Luxist

Herman Miller Select Eames Inspired Walnut Tops Set

Ariel Adams — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Decor

You may know Herman Miller as a chair and furniture maker, but the company also makes items for the home. As people buy less products made in America, I think that Herman Miller takes prides in the fact that it is an American company, and enjoys releasing uniquely American products. Another side of Herman Miller you may not be familiar with is Herman Miller Select. The point of Select is to align with important designers and create one special product at a time. The first Herman Miller Select product was an Eames inspired chair, and now it is a set of toy tops.

The set of three tops was designed by New York city based design firm Klein Reid. If you are familiar with their work, you'll see the similarity in these tops. The design is inspired by famous designers Charles and Ray Eames (think, the Eames chair). The Eameses themselves looked to toys for inspiration in their work. Herman Miller currently produces Eames designed furniture, so it makes sense for them to offer these limited edition tops.

Made of high-quality turned solid Walnut wood, to me the tops each represent different periods of American design aesthetic - from ornate decoration to stark modernism. The tops arrive together as a set and are each between about 4 - 4.75 inches in size. They work too, but you have to use two hands to spin them. The look of wood and soft edges make the tops attractive pieces of decorative art, evoking imagery of toys from a simpler time as well as pure Americana. A good gift idea. Production is limited and will cease forever in April 2010. Price is $199 per set and available at select Herman Miller dealers and retailers. You'll need to locate a Herman Miller dealer or retailer here if you want to get a set.

Gallery: Herman Miller Tops

Herman Miller Select Eames Inspired Walnut Tops Set originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Blixseth Bounty Up For Bid

Deidre Woollard — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:06:00 EST

Filed under: Decor, Auctions

I mentioned one auction of some of the furniture from the Yellowstone Club before but now more of the furniture that Edra Blixseth bought to furnish the luxury enclave is set to go up for auction. Kamelot Auction House in Philadelphia will host the sale of the former furnishings and art from the Yellowstone Club on November 21 at 10 a.m. The Blixseths had properties around the globe and travelled extensively finding art and furnishings wherever they roamed. Now as a result of their divorce and Edra Blixseth's bankruptcy these pieces must be sold. The Yellowstone Club collection will be offered without any minimum bids or reserves.

The auction includes nearly 50 rugs. The Blixseths bought from across a wide range of periods and styles but seemed to have a particular fondness for dark carved wood and chairs ulpholstered in velvet. The rosewood and bronze sideboard from a French chateau circa 1875 shown above is just one of their many European purchases. Other items include wooden telephone booths, antique display cases, industrial tables and shelving, taxidermy and vintage sporting equipment. A rare pair of carved and mirrored Victorian billiard cue racks and scoreboard will be offered along with two full-sized bronze horses and Colonial riders and a pair of life-size cast bronze elk which stand nearly ten feet high. A complete catalogue for this auction including photo galleries and detailed descriptions of every lot to be sold is currently available at www.kamelotauctions.com. Bidding by phone will be available for out-of-town customers.

More Blixseth Bounty Up For Bid originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crosby Street Hotel Now Open in NYC

Deb West — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Decor

Firmdale Hotels, privately owned by husband and wife team Tim and Kit Kemp, opened its first hotel in the United States this fall in New York City's SoHo. The Crosby Street Hotel is located in the heart of SoHo between Prince, Spring and Lafayette streets and is bringing the duo's famous luxurious European style and long standing reputation for world class personal service to this side of the Atlantic. Their London properties are consistently on the Conde Nast Traveller's hot list for both the US and UK.

The interiors of the hotel are designed by Kit Kemp who has been responsible for the luxury group's design since its inception. She recently won the Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year award and House & Garden Hotel Designer of the Year for her work on their Haymarket Hotel in London. She has brought her trademark quirky London style to the Crosby Street Hotel which was built from the ground up on the site of a vacant parking lot.

Inside guests will have their choice of 86 individually designed rooms and suites spread over 11 floors, each featuring floor-to-ceiling warehouse windows, a rarity in New York City. The hotel is also one of the most environmentally friendly hotels built in the United States and hopes to be one of the very first certified GOLD LEED hotels in New York. Guest rooms provide all the usual amenities found in a deluxe hotel including luxury linens, WiFi, flat screen tv and i-pod docking station. The public rooms of the hotel have there own unique features including:

The Crosby Bar which stretches an entire city block
A state of the art 99 seat screening room with orange leather Poltrona Frau chairs
A private courtyard garden
A personally selected art collection featuring a 10 foot high Juame Plensa sculpture, Peter Clark dog collage, mixed media pieces by Justine Smith and Jack Milroy, and oil paintings by Francois Bard

There is even a bespoke fragrance created for the hotel by acclaimed British perfumer Lyn Harris. The scent will be featured in all the hotel's toiletries free of charge to guests and available for purchase in the form of a scented candle.

Prices start at $525 a night but they are offering a special opening rate of $495 and up.

Gallery: Crosby Street Hotel

Crosby Street Hotel Now Open in NYC originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Art Work Partners, Fine Art In Stone

Deidre Woollard — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Decor, Art

Art Work Partners revives the centuries-old technique of pietre dure (inlaying stones in beautifully intricate partners) for modern times. This artistic medium descended from Byzantine mosaics but found its greatest expression during the Italian Renaissance. The pieces combine a jeweler's precision with an artists sensibility and a stonecutters expertise. Art Work Partners has two main lines, one of stone art made to hang on a wall like a painting, and another of furniture pieces with stone tops. The picture above highlights both showing a stone version of Marilyn Monroe by Marcos Marin made of black granite and marble as well as a table set with a stone version of Lots of Love by Romero Britto. Pieces generally cost between $5,000 to $12,000. Check out the gallery below for more pieces.

Gallery: Art Work Partners, Fine Art In Stone

Art Work Partners, Fine Art In Stone originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beekman 1802 Launches B.1802 Rural Artist Collective

Deidre Woollard — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Decor

One of the biggest trends lately has been a return to the classic crafts. For the past few years knitting has had a huge resurgence. The last year has seen the canning trend take off around the nation. Beekman 1802 a farm and mercantile which focuses on all things handmade, artisanal, and seasonal has announced the B.1802 Rural Artist Collective. The new project celebrates the skills of craftsfolk producing beautiful handmade items. One of their first collaborations is with Master Blacksmith Michael McCarthy.

McCarthy has traveled to West Africa to study with blacksmiths and learn traditional methods. He is one of the few working blacksmiths remaining in America and he even travels to West Virginia a few times a year to mine his own ore. He has created a few pieces for the Beekman 1802 Mercantile. The first is the B.1802 Iron Block. The block is designed to be a multi-purpose object. It can be a vase, a candleholder, paperweight and more. The very sturdy piece comes in two sizes 1/2 stone (7lb) for $95 and 1 full stone (14lb) for $125. The collective is also selling a delicately detailed hand-forged B. 1802 Fruit Spoon which was created using authentic 18th century spoon mold and has the look of an antique.

Beekman 1802 Launches B.1802 Rural Artist Collective originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Antler Armchair by Nendo for Cappelini

Deidre Woollard — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Decor

I don't generally think of furniture as something to get you in the holiday spirit but this new antler armchair by Nendo for Cappellini has a Christmasy feel. Not only is the backrest formed by ash olive tree-stained wood in the form of a pair of antlers but the seat itself is a holiday friendly dark green. This designer chair measures 25.3"w x 15"-28.5"h x 25.5"d and it sells for $3,329 at UnicaHome which says that the new chair has a delivery time of 12-16 weeks. Guess this one's not making home for Christmas this year.

Antler Armchair by Nendo for Cappelini originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Artefact Design and Salvage

Deidre Woollard — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Decor

Bowls made of drilled river rock, vines turned into sculpture and lighting salvaged from old factories around the world are just some of the unique treasures found at Artefact Design & Salvage in Sonoma, California. The showroom features antique architectural pieces, objects crafted from salvage, large-scale organic forms and all sorts of products that can't be found anywhere else. The products are collected around the world and include a growing line of furniture and objects designed by founder Dave Allen.

Allen's journey in salvage collection began in 1997 when he left his corporate job and started off on a new life specializing in architectural antiques. Over time he built his business from a series of yard sales to an international operation that sends him around the world scavenging for both salvaged items and new products from Borneo, Java, Bali and other parts of Malaysia and the Philippines. His blog on the Artefact Design & Salvage website is an informative and frequently amusing adventure. Check out the gallery below for a few of his treasures.

Gallery: Artefact Salvage and Design

Artefact Design and Salvage originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Most Expensive Christmas Ornament Valued At Over $130,000

Deb West — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Decor, Jewelry

In England, specifically Titchfield, Hampshire a small family jeweler has taken it upon themselves to create the most expensive Christmas ornament in the world.

According to Mark Hussey as reported in the Telegraph, a partner in Hallmark Jewellers he had a vision about making something special and had done some research into the priciest ornaments currently available. He had been working on the piece for almost a full year starting just after Boxing Day 2008, which is traditionally the day after Christmas. Even though they would love to find a buyer for the fabulous piece he did mention that he wouldn't mind finding this special ornament on his own tree come Christmas Eve.

The ornament itself is composed of 18 carat white gold and is studded with over one and half thousand diamonds. Two rings consisting of 188 red rubies surround the body of the ornament. It took over 130 hours just to set the gems in the piece. The National Association of Goldsmiths independently valued the bauble at 82,000 British pounds which depending on the exchange rate is just over $130,000. All of this hard work and expensive gemstones are not going unprotected. In something out of a James Bond movie the decorative ornament is encased in a special container framed in steel an 6mm thick laminated glass. If the alarm is triggered a internal signal will fill the shop with smoke.

Will the name Hallmark become associated with Christmas the way Faberge is permanently linked to gorgeously designed and bejeweled Easter eggs? Only time will tell, but if you'd like a very splashy ornament for your tree you know where to look.

Most Expensive Christmas Ornament Valued At Over $130,000 originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Metropolitan Home Shuts Down

Deidre Woollard — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Decor

We've lost another great home decor magazine. MediaBistro has the press release from Hachette Filipacchi which says that the December 2009 issue of Metropolitan Home will be its last. The publisher has decided to focus all of its shelter mag energy on Elle Decor, the spin off from Elle magazine. In the press release President and CEO Alain Lemarchand said that at this point "the best strategy in the upscale shelter segment is to boldly focus our resources and investment on Elle Decor, which is the ad-page leader within the U.S. market."

Fans of design magazines are reeling especially after Conde Nast shut down the beloved Domino earlier this year. As with the case with the closure of Gourmet over Bon Appetit last month, there are some who feel that Metropolitan Home was the superior title and the one that should have been saved.

MediaWeek reports that ad pages for Metropolitan Home have fallen 34 percent in 2009. Hachette will also be shutting down Pointclickhome.com, the site that was once the online presence of its three shelter magazines: Home, Metropolitan Home and Elle Décor. Now just ElleDecor.com, which is currently part of Pointclickhome.com, will remain.

Metropolitan Home Shuts Down originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Classicist: Celebrating the English Country House

Jared Paul Stern — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:05:00 EST

Filed under: Decor, Estates, Books, The Classicist

We have always been entranced by the history, both cultural and architectural, of the grand country houses of England. The London-based magazine Country Life has long been the essential chronicle of these iconic estates, having featured a different country house in each weekly issue since it was founded back in 1897 and advertised many hundreds more in its property pages. A stunning new book, The English Country House, by Mary Miers from Rizzoli is sourced from the magazine's incredible archives. More than 400 images, mostly in color, highlight 62 houses encompassing a range of architectural styles spanning seven centuries beginning with the medieval Stokesay Castle and also examining the decoration, gardens, and landscapes, settings that inspire a continuing tradition of sporting style via country pursuits pursued with panache such as hunting and shooting, as well as whole schools of interior design.

As a result of its famous series of beautifully illustrated and authoritative articles, Country Life amassed an "astonishing library of photography and scholarship that provides a fascinating record of changing tastes and approaches to the country house and its garden over the past century," Miers notes. The book is illustrated almost entirely with images from its famous picture library, many of them by leading photographers of their day. The focus is not on the world-famous palaces that have now become museums, but rather the sort of houses to which Country Life has had privileged access over the years, many of which are still private homes often occupied by descendants of the families that built them. In the gallery you can preview photos from the book of Parnham House in Dorset, Honington Hall in Warwickshire, Claydon House in Buckinghamshire, and Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire.

Gallery: The English Country House

Spanning more than seven centuries, these houses were nearly all built as an "expression of status at the center of a landed estate, many interpreting the mainstream architectural trends of the day with their own distinctive provincial character," Miers notes. "They celebrate that rich seam of English domestic architecture that reflects, through a variety of material and design, the diversity of the English landscape and its regional traditions of craftsmanship." Punctuating the book at intervals in the form of booklet inserts on rich, uncoated paper are six essays by leading British architectural historians that set the English country house into its social context and chart "the changing tastes in decorating and collecting, the development of ancillary buildings, gardens and landscapes, and finally, its influence in the United States" in our own magnates' mansions.

The Classicist: Celebrating the English Country House originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Royal Billiards Table For Sale At Harrods

Deidre Woollard — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Decor

This might be one of the most beautiful billiard tables ever created. The black walnut billiard table was commissioned for Queen Victoria's Jubileee Exhibition in Manchester in 1887 and created by Orne & Sons Ltd. The cushion friezes are decorated with ribbons of quotations from Shakespeare, Tennyson, Scott and Byron embellished with over fifty species of wild flowers and native British birds. Beneath the friezes are two long and six short panels depicting numerous countries. Between the panels and above each leg are carved portraits including William of Normandy, Henry I, Henry II, Henry III, Edward I, Edward II, Edward II, Edward IV, Elizabeth of York, James I and Charles I.

The matching cupboard is shaped like a door carved with seven panels. The upper four coats of arms show Victoria during the most important stages in her reign. The central horizontal section features Victoria and Albert beside Windsor Castle and the lower section depicts the royal residences of Holyrood and Caernavon. The second section slides open to expose a game with stars and colored counters, which can be rotated to form a scoreboard. The set is at Harrod's for £1 million.

A Royal Billiards Table For Sale At Harrods originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Luxist Gift Guide 09: Catherine Malandrino for Cointreau

Ariston Anderson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Decor, Dining, Spirits, Holiday Guides

This holiday season two unique luxury brands Catherine Malandrino and Cointreau, both brought to the States via France, have teamed up to deliver the ultimate gift bottle. Malandrino chose the symbol of the Statue of Liberty, arguably the best thing the French ever gave us, to mark the limited edition Cointreau bottle.

The Cointreau bottle has remained remarkably unchanged for nearly 160 years, making this one of the hottest collector's bottles of the season. Malandrino's romantic bottle remains true to the silhouette, but is dressed in stars and lace, calling to mind the signature detailed cuts and handicraft trims of her ready-to-wear collection.

Cointreau is a must to give our favorite cocktails that slight edge of "Je ne sais quoi" sweet and bitter oranges, making for the most perfect margaritas or cosmopolitans. Bring this luxury gift to your hostess this holiday season to spice up any cocktail hour.

Cointreau Cosmopolitan Recipe
2.5oz Vodka
1.5oz Cointreau
1oz Cranberry Juice
0.5oz lime juice
Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with twist of orange to bring out the flavor of Cointreau.

Gallery: Catherine Malandrino for Cointreau

Luxist Gift Guide 09: Catherine Malandrino for Cointreau originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lalique and Haviland Open Flagship Boutique

Carrie Coolidge — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Decor

Two of the most prestigious brands in the luxury industry have joined forces to open a flagship boutique featuring the creations of both companies. Lalique, which is known for its fine crystal, jewelry and perfume, and Haviland, one of the most prestigious manufacturers of Limoges porcelain, will open a 950 square foot boutique on Madison Avenue in New York on November 5th.

"The new boutique represents the convergence of the rich legacies and creative visions of Lalique and Haviland," says Maz Zouhairi, President and chief executive officer of Lalique and Haviland, North America.

The Lalique and Haviland flagship boutique will showcase Lalique crystal and Haviland porcelain side-by-side, as well as introduce the new Lalique by Haviland porcelain collection, which will be exclusive to the boutique. The collection will encompasses three designs; the Hirondelles and the Perles designs are both offered in full table settings with coordinating coffee and tea service sets. A third design, based on the iconic Rene Lalique Masque de Femme, includes a tray and a charger as accent pieces.

The boutique will also feature displays of the porcelain collections complemented by Lalique tabletop items (inspired by original Rene Lalique designs) as well as the new Coutard and Hirondelles stemware collections, Masque de Femme candle votives, Champs-Elysees crystal plates and more.

There will be several new and classic Lalique products displayed at the store including jewelry, decorative pieces, architectural elements, and tabletop and boudoir items. A special emphasis will be placed on Lalique's architectural offerings, showcasing their ability to customize iconic items, including water fountains.

Other product highlights in the boutique include a Six-Tier Champs-Elysees Chandelier, a Seville Chandelier, Coutard and Laurel Panels, and a customized, large-scale rectangular version of the popular Cactus Table.

The boutique will offer signature Haviland porcelain collections including this season's art-deco inspired
Cible, the luxurious Ritz Imperial dinnerware set and the newest encrustation and relief introductions in a new sandy, beige color. These high-end selections embody the classic Haviland look, seamlessly fitting in with the boutique's assortment.

The relationship between Lalique and Haviland began over 90 years ago with the marriage of René
Lalique's daughter, Suzanne, to Paul Haviland, head of the famous Limoges porcelain line at the time.
Since June, Lalique and Haviland have been linked through a partnership of their U.S. operations, and well as through a mutual operational partnership with Daum, subsequently announced in August.

The Lalique and Haviland Flagship Boutique is located at 609 Madison Avenue at 58th Street. A new Lalique and Haviland showroom will open this December in Chicago.

The boutique will be Haviland's first retail store. Winner of the Luxist Readers' Choice Award for Best in Dishware in October, Haviland has been at the forefront of the porcelain world for over 150 years. It is known for its exceptional quality porcelain and high levels of creativity in design. All pieces are entirely hand-made. Lalique was a Readers' Choice Award finalist in the best glassware category.

Lalique and Haviland Open Flagship Boutique originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remarkable Residences, Through the Eye of an Earl

Jared Paul Stern — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Decor, Estates, Books

The English aristocrat the 12th Earl of Drogheda, better known as Derry Moore to his friends, is an arbiter of taste and style but also an accomplished photographer for Architectural Digest and other magazines, as well as the the author of several books. His latest, In House, just published by Rizzoli, is a selection of interiors from what he considers to be some of the world's most remarkable residences photographed over the last 35 years. The 28 houses pictured within are richly diverse in style and period with a common thread of originality, eccentricity and aesthetic appeal. They range from an airy and colorful palace in Morocco to an "austere but whimsical" Scottish castle; an Art Deco masterpiece in Jodhpur to a cluttered apartment in Prague; and from the museum-like home of one of London's most macabre collectors to the "extravagant remnants of Madrid's aristocratic heritage." Each of the houses is accompanied by commentary from noted architecture and design writer Mitchell Owens, and is laid out with an eye to its unique character by award-winning graphic designer Jonathan Barnbrook.

Remarkable Residences, Through the Eye of an Earl originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Readers' Choice Winners for Best in Decor

Carrie Coolidge — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: Decor

. Votes have been cast for the best-of-breed in lighting, furniture, antiques resources, dishware and glassware. The Luxist Readers' Choice Decor Awards winners are all leaders in their respective industries.

Niermann Weeks, the winner of the Readers' Choice for Best in Lighting, is a family-owned and operated company that produces lighting that radiates beauty from every angle. Joe Niermann's design style extrapolates the traditional form within its historic constraints.

The winner of the Readers' Choice for the Best in Furniture is Roche-Bobois. The French-based company is a global leader in design and distribution of fine home furnishings. Its original artistry ranges from the avant-garde to ethnic and traditional.

The Readers' Choice for the Best in Glassware is Baccarat. Each of its fine crystal pieces are handcrafted in the village of Baccarat in Lorraine in eastern France. They are extravagant and elegant.

Haviland Limoges is the winner of the Readers' Choice for Best in Dishware. It is estimated that there are as many as 60,000 unique Haviland china patterns. For over a century, Haviland china has remained a standard for elegant tables.

The International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show is the Readers' Choice winner for Best Antiques Resources. The New York-based show is an annual destination for serious connoisseurs, collectors and museum curators who are in search of the best.

Readers' Choice Winners for Best in Decor originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Haviland Limoges Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Dishware

Deidre Woollard — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:58:00 EST

Filed under: Decor

Haviland Limoges, a maker of fine porcelain is the winner for a Readers' Choice for best dishware.

The Haviland Limoges story began in 1842 when David Haviland, enthralled with the fine china coming from Limoges, France moved across the Atlantic to begin his own factory. Haviland was an importer working in New York. A customer brought in a broken tea cup looking for a match. Haviland's search for a match eventually led him to Limoges. The pure white kaolin clay found in the region produced a uniquely delicate eggshell porcelain. Not content to import the designs of others he set up his own operation. Unlike other dishware factories in the area Haviland China did not send its products to Paris for decoration. Instead Haviland set up a studio in his factory in order to create patterns that would appeal to American shoppers.

Along his sons Charles-Edward and Théodore, David Haviland grew the company and Haviland Limoges provided the state dining service for several American presidents including Abraham Lincoln, Rutherford B. Hayes and Theodore Roosevelt. The work of Impressionist artists also influenced Haviland's floral designs which went on to become wildly popular in the United States.

Today the company also sells silver, crystal and giftware but remains famous for its dishes. It is estimated that there are as many as 60,000 Haviland china patterns. Haviland Limoges produces some older designs as well as coming out with new collections to appeal to both modern clients and traditionalists. For over a century Haviland china has remained a standard for elegant tables.

Haviland Limoges Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Dishware originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Antiques Resource

Carrie Coolidge — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:57:00 EST

Filed under: Decor

The International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show is the Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice winner for the best antiques resource category.

Since 1989, The International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show has been recognized the world over as a premier showcase for exceptional quality works of art from antiquity to the present day. The show features some of the world's top dealers and consistently attracts large crowds.

A superb variety of high-quality items are for sale at the fair, including furniture, paintings, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, glass, clocks, watches, arms, armour, rare books, manuscripts, jewelry, objets de vertu, Fabergé, silver, antiquities and ethnographic art. Many of the pieces are of museum quality. Prices start from as little as a few hundred dollars but rise into the millions.

All works are for sale under the strictest vetting conditions. In fact, at its launch the International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show was the first fair in the United States to introduce vetting; a stringent set of guidelines designed to maintain the highest standards of quality and authenticity in the works of art on view and for sale. The great value of vetting at art and antiques fairs lies in the safeguards and reassurance it offers to buyers. The vetting committees for the International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show combine both academic and commercial expertise in their membership, including museum personnel as well as other eminent specialists.

The show is organized each year by Haughton International Fairs. In 2009, it was held from October 16th until the 22nd with 65 exhibitors from around the world. The fair was held at the Park Avenue Armory, which is located on Park Avenue at 67th Street in New York City.

International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Antiques Resource originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Niermann Weeks Wins Readers' Choice Award for Lighting

Carrie Coolidge — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:56:00 EST

Filed under: Decor

Niermann Weeks, headquartered in Millersville, Md., is the Readers' Choice Winner for a Luxist Award in the best of lighting category.

This family-owned and operated company was founded in 1978 by Joe Niermann and his wife, Eleanor McKay, both with extensive backgrounds in historic preservation. Niermann is the company's principal designer, while McKay is the company's chief executive officer. Their daughters are both involved with the business with Claire serving as vice president of operations and Eleanor in the role of vice president of merchandising.

Joe Niermann's design style is to extrapolate the traditional form within its historic constraints. The result is spectacular lighting that is a pure exercise in geometry.

Niermann Weeks' lighting is jewelry for the interior. Each piece radiates beauty from every angle and in every light.

More than 40% of the company's business is custom-designed to meet the special needs of professional architect and designer clients. Niermann Weeks features more than 600 standard designs with 500 finishes, available through to-the-trade designer showrooms in the United States and Canada.

Chandeliers range in size from a stately 20 feet tall chandelier suitable for display in the lobby of a hotel down to a more intimate 11 inch tall piece for a small boudoir or powder room. Prices vary from $1,500 for a standard design for a simple sconce to $36,000 for a larger piece. Customization increases the price. Each of its products are hand-crafted at the Niermann Weeks factory outside Annapolis, Md.

Niermann Weeks Wins Readers' Choice Award for Lighting originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baccarat Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best in Glassware

Carrie Coolidge — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:55:00 EST

Filed under: Decor

The winner of the Readers' Choice Award in the glassware category is Baccarat, which has sold its creations to the royal families of France, Japan, Russia, Arabia, Morocco and even the White House, since it was established in France in 1764.

Since its founding, Baccarat has continued expanding its influence, inspired in roots stemming from an ingenious handcrafted work of the highest quality, throughout the world.

To this day, Baccarat crystal is still handcrafted in the village of Baccarat located in Lorraine in eastern France. The crystal pieces it creates are described as both divine and exhilarating. Yes, they are extravagant but always elegant.

Nothing tastes better than when drunk from a Baccarat crystal glass.

Baccarat Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best in Glassware originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roche-Bobois Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best in Furniture

Carrie Coolidge — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:54:00 EST

Filed under: Decor

Roche-Bobois is the winner of a Readers' Choice Award for best in furniture.

The company's roots is a tale of two families. In 1950 Jacques Roche bought the old Alexandre Dumas theater on rue de Lyon and built two stores. His sons, Philippe and Francois, joined him and together established the company's developmental strategy. They began to distribute the very best contemporary furniture, which was heavily inspired by Bauhaus designers such as Pierre Paulin and Marc Berthier. At the same time, the Chouchan family were selling furniture in Paris on Boulevard Sebastopol at "Au Beau Bois" (which later became Bobois).

In 1960, Philippe Roche and Patrick and Jean-Claude Chouchan met at a Scandinavian furniture expo in Copenhagen. They soon designed their first catalog which launches the national franchise. They combine their resources and names and Roche-Bobois is launched.

Today, Roche-Bobois is a global leader in design and distribution of home furnishings, while retaining the unique position of molding its furniture designs. Each piece created is the result of close collaboration between designers, manufacturers and Roche-Bobois. It has three categories of furniture: Les Contemporians (avant-garde pieces), Les Voyages (a fusion of ethnic influences), and Les Provinciales (which rethinks traditional French furniture). Roche-Bobois is prolific as it introduces a new exclusive collection every six months.

Roche-Bobois is among the most internationally renowned and exclusive brands in home furnishings. Its products are sold in nearly 30 different countries. The company is expanding its reach rapidly, too. In fact, a new Roche-Bobois store opens every month somewhere in the world.

Roche-Bobois Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best in Furniture originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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