Have Some Decorum: 2009

Think Inside the Box

Liana Yaroslavsky

Decadence

Liana Yaroslavsky

Finally! An original thought. Paris based designer Liana Yaroslavsky has created the most interesting coffee tables I have seen in years...maybe ever. The designer has combined her love of Versailles, Venice, tapestries, Murano glass and chandeliers, 19th century watercolors, baroque and modernism in her creations. The result? Coffee tables. A museum in plexiglass.

Le Bal

Liana's descriptions of her pieces are as luminous as her pieces.

Le Bal's description goes, "The scence, inspired by Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, centers around the Tsar's royal ballet. Keys of a neglected piano form a circular fan around two white wings made from real feathers...we are, after all, at the Ball of Angels. 19th century piano compositions for lovers are scattered within the base of the coffee table. The crystal chandelier (also 19th c.) are embellished with feathers. Allegro moderato, yes, but who is leading this dance? Who are the dancers? The answer is obvious: our own imagined memories." With a description like that, you know this is a special piece. The coffee tables take on a new dimension at night when they come alive with the glow of the flame.

L'Equisse

19th century watercolors are strewn about the base of the table. The watercolors come to fruition with the actuality of the 17th century Murano chandelier.

Oz Variations

One hundred crystal Murano blown glass balls float over Versailles parquet floors.

Maure de Venise

Black mirror occupies the floor base while a black crystal Murano chandelier rests on top, its branches shooting out through the plexiglass.

A closer look

Liana's website is a must see. Take a look at her drawings, inspirations and what brought her to these designs.

http://www.lianayar.com/

Hermes and Erwin Wurm

Legendary fashion house, Hermes, has continued its dedicated patronage to the arts with Austrian artist, Erwin Wurm. Collaborating with Hermes menswear, Erwin Wurm has created a temporary installment in Hermes' Bond Street shop in London.

Erwin Wurm's bizarrely humourous "one minute sculptures" is an exhibition combining the everyday commonplace objects with the unexpected.

Hermes' menswear director, Véronique Nichanian, has been a long standing fan of Wurm. Such a fan that she gave Wurm carte blanche with the installation in the Hermes name and menswear line.

Fashion and art have always flirted with one another and with this installation between Hermes and Wurm the perfect marriage has ensued.

The collection and exhibit will be displayed at the Bond Street shop from October 11 to the 18th.

Get there while you can. And while you are there pick me up a Birkin.

Hermes London

155 New Bond Street

Mayfair London

www.hermes.com

Gandhi's 140th Birthday

Gandhi

Thanks to Google, I learned today is Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi's birthday.

He would have been 140 years old.

Children in Bhopal, India dressed as the pacifist who said,

"Be the change you want to see in others."

Designer Envy

Dan Marty Design

Dan Marty

Talent Extraordinaire

I think I have been envious of Dan's talent for a good 11 years now. I first encountered Dan's magic at his shop in Costa Mesa called Les Interieurs. I had never seen anything like it. The entire shop was set up like an actual home. It was like shopping in your friends's house...a very sophisticated and well traveled friend. After Les Interieurs which was a partnership I think, Dan went solo and opened his own shop in Newport Beach called Dan Marty Design. It was even better then. Next, he opened 2 shops in LA! Yea for me because I had moved to Santa Barbara by this time and LA was closer for me to keep an eye on him. Now, all these years later Mr Marty has a a 13,000sq ft showroom in the Pacific Design Center...the epicenter of all that is good.

Dan creates his "look" by mixing French, Italian, Moroccan, English, Far East and California. The result?

Fab!

Dan travels all over to collect his goodies. He is bold and brave in his creations...and an absolute trend setter in design.

Dan has antique furniture and accessories as well as a custom line. I love the fabric he uses in his upholstery...velvet, linen, monkcloth, kilim, grain sack, paisley, zebra etc.

The zebra chair is a signature piece for Dan.

He introduced the Union Jack chair this year.

On a side note, I found this French flag chair this summer in Paris. Wouldn't it be chic to use them together at a little game table?

The accessories are really what bring a room together...french market umbrellas, wicker baskets, chinese blue and white pottery, monk cloth, Swedish candlesticks.

all images used by permission

If you can get to the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, I urge you to visit the showroom. But, if not, the Dan Marty Design website is fantastic as well.

Dan Marty Design Showroom
8687 Melrose Avenue Suite B380
West Hollywood, California 90069

www.danmartydesign.com