Q&A with ‘Young Traditionals’ Suysel & Anne of Tilton Fenwick (Part I of II)

Suysel dePedro Cunningham and Anne Maxwell Foster are the designing duo behind Tilton Fenwick, part of tradhome's "hot list" of 20 Young Traditional Designers to watch in 2011.

Known as the Curators of Chic, these ladies shared the many new and exciting things they're up to this Spring, including where they've recently moved.

GDG: What are some of the top Spring collections that you're most looking forward to seeing?

SC+AF: We are very excited for Christiane Lacroix’s new foray into the home design world with his Arles fabric line for Osborne & Little. We were in Paris in January for the Maison + Objet show and we stayed at Hotel du Petit Moulin, which he decorated in trademark over-the-top Lacroix style. We love his “Vuelta” pattern, which is definitely getting us excited for Spring!  The light-to-dark gradient floral pattern is the perfect melding of Lacroix eclecticism and Osborne & Little whimsy!

GDG: What are you particularly loving this Spring?

SC+AF: Spring air makes us think of outdoor fabrics and we love the subdued collection of outdoor fabric options at Rogers & Goffigon! They have the most beautiful solid colors and small, all-over patterns. We have also been using them for dining chairs and kitchen barstools because they are so chic ... and functionally great for easy cleaning!

GDG: Is there anything else you're excited about?

SC+AF: Our home boutique in the Flatiron District!! While our grand opening date is still to be determined, we’re aiming for this spring and simply can’t wait to open the doors for business and share what we’ve been working on! We are also beyond thrilled for the launch of new online magazine tradhome! We are honored to be a part of the inaugural issue and think the marriage between Traditional Home and Lonny will show a unique perspective in the design world!

Stay tuned to GoDesignGo to hear more about what the ladies of Tilton Fenwick can't wait to do in Spring and what colors they've loved using this year.

Design Loves Art: Collecting Contemporary Design

Mark your calendars for the DDB's upcoming Design Loves Art seminar if you'd like to learn more about collecting contemporary art. Guest speaker Zesty Meyers, Principal of r 29th Century Gallery in New York City shares her knowledge and some of her own contemporary art  for the Collecting Contemporary Design seminar.

The lecture examines the arena of limited edition and one-offs, which has taken a central presence in collecting design. A special review of the DesignMiami fair that brings collectors, design enthusiasts and the most updated materials in contemporary design will follow Zesty's discussion.

The event will take place Thursday, December 15 at 10:30 a.m. in the DDB's Designer's Library on floor 14. For more information, visit the DDB online. RSVP by calling 212-759-2969 or emailing rsvp@ddbuilding.com.

In the News: Scott Frances' MonoVisioN Extends Stay at the DDB

We couldn't be any more excited to announce that Architectural Photographer Scott Frances' exhibit MonoVisioN at the DDB has been extended due to the enormous response since it opened June 21.

Originally open through July 29, MonoVisioN is now open through August 19 before it moves on to the DCOTA. So if you've been on vacation or simply under a rock, click here to read about Scott's phenomenal exhibit.

The 68 large-scale works are on view in Suite 110 on the ground floor of the Annex Building at the DDB, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Barbara Barry's 'Indochine' for Kravet

Fresh from her tour of the Orient, Barbara Barry's Asian-influenced collection Indochine is now available exclusively through Kravet. The Indochine collection consists of fabrics, trimmings, carpet, drapery hardware and wall coverings inspired by the colors, textures and patterns of Asia. To read more, click here.

Event Spotlight: PDC's Design Loves Art Reception

If you're on the West Coast this week, don't miss the PDC's opening reception for Design Loves Art, featuring over 15 new projects and exhibitions by artists, curators, filmmakers and emerging architects.

Led by curator Helen Varola, Design Loves Art series has been recognized in Artforum's Critic Picks for 2010, Interview, Flash Art, The Art Newspaper and the LA Times.

The reception will be held this Thursday, May 26 from 5:00 - 8:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Blue Building. For further program information visit www.pacificdesigncenter.com or contact Helen Varola at www.helenvarola.com.

Q&A with ‘Young Traditionals’ Jayne & Joan of 2Michaels Design (Part II)

We got the chance to chat with Jayne and Joan Michaels of 2Michaels Design, the New York City-Based firm founded by the sisters. Here’s what we learned about the colors and patterns they're expecting to see this Spring.

GDG: What do you recommend we watch for this Spring?

J+J: Aside from the yellow colors that our friend sent us pictures of at the recent Milan Furniture Fair, we're looking forward to a lot of bold, geometric flower patterns.

GDG: Any fun examples of this Winter really getting to you?

J+J: I [Jayne] actually LOVED Winter this year in New York City! Joan and I are Russian so when the weather was bitterly cold, I would simply imagine Joan and I in the Russian movie, Dr. Zhivago. For us, there's nothing more exciting then a good snowstorm!

Stay tuned to GoDesignGo for more of tradhome's top 20 "Hot List" Designers to hear more on what trends you’ll be seeing this Spring.

Save the Date: The Rise of Art Deco & Haute Couture

Are you Art Deco obsessed? If so, don’t miss James Caughman, furniture historian for Baker Furniture, who will share the creative history that began in Paris during the prosperous decades from 1900-1930 at the Pacific Design Center.

Paris was the crucible in the development of modern art and the modern spirit of the times demanded luxury in all facets of life. Art Deco and haute couture both developed and flourished during these critical years, with legacies that still resonate strongly today.

James' lecture will explore Paris and the iconic personalities in design and fashion during this highly creative period.

The event takes place April 21, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 0.1 CEU credits available. Click here to RSVP on Facebook. A reception will immediately follow at Baker Furniture in Suite B525.

Q&A with ‘Young Traditionals’ Suysel & Anne of Tilton Fenwick (Part II of II)

We got the chance to chat with Suysel dePedro Cunningham and Anne Maxwell Foster of Tilton Fenwick to learn what patterns they can't get enough of this Spring.

GDG: What do you recommend we watch for this Spring?

SC+AF: We’re note typically pink people, but with both the long-awaited arrival of spring AND the Pantone color of the year (18-2120 Honeysuckle) we are inspired! We’ve got some pink going on in the decoration of our new office, which we're so excited to reveal! Until then, one of our favorite wallpapers is Perfect Pink. And, speaking of Farrow & Ball, how about their newest paint colors? We love this bold orange. Unlike pink, orange is one of our staples. We just simply can’t wait to use this new hue, “Charlottes Locks.”

GDG: What is the first thing you can wait to do once warm weather sets in?

SC+AF: We love a good pedicure! As decorators, we are constantly finding inspiration anywhere and everywhere. Even a nail polish color can trigger a great idea! We recently had a wall finished in decorative Venetian plaster that was inspired by an Essie nail polish color!

GDG: Any fun examples of this Winter really getting to you?

SC+AF: Our Paris trip in January to Maison + Objet definitely helped shed the winter blues. Even though the weather was just as cold and dreary as New York, it definitely recharged our creative energy. One fun story happened in the middle of January, with the weather bleak, snowy and absolutely frigid. We found great joy from just looking at this new fabric from Oscar de la Renta at Lee Jofa.  When we ordered it for a client’s headboard it was instant happiness!

Q&A with “Young Traditional” Erika Powell of Urban Grace Interiors

As we continue our interviews with trad home's 20 Young Traditionals to watch, Erika Powell and partner Allison Smith of Urban Grace Interiors had some fabulous things for us to look for this Spring.

GDG: What collections or designers are you really looking forward to seeing this Spring?

EP+AS: We can't wait for Charlotte Moss's new book and Thibaut's new collection. What draws us to companies like Thibaut and Schumacher is that they are true to their original, traditional aesthetic foundation, yet aren't afraid to push the envelope to reach a broader spectrum. We most recently worked both Thibaut's Avalon collection and Schumacher's Studio Bon collection into our designs and we loved them both!

GDG: What are some of the first things you're planning on doing once the weather is warmer?

EP+AS: Starting our gardens and being outside! We are blessed to live in such a beautiful area in Florida and it's nice to be able to enjoy it!

GDG: Can you share any fun examples of going stir crazy this Winter even though you're in Florida?

EP+AS: Being that we are in Florida, we don't get any snow and aren't stuck inside as much so our "stir crazy" periods don't last very long! However this Winter when we got stuck in a rut, we would watch funny videos on YouTube. The Miss Teen South Carolina is still our favorite!

Erika (born an identical twin) was born in Norfolk, Virginia but was raised in various parts of the United States. She sees life in details, and her oft-changing hometowns are now reflected in her design style. Erika completed her formal training in New York working for Victoria Hagan at Scalamandre. She started Urban Grace Interiors in 2005 in Florida and has completed residential and commercial projects across the country.

Erika's style is both modern and classic, an ideal "just-right" mix of old and new that is forever timeless. Reluctant to define herself by one certain look or place, one thread runs common throughout all her projects: impeccable attention to details, especially the architectural details of each space. Her obsession over the finest-tuned details shines though in every completed project.

Stay posted to GoDesignGo for more from tradhome’s hot list designers on the many things their excited about this Spring.

Save the Date: Unearthing Beauty: Finding Great Artwork at Affordable Prices

The premise that one has to be rich in order to purchase high quality art is finally put to rest! This is thanks to a lively presentation by Carole Pinto, a private dealer who has recently moved to New York after having lived and worked in Paris for over 20 years.

While living in Paris, Carole discovered astonishing paintings of exquisite quality by 'les Petits Maitres,' or lesser known painters who are gaining a reputation in the United States and whose works are selling well below current prices.

Carole will discuss how these artists fit into the trajectory of the great artistic movements of the late XIXth and XXth century, where their work can be found and who is collecting them. She will illustrate her points with a sampling of paintings and talk about their current market value.

A reception will follow at Ralph Lauren in Suite 404.

The event takes place April 12 at 9:30 a.m. at the DDB's Astra Cafe on floor 14. For speaker information and reservations, please call 212-759-2969.

James Rixner Vignette Moves to Léron

If you didn’t make it to see interior designer James Rixner’s stylish vignette for ASID at the Architectural Digest Home Show last month, don’t fret. It’s now on display at the Léron showroom in the DDB.

The furniture is courtesy of Sherle Wagner, rug by Orley Shabahang, wall sconces by Vaughan, paint courtesy of Farrow & Ball, and bed curtains by IZA Furman.

The vignette also features bed linens from Léron’s Graphique Collection where emphasis is on clean lines and geometric motifs. Its architectural references infuse the collection with sleek, modern sophistication.

Save the Date: The Influence of Graphic Design on Culture with John Van Hamersveld

Join 2011 Stars of Design winner for Graphic Design, John Van Hamersveld for a discussion on the influence of graphic design on today's culture. A legendary designer of symbolic and iconic art throughout his 50 year career, John is an artist and designer known worldwide for his enormous catalog of iconic music industry and pop culture-related images.

The discussion will include an exploration of John's new 150 page book My Art, My Life and an examination of the 50 year collection of John's graphic design works, covering from 1961 to the present day.

John’s album artwork includes such legendary covers as The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour, Jefferson Airplane’s Crown of Creation, The Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street, The Grateful Dead’s Skeletons from the Closet, KISS’s Hotter than Hell, Steve Miller’s The Joker and Fly Like an Eagle, and Blondie’s Eat to the Beat.

All of this impressive work was done before Photoshop was invented.

John will give a talk and tour of his show on April 6 at 11:00 a.m. at the Blue Conference Center in Suite B259 as part of the PDC's ongoing Designer Lecture Series. John's pop-up gallery is in Suite B200. The Designer Lecture Series is free of charge.

Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

In the News: PDC MOCA Houses Rodarte's Mulleavy Sisters' Present First Solo Show

Kate and Laura Mulleavy's "Rodarte: States of Matter" at the MOCA Pacific Design Center hasn't left California, but it has hit the New York Times. The exhibit will be on view at the MOCA PDC through June 5 presenting the sisters’ recent work in fashion and costume design.

"Rodarte: States of Matter" spans two floors at MOCA and includes original ballet costumes from the feature film Black Swan. Installed as a series of interrelated conceptual vignettes, the exhibit portrays garments as charged sculptural objects.

“The idea was, how do you create a show at a place like the MOCA when you have only been in business six years,” Laura Mulleavy told the New York Times. “You can’t do a retrospective or something too large, so then it needs to be something like a case study.”

The Mulleavy's fashion show producer Alexandre de Betak worked with MOCA Associate Curator Rebecca Morse to design the two-floor installation. According to the New York Times, MOCA's space was the perfect venue for the collection, which wouldn't make it to runway or film, but required an intimate, up-close view in order to see the intricacies of the designers' work.

If you're unable to get to MOCA PDC before the exhibit ends June 5, you can pick up the Mulleavy's book Rodarte: Photographs by Catherine Opie and Alec Soth, which is scheduled for upcoming release.

Suzanne Lovell: The Art of Collecting

DDB Design Seminar – Design Loves Art
Tuesday, November 9, 2010, 9:30-10:30 am, Astra Cafe, 14th Floor

Chicago and New York City-based architect and Interior Designer Suzanne Lovell, principal of Suzanne Lovell, Inc shares her knowledge of collecting and how to artfully integrate your collections into your home design. A passionate collector of everything from antique hand woven textiles and baskets to contemporary photography and crafts, Suzanne will be speaking about the integration of art and personal collections into the elegant and timeless environments that she designs for her clients. With a focus on her intense passion for collecting and how from that she helps and inspires her clients to develop wonderful collections of their own, she will be presenting several recent projects.

Reception to follow at Holland & Sherry, Suite 1402

For speaker information and reservations please call 212-759-2969 or visit www.ddbuilding.com

Counter Culture, Counter Cinema: an avant-garde film festival

Ken Jacobs, Charles S. Cohen, MM Serra, Carolee Schneemann, Jonas Mekas, Jeffrey Deitch and David E. James attend the opening of Counter Culture, Counter Cinema: an avant-garde film festival at the SilverScreen Theater in Pacific Design Center on Thursday, October 14. This landmark festival covers the half-century from the early 1960s to the present, featuring films and videos that explore sexuality, politics, communal experiments, and transgressive appropriations. Co-curated by David E. James and MM Serra, the festival is comprised of films selected from the collection of the New American Cinema Group/New York’s Film-Makers’ Cooperative.

In Good Company. VERANDA'S Editor-in-Chief and Celebrated Panelists Discuss "The Value of Quality" @ D&D's Fall Market

An amazing audience of 130 people came together this past Wednesday to kick off the D&D's Fall Market with an engaging panel discussion: exploring the especially relevant topic of "The Value of Quality." Moderated by the highly esteemed and delightful Dara Caponigro, the new Editor-in-Chief of VERANDA, panelists Meg Touborg, Richard Mishaan and Victoria Hagen discussed the importance of authenticity, craftsmanship, quality and the eco-smart perspective that accompanies investing in timeless design. Thank you to Dara and our panelists for an engaging and enlightening morning keynote.
(Photo Credit: Carla Popolillo. L-R: Victoria Hagen, Richard Mishaan, Dara Caponigro, Meg Touborg)

Some design is never out of date…..

Some design is never out of date…..new students at NYSID are just starting to learn the basics of the Greek and Roman classical orders. They really get caught up in the idea of recognizing Ionic and Corinthian columns, caryatids and gargoyles, on the buildings they walk by and never looked at closely before.

How many of us are too busy to stop and look carefully at what’s around us? In New York or anywhere else, notwithstanding the bad design we gripe about, there’s plenty to admire if we take the time for a closer look.

The Metropolitan Museum isn’t looking its best these days, with all the restoration going on. Same for the Public Library. But landmarks like these, Grand Central Station and others remind us just how beautiful historicist design and architecture are, even in this 21^st-century-modern world.

Judith Gura

KiptonArt Rising

Interior Designers & KiptonART

“As an interior designer it is important to have access to a variety of styles with a consistent level of the highest qualities. KiptonART provides a multitude of mediums, from a vast registry of emerging artists and prices fitting the client’s expectations, perfectly.  KiptonART oversees the entire art advising process, gathering proposed work, directly dealing with the artists, and, if needed, supplying shipping and installation options.“ – John Willey, Willey Design LLC

For the past five years, KiptonART has worked with a multitude of interior design firms providing ideal decorative and fine art works for clients.  Involved in every step, KiptonART assists designers to seek out the perfect artworks for projects. Our professional team:

• Provides free art-advising services


• Produces a personal curatorial plan of artwork to suit the client’s needs


• Works directly with our extensive artist registry to seek out the best options quickly


• Measures wall space


• Manages framing and shipping


• Professionally installs the art on site

Contact info@kiptonart.com for further details.

MEDIA ALERT: COHEN DESIGN CENTER TO HOST KIPTONART FOR DEBUT OF 20 KIPTONART 2011 RISING FINALISTS

On October 5, 2010, KiptonART is launching its 2011 Rising Art Program at the Cohen Design Center’s Decorative & Design Building in New York City.  Twenty Rising Finalists will be on display for the month, kicking off Market Week in the ground level Andrew Martin showroom.  After which, the finalists will be exhibited around the country at the other three Cohen Design Centers in Miami(November 2010), Los Angeles (March 2011) and Houston (April 2011).   KiptonART is thrilled to be exhibiting with such an established company within the design industry!

Click here for more details

KiptonART at the D&D Building

Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 6:00-8:00pm
Andrew Martin Showroom
222 East 59th Street
RSVP: www.kiptonart.com/events/october5

D&D FALL MARKET October 6 & 7, 2010

Consuming Passions. In art, architecture, design... lifestyle. Consumer's choices in the industry of luxury comes from a variety of inspirations and origins. Trace the trends and learn how to read your clientís passions with our keynotes' media insight. View the new fall introductions in our open houses and showroom programs. Fall Market at the D&D will show you all you need to participate and prosper.

For a Full Schedule of Events and Programs visit www.DDBuilding.com