Recently in “Antiques”

and all things in between!!! 

Part of her collection can be seen this weekend at the Bridgehampton Antique Show at the Community Center ...... where her booth is an eclectic mix of the most stunning design elements and the way they are "put-together" is an inspiration for all "design divas!!!"

The weather was gorgeous during my visit to London last month, and I 

made my first trip to the "seaside" ..... by train ..... to Brighton!!!! 

 

Imagine all these "seaside colors" on Jobs Lane, Southampton ....... Newtown Lane,

East Hampton ....... or even Bellevue Avenue, Newport!!!!!! 

DIVINE ..... makes you wanna shop!!!!!!

One of the fantastic things about getting stuck in Milan, while the Icelandic volcano spewed ash, was getting to visit two of the four Milanese House Museums, homes with a unique combination of period architecture and antiques, with the addition of contemporary design ...... old and new working in tandem, showing how contemporary furniture and objects belong everywhere!!!!

I was particularly taken with the Villa Necchi Campiglio, a residence built in the 1930's, designed by architect Piero Portaluppi. The interiors were created by a collection of important Italian designers and decorators of the period, including Albini-Palanti, Buzzi, Marelli, and Ulrich. After the war, an extensive collection of antique furniture was added. 

I saw crocuses this past weekend ...... or maybe I just wished that had happen!!! 

Either way, I do know spring is coming and with it, an abundance of spring flowers ....... so, I began thinking about these fabulous antique cups that I had seen from antiques dealer & garden guru Ani Antreasyan. Ani, owner of Ani Ancient Stone, is an excellent "shopper," who travels endlessly to find the "perfect" thing!!! She found these cups at an antique shop in the oldest neighborhood in Istanbul. The Uzbekistani owner, who specializes in tribal antiques, told her he had found them at a flea market in Kazakhstan. He said they had been used for festivals and ceremonies. Each cup is unique, with a different pattern etched into the metal. They make stunning small vases, and a collection of them would look wonderful down the center of a dinner table ..... a "major accessoration!!!"

The stunning, well designed Magasin Trudon on the rue de Seine in Paris, is a visual feast, a must see, a "go-to" shopping experience ........ an "accessorator's" dream!!!!!!! From the well known scented candles, the individually sold bright colored candles in a variety of sizes, the "candle-busts" of nobility, the "church" candles in natural with gold text, and those with gold seals....... everything is eye candy ....... Look everywhere ...... don't forget the furniture, the accessories, the vintage candlestix, the color-walls, and the fantastical propped displays ......spectacular!!!!!

The history of Cire Trudon candles began in 1643, when wax merchant Claude Trudon began making candles for the churches of Paris. The all natural candles were (and still are) made of 100% vegetable wax, with pure cotton wicks, for the purest candles and the cleanest burn. Royalty, including Marie Antoinette, learning of the quality of the candles, asked that the candles be available for their castles .... Versailles included!!!. Today, Cire Trudon candles remain the oldest and finest candles in Paris, and possibly world-wide. In addition to manufacturing private-label candles for a variety of companies, including Hermes, Dior, and Guerlain, Trudon sells their candles internationally

I found these divine candles, encased in stunning absinth colored, hand blown be-spoke Italian glass vessels and labeled with gold crests made by the same company that makes Moët Chandon's champagne labels, at Barneys NYC. I think the black boxes that house the candles are as identifiable as Tiffany blue boxes!!! Over a dozen scents are available but, my favorite is "Ernesto," a clean scent that favors leather, wood, and tobacco. The total package is a wonderful "accessoration" and a divine gift!!!!!!

Vanessa Stramboni has an "accessorator's" sensability .....  that I adore!! She mixes eccentric French vintage, with African ethnic; blending bijoux (jewelry, in our lingo!), textiles, furniture, lighting, and fantastic objects to create her store's eclectic feeling. I adored the set of four black & white, French 60's chairs, whose seats are re-upholstered in a black, white, & grey wool check fabric .... very reminiscent of Chanel!!!! The collection of black and white African masques, that have a slight hint of red, are exceptional "accessorations" ...... and of course, I love, love, love the African stool that still has touches of it's original bright colored paint!!!!! 

I have always adored the unique pieces of furniture from the Lebanese furniture company Bokja, the brainchild of Huda Baroudi and Marie Hibri. I first heard of the collection from a Lebanese friend who was renovating her apartment. Her architect sister, who had designed the space, took her to meet these two wonderful woman and see their furniture. The result, an immediate match was made and a stunning vintage chaise, covered in a patchwork of antique suzani textiles was sent to New York. I must admit I was very jealous when I saw it ...... it is sooooooo me!!!!!I 

Since then, I have been following the company with a passion!!! I have seen the collection in New York City at ABC Carpet & Home; in Miami, in 2008 at Design Miami; in Milan at Spazio Rossana Orlandi; last fall in Paris at Merci; and in London at Gallery Fumi. Finally, last month I was in the new Bokja store in Beirut and met Hoda!!!! She was charming and of course, as is the case in Beirut, we had friends in common...... but, most importantly, she remembered the chaise that had come to NYC!!!!! We chatted, I learned more about the company, and fell in love with a number of pieces in the store!!! 

Bokja is not the new kid on the block ........ Hoda and Marie's partnership began in 2000, when textile collector Huda, put a piece of Uzbek tapestry over one of Marie's antique chairs, to get a better look at it ..... and a collaboration was born!!! The charming, eclectic furniture combines extraordinary textiles from all over the middle east, a melange of color, patten, and often needlework, with antique furniture from the 50's, 60's, and 70's.  Each bespoke piece of furniture tells a different story and the narrative results in a name and "passport" specific to the piece. 

My friend, NY Times writer Penelope Green,  wrote an article several months ago about the latest design trend .... The New Antiquarians. Revolving around a revival of interest in anti-modern or fantasy vintage furniture and accessories  ..... or as Penelope says "the accouterments of the turn-of-the-19th-century leisure class," a number of 20-&-30-somethings are creating spaces that are designed to resemble parlors of the Edwardian Era. Over-stuffed rooms are often filled with ancestor portraits; antlers from a variety of species; taxidermy animals and birds; medical cabinets filled with potions, petrified bone, skulls, and other small trinkets; old tufted leather seating; candlesticks and candelabras; and a variety of other ephemera of that age ...... all in all, a look worth thinking about!!!!

One night last week, I was in a taxi going down Chrystie Street, and as I was passing Sammy's Roumanian Restaurant (thinking of chicken fat & my old friend Bernie Ozer), I noticed an unusual and intriguing store next door!!! I went back several days later and learned that it was owned by Ryan Matthew, one of "The New Antiquarians" that Penelope had written about!!! Ryan, a silversmith, is transfixed by this "new vintage" and his  apartment in Brooklyn is accessorized with "mummified hunting dogs, wax figures and Black Forest taxidermy"!!!  Several weeks ago, he opened Against Nature on Chrystie Street, as an "homage" to this new visual.  The men's store is stocked with tailored and be-spoke suits by Doyle Mueser, custom denim by Simon Jacobs and a selection of jewelry and leather accessories by Ryan. I find the interior design of the store and its "fantastical" antique furniture and accessories fabulous!!! The furniture includes vintage cabinets, a divine blood-red tufted leather sofa, turn-legged tables, and antique showcases. The accessories are true "period," including mummified skulls under glass, a pair of taxidermy albino peacocks, vintage leather bound books, silver candelabras. The concept, from store design to clothing, is a feast for the eye, it appears to have been on Chrystie Street since the 19th Century!!!!!

Against Nature is an "inspirational must see"!!!!! Whoever says there is "nothing new under the sun" hasn't taken a trip to Chrystie Street ....... everything old looks new here!!!!

Leave it to the French to come up with an amazing way to say "thank you," and create a wonderful shopping experience as well!!!! Marie-France & Bernard Cohen, founders of the French cult children's brand Bonpoint, opened Merci this past spring in the Marais district of Paris, "combining fashion with philanthropy, vintage with contemporary design and bespoke creations with mainstream brands." Housed in a 16,000 sq. foot former wallpaper factory, this industrial space features an innovative and interesting treasure trove of "everything" from fashion to furnishing!!!!  Merci, created by the Cohen's as their personal "thank you," donates 100% of its profits to a charity that helps deprived children in India and Madagascar. Having traveled extensively in that area of the world, Madame Cohen was extremely touched by the lack of education for these children and she made herself promise to help them. To achieve this goal, the Cohen's used their retail talents and vision to create this unique shopping experience. "Merci is accessible to anyone with an eye for the unusual and the bespoke."

This extraordinary philanthropic endeavor has gotten an incredible response from the designers, artists, musicians, actors, authors, stylists, and famous friends that the Cohen's went to for help. In addition to donations and the specially designed merchandise that is found only at the store, there is a continuously changing selection of eclectic, well designed product from French companies and various interesting flea market finds. Joining the Cohen's in their generosity, many of the designers and companies involved are also forgoing their profits, resulting in the price of the merchandise being 30% below traditional retail. In addition to gifts, clothing, accessories, and furnishing...... there is "Merci Fleur,'' a flower shop featuring florist Christian Tortu and the "Used Book Cafe" with a 130 foot rolling book wall of donated second hand books. Another wonderful feature is a selection of six scents from perfumeur Annick Goutal (Annick is Mdme. Cohen's late sister)  that are being sold in simple glass or aluminum containers like those used by perfumemakers in Grasse, rather than their classical decorative flasks, and aptly called "Merci Annick."

"Christmas at Merci" features a well curated holiday collection of accessories and apparel; as well as gifts from international designers such as Tom Dixon, Patricia Urquiola, Atelier, and Droog; plus a wide selection of one-off pieces, vintage items, and unique holiday creations designed exclusively for the store. An intriguing  selection of vintage Christmas ornaments and decorations completes the eclectic holiday assortment. 

Lots of news about the fantastic collection of "revisited" furniture that I had made by in London ...... Squint for j.roaman is featured in the trend section of the November issue of House Beautiful and on the updated j.roaman website. 

The furniture is a combination of vintage, gently-used, and reclaimed silhouettes of English furniture..... all re-upholstered by hand, in a variety of vintage and new damasks, velvets, silks, quiltings, and French tickings. The eclectic, "bespoke" collection includes couches, chairs, chaises, mirrors, ottomans, and light fixtures....all in excellent condition. Each unique piece knows divine secrets..... and if it could talk would tell exciting and interesting tales!!! 

The collection is an "accessorator's" dream....actually it was this "accessorator's" dream!!!!!!!!!!!!   

j.roaman website          

One of the best accessories for a bookcase is a grouping of vintage American or English glove forms. I found these divine, sculptural, metal forms from a wonderful dealer in London, grabbed them, and shipped them home immediately!!!! On my bookshelves I grouped them in sets of three or five. Always an odd number!!!!  I have also seen them polished up to a bright shine.......but, this "accessorator" loves everything in it's original condition, a bit rough around the edges!!!!! 

If you like what you see and want to have a collection of "hands from across the pond" get in touch!!!!

Visitors to the shop included collectors, dealers, interior designers, stylists, and museum curators....and me!!  As both looker and buyer, spending  countless hours among their incredible "stuff", I felt like I was privileged to have had a private viewing of the world's most fascinating museum. And being able to take something home and "own" it....that was over the top!  It could be a blue & white spongeware vessel, a vintage western blanket or a robot made from nuts & bolts......everything was amazing!! 

Spending time with them this weekend at the EH Antique show was an incredible history lesson about a world that is greatly changing.  Hearing them talk lovingly of objects that had moved on to other homes and those that still live with them was inspiring. And again, I fell madly in love with another inanimate object...... this alien-like chair!! Made from a single root, she called to me for three days. She is the most divine creature, an alien from another planet. How could all of our heart's not be captured by her!!!

Today Jolie, Michael, and my chair can be found at 2466 Main Street, Bridgehampton (tel. 631 537-3838.  Kelter Malce, join antique/folk art dealers Barbara Trujillo and Brian Ramaekers in the most magical shop in the Hampton's!!!  A feast for the eye, the most magical objects that can be found anywhere, these four dealers have a design sensabiity that is beyond unique.....DO NOT MISS IT!!!!

Danish furniture designer Peter Hvidt designed this unique stable for France & Sons in the 1950's.  Cut into six segments, this mid- century 51 1/2" diameter circular teakwood coffee table can be reconfigured into a variety of shapes. With three brass legs, each segment becomes six individual tables. This table from J.Lohmann Gallery, is in excellent condition and was one of the best pieces in the EH Antique show this past weekend.