A Winter Escape - Islamorada Key

Enough of snow, sleet, cold, and a state of overwork exhaustion. I just needed a quick break to recharge the emotional and physical batteries.

My husband and I decided to visit his brother in Palm Beach. Breathtakingly beautiful, pristine with an almost too perfect quality,  Palm Beach is a true respite from busy cold New York. However as my branding phrase...I love perfect imperfection... I needed a more exotic, real venue to let go of worries and fatigue.

On to Tablethotels.com (my favorite hotel search engine) and a last minute booking at Casa Morada on Islamorada Key that, apparently, just had a cancelation. After a drive and walk through the Everglades... (I had to see a gator!) we arrived at the well hidden Casa Morada. I suddenly felt light, free of worries and happy as a  young child. This was everything I had hoped for, a secluded week end in a most informal yet perfectly designed boutique hotel, on the water.

I will let my pics speak for themselves but in 2 days I enjoyed myself more than I have in quite a long time... I swam in the ocean, freshened up in the pool, snorkeled, went biking, suntanned, ate exquisitely prepared fish two nights in a row at Pierre's restaurant (part of the Morada Bay Cafe complex).

If you are in need of a little "TLC" go and check out this little spot on the Floridian Gulf Coast. You won't be disappointed.

Pierre's restaurant: cocktail first

On to the brilliant fish dinner

As you watch the sunset from the Veranda

While snorkeling, I leave the world behind

He tried to escape my camera, but I got him!

AMAZING TENT SALE AND OPENING COCKTAIL ON OUR ROOFTOP

YOU WILL FIND THE FACEBOOK EVENT HERE !!!

INTERIEURS CONTEST! ART DE VIVRE IN YOUR HOME!

Does a room in your apartment or home need a little Art de Vivre?

I am always busy designing houses from the ground up, down to the last details, lofts, apartment, houses, lobbies... with fairly large budgets. I decided to have a little fun and bring Interieurs lifestyle to you. I never design one area, but this is an exclusive offer to my blog readers only.

I would love to put a smile on someone's face... so for one time only, offered exclusively to my blog's readers, I will design a room of your choice.

Here it goes!

Take a picture of your space and send all the images with your information (email, telephone, full name and address), a short story about why you need Interieurs assistance and spread the word!

Contest Rules:

(1) All participants must be followers of my blog. If you're not a follower, sign up!
(2) One (1) Entry per follower.
(3) To enter the drawing, email Ania at ania@interieurs.com with a picture of the room you want me to design.
(4) Only the first 100 entries will be entered into the drawing. The winning room, will be drawn randomly from the qualifying entries.


Deadline to enter: midnight New York Time, April 30, 2011.


The winner will be announced May 1, 2011.

I will offer concept, creative input and furniture plan. Any purchases required to implement the plan will be at the winning entrants expense. If the winning entrant elects to purchase any Interieurs product to implement the design plan, he or she will receive additional 35% discount from the item(s) purchased. All entry images are a property of Interieurs, and will be posted on our social media pages.

Other limitations: no construction or remodeling of the space. No kitchens or bathrooms.

So please, spread the word, join us on Facebook and Twitter for updates on the contest.

The greater plan...

Image news.com.au

I was in Indonesia during the 2004 Tsunami with my husband and sons, sheltered in the rainforest of Borneo. During the night, I knew something terrible had happened but with lack of telephone, TV, electricity, we felt completely isolated. Texts popped up on our phones... are you ok? ... earthquake.... We made our way back to Bali and were struck by the look on peoples faces...fear... dismay...sadness. I felt an incredible fear as at that point, a second earthquake was expected, and we were near a volcano. Then I knew... it was time to surrender, surrender to the fate that only God controls. After such a dramatic event, I felt pulled by the peaceful teachings of Buddhas, the philosophy of life led by His followers.


Life went on, until more natural disasters occurred, the terrible floods of New Orleans, the horror of the Haitian earthquake, the floods of Australia, followed by New Zealand and now Japan...


One has to stop and reflect...Is there a greater plan? In such crises, some of us demonstrate heroic actions , selflessness compassion, others close their eyes and tell themselves that all these people suffering are far, far away and choose to go on trying to avoid fear and reality. Tomorrow morning, I will go to church and pray, pray to accept without anger all the suffering brought to our beautiful planet, pray for the souls of the the struck ones and thank God for every moment of this life.


For any who may wish to contribute to relief efforts in Japan, Connie of  Sogui e Sorrisi has a list of organizations with funds already up and running.  

Ronda Carman.....most gracious hostess

At some point, last night, I just could not bear to be tied down to my desk anymore, and feel gloomy about the incessant rain, business, life. I just shut down my computer and dragged Estera my design project manager and Ania, Interieurs marketing director to a cocktail party in Soho at Ducduc, my favorite children furniture maker. We were welcomed by Ronda Carman of the famous "All the Best" blog and marketing venue, who was the hostess of the evening cocktail party.

Sometimes we have to push ourselves to go out and mingle with the world. I know I feel at times that I have to carry all the stress, struggle and pressure on my shoulders and just keep going and going without breathing any fresh air. I call it being in a rut... Do you feel that way sometimes? My new medicine, instead of feeling sorry for myself, I kick myself and go out to mingle with others.

Two nights ago, I had the most wonderful dinner with a designer/client and after a three hours dinner, I feel that we have struck a real friendship. I met his wife and she and I could have spent the night talking about AIDS research and her work with AIDS devastated nations. Then last night, at the cocktail party, I bumped into a client and our conversation cheered me up. I will say that I do have a sense of humor, and both she and I laughed our stress and frustrations away... a couple of cocktails helped us along.

So thank you Ronda and the Traditionalist/ DucDuc team...

For you, music enthusiasts, listen to ronda being welcomed by traditional Scottish bagpiper

Interieurs via... Interior Connector

I spend hours every week sourcing products for clients. I feel that, as a designer, I must be aware of new products, materials, lighting, shops, websites...  As a furniture designer and manufacturer as well as owner of the Interieurs Showroom and website, I am also constantly looking for new platforms to present the Interieurs Collections...we are currently on 1st Dibs.com, AD.com, Decorati, Home Portfolio and of course, Interieurs.com. Outside of our website, I had no other venue to present the Interieurs Collection as a powerful brand until I met... Beth Neuhaus.

I met Beth a couple of months ago in our showroom and it was... sold at first sight... Beth is brilliant, energetic and left the legal world for the creative field of design. She is investing all her talent and energy into a new medium that will transform the way we source products and ideas.

Below, our Interieurs page on Interior Connector

Beth's website Interior Connector is an online platform showcasing luxury home furnishings offered by the independent showrooms, boutique or designer/architects with their own line. The stories behind each trend setter and tastemakers give an insight into the collections and people behind them.

Are you slightly curious to find out more about yours truly... just click on a short recent interview

Whether I am working on a new collection, or a client project, I need to be inspired, feel the space or the collection and when I start the creative process, I need to know who is behind each piece of furniture, is it an artist? which period was it built? what materials was/were used? ... no single website could completely satisfy such an inquiry until Beth introduced Interior Connector.

Interior Connector is making its debut and I cannot wait to see how far it is going to take us... I remember when Michael Bruno started his website from Paris years ago... I think that Beth has all it takes to build a strong platform where great design can be accessed effortlessly.

To sign up click on the link

http://www.interiorconnector.com/

Sign up and receive Interior Connector's newsletters including the scoop about the latest home design sources and trends, and information about exclusive promotions and eventswww.interiorconnector.com

Current design project....Architecture by Jean Nouvel

image: designcrack.com

Jean Nouvel building next to Frank Gehry's designed IAC headquarters

This past summer, I was invited by a client to look at their newly purchased apartment in New York and to come up with design inspirations. As our cab drove closer to the space, my heart started to palpitate faster and faster as I realized the space was in the 100 11Th Avenue building designed by Jean Nouvel.

image: Flickr

The 23 story tower is described by Jean Nouvel as a "vision machine" which features the most technologically advanced curtain wall ever designed and constructed in New York City. The walls are a curved mosaic of nearly 1700 windows, all different size, color,depth, set at unique angles. The light and color change constantly as it is a direct mirror and reflection of the outdoor and its ever changing chromatic light variations. Looking at this magnificent building, one feels immersed in a gigantic Mondrian landscape.

image: Flickr 

Each window require a specific shade, size and color

photo by Tod Eberle

Terraces and balcony are part of the intricate facade mosaic

Stepping into the space is mind blowing. I felt as if I were floating over New York. You become immersed in the three dimensional landscape of the city. Each window was designed and placed with a specific purpose, to frame a chosen piece of new York.

photo by Tod Eberle

The kitchen floats in the open space

Photo Tod Eberle

Magical sunsets on the Hudson River

I greatly admire Jean Nouvel, who, in my humble opinion, is one  of the world's most brilliant architect. He received  architecture's most honorific Pritzker Prize.

Jean Nouvel is by far the boldest French Architect, who over the past 30 has developed one of the largest french architectural firm, pushing contemporary architecture to its limits.

Jean Nouvel was born in the small town of Fumel, a few miles away from my village of Clermont Dessous in Lot et Garonne. One has to have travelled through the South West of France to appreciate the intellect, vision, creativity required to have achieved such an extraordinary carrier, coming from such a rather remote and back country part of France. It took New York for our paths to indirectly cross.

Town of Fumel

I could write a dissertation on his work but instead will just share,via images, the works that I am most sensitive to.

The highly controversial Musee du Quai Branly, so criticized by the French is one of my favorite Jean Nouvel commission. The museum houses indigenous art, cultures and civilizations from Africa, Asia, Oceania.

archipensees.blogspot.com

Jean Nouvel  designed  the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi which is scheduled for completion in 2012-2013. The controversy over "selling" the Louvre name to the United Arab Emirate has led to intense criticisms.

The museum will house art from all periods and regions and will include Islamic art.

Ateliers Jean Nouvel

Ateliers Jean Nouvel

Jean Nouvel Atelier won the competition for restructuring the port of Vigo  in South Western Spain. The building is to emulate a granite monolith. Read the story here

Ateliers Jean Nouvel, via eikonpraphia

Jean Nouvel's concept for his New Museum in Qatar is influenced by the bedouin culture. The desert rose, a crystalized formation that is found buried in the desert sand is an inspiration for this extraordinary building

image via designboom.com

Jean Nouvel winning design for La Philarmonie de Paris to open in 2012in Parc de La Villette.

http://kwc.org/architecture/2007/04/la_philharmonie_de_paris_desig.html

Breathraking scale model of jean Nouvel concept and design for La Philarmonie de Paris

While working on this post, I kept reading numerous articles and essays on Abu Dhabi being transformed in the hand of the world's most brilliant architects into the largest artistic center in the world.

I will be going to Africa this fall and just have a add a stop over in Abu Dhabi...it might be a rather long stop over.

Meanwhile, need to attend on last details and deliveries to have the apartment ready for our clients to enjoy

suggested reading:

Interieurs Las Vegas Trip

 Guest Blogger Ania Palermo

The wonderful lanterns of the Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas

It’s a pleasure to be a guest blogger on Francine’s Art de Vivre today. After reading so many entries (and not because Francine is my boss!), it’s an honor to contribute.

We recently took a trip to Las Vegas for the World Market, just barely escaping one of the many snowstorms we had this winter, and headed out West (thankfully!) after changing our flights and landing in Las Vegas, hoping we were confirmed for our rooms.

I knew a lot was at stake and I needed to plan her itinerary and plan ahead her surrounding as to not discourage her from the City of Sin.

We stayed at the wonderful Wynn Hotel, and were amazed with the design choices made in the rooms as well as the hotel grounds. We were very disappointed that the pool areas were under construction as we were hoping to enjoy our early breakfasts outside!

    Photo Source: Trip Advisor

The ambiance of the rooms was very light and airy, which was a great contrast between the main hallway, which at the Wynn is curve, and the walls, ceiling and the flooring are a deep chocolate color. And the bed was one of the most comfortable ones I encountered while traveling. The furniture choice was very elegant, and the glamour was highlighted by a consumer’s ability to design their own lighting ambiance for their spaces.

    Photo Source: Trip Advisor

The hotel grounds were spectacular and the design language used was very whimsical. Between the Chinese lanterns, dragons and disappearing water sculptures, we felt the richness and exuberance of Las Vegas that so many get drawn to each year. Since the floral arrangements were freshly made daily, it made the escape from the sounds of gambling that much easier while walking through the casino. 

The hallway at the Wynn smartly used the curve, insuring that the viewer isn’t staring at the dreadful long corridors, LV hotels are known for.

 The dragon greeting you on your way through the casino

The sculpture of a man underneath a man made waterfall was especially striking at night.

 Our itinerary next day included the World Market and hosting our event at Tao Las Vegas. At TAO, which was designed by a New York based design group, I Crave, is heavily inspired by China, especially Shanghai of 1920s.  Large-scale photographs of Chinese workers, farmers grace the walls of this beautiful space. As we sat underneath the Buddha, our guests enjoyed a wonderful set of appetizers and drinks followed by a scrumptious dinner. Later we were escorted by Tao’s marketing director to our private sky booth, where we were able to escape the crowd and enjoy cocktails with our guests, who even though are Vegas dwellers were quite excited about the prospect of a royal treatment.

Francine and I at Tao

 After a glamorous night, maybe just to prove our guests wrong from the night before, we woke up bright and early and decided to drive 45 minutes away from Las Vegas, to the Valley of Fire.

Valley of Fire is one of Nevada's oldest state parks. The valley derives its name from the red sandstone formations and the stark beauty of the Mojave Desert. Ancient trees and early man are represented throughout the park by areas of petrified wood and 3,000 year-old Indian petroglyphs. One of the symbols drawn by the Indian settlers was called the mystical bat woman, and after seeing her image outlined in the park’s brochure, I dedicated an afternoon searching for her on the canyon walls. It only took 4 hours of hiking and passing by the same rock twice underneath different light to find her, but imagine my personal triumph when I spotted her.

 The Mystical Bat Woman, she looks a little bit like a cartoon character dancing. Very proper for a tribe’s female shaman

                       Francine in her element.

    3000 BCE Petroglyphs

The beautiful flora found in the desert, makes it that much more valuable and appreciated when seen.

After hiking the Valley of Fire we returned to New York, inspired by the colors and shapes, and still carrying red sand in our shoes, seeing the snow outside the taxi window, it made our trip that much more abstract and that much more special.

The beautiful rock formations inspiring the next color scheme

 The stunning scenery at the Valley of Fire took our breath away, the lack of any sound of any sort was magical and mystical.