Capture Warmth By Using A Monochromatic Color Scheme

      With the close of summer and the oncoming fall season we start to think about the interiors of our homes again. It seems we hurry more during those precious few summer months trying our best to cram in every week at the shore, barbeque and day trip we can manage. I for one am relieved when fall arrives and we can slow the pace, grateful for the return of my children to school and the normalcy that schedule brings.

This particular fall season yellow and all of its associated shades of gold are hot, hot, hot! I love the effect that a monochromatic color scheme can achieve in a room. The layering of different materials, shapes and textures in one dominant color creates an enveloping sense of harmony. This effect is masterfully achieved by LCR designers Peter Robbin and Jill Rankl in this gorgeous Fairfield County living room. The golden cut velvet on the tall back chair and linen texture drapery panels and sunflower yellow silk on the throw pillows are luscious and soft to the touch. In contrast the spectacular patinated metal coffee table, antique brass apothecary lamp and other gilt accessories are hard and reflective, adding to the symphony of tone and texture. The warmth of this palette is always a winner, but for me what makes this room work so beautifully is the grounding effect that the cream white wood work, flooring and upholstery create. The addition of rich shades of oxblood red as seen in the magnificent carved chest and custom upholstered poufs is the perfect accent to an otherwise tonal scheme.  

                    

As we settle into the fall months and the winter to follow consider adding the warmth of yellows and gold’s to your interiors. Small additions like pillows and throws or paint and paper can brighten your interiors by day and capture the glow of candlelight and a crackling hearth in the evening. 

See More Projects by LCR Designers

Nambe: Art Designed for Everyday Living.

Nambé is the epitome of modernism’s mid-century servingware.  Founded in 1951 near Nambé Pueblo, New Mexico, its pieces are made from an eight-metal alloy having the luster of silver and solidity of iron.

Amazingly, the material was developed by a former scientist from Los Alamos Lab (the birthplace of the atomic bomb.)  The groundbreaking compound retains both heat and cold for long periods of time, making it ideal for ice buckets and bowls.  Both oven and stovetop safe, Nambé designs do not crack, chip or tarnish.  They hold temperatures up to 500 degrees and are safe even in the chilling temperatures of the freezer. 

Each piece transcends trends and generations being both undeniably beautiful and designed with artistic integrity while ensuring that quality and function are never compromised.  Nambé is truly art designed for everyday living. 

New pieces are for sale in Nambé stores, boutiques and even some big-box stores.  Older pieces have a certain nostalgic quality.  Nambé’s pieces go with everything, bringing a modern shine to any space.  Its recent offerings incorporate an enamel finish that mimics the look of wood and sandstone, a touch that adds warmth and color to the company’s cool ripple designs.  These include several pieces by the iconic designer, Karim Rashid.

Nambé is famous for including works of designers that share their unique vision with Nambe's:  creating works of art that you can use every day.

On New York designer Wei Young:  “His designs and creations for Nambé offer innovative solutions that strive for visual beauty and enhance user experience.”  His award-winning Fruit Tree Bowl “has an irresistibly playful spirit.”

 Steve Cozzolini (NYC):  “The beauty of design work is creating memorable experiences that engage the senses through fluid and sensual form, treating everyday objects as unique sculptural art and fashion for the tabletop.”  His award-winning Chirp Kettle is described as a “stunning sculpture for the stovetop.”

 On Neil Cohen (NYC):  “Cohen’s forward reaching vision and refined sense of shape, material and workmanship characterize his concepts.  His work supplies the kind of spark that engages the human spirit.”  His award-winning Elbow Frame is reflective of Cohen’s style:  “intentional creations that are meaningful experiences in themselves, apart from their functionality.”

And finally, an iconic Nambé find:  Kissing Salt and Pepper Shakers – minimalist and modern retro.

L’OBJET:  Where Quality Meets Imagination.

An immediate success at its birth, L’Objet offers luxury tabletop, gifts, and accessories, creating a visual feast using unexpected elements.  As a young designer in Beverly Hills, Elad Yifrach found a void in the market for practical and meticulously made tabletop items for his discerning clients.  So he began designing his own.  Devoted to the Mediterranean, he is enamored by its people and their ways, particularly their commitment to a life of beauty.  His offerings have a timeless quality, resonating Old World charm yet there is something entirely new-thoroughly modern. 

Yifrach tries to create things that are decadent but have a basic function.  “I tend to be a little more daring on materials.  There are enough people doing safe stuff, but I don’t want to do it.”  In 2004, he presented his prototype to Bergdorf Goodman which immediately placed an order and hence, his journey truly began.  Inspired by nature as well as classical architectural elements, Y does not shy away from whimsical details:  an elephant topped lidded vessel; a breathing dragon holding a porcelain bowl; an exquisite trompe-l’oeil coral teapot. 

 

In his Fortuny collection, after Renaissance man Marian Fortuny, he reinterprets the protean master’s multicultural work.  For two years, he explored the 92-year-old firm’s archives, studying motifs that could be translated into objects for the home.  “For many years, people saw Fortuny as strictly traditional.  But the patterns work in both classic and modern settings.” 

His spectacular desk accessories:  a magnifying glass with a gold-plated handle shaped like a crocodile; a letter opening gecko with Swarovski crystal eyes, a leopard-print Limoges porcelain pencil cup are consistent with his decadent yet functional motif.  For Yifrach, the goal is a luxe feel with a touch of whimsy.  “People who buy desk accessories simply because they’re useful are on the road to becoming bland and pragmatic.  We form an emotional attachment to things that are beautiful.” 

“My legacy…has yet to be realized.”  [Does this mean that the best is yet to come?]

“A great idea…is almost always a simple one.”  [Like nature which is simple in its elegance.]

“I love everything from nature, especially when it is glamorized a little.”  [Crocodiles, geckos, elephants just for fun!]

The Annieglass Story:  Table Art with Exceptional Durability.

Limited Edition Cone Vase
Shown in Gold. Platinum also available.

Annie Morehauser, creator of Annieglass, took her inspiration from Santa Cruz where she first saw glass blown on the beach.  Now over 30 years ago, that convergence of art and ocean proved life-changing.  The young art student set down roots in Santa Cruz and founded the luxury tableware company known as Annieglass.

Annie’s original tour de force was a piece called “Roman Antique,” a glass plate with a widely painted gold rim.  At a tradeshow back in 1983, she astounded the country’s retailers with this entirely new look.  Fusing the precious metal into the glass made it tarnish free, chip resistant and even dishwasher safe.  This combination of art and durability was a real breakthrough for her business. 

Today “Roman Antique” is an oft imitated industry icon that is sold by luxury retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman, and Bloomingdales as well as leading hotels and restaurants.  Private collectors include celebrities such as Oprah, Jennifer Aniston, Christina Aguilera, and John Grisham.  Roman Antique is the “starter elegant set” for many brides.  It is enormously popular with Southerners who have been mixing china and glass for a long time. 

Annie adheres to the Japanese expression, “Dining should be a feast for the eye as well as the stomach.”  She believes that delighting your guests with a beautiful presentation before the food arrives puts everyone in a festive and receptive mood.  In her blog, Annieglass Blog, Mix & Match 7-30-13, she suggests using plates that don’t match or varying each place setting slightly. “Mixing and matching can add fun to the table.  It’s a way of more closely reflecting your personality and allows you to indulge in your love of tableware without feeling guilty about buying multiple patterns.” The following tricks can give a cohesive quality to the look:

·        Embrace the chaos with confidence.  You can make it work by seeming 100 percent intentional.

·        Have a unifying theme.  Maybe a color theme or accent color like a metallic trim on the plate. 

·        Plates for each course should be of similar weight.

·        Tie it together with an accent for a more unifying, harmonious look.

Ultramarine Bowls

In a recent interview with Diane Dorrans Saeks, The Style Saloniste Blog, Style Alert:  Heart of Glass - Annieglass 7-15-2013 , Diane posed the question “What was the most dramatic response you ever had to a new design?”  Annie:  “The Smithsonian asking for two pieces to become part of their new museum; having one of my pieces sent to the Pope as a gift was pretty awesome; customers making sinks out of my ultramarine blue bowls; seeing one used as a baptismal font was pretty impressive.  Some of my customers recently bought my new limited edition cone vase sight unseen.  That was dramatic.” 

Annieglass is sold in more than 500 stores worldwide including Chelsea Passage at Barney’s New York, Gump’s in San Francisco and boutique retailers like LCR.

Artist Michael Aram: The Core of his Vision is a Deep Attraction to Nature

Ocean Coral Napkin Holder by Michael Aram

Michael Aram has built a reputation creating high-quality, crafts-based pieces largely inspired by nature.  On a trip to India in the early 80s, he discovered a metalworking tradition that was largely untapped.  He quickly set up shop in New Delhi.  Turning his attention to crafts-based design, his work bridges the oft overlooked gap between artist and artisan.

In Hindi, the word “aram” means “gently, with peace, love, and care.”  A daily mantra to his craftsmen, his success resides in the creation of high quality work, work that makes a personal statement while retaining universal appeal. 

The core of his vision is a deep attraction to nature and in particular, its fascinating variety of trees and plants.  This is reflected in many of his signature pieces, including the charmingly twisted “Sleepy Hollow” collection, his “Twigware” cutlery, and the “Fantasy Bloom” serving pieces, which have all brought a new whimsy and elegance to the American table.  He also has collections inspired by the ocean and solely by the artistic process. 

Ocean Coral Photo Frame by Michael Aram

His work has a soulful quality and energy – which is only possible with handmade work.  No two pieces are alike.  His pieces work well with both contemporary and more classic interiors. 

Aram’s empathetic and holistic worldviews have made him a popular speaker and he has remained philanthropic throughout his career.  A partner in SeaWeb’s Too Precious to Wear Campaign, Aram donated some of his treasures to raise awareness of the global threat to coral reefs.  Taking time out to talk to SeaWeb about what inspires him to use his art to raise environmental awareness:

• On the design industry as a whole:  “I believe that there is presently a deeper commitment and heightened awareness of conservation and environmental stewardship.” 
• On coral as inspiration:  “Using coral as inspiration offers an endless variation of shapes, textures, forms, and even colors.”
• On his message:  “Rather than use endangered natural resources in the final product, use them as inspiration.  This promotes artistry and richness of thought while preserving natural resources.”
• On consumer buying decisions:  “Buying prod
  
  ucts that are timeless, of high quality, and made through a sensitive process – enhance both cultural and natural resources.  Ideally, purchase heirloom pieces rather than disposables destined for landfills.”
• On life in India:  “My life is beautifully organized between work, home, and friends.  India is the heart of the organization, NYC its brain.”
• On his leap to India:  “It wasn’t even a decision.  I just immediately started doing what felt right.”

Ocean Coral Centerpiece Bowl by Michael Aram

His flagship store is located at 136 W. 18^th Street in Manhattan.  In addition, there are several “shop-in-shops” in Bloomingdales, Niemen Marcus, Saks, and select Macy’s stores.  In sum, his work is sold in 600 major department stores and specialty boutiques including LCR, worldwide. 

Jewels, Beads, and Roses: Mary Rose Pottery has Glamour Appeal!

If a sense of whimsy and love of vivid color appeal to you, Mary Rose Pottery certainly fits the bill.  Founded by its namesake, Mary Rose Young, her pieces are noted for their sense of fun; she is adept at blending beauty and humor.  While a student, her trademark pieces were sculptural.  Realizing she needed something glamorous to brighten up an old farmhouse she moved into after college, she tried her hand at the potter’s wheel.  Apply the bright color that she had achieved in her artistic pieces, she achieved the look she was hoping for.  Mary Rose Pottery was born!

Her earliest designs included the rose motif (after her name) and the humorous, frantic chicken.  The rose motif became three dimensional.  Her rationale:  since flowers were needed to make a vase work, why not design a vase with its own bunch of flowers.

Her career catapulted after she exhibited at the Chelsea Crafts Fair, exposing her to American and European buyers.  Soon, Barneys New York came beckoning.  No longer destined for obscurity, she relocated her pottery studio to her refurbished home called “Oak House,” located in England and open to the public.  She lives and wears the amazing colors of her art every day, as every surface of her home is alive with color.

While her rose design is still  popular, her art continues to evolve with new shapes and designs.  In her look, “Jewelled and Beaded,” she uses gold luster to create pottery that resembles a pirate’s treasure.  She has licensed some of her ideas to larger giftware companies, so you may occasionally encounter some of these mass-produced pieces on High Street or as we say in the U.S., on Main Street.  She displays her newest pieces annually at the New York City Gift Show, held in August.  To celebrate the recent birth of his Royal Highness Prince George, she has introduced a pair of baby cups and saucers.

Mary Rose’s art can be purchased at select stores in the U.S. (including LCR) and on her website.  Her work has attracted its share of celebrity buyers, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, the British Royal Family, Mika, Lilly Allen, Burt Reynolds, Steven Tyler, and Demi Moore.  In 2007, her art attracted media attention after Ozzy Osbourne’s Mary Rose Young teacup and saucer fetched $1,650 in a charity auction of his possessions.

Welcoming Spring with Fresh New Product at LCR

Here at LCR, spring has always been one of our favorite times of the year. The beginning of spring means the introduction of fresh, new product and fun, exciting displays put together by our team in our retail shop. Each January, we spend a weekend shopping at the New York International Gift Fair, and by spring, most of the product we ordered at the show has arrived.



Various shapes and designs by Flowers Under Glass



One vendor whose products are perfect for spring is Flowers Under Glass. Each platter, bowl or tray features flowers that have been hand-picked from the artists garden, right here in Connecticut. Each piece is a unique work of art and captures nature’s beauty. They make great long-lasting gifts for that person who loves flowers, nature or gardening.



Yorkshire Hedgerow collection by Caskata



Many new Caskata tableware pieces also tie in to the spring theme. Dramatic, graceful designs featuring flowers, rabbits, or butterflies are just the thing for this time of year. A porcelain vessel candle or a set of six canapé plates make a great gift - or, update your own table with dinnerware or a serving platter.



Tablesetting by Annieglass in Platinum & Gold



This spring, we are also excited about the products we’re featuring through two trunk shows in our shop. Annieglass is one of our mainstays here at LCR, and in celebration of the company’s 30th anniversary, an expanded range of product is currently on display through April 7th. Glass dinnerware and serving pieces rimmed in either gold or platinum make for an elegant yet functional table setting, perfect for Easter or Passover. Complete with a custom engraving offering, this trunk show is one of our most exciting yet. Also currently being featured in our shop are lacquer trays and other luxury home accessories by J. Fleet Designs. With some great contemporary designs and new color combinations for spring, there is sure to be something for everyone within this trunk show.

 

Assortment of lacquered trays by J. Fleet Designs



Be sure to check our online store for new product additions as spring continues, and if you’re local to Connecticut, come check out our trunk shows and new displays in our retail shop in West Hartford Center!