The Colorful Pattern Filled World of Henry Wilson

Posted on January 23, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   6 Comments

The Colorful Pattern Filled World of Henry Wilson

Yesterday, when single digits here in New England shocked us into acknowledging that winter was just getting started, a post by friend, designer Young Huh, reminded me of warmer destinations. I recognized it immediately as the late, photographer and designer Henry Wilson’s colorful pattern filled home in London.

And while London isn’t much of an improvement weather-wise, Wilson’s amazing flat is an eloquent evocation of someplace that is. I would imagine quite a few of you may be familiar with the talented Wilson, whose love for India was well documented in both magazines and seven books. In one of his later tomes, Floral Patterns of India, he expressed, through his sumptuous photography, how floral motifs are incorporated with both whimsy and extravagance in Indian architecture and design.…

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Nantucket Historical Association at the 2019 Winter Show

Posted on January 21, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   2 Comments

Nantucket Historical Association at the 2019 Winter Show

While many visit Nantucket for its beautiful beaches, charming cobblestone streets and rose covered cottages, those of us who annually frequent the Grey Lady’s shores know she also holds a special place of significance in our country’s cultural history. It is therefore fitting, that at the start of its 125th anniversary, the Nantucket Historical Association, is proud to be the loan exhibit at the 2019 Winter Show.

As NHA Board President Kelly Williams writes in the publication for the exhibit, “From entrepreneurs forging the Colonies’ first global industry to abolitionists and civil rights leaders forcing societal change in the 18th and 19th centuries, through to its art colony and popular destination as a resort town in the 20th century, Nantucket’s small landmass belies its strategic, economic, political, artistic and cultural significance.”…

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The Winter Show 2019

Posted on January 19, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   5 Comments

The Winter Show 2019

Building on the success of last year’s more vibrantly decorated booths, The Winter Show (the new name has lost “Antiques” in the title reflecting the broader collections of the exhibitors) opened this week, celebrating its 65th anniversary in style.

Elle Shushan‘s booth, decorated by Ralph Harvard with an Adelphi wallpaper, was, as usual, a standout. And also front and center this year was perennial favorite Cove Landing.

 

This year’s sophisticated mix of worldly finds centers on a collection of Grand Tour Italian volcano paintings.

And everything from the treen, to small sculptures, such as the petite Rodin below, looked great against the Swedish Lim & Handtryck Stänk wallpaper.…

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Join Us Around the World and At Home

Posted on January 16, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   8 Comments

Join Us Around the World and At Home

While Susanna and I have often spoken together at private events and clubs across the country, we have never spoken at a Connecticut venue open to the public. So I am excited to invite all local readers and friends to come hear us at the Darien Library next Wednesday evening. As a Darien resident, I am delighted to support our incredible “new” library, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. It is a fantastic and innovative resource for our vibrant community with the highest per capita circulation in Connecticut (more than 32 items per resident checked out each year).

We will be chatting about our video series with behind the scenes footage, images and stories.…

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Recognizing Women in Art

Posted on January 13, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   7 Comments

Recognizing Women in Art

As the new year starts, there are many auctions, exhibits and art and antiques fairs on the horizon. One of the most interesting is the “Female Triumphant Sale” coming to Sotheby’s during Masters Week at the end of the month in New York. While Old Masters has traditionally been a category reserved for male artists, Sotheby’s will be recognizing the legacy of women in art with a curated selection of paintings, drawings and sculpture of 14 leading female artists from the 16th – 19th centuries.

As gender equality continues to be addressed in many other venues, the art world is slowly catching up.…

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Ancien et Moderne 2019 at Paris Deco Off

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   4 Comments

Ancien et Moderne 2019 at Paris Deco Off

Next week marks the start of the design year with Maison et Objet and Paris Deco Off 2019. And for the fourth year, Ancien et Moderne will again be presenting its signature artisanal vision with a cadre of international design talent.

illustration by B. Russell Melzer

Representing the fusion of time-honored craftsmanship with 21st century lifestyle, the salon style pop up will again be in same charming left bank location, in the heart of the Paris Deco Off action. And while I won’t be attending, I have been behind the scenes learning everything Ancien et Moderne creator, Beth Dempsey, has conceived for a theme celebrating an updated version of the timeless art deco style of the Orient Express.…

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New Soho Design Destinations – Artemest Pop Up

Posted on January 6, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   5 Comments

New Soho Design Destinations – Artemest Pop Up

Few countries in the world have a legacy of luxury craftsmanship like Italy. And no other website has curated a selection of handmade Italian home decor, jewelry and fine art like Artemest. Founder Ippolita Rostagno, the acclaimed jewelry designer, has a passion for beauty, craft and artisanship and has assembled a team that travels throughout Italy to find artisans and products to feature on their site. And until the end of January, you can find Artmest in person at their exhibition-like space in Soho, where a rotating selection of pieces are on display and for sale.

Bridging the art of the handmade with modern technology, each item has a scannable QR code which shoppers can access, connecting them to more information about the piece directly on the Artemest site.…

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Movies to Celebrate and Start the New Year

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   4 Comments

Movies to Celebrate and Start the New Year

Traditionally, I have posted New Year’s movie suggestions before the calendar turns its last page but with this year’s mid week holiday, lounging still seems to be on many people’s agenda, so I thought this weekend might just make for prime viewing. This compilation includes some favorites from the past and some new ones to start the new year off right!


One of my favorites that I seem to include every year is George Cukor’s 1938 classic, Holiday. Though not as well known as their other comedic collaborations such as Philadelphia Story and Bringing Up Baby, Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant star in what is a winning romantic comedy with a great cast, witty repartee and mindful message, not to mention fabulous setting and elegant wardrobe.…

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Giving Design a Voice – A Look Back and Ahead

Posted on January 1, 2019 by Stacey Bewkes   •   34 Comments

Giving Design a Voice – A Look Back and Ahead

Welcome to 2019! As we all are celebrating the new year and thinking of what has passed and what is in store, I, along with my video partner Susanna Salk, want to thank all of you who have joined us on our design journeys around the world! Giving design a voice is our passion and we couldn’t bring you our video series without the generosity of all the hosts who have opened their doors to us thus far and those who are welcoming us in 2019. So to start off the new year in style, we have prepared a little overview that takes a look back and a peek ahead.…

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Posted in architecture, art, At Home with, garden, interior design, Quintessence video series, Stylish Shopping, video | Tagged , , , , | 34 Comments  

Quintessential Guide to Champagne 2018

Posted on December 30, 2018 by Stacey Bewkes   •   14 Comments

Quintessential Guide to Champagne 2018

As tomorrow is (shockingly) the last day of December, the time has come for the Quintessential Guide to Champagne 2018 edition. In my book, any time is ripe for champagne, but New Year’s Eve in particular inevitably beckons some bubbly. And while I encourage all to imbibe responsibly, perhaps F. Scott Fitzgerald got it right when he said, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much champagne is just right.”

Clearly Dali and Bardot got the message! And while the elegant Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant may have used champagne to calm their nerves in Notorious,

Betty Davis knew “There comes a time in every woman’s life when the only thing that helps is a glass of champagne.”…

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Posted in food and drink, gifts, holiday, wine | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments