Inspiration: Serge Mouille

Serge Mouille was a French industrial designer and silversmith working in the 1940’s and 50’s best known, and rightfully so, for his collection of black metal lighting. The collection started with the three-arm floor lamp, and branched out into sconces, chandeliers and table lamps comprised of the signature long bent arms, sweeping lines and organic lamp heads, influenced by musculature and skeletons. The designs were a departure from anything else being designed at the time, and continue to be featured in high-end interiors today. 

Interior by Raiana Schwenker

Day Birger et Mikkelsen via Lonny Mag

Designs are sold through Design Within Reach, but the price tags leave many looking for a similar look elsewhere. The only reproduction seems to be the one by White on White/Organic Modernism, but the influence is plentiful in other designs.

Jason Koharik is a designer and craftsman working in Echo Park, California who has definitely nailed the spirit of Mouille lighting with hairpin-like arms and more rounded lamp heads.  

(Almost) The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread: Tool Library

The Seaport Tool Library (or tool-lending libraries in general) are such a brilliant idea that it blows my mind. Why didn’t I think of this?  Probably because I was too busy looking around for it. They are a “library” where you can borrow all kinds of home improvement tools, whoozits, whatsits and ...”other” stuff. Such a great idea for those of us with limited storage space, who just can’t justify purchasing a large and/or expensive piece of equipment for one little project. 

Unfortunately, the one in NYC is not incredibly complete as the Boulder, CO ReSource Library pictured, and I couldn’t find that jig saw I was hoping to borrow. But just knowing this resource exists warms my heart.

Has anyone used one of these, in NYC or any other city?

Masculine Pillows

I have recently been helping a friend find some pillows to complement his new sofa, and in the spirit of upcoming Father's Day, I thought I’d share some of the looks and sources that help make for a comfortable yet definitely masculine look.

Matte linen

 

Linen with a visible weave is both durable and comfortable, and has an almost industrial look to it. Libeco makes amazing large square pillows made of high quality Belgian linen in solid earth tones. Available at Greenhouse. The medium and dark grays really shows off the fabric texture.

Tonal linen

 

Canvas sells these rectangular pillows in a hand-dyed linen that have a little more variation in tone. The variation gives this fabric a bit more depth, and the different color on the back provides a touch more visual interest.

Subtle pattern

Patterns that look like they belong on a tie tend to look the most masculine. Those that would make for an awful tie will still make an awful pillow. This patterned pillow by Haus Interiors is simple yet striking.  

Make Your Own Art: Instagram to Canvas

I can't take a decent picture to save my life, but my friends seem to take the most amazing photographs. I'm hoping to one day turn their talent into art through one of these services that prints photos onto canvases:

Canvas Pop 

Instacanvas

Snap Fish

A high contender is this photo my friend Beth took of Harlem being blanketed by snow fall:

Or this one of her white fox-dog looking very regal:

Or this one of Manhattanhenge taken by my sister:

Or this one of the Event Horizon art installation taken by my bestie's little sister (actually an amazing  photographer, whose work can be found here):

Has anyone tried one of these services before? I would love to hear any recommendations.

Saving Water: Installing an Aerator

Apartment living in New York often means living with very old fixtures. If you have an old kitchen faucet, whether you plan to replace it or have no control to do so, there is something you can do now to make your kitchen a lean, green, water-saving machine: install an aerator in the kitchen faucet.

An aerator is a small metal or plastic cylinder that fits inside the end of your faucet and spreads the stream of water, which creates a steady spray rather than a pour. This causes less water to feel like more and reduces splashing.

Old faucet without aerator

Old faucet retrofitted with an aerator

The latest faucet models come with an integral aerator to set the water flow rate. Those that don't, especially if they are older models, are likely using a huge amount of water - up to about 5 gallons a minute! Installing a 1.0 gallon per minute (gpm) aerator will cut that water use by over 60% without a perceivable difference. Unless your faucet splashes, in which case you might notice no longer getting wet.

To start saving water today, you will need an aerator and hands (just one will do.) Universal aerators (which should fit most faucets) cost less than $3 and take about 3 seconds to install.

Minding the Gap

Very old wood floors, beautiful as they are, inevitably raise the question of how to seal the gaps that develop between the planks in order to make the floor safe and functional. During warmer and colder temperatures, the wood can expand and contract, and therefore the wood filler needs to be flexible in order to move with it. The thicker the wood planks and the deeper the gap, the more difficult it may be to find a solution that seals the gap and still looks good.

That’s why I was thrilled to spy this solution being implemented at Maison Premiere in Williamsburg.

This lovely oyster bar has gorgeous decades-old wood flooring. The substantial gaps between the thick planks have been filled with rope and stained to match the floor. The rope expands and contracts along with the wood, ensuring that it never falls out or widens the gap. It also looks fantastic, and matches the distressed look of the flooring. And most importantly, it keeps staff and patrons from tripping, ensuring that the delicious cocktails and oysters are all accounted for. 

 photo courtesy of Maison Premiere

Inspiration: Café Sabarsky

One of my favorite museums is the Neue Galerie, dedicated to German and Austrian art and design from the early 20th century. The building itself has the regal coolness of traditional Viennese architecture; toned down baroque created through glossy black wood floors, high ceilings and huge casement windows. It acts as the perfect backdrop for the colorful works of Kandinsky and Klimt and more "modern" styles like the Bauhaus. The same style permeates Café Sabarsky, the famed café inside the museum. Besides having perhaps the best apple strudel in town, the café is a design inspiration. The tables in the downstairs café feature a mustard yellow and black pattern by Dagobert Peche under glass. Set against the black and white checkered floors, it should be overwhelming, but feels neutral and light.