From Blonde to Brunette

I bought this three-piece cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar in May 2011. I asked my refinisher to give it a walnut stain and to polish the brass handles.

A month later the three cabinets were done, but the sliding doors were missing the flushmont handles. They were lost. I spent the next few months trying to find someone who could make new ones; without the originals it would be very costly.

So, on 1stdibs, I only posted  the drawer cabinet and the open cabinet as a pair to be divided perhaps as bedsides or put together as a small cabinet. Since I hadn’t yet paid my refinisher for the job, the pressure was on to find those handles. In the meantime, I had someone who only wanted to buy one cabinet, which would have left me with 2/3 of my investment up in smoke.


Finally, though, the handles were found and I got my full investment back. Six months later. But the Wormley piece–with all three sections–looks beautiful.

Diamonds in the Rough

Amongst the pile of cardboard boxes and disgarded furniture, you’ll never know what you might find. My refinisher, who I have kept secret for so many years, works out of an office furniture warehouse in Brooklyn. He comes across all kinds of pieces for the office, good and bad. But he has a real eye for the good stuff.

His most recent find–these black leather “Le Corbusier” classics–were in amazingly perfect condition. I love it when that happens. The only thing better than the hunt is the find.

How to Set a Table... My Way

When I was a kid we always had a formal dinner. I learned how to set a proper table just by having to sit at one every night. I threatened my kids when they were growing up  that I was going to send them to etiquette school; there was actually a summer camp at the Plaza Hotel that taught kids how to serve high tea and I seriously considered making them go there. Though they never attended, I always believed it was important for them to know which fork was the salad fork when dining with their boss someday, and what side of the plate the knife goes on when throwing a dinner party.

With the 2008 recession still in my house in 2011, I have a policy: Use what you already have to decorate a table. We tend to go out and buy new decorations every time we entertain, especially during the holidays. But we can get creative. I turn it into a game. What can I do with what I already have?

Here’s the answer. Keep it simple and colorful. The things I end up purchasing every year are seasonal napkins to brighten up the place settings. Flowers either come from the garden if I’m in the country, or I buy them at the local Korean market when I’m in the city. Pumpkins are always a decorative plus because you can eat them later or reuse them; they last 3-4 months as long as you don’t carve them. Seasonal fruit can also be used as a centerpiece that guests can pick at during the meal or after.

This is how I arranged my holiday tables in the past. 

THANKSGIVING DINNER

For Thanksgiving Dinner, I had green 1960s Italian handblown wine glasses, which were my mother’s hand-me-downs. They were set on a red and white runner on top of a red tablecloth. The table featured little green and white gourds, a white pumpkin and Macintosh apples in the trifle stand.

CHRISTMAS EVE

On Christmas Eve, instead of a traditional tablecloth, I used black fabric with gold embroidery that my mother brought back from one of her trips to India. I placed mini Christmas lights around the top of the table along with wine bottles, clementines and white tulips as decoration. There were Vignelli wear plates, which were a wedding gift, and Iitalla candlesticks and glasses from Finland. I also cut down plain white index cards to use as name tags at each place setting.

FOURTH OF JULY

Fourth of July was was super minimal. The dining room table was brought outside and covered in simple white linen. There were white plates from Fish’s Eddyand silverware byDansk. The yellow napkins were bought at Ikea and placed on top of the plates in a diamond shape–rather than folded on the sides–for maximum color effect. The classic bistro glasses were an homage to my French grandparents who drank wine out of glasses just like these every day. I also used them as vases for tiny daisies from my garden placed on either side of the centerpiece.

By the way, if I’d known I was going to blog about these table settings one day, I probably would have made them more elaborate. But there’s a lot to be said for doing things organically and letting them be just as they are.

Genius Jacobs Built-Ins

Recently, I went to California to visit my college roommates and very close friends Matt Jacobsen and Liz Glotzer. They moved to LA right after graduating from Bennington College (there is no way I’m coughing up the year), she went to grad school for film, and he followed with an interest in the history of costumes. Today they are married with two amazing boys and live just east of West Hollywood in the hills. (I hope I got that right–I only asked a million times.)

Jacobsen is the son of renowned architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen and is the proprietor of oldmagazinearticles.com. Glotzer is now a well-known Hollywood executive. She is the daughter of antique dealer Elayne Glotzer, owner of Double Vision in Venice Beach–a charming shop showcasing one of a kind objects and jewelry–and her brother Michael Glotzer is an LA picker with a warehouse full of mid-century furniture.

Together,  my friends designed and decorated their new home with passion and flair. My favorite spot is sitting in front of the Hugh Newell Jacobsen bookcase. Its elegant visual presence draws you into the room. The display is massive, but because the books are shelved in small cubes, boasting strong but minimalist form and color, it invites the viewer to come look, survey the collection, and pick out a book.

These signature built-in bookcases are inspired by wooden antique egg-crates and are designed from floor to ceiling. Perfectly symmetrical, the outer frame, slotted horizontal shelves, and vertical supports are almost paper thin.

A self-proclaimed bibliophile with interests ranging from France, WWI, and England to Art and Architecture, Jacobsen’s need to continually expand his library was, perhaps, the mother of invention when he created his signature “egg crate” bookshelves. Employed in many of his house designs, the innovative shelving is designed like a truss and comprised of 3/8-inch-wall cubes that will allow books to be removed and reinserted in the same or different locations. By removing one cube from the “French” section of the library, for example, one could relocate books about French cuisine to the culinary section of the library and make room for new titles about WWI. This saves completely reorganizing a large collection of books—a task that would be necessary with traditional shelving. The shelving grid also provides a sense of order, while the books themselves create a beautiful, natural wall of color. *

What can I say… Genius!

The Real American Picker

He won’t reveal what he has in the van in this photo, or where he got it, but picker Gary Dias always has the goods.


It was twelve years ago when I first heard about Gary Dias (pronounced DYE-ESS). He was in my store, which was then on Jane Street, inquiring about the best price on a set of three lamps. (Of course, I didn’t know what they were, but they surelooked nice!)

My assistant at the time, George Marshal, said, “Gary Dias was here asking about these lamps.”

“Who’s he?” I asked.

“You don’t know who Gary Dias is?”

I said, “No.”

“He’s one of the best pickers in the business!”

Dias eventually bought the lamps, drove down to Soho and sold them to another dealer within minutes.

Dias now says he would often spend the day buying something from one dealer and driving it across town to sell it to another. But that was in the ’90s when the economy was better and the demand was much higher. Those days are long gone. Today Dias still travels, but often out of state, to find his merch. He is still very connected to most of the downtown modern dealers, as well as a few in Hudson, New York. He works the old fashioned way–always on the road communicating by phone. He never texts or sends pictures. He is only hands-on, bringing the goods straight to your door. 

My most recent (and also favorite) purchase from Dias was a Hans Bellmann popsicle table along with a somewhat rare Robsjohn-Giddings floor lamp, which I rewired and polished. It’s gorgeous! The lamp is available–and reasonably priced–here at my website. Of course, I have no idea where Dias found these great pieces. The picker never shares his secrets.


If you want the sweet deals, contact Gary Dias at gdias@nyc.rr.com.

Knoll Textiles, 1945-2010, at Bard Graduate Center

From my assistant, Blaise:

In 1943, Florence Schust convinced Hans Knoll that she could turn his furniture company around and on an upswing by  partnering with architects and incorporating interior design into the company’s mission. It worked. They married three years later and together they founded Knoll Associates. When Hans died in a car accident in 1955, Florence took over the business and continued to design. The company flourished under her leadership and acquired designs and commissions from designers such as Hans Bellman, Eero Saarinen, George Nakashima, Harry Bertoia, and Isamu Noguchi.

Florence Knoll was a student of architecture who earned degrees at the Architectural Association in London and the Armour Institute (Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago). She studied with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer, among others.

Famous for her “total design” philosophy and space planning and storage innovations, Florence Knoll revolutionized interior design and produced collections that have become 20th century icons that are somehow timeless. She has received the National Medal of Arts and the American Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal for Industrial Design, among numerous other awards.

Knoll’s successful venture into a third division of the company–textile design–has now prompted a new show at the Bard Graduate Center: Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture (BGC). Knoll Textiles, 1945–2010, which will run from May 18th through July 31st, is “the first comprehensive exhibition devoted to a leading producer of modern textile design.” The exhibition focuses on Knoll’s leadership and risk-taking practices, the innovation in textile materials, production, and marketing, and the way that the Knoll textile division was ingeniously used to promote that “total design” philosophy.

Find out more about Knoll, Knoll textiles, and the upcoming exhibition at The Bard Graduate Center’s website.

Buying and Selling at the Brooklyn Flea

This spring, I’ve set up shop twice at the famous Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene. The first time I did it, it rained, so I only got in half a day’s worth of selling. Though that day was cold and dreary, the die hards still came out–people with a good eye, looking to see if I knew my stuff. I was excited to see that people had sophisticated tastes. I sold a few things and then packed up when it started to drizzle. 

Two weeks later I set up again. This time, I could not have asked for more perfect weather. I sold a lot of $15-$20 items, a few $60-$80 items, and two $400 items–an original LCM Eames chair and an action painting by artist D. Aron. It was definitely worth the effort.

The following day I went to the same Brooklyn Flea in Williamsburg (they do Fort Greene on Saturdays and Williamsburg on Sundays), but this time, I was a buyer and not a vendor. I spent money from my flea sales on a vintage Panasonic Tourist for my son Axel, who is leaving for college soon. I’d been looking for the perfect collegiate style bike for several months, and I finally found it. Thanks, Brooklyn Flea!

I’ll be back as a vendor before the summer is over. Stay tuned!

More about the Brooklyn Flea:

Brooklyn Flea operates New York City’s best markets, every weekend of the year, featuring hundreds of top vendors of antique and repurposed furniture, vintage clothing, collectibles and antiques, as well as a tightly curated selection of jewelry, art, and crafts by local artisans and designers, plus delicious fresh food. The New York Times called the Flea “One of the great urban experiences in New York”; Country Living, Budget Travel, and Delta Sky ranked the Flea one of the best markets or antiques shows in the U.S.; andTime Out NY named the Flea one of New York’s Essential Pick-Up Spots.

Since April 2008, Jonathan Butler, founder of Brownstoner.com, Brooklyn’s biggest blog, and Eric Demby, former communications director for Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, have operated the Brooklyn Flea, a weekly outdoor market in Fort Greene and other “pop-up” locations that features 150 local and regional vendors of antiques, vintage clothing, handmade items, jewelry, food, bicycles, records, and more. In its first three years, the Flea has grown into a New York City institution, garnering local, national, and international press for its diversity of vendors, for the quality of food and merchandise, for the inclusive community aspects of the market’s atmosphere, and for the economic stimulus the market provides to both vendors/entrepreneurs and local businesses.

Freedom Tower

It’s nice to finally see construction of the Freedom Tower and the World Trade Center moving forward. Ever since post-911 I’ve been obsessed with its reconstruction. I often drive to lower Manhattan from Brooklyn via the West Side Highway to sell furniture. Sometimes I take pictures of the site when I’m stopped at a red light. I am amazed at how long it took to even start construction. It’s such a bittersweet feeling when I drive by, I think of all the stories and all the tragedies that occurred. This city is full of wonderful sights, I look forward to having this added to the collection. Anyway, that’s it for now.

Mustang or BMW?

His Mustang?...

Last fall I was driving around Columbia County in Upstate New York, and I came across this gas station on Rte. 82 with vintage cars for sale. A client of mine said he was looking for a red Mustang convertible. Boom! There it was. I had suddenly come across someone else’s mid-life wish. Not knowing exactly how serious he was, I thought, is he going to go for it? I took a few pictures for him, but he never followed through. As the old saying goes, you snooze, you lose.

...Or my BMW, bitches?!

Personally, if I came across my vintage dream car, I would have sealed the deal. But my car wouldn’t be a Mustang. It would be a BMW like this sweet 1967 Bavaria!

Warm Your Winter Guests with Freshness and Style (and Booze)

From my assistant, Blaise:

Recently, I invited a few friends over for dinner on what turned out to be one of the most frigid nights of the month thus far. They bundled up and braved the cold, trudging to my place knowing that a free home cooked meal was waiting for them. To help everyone feel nice and toasty I decided to make a special after-dinner apéritif. It’s called a Hot Killer, and it is so easy to make and so delicious. Here’s how:

All you need. Plus a juicer. And some booze.

All you need is a juicer, lemon, fresh ginger, and a bunch of green apples. About 4-5 green apples will fill an 8-10 ounce glass or mug, but don’t hold me to this because I’m really bad at measurements. There were 4 of us and I bought 16 organic green apples and that was enough for one Hot Killer per person.

1. Peel a big hunk of ginger (bigger than what’s shown here, especially if you like a bit more of a warm kick) and cut up all of the apples, leaving them unpeeled.

Slice it all up.

2. Shove the apples and the ginger in the juicer. After everything is juiced, squeeze one whole lemon into the mix.

3. Heat it up on low to medium, stirring occasionally. When it’s boiled it’s basically done…

This looks weird, I know, but trust me.

4.  …Now add a shot of whiskey. (Or two, depending on what you’re going for.) You can also add a drop of natural sweetener like Agave syrup orhoney, or top it off with a few cloves. (In my household, as you can tell from the photo below, we tend to use up the whiskey faster than the honeyor the Agave.) Also, if you want to get fancy and go for a nice presentation, add an apple slice to the side of the glass.

Three optional ingredients. But you'll want something sweet like the agave or the honey. Clearly, we enjoy the bourbon.

With a warm, rich spice and the perfect blend of sweet and tart, Hot Killers are so rejuvenating and perfect for winter, your guests won’t care how they look (did I mention they’re green?) …especially when they’ve had a few rounds.

PS. Clean up’s no fun, but it’s worth it. Maybe in gratitude for your generous hospitality, your guests will do the dishes.

Surf's Up

Last Thursday evening I went to the Faculty Visual Arts Exhibition at The Packer Collegiate Institute from where my firstborn, Axel, is graduating from this June. (So proud.) Two of the faculty members in the show are Axel’s teachers this semester — you guys better give him A’s (just kidding… not really) — and two of them are artists I happen to represent: Mike Miller and Risa Glickman.

Michael Miller

Miller is currently working on a project for the MTA at the Beach 90 Station in Far Rockaway, New York, an area known for its surfing. Five of his gem like paintings have been transformed into faceted glass and will be installed as windows at Beach 90 sometime in the late summer of 2011. Miller’s psychedelic images of surfing and waves is a perfect match for this project, not to mention he is an avid surfer. Go figure!

Glickman is another one of my artists whose landscape drawings have been evolving over the years into a more painterly, looser feel. The introduction of color may have been what freed her. She is looking forward to attending a drawing workshop which she organized next week at Packer.

Ken Rush

I also got a chance to meet and speak with Ken Rush to whom I introduced myself as Axel’s mom. We immediately went to look at his work and I discovered a print that I fell in love with — a beautiful “Solarplate” etching. The process was explained to me but naturally I can’t remember it exactly. It’s basically like intaglio etching without the acid, and with ultraviolet light. (I hope I didn’t butcher that.) Rush said he teaches the process to his students. I wish I could sit in. It sounds so romantic.

If you want to go see this show it’s at The Carol Shen Gallery at Packer Collegiate, 170 Joralemon Street in Brooklyn. The hours are Monday – Friday, 8am – 4pm. The show is up through April 8th.