Friday, May 15, 2015

FLOWER POWER BABY

Nothing is so sublime as a flower. This week's design board is inspired by the Flower trend in fashion. Although I don't think florals should be called a "trend" any longer, as colorful blossoms continue to pop up in fashion year after year, they can very well be called a "classic" instead. There's always a new incarnation of floral patterns and this year it's BIG and it's BOLD any they come in all shapes and sizes.





Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2015

Thom Brown Spring 2015

Michael Kors Spring 2015

Valentino Spring 2015

Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2015

Christian Dior Spring 2015

Marni Spring 2015

Chanel Spring 2015

Celine Spring 2015


Have a lovely weekend, Ciao

xo,
Emi




Tuesday, May 12, 2015

HOUSE TOUR TUESDAY - ETHEREAL BEAUTY IN THE SKY




This week we tour the home of art and design collectors, Andrew and Françoise Skurman. Françoise and Andrew Skurman live in an ethereal apartment high above Nob Hill. They are dedicated collectors, constantly on the hunt for provocative contemporary art, experimental furniture, and artist-designed conceptual furniture. A pure white background shows their large abstract paintings, modern furniture and antiques in full force. 

"When I was growing up in Paris, I dreamed of designing a chic white and silver apartment," said sculptor Françoise Skurman. "Now I'm living my fantasy in San Francisco. It's all about beauty and the luminous white interior."

The Skurmans are constantly editing and energizing their collections, adding depth with dramatic new pieces. They live with their collections, savoring and appraising them and studying them every day.

"I don't buy for 'investment', I buy for the love of the object," said Andrew Skurman. Living with the work of avant-garde and accomplished designers and artists is very satisfying and fulfilling, he said.

"Our apartment is so different from anything I ever design for my clients," said Andrew. Friends who come for cocktails are entranced by the magical effect of shimmering glass floors, reflective walls framed with polished steel baseboards and ceiling reveals, and floor-to-ceiling windows with just a sliver of silken white curtain.

For the Skurmans, the apartment continues to captivate. Early morning light tints the walls in pearlescent tones. Sunsets paint the rooms in a glow of rose pink. Later, the lights of the city flicker far below, and the apartment seems to float in the darkness.


A Louis XVI recamier, an heirloom from her Parisian family, was restyled by Françoise with pale grey paint and white jacquard upholstery. The 'Org' coffee table is by Fabio Novembre for Cappellini. The plaster torchères, circa 1940, are by Paris designer Serge Roche, silver-leafed guéridons are from the Estate of Gianni Versace.


Damien Hirst's Bromphenol Blue-Cylene Cyanol Dye Solution, 2005, hovers above a stainless steel fireplace next to a pair of Louis XV fauteuils finished in silver leaf.


A Louis XV chair, re-imagined in silver gilt by Rossi Antiques graces Spiral Painting, 1976, by Robert Slutzky.


Antique and modern collide in the dining room, where the glass tile floor shimmers beneath the tracery of Tom Dixon's dining table.


Alessandro Twombly's The Fall of Icarus, 2003, hangs above the dining table.


Françoise perched her new plaster figure, Dona Mariana, atop a custom-made white-painted rope cabinet by Christian Astuguevieille.


The Louis XVI bed, inherited from  Françoise's family, is dressed with white pique by Scheuer Linens, the bedside tables were designed by Andrew Skurman. Paintings are by Stephanie Peek, left, and Olivier Debré, right, a girandole from the Yves Gastou Antiques Gallery in Paris stands on the bedside table.


19th century Venetian mirrors, acquired in Paris, grace the bedroom wall.


A 1940s Cubist plater bust was acquired at San Francisco's famed Fall Antiques Show.


Venus Refuses The Apple, a new plaster sculpture by Françoise Skurman, stands in the bedroom. The floor is white glass Japanese tile.

Hope you enjoyed this week's house tour. Have a lovely week.

xo,
Emi



Sources and credits: C-Home and The Style Saloniste






Monday, May 11, 2015

BE. HERE. NOW.

THIS WEEK'S QUOTE




Being present here and now is the highest compliment you can give. 

xo,
Emi




Friday, May 8, 2015

GRAPHIC BLACK & WHITE

I've decided to dedicate my Friday blog posts to design boards, and particularly ones that are fashion inspired. Creating design or mood boards is an absolute favorite pastime of mine. It's an outlet that allows my creativity and my passion for all things beautiful to really shine through. 

This week we will look into the classic color combination BLACK & WHITE or as I like to call it in my native language BIANCO e NERO...sounds much more sophisticated, no?

Black and white is trendy but at the same time will always remain sophisticated, chic and timeless. And when paired with graphic patterns they can be playful, edgy and modern. Opposites really do attract when it comes to black and white, and while these opposing tones produce high contrast, the real drama comes in when you introduce a vivid color like yellow, emerald green, or fuchsia to the combination. 

Don't be afraid to experiment with this classic color combination, after all you can never go wrong with black, right?


Graphic black and white design board


xo,
Emi





Tuesday, May 5, 2015

HOUSE TOUR TUESDAY - HOME OF HECTOR BARRIO

Today we tour the home of architect Hector Barrio - this is a house with intentional design and a very strong aesthetic, where the layout and furnishings pay homage to absolute comfort.   Hector took just three months to implement the renovation project of his own home, located in a residential area north of Madrid.  Hector and his family were clear about the type of home they wanted: it had to be comfortable, very functional and arranged to receive guests.

The entire house is dotted with areas to be lived in, that allow each family member to have their own space: a library area in the living room; a dining room in the kitchen; a playroom, winery and smoking room in the basement.  "There is not a single room unused in the house", says Hector Barrio.

The organization of the space is flexible: there is visual communication between rooms, but the areas remain independent of each other.  Elements such as sliding doors, fireplace lounge, and small flights of stairs, bring movement to the space.  The space has been enhanced with functionality with the use of furniture in straight lines, walls with neutral colors and lacquered finishes which help enhance the natural radiant light.

open fireplace, living room, dining room, lacquer coffee table

The open fireplace defines the living room and at the same time visually communicates with the dining room, located on a higher level.  

white leather sofa, hermes throw blanket, lacquer coffee table

The extra long sofa in white leather is from Zagara; throw blankets from Hermès; and lacquered cube and glass coffee tables designed by the architect himself.  Artwork by J. Solana and light fixture by Altisent.

open fireplace, lacquer coffee table, library, open shelves

The living room also boasts a library wall whose back is painted chocolate brown to highlight the white shelves.  A low wall, clad in stone houses the audio and video equipment.  

vinyl wall covering, dining room, dining chair, metal structure

The dining table is made of metal structure and black glass; another one of Hector Barrio's designs.  The light pendant is a design of Enrico Franzolini and Vicente Garcia of Foscarini.

dining room, dining chairs, metal frames

Opposite the staircase is a dark wall, strongly emphasizing the high chair backs. 

kitchen island, silestone, vinyl wall covering

Kitchen with central island includes hotplate on a high block of granite and a white Silestone slab that serves as a support area as a kitchen or office table.

kitchen, porcelain tiles, island, stainless steel, silestone

Kitchen boasts great practicality with a steel shell lining the hood fan which incorporates a small television on the side. Porcelain tile covers the floor of the work area.

birch forest vinyl wall covering

A photo of a birch forest is reproduced in a vinyl wall covering, and the composition of lamps in the ceiling capture all the attention.

bedroom, lacquer, silver leaf, headboard

The principal bedroom has a dressing room and bathroom.  The cabinet that houses the bed boasts a silver leaf and lacquered headboard.

silestone basin, bathroom

The bathroom's main basin is a part of a limestone slab with two niches for storage. 


I hope you enjoyed this week's home tour.  Thanks for reading.  I enjoy your feedback.

xo,
Emi