metal screen by Dante.

Dering Hall (photo Stacey Bewkes) / Dante Minima Moralia

DPAGES shares their top favorite finds. I'm digging the primary shapes of this hand-blown, cut and polished crystal tray by Moser.

DPAGES / Moser Geometric 3279 Tray

MyDomaine also shared their inspiring finds from the show. Eyeing Studio Lindholdt's functional lamp in a sophisticated fresh color.

MyDomaine / Studio Lindholdt Petite Machine Lamp

Monkey Motif

The french word for "monkey motif" is Singerie and was introduced into the decorative arts realm around the 17th century. Today is the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Year of the Monkey! A year of innovations and maybe a little mischief :D.

Top Edit

1. Ceramic Figure of Monkey
2. Brass Monkey Figurine Bottle Opener
3. White Ceramic Monkey Lamps
4. Sitting Monkey
5. Bojesen Monkey
6. Bronze & Cloisonne Monkeys
7. Cork Screw Monkey
8. Jeff Koons Monkey Train

Houzz 2016

Awarded a Best of Houzz Badge. Of the 4+ million home improvement professionals on Houzz, only 3% are awarded a Best of Houzz Badge. Totally stoked!

Hardware

Monday's Top 6 Cabinet Pulls Edit:

1. The Golden Lion Brass Ring Pull
2. Waterworks Cushing Pull
3. Schoolhouse Electric Greenwood Pull
4. Sun Valley Bronze Edge Mount Pull
5. House of Antique Hardware Chippendale Rosette Pull
6. Restoration Hardware Gilmore Pull

David Bowie Jan 1947 - Jan 2016

Sad to hear today David Bowie passed away. Wanted to share our favorite album Young Americans. Some years back, after a hospital stay, my husband put on this album when we got home and listened to Young Americans. He sang along which was amazing considering he was weak and rarely spoke during his stay. The divine power of music. We are grateful to David Bowie. 

2 0 1 6 | M M X V I

FIRST DAY of the New Year!

Above, I used Pantone Colors 2016 Serenity and Rose Quartz. 

Imagining a stellar year ahead. XOYY

Denise Scott Brown & Robert Venturi

Read the news this week via Archinect News that Denise Scott Brown and Robert Venturi were recipients of the 2016 AIA (American Institute of Architects) Gold Medal. Wonderful news! I pulled out my copy of My Mother's House, a book that inspired my studies during graduate school. The book documented the evolution of the house through study plans and models as well as sharing design references. CNN also did a good write-up, and there's a cool photo of Brown in Vegas. 

Maison de Luxe 2015

Maison de Luxe Designer Showhouse 2015 presented by Luxe Interiors + Design at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills was fantastic! Spent a beautiful morning at Greystone and checked out some wonderful rooms. My eye caught a particular theme of patterns and textures. The Reception Hall by Oliver M. Furth with its artsy vibe, the ceiling treatment was a woven pattern in painted wood. The Grand Hallway by Amy Meier introduced you to smooth cubes (Lori Cozen-Geller) that reflected the mural wallpaper and original mouldings. The Butcher's Kitchen by Brit Kleinman's added warm luxury to a functional space with hand painted soft leather tiles in a vibrant blue color and delicate pattern. Mrs. Doheny's Bedroom by Beth Webb, the surprise texture and pattern of a pony hair rug, in a thoughtfully appointed interior, added an elegant modern statement. Check out more images on Instagram tagged #mdl2015. Enjoy!