OUTDOOR SUMMER IN THE CITY
Blog 3 | June 2018
My love of gardens and terraces stems from my parents. My mother was an avid rose gardener and my father’s adoration of historic homes and gardens, as well as national parks, was the beginning of my appreciation for all things natural. My dad was in the military and we moved quite often. With each move we would take a different route to explore national treasurers such as Winterthur, Monticello, Hearst Castle and Zion National Park, among many others. When I began traveling internationally as an adult, all of the memories etched in my mind were/are of architecture and gardens, whether a naturalistic garden in Normandy; the incredible tropical garden at the Jim Thompson House in Thailand; or a personal garden that provided me with great joy in creating, and tending to, at one of my first homes located in Dutchess County, New York. Thus, the inspiration for two of my favorite NYC terrace projects that follow.
Moore Design West 12th Terrace, NYC
A wonderful project which was a beautiful collaboration between our client and the exceptional skill of Todd Haiman at Todd Haiman Landscape Design. This completely unique farm to table urban terrace is a template for the evolvement and future of outdoor design.
Moore Design Upper West Side Terrace, NYC
A fabulous collaboration which displays the amazing talent and taste level of Evan C. Lai Landscape Design, Inc., the concept for this Manhattan terrace is a dedication to spiritualism via its various interpretations and integrations of natural light and water.
Happy summer!
SPRING SHOWERS (& BATHS!)
Blog 2 | April 2018
Fact: we spend a lot of time in our bathrooms. Once the morning alarm sounds we bound out of bed and head straight for the shower, then it’s time for hair care/skin care/grooming, followed by the finishing touches, whether makeup, a splash of cologne or a spritz of perfume. After work and at bedtime the routines vary a bit but you get the picture. Weekends? That’s another story entirely where lolling about in bathroom luxury is often the personal pampering we need after a week’s worth of work. All stated, our bathrooms are rooms we use more than think about. And in my opinion that’s why this utilitarian space should be an all-out oasis every time you enter. From one that screams sleek minimalism, to another that whispers warm enclave, think stylish showers, tubs you never want to leave, and vanities that are lit-to-perfection works of art.
Moore Design Upper West Side Penthouse Powder Room & Master Bath
For the ultimate in a luxurious “man cave” powder room, the materiality of this is total luxe. We used cerused chocolate panels inset with polished nickel and leather. The sconces are fabricated out of ribbed glass, with interlocking bronze squares above a polished nickel hammered sink...eminently inviting for men and women alike. And when a spa master bath is in order, one that looks onto the Manhattan skyline is what we would refer to as the 'ultimate'. The steam shower with an overscale square rain shower, is complemented with a soaking tub all encased in slabs of statuary.
NYC Residence & Greenwich Residence Master Baths
For this uber chic, clean bathroom, it's all about the slab which is Dolomite Stone from the Dolomite Mountains in northern Italy. It gives a fresh sense of being to one’s elegant spa/bath. And for the juxtaposition of an industrial loft space meets contemporary living, Glassos tile is used along with the accent of OBO from Ann Sacks. The oval bath is the perfect oasis for a serene soaking, simply slip off that bathrobe and you’re instantly in heaven.
And last but certainly not least, Sherle Wagner is one of my absolute favorite resources for bathroom fixtures. Founded in 1945 for the purpose of offering extraordinary bathroom accents, accessories and hardware, Mr. Wagner was an architect by training and recognized that the utilitarian does not have to be mundane. He thus elevated often-overlooked bath elements to an elegance not previously found on the market.
Mr. Wagner continued his strong appreciation for art and architecture throughout his life. His finely trained and sensitive eye established the foundation for the company’s exquisite esthetic, which is now synonymous with the finest in taste and craftsmanship. Decades later it’s as timely now as ever with a beautiful, broad collection, meticulously fabricated in small batches using old-world techniques.
Until next time!
PURPLE REIGN
Blog 1 | Spring 2018
Last December when Pantone LLC, the ‘world-renowned authority on color and provider of color systems and leading technology for the selection and accurate communication of color across a variety of industries’, announced Ultra Violet 18-3838 as its 2018 color of the year there were mixed reactions, from all sectors of the design industry to the media. As Pantone put it, “Complex and contemplative, Ultra Violet suggests the mysteries of the cosmos, the intrigue of what lies ahead, and the discoveries beyond where we are now. The vast and limitless night sky is symbolic of what is possible and continues to inspire the desire to pursue a world beyond our own.”
Others were somewhat more skeptical. They saw it as an indicator of the perilous world and times in which we live, a dark, foreboding color that is intense and sometimes a bit scary. And as things have progressed these first two months of 2018, it wouldn’t be too unheard of to think those descriptors are apt. However, I’m going to go with the school of optimism here and praise the unabashed vividness of Ultra Violet (and purple in general) as it applies to interior design. After all, as an industry that embraces and employs color for everything from wall coverings to the most intricate accent, why not herald this bold hue and celebrate its uniqueness?
First of all, let me state that I love color and am not afraid to experiment with it and I never have been. While my signature style is of sophistication with a hint of restraint, I don’t hold back when it comes to color in the grand scheme of things, whether as an all-over effect, or one tiny detail. One of the most no-hold-barred, mix it up, make it pop, colorful (and fun!) projects was my 2011 House Beautiful Designer Visions Showcase featuring an Edie Sedgwick-inspired ‘Warhol Factory Girl’ apartment design. Yet is was Edie grown up and married, living in an apartment with a midcentury modern vibe. Violet/purple standouts in that apartment were the spectacular jeweled lamps in the master bedroom with purple shades that are reminiscent of earrings; a beautiful throw on the master bed; deep purple in the window treatments; and purple accents on the headboard of her daughter 'Little Edie's' bed.
One of my favorite contemporary artists who’s certainly not afraid of color is the wonderful James Nares, represented by the Paul Kasmin Gallery in NYC. His method of using a unique paintbrush of his own design, he creates his paintings with a single brushstroke, which results in incredibly fluid, abstract art. Much of his artwork, which he paints hanging upside down from a ceiling, is incredible and utterly mesmerizing especially when you consider the technique, and deserve a shout out with regard to Pantone’s 2018 color of the year. Case in point, Before the Rain, 2015 pictured here.
Finally, what’s any wonderful interior design element without a bit of nature integrated into an indoor space? That’s where one of my favorite flowering plants comes into play: hyacinths. Hyacinths are an outstanding spring flower that originally hailed from the Mediterranean, Iran and Turkmenistan, and are now grown mainly in Holland. Yet they’re abundant all over America, and they never cease to enchant me with their beauty, color and most of all, amazing aroma. Wonderfully for all of us, they are one of the most popular bulbs for the indoors, lending an air (literally) of beauty and refinement. And at the end of the day, can you imagine anything more exhilarating than an ultra violet hyacinth?
See you next blog!