Table by Ralph Lauren
On the second evening that we spent in NYC as part of BlogTourNYC we went straight from the Architectural Digest Home Design Show back to the hotel to get our glad rags on before heading off to the glamorous DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) Dining by Design event.
Tags: Benjamin Moore, David stark, Design Within Reach, DesignLush, DIFFA, Dining by Design, Ethan Allen, Libby Langdon, Liebherr, Merchandise Mart Properties, Ralph Lauren
For our second day in New York, the BlogTour gang was fortunate enough to attend the 11th annual Architectural Digest Home Design Show, which took place at Pier 94, 55th Street at Twelfth Avenue. With over 400 brands exhibiting there was plenty for us to take in, explore and discover. We even got to meet some of the BlogTourNYC sponsors who were exhibiting at the show.
Tags: AD Show. Architectural Digest Home Design Show, Bec Brittain, BlogTourNYC, Geoffrey Keating, Palo Samko, Piet Hein Eek, Rustbelt Rebirth, Strawser & Smith, The Future Perfect, Victor Dinovi, Work & Design
Festival of Britain poster by Abram Games, 1951
I probably should have posted this a while ago considering that the exhibition opened at the end of March, but with all the wedding planning I had on, I have got slightly behind with my schedule. However, as the exhibition runs until August 12th I thought it was well worth posting.
BRITISH DESIGN 1948–2012: Innovation in the Modern Age is taking place at the V&A Museum in London and traces the changes that have taken place in British Design between 1948, when London first hosted the Olympic Games, and 2012 when Britain welcomes the Olympics once more.
Anarchy in the UK T-shirt, by Vivienne Westwood & Malcolm McLaren, 1977-8, worn and altered by Johnny Rotten.
The exhibition examines the shifting nature of British Design over sixty years by exploring buildings, objects, images and ideas produced by designers and artists born, trained or based in Britain. Three galleries respectively explore the tension between tradition and modernity; the subversive impulse in British culture; and Britain’s leadership in design innovation and creativity.
Brownie Vecta camera, by Kenneth Grange for Kodak, 1964.
The exhibition reveals how British designers have responded to economic, political and cultural forces that have fundamentally shaped how we live today. Over the last half century, British designers have stood at the forefront of change. In doing so they have created some of the most inventive and striking objects, technologies and buildings of the modern world.
Here is a link to a little video from the opening of the exhibition that features Sir Paul Smith, Stephen Bayley and Wendy Dagworthy who give their thoughts on what British design means to them.
British Design: 1948-2012: The Private View
I’m hoping to get to the exhibition in the coming weeks, but if any of you have already been please do leave me a comment to let me know what you thought. I’d love to hear your feedback.
Tags: British Design, Festival of Britain, Kenneth Grange, V&A Museum, Vivienne Westwood
Cinema Four Seater
Founded by friends Harry Villiers & David Riches, Vintage Archive is a comprehensive collection of antique, modern and upcycled furniture, objets d’art, vintage posters and graphic art. The pair have been exploring markets and secret sources in far off places, in search of genuine vintage, upcycled items that have a story to tell.
Hand-painted Indian Large Cabinet
From a horse from an Indian fairground, a garden bench made from the oars of a 1930s boat, to a collection of 1930s glove moulds, which transform into a piece of installation art, all of the items stocked are loaded with wit, charm, and a quirky originality that will add an extra flourish to living spaces, gardens and even offices.
Upcycled Wooden Cube Seat
Harry Villiers is a founder member of Villiers Brothers, a company that has been designing and making finely crafted original furniture since 1989. David Riches is Creative Director of Visual Edge, a company that designs publications for Liberty, The White Company and the V & A.
Alphabet Chest
Together the creative duo have over 50 years of experience as designers and through Vintage Archive they are now channelling their passion for collecting and love of travelling into a new venture that provides key signature pieces and antiques for interiors.
Recycled Green Bench
All of the items stocked are unique though so don’t leave it too long before you take a look, otherwise you may miss out on some really great finds. I suggest you head on over to the Vintage Archive website at the first opportunity to see what they have to offer.
Antique Metal Factory Locker
Tags: Antique, Art, Furniture, Vintage, Vintage Archive
Marianne & Andreas Lamberth from Nordic Bliss
Scandinavian design has been increasingly dominating home interior trends in the UK in recent years. We British have grown very fond of the clean-lined and useful products that are often made from natural materials that seem to feed our need for emotional comfort. I myself am a huge fan of the design traditions that have filtered through from the Nordic countries. But I wanted to find out a little but more on the topic. Luckily I knew just the person to speak to.
Tags: Cia Wedin, Formex, Hans J Wegner, Hay, IKEA, Lapland W Design, Nordic Bliss, Nordic design, Royal Copenhagen, Scandinavian design, Shyness
You may have noticed that I have been pretty rubbish at posting regularly over the past few months. This is something I will be rectifying as of next week when I will be back to my normal blogging schedule. However, I thought I owe it to you, my loyal readers, to explain my sudden absence from the blogosphere and the twittersphere.
On Saturday 21st April 2012, I married my true love and best friend. After just under two years of detailed research, studious planning, frantic pinning and diligent crafting, the day finally arrived, and what a day it was!
So before normal service resumes, all that remains is for me to propose a toast….To Love, Laughter, & Happily Ever After!
The new One57 building will transform the NYC Skyline
The fact that it has taken me three posts just to tell what happened on our first day in NYC is testament to the fact that we had a pretty hectic schedule. But that meant we got to see loads of great things that I am now able to share with you.
After leaving the D&D Building we had an appointment with BlogTourNYC sponsor Miele for a tour around the sales office for One57, a building that is currently under construction, but when complete will be the tallest housing highrise in NYC. Situated on 157 West 57th Street, the building is being constructed by the Extell Development Company in collaboration with French “starchitect” Christian de Portzamparc.
At 1004 ft tall, One57 will be a new landmark in the Big Apple and will transform the iconic skyline that is recognised across the globe. The luxury highrise is comprised of 90 floors, with the bottom third of the building featuring a 210-room Park Hyatt hotel. From floor 39 to 90, there will be 95 condos, the interiors of which have been designed by New York-based Thomas Juul-Hansen.
The living room of this apartment at One57 will have panoramic views over NYC
At the sales office we were shown into a series of rooms that had been designed as exact replicas of how the final interiors will look. The kitchens are designed by Smallbone of Devizes and are handmade in Wiltshire, UK. And they feature state-of-the-art Miele appliances. I did try to take photos of the kitchen whilst I was being shown around but the high gloss finish made it practically impossible for an inexperienced photographer such as myself to get a good shot.
The building, which is scheduled for completion in late 2012 to early 2014, will certainly be an impressive statement towering above Central Park. For anyone who can afford the astonishing price tag – ranging from just over $7 million to $115 for the penthouse – One57 certainly is the lap of luxury.
Following this impressive visit, we were ushered off again by Miele, this time to their showroom back in the D&D Building. There we were treated to a much-needed glass of chilled champagne and we were given a more detailed insight into Miele and its product offering. But there is no better way to get to know a brand than to experience it firsthand. So we were delighted to learn that we were being cooked for by Miele Table Artist, and rising chef Adam Schop, whose restaurant Nuela specialises in food from South America. By cooking us a fabulous meal, Schop was able to share with us the unlimited possibilities of what can be created with Miele Culinary appliances.
Will Taylor of Bright Bazaar lends a helping hand to chef Adam Schop at the Miele Dining Event
Now I must say, I was so eager to sample the delights that Adam Schop was serving up that I didn’t even pause to photograph the food before I tucked in. Luckily though fellow blogger Katie Treggiden of Confessions of a Design Geek was far more organised than me and took some lovely snaps of the dishes that she has kindly let me use.
Ceviche prepared by table artist Adam Schop at Miele
First up we enjoyed some delicious Ceviche, which is a dish made with raw fish that is marinated in citrus juices and spiced with chilli peppers. It was the first time I had tried this dish but I have already made it at home for myself as it was absolutely delicious.
Scallops prepared by Adam Schop
We were then treated to some scallops served with cauliflower that had been cooked in the Miele Steam Oven. Whilst cooking with steam is not something that has really caught on in Europe just yet, it is far more popular in other parts of the world. But it is gaining in popularity here due to the health benefits it offers.
Adam Schop prepared the most delicious lamb I have ever tasted
For our third course, we were served the most succulent, moist and tasty lamb I have ever eaten. And I am not exaggerating! Cooked in a Miele Convection Oven, the rack of lamb was basted in honey and lavender that turned into a tasty crust. It really was out of this world.
Pudding by Adam Schop for Miele
And for dessert we were served up a coconut dish that had been set with gelatin and was topped with some kind of orange dressing and chopped pistachio nuts.
The BlogTourNYC gang had a great time sampling the food at the Miele Dining event
Our first day in New York was pretty full on, but we got to see so many great things. By the end of it I was pretty exhausted but I was also really looking forward to our visit to the Architectural Digest Home Design Show the next day. Stay tuned if you want to read my round-up of all the amazing products that were exhibited at the show. It’s worth waiting for.
Keep your eyes peeled for more posts featuring the fantastic sponsors of BlogTourNYC: Samuel Heath, BLANCO, Scholtes, Miele, Poggenpohl, Spirit of Sports, Big Ass Fans, Victoria & Albert Baths, Modern Aire, Jenn Aire, Rotsen Furniture, Vitra, Axor, Wallunica and Ethan Allen.
Tags: Adam Schop, BlogTourNYC, D&D Building, Miele, One57, Smallbone of Devizes
