A GREAT COAT

UN MANTEAU QUE J'AIME

This coat by designer Juna Watanabe, was featured by Paris blogger Geraldine Dormoy on the exceptional blog she writes for the magazine l'Express, l'Express Cafe Mode. Visit her blog, it is really worth it (it's in French but you can hit translate). I don't often find coats I like that are not bulky or very classic. This one is tapered and sleek. I would not wear it with Church's boots myself- you need to be long-and-lean, young and more stylée than I am- but I love the generous fur scarf in that warm beige and the shiny black leather. And of course the color. I love navy. Funny, if I think about it, I  have only a few pieces of clothing in navy but I do have scarves and short bottines, that I wear with black or gray.

There are millions of choices out there so offer is not the issue. The challenge is to see a coat and it is IT! 

Let's see...

Nice for spring but all year round with an added fur lining? not for me

Nice but too heavy at the collar

Nice but too dressy for everyday

No no no , no capes

Much too old lady

It's definitely the Watanabe coat I want.

In the meantime this is what I am actually wearing. 

I will need to do so for a good while longer I am afraid.

images geraldine dormoy, grazia, sak's 5th avenue

au revoir.

ONLY IN AMERICA

AAAAAH, L'AMERIQUE...

Seen in a midtown NYC window.
At that price, I'll take one for every day of the year...

au revoir.

THE CIRCLE of DESIGN: MAURA McEVOY

LE CERCLE DECO

We are all part of the big circle of design. This topic features individuals or teams who bring their invaluable talent and expertise to the interior design world. They maybe artists and photographers, product designers or hunters of styles and trends. I may highlight their work with one image or develop the subject at more length. Whatever their link to design, you will find all of them awe inspiring.

L'OEIL DE  MAURA McEVOY

A while back I had the privilege of working with Maura McEvoy as a a stylist on a few photo shoots from which the next two pictures are taken. She is BRILLIANT! It is very intimidating to work with an extraordinary photographer who was first a spectacular stylist, especially when you have never styled photos before... But, with her generous support and infinite talent, she made it one of the most pleasant experiences of my design life.

Maura captures the subtle mood of a room with such finesse 

She is also a widely sought after travel photographer who has been published in every single prestigious travel magazines many many times. 

The balance is so perfect in this image; it is the expression of a flawless eye.

Her versatility is such that she is renowned for her food photography as well. These shots translates sublimely the delicacy of the dishes.

Portraits by Maura are subtle and perceptive. You can "imagine" the subject very clearly. And again a tranquil mood is set.

all images maura mcevoy

I strongly suggest you visit her exceptional website. This isn't even an iota of the tip of the iceberg. The site itself is work of art by the way.

au revoir.

A VERY GENEROUS AWARD

UN PRIX TRES GENEREUX

Merci, merci, merci  Picture of elegance for so kindly giving me this flattering award. Coming from such a stylish blogger, one who entertains and informs us everyday with such a snappy and polished blog, I am very honored, needless to say .
However, I need to confess humbly that I am of two minds about receiving awards. 
Yes, I am truly grateful for all the implicit praise. Someone I do not know personally, but rather through words and images sent world wide over the internet, has taken the trouble to let me know that she not only reads my blog but finds it stylish. Now that is invigorating, encouraging and just plain fun. Thank you again Picture of Elegance.   
On the other hand the Award bestowed upon me has a catch. There are duties to perform. There are other blogs to praise. No, that is not the problem, of course not. The challenge is to choose. And then there is the little detail of giving away information about oneself. There again not a problem per se but rather a feeling that I have already said a lot about myself. More than enough.


Mais allons-y!


- Traveling is something I could do year round. Mostly to sunny places but there are few places I would not visit. Just give me a fair amount of sun.

- Mixing it up, mixing it all up, is my game. Portraits of ancestors with a mid-century lamps, a Moroccan Berber rug and a deep comfy sofa. Just no flowers. Too cute for me. Like Jacques Grange, my inspiration.

- I read books mostly when I travel. There. I have said it. Like children I much prefer picture books. I am visual. I choose a few images over a lot of words- and CERTAINLY over a lot of numbers. 


- I love movies except violent gory ones. Merchant and Ivory, un grand merci.

- When I cook I do what I always do: I improvise. Sometimes it's a hit, sometimes it's a miss. Not a good thing. I do make, however a great blanquette de veau; I say this in all humility as I follow directions religiously for a blanquette, so it ends up tasting good. Is there a lesson here? I have to be good at ONE dish and this one is a piece of cake, so to speak...

- and one last tidbit about me and then enough, I am sure. 
Blogging eats up some of my time, some times much too much of my time, but I have had a ton of fun since I started over a year ago, and reading all those wonderful blogs out there has made me realize how talented most people are. It's like going to design school. Very humbling.


And this brings me seamlessly to a list of just a few of the blogs I find STYLISH and very worthy of an award such as this one.

A Perfect Gray

A Lovely Being

Brabourne Farm

Cinema Style

Gervais de Bedee

The French Sampler

Department of the Interior

Design Darling

16 House

Savoir Faire

Bravo to all!

Before I leave you, dear Stylish bloggers, here is what to do next:

1- Link to the blog who gave you the award

2- Divulge seven things about yourself

3- Give this award to 10 of your favorite bloggers 

Au travail!

au revoir.

UPHOLSTERED DOORS

LES PORTES CAPITONNEES

In a lot of old movies you see the man of the house or the "boss"- yes, always a man...-retire to his office and close tall upholstered doors behind him. So many intrigues, secret phone calls and discussions away from indiscreet ears take place inside. 

Upholstered doors are perfect for privacy but they are also very beautiful! I must have doors like that in my next place. Maybe the armored front door of my next Paris apartment? We'll see, if and when I have one with such a possibility...

modern

classic

stunningly exotic

That just floors me! Zebra! I love this. You might have guessed...

repurposed

What a spectacular mood these old leather covered door give to the space! Recycled doors with amazing patina and height make a room. Oh, and more zebra...

au revoir.

MIRRORED PIECES

LES MEUBLES EN MIRROIR

One of the things I like about mirrored pieces is that they almost disappear by reflecting all that is around them thus helping a small space seem less cluttered. I find that there is extreme refinement in the simplicity of the material and its neutrality, taking, as it were, the color or colors of the surrounding decor. There is as well the sophistication of an element so synonymous with the 20's and 30's when elegance was at its pinnacle. In my book anyway.

Details on mirror

minimalism

The smaller pieces

Salmon mirror

Are you up for that much of a statement? I am. One piece. Alone. In an entry hall.

images valeriewillsinteriors, decorpad, shine, idealhome, oliviapratt, thisnext, artdeco-giraud, apartmenttherapy, 

au revoir.

BANK VAULT DOORS

LES PORTES DE COFFRES DE BANQUES

Awe inspiring  works of art

I was walking up 5th Avenue last week and something in the Chase bank building lobby caught my eye. Behind the huge (very reflective) window was the stunning bank vault door, in all it's heavy steel magnificence. I was in a bit of a hurry so I quickly took a photo with my phone. The quality is less than fine, but you get the idea. I love large decorative objects, as I have mentioned before, and this one is LARGE. You get the feeling that it weighs more than a jumbo jet! I am struck by its sleek design and by its simply being there a few feet from the window. Noone else was paying much attention to it that day, but this being lunchtime, most of the passers by have seen this extraordinary sight a million times. Or don't have time to care.

I just read this on harderworld.com: 

"Today was the last business day at the glass bank. (5th Ave. Chase branch) I don’t know what will happen next: perhaps some other bank will set up there, but I rather doubt it." 

Very sad.

I'd love to see how they manage to move it.

No one will rob anything from this vault...

Sadly this bank vault is in an advance state of decay in Detroit's downtown, hard hit by the decline of the auto industry.

From the book by Yves Marchand Romain Meffre "The Ruins of Detroit"  published by Steidl.

au revoir.

SCOTT WATERMAN'S STUDIO

Scott Waterman's studio

Why am I showing this great space? because on my post about Scott Waterman, the colors of one of his paintings appear totally different from the colors of the original work, and kindly, Scott brought it to my attention. 

The real version here below. 

One cannot let the inaccurate display of an artist's work go uncorrected. I know you'll all agree with me.

Scott delighted me by including in his email this wonderful image of his studio filled with some of his art and I must say, getting a feel for the size of his pieces, changes everything. They are definitely even more spectacular seen in situ.

Merci Scott.

au revoir.