history

Exotic Chic

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Stacey Bewkes   •   8 Comments
There is so much theses days, in fashion and in our homes, reflecting a love for exotic chic. Even long before these far off places were easily accessible, westerners have been adopting styles as they envisioned life in these cultures. In Turquerie, a book from last year that I have been meaning to share, author Haydn Williams thoroughly explores this fascinating area of fine and decorative art that still influences us today.…
Posted in art, art history, books, furniture, history, interior design | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments  

Looking Back to Move Forward

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Stacey Bewkes   •   10 Comments
Having just immersed ourselves in the dazzling world of Duke Fulco di Verdura, it was fortuitous to learn, via T magazine, that a new luxury edition of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s 1958 novel, “The Leopard” is being published. Including 32 photographs by Giovan Battista Poletto, below, from the set of Visconti’s 1963 film, looking back at the Sicilian setting for this novel offers insight into the early life of the master jeweler that so informed his work.…
Posted in art, fashion, film, history, interior design, travel | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments  

Behind the Scenes Video at Verdura at 75

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Stacey Bewkes   •   12 Comments
2014 was a big year for Verdura and the iconic jewelry house celebrated in singular style with an unprecedented exhibit last fall. In a beautiful Daniel Romualdez designed space adjacent to their salon, The Power of Style, Verdura at 75, commemorated their landmark anniversary, noting 75 years since Fulco di Verdura opened the doors to his Fifth Avenue boutique.…
Posted in design, history, jewelry, Stylish Shopping | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments  

Winterthur Collection at Currey & Company

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Stacey Bewkes   •   11 Comments
Although I was unable to attend High Point this market, one of my regular stops, that I was sorry to miss, is Currey & Company, who was debuting, among other introductions,  new additions to their Winterthur Collection. While Currey now carries a wide range of furnishings, you may not know that they began, in 1988, as a company offering classic garden furniture from the Winterthur Museum and the Smithsonian.  …
Posted in furniture, history, interior design | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments  

Cornucopia Magazine

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Stacey Bewkes   •   8 Comments
I can still remember seeing Mica and Ahmet Ertegun’s Bodrum villa for the first time. It was decades ago in a publication I have now forgotten, but I recall being immediately smitten with the allure of the exotic seaside location and the white washed stone house filled with Turkish furnishings.…
Posted in architecture, art, design, food and drink, history, interior design, learning, travel | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments  

Hubert de Givenchy for Christie’s during the Biennale des Antiquaires

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Stacey Bewkes   •   2 Comments
This week marks the Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris. The prestigious show presents the crème de la crème of antiques, decorative arts and jewelry in the glamorous and luxurious setting of the Grand Palais. And of course many local galleries and salons coordinate exhibits to take advantage of visitors to the event.…
Posted in art, Christie's, furniture, history, interior design, travel | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments  

Welcome Back to the 18th Century at the Louvre

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Stacey Bewkes   •   9 Comments
Next week marks the reemergence of the 18th century at the Louvre. In the north wing of the museum’s Cour Carrée, resides its exceptional collection of 18th century decorative arts. The collection, which hasn’t been on view for almost ten years, includes an incomparable array of masterpieces, from rugs and tapestries to royal furniture, jewelry and porcelain.…
Posted in architecture, art, art history, design, furniture, history, interior design, travel | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments  

A Fountainhead Fantasy by Doug Meyer at Legends

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Stacey Bewkes   •   15 Comments
The best gathering at Legends was no doubt in Doug Meyer’s brilliant window installation for Dragonette, sponsored by the Palos Verdes Art Center, where Meyer is working on a major design overhaul. Howard Roark’s Enright House of The Fountainhead, as envisioned by the multifaceted designer, was the chic epicenter for legendary luminaries of the 20’s, 30’s and beyond. …
Posted in architecture, art, art history, books, design, furniture, history, interior design, travel | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments  

The House of Odiot

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Stacey Bewkes   •   11 Comments
My eyes are always open for the beautiful. Beauty may be inherent in function, design, craftsmanship or mere essence but when it encompasses all, there is a story to be told. From the first time I saw Odiot in the NYC showroom of Julia Watts, I was intrigued.…
Posted in design, history, interior design, travel | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments  

Creative Collaboration at Chesney’s

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Stacey Bewkes   •   3 Comments
Since 1983 Chesney’s has made creative collaboration the core of their business. Initially joining forces with the past, the firm focused on restoring antique fireplaces but it was when they began creating historically accurate reproductions as well as bespoke designs that their business really boomed.…
Posted in history, interior design | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments