HUNTER CAPTURED ...

Sometimes the Hunter is captured ...

Momma and Baby Blenko

Designed by Wayne Husted for Blenko in 1959 and commonly referred to as the 'Balustrade' or 'Profile' Decanter. The taller of the two cobalt beauties is 38" tall and the smaller stunner measures in at 22".

KING OF THE ROAD

Fresh is the word to describe Tempo Model's handsome new face WALTER.
Enjoy!

Keri Russell's home in Elle Decor

Image from Instyle Magazine January, 2009

Just last week I Googled "Keri Russell" and "home". And Nada. Keri Russell's one of my favourite actresses, owing a emphatitic feel to her biggest role, Felicity. Now I'm showing my age! :) I also liked her in August Rush and Waitress...

But today. I saw her beautiful Brownstone home featured in Elle Decor, via the citysage. Serendipitous? I'm going out to buy Elle Decor June 2011 tomorrow! :)

Image from Instyle Magazine January, 2009

I was pleasantly surprised to see that it reflected Russell's quiet, edgy character. Keri's dress sense is casual smart and her home is pretty much the same. Owing to the genius handywork of husband Shane Deary.

Craftsman and wood-genius Deary's outfitted their new home with very rustic, edgy furniture to complement the crisp walls and beautiful moldings of their 1860s Brooklyn Brownstone. Keri decided on the layout, the look, the soft furnishings... and it looks like her every decision was thoughtful to both their feminine and masculine whole.



The less-is-more Keri didn't crowd her home with trinkets and colours, but kept it simple with elegant furniture contrasted with very rustic pieces from Shane's trips into dumpsters and demolition yards. Even the piano above has been kept from looking too elegant.



The whole Brownstone has been a journey of renovation, since it was bought as do-it-upper; as says Deary, “but why buy someone else’s renovation if you’re going to redo it anyway?” I've said often enough, what I'd do for my husband to be handy-Superman!

Walls were removed, floors were pulled apart, restored and then nailed back.



I love their bedside tables, or rather, bedside blocks of wood! Deary found blocks of reclaimed pine flooring which now hold serves as a night table. Chandelier was a save from a previous renovation job (Shane Deary's a contractor and renovation carpenter).



The large ficus in their living room offers a punch of green and the planter box is made from pieces from an old desk! Deary turned pieces of discarded pine into the handsome porthole mirror that hangs over the living room mantel.

One of the things that I really loved was the bright greens throughout the home. When we can afford to buy again, I'll be getting some large indoor plants. At the moment, my African violets love their new spot (happens to be one of the only spots with plenty of morning sun and shade).

A simple lightbulb illuminates the island bench. No fancy industrial or Swarovski shade... nothing to hide husband Deary's work.

I love their sharp kitchen. Very reminiscent of Gwyneth Paltrow's back and white kitchen but with a rougher, less-refined-but-as-chic edge. (And much smaller.) Of course, Shane built his kitchen. And of course, it's reclaimed: from a demolished post-and-beam house.

I took a closer look at their kitchen. While it's not huge in any sense (the next picture shows the island bench again, so that's the limit of their kitchen), it's amazingly outfitted for most things. Even cookbooks and wine. I found their cabinets on the top rather narrow in its widths... but I'd bet less-is-more Russell does not collect china like I do! :) Her kitchen even has a cute built in bread bin above the countertop!

Check out the super rustic shelving above the wine holder to the right of the image! Below you can see more of that shelving and note that it runs along the ceiling too! Nice. Dunno about dusting though.



The elegantly edgy dining table had very un-elegant beginnings: out from a dumpster. It actually sits rather happily with the vintage Bertoia wire chairs.



I love that the Keri Russell's dressing room isn't... glamour-diva. It is really modest, very chic and showcases her outrageously high heels. Living out of suitcases, Russell now hangs her clothes on plumbing pipes Deary's fashioned.



The bathroom's walls were removed and opaque breezy fabric offer a modicum of privacy. The result is unbelievably bright and airy. It showcases the gorgeous clawfoot bath.

Regretfully, no shots of son River's room! Why not, Keri?

Images of Keri's home from Elle Decor

Bavarian Beauty

German porcelain from the 60s tends to surprise the eye, but this one takes the cake. Most unique in form with its spherical base and scalloped crown, made by Heinrich & Co.

Rubik-like

Two terrific pieces of Bitossi Italian pottery with their original Raymor importer stickers intact from the 50's. The cube is likely a planter, while the box is perfect for keepsakes.

Classicism and the City: Chez Fairfax and Sammons

This Spring a house very dear to my heart is celebrating its 75th year anniversary as a museum.  The Merchant's House Museum is New York City's only historic residence with its interiors preserved and landmarked.  What is even more astonishing is how many people don't know about this Greek Revival beauty nestled in the East Village - luckily, those who do are passionate about it, not least of all Anne Fairfax and Richard Sammons.

Anne and Richard are ardent champions of Classical architecture, and as their 2006 monograph attests, elegant and expert practitioners as well.  It is no surprise that their own space is as delightful and unusual as any to be found in the city.  They purchased the red brick carriage house-studio in 2000 from the estate of business tycoon Armand Hammer, who had owned it ever since his university days.

One enters the house through a small entry way lacquered in a pulse-racing crimson hung with a myriad of small convex mirrors a la John Soane.

Directly onwards is the beadboard-paneled kitchen-cum-sitting room complete with a cosy Delft-tiled fireplace. 

Richard is a sailing enthusiast, and the ingenious built-in storage seems reminiscent of a ship (although apparently this passion unfolded after the kitchen was designed).

A staircase takes one up to the bedroom...

...which was made smaller by the addition of a walk-in closet. 

Richard and Anne definitely have their priorities right, as far as I'm concerned!

While the outside facade is perfectly proportioned, the double-height studio, complete with skylight, was a tricky wedge shape, a design challenge that the couple solved with elan.

 

Just as their coral silk velvet sofa inspired me to recover mine similarly, I will be taking another page out their upholstery book with these summer slipcovers of white duck piped in black...

One corner of the room was carved out for this deeply chic black bar.  The space cries out for parties, and the bar is regularly pressed into service.

 Anne in black velvet in her swell-egant bar

A mezzanine catwalk was built around the perimeter of the room and to give the room a more regular shape, an exedra was created on the facade wall opposed by this open arch leading out to the back terrace.

A snappy striped awning covers the outdoor space so that it is bone-dry all year round.  Another bar is often set up here when Anne and Richard throw larger bashes.  Today, a craftsman was using it to make a dinghy.

A bust of Diane presides over the Lutyens-influenced mantel and serves as muse to the many artists and architects who continue to gather here, and, undoubtedly, find inspiration. 

Many thanks to Anne and Richard for letting me share this glimpse.  Click here to see more courtesy of New York Social Diary.