NY Gift Show 2011: Jonathan Adler

This weekend, I ran up to New York City to attend the NY Gift Show.  While there were many exciting things to see, the Jonathan Adler booth completely knocked my socks off.  It's always a "happy chic" place (as his slogan accurately states), but this year, it seemed to be a little more on the chic side.  I couldn't get enough...

(adorable desk set up...  love that blue lamp)

(yellow & blue, white lacquered desk, yellow and pale blue area rug!)

(amazing marble and nickel table, blue tufted sofa)

(polished gold side tables, gorgeous planter full of succulents)

(white ceramic pieces in the most stunning matte glaze)

(hello AMAZING faceted box)

(shell lamps and burl wood with lucite!  oh, and that wallpaper too)

(and a "peace candle" in the most amazing studded silver container.  How fun is this?)

If you're a Philadelphia local, you should drop by the Jonathan Adler store in Old City sometime.  It's fabulous, and I bet you won't leave empty handed.  :)

Happy Monday!

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A Mid-Century Delight

I spotted these pictures over at Design Milk and I thought they were so good, I had to share them with all of you.  This mid-century modern gem of a house, located in Pasadena, California, was originally designed in 1959 by Buff, Straub & Hensman.  And, it was most recently remodeled by Los Angeles based architecture firm, Space International, keeping the original bones of the home intact.  Based on the images here, the design project looks like a major success.

That pool alone makes me swoon...

To read more inspiring posts from Design Milk, visit their website HERE.

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LOVE

The other day, I posted this picture of a bedroom designed by Eric Cohler.  And, I made it clear that I loved that LOVE pillow.  Well, thanks to The Well Appointed House I can get one for myself!  It's 100% cashmere (mmm) and it will set me back $289.00.  Ok, so it's on the wish list. 

blue & chocolate

pink & ivory

red & black

And while we're on the subject, here's a bit of history on the iconic LOVE sculpture:

• The LOVE icon was originally designed by Robert Indiana in 1964 when he was commissioned to design the 1964 Christmas Card for the Museum of Modern Art.
• The original sculpture, made of steel, is on exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art (and it has been there since 1975)
• It has been reproduced in many colors, and multiple versions are on display all over the world.
• And, a little local Philadelphia LOVE.....   "LOVE Park" in Center City, Philadelphia (across from City Hall) is known for the large red LOVE sign that overlooks the park.  It was placed there during the city's Bicentennial celebration in 1976.

the original, in Indianapolis, Indiana

Philadelphia

New York City

Tokyo, Japan

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Andy Warhol and the real McCoy (Pottery), part II

If you want to learn more about Andy Warhol and his obsessive collecting (much more than just cookie jars), go HERE to this 1988 article in the New York Times. I was pretty amazed... he sounds like a high-end Hoarder.

Posh Plans for the 1962 Playboy Townhouse

You may have already seen this, but these renderings still captivate me. I first found this article while in design school, and I have kept it ever since... dreaming that I too could accomplish renderings like this someday (if I only studied them hard enough, the talent would eventually travel though the page and into my brain by osmosis, no?).

click to enlarge these images for an even better view

This article, from the May 1962 issue of Playboy magazine, takes readers on a virtual tour through the townhome of our "modern bachelor." Imagine Him, entertaining a "guest" where a three story atrium houses a central pool, and design features include massive rock walls and wood paneling? Our Bachelor watching television on his impressive 24" television, on a round bed with built-in telephone and refrigerator? Nice, huh?

In all seriousness, I love these drawings... And these modern aspirations aren't that far off from how we dream today. In 2009, we dream of controlling the temperature, sound system, kitchen appliances, and the revolving artwork in our homes from a flat-paneled touch screen monster remote. Read part of the article for even more on the Modern Bachelor:

Designed by R. Donald Jaye
Renderings by Humen Tan

"The discerning city-dweller of individual ways and comfortable means is turning more and more to the superb outlets for decorative and architectural self-expression inherent in the town home. He is beguiled by its intrinsic advantages of privacy and spaciousness coupled with a metropolitan location just a shift of the gears away from myriad urban attractions. Recognizing this, Playboy has taken a city lot in a typical brownstone neighborhood and transformed it from street to stern into a modishly swinging manor for the modern man. The requisites we set for architect-designer R. Donald Jaye in laying out the Playboy Town House were many; the limitations (except for those imposed by the necesssarily constricting 25-foot width of the normal city lot) were few. Our urban home was to offer..."

Sorry, that was all I got from the scan. But if you know where to find the article in it's entirety (short of getting your hands on a copy of the May 1962 issue), let me know!

**UPDATE: I found the article HERE.**

Andy Warhol and the real McCoy (Pottery)

Did you know that Andy Warhol collected McCoy pottery? Neither did I. He especially loved McCoy cookie jars, and after his passing, his entire collection was auctioned off to the highest bidder. In 1987, the 175 cookie jars(!) that Warhol had collected from flea markets and antique stores brought in an astonishing $250,000 at auction! One hundred and twenty five cookie jars? I don't think he kept them all on his kitchen counter... A collection like that deserves an entire room. I would like to see that.

The Nelson McCoy Pottery Company was originally founded in 1848 in Roseville, Ohio (due to the large supply of clay in the region) but the McCoy factory wasn't established until 1910. Producing beautiful pottery for nearly 140 years, the company was managed by three generations of the McCoy family, but was sold in 1985 (and closed five years later). During the economic depression of the 1930s, the McCoy Pottery Company teamed up with other local potteries to stay alive. The co-op was named, the American Clay Products Company, and they shared everything-- even one salesman! This joint venture might explain for the large amount of pottery on the market that looks like McCoy pottery, but does not feature the McCoy hallmark. This joint venture did not last, as the individual potteries in the co-op became too competitive and the McCoy Pottery Company eventually separated to manufacture independently.

Many of the products that McCoy produced featured leaves and berries, or swirls and interesting art deco details. A collector will regonize a McCoy piece first by it's color (their collection featured works in pale yellows, blues, greens, apricots, turquoise, and pink), and then by it's hallmark. However, not all McCoy pieces feature a hallmark... so, finding the REAL McCoy can be tricky (sorry, bad joke). I often see McCoy pottery and McCoy "mystery pieces" (look-a-likes that are not marked) at the flea markets. Some of these pieces are just marked "USA." Someone once told me that these pieces are referred to as "USA Pottery"... who knows. I just like the soft colors and graceful lines, plus they look terrific filled with fresh flowers...

Here are some McCoy look-a-likes at High Street Market:

Vintage art deco vase in butter yellow

Vintage art deco ruffled vase in cream

Vintage faux bamboo turquoise ceramic bowl

**UPDATE: If you want to read an INSANE article about Andy Warhol's vast collections, go HERE. You won't believe what a nut he was.**