Home & Design

Bazaar: Italian Style NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011

Sophisticated Sofa
The Sofa 54 by Incanto from Anora Home in DC has natural or treated leather upholstery and comes in a variety of colors, textures and thicknesses. With a high-density foam seat and back cushions, feather bolster pillows and legs in a chrome or satin finish, it’s available in three sizes and as a chair or ottoman. anorahome.com

Time Worn
Italian artisan Giovanni Barbieri combines historic mosaic tile work with a contemporary vibe. His patented surface treatment transforms marble into a material emulating ancient stone. Pictured here, Barbieri’s Bianco Antico marble in a Timeworn Mosaic finish, honed with rustic edges. Available through New Ravenna Mosaics; newravenna.com

Import, Export
Italian manufacturer UnoCeramica is partnering with Hastings Tile and Bath to exclusively import and distribute its wares, including pressure-cast fireclay ceramic products such as the wall-hung Atmosfere basin by Colacril. hastingstilebath.com

On a Curve
Designed by Giuseppe Vigano for Palazzetti, the Bustier collection of sofas and chairs boasts an elegant and curvaceous shape. The designer drew his inspiration from corsets worn by 17th-century women; the steel frame is wrapped in feather cushions. palazzetti.ca

Fresh Fruit
The asymmetrical Baby Citrus Bowl was designed by Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas for Alessi. Made from porcelain, the bowl is available in white with red interior (pictured) or brown with blue interior. The cutout pattern creates spaces that allow air to circulate within the bowl, keeping fruit fresh. At Alessi in Georgetown. alessidc.com

Folded Up
Nendo Studio was inspired by the idea of folding paper when creating the Maki pendant light for Foscarini. The design is comprised of two metal sheets rolled like paper (maki means “to roll” in Japanese) and slipped one inside the other. The fixtures are available in white and pale gray. foscarini.com

Sliding Doors
Antonio Citterio designed the MIDA AC Collection of storage containers for Maxalto. Shown here, a large bookshelf with its sliding door of reflective bronzed glass. The body of the shelf comes in an assortment of oak finishes and the base is made of steel. Available through B & B Italia at Adlon in DC. bebitalia.com

**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs.  Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas to life.

Indulgences: Travel & Toys NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011

Luxury Afloat
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has unveiled the new S.S. Antoinette (above)—an 82-cabin ship with interiors inspired by Versailles. The Baccarat chandelier that once hung in New York’s famed Tavern on the Green is a focal point in the lobby. Suites (left) are appointed with lavish linens and marble baths. Itineraries along the Rhine River this fall start at $1,999. uniworld.com

Bermuda Escape 
The first new luxury resort to be built on Bermuda in 40 years, Rosewood Tucker’s Point is nestled on 240 lush acres. It features a luxurious spa plus an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts—and an elevated yoga and tai chi lawn. The pool (pictured) overlooks Castle Harbour. Rates from $495. tuckerspoint.com 

Hip Hotel Debut
Brooklyn has never been more happening, and the Aloft New York Brooklyn has pumped up the volume even more. The new hotel sports mod interiors by the Rockwell Group, a pool table in the lobby (left), a rooftop bar with views of Manhattan and a check-in process that eliminates the front desk altogether. Rates from $229. starwoodhotels.com

Style on Wheels
The 2012 Audi R8 Spyder is high on looks and performance. Buyers choose between two engines: the V8 and the V10, which goes from 1 to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds. Among the many options is a seatbelt microphone which minimizes wind noise for hands-free talking on the phone with the top down. From $127,700; audi.com

Wake-Up Call
Stem Innovation’s TimeCommand audio alarm clock (left) makes mornings a little easier. Equipped with a free iTunes app, the dock integrates with your iPhone, iPod or iPad to allow you to drift off to sleep and wake up to your favorite music. The device also offers free Internet radio and even links with your bedside lamp to switch it on when it’s time to rise and shine. $100. StemInnovation.com

Just in Case
Protect your iPad or Kindle fashionably with the zip-around leather case by Tory Burch (below, left). It boasts interior pockets for documents and a suede lining. Available in turquoise or black, it measures 10 by 8 inches. $225; bloomingdales.com

Pure Sound
Soul Electronics’ new SL300 noise-cancelling headphones (bottom) were made in collaboration with Grammy award winner Chris “Ludacris” Bridges. The over-ear product is designed to seal in sound and block out ambient noise, promising a studio-quality listening experience. Available in gold or black and white. $299; soulelectronics.com

**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and coverage of luxury living.  Wonderful visuals of luxury getaways and dining options are combined with inspired decor to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing luxury to life in home interiors and beyond.

 

 

 

Indulgences: Food & Fashion NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011

Endless Summer
Hank’s Oyster Bar is fresh from an expansion that has doubled its size. O’Neill Studios spearheaded the project, which includes a new charcuterie room (above) with a ceiling painted in a striking modello motif. 1624 Q Street, NW; 202-462-4265; hanksdc.com

Miss Saigon?
Get your fix of Vietnamese bánh mì sandwiches, spring rolls and innovative salads at BONMi. The new DC spot opening in late October was designed by Mangan Group Architects using sustainable bamboo, glass and granite. The organic look complements the eatery’s fresh, wholesome fare. On left, the ingredients for a pineapple Caesar salad. 900 19th Street, NW; 202-785-0012. eatbonmi.com

Nostalgia Trip
Chef Jeff Tunks has opened District Commons on Washington Circle. Sleek interiors boast banquettes embellished with sepia-toned photographs depicting the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of yesteryear. The menu features classic American fare with a modern-day spin. 2200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW; 202-587-8277; districtcommonsdc.com  

Night Moves
The Necklace Halter Gown by Aidan Mattox in dark teal silk is sure to make a statement with its bejeweled neckline. $440; available in select Bloomingdale’s stores and bloomingdales.com

Boot Camp
There’s nothing subtle about the Moura ankle boot (below, left), which marries a 4.7-inch stiletto heel with an ostrich leather shoe and metal fasteners. It’s $1,995 at Bally, the Swiss leather purveyor that recently opened a shop in Tysons Galleria. bally.com

Heavenly Scent
BODY (bottom), the latest women’s fragrance by Burberry, boasts green absinthe, freesia and peach top notes and natural rose, iris, and sandalwood at the heart. Its multi-faceted glass bottle is engraved with the company’s signature check in rose gold. From $75 for eau de parfum and $50 for body oil or body milk. burberry.com

**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and coverage of luxury living.  Wonderful visuals of luxury getaways and dining options are combined with inspired decor to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing luxury to life in home interiors and beyond.

 

Bucking the Trend November/December 2011

Despite the sluggish economy, four visionaries have opened galleries in the DC area over the past year. Though their offerings are diverse, these curators share a conviction that art transcends the everyday and offers solace in every climate.

Industry Gallery - Craig Applebaum
When the right space opened up, Craig Appelbaum grabbed it, launching Industry Gallery in a former car repair shop above another art venue, Conner Contemporary, just north of the bustling H Street corridor. His vision: to showcase contemporary design that turns industrial materials into high-concept furniture. Displayed in site-specific installations, the work transforms the traditional concept of space.

According to Appelbaum, DC has become edgier and more accepting of art outside the mainstream. “It seemed like the right time to open a gallery that shows avant-garde designers, some of whom haven’t even shown in New York,” he says. Often stunned and fascinated at the same time, visitors to Industry Gallery commonly remark, “I can’t believe this is in Washington!”

There are very few galleries in the U.S. dedicated to exhibiting 21st-century design; Appelbaum, who believes that good design can be great art, hopes to fill this void. “These galleries exist only in Paris, London and Milan. Why not Washington, too?” he asks. Appelbaum encourages people to buy what they like and ignore the critics. “I don’t believe in prescribed culture,” he explains.

On view indefinitely:  Tom Price, “Meltdown.” 1358 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC; 202-399-1730; industrygallerydc.com

Heiner Contemporary - Margaret Heiner
Margaret Heiner opened the whimsically pink doors of her Georgetown gallery with this vision: to create a comfortable, educational and fun environment that introduces collectors to artists who haven’t shown in our region before. Her goal is to see people connect with art in a personal way and ask questions that relate to big ideas. Most importantly, she says, “I want to move people, to make them laugh.” Heiner forged ahead with her gallery despite the economy because she felt so strongly about her mission. “I believe that art is always important, but that it’s especially important now because it provides an outlet for expression that may not otherwise exist,” she says.

Heiner explains to clients that it’s important to collect art and live with it in your home and be surrounded by it all the time. Not only does it create visual interest, but it also engages viewers in conversations that can be enlightening and that can connect people to each other. “The objects represent ideas,” says Heiner. “I view art collecting as the collection of ideas.”

November 18 to January 14, 2012: “In Line/Out of Line: Chip Allen, Katherine Sable and Camilo Sanin.” 1675 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC; 202-338-0072; heinercontemporary.com.

Morton Fine Art - Amy Morton
Amy Morton, who believes that anyone can be an art collector, developed a flexible gallery model that allows her to reach broader communities that might not otherwise collect art. Her hybrid model includes a traditional gallery space in Adams Morgan along with a mobile gallery that pops up in communities that may have lost galleries during the economic downturn. She says, “These tougher economic times have allowed me to be more responsive to both the artists’ and collectors’ current needs. 

It was high risk, of course, but I felt compelled to take the plunge.” Morton, whose own collection includes both antiques and contemporary artwork, advises clients and potential collectors to “buy work that has great personal meaning to you.” She says that living with art in her home allows her to interact with her collection every day—and therefore she considers it to be her most valuable material possession. Morton believes that the arts in DC are starting to make a unique impact on the local, regional, and national scenes, much of it driven by novel approaches to the traditional gallery system.

December 2011: “Small Works Month,” a group exhibition. Pop-up shows at other locations include “NYC NOW” featuring the work of New York artists Kenichi Hoshine, Choichun Leung, Jules Arthur and Jason Sho Green, November 11 to December 6. 1781 Florida Avenue, NW, Washington, DC; 202-628-2787; mortonfineart.com

Adah Rose Gallery - Adah Rose Bitterbaum
Adah Rose Bitterbaum had been saving money and looking for space to open a gallery for several years; high DC real estate prices had thwarted her dream. When she heard through the grapevine that an affordable space in Kensington had become available, she jumped on the opportunity. Her vision is to show as much DC-based art as she can. An added twist: She encourages the non-artist to create art in the gallery.

Bitterbaum’s goal is to implement a salon-style environment, encouraging social interaction and intellectual discourse at Adah Rose with the addition of music and poetry. “DC isn’t just a government city anymore!” she exclaims.

The local art scene, says the gallery owner, has become more artist-driven with artist-led exhibit spaces like Pleasant Plains Workshop and Harmon Art Lab opening in the past year. “Artists are taking matters into their own hands,” says Bitterbaum, “and opening galleries” that double as studio space. Washington has always been a do-it-yourself kind of arts and culture town—and with Adah Rose that tradition continues.

November 16 to December 18: “Without Proof. Open Ended,” painting and mixed media by Thierry Guillemin and Amanda Horowitz. 3766 Howard Avenue, Kensington, MD; 301-922-0162; adahrosegallery.weebly.com

Author Philippa P. B. Hughes runs The Pink Line Project. Michael Ventura is a photographer in Silver Spring, Maryland.

**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs.  Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas to life.

 

A Wide Perspective November/December 2011

I’ve always had a general sense that there is no project too big or too small,” says Catherine Purple Cherry, reflecting on a philosophy that she’s espoused since 1994 when she started her Annapolis firm. “I love the practice of architecture no matter what the size—solving challenges, communicating with clients.”

The architect, who grew up in Northern Virginia and moved to the Annapolis area when she married an Anne Arundel County native, discovered in her adopted city a great place to practice her craft. Her first niche: waterfront residential design—always plentiful in the Annapolis area. In time, her business grew out into other states, and today she and her staff work on projects of all shapes and sizes. “It’s the best of both worlds,” Purple Cherry says. “Annapolis has a nice small-town community feel so it’s easy to make business connections, but it’s close to Baltimore and DC, which allows for bigger projects.”

Purple Cherry Architects handles a wide range of commercial, non-profit and custom residential work. However, over the years its founder has carved another niche for herself in an unexpected direction: special needs consulting. Inspired by her oldest son who himself has special needs, Purple Cherry “became a kind of advocate for him”—an interest which she then incorporated into her career. Now, she travels nationally, consulting with local architects about residential communities for special needs kids. “We’ve done six different facilities in the state and also schools all over the country,” Purple Cherry says.

Not surprisingly, the firm is big on what Purple Cherry calls, “giving back to the community. The biggest portion of our commercial effort is non-profit. We just finished a pro bono project for Habitat for Humanity.” Despite the changes in her practice over the years, Purple Cherry’s love of being an architect has never altered. “Meeting and communicating with clients is my favorite thing,” she says. “My second favorite is the evolution of design.”

**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home design and building/remodeling features. Wonderful visuals of custom homes and eco-friendly resources are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design and remodeling projects to life.

 

HOME&DESIGN, published bi-monthly by Homestyles Media Inc., is the premier magazine of architecture and fine interiors for the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region.

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The H&D Portfolio of 100 Top Designers spotlights the superior work of selected architects, interior designers and landscape architects in major regions of the US.

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