by Saxon Henry Miami Beach-based realtor Gary Hennes has a genius for eclecticism that makes any interior space he occupies standout. His home on the beach is a light-filled space full of treasures that he has collected over the years with an eye to quality and a knack for snagging pieces for a steal. “I love beautiful objects,” he says. “I’ve always loved form.” At his own admission, Hennes gets it honest, as his mother made an art of making an eclectic home “read” like a highly sophisticated environment where grown-ups lived and kids learned the discipline of nesting in style. “For mom, everything was about presentation, even when she cooked,” he explains. This penchant for packaging had its foibles. “More than once, I came home from school and the whole house was rearranged!” he quips. The lessons in eclecticism began when his mother inherited cherished family heirlooms, which the late mid-century-style home they occupied didn’t welcome easily. A young Hennes watched as she made everything relate seamlessly. “I don’t think your eye plays tricks on you when you see environments that work and those that don’t work,” he says. “You have to trust your sense of style and let it guide you.” The stylish environment he has created in his own home is all the more surprising given his ability to ferret out items with pedigree at a fraction of the weighty cost many collectors plunk down for vintage furniture. “I definitely like what most people would call ‘the find,’” he explains, “but creating successful interiors is as much about editing as it is about what is contained in each space.”  Recently, Hennes turned his attention to his office by incorporating a walled-off double-height volume adjacent to the original one-story space and adding architecturally interesting detailing. Then he brought vintage finds into the spaces to lend the rooms cosmopolitan warmth. For those who think any renovation is highly costly, he accomplished the update on a reasonable budget. Hennes sees the office as an extension of his residence, and he notes that since he spends more time at work than at home, he saw the importance of making the intimately-scaled space as personable as possible. “This was an opportunity for me to be expressive,” he says. “I’m a good observer and I enjoy using the ideas I’ve gleaned in my own spaces.” His advice for someone wanting to collect: “Have fun with the hunt. The satisfaction is in finding things that speak to you.” Don’t be afraid to experiment, either, he says. “I sometimes see interiors I’ve created a couple of years after the fact and I think, ‘OMG’!” This is normal, he believes, as perspectives shift over time and a sense of style is an ever-evolving process. Patience is also a crowning virtue when searching for good-looking furnishings. “For the evolving person, collecting and nesting are ongoing pursuits,” he explains. “These activities are never finished until the day you die.” Lastly, use your instincts when you see a piece of furniture, an accessory or a piece of art that speaks to you. “I’ve brought things home that I had no idea where they would fit,” he remarks. “It’s why I have a garage, which is where things go until I know exactly where they go!” When it comes to favorite designers, he prefers to emulate people who have lived design rather than those who have studied it. “I live in a glass house so everything is seen from the outside,” he says. “As soon as I pull my car into the driveway, my home and everything in it welcomes me. That, to me, is the sign of a well designed, highly personal space.”  One classic Hennes anecdote is a good one to take away in terms of thinking through purchases before you put the money on the table, even if the price is a steal. “When the owners were selling off the contents of the Revere Hotel because Gianni Versace was demolishing it to make room for his pool,” he explains. “I bought the sectional sofa that had been in the lobby. It was white vinyl and filled with soot. I don’t know how many bottles of Windex I went through trying to get it clean!” Had he taken the time to “kick the tires,” so to speak, that sectional might have been someone else’s prize. “That was one hell of an uncomfortable sofa!” In the world according to Hennes, this is all in a life’s work. “I live to learn,” he says. “If you love where you’re living, changing your spaces an infinite number of times isn’t unsettling, it’s incredibly satisfying. As a matter of fact, talking about this is making me want to go home and rearrange my furniture tonight!” See other images of Hennes' office here.

             by Saxon Henry So many empty condos, so little time! This caveat served as designer Tui Pranich’s cue to opportunity. His business partner Jason Atkins was looking for a furnished apartment to rent and the offerings were so dire that they made haste and founded Tui Lifestyle. “We can furnish a condo in 72 hours,” says Pranich. “Our packages include everything from custom designed furniture to lamps, picture frames and ironing boards.” Packages range from $14,999 to $50,000.   The rampant rise of condos was also Sam Robin’s inspiration for her Ready to Wear line of furniture, created with Francesco Caracciolo di Marano. “We knew that we could combine great style and affordability,” says Robin, who can supply pieces in this line, which cost between $200 and $5,000, in about three months. When the condo market went schizophrenic, trendsetting designer Jorge Rosso of Studio Rosso Ubarri created Home Therapy. “So many people were asking me how to achieve high design on a minimal budget that I started a service for people who have good things that simply need editing or who need design advice,” he says. A full day of therapy will cost you $1,200. See other design stories by Saxon Henry.

 

 by Saxon Henry DesignCommotion wanted to know how Giulio Cappellini, who is in charge of the artistic direction for Cappellini, manages to stay on the leading edge of contemporary Italian design. Here’s what he had to say:

DC: Your very name is synonymous with avant-garde Italian design: what is it about you that you believe has set you apart in the design world?

GC: The continuous desire to innovate, risk and search for new and interesting creative people in the world. I have always had this coherent approach whilst thinking that there are always more new things to do in the design sector.

 

DC: As you scout and nourish new design talent, what do you look for in the beginning that proves there’s a kernel of genius in the person’s designs?

GC: It is important to understand if there are signs of research, of great personal and original innovation in a young designer, and if they are ready to question themselves, as making a product is something serious.

DC: You have said that one of your responsibilities is to make designers dream. How do you foster this level of synergy with the designers with whom you collaborate?

GC: It is important to find a perfect feeling between myself and the designer. You can discuss, try and work for a long period of time on a project with the aim of creating a good product only if you have the right harmony. 

DC: Why do you think Miami has become a U.S. epicenter for Italian design?

GC: I think that Miami is a contemporary city, open to different cultures and therefore completely open to new stimulus in art and design.  

DC: How have you seen Italian design change over the course of your career?

GC: From the 1950s to the 1980s, Italian design has been characterized by strong stylistic and functional innovation. It seems that in the last few years many companies have concentrated more on presenting lifestyle than extraordinary products, something that I think should be the true vocation of a brand.

DC: You have said that you work to nurture long-sellers rather than bestsellers when you work with designers. Who do you think is your newest long seller?

GC: Most definitely the Mr. Bugatti chairs by François Azambourg and the Lotus seating collection by Jasper Morrison because they are complex, innovative and honest products.

DC:  What do you love most about what you do?

GC: What I most like is to think that there is always so much yet to do in design. It is not true that everything has already been done.

 

 

DC: If you could change anything about your profession, what would it be?

GC: I would try and make products that are closer to the public’s requirements, and that can also make them dream.

DC: What is the most exciting thing you’ve done in your work during the past several years?

GC: Definitely having had the possibility to meet and collaborate with fantastic people such as Achille Castiglioni, Shiro Kuramata, Jasper Morrison and many others. Exchanging ideas with these people has given me the possibility to really grow from a cultural point of view.

DC: When you were a child, were there signs that you would be involved in some type of design? How did your creativity show itself at an early age?

GC: I have always been curious and I have always liked playing with forms and colors, being attracted most of all by simplicity, in a sophisticated and not banal way. My dream has always been to create fascinating and innovative objects.

                  Saxon Henry is now Miami's Interior Decorating Examiner

by Saxon Henry

In her introduction to THAD HAYES: The Tailored Interior, Evelyn Lauder says of Hayes’ skill, “Thad Hayes can make a home fit into its own skin, not into his skin.” A perusal of the 21 interiors in the book proves Hayes’ long-standing client’s point, as the string of residences and retreats range from a pied-à-terre at the Pierre Hotel in New York to the Lauder’s Georgian vacation home in Palm Beach and a Tudor Revival in Texas.

Whether the designer is creating a backdrop for a contemporary art collector in New York City or Leonard Lauder’s collection of art deco posters in Palm Beach, his dexterity in working across styles and periods is apparent. His own Greenwich Village townhouse is among my favorites, as the interiors have a breathless quality to them. This is owed in part, perhaps, to the fact that Hayes had modernist architect Mies van der Rohe in mind when he introduced certain elements, or possibly to his affection for Japanese architecture. “I wanted our house to embrace and fulfill all the romantic notions we have around the idea of ‘home’: the welcoming of friends, cooking, children’s chatter, sitting around a hearth,” Hayes explains. “That was really my expectation.”

For his client’s interiors, he envisions environments that are equally personal, and it’s likely a result of his attentiveness during a project, as described in the introduction by critic Charles Gandee in which he quotes Hayes as saying, “I don’t delegate. I direct everything. I’m in every meeting with every client; I go to every job site. I go to the upholsterer. I know every pillow fabric…every detail.” This attention to detail leads to rooms that reflect “repose, clarity, and restraint,” says one client, but Hayes’ restraint is anything but spare.

One of the strengths of the beautifully photographed book is that it shows the designer’s dexterity and range: a New Jersey Craftsman, a modernist summerhouse in the Hamptons and a gentile home in Baton Rouge were given identities that shrug off any evidence of having been “designed.” In the acknowledgements, Hayes himself writes, “In my line of work it is easy to begin believing one is laboring for one’s art.” Hayes’ art has such a delicately powerful quality to it that even the natural light seems to tiptoe into the rooms, unwilling to allow its harshness to interrupt the quiet beauty that has been achieved. 

     by Saxon Henry    

Forty years ago from May 26^th to June 2^nd, John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their infamous bed-in at The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal. The peaceful protest instantly grabbed worldwide media interest, not surprising since John and Yoko spoke to over 150 journalists every day during the weeklong bed-in. In the US, 350 radio stations carried reports that relayed the actions of the peaceniks, determined as they were to beam their protests against the war in Vietnam to every corner of the world.

In hindsight, one of the highlights of the event was John Lennon's June 1st composition of Give Peace A Chance (original video shot in the suite). He wrote the song off-the-cuff, converting the suite into a recording studio under the direction of André Perry. Some 50 people—including Tommy Smothers, Dr. Timothy and Petula Clark—contributed to the recording of the song, which was immediately broadcast worldwide.

For the duration of the event, John had all the furniture removed from the suite and placed in the hall because he wanted to make room for visitors, media and his entourage (not recommended for your stay in the suite). He took the mattress from the bedroom and placed it on the floor in the living room, and taped posters to the walls with messages of peace. Once he had composed Give Peace A Chance, he had the lyrics written and posted on the walls near the bed so others could sing along during the recording. He also posted two boards with “Hair Peace” and “Bed Peace” in the windows behind the bed for all to see.

 The hotel records show that thousands of guests have stayed in what is now called the John Lennon Suite over the years. Though it has been refurbished several times since 1969 and the furnishings from that era are long gone, some guests report that there remains a palpable mystical aura in the room. The suite’s updated décor includes memorabilia—press articles, framed gold records of Give Peace A Chance with music and lyrics, and color and black and white photographs of the couple taken during the event.

The urbane feel of the hotel’s interiors seems to contradict the fact that one of the world’s most famous protests took place in the locale in1969. Lest we all forget that we are still struggling in conflicts overseas, Yoko has collaborated with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts  to stage the exhibition “Imagine: John & Yoko’s Pacifist Anthem,” which will be on view from April 2 to June 21 (2009), and will hold various documents, works of arts, records, sound-reels and photographs that relate to the bed-in.

   The hotel has an Imagine Package through June 21, which includes a one-night stay; one CD featuring Give Peace a Chance; breakfast in bed for two or buffet breakfast in Le Montréalais restaurant and a copy of the lyrics of Give Peace a Chance. 

Given the war-weary context we endure these days, maybe remembering John’s and Yoko’s urgent message for peace will be as beneficial as a good night’s sleep in a luxury hotel suite. Imagine that…

       by Saxon Henry    

Before voluptuous breasts and shapely bottoms were the norm, Barbie's curvaceous figure made many of us green with jealousy. Now, I find out that I have something else to envy: her house in Malibu. Not the small, plastic digs with a handle we filled with her frilly clothes and pointy shoes as children, but real live interiors, 3,500 square feet of them, designed by  Jonathan Adler.

The home, you see, is a life-sized interpretation of that fussed over pint-sized Dream House, bringing to life all the fantasy and fashion that personifies the shapely doll: elements such as skirted, corseted, lace-up “dress” chairs; a chandelier made of Barbie hair; a closet filled with thousands of pink shoes; a sunburst mirror made from 65 Barbie dolls (above the fireplace); pieces from the Barbie Loves Jonathan Adler™ home décor collection (launching nationwide in September 2009); and a garage that includes a real Barbie Volkswagen New Beetle (all pink with a motorized, pop up vanity in the trunk).

The house also features a Barbie Museum, which houses dozens of dolls and art pieces such as Barbie paintings by Andy Warhol. “Of all my work, bringing to life Barbie’s famous Malibu Dream House has been one of the most fun design projects yet,” says Adler. "Barbie was a dream client because she doesn't have a husband to rein in the fantasy or tone down the glamour."

Barbie’s outrageously pink birthday party, a star-studded soiree that showcased the residence for the first time, was designed by event-planner-to-the-stars Colin Cowie. It included more than 45 celebrities walking the pink carpet (get a load of Heidi Klum fondling Barbie's stash of pink stilettos), music by DJ AM, specialty cocktails such as the Barbie “Doll-icious” and “Strawberry Blonde,” custom floral centerpieces shaped as stilettos heels and a “plastic fantastic” theme infused throughout the night. Other details: 1,800 pairs of Barbie sized sunglasses, 3,500 pairs of Barbie shoes and 3,500 Barbie handbags filled custom designed Lucite tables. Along with centerpieces made up of 3,000 pink roses were 146 pounds of pink candy and 1,030 pounds of ice, which were used to create an ice sculpture of a birthday cake.

 “We’re bringing the entire idea of Barbie alive – how she eats, how she decorates, how she lives, and certainly how she entertains,” says Cowie.  “Barbie is a great client – she has great style, she loves the details, she enjoys her bling and she has tons of amazing imagery for inspiration – you’ll see lots of pink, shine, her famed black-and-white zebra print and always a few Barbie surprises.”

   by Saxon Henry

Since March is the month that Nature begins nesting, I wanted to share with you the great breadth of knowledge of a veritable linen encyclopedia, Fabrizio Biasiolo, owner of Casa del Bianco. After all, there’s nothing more comforting than a well-made bed.

 

Selecting and Buying Linens

What’s the most important thing to consider when buying sheets? There is no right fabric. There is only a fabric that is right for you. Your own personal taste and your intended use should dictate your choice.  Cotton, percale or sateen, sheets are smooth, strong and comfortable and demand relatively easy care. Linen is the strongest fiber, but the least uniform, and it has great airflow for coolness, but its irregular surface creates sheets that are not quite as soft as cotton and ones that wrinkle more than other fibers. Silk sheets are woven from extremely smooth, thin uniform yarns and tend to feel more luxurious, but they are substantially warmer than either cotton or linen, and they require more care.

Why is Egyptian cotton considered the best? Egyptian cotton has the longest fibers when spun, producing the smoothest yarns for weaving. The result is the most comfortable cotton fabric. Linens made of Egyptian cotton also pill less (the annoying balling of loose fibers on the fabric’s surface) and offer greater durability so they last longer.

What’s the difference between percale and sateen? The construction of these fabrics makes each feel and perform differently. Percale is woven with the same number of threads in the warp and weft on the loom, and they interlace evenly in a basket weave pattern. This balanced weave produces a strong fabric with maximum airflow to make summer slumber cool. Sateen is woven with an uneven number of threads in the warp and weft so more threads float over the fabric surface, producing its characteristic beautiful sheen but also creating a fabric that is less porous with less airflow and is consequently warmer. Since sateen is an unbalanced weave, there is also a greater possibility of surface pilling from friction of the unbalanced threads rubbing together. On the plus side, however, sateen sheets require less ironing than percale.

What is the truth about thread count as a measure of quality? Thread count is very misunderstood.  Higher thread counts do not assure comfort or quality. After a certain point, the denser the number of threads per square inch, the heavier and less supple the fabric becomes. A sheet with a very high thread count (800 and above) will be hot and heavy on the body and a sleeper will feel as if they are sleeping under a tablecloth. We recommend 400 to 600 for optimal comfort because with bed linens, it is the weight per square meter that counts. The optimal weight for sheets is 110 grams per square meter.

What is so special about Italian linens? Without a doubt, it’s the three processes called the “finishing” – bleaching, burning and mercerization – which are done better in Italy than any other place in the world that make Italian linens special. Manufacturers may buy fine Egyptian cotton yarn, weave it anywhere in the world on the best German looms, but if they don’t “finish” in Italy, the fabric will be inferior. The same holds true for wool, silk, cashmere and leather finished in Italy.

Preserving the Life of Fine Linens

How long should fine linens last? The life of linens is measured in “washings” not years. Care for them well and they will give you long service. The paradox is that as linens approach the end of their “life,” they often feel their best – softer and softer. By following proper washing and drying instructions and by alternating your linens (allowing them to “rest” between uses), you can greatly extend the life of your linens.

What is the best way to wash linens? We recommend cold water and very low detergent and, if necessary, only non-chlorine bleach. Always wash like items together to minimize the abrasion. For instance, separate towels and sheets.

What is the best method for drying linens? Contrary to what our grandmothers taught us, it’s not line drying. Cotton is sensitive to heat and sun and it’s important not to over-dry or over expose cotton sheets. If using a dryer, set the temperature at medium and remove from the dryer while damp. This will allow sheets to air dry and will preserve the fabric while minimizing wrinkling. If you do iron or touch up your linens, be sure to use moist heat.

Why have my expensive sheets lost their luster? There is a good probability that you have excess detergent remaining in the fabric, possibly soldered into it from too long in a hot dryer. Washing sheets in cold water a couple of times without detergent will often restore their original beauty and sheen.

How should I store my linens? Linens don’t require special storage, but you should never seal them in plastic. Adding a lavender sachet to your linen closet is a lovely way to lend fragrance to your bed; plus it’s a natural insect deterrent.

See other images of Casa del Bianco fine linens on DesignCommotion.com.

 Swatch It!                                                                                            

                                                                      by Saxon Henry

Due in part to visionaries like David Serrano and Robert Wilson, who have been offering furniture in any color that Benjamin Moore produces through their shop Downtown in Los Angeles for the past 11 years, furniture has become bolder and more beautiful. With his imagination as his guide, Serrano pioneered a process that seals the furniture after it’s painted, protecting it and bringing it a lacquered gleam. A fine artist who grew up in a small town in the Mexican desert, which is renowned for its lavender and purple sunsets, he developed a fascination for color early on and has nurtured it his entire life.

“The first piece of furniture I painted was an apple green coffee table, which I matched to a Banana Republic shopping bag,” he says. “My partner said, ‘You’re crazy; no one will buy this!’” A young designer named Kelly Wearstler, who was just beginning her career at the time, snapped it up, beginning a long collaborative relationship with Serrano that has produced a kaleidoscopic array of furniture for her projects.

The trend migrated to South Florida, and Christopher Raessler of the RGR Design Group began offering furnishings in any Benjamin Moore color about seven years ago. He works with several companies in Miami that paint the furniture and then treat it with a strong, glistening finish.

“We use Benjamin Moore colors and we can also mix custom colors,” Raessler remarks. “The finish is not technically lacquer, which requires a long process that takes many weeks to achieve. I call our finish the 21^st-century lacquering method because we’re much too impatient now to wait too long for furniture!”

This 21^st-century finish is achieved with modern products rather than traditional techniques. Serrano’s sealant was originally made for use on automobiles. “It’s extremely durable,” he remarks. “Photosynthesis can yellow traditional lacquers, which is a great concern for those living in climates like South Florida’s where there is so much light. The finish we’ve created will not yellow and it is cleaned with a damp cloth.”

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, a word of caution from Carl Minchew, the director of product development at Benjamin Moore: “You can’t use our paint, which is meant for walls and trim, on furniture and expect it to be durable without the special coatings that these companies have created.” 

Serrano concurs that it is the sealant they use that makes the furniture resilient and the colors so lush. It’s the expansive range of color choices that they can offer clients that Raessler enjoys. “Never before have we been able to provide so many choices in furniture colors,” he remarks. “The fact that the lacquering enlivens the colors and brings sophistication to each piece is a bonus.”

About his fearless color choices for furniture, Serrano quips, “Color has never done anything bad to me, so I’m not afraid of it! The newest hue I’m perfecting is one I’ve matched to a dry chicken bone—have you ever noticed how many tonal gradations there are in a chicken bone that has been beautifully bleached by the sun?”

For other similar design stories, visit DesignCommotion...

  by Saxon Henry

Audrey Hepburn once said, “Some people dream of having a big swimming pool. With me, it’s closets.” Were she still alive, Ornare’s closets would likely make the iconic actress swoon! The Brazilian company that migrated from South America to Miami is known for its exceptional detailing and luxurious appointments. A stroll through the Miami showroom brings great sensory pleasure. There’s something about the sleekly polished woods, which have managed to retain their textural personalities, combined with a peppering of undulant furniture that creates an air of allure.

 

I believe it’s safe to say that the populous of the vibrant country of Brazil can’t help but produce provocative products; and though Rio de Janeiro often gets blamed for Brazil’s tantalizing reputation, it’s not just the cariocas, or natives of Rio, that birth designs exuding sexy charm. São Paulo stakes its own claim here. During a recent trip to the city, Jason Richard Adams, director of Max Strang Architecture in Miami, noticed. “São Paulo was a city of absolute contrasts: lush rolling hillscapes with concrete towers rising up out of the canopy,” he explains. “There was a great vibe about the streets, and my favorite area was the libertage, or Japanese freedom district.”

 

He also noticed the sultry quality of the products being manufactured there. “What makes Brazilian design so inherently sexy is the mentality of the people,” he remarks. “They are in touch with nature, and prefer their designs to follow that path.”

 

Marcos Zucaratto, a Brazilian-born, Miami-based interior designer for Artefacto—a luxury Brazilian brand that has exploded in the U.S. in the past several years, couldn’t agree more. “We have so many natural resources that we work with, all of which link us to the organic,” he says. “We don’t limit our designs to straight edges; we create a balance between the organic, or natural elements, and the sensual.”

 

The designer, who designed the living room in the photo above, believes that Miami is a great place for Brazilians to strut their stuff. “It’s a natural place for us to put our creativity out there,” he explains. “I am a true carioca—was born and raised in Rio, which is an incredible city full of contrasts and beautiful people. This helped me to be who I am, and it is my constant inspiration.”

 

Designer Thomas Bina, the creative director of Los Angeles-based Environment Furniture, is a native Angeleno, but he’s been living in Brazil for the past five years in order to cultivate resources and designer relationships. He spotted a green trend coming out of Brazil, which is why he moved there. As is the case with most other aspects of life there, the environmentally friendly products pouring out of the South American country are far from boring. Case in point is the Giramundo swivel chair, which is covered in yarn scraps that were collected in Rio. And who can forget the playful wares of the Campana Brothers with their knack for envisioning spirited environmentally friendly products?

 

Ornare has also made a commitment to sustainable design. “Their factories were impeccably clean, modern and environmentally green in their re-use programs,” says Adams, who visited the company’s facilities while in Brazil. “As is the case with many of their products, the aspects I loved the most about Brazilian design was the use of reclaimed wood, and the stylistic ways architects and designers utilized this material.”

 

The company has just launched Linah, a new line of kitchen products, in the U.S. Why Miami for its first U.S. outlet? “Miami was a great choice because we felt that the city is home to the perfect combination of design innovation and luxury,” Ornare’s Director Esther Schattan remarks. “The city is filled with cosmopolitan citizens that are open-minded when it comes to embracing new ideas.”

 

Though certainly not a new idea, Adams’ last comment about the Brazilian’s penchant for the provocative is far from an afterthought: “It doesn't hurt that there is an abundance of sexy people in that country!” For other sexy design stories, visit my ezine DesignCommotion.

Everyday I am amazed to find that design is absolutely everywhere. I would like to share my discoveries with you. As I'm interviewing design visionaries, they never cease to amaze me in their depth and talent. Ross Lovegrove claims the road to success for any designer is paved with stamina. “Thou shalt not waffle,” he proclaimed. To read interviews with Lovegrove, the Campana Brothers and Piero Lissoni, visit my ezine Design Commotion. Lissoni claims that design for him is close to child’s play. “I still play everyday,” he explained. “I have just changed the scale of the things I am playing with!” Lovegrove designed the Swarovski Crystal Palace at Design Miami/ this year. See an interview about his design of Liquid Space here.