house Archives - Page 30 of 61

Design Find | Élitis Wallpapers | The Pleats Collection

You may remember me saying yesterday that I have an insatiable appetite for art for many reasons, but it is in part because of the endless expression of uniqueness filtered through each individual artist. The journey of discovery is endless – visually, creatively and within oneself.

While I by no means place manufactured product into the same category as art, there are certain products that are something of an artform, with a history behind them that dates back through centuries of craftsmanship. Wallpaper is one such product, and I think the endless variation and innovation seen in this niche of the design industry is fascinating. Just when I think I’ve seen it all, someone comes up with an outrageous, jewel-encrusted paper or a new hand-painted technique that is jaw-dropping. From diversity of aesthetic, to diversity of process, to diversity of application, wallpaper will always interest me.

I stumbled upon a wallpaper recently that once again blew apart my paradigms of what is possible. I honestly can’t remember where I first saw the room adorned with the eye-catchingly simple pleated wallpaper, but the texture drew me in and had me searching the web for the source immediately. And with that, today’s Design Find! Élitis Wallpaper, The Pleats Collection.

A cross between a quilted wall and an origami art installation, the delicate folds in the wallpaper {above} provide a detailed and sophisticated relief, layering texture-upon-texture and interest-upon-interest.

The above paper from the collection is both delicate and modern, old world and edgy. I absolutely love it in the indigo for its boldly feminine statement.

How amazing are those little vertical folds? I would forever be running my hand across the wall, no doubt. A modern-day, edgy twist on traditional Rococo-esque wall panelling leads to dramatic yet whimsical results with this paper {above} bringing the feeling of a French pied-à-terre right into your own home. Délicieux.

What wallpapers have caught your fancy of late, and what do you think of this collection from France’s Élitis? Wishing you an inspired Tuesday with at least one discovery that breaks apart your paradigms of what is possible.

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|May 7th, 2013|0 Comments

Design Find | David Wiseman

I love it when I stumble upon a prolific maker. A creator whose creativity cannot be confined to just one small line of products or offerings, but whose capacity and imagination are seemingly limitless. A creative who sees the world with wonder and endless possibility. Discovering the work of LA-based David Wiseman, I have no doubt we have found just that.

A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design {RISD}, Wiseman is steeped in the skill and tradition of time-honoured craftsmanship, which he uses as the foundation for his exploration and experimentation with contemporary design. He is indeed a prolific maker, with a body of work that covers a stunning spectrum from large scale installations to furniture, lighting and objets.

{Warning: The following images may lead to drooling and extensive wish lists}

OBJETS

Words cannot describe how “right” David got it with the creation of his Bronze Facet Vase collection. {pictured above} The gentle assymetry. The allusion to nature. The unswervingly modern edge. The use of material. The variations on a theme. Stunning. Palm-bitingly “right.”

This series of salt + pepper wells is refreshingly unexpected, drawing upon nature whilst creating an idealized, almost fantasy-like collection.

I’m utterly smitten with this porcelain owl {pictured below} delicately perched atop a bronze branch so realistic I want to reach out and touch it to see if it’s real. I would love to use this sculpturally simple statement as the art installation in a bathroom I’m working on.

FURNITURE + LIGHTING

How enchanted is this branch chandelier? {pictured above} My dream room as a little girl would have had a ceiling strewn with these, winding their way across the room as if to lead me out into a secret garden. {And when we get to David’s installations, you’ll see that he clearly peered into my childhood dreams when I was sleeping.}

This table version of the cherry blossom chandelier would make a understated yet sophisticated statement on a tablescape {think weddings!} or across a mantle for a refreshingly Narnia-esque, winter wonderland take on seasonal decor.

INSTALLATIONS

Wiseman’s installations are truly the stuff of fantasy worlds come to life, with clients like Dior calling upon his genius to create massive, bespoke art pieces for their flagships from Shanghai to New York.

{image courtesy of Dior}

What a find! David Wiseman is certainly on my list of designers to watch, and I have no doubt he will become an iconic maker whose pieces will be collectable heirlooms in years to come.

Happy Tuesday!
xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|April 30th, 2013|0 Comments

The Curated Collection | Cy Twombly

Remember the jaw-droppingly gorgeous floor from Catherine Kwong‘s rock ‘n’ roll lounge at the 2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase? I can’t stop thinking about it, and more to the point, wishing I had a client courageous enough to allow me to make such unabashedly artistic gestures in their home. I loved Catherine’s process, and the storied and curated inspiration for her room – from Mick and Bianca Jagger and the rock ‘n’ roll glam culture they helped to create; to the hum and vibe of backstage life; to the iconic art of Cy Twombly, the direct inspiration for that inspiring floor.

So today I’m taking some time to sit and savour – like sipping a fine wine – the artist who inspired Catherine’s spectacular art floor: Cy Twombly.

Born in 1928, Twombly was known for his large-scale, freely scribbled, calligraphic-style graffiti paintings. Painted on solid fields of mostly gray, tan, or off-white, it is their graphic simplicity bursting with emotion that sets them apart and has led to his work being exhibited and collected around the globe.

His approach to painting blurred the lines between painting and drawing, making lines and gestures subject matter unto themselves, holding their own next to traditional landscapes and figurative work.

Twombly was influential amongst his peers, and an agent of discomfort for critics in the postwar era of art. He had a capacity to polarize his audience – from discomfort to passionate admiration of his boldness.

How do you respond to the gestural work of Cy Twombly? Confusion? Admiration?

My hope is he inspires all of us to push the boundaries of exploration and expression. He certainly succeeded with Catherine Kwong, and I tip my hat to them both.

Happy Monday!
xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|April 29th, 2013|0 Comments