I never tire of lighting

Some of the best lighting designers are shown at Ralph Pucci.

Lianne Gold

David Weeks

Patrick Naggar

Outdoor Furniture

Memorial day weekend marks the unofficial kick off to summer.  I believe I have written that line every May since I've had a blog.
I am thinking about outdoor furniture.  Here are a few great pieces.

 CB2's Ixtapa lounge chair

 Casamidy's Manchez Chair

CasaMidy's Valise

Striped Outdoor Beanbag Chair & Ottoman at Horchow

 Reeves Design cast aluminum table and bench available at ABC

C & B's Regatta Mesh Chaise Lounge (with convenient slide out drink platforms).

Table detail from James Perse.  Yes, that James Perse.

The showroom in the LADC.

Domus Citiva

I really enjoy getting Lonny magazine online each month and the latest issue answered my going on two-year old burning question: Where should we go in Italy?

Domus Civita

Done.

Thank you very much Lonny.

Ruben Toledo

I was lucky enough to stumble upon an exhibition of Ruben Toledo's large scale paintings when I was browsing the Ralph Pucci showroom at the LADC.  The show also included hand painted surreal and whimsical images on Ralph Pucci Furniture.

You are probably familiar with Cuban born Toledo, famous for his colorful fashion drawings (think Nordstroms national ad campaigns and pages of the top fashion magazines) or perhaps from his 1997 Style Dictionary, a collection of drawings and watercolors.

Terrific, right!

Why have I not visited New Orleans?

You know when the universe seems to be telling you something?  Sometimes it's subtle and about a color.  
(True - with media, social or otherwise, infiltrating your every move, less & less is actually subtle)

For me, the universe has been telling me to finally get to New Orleans.  It's funny how many stray opportunities have come up and flitted away over the years.  Gotta make my own moves.

Former Creative Director for Domino, Sara Ruffin Costello was featured in Domaine (a great new way for me to source beautiful things and read about stylish people, places and food).  She made the move from NYC to a 19th Century Manse in New Orleans in 2011.

 This wall color is exactly what I want to paint my kitchen cabinets if we move.  I have been collecting swatches.  Turns out this color is a custom blend. 

Remodelista featured author Julia Reed and the trials of her 3-story Greek Revival home purchased right before Hurricane Katrina hit.  The renovation became the subject for her book, The House on First Street.

Maira Kalman interview in NYMag

I always look forward to reading NewYork Mag when it comes.  This week's Design issue had a nice interview with Maira Kalman by Issac Mizrahi (they live in the same West Village building).
You can read it here.

Her painting which includes family members, the Countess of Castiglione, Proust, herself & a Bertoia chair  

They spoke in her laboratory of an apartment about her childhood spent in Tel Aviv, her mother's strong influence, and a life of aesthetics the arts.