EXPLORING, CONTAMINATING AND REINVENTING
Culture
The concept of simplicity
We consider the extraordinary life of Chilean art patron Eugenia Errázuriz, a truly groundbreaking talent, and minimalist to the end, who, counting ascetically minded French decorator Jean-Michel Frank amongst her many disciples, called “la colonie”, ushered in not only modernism, but the sort of laid-back, comfortable interiors we still live with today.
interiors with edge
We consider the way in which juxtaposing art, architecture and furniture from different epochs and eras, thereby creating “edge” or “bite” to what might otherwise be a relatively staid and expected mise-en-scène— from Isabelle Hebey, to Charles Sevigny and Hubert de Givenchy —can make us see not only interiors, but works of design differently, with prescient insights from New-York based designer and gallerist Patrick McGrath.
avant-garde done gently
Christie’s auction house will soon be offering important works from the single-owner collection, “American Avant-Garde: The James D. Zellerbach Residence by Frances Elkins”, maintained until now in its original location since 1937, including works by Jean-Michel Frank, Emilio Terry and Alberto Giacometti. As such, we’ve teamed up to offer an insight into both the collection and the work of Frances Elkins, who played a pivotal role in transforming the world of interior design.
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RESTRAINED WHIMSY
We spoke to Upper Eastside gallerist and interior designer Alyssa Kapito, who is, by her own admission, a devotee at the galuchat-clad altar of French decorative arts, about her work, inspirations, “Romantasy” fiction and whether or not she can pull off Lalanne finger caps.
return to the individual
Saman Amel have launched a flagship London atelier; and with an approach akin to Gertrude Stein, they intend to use the space as a platform for expressing their innate passion for art and design. Generations of young creatives “found” their place within Stein’s illustrious salons, a synergistic environment where, crucially, ideas were exchanged face to face, first-hand. Similarly, Saman Amel hope to foster an environment where customers can come together for thematic exhibitions and soirées, with the hope of promoting conversations beyond clothes.
american eclectic
With such a rich history of art and design, interweaving as it does, different eras and epochs, from Elsie de Wolfe and Jean-Michel Frank to the influence of exiled European avant-garde artists, and gallerists such as Peggy Guggenheim, it should come as little surprise that a new generation of New York decorators are taking inspiration from the past. As such, we spoke to Sebastian Zuchowicki about coquille d’œuf marquetry, the rise and rise of the celebrity interior stylist and, perhaps more pressingly, his abiding love for lampshades.
TRAVEL
At Sloane
Upon entering the burnt-brick hues of the hotel’s Neo-Greek lobby, one quickly loses all sense of the outside world, entering a richly layered mise-en-scène, a throwback to a golden age of luxury. Beguiled by its inherent charm, I met the designer, François-Joseph Graf, for a tour, after which, we discussed his influences and inspirations, the decorators he most admires, and more pressing concerns, such as where to get the best steak tartare and frog legs in Paris.
Atmospheric intent
“Hotel Château Voltaire is anything but a decoration,” explains Thierry Gillier, “It is a place of today to be experienced today by people of today.” With that in mind, we spoke to Charlotte de Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay of Festen architecture, not only about their design for this 32-room five-star Paris hotel, but also their likes, dislikes and, in the case of the former, a long-harboured desire to moonlight as a dancer.
Home Away From Home
We spoke to Andrea Bokobsa, co-founder of Pied-A-Terre Paris, about his passion for art and design (in part inspired by his mother, a former designer for Baby Dior and Bonpoint) and where he hopes to take the company in coming years
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