The Nutcracker

The holiday season is benchmarked by many things to me. 

The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center - image via Kelly-Mooney Photography

But this classic ballet set to Tchaikovsky's exhilarating score is the most elegant of Christmastime traditions.  Many people say it's slow and a bit schmaltzy, but I'm a sucker for 'The Nutcracker.'  I've attended countless performances of the ballet by different dance companies in many different venues.  No matter if they're local children or world-renowned ballerinas, the performers always tug at my holiday heartstrings through dainty dances and the wonderful plot of this classic story. 

There is a holiday party at Clara's house.  She and all the kids play and dance.
image via Cho Photography



Clara's mysterious godfather brings her a gift, a handsome wooden nutcracker.
image via Peter Norvig Photography



Clara is absolutely smitten with the gift. She falls asleep in the parlour under the Christmas tree with the nutcracker.
image via Hong Kong Ballet

Clara dreams that the Nutcracker comes to life to defend her against the invading mice army.
image via Will Brenner Photography



The Mouse King and his army are really scary, but Clara is saved
by the Nutcracker's heroic bravery.
image by Rosalie O'Connor via Faster Times

The Nutcracker turns into a Prince, who whisks her away to a magic snow kingdom.
image via Hong Kong Ballet



They are greeted by dancing snowflakes in the enchanted forest.
image via Mazzaferro Photography

The Prince escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. They tell the fairy about their daring battle with the army of mice
and she rewards them with a celebration of dances.
image via Will Brenner Photography

 

image by Carol Pratt for the Washington Ballet

Mother Ginger, a gingerbread house-like apparition,
opens her skirt to free dozens of dancing gingerbread cookies.
image (and very cute backstory) via Dumping My Purse



image via Brio Dance Company

The Land of Sweets send Clara and the Prince off with a stunning parade farewell.
image by Jim McFarlane via the Berkshire Review

Clara awakens from her dream and finds herself by her Christmas tree with her beloved Nutcracker.
image via Carlos Echenique

If you have a chance to see this classic Christmas performance (and there's probably one in your area), support the Arts and treat yourself to this magical tale with superb orchestral score.
Cheers,
Whitney

Simple Living Series: The Unfolding Apartment

When I read about this built-in cabinetry piece that creates 4 unique 'rooms' in a studio apartment, I assumed that I would dislike the space.  As a humble traditionalist, I tend to lean towards more overt solutions with space management.  Many modern space-conscious designs, in my opinion, look cheap, rickety (for more on this, see my thoughts on Convertible Furniture), and extremely tacky.
 
But, this built-in unit works so well that the functionality of it makes it chic.  As if, through an ingenious mixture of geeky engineering and wild creativity, this guy's apartment became the James Bond of apartments. 

It's a long video, but totally worth watching if you're interested in Small Space Living and brilliant space planning. 


            via NY Daily News

Maybe, it would be better nicknamed the Inspector Gadget of apartments.  "Go, Go, Gadget Bed!"

Cheers,
Whitney

TONIGHT: Design Night on Carnegie Hill

If you're in the NYC area tonight, make your way uptown to the Design Night on Carnegie Hill, hosted by a grouping of upper Madison Avenue antique & décor shops. 

Dealers will be keeping their doors open late for a community night of shopping, socializing and admiring their truly spectacular home décor and fine antiques.  I'll be at Flessas Design most of the night, so please come stop by to browse, shop, have a glass of wine and mingle.  Also participating are Good Design, Buck House, Gerald Bland, Carnegie Hill Antiques and Linda Horn.  See you there!

Cheers,
Whitney

The Only Question

The only question is... Where would you put it?

In the bedroom?
As a showstopper in the entry?
In the living room?
Across from your home office desk?

The possibilities are endless.  I love this chair.  LOVE this chair.  It's a campaign-style armchair designed by Otto Parzinger for Maison Jansen. Brushed steel frame with black leather seat, back, and armrests.  Finished with solid bronze paw feet and bronze finials on arm and back rests. 

This thing is SO haute.  If you're in the NYC area, see at Flessas Design on Madison Ave in the 90s.  It is divine in person.  Trust.
Cheers,
Whitney

Back In It To Win It

My blogging fell off the face of the Earth, as did I.  But I'm back.  And Planet Earth has never felt better and looked more beautiful than than this week.  The crisp cool(er) air of early autumn finally strutted into New York and everyone has a subsequent smile on their face.  The hot soggy month of September did a number on our spirits and our footwear, but a slight weather change has made a huge difference in morale.
 

Pretty parade of clouds over NYC early Monday morning. 
Photo by the incredibly talented Inga Sarda-Sorensen via Twitter

 Whitney Interior Design had a busy September, in Kentucky followed by Massachusetts, working with wonderful clients and their lovely homes.  I promised photos of the thrifty n' fast Lexington bedroom redecoration, and I'll be posting those later this week.  {Had to teach myself how to tweak some of the photos in post-edit.}  Photos of some victorious organizing projects in Cambridge will be posted soon, too. 

In the meantime....

• Ellen & Portia's place is pretty mint.  Did you see the shoe closet? I wuv it.
• I somehow missed on my blogroll that this famous blogger is with child #5!  A million trillion congratulations to this wonderful woman and her Mr.
• Do you think that I would attend this solely for access to that amazing house? You bet your a$$.
• Are you kidding me with all the patina & texture & sexiness of this room?!?!
• I frequently re-read this post because, well, I need a ferocious giggle to get me through a rough patch.
• Jenny of MFAMB started abstract painting, which it seems like everyone is doing all of a sudden.  I like really really reeeeeally like these.
• Need a good housewarming/thank you gift?  Find these little beauties at various retailers. I saw them at Gracious Home in tons of prints/patterns and bet the votive jar would be wonderfully reused as a bud vase when the candle is burned through.    

Cheers,
Whitney

Getting Excited... and Elegant Living

I'm getting excited for the Antiques, Art & Design Show at the Armory!  Got my postcard reminder (and free admission for 2!) in the mail, and am marking my calendar!  I get so much inspiration at the Armory shows.  The cream of the crop bring their very best wares to present an insightful & stimulating display of the loveliest things you'd ever seen.  Can't wait!


Go HERE for details on the show. 

And, today is my amazing, wonderful, awesome mother's birthday.  Happy Birthday Mom!  I have learned more from you than any design school, art show, history lecture or cooking class could ever teach about the art of elegant living.  You are my hero!
Cheers,
Whitney

Simple Living: Minuscule in Manhattan

This architect DEFINES minimal living.  I applaud his dedication to a tidy, organized and well-edited home.  His resourcefulness and handy construction work are commendable.  He says he loves the Midtown location of this closet home.  He's willing to live with very little privacy and comfort in the name of efficiency.  But is his willingness worth it? 

It's no lie that Manhattan apartments are typically overpriced, but I find this to be a disgusting example of thievery in urban real estate.  Just look at the work he had to do to make this place livable. 

 
When I first moved to NYC in 2002, I lived in a basement studio apartment on the Upper Westside.  It was small and perfect for a single girl with little money and few belongings.  I was paying 60% more than this fella pays with 449% more space.  I had my own bathroom. I had counter space in a tiny kitchen.  There was a stove. I had room for a full-size bed AND a chair.   I lived 30 blocks north of where this guy lives.  The fact that he's paying so much to live in a space so little seems inflated even to me, a jaded Manhattanite. 

What do you think?  Is the desire to live in a prime location worth sacrificing one's sense of personal space & comfort? 

Cheers,
Whitney

The 72-room Bank House

image by Leigh Davis for New York Magazine

Called "the greatest real-estate coup of all time" by New York magazine, photographer Jay Maisel purchased this 72 room abandoned bank at 190 Bowery at Spring Street in 1966 for $102,000.  He renovated it for his family and his photography studio. 

The 1898 Gilded Age structure is measures 35,000 square feet over six floors.  As a residence, the space exudes an artist-commune vibe with creatively-used rooms and unique decor.  Maisel, his wife and daughter, share the space.  That's roughly 11,600 square feet per person.  "I need some space" is unlikely an uttered phrase in the Maisel home.

The dining room with original pressed-tin wallcoverings. 
image by Leigh Davis for New York Magazine

The original oak door frames separate former bank offices, now gallery space.
image by Leigh Davis for New York Magazine

The kitchen is on the site of the bank’s original kitchen, where staff cooked for the bankers.
image by Leigh Davis for New York Magazine

Long corridors are filled with the family's collected treasures.  Plastic sheeting acts as a makeshift ventilation system.
image by Leigh Davis for New York Magazine

The bank's original vault is used for the photographer's files and stored pieces. 
image by Leigh Davis for New York Magazine

image via Fireplace Chats

Upon purchase, this New York City neighborhood had been sinking into a deep sub-depression and the Bowery became an urban wasteland.  In an interview with New York magazine, Maisel described the area as having been “more disgusting than dangerous.”

But, as urban gentrification took over the Lower East Side, and slowly crept to the borders of the Bowery, Maisel found his property value increase exponentially.  John Varvatos opened a boutique nearby.  A Whole Foods megastore went up.  Luxury apartments are taking over derelict buildings.  And now Maisel's Beaux Arts structure and its property are worth between 30 and 70 million dollars, as the corner lot sits in the heart of NYC's latest desirable “new neighborhood” to live, work and play. 
Cheers,

Whitney

Go, Go, GO to this sale!

I'll be there.  Will you?

Cheers,

Whitney

A Quick Thrift Spin

Earlier this week I was running some errands on the Upper East Side, and went into a few of my go-to thrift haunts.  Housing Works almost always shines in the second-hand store category, and these sightings did not disappoint.  I favor the Housing Works on 77th Street off Third Ave, but have had very good luck at the Grammercy and Chelsea locations, too.

A delightful and versatile rocker bench.  I'd sand it down, paint it a glossy navy and put it in a child's room

An immaculate set of bentwood chairs.  Bentwood chairs!  These are for sale through HW's auction site.

Um, not sure that this is an operable gas mask, but it might be a cool, punk decor accessory in the right room, no?

A huge leather case, in perfectly-worn-and-loved condition. Only catch? The latch was locked shut and the combination unknown.  The photo is shoddy, but it was a beautiful saddle color.

After I left Housing Works -- empty-handed, amazingly! -- I walked to Thriffany on First Ave.  Yes that's such an absurd name but I can't stop thinking about it when I'm in their shop, so at least its catchy.  Their selection is varied but such is the case with most thrift shops.  The thrill of the hunt is most of the fun. 

This pair of portaits caught my eye. 

And by 'catching my eye,' I mean that I wanted to buy insurance from them.

This vintage brass banquet server was cool. 

A huge burlwood dresser.  Marked down to $225, which is crazy, but they'd likely take half that.

And during my walk between Housing Works and Thriffany, I saw this old lady hanging out over her window ledge watching me like a ... wait, that's not an old lady! That's a pit bull!

Only in New York...

All these photos were taken with my crummy Blackberry.  On that note, I'm in the market for a new camera.  A legitimate camera which I will respect & love as the investment that it shall be.  But I know very little about fancy cameras.  What kind of shooter do you use and/or recommend??  I'm anxiously awaiting your ideas & advice!
Cheers,
Whitney

What's Rad? Rowley and Reed + Rader

The fashion designer Cynthia Rowley revealed her resort collection today.  The collection's presentation has been elevated to a creative swell with the help of Brooklyn progressive artists / photographers / graphic magicians / meowzas Reed + Rader.  See it today on StyleCaster. 

Have you ever seen the photos of Rowley's NYC home?  Elle Decor featured her townhouse in 2008, and her gilded piano still sticks out my my brain.  It's hollow, plastic-lined, and serves as an ice bucket.  Seriously haute.



all images Elle Decor, 2008

 I think Cynthia Rowley's designs are fabulous, and have always thought she was just so damn cool.  Then I saw this video on Sytlelikeu and now I know she is just so damn cool. 

Cheers,
Whitney

Hirschy

I am a big fan of auction houses.  I've purchased many wares at auctions for myself and for clients, always thrilled with the chase of the item and usually thrilled that I managed to buy something way below it's cost value.

One of my favorite houses in NY is Doyle on the Upper East Side.  Doyle offers @Home auctions every few months and I almost always find something amazing, like cannot-live-without-it-I'm-serious-I-will-explode-if-this-isn't-mine-by-the-end-of-the-day-type of amazing things at these auctions.  Many of the items are from the estates of collectors of fine art, furnishings, rugs or table goods.  I have seen an entire suite of pristine antique silver go for just a handful of dough.  Crazy.

Self-portrait. Hirschfeld at work.

The upcoming Doyle @Home auction is that of the Estate of Al Hirschfeld.  I looooove Al Hirschfeld.  I have an entire board on Pinterest dedicated to illustrators, and Hirschfeld is one of the best.  His satirical drawings have appeared in the drama pages for over sixty years.  His caricatures have graced countless magazine and news covers, and his style has been widely emulated by illustrators that followed him.  

Doyle is hosting an auction of Hirschfeld's estate on June 22nd.  If you're local, go check out the pieces in person; you can browse the auction floor and see these pieces up close before the auction on preview days June 18-21. If you're out of the NYC area, you can bid online.  Wouldn't it be so neat to own one of his original caricatures or a piece of his studio furniture?!?

Leather & wood captain's chair

Judy Garland

Glass & Brass side table.  Very Eileen Grey, non?

Elton, Barry, Dolly, Frank, Bing, Tina and Crosby/Stills/Nash. 

Biedermeier Walnut Cabinet

Audrey in Hat

Bust

A collection of antiquarian books

Woody Allen

His iron & wood studio drafting table

Want to own a little history?  Then I'll see you at the auction!
Cheers,
Whitney