New York City Archives - Page 2 of 2

Brunschwig & Fils | Re-inventing Tradition

On my recent trip to New York City, I had the privilege and delight of visiting the creative design studio for Brunschwig & Fils. Recently purchased by Kravet, Brunschwig & Fils is one of the most renowned textile décor companies in the world. Their fabrics, wall coverings and furnishings have been used for generations in spaces as diverse as The White House and the Palace at Versailles to lovely English cottages and newly designed modern traditional homes. I was truly honoured to get a sneak peak behind the scenes of the Brunschwig & Fils design process and learn more about the future direction of this iconic company.

In purchasing Brunschwig & Fils, Kravet has truly maintained the integrity and history of the company while providing the infrastructure necessary for the countless historical documents within the collection to be revived and reinvented.

It is a delicate balance between honouring the history steeped into the prints themselves and the adventure of reinventing the fabrics in new colour ways, textures and weaves that will appeal to a modern clientele. The results are rather stunning, and in my opinion they are swinging the doors wide open to a much younger audience with their new collection.

I fell instantly head-over-heels for this gorgeous faux bois chenille in salmon {above}. Upholstered on an ottoman, a headboard or used as accent cushions {or for the bold and daring, upholstered on a sofa}, this would enrich and enliven any space, from modern to traditional.

I love this reinterpretation of the classic “Le Lac” chinoiserie – softer and more modern on linen rather than the traditional glazed chintz. This particular print dates all the way back to a 1775 French document, a decidedly European, romanticized portrait of life in China. The new modern colour way and weave speak to the longevity that is woven into the fabric of Brunschwig & Fils, right down to their motto: “Good design is forever.”

I hope you’ll indulge me with a decidedly un-designer reference on this next fabric, but the moment I laid eyes upon it I thought of Mary Poppins and her magical carpet bag. I would love to see this lucious weave combined with a distressed olive green leather – perhaps on a wingback chair similar to the one we all feel in love with from Coup D’Etat?

I wish you could feel the hand on this modern reinvention of the classic animal skin {above}. The weight and rich softness of the velvet are nothing short of luxurious.

From the fabrics being created to the work space itself, my visit to the design studios was nothing short of inspiring! My most sincere thanks to David, Jennifer, and the team at Brunschwig & Fils for your gracious hospitality.

For all of my designer friends who are in the Toronto area, you will definitely want to make it out to tomorrow night’s soirée at the Brunschwig & Fils showroom at 320 Davenport in Designer’s Walk. The doors open at 6pm for designers and architects to get an insider’s view to the stunning new collection over drinks, appetizers and the kind of hospitality for which the Kravet family are known. This event is not open to the public but is exclusive to the design trade.

Today I’ll be thinking about how I can honour history while embracing a spirit of adventure and possibility, weaving together the past and the present into a beautiful tapestry of self-expression. Thank you to the creative minds behind Brunschwig & Fils for inspiring this exploration!

Wishing you all a happy and inspired Tuesday!

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|November 27th, 2012|1 Comment

How to Organize Your Accessories 101 | Clos-ette Too

I have a confession to make. I love being organized. I love it when everything is neatly in it’s place and there is a total lack of visual clutter. Here’s the thing. I am not naturally organized. Like, not at all. I am creative and extremely visual, so I often keep things “out where I will remember them.” We all know what that leads to. And so the tension between loving a neat and organized space and being a visual creative is an ongoing battle for me.

I’m a huge believer in doing what you’re good at and then calling on others to do what they are good at to fill in your “gaps” and make you better. Enter Melanie Fascitelli, President and Creative Director of Clos-ette Luxury Closets and the woman on my wish-list of consultants to help me live my organizational dreams.

Based out of NYC, Melanie is in fact considered the closet organizer to the stars, a well-respected guru in designing and building custom closets and dressing rooms that are as functional as they are beautiful. If a custom closet makeover just isn’t in your budget right now, you can still benefit from her editorial genius through her lovely product line of travel cases, Clos-ette Too. Melanie has also recently launched a gorgeous online magazine with inspiring stories of organizational transformations. Here’s a sneak peek inside this lovely mag’s pages with just one such story:

Organization is such a meaningful way to bring beauty to the world {order out of chaos!} and I love that Melanie’s mission is to help us edit our closets so that form and function can meet and co-habitate in the loveliest way!

Here’s an up-close look at her brilliant travel jewellery and makeup cases. They are so well designed with such thoughtful details to keep necklaces from tangling and rings from getting lost.

Pretty fabulous, right? What are your favourite tips for being organized in your house, kitchen and closet?

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|October 2nd, 2012|0 Comments

Condo Living: Space Saving Redefined

One of the things I love most about the design industry is seeing innovative colleagues and companies create remarkable products that solve problems. Obstacles are often just opportunities for creativity if one is willing to push through them. That drive is undoubtedly what fuels the creative fires of the design team of Italy’s Clei. This innovative furniture manufacturer’s products – imported by Resource Furniture – have been sold to New York City residents since 2000, and now they have come to Toronto.

From designers to mechanical engineers to hardware specialists, the creative minds involved in the design, prototyping and manufacturing process of these products are incredibly impressive. So is the lifetime warranty.

Given the Manhattanization of Toronto and our subsequent booming condo culture, the market for multipurpose, space saving furniture is on the rise. With per square foot costs in the city skyrocketing, “tidy and efficient” condos {read: REALLY SMALL} are dominating the market. If you’ve decided to nest in one of them, you will definitely want to visit Resource Furniture – now in Toronto at 366 Adelaide St. East – to make the most of each precious square inch.

The mind-blowing, space-creating function of these pieces really must be seen to be believed. A 600 pound bed frame can literally be moved with the touch of a finger. Your jaw will drop as it morphs into an office space before your very eyes (with books still on the shelf). It’s like something from an episode of “I Dream of Genie.” No wiggling noses or fairy dust required here though folks. In this case, the magic is all in the brilliantly engineered hydraulic system.

There is no better way to understand how this product magically transforms from one purpose to another than to see it in action. Here are two quick videos guaranteed to make you believe that engineers are sexy too.

Astonishing, right? I think it’s worth a trip to the showroom just to show off your hidden, superpower strength. “Look, babe! I can lift this bed with ONE FINGER!” Definitely good second date material for those feeling the need to impress.

Wishing you a creative and inspired weekend!

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|July 20th, 2012|4 Comments