architecture

A look at design and styles of architecture throughout the years

Chateau Splendor | le Prince Jardinier

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Stacey Bewkes   •   30 Comments
We are taking a break from Wednesday Wine today to take a look at another lovely French location. After Megeve yesterday, we are meandering to the Loire valley, specifically to the Chateau de la Bourdaisiere. After a career in banking, Prince Louis Albert de Broglie, and his brother Prince Maurice, purchased the historic chateau in 1991, thus changing the course of Albert’s career.…
Posted in architecture, Christie's, furniture, garden, holiday, interior design, travel | Tagged , , | 30 Comments  

Tim Times Two – aha!

Posted on November 14, 2010 by Stacey Bewkes   •   17 Comments
I have a whole new appreciation for Tim Gunn! Who knew that the Project Runway judge and style guru also has a passion for serious design. At the tender age of 7, he evidently spent his allowance to purchase reproductions of Thomas Jefferson’s architectural drawings for Monticello!…
Posted in architecture, art history, learning, sculpture | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments  

Penthouse Panache

Posted on October 24, 2010 by Stacey Bewkes   •   16 Comments
In researching another post a while back, I came across the remarkable work of Champalimaud Design. Although a full service interior design firm, they are known primarily for their award winning work in the hospitality design sector. Founded by Alexandra Champalimaud twenty-seven years ago, they have completed renovations on hotels, restaurants, and spas around the world from the Carlyle and Algonquin in New York to the stunning suites at the Dorchester in London (one of my favorite projects – the bathrooms are incredible!)…
Posted in architecture, art, history, interior design | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments  

The Heritage of Houdini

Posted on October 22, 2010 by Stacey Bewkes   •   4 Comments
There are so many terrific ongoing and upcoming exhibits at the museums in New York this fall that it’s hard to keep up. One of the more unusual shows opens next week at the Jewish Museum. Houdini: Art and Magic is the first major American museum exhibition about the famous magician and the impact he has had on visual media.…
Posted in architecture, art, design, history, lighting, photography | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments  

Interior Portraits

Posted on October 17, 2010 by Stacey Bewkes   •   9 Comments
There are so many wonderful design books making their debut this fall. I have already covered David Easton’s beautiful Timeless Elegance and will certainly be looking at several more. Most of these are compendiums of the designers’ projects, executed to focus on their work with beautiful photographs and text.…
Posted in architecture, books, design, interior design | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments  

This Old House

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Stacey Bewkes   •   25 Comments
Almost four years ago, we downsized and moved to a more modest house next door – yes, next door. With our third child about to go away to school, my husband understandably decided that we didn’t need such a large and expensive-to-run house any more.…
Posted in architecture, dining room, interior design, kitchens | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments  

Gil Schafer – In Vino Veritas

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Stacey Bewkes   •   5 Comments
I don’t need any wine to speak the truth about this project. It’s simply spectacular. If you were to plan a wine cellar in your home, what would you imagine – perhaps a modest room in your basement, with, if you’re lucky, a small place to sit and sample your wares.…
Posted in architecture, food and drink, Gil Schafer, interior design, wine, wine cellar | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments  

Gil Schafer – Part Deux

Posted on September 29, 2010 by Stacey Bewkes   •   8 Comments
The featured project on Gil Schafer’s website currently is the William C. Gatewood House in Charleston, SC, which won an AIA award for historic preservation last year and was featured in Town & Country in May. Gil Schafer The story of the renovation is a fascinating one and there are two wonderful videos (both from the same occasion) included on the site if you are interested.…
Posted in architecture, interior design | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments  

Gaga over Gil – Part 1

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Stacey Bewkes   •   16 Comments
OK, I confess, I have a bit of an obsession (the oxymoron is actually understatement) with the work of architect Gil Schafer. Ever since I first saw images of his weekend house, Middlefield, in Elle Decor almost ten years ago, I have routinely stalked his site, waiting for new projects to be published.…
Posted in architecture, interior design | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments  

Exciting Offer

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Stacey Bewkes   •   Leave a comment
David Easton’s studio is offering Quintessence readers bookplates, signed by David, to put in their copies of Timeless Elegance. E-mail your name and mailing address to [email protected] – don’t forget you must mention Quintessence! What a wonderful treat for yourself or for a lucky someone on your list!…
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