Flair Home designers George Nunno and Jon Maroto have a distinctive super sophisticated eclectic style I adore. With a mix of vintage and new Italian and American pieces, it is impossible to put a chonronological or geographic stamp on their creations. One can easily imagine some timeless cosmopolitan luminary like Luchino Visconti or Cary Grant in the space.
The Tilton Fenwick girls were lucky enough to snag the gorgeous 1950′s Dassi table from the room.
David Duncan‘s eponymous antiques store has been a go-to source for designers for decades. For fine furniture, lighting and accessories, the selection is always stellar. His Design on a Dime booth was a well curated collection of continental charm.
From chic living room with that amazing vintage mirrored mantel
to imagined sidewalk cafe, the vignette had a “take me away” appeal.
New Trad winner Nick Olsen‘s vignette was a layered explosion of color. He makes coordinating all these disparate elements look so easy but of course we know better!
An eclectic exoticism started with rugs from Nick’s own collection and Metropolitan Carpet Gallery and a Turkish ottoman by Fine Arts Furniture with Samuel & Sons cord. The elegant framed panels are by de Gournay and the large painting was created by Nick himself – quite the Renaissance man! Lucky Marisa Marcantonio snagged the beautiful Christopher Spitzmiller lamp and Rebecca Soskin went home with the graphic black and white pillow.
A successful play on scale, chairs varied from the small purple side chair that Nick donated to the larger blue tufted armchair from Luther Quintana. The red cabinet, donated by his friend Rebecca Gabin, with slender Circa lights atop, was a great color block piece behind the chair and against the blue walls. A great showing, especially for first time out!
It was impossible not to be wowed by Miles Redd‘s amazing room. Starting with an incredible layering of black and white pattern and graphics, he added single punches of bright primary color – exactly like what we saw in so many of the fall 2012 runway shows. And it is a perfect lesson in how commercially available items such as Restoration Hardware’s Royal Master Sealight floor lamp and reproduction 19th C. Baroque Ravenna Etched Mirror can be successfully woven into a more sophisticated space. Lucky Amanda Nisbet nabbed the fabulous urns and author Susannah Salk will be finding a place to hang the fantastic Owl print!
While remarkably busy, there is a soothing symmetry to the space that brings it all together. The mirrored vignettes on opposite walls may be different but similar in proportion, scale and composition, creating the perfect balance.
Here you can see how the black and white patterns complemented each other and the details of the mirrored assemblages. There is a very good reason why Redd is the Creative Director of Oscar de la Renta Home!!
Foley & Cox had a huge double space that was impossible to shoot in one take. Elegant and tailored with sophisticated neutrals, they filled their space with donations from a vast list of top design sources.
I must remember the idea of the feather arrangement come fall and I wish I had looked more closely at the faux books in the “fireplace” – so clever. You could probably achieve that look by just wallpapering a board.
Anchoring the other end of the space was a fabulous Cabinet no. Two Seventy.Two from The New Traditionalists (below left). Some lucky person got a fantastic deal if they had room in their home to have that delivered!
The mix of textures was terrific from the impressive cork vase to the “brass is back” Ralph Lauren Home Carthage table lamps from Circa. This is a space to reference if you ever have a long rectangle to transform into a comfortable chic living area!!
Patrick James Hamilton‘s handsome space presented a “moody masculine room with a reference to the global and exotic.” Starting with the Ikat inspired carpet from Niba Rugs, Hamilton chose a Koroseal embossed vinyl wall covering, “Aligator” in bourbon, that enhanced the rich color scheme and added a luxurious texture.
The open fretwork-like American walnut folding screen from High Point favorite Lazy Susan gave the space the illusion of height, implying the “impression of a space beyond what we can see.” The small shell topped table from John Lyle Design, grasscloth covered Bungalow 5 desk and Currey & Company concrete console together offered a combination of textures and as Hamilton said, “a feeling of personal history.”
Fabulous art The Chinese Scholar’s Rock from Pagoda Red, above left, was an amazing addition to the space, bringing “epic proportion, instant history and color perfection.” A lot to offer from a single stone!! And while Hamilton’s vignette featured a bounty of beautiful art, I think my favorite was Margaret Pettee Olsen‘s custom commission above right. A RISD compatriot of Hamilton’s, her work is sensuous and sophisticated, the perfect foil for the masculine tone of the room.
Hamilton generously listed all his donations on his very descriptive and informative site, where you can read more of his thoughts about the design of his vignette.
John Lyle Design: Pen-shell Topped Bronze Table
Jonathan Adler: Bristol Table Easel
Good Design: Kaiser Porcelain Reliefware Vases
Wisteria: Colossal Hurricane and (not shown) Architect’s Favorite Side Tables
A short finale will follow as my last Design on a Dime post!!
Thanks to friend Liz Morten who led me to the 
In addition, they have also developed another aspect of their business. With years of experience of refinishing and restoring their antiques, they also create decorative painted patterns and designs on both new and old pieces. This English cottage chest from 1820 received a fabulous faux bamboo finish.
I was immediately drawn to the Gallicus Hands. Resembling an ancient reflexology chart, they are evidently part of The Book of Secrets, an early encyclopedic anthology of esoteric arts – including chiromancy, metoscopy, astrology, astronomy and onomantia (I had to look that one up – it is the “is divination from names, such as the number of letters in a name”) published in German in 1717. This gilded version is a stunning graphic.
There was a simply enormous selection of decorative accessories. I liked this fun trunk-like jewelry case, which is available in other color ways as well.
Many of you are probably familiar with 
The Primo Chandelier above is a fun twist on tradition with a relaxed nod to formality.
The Lombard chest in glossy red would be a great accent piece almost anywhere.
Last week, I finally hopped over to their cheery light-filled office to have a chat with the founding partners. Friends Louise Brooks, Patty Hoppel and Amy Rice raised their children together in New Canaan, CT, all the while involved in the local design scene – Patty and Amy in interior design and Louise in architecture.
With a shared love of classics, tweaked with a clean modern twist and a “just do it” mentality, they launched their new venture with those pieces they could never seem to find for themselves, like their best selling Tini (as in martini) Table, in front below – the perfect little piece that goes anywhere!
or the versatile slipper chair (clearly everyone’s favorite)
their line is not just good lucking and practical but fun, with a cheeky twist on traditional.
Many of their classics were looking great such as the Nantucket nesting tables with their unique and playful shape and fabulous details.
The small upholstered pieces are charming conversation starters like the Gossip chair and Tini loveseat.
and the handsome Charleston mirror, a play on classic Chippendale style.
Affordable, stylish and flexible- three of the many reasons why you should be looking to add a little oomph to your spaces. And expect expanding categories from these three dynamos – they have no end of great ideas.
Thanks to everyone at 
If you have ever appreciated the beautiful flowers in the spring lining the malls down Park Avenue or the sparkling lights at the holidays, you have 
Lit on the first Sunday of December the trees are a reminder to those who have served as well as a celebration of the season. It is a festive occasion that attracts thousands.
Many of you may remember last year’s installation of 
and toasting to a New York City organization that helps keep our city vibrant and beautiful.
In her editor’s letter, Dara Caponigro writes of her meeting with him a few years ago, “He was a design king without an ounce of pomposity in him.” Although the magazine had already gone to press when they learned of Hadley’s death, they felt his inclusion was a must. And just as I had hoped, there are remembrances of the design giant by those who knew him best, describing a man “who was not only gifted and talented, but also humble,kind, and ever generous.”
I loved the mix of grasses and herbs and the layered textures and touches of blue throughout the ceramics. linens and glassware. High country at its best!
