valentine's day Design Crush: Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz

I promise I am not stalking you. But when I see another of your projects, I fall in love all over again. And you thought you could hide from me in the latest Veranda. Who would have thought to find you here? When I saw the cover, I thought: this is no ordinary Veranda. This is not the tailored and refined Country French I have been accustomed to. This is something altogether different.

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I went to see who it was that could be gracing this beautiful and edgy cover. The white upholstered sofas and daybeds (Room and Board), the ebonized floors, the black tiled fireplace surround...I thought I had found a new crush.

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But then..... I knew it was you as soon as I saw the white sheers and your custom designed light fixture (ABYU Lighting) in the foyer. Yes...you had me at "Hello". Only you could have piqued my interest with the Country Swedish chair with the seat in Sacco Carpet goat hair!

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One of the things I love about you is the way you mix up the high and the low. Like in this Dining Room: putting a Larsen Velvet on a Crate and Barrel chair. It makes my heart smile, like wildflowers in a silver vase. Zimmer + Rohde fabric used as wall art, it's wonderful.

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They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Well men aren't the only ones who love the culinary arts. And to find a kitchen at the other end of the Living Room, well that's just magic. And then you go and make it look like this! That curtain of beads by BallChain around the stovehood, the Plexi-Craft barstools.... sigh.

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I could lounge here for hours on this banquette by the window. Long relaxing dinners with family and friends. Maybe a little Jamie Cullum playing in the back round. You did this on purpose, I know it. (Chairs through Room and Board).

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Then you got really glamorous, but I could expect no less. In the Master Bedroom, you went for the Swarovski crystals on the custom shade and Ostrich Pillow on the bed, both by ABYU. Jean Harlow would be right at home. So could I.

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And there it was.... just what I'd hoped for. One of your iconic feather lampshades (ABYU) hiding in the guest room, perfectly juxtaposed with the Man Ray photographs.

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What I love about you is that you inspire me. I can watch you make magic using sources available to everyone, like this bed by Room and Board, the Restoration Hardware Lamps, and the mirrors by Crate and Barrel.

I promise, I am not stalking you........yet......

All photos by Antoine Bootz for Veranda, May-June 2008

valentine's day Lighten Up!

I have been searching for some lamps and a Dining Room Pendant or Chandelier for my house, so I am a little lighting obsessed at the moment. So it is small wonder that I focus on interesting fixtures in every magazine I come across:

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For example, I was struck by this incredible Sarfatti chandelier from 1952 which is so current, it looks like it could have been designed specifically for this house.

Interior Design Magazine, March 2008, Photo by Jean-Francois Jaussaud

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And this grouping of twelve silver Brand van Egmond broom lights was so whimsical and unique. If you have never visited their website you should do so immediately, if for no other reason than for the very cool Madonna music.

Vacation Homes, February/March 2008, photo by James Silverman

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The three crystal chandelier pieces from Moooi were placed in the 700 square foot reception area of a 12,ooo square foot townhouse in London designed by Rene Dekker of SHH Associates. ( I just have to add that the townhouse belongs to a family with six kids ranging in age from 6 to 27. Yes, that's right. You heard me.........and the design directive was to do a "white" interior....yes, the youngest is six.) Anyway, I digress. The chandeliers are breathtaking, no? SHH is another website that is pretty amazing. Very unique designing going on there.

Vacation Homes, February/March 2008, photo by James Silverman

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Another room from the same townhouse is the first picture from this editorial that really caught my attention. These spherical fixtures come from a German company by the name of Windfall. Made from Swarovski crystals these pendants create a wonderful little solar system. Not to sound repetitive, but this is another "must-see" website. There is much here to capture the imagination.

So, in my search for that "perfect" dining room fixture for myself, I have come across some fixtures that are new this season from companies that really excel at lighting design. I thought I would share:

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New from Bradley-Hughes, a company expanding their empire to the West. For a great expose on the company and it's founder Michelle Bradley, hop on over to Cote de Texas, where Joni has all the scoop. Please meet "Lucille" and "Twiggy", the chandelier and floor lamp that I think are going to be popping up in alot of magazines this year!

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Forest Sepia Hanging Lamp, new from Seascapes Lamps. Bringing the outside in. Check out the new shade pendants on their website.

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I am sometimes stumped when it comes to specifying a ceiling flush mount fixture for a client. There are many out there that are fairly typical or "expected". So I am always pleased when some more unique options come up. These two, new this summer from Circa Lighting, would really add some fun to many an interior.

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Also from Circa Lighting, these are some of the new table lamps due out this summer. I am not sure I can wait that long.

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These are a few of the table lamps I am just loving from Shine Home. Maybe it's just the Spring colors that are drawing me in, or the classic shapes with a twist. Whatever....I just like 'em loads. They may be finding a new home with me.

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I couldn't leave you without reminding you to always check in with Swank Lighting. They always have a flow of wonderful new inventory. "Inventory" doesn't seem quite the right word......hmm.... "treasures" seems more appropriate.

Lighting can make or break a room. Ambient, task, or decorative, it pays to give it the attention it deserves. Maybe more importantly, let it brighten your day...and night.

valentine's day Swarovski in Capri

When I was little one of my favorite movies was Dr. Doolittle, and my favorite part was the scene where they are rescued off the moving island by a great Sea Snail.
I remember the characters were to travel back home inside of this enormous snail shell where the walls were fluid and opalescent pink. When I see the home of Fiona Swarovski on the island of Capri, I get the same feeling of being cocooned inside a beautiful seashell, with the azure sea under my feet.

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The curving lines and pink walls conjure the image of a giant shell and the beautiful turquoise Vietri floor tile echo the sea.

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In the Dining Room Murano glassware lines the top of the fireplace. But one of the things I love here is that any of us could put a collection of seashells in the firebox. A manzanita branch, a can of red spray paint, and viola! A beautiful DIY summer transformation for you fireplace.

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Fiona Swarovski designed the Dining Room chairs and table herself. I love the coral on the draperies. They look painted on, so this could be another DIY for those talented artists out there!

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She brings the coral red color into the Bedroom using Fortuny fabrics for the bedding.

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Fiona Swarovski also designed these sofas. I love the blue Ikat fabrics! There was not a source listed for these, but similiar ikat fabrics can be found through Quadrille and Madeline Weinrib Atelier.

All photos: House and Garden, August 2004

Photos: Matthias Petrus Schaller