RIP Moss

It is sad to say that Moss is closing.  While I was surprised, it really isn't in this economy.

Click here for the NYT announcement.

Reposted from Dwell:

RIP, Moss Design Emporium

Following a short announcement in the New York Times yesterday, the news of the imminent closure of Moss has been ripping up and down the wires, resounding in a collective end-of-an-era sigh from designers, writers, and the people who fill out wedding registries at groundbreaking design emporiums. Murray Moss's eponymous shop opened in 1994 on Greene Street in Soho, and for 18 years it's led the pack in what constitutes cutting-edge interior design.

Mr. Moss explained in the Times that he and his partner Franklin Getchell had been running “a free museum” and that “the old paradigm wasn’t working." And while the shuttering seems sudden, let's not forget that Moss was in risk of closing in 2010, after a little problem with the tax man. It re-opened and continued business as usual, but that begs the question: in an era of post-post-conspicuous consumption, what is business as usual? 
While Moss's spot in the canon of design history is solidified for introducing the likes of Maarten Baas and the Campana brothers to the masses of American and international shoppers in New York City, it was also a sign of the boom times, in which someone might drop $40,000 for a side table without pause. With plans to open a smaller, pop-up space and continue working as a design consultant, Murray Moss is adapting, as a savvy business executive tends to do.
What's detrimental about the closure is an issue of accessibility. Where do we go now to pet the arm of a Jongerius sofa, try on a Corian ring, or ogle a stainless steel kinetic sculpture? It's not just an institution; it's an interactive, in-your-face dreamworld populated by the most outlandish designers in our sphere. And I will not be alone in missing it. 

Read more: http://www.dwell.com/articles/rip-moss-design-emporium.html#ixzz1kiJVsSNC

wish I'd done it first

So, I know that I didn't invent the term "real-estalking," but I use it constantly.  I also do it constantly.

Who knew that there was a blog.  And why haven't I been led to it sooner.

New obsession.

The Real Estalker
Recent Post:

 

Old post that I was drawn to.  It even includes floor plans!

 

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly On the Move Again

Tabitha Simmon's townhouse

February's Vogue featured the great Chelsea town house of shoe designer (and former stylist) Tabitha Simmons's & photographer Craig McDean.  I'm in love.  I think you will recall my near despondent reaction to not getting the windows that I wanted in my renovation.   Here they are used to perfection.
















Below are from a while back:

maison martin margiela's does it's first hotel

I've always loved Maison Martin Margiela for it's blend of classical and avant-garde design.  Check out how that vision is translated into interiors of Hotel La Maison Champs-Elysees.
Of course I like it's palette which is consistent with the fashion house: black and white.











































I almost bought these mushrooms at Lars Bolander a few years back!

Repost: Remodelista

I wanted to repost this section of Remodelista for those that missed it.  This hotel just got added to my must visit list.
Here is their entry:

Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Hix Island House in Vieques, Puerto Rico

From JulieJanuary 13, 2012

Our friend Elizabeth Roberts recently clued us in to her favorite winter escape: Hix Island House, a wabi-sabi, eco-friendly hotel in Vieques. Here's her account:

"Designed by Toronto-based architect John Hix, the Hix Island House is a perfect blank slate for viewing the surrounding nature; the contrast of the rugged, natural landscape with the geometric forms of the hotel is simply lovely. Until recently, Vieques (a small island off the east coast of mainland Puerto Rico) was a US Navy testing site for bombs and missiles; now, the beaches are wildlife refuges. I suggest renting a jeep to explore the undeveloped beaches that surround the island; the bioluminescent bays and the beaches are a must."

For more information, go to Hix Island House.

Above: The hotel is set on a verdant 13-acre parcel; image via Luxist.

Above: "The buildings are made of block and reinforced concrete and surfaced with plaster; the exteriors are clad in chain-link fencing, which allows vines to climb up the sides of the buildings," says Roberts.

Above: "The bedrooms feature Marimekko bed linens and custom furniture."

Above: "There is no need for air conditioning or heat—the concrete radiates the sun's warmth during the night and the winds keep the rooms feeling cool and practically bug-free. I especially love sitting on the room's private terrace at dusk and listening to the transition from bird calls to insects and frogs after the sun sets."

Above: "Each room has its own kitchen; it's a nice change to cook simple meals while on vacation. I might stop for a few provisions at one of the bodegas on my way to or from the beach, but aside from that, there's no need to shop."

Above: "The windows are free of glass and are situated to align with the prevailing winds and the sun's path of travel."

Above: "The hotel's cotton robes are available for purchase; when it's snowing and miserably cold in New York, we're reminded of tropical evenings spent on the hammock at Hix."

Above: "Among the many design details I admire: The custom wood furniture. I love the contrast of the rough-hewn, natural wood against the smooth, polished concrete."

Above: "Early-morning yoga in the open studio is a good way to start the day, followed by an outdoor shower."

Above: "The simple modernist pool is defined by a slab concrete wall."

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new additions

We found these great vintage French chairs and I'm integrating them into the living room.

Look at the metal balled leg - very 50s sputnik.