Saturday, March 23, 2019

My Curated Roadmap to the AD Design Show 2019


One of the most anticipated home decor showcases is the annual Architectural Digest Design Show, held in New York City; billed as “a four-day design destination for extraordinary residential and hospitality finds from over 400 brands.” The AD Show consistently delivers on inspired designs.

The AD Design Show can be both sport and art - it’s “miles of aisles” that embraces three piers that hug the Hudson River on Gotham’s West Side.

There is always a great vibe at the show: here trade professionals, makers, celebrities, influencers, and customers - aka - the public/You (!) - all come together to celebrate what’s new in terms of technology, art, and lifestyle. It’s truly one of the only shows that pulls back the proverbial curtain to offer consumers an inside look and the design industry.
The press preview was Thursday; we were given a sneak peek of more than a few brands’ product offerings and introductions, as well as a tour of the Diffa Dining by Design tablescapes.

Overall, the show is broken down by sections including FURNISH, REFRESH, MADE, and SHOPS.

And because the show is so vast - more than 400 exhibitors - it can be a bit overwhelming; follow my roadmap and tips for a most enjoyable experience:
  • Wear your comfortable walking shoes or boots
  • Check your coat upon arrival
  • Bring plenty of portable battery power for your mobile phone as you will be taking a lot of photos & videos
  • And/or - Bring a camera
You can choose to walk up and down every aisle - it’s worth it. Or visit the makers and manufacturers I’ll share with you here.

We started our press tour with a lovely kind of chat with Conde Nast’s Mattie O’Malley and The Home Depot’s Director of Trend & Design and Industrial Design, Sarah Fishburne.



Sitting in a living room vignette (that of course I was partial to right off the design palette because it’s decorated in coral and blues which is what I used in our country house garden room area - inspired by the sunrise sky over the water just beyond our windows.) 
 
The customized living room vignette at the booth is flanked by a kitchen and tabletop staging -- all furnished with products from the new Home Depot Collection.

The executives introduced us to the collaboration between At Home with Architectural Digest and The Home Depot. Working together, the two brands have curated a truly inspired home decor series of furnishings that make a house a home, as noted by Fishburne. It’s true that, for the most part, one thinks of The Home Depot in terms of construction - all those screws, lumber, paint, and safe to say, commoditized, low-style kind of “let’s just not” furniture. If one thought of Home Depot and furniture, at all.
Management must’ve really put their thinking caps on and wondered why they needed to leave their customers turning to other sources for good, quality home decor items. No more.

The retail giant is aiming not just for mid-level DIYers; The Home Depot is now offering upscale items including wallpaper, furniture, rugs, premium bath and bedding, cookware, appliances and accessories -- all designed in-house. So now it’s a full spectrum, all-in with Home Depot: you don’t need to source the next steps in a home design product once you complete the construction phase. They are aiming for a one-stop experience. I’m going to look into their tabletop offerings for my Tablescape designs..
Plus, The Home Depot has made it easier to shop with a curated online experience so that you can peruse any way you like: from color, size, project and any way you want to categorize.
And they’re offering free shipping for orders over $45. You can also shop online and pick up at the store. Home Depot’s Collection and easy-to-access designer products could be a huge game changer in the home design market...

Next on the preview tour we headed to True Residential - a luxury home refrigeration brand with commercial DNA, who introduced us to bold green new hues. (The rich emerald colors tempted me to include them in the “green” garden brands (see below). Never mind - True is well, true to its appliance roots. (Roots? Ha - more green "links." I’ll stop here)


The addition of True’s two salient colors—Emerald and Ultra Matte Black—showcases the brand’s commitment to offering homeowners and designers unparalleled style and design flexibility --along with exceptional performance.


True Residential Director of Sales and Marketing, Steve Proctor, said, “When it comes to choosing new hues to add to our collection, we focus on colors that offer designers and homeowners the most versatility. Emerald, aside from its harmonious, balanced properties, adds a sense of vibrancy to any space that can be played up or down.” And black is - well, as any sophisticated New Yorker will tell you - is just de rigueur - from that little black dress to kohl eyes to decor. Plus their ultra matte powder coated surfaces have a very cool textural element.
Thank you fellow press person with nice ring - I didn't catch your name 
I was very excited to see True Residential's outdoor line.


They offer elegant cabinets that house UL-rated for indoors/outdoors under counter units as well as a new 36” refrigerator and freezer. Steve assured me there is no problem with these products “left” out in the severe winter weather. “Just drain the unit,” he recommended.

The only “problem” was in telling us about this product, Steve noted that their brand ambassador “friend” JBF award-winning chef, Wylie Dufresne made some of his signature Du’s Donuts -- in green -- to celebrate the new Emerald line. Arrghh. If you’ve never had Wylie’s Donuts, you must -- I promise it’s a delicious addiction! Steve asked that the donuts be brought out and I had to eat not a half - but a whole donut. It was so worth it! Green with gold and lots of luxurious flavor. Now, if I could order an emerald outdoor refrigerador and more for a planned outdoor kitchen this year -- and have Wylie bring green donuts for the unveiling… sigh.


In terms of designing your own unique indoor or outdoor kitchen look, Steve says that one-third of the units sold are custom-colored. The new shades are very robust -- available in a wide array of available custom finishes—which also includes Stainless Steel, Cobalt, Gloss Black, Matte Black, Matte White, and Antique White.


True also offers 60” wide refrigerators - 30” on each side. That’s as big as me! (Albeit I have two and one-quarter inches on the fridge, truth be told. I got take all I can…)

These Gulliver-sized units are more for the office hospitality service - as well as those of you with big entertaining habits! The refrigerator and their big glass doors are clean-looking with lots of style.

Together with hardware options that include Chrome, Copper, Brass, Gold and Pewter—designers and homeowners can now choose from 48 unique combinations available in both full-size and undercounter units. And get this - they can customize anything you want. Do you want to match that sunrise? Your baby’s blueberry eyes? Or that rose that melts your heart? True Residential can do it.

Steve says that more than one-third of their units sold are custom. And with only six to eight week to create and ship -- that’s an understandable and welcome stat.

The muscular hardware options are particularly impressive on the big kitchen refrigerators. And their equally BIG glass doors!



Because of True Residential's commercial pedigree, Steve explained that so many of their customers want that big capacity - because of their culinary pursuits or because of their catering staff who can readily bring in their chef bins -- and not to be overlooked - culinary artists adore the True Residential brand they use in their restaurant’s and/or catering kitchen. It’s familiar and trusted.

Another artful element I love is their use of LED lighting. This is unparalleled home theater entertainment! I designed and installed a wall garden in my country house -- and key to the magic is the changing LED light colors. Therefore, you can’t blame me for being razzle-dazzled upon seeing the brand’s under counter lighting and 36” wide wine coolers with LED. Who wouldn’t toast to this?



In a Du’s Donut kind of green haze - we then moved on to Emotional Brands. Emotional is aptly named. The Portuguese-based brand offers incredibly unique creations: one is truly moved by their glamorous furniture and accessory designs.



The best part? Re-connecting with designer Vanessa Deleon.


I first met Vanessa last year at True Residential. This beauty hails from a Cuban design pedigree (I just knew she was something extraordinary!)

The dining table Vanesa designed in her collaboration with Emotional Brands is just sooo incredibly glamorous. It has a wood base with marble top and a center “stage” filled with crystal - lit from within -- and get this -- the crystals are on a battery-operated hydraulic so that you have the ability to lower it if you want full table access. But really, why would you ever lower this glittering, magical table look? Not me. Not ever.

Vanessa is a wonder. Her table design alone is a heart-clutching triumph.

You know how much I adore entertaining tablescape designs - so I can assure you this is a must-see. You too will swoon over Vanessa’s table creation. I’m sorry that my photos just don’t capture the full affect.


It must be noted that before I read the AD news release about the women in design “celebration,” I had shared my top picks from the tour on my Garden_Glamour Instagram post - and maybe not surprising -- all but one are a woman. Formally, the show notes: “Celebrating the women in design, the 2019 MADE section features more than 50 companies founded or co-founded by a woman, offering attendees an opportunity to discover new products and meet the makers behind them. As designers, ceramists, architects, designers, metal workers, artists, and more, these industry leaders are pushing boundaries and furthering their craft through creative exploration.

Known for blurring the lines between art and design, L.A.-based founder of BZippy & Co., Bari Ziperstein is showcasing her angular, architecturally-scaled vessels and planters.

Ceramist Lydia Johnson exhibits her cheerful, pattern-laden tabletop designs hand-crafted from double-sided color clay slabs.

Kathryn Faull, founder of Maresca Textiles, brings her luxurious fabrics and wallpapers printed with a mix of made marks and digital printing techniques to the show.

Newcomer Laine + Alliage, founded by French designer Tania Leipold, showcases her beautiful textiles and soft goods.

Co-founded by former set decorator Marcia Zia with her husband Paul Priven, Zia Priven will debut HALO, its latest line of dramatic and bespoke lighting.

Architect Rachel Robinson, co-founder of durodeco treats show attendees to an array of contemporary furniture and objects that evoke a timeless warmth and highlight the interplay between new and old.

You cannot miss Dagmar Weinberg photographic art.
The beautiful Dagmar Weinberg & her art - I am blessed to have purchased her cherry blossom art - seen in foreground
Dagmar possesses a sensual talent to manipulate her photographic Nature images to foment both sensual, almost erotic art with a deep bow to Mother Earth and her blessings to us.

At the show, Dagmar has a new piece - that was inspired by a ferry ride in the Hudson.

You see here how the churning waves she captured in a photo she “snapped” then led her to create a green art rendering that Hudson Valley residents -- and those Hudson Valley wannabees - surely can’t live without.
Hudson Water waiting to be hung 
The design element can add endless fascination to your home style…


Back to the tour -- and the green element. I’m thrilled that more of the outdoor garden room designers and their products are becoming ever more essential to the luxury decor lifestyle the show embodies.
At last year’s show, I met Ed Glenn, the unassuming talent and CEO behind his New Growth Designs.




I admired his story of being a floral designer and how he came around to designing and creating faux interior plants. In 2018 I explained to Ed that as a garden designer I find it challenging to think of faux - but nevertheless, I was evolving. Why? As I wrote last year in Garden Glamour:
“Now, as a garden designer, I'm not bullish on artificial "plant material." However, I'm open-minded and can appreciate the need to use in certain applications. Think rooftops, too shady, and now with climate chaos: too much deer or too much salt water and well, the concept is ahem, growing on me. I discovered New Growth Designs who are showing some very impressive faux plant looks. I learned the company has been in business for more than 70 years, still does fresh flowers, and as the principle Ed Glenn told me, they were doing so well with their silk floral designs that many landscape architects and designers asked them to make garden products in the faux material. The booth has topiaries, faux turf…”

I asked Ed if he could create topiaries that would withstand winter and the bloody deer. He wisely advised me to wait a bit, saying they were working on that kind of thing.

Patience has its rewards!

This year - New Growth has achieved success. Despite what some folks turn a blind eye to - science and the overwhelming news of weather disasters tells us - that aggressive climate is a reality.


The fact that the New Growth products are of such quality - they can be used to augment a garden design - whether at a country estate, a suburban yard - where presumably land and water are readily available - or city rooftop garden which is more challenging.

The products are UV-stable greenery that don’t need water - which is no small consideration. Ed acknowledged the counsel of Sunbrella in bringing his design to fruition. I’ve long admired Sunbrella and their quality offerings. It was over-the-top to learn they assist other brand’s creations to foster and outdoor luxury lifestyle. Hashtag Sustainable teamwork!

Now, this year, Ed and his team are quite bullish on their creations to withstand accelerated weathering - in most every zone. Their hedges, screens, topiaries, shrubs, boxwoods, green wall panels, and more are a high quality solution and garden accent. The products are guaranteed for 10 years! And fully recyclable. The company uses a bioresin material to produce the faux plants.

There are catalog products available now for landscape designers and consumers.
And New Growth will also create custom work.

Ed noted that design/build firms are their ideal customers as they readily see the ease of installation and maintenance.

I look forward to trialing some of their products and have full confidence of their performance and look.

Stay tuned.

Not on the tour - but as I have posted to Instagram - Opiary stopped me dead in my tracks. I learned today that they earned a Best in Show -- not a surprise when you see not only the booth layout but the products.


A Brooklyn-based design firm, they create glass fiber, reinforced concrete (GFRC) from recyclable and natural materials. Opiary fabricates hand-crafted planters, fencing, cocktail-style Eero tables (be still my heart!),



water saucer gardens,

sculpture, furniture, fire pits, wallscapes, and god-knows what - Hoodoo Stacks!
Maybe I can work with Opiary to complete the design of my rill table concept? Fingers crossed.

David Harber is back at the show for the third time (my first to see him and his work, surprisingly) - which just goes to prove the point that there’s always something “new” at the AD Show.

This year, David brings a stunning new sculpture called The Alveare Wall,

along with a curated selection of his finest works.

David explained and demonstrated how the Wall - a prototype here - pixelates the environment - the sun and sky -- and you -- are reflected in the mirror-like design. He says he enjoys playing with the light and shadow in all his art designs.

Other works on display include Torus, a luminous mirrored disc with a water-like textured surface;

Armillary Sphere, a timeless celestial-inspired sundial that he claims is therapeutic for telling time; there’s no sense of urgency!


Dark Planet, a sphere of black stones, capable of interior illumination (see above in the Torus photo); Quiver, an assortment of metal leaves on thin poles that quiver in the breeze; and Mantle, a semi-opaque metal orb comprised of organic leaf-like forms.

David is an irrepressible Englishman. While he’s just about complete with his Oxfordshire home renovation, he claims his wife is ready to move across the pond because he is opening a showroom in the D&D Building in Gotham. Cute story/ our gain.
He gave us his condensed life story that led up to him becoming a world-class garden sculpture designer. Quite a varied resume, proving it takes a resume to be a true artist. He will also provide a talk every day of the show.

We’ll enjoy seeing David yet again at The New York Botanical Garden’s annual Garden & Antique Fair and Collector’s Plant Sale, April 11th.

Tilebar mosaics and tiles are incredible. The marble, porcelain, glass, stone, and clay in myriad finishes and patterns will have you jumping for joy. There’s no doubt there’s an unlimited world of possibilities here.
The introduction of The Arc Collection by Elizabeth Sutton is truly remarkable.
Tilebar describes the collection as “endless styling: moving lines, patterns, and a bit of whimsy.
I love the rich green colors, and of course - the butterflies in the Wing Collection - especially the swoonworthy Thassos, Mother of Pearl.



Design Celebs - Tilebar's John Tudisco & Designer/KBIS President Toni Sabatino 
While it will require me to write a singular feature on the outdoor grilling products I found at the show - I’ll just note here that the Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet booth is a must-see for anyone who enjoys outdoor entertaining.

Kalamazoo’s top-of-the-line grills, pizza ovens, and more, create an outdoor kitchen that is pure luxury for folks who care about their food.

 
Russ Faulk, Chief Designer, Head of Product, was kind enough to walk me through the finer points of grilling temperatures, use of wood/coal/gas, new surfaces - in more than 200 different colors, along with their Arcadia line of epay wood finishes.


Boy, would I love to design an outdoor kitchen dining garden room for me and clients with these products…

In prototype at the show is the company’s first kamado grill.


This is a very muscular grill - and it’s almost as tall as me! The Kalamazoo kamado is so tall because it can amplify the “food to fire” benefit. That’s why it’s taller than it is wide. The unit has two inches of insulation so “it’s super efficient,” explains Russ.


It features three different levels for a multi-zone fire so that you can cook according to the needs of whatever is on the menu: steaks or burgers? Close to the fire. Chicken, not so close.
To allow more venting control, Kalamazoo placed the vents on the side vs. the top of the hood (which weighs about 70 pounds! They are working on a spring asset to make opening and closing easy/sneazy).
This way, you can “draw” the smoke across the food.


As noted, I’ll have a feature piece shortly - in time for Father’s Day and grilling season with more of the grills and outdoor kitchen designs.

Love this! In the meantime, check out the prototype at the show.

MADE IN THE USA
While the show is based in New York, MADE features the works of artisans from around the country, combining craftsmanship with local cultural and geographical influences for a rich and unique offering. This year, attendees can expect to see a strong showing of exhibitors from Pennsylvania, including Wren & Cooper and Ovuud; California, including Siemon & Salazar, Krane Home and Küdd:krig HOME; as well as Michigan, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York. Indo-made, a design studio in Providence, Rhode Island will introduce Mooda, a table inspired by a traditional Indian stool combined with a glass surface. Utharaa L Zacharias and Palaash Chaudhary of the the San-Jose based Soft-Geometry will showcase works inspired in part by a shared aesthetic for pure geometries and their own personalities. Brooklyn-based NOTHING, a collective of RISD designers founded by Caroline Kable, Peter Lokken,

In this year's MADE section, we are welcoming over 70 new makers from across the globe,” said Julia Haney Montanez, Architectural Digest Design Show producer for MADE & Designer Focus. “From emerging artists to international studios, attendees will be able to peruse handcrafted, limited-edition, and one-of-a-kind furnishings, textiles, decorative pieces, and accessories from over 170 artists and designers who are making waves in their respective fields.”

I very much enjoy researching these aisles for the new and the inspirational
Here’s what I spotted and recommend:

Pandemic Design Studio

The patented Node Collection is very arresting; the modular ceramic, wall-mounted planter system could be the solution to this “green” design unicorn, at last.

So many desire a green wall - but I have yet to see one that could readily sustain a healthy look that didn’t require a ton of maintenance. This could be the holy grail! 



Elizabeth Lyons Vessels
I saw such extraordinary, ethereal glass works - in a rainbow of colors - in vases of many shapes and sizes. I especially was smitten with the flower petals. Shown as bottle tops, wall art, chandelier, and floral design. The look takes your breath away. I can see a custom design gracing a wall; making a dramatic yet peaceful statement.



The Todd Merrill & Associates display was a bit disconcerting -- in a good way! You almost don’t know what you’re looking at.

The Rubble Huddle is rather Dr. Seuss-ish with its organic form, bright colors and hidden LED lights.


The concrete-cast walls are captivating. They are sandblasted and colored. Best of all, they can be used outside as well as in doors. I’d really enjoy using this look in a garden “room.”



LePage New York has walls of colorful, architectural flowers and plants -- rendered in colored lucite. I could see these in a multitude of design compositions: in a vase of course; on a wall, as stand-alone sculpture, in a recessed wall as lit art, and in a variety of Tablescapes. Eyecandy, indeed.



KristofGalas features a dramatic thrust of color and design. Bold fuschia, red, and gold seemingly reach out and grab you. There is one wall-hanging piece that is moving, changing. Kristof Galas is a Polish-born designer and artist who, I later learned, won Best in Show Art at this year’s show. I can readily concur. Check out this radically exuberant art.


While I didn’t catch this maker at the show,  I can’t help but include for you to check out:
From Cabinet + Leaf, it’s the world’s first, elegant high-end horticulture cabinet for the home growing enthusiast.
For legal markets that allow home grow cannabis,​ The Cabinet by Leaf + Wood i​s the first all-in-one grow cabinet built for display in a modern home: ​perfect for any horticulturist or enthusiast seeking a sustainable, easy to use, growing environment for a wide range of plants. Created by woodworker ​Robert Pettit i​n his Boerum Hill, Brooklyn woodshop, the unique all-in-one horticultural cabinet marries smart craftsman design with unique finishes and the warmth of real wood, suitable to any home decor.
Hayoung Lee and Irene Wei, makes its official debut at the show. Together they combine their unique interests to create sculptural, functional, and decorative and one-of-a-kind objects that celebrate biophilia.

DIFFA by Design
This is one of my most favorite show elements because of the incredible the design talent and brands execute in their Tablescape. Dining by Design, asks designers to :transform a raw space into a showcase of over-the-top dining environments.”
Some of my favorites are:

Benjamin Moore - A Confection
Sweet shades of pinks inspired designer Patrick Mele to create a vignette with some sassy glamour. The colors of Pink Petals, Taste of Berry, and Gypsy Love - along with those big paper mache flowers, and the fanciful trompe l’oeil art and the new Benjamin Moore and Alpha Workshops Wallpaper Capsule Collection make a frothy dining display.



The Rockwell Group’s Peacock Dining Design features more than six thousand feathers in that tablecloth! We were reassured the feathers come from the birds molting - no harm to beautiful peacocks. Did you know the plural or collective of a peacock is a “party?” How fitting!

The Lutron lighting changes the room color - by dining course and/or to amplify the rich, royal colors of the peacock. (see the video here)



The peacock wallpaper is digitally printed from a scan.
I love this - as you know - I adore all things peacock and flamingo. Could be my favorite.

Or, perhaps this is my most favorite!


McKenzie Liautaud - a jewelry designer - collaborated with Robert Verdi

This opulent tablescape was inspired by McKenzie’s love of pearls and creatures of the sea. The story the two described is that of an oyster fisherman (or woman, right?) who comes ashore to this luminescent dining experience.

The table features lots of twinkly lights in the backdrop drapes and the fish netting draped over the table - so they stole my heart right off. The dishes, flatware, napkins, glasses, and tabletop candles are all sourced from Pier 1



The bowls at the place settings are brimming with seashells as is the centerpiece. This reminded me that I used a not too dissimilar look when styling a cocktail composition for my soon-to-be-published Art of the Garnish book. Love that we have a thimble-full of something in common… ha.



Back to McKenzie’s tablescape - even the chairs are pearl-like in their design, as pointed out by Robert. (And thank you for the pearl candy swag, too. Kudos on your stylish tablescape - and your fashion.
 






Stanley Felderman & Nancy Keating created a “No Dream is Too High” dreamscape, inspired by Buzz Aldrin’s walk on the moon as a symbol of achievement. The energizing art on the two walls and the plates is Stanley’s original designs. The napkins are moonscapes - cute touch. The centerpiece is a glittery, silver painted beads on stems in a cake stand looking vase. Silver chopsticks are the dining utensils.

It’s all very ethereal. I like it.

All the art, including the moonscape in the background and a signed Aldrin book are available to bid on in the online auction.


A beautiful floral chandelier lit from within is the star of the Stacy Garcia designed table. Stacy described her use of Crypton fabric for the drapes and the custom tablecloth. I admire the piping on the tablecloth with its smart contrasting color.

Olivier Florals Atelier designed the chandelier and the centerpiece. The dinnerware and glasses are Lenox (one of my favorite tablescape sources) and the flaware is Crate & Barrel.

Outstanding submissions by local design schools, including Pratt and Parsons are deeply thoughtful - and beautiful.



Roric Tobin for Modern Luxury created a visual fantasy with his “A Night in Korakuen.”


The tables and origami-shaped samurai chairs are custom or semi-custom with millwork done in his Bronx workshop by local craftsmen. The table bases and the three-tiered green cocktail tales Textiles by Gaston y Daniela for Kravet for the incredibly authentic kimonos Tobin had made for wall decor.


The “ghost” dining chairs echo the clarity of the glass vases, Christofle candlesticks and flatware in silver -- nestled in its own flatware egg-shaped holder -- a curiosity and conversation starter. And the piece de resistsnce is the handmade origami cherry blossom paper chandelier, infused with tiny, LED lights.

 
This is a table design you’d want to savor and enjoy - there’s delight in every detail.

The annual signature event, cocktail gala and the auction is the only revenue source for the organization that is dedicated to fighting HIV AIDS. There is no other source of funding and all the monies goes toward the effort. “Working towards an AIDS-Free Generation - Design Industries Foundation (DIFFA) Fighting AIDS raises awareness and grants funds to organizations that provide treatment, direct care services, preventive education programs and advocacy for individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Even if you don’t get to the showcase, you can “browse, bid, and buy” here:
https://e.givesmart.com/events/bZg/
I'm partial to these offerings but please browse through and make a bid for a good cause.

  • Peacock Feather Table Covering - Yes, that one!
 
  • Copper Governor Pool House Lanterns
General Admission tickets Friday through Sunday are available for $32 online or $45 at the door. VIP Consumer tickets on Thursday are available for $95. Admission is complimentary to the design trade with two forms of business credentials via online pre-registration. To purchase tickets, visit ADDesignShow.com.

A portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales benefits Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). To learn more about DIFFA, visit DIFFA.org.

About the Architectural Digest Design ShowThe 18th annual Architectural Digest Design Show, held from March 21–24 at Piers 92 & 94 in New York City, showcases the best in the design and luxury market. The four-day fair features more than 400 premium brands and covers a range of categories, including: accessories, appliances, art, beds, building products, carpets & rugs, children’s furniture, closet systems, connected home, design services, electronics, fireplaces, flooring, furniture, hardware, lighting, metalwork & stairs, outdoor furnishings, paint, prefab homes, safes, spas, stone & tile, tabletop, wall coverings, windows & doors, and window treatments. From product launches to special events to panel discussions with top design leaders on a variety of topics, the show is a must-attend for the industry’s professionals and discerning consumers. The Architectural Digest Design Show is produced by The Mart, a Vornado Property and hosted by Architectural Digest. For more about the show, visit ADDesignShow.com.

About Architectural Digest
Architectural Digest (AD) is the international authority on design and architecture. AD provides exclusive access to the world’s most beautiful homes and the fascinating people who live in them, bringing its audience a wealth of information on architecture and interior design, art and antiques, travel destinations, and extraordinary products; its AD100 list of top architects and designers is one of the industry’s most relied-upon indexes of talent. AD's digital channel, AD PRO, features authoritative, opinionated coverage and breaking news for design-world insiders, and vertical Clever, takes on the unique challenges of designing a smaller space; offering design advice for real life and the brand’s website: archdigest.com.

About DIFFA
From the resurgence of Judd-esque minimalism, to the return of ash and light woods, and the abundance of glass in all forms, MADE is a showcase for top interior trends.
This talented group of makers serves as the perfect complement to the show's rich and extensive exhibitor line-up.
DIFFA Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS raises awareness and grants funds to organizations that fight HIV/AIDS by providing treatment and direct-care services for people living with or impacted by the disease, offering preventative education programs targeted to populations at risk of infection, or supporting public policy initiatives. DIFFA is one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the U.S., mobilizing the immense resources and creativity of the design community. 

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Phobar in Chinatown is a Vietnamese Noodle Bar Offering Exciting New Menu Items: Deconstructed Phở Pot and 25-Hour Broth




No less a food luminary than Anthony Bourdain is quoted about Vietnam cuisine and his personal noodle soup preferences, "In my way of thinking, in the hierarchy of delicious, slurpy stuff in a bowl, bun bo hue is at the very top." and also, when eating bun bo hue at the Dong Ba market: "People are put on earth for various purposes; I was put on earth to do this. Eat noodles right here."

Well, now you too can slurp away and eat noodles with purpose. Phobar Chinatown opened recently.

Pho means “noodle soup” - and Phobar could very well be the definitive noodle soup eatery in Gotham.

Phobar wrote me (and I especially need this for the formatting of the Vietnamese language punctuation,) “Following the success of their first location in Greenwich Village, chef and owner Mike Khuu and co-owner Li Pien are thrilled to open the second outpost of PhoBar, a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant with a focus on phở in Chinatown (43 Mott Street; 212-267-5400.

Incorporating thoughtful sourcing, quality ingredients and refined culinary techniques, PhoBar highlights the depth and complexity of the country’s traditional dishes.



There is a true noodle bar with a view to the “athletics” of the kitchen and cooks working their magic. There are tables and booths - so lots of seating options for a date, a solo stop, or a friends and family experience.

I loved the dracena-inspired wallpaper and lights!



“Designed by Mike Khuu, PhoBar’s 90-seat space was inspired by the vibrancy of retro Saigon, incorporating vibrant colors and elements reminiscent of the country’s landscape, including bamboo and jungle foliage in the chic and minimalistic space. In a nod to the restaurant’s signature dish (and the acclaimed 2018 film, Crazy Rich Asians), the space also boasts a custom-made neon sign that reads Crazy Rich Broth.”

In another fun nod to the zeitgeist, the wait staff wears T-Shirts extolling the crazy good broth:

“The Chinatown outpost features offerings exclusive to the location, including a Crazy Rich Broth with an unctuous and robust base using Angus prime beef bones sourced from Weichsel Beef/RFM -- one of the oldest butchers in NYC -- available in both 16- and 25-hour options for deeper flavor.

The menu also features additional offerings like the Bún Bò Huế, with slow braised house brisket, sliced beef and Vietnamese ham with spicy beef and pork broth, as well as a Deconstructed Phở Pot, an innovative version of the soup complete with an individual tableside hot pot, designed to keep the broth at an optimal temperature without over cooking the noodles. (check out my stirring prowess in this video!)





The rest of the menu at PhoBar is centered around the eatery’s namesake and signature dish, phở, the rich and comforting rice noodle soup. Reinterpretations of classics include Grilled Lemongrass Chicken Phở, Slow Braised Brisket Phở, and Portobello Mushroom Phở. Signature dishes that take a bit more creative culinary license include Spicy Short Rib Phở,

Snow Crab & Shrimp Riêu, Lobster Phở, and even Surf & Turf Phở. A variety of additional Vietnamese-inspired dishes include Fresh Summer Rolls, Chili Shrimp, and Young Papaya & Mango Salad, as well as versions of the traditional rice and vermicelli dishes Bún or Cơm, with options like Char-Grilled Lemongrass Pork Chops, Shaking Beef, and Fried Catfish, topped with scallions and fried shallots and served with a side of cucumbers, bean sprouts, lettuce, carrots, daikon, and Vietnamese chili sauce.

It’s really a fun and engaging experience to build your pho bowl - and stir up your dish. I think this food fun will resonate especially on a date or with children. Like me! I loved stirring those noodles, just so - as recommended by our waiter. Keep stirring so the noodles cook up just right. Twirling and keeping the noodles soft.



PhoBar’s beverage menu features wine as well as an Asian Beer Bar, highlighting an eclectic mix of beer from countries across the continent including Saigon, Asahi, Flying Horse, Kingfisher, and Hitachino. The menu will also feature non-alcoholic drinks such as an Iced Jasmine Green Tea with Longan Honey and housemade Vietnamese Coffee. PhoBar will introduce a menu of signature cocktails utilizing ingredients such as sugarcane, avocado, lychee, and passionfruit, shortly after opening.
There is Iced Honey Jasmine Green Tea with local honey served in a mason jar. It was a little too fragrant for me but very refreshing.

 
 The coconut drink was very earthy with a delightful coconut taste - and served right in the fruit (or nut or seed!) I loved this drink. My dining partner - who is a certified dietitian and nutritionist, explained how good the coconut water is for us - the Qui Chi - water and passion fruit in the drink is very hydrating.
I also tried this IPA Beer. Very good with the spicy entrees.


PhoBar sautees their sauces for their fresh spring rolls and summer rolls with is delicious bright way to eat these jewels. They also serve up classic Vietnamese fish sauce.

These rolls look like they are wrapped in glissine -- they are so exuberant - and just as delicious.




The sautéed Brussels Sprouts are WOW -- so creamy yet crispy. 

Phobar's spicy rich broth is cooked in three “tiers:” 8 hours, 16, or 25 hours. The “Crazy Rich Broth” that is cooked with love for the 25 hours is available exclusively at the Chinatown PhoBar. Go for it -- the bone broth is richer and sweeter in taste. This is a singular experience not to be missed.

When we were satiated with the abundance of absolutely tasty and good-looking food - artfully presented, we enjoyed a fresh, light, perfect pineapple dessert.


Even the restroom is well-appointed! Look at this cherry blossom rich loo! Even the ceiling is back lit to showcase pretty pink blooms..
Lovely attention to detail.

The restaurant is open from 11:00am - 11:00pm Monday through Sunday.  I highly recommend PhoBar.  You just can't make this rich, nuanced, ingredient-dependent cuisine at home.  One needs to have grown up with the cooking culture and then know how to pivot to make it a modern and sophisticated take on the dishes.  You can eat here everyday and find something new and exciting.

And it’s always an adventure to explore the exotic sights, sounds, and traditions of Chinatown.

      

 

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Style: Elegant Green Tablescape Design




Green is the go-to color inspiration when creating a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Naturally.

So when I saw that North Fork, micro-green grower, Koppert Cress, was offering green, edible orchids, I was immediately smitten. Who can resist orchids? (By the way - I surely hope you’ve visited the outstanding NYBG Orchid Show this year with its dazzling homage to Singapore.)

I can almost see a lot of you scratching your heads -- edible orchids? Yes, indeed. While our beloved vanilla comes from the orchid plant (Vanilla planifolia) - there are so many edible orchid blooms. Recently, at a post-theater tiki cocktail hour indulgence with garden design client and family, I popped the orchid garnish in my mouth - to an astonished, “oh no!” response. I assured them it’s all quite healthy and luxuriously delicious…

So when I saw the green orchids in an email (while on vacation) - I had a swoon-worthy moment of inspiration for a green tablescape for St. Patrick’s Day.



Yessss - these green beauties would not only elevate the elegance element - I could help “educate” others to the orchids’ edible prowess. As if just being beautiful wasn’t enough! Ha.

Even from our beach retreat - I was conjuring the tablescape design.
Surely, this was indeed a bit of good luck already…

For those of you who follow me regularly, you know i don’t like to use all-too-common St. Patrick’s day tropes (those rather cartoonish characters that unwittingly denigrate the rich history of Ireland). I rather choose to celebrate the culture - especially the great Irish writers, builders/architects, and gardeners and horticulturists.

Last year, I designed the tablescape to honor great Irish women writers.

This year I was channeling the magic and fairies of Irish legend and lore. Maybe because I just want to be enchanted more in this increasingly dystopian society -- and/or maybe because while we were away, I finally finished reading my friend Frank Vizard’s just-published novel, Screamer - that weaves Irish mystery, (a banshee!), along with history and legend into its adventure. (Get this book!)

So now I had an idea and a theme - a story to tell - for the tablescape design. This is what distinguishes and elevates the art of the tablescape from merely pretty.

Now it was time to get it all placed to great effect.

In a break from my usual desire to show the beautiful wood of our antique dining table, this holiday I determined that wearin’ a bit of the green should include the table, too. I used a forest green tablecloth, topped with a sparkly, shamrock-strewn fabric I spotted at Joanne’s when shopping for the Valentine’s Day table decor. This could serve as a kind of table runner.

(Did you know that there are “millions of hue variations on green that the typical human eye can perceive”?) You can feel free to mix and match more than a few shades or hues of this most popular color.

Plus, with the Spring Equinox on March 20th, the green look (minus the shamrocks) will take you through a Spring Tablescape till we get to Easter/Passover/Ramadan.

With the foundation in place, I placed green glass plates in between the Lenox Trianna blush bowl and gold accents. Green trellis napkins and gold napkin rings picked up on the color balance and texture.

To my eye, lots of detail adds delight and surprise to a well-designed table meant for entertaining. And for St. Patrick’s Day - that means lots of crystal, “precious” metals, and - whimsy.

I have a favorite Danish store on Broadway, Flying Tiger, where I peruse the aisles for items I can use - along with my home inventory -- and all are essentially re-purposed. Meaning, the items are not intended for a table design. The creativity of the artful tablescape design pursuit comes into play when you determine what things can be used in a way that helps tell an entertaining tabletop tale.

For example, I purchased two purple-colored magic Eight Balls -- that in a nod to serendipity - matched the center of the orchids! The magic Query balls will be fun for us and guests to ask “searing” life questions as part of our dinner conversations… wink, wink.



I determined that I wanted to float those gorgeous green orchids. Hmmm - how to do it in a more embellished fashion? It came to me. Place the water-filled Waterford bowl with some green glitter beads - that I placed on another serving glass dish rimmed with green moss - and lit the bowl with immersible lights so that at night the orchids “glow.”


Now is the time to bring out those garden sprites!

I also selected shamrock chocolates, Louis Sherry premium chocolate tins,


and the oxalis, shamrock or “love” plants -- it’s actually a wood sorrel - at our favorite, Sickles Market.

The plants look charming in my light green orchid chinoiserie planters -- (more shades of green with a nod back to the green plates.)


I bought the jade green hearts at a new boutique, Oyster General that opened last month.

The “emerald gems” and soft green mini dishes and bowls are from Flying Tiger (the bowls and plates are actually Japanese matcha servers).

This year again, in a kind of whimsical yet respectful ode to a part of Irish history - I placed a potato in each of the little green bowls next to the place settings. The spud color also complements the orchid and magic balls. (You do know that Peru gifted the world potatoes, right? Thousands of spud varieties. Love those purple beauties. And when I worked in Ecuador for a number of Januarys - the highway to and from the airport to the sierra up to Hacienda Cusin was filled with trucks carrying potatoes to export.)

The ornate silver cups and crown musical boxes are decorative accessories that call to mind castles and knights. Use mirrors under any number of items to amplify the look. On a couple of the mirrors I spray-painted gold -- because, well - you can never have too much glitter.
I also sprinkled green glitter on the tablecloth as the last addition to glam it up.

I used the cups to discreetly “hide” battery-operated lights for the evening dinner table’s entertaining glow.


And the glow from under the orchids is so lovely.



Supermarket florals work just fine for this design. I like the bright green of the mini-mums and the hypericum - these darlings are a long-lasting work-horse - and add so much depth to a floral design. I used them on the table - in a vase and in the unicorn vases. The green fish glass accessories honor Ireland’s abundant coastline and fishing)
,



And the cut flowers are also on the cocktail tables in our garden room and in the hallway welcome entrance. I also love the sparkly, green-glitter books - a reference to Irish writers. And guests can sign!




The place card holders are green garden topiaries that I use often and work very well here.
I also added a few green glass pieces to the table and green beads scattered about.
I purchased two gold glitter tubes to use - laid on their sides - and added my purple magic wand! I can better cast a spell for my guests and Bill. (love :)

I used our wedding crystal wine glasses for an appetizer of green and purple salad greens -- an elevated, tasty treat.

Day or evening, the Green Tablescape is now a lovely delight.



I hope you enjoyed the creation process as much as I did. Here’s a few video tours for you.








Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Sláinte! Now it’s time to whip up some special green cocktails.

Shop the site. (links provided)



 
Thank you for allowing me to share a glamorous, green tablescape -- as the art of entertaining..