Architectural Digest Home Show 2011

I was lucky enough to spend the day in NYC at the Architectural Digest Home Show at Pier 94. It was almost 75 degrees out on the pier, so it could not have been a better day to play hooky from the studio.

These World War II Naval Observation Binoculars were very cool. Mostly salvaged from German and Japanese ship yards, the artist dismantled them, removed the camo paint, restored the optics and polished them to perfection. Prices ranged from $15,000 to $60,000.

I love the work of Art Donovan. This piece is from his Steampunk Collection.

I stopped by for a visit to my friends at Crown Point Cabinetry. Check out their website. They are offering several new designs.

My friend, Susan Serra, CKD, launched her new kitchen furniture company, Bornholm, at the show. The pieces look as good live, as they do on the website.

It was great to finally meet Susan in person. We’ve been blogging friends for years, but haven’t met until today. The Internet is truly an amazing thing.

I shared more of my favorites from the show on Twitter. Check out my tweet stream here.

canvas

I love the simplicity of this new store.

From canvas:

Welcome to canvas, a new collection of ceramics, wooden objects, textiles, accessories and furniture for the home created by artisans and craftsmen from the US and abroad.

canvas is a journey around the globe that combines natural materials with interesting textures. Unstructured, soft shapes and subtle colours define a look that is understated yet elegant.

With a continued pursuit of products made under fair trade and green principles, we aim for a collection that represents simple, sustainable style.

Living Well Link of the Week: canvas

Friends of Fivecat: Uttermost

You may know Uttermost as a purveyor of fine home decorative products, such as frames, mirrors, lamps and accessories. We’ve spec’d their goods for our restaurant and retail work in the early years of Fivecat Studio. More recently, a few of their mirrors have found their way into our high-end residential projects.

What I did not know, until Annmarie showed me a recent ad in Veranda magazine, is that the people who run Uttermost are animal rescuers, just like us.

We’ve found over the years that folks who love animals, and go the extra mile to ensure their happiness and safety, are just good people. Good people run good companies.

If you’re in the market for home decor, check out Uttermost. A portion of every sale goes to support animal rescue organizations. For more information on Uttermost, their work with homeless animals and a few canine bios (Simon’s too) from their recent advertisements, visit the Uttermost Newsroom.

Restored Antiques by Rejuvenation

Rejuvenation is well known for their exceptional collection of historically inspired light fixtures. Throughout the past few years, they’ve introduced additional offerings, such as hardware and accessories.

Did you know that they also offer restored antique originals?

From Rejuvenation.com:

As much as our own lighting and hardware reproductions are chips off the old blocks, the heart, soul, and origin of Rejuvenation is rooted in lighting restoration and architectural salvage.

We opened shop in 1977, and ever since then, preservation, restoration, and a great respect for tradition and craftsmanship have been at the core of our values.

Choose from original vintage lighting, shades, and hardware from Victorian to Mid-Century Modern styles in finishes that have been expertly revived, reconditioned, and protected.

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Lighting for Less

At every turn we see companies scrambling to increase sales. With an economy like ours, the quickest way to increase cash flow is to have a sale. Even Rejuvenation has announced a collection of vintage light fixtures being sold for $150.00 or less.

We love Rejuvenation. We have several of their fixtures installed in our own cottage in the woods of Chappaqua. Annmarie spec’d the ceramic Echo fixture, pictured above left, for our downstairs bathroom.

The fixture featured in my blog header above is Rejuvenation too, but not for less than $150.00.

Deco Sconces

Metropolitan by Schoolhouse Electric

Vida by Rejuvenation

The Storyboard Collection by Metropolitan Lighting

New Winter Header Image

The new header image is shot from our cottage’s back door in the woods of Chappaqua. The sconce is from Rejuvination.

A Home Theater by Fivecat Studio

This is a recently completed home theater, designed for a family in Bedford Corners. Actually, we designed an entire lower level for their house, starting with a raw unfinished walk-out basement.

The space you see here started life as a concrete bunker located under the existing two-car garage. It had a concrete ceiling, concrete walls, a concrete floor and one ceramic-based incandescent light bulb installed in the middle of the room.

We worked with Mark Britton of Media Stratego for the audio, video, acoustics and the most awesome iSky ceiling panels. Chuck Morgan of Morgan Construction headed up the construction for the entire project, including the stained cherry woodwork for the theater. The client did an excellent job of selecting furniture, fabric and carpets.

For Sale: “Green” CFL Light Fixtures

If anyone is interested in purchasing a set of the sconces we specified for this project, I am running an ebay auction for a whole lot of eight (8).

The contemporary style opal glass fixtures were custom fabricated by Vermont’s Hubbardton Forge and have special order “green” CFL lamping. The fixtures list for $230 each (that’s $1800.00+, if you buy them retail). Bidding starts at $200 (plus shipping) for all eight (8) fixtures.

If you are within a 30 minute drive from Pleasantville, I will even hand deliver them for free.

Don’t miss out on this incredible bargain.

The fixtures are currently stored in my garage. I need to make room for my classic 1969 Camaro RS. It’s finally coming home (that’s a long story for another post).

Jill on Color

Jill Clarkson is a color consultant from the west coast. Today she has a very interesting post on the effect lighting has on color. Check it out here.

Barn Light Electric Company

While I am still daydreaming about the river, here’s a link to Barn Light Electric. They have some really great utilitarian light fixtures. The river house has an original that matches Barn Light’s “Warehouse 16“. I am sure Dad found it at a garage sale during their weekly Saturday morning junk hunt (I call it that with much love).