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Tête-à-Tête with Tinatin Kilaberidge
High End Weekly™: Who were your favorite designers from the modernist movement?
Tinatin Kilaberidze: Charles and Ray Eames, Eileen Gray. Jean Prouve for his unvarnished industrial and very chick look, opposite to him Jean Royere for Luxury modernist design, Jacques Adnet and Gio Ponti.
HEW: Your participation in the Holiday House last year created a buzz. It was pretty obvious that you liked your interiors clean, and modern, and that you also have a flair for using decorative arts. Tell me about the concept behind this particular project.TK: The inspiration behind the Holiday House was to create the world I raised my daughter in, the room was dedicated to her. It was also about appreciation for nature and the objects of our daily lives. My goal was to bring the magic of Christmas eve. The idea was to bring the forest, animals, and moon into the room, and at the same time, lose the boundaries between reality and fantasy. It was about creating the right mood. The room had a decisive aura of mystery and excitement.
HEW: How do you view fashion as it relates to your design work? Are you influenced by it?TK: Fashion is something I loved ever since I was a young girl, and after high school, I wanted to pursue it, but first, I went to University and after six years of studies, and obtaining a degree in literature, I decided interior design was something I wanted to study. I did this for another five years. I was lucky enough to work in the fashion industry in Italy for a several years.
“Fashion has always excited me, but it does not influence my work as an interior designer. At least not in a direct way. However, it does impel me to move in ways which make me realize how fast life moves forward.” Tinatin Kilaberidge
HEW: How do you see design evolving in the next five years?TK: Design in the next five years will be very different, but not as much as in the next ten years per se. Our lifestyles will change so radically, and we’ll need toreview the way we use our interiors. New technologies, virtual reality, and high-speed travel will change our needs to test the importance we place in the materials we surround ourselves with.
I am positive about striking a good balance, and believe that we are capable of keeping the best of the past, and embrace the fast coming future with its forms of design and changes in values, if we strike a good balance. I am very excited about that. The future I mean.
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Harry Bertoia at Sotheby’s
Harry BERTOIA Monumental sound sculpture from the standard oil commission, Chicago, beryllium copper and brass, in 2 partsEmbracing The Music of Our Lives“… a sculptural element breaking silence, it has a voice, hence we listen to it, maybe there’s something to say.” Harry BertoiaThe artist at the center of Sotheby’s latest contemporary show is Harry Bertoia. I must admit, before receiving the invite to the opening reception, I did not know too much about the designer except that I’ve always loved his namesake chairs (which thankfully have long been reproduced by Knoll, and Design Within Reach). Bertoia: A Celebration of Sound and Motion, is an exhibition that opened on Tuesday, February 11th and closes on Sunday, March 9, 2014.
This selling exhibit focuses on the ability of motion and space to mimic three-dimensional effects. Bertoia’s work marries aesthetic ideals and intellectual concepts to create abstract forms often inspired by those found in nature. The result? Non-stop interaction with the objects which brought sound, and occasionally, some laughter. Assembled in the 2nd floor gallery are more than 30 sculptures which range in size from monumental to diminutive and offer a comprehensive look at his career comprising some of the finest examples of the artist’s organic and sonambient works ever to appear on the market.The star lot of the exhibition is Bertoia’s sculpture screens from 1959 (installed in the lobby of the auction house, they will be on public view through the duration of the show), which were originally commissioned for the First National Bank of Miami and later privately acquired and gifted to the University of Virginia. The screens were a personal favorite. They’re so large, yet so inviting at the same time. These sculptures were among his most important commissions and were on the University of Virginia School of Architecture’s campus.
Harry Betray, Dandelion, Gilt stainless steel, brass and slate
Harry Bertoia, Gong Pendants: hand-hammered gold over silver, and hand hammered silver
Harry Bertoia, Untitled, melt-coated brass over steelIn the sculptures, I am concerned primarily with space, form and the characteristics of metal.” Harry Bertoia
Harry Bertoia, Maquette for the “comet” Sculpture designed for W. Hawkins Ferry, brass coated metal wire and bronze
Harry Bertoia, Untitled, welded and patinated bronze
Harry Bertoia, Sculpture screens from The First National Bank of Miami, FloridaMelt-coated brass over steel, in 10 partsReception and Private View of Bertoia
Reed Krakoff, New York fashion designer and former executive creative director of Coach, Inc.
Beryllium copper and brass, in 2 parts
Gong designed for Grieg Hall in Bergen, Norway, patinated bronze“The work of Harry Bertoia defies categorization. Its singular, aggressively personal expression, sits on the borders between art, design, sculpture, and instrument.“Reed Krakoff
Far right: Gong designed for Grieg Hall in Bergen, Norway, patinated bronze
Vyna St. Phard, Reed Krakoff
Images by High End Weekly™All rights reserved -
Haute Design in Brooklyn
Isn’t it great when art, fashion and design come together, and something beautiful and memorable become the result, and what’s more, it can all be classified as long-term? Not an easy task, especially when it comes to fashion, I know. However, two of France most darling creative forces, Jean Paul Gaultier and furniture giant Roche Bobois have done just that.Exactly one week to this day, I was fortunate enough to attend an exciting, and private tour of The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier. At the same time, I was introduced to an exhibition which highlighted beautifully the collaboration between the king of haute couture, and high end furniture maker, Roche Bobois. Of course, their collaboration together can be purchase at any of their retail stores, but this particular exhibition won’t be around after the Brooklyn Museum closes its door on Sunday evening (no snow in the New York City forecast, if you must know).
Dunkerque Indigo Rug with a pair of Ben Hur chairs by Jean Paul Gaulteir
Mah Jong Modular Seating in Couture Fabric
“Jean Paul Gaultier’s popular “Ben Hur”” chairs designed by acclaimed furniture maker, Rocher Bobois. The show “L’Art de Vivre” is at the Brooklyn Museum until Sunday, February 23, 2014″
Maschio lamp by Jean Paul Gaultier (in the background)
Jean Paul-Gaultier: From The Sidewalk to the Catwalk
I understand that Jean Paul Gaultier and Roche Bobois have worked together since 2010 to create a series of furniture which are iconic, in their own rights. The first one that comes to mind is the Mah Jong Modular Seating in couture fabric, and the beloved Ben Hur chair. This global furniture maker continues to seduce its customers by presenting a variety of collections that are in themselves synonymous as luxury. -
The Fashion Fund gets Competitive
The Fashion Fund Preview from Ovation TelevisionFor the last few weeks, I’ve been glued to the television screen on Wednesday nights, and absolutely refused to miss an episode of the Fashion Fund. This amazing show offers a lively, at times snappy, behind the scenes, and on the scenes documentary-style footage of some of the most interesting fashion designers around. The Fashion Fund which airs on Wednesday, 10PM ET, stars legendary editor in chief of Vogue Magazine, Anna Wintour, who oversees a competition in which 10 designers get a chance to work alongside industry luminaries to prove they have what it takes to be named Fashion Fund Designer of the Year (this is major, it’s pretty much like winning an Oscar for fashion’s best “newcomer”). The victor will get an injection of $300,000 and a one-year mentorship with some of the biggest names in fashion.
In this video, fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg visits Misha Nonoo. Born in Bahrain and raised in London by an Iraqi father and English mother, Misha Nonoo’s style is modern with a clear tribute to a past that calls for easy elegance. Her design concept signifies a gentle time when simply dressing for grocery shopping was done with some panache and grace. Her daytime, and evening wear are quite terrific. I’ve got my eyes on her, and believe that she is set for victory. Here’s a few pictures of her collections. Are you watching America?
Nonoo
In addition to Nonoo, there are many other outstanding talents on the Fashion Fund.
Check out Anna Wintour’s visit to the dynamic duo, Tome. It is quite intriguing. -
New York’s Preeminent Antiques Shows
“The Winter Antiques Show just celebrated its 60th year as the most prestigious antiques show in America, featuring the “best of the best” from antiquities through the 1960s. Held at the historic Park Avenue Armory in New York City, the Show provides curators, established collectors, dealers, design professionals and first-time buyers with opportunities to view and buy exceptional pieces showcased by 73 exhibitors. One-third of the Show’s exhibitors are specialists in Americana, with the rest featuring English, European, and Asian fine and decorative arts.”
Urban Karlsson and Juan Montoya
Vyna St. Phard at The Peter Fetterman Gallery
Opening night at The Metro ShowThe Metro Show often signaled the start of “The antiques season in New York City”. Hailing from its original home, The Metropolitan Pavillion, Metro Show 2014 opened on January 22nd and ran for about five days. This year, a fresh and engaging new concept named Metro Curates was introduced to thousands of visitors, among them designers, collectors and art enthusiasts. Caroline Kerrigan Lerch, director of the METRO Show explained the Metro Curates concept this way:
The Metro Show
“[This] is our way of initiating a conversation between the dealer and the fair goer, whether they are a veteran of the art fair scene or a newcomer. Our goal is to offer in-depth, thoughtful presentations in a way similar to the way museum curators mount their exhibitions. We think METRO Curates will offer a comparable level of interest, education and engagement.”
Yutaka YoshinagaThe Rhythm of Color – Colors, 2008Pigment on folded washi paper59 1/2 x 39 1/3 inchesPerimeter Gallery
High End Weekly™ ImagesAll rights reserved -
Paris goes Wild for Design
Maison Objet 2014
Our Parisian correspondent, Sarah Boutinon-Tharse reveals some of her top pics from Maison Objet 2014. Beautiful works by luxury brands like Daum, Rosenthal, Wonderglass, Missoni Home are signaling that now more than ever, people are still interested in glamor, but they also seek comfortable designs that are more relaxed, feel more modern, and definitely more relevant to their current lifestyles.
Daum celebrates China’s Year Of The Horse
Mid-Twentieth Century Textile and wallpaper from Miss Print
Images by Sarah Boutinon-Tharse for High High End Weekly™ -
Hello Frankfurt
Shopping the Luxury Trends at Heimtextil, Frankfurt 2014Since returning from Germany, many of my followers and colleagues have been curious about my latest trip to Europe, and upon answering them, they probed further by asking what exactly is Heimtextil? It’s pretty simple. Heimtextil is the world’s leading trade fair for home and contract textiles. It is a fair that highlights a very strong and successful introduction to the year’s purest trends. But over all, it’s much more than that. The show which took place in Frankfurt am Main is one of the most progressive and advanced trade fair I’ve ever attended. And believe me, I’ve seen my share.
The final count for the show indicated that almost 67,000 visitors from 133 countries made their way to Frankfurt to see the latest products and innovations that were being shown by 2,718 international exhibitors.Raw LuxuryFor the sake of brevity, during the fair, I concentrated on one common theme for this blog: Raw Luxury. Celebrating raw luxury means that one disconnect with technology for a while. And instead, connect with nature and spirituality. The images on this post convey that certain feeling. The use of wood, fur, natural fibers, leather, feathers, all of which creates a natural organic experience. The trends for this year’s raw luxury are almost primitive in a way. Nothing but the highest quality of materials will do. The mood is serene, subdued, neutral colors create the most comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. The textures and the patterns of the materials are subtle, and convey this luxurious touch that we all need in our busy and hectic lives.
Since the designs are inspired by nature, they all have a direct connection with it. Bringing the outside in is what it is all about. It’s also about celebrating individuality. Imperfection becomes beauty. It is unique, it is luxurious. Stones, marbles, wood, are an integral part of the conversation. The visual effect they introduce in our lives perhaps have the power to make us even more progressive. After all, when you’re innovative, you use the trends effectively – whether you are traditional or modern.Images by High End Weekly™All rights reserved -
The Best Is Yet To Come!
1. Good manners
3. The perfect sunglasses
4. Lavender candles, every room in my house has one
5. Beautiful, and iconic mid twentieth century design
6. Artwork from Fernand Léger
7. The memorable performances from Oscars winner, Daniel Day-Lewis
8. Season tickets to La bohème at The Metropolitan Opera
9. Luxurious white sheets for the bed
10. A great smile
11. That beautiful shade of gray in the right interiors
12. A good pair of tweezers
13. The beautiful landscapes of Provence
14. Exquisite stationary
15. French Art Deco
16. Exploring my favorite neighborhood in Paris, Saint-Germain-des-Prés
17. The perfect fitted bra
18.Annual trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
19.Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
20. Azzedine Alaia signature dresses
21. A great tube of red lipstick
22. A good posture goes a long way. Start practicing if you don’t have one
Sources: 4. Red Flower 8. Metropolitan Opera 9. Pratesi 11. Morgans Hotel 13. Aix En Provence 14. Bernard Maisner 15. Park Avenue Armory 16. Saint-Germain-des-Prés 17. La Perla 18. The Metropolitan Museum of Art 19. Pride and Prejudice 20. Azzedine Alaia 21. Dior -
Modern Lighting for Your Home
I cannot recall ever being inside an establishment with inadequate lighting that I cared for. No matter how well decorated the interiors are, bad lighting can essentially kill any effort that was laboriously put forth. Of course, I do not mean to reference a low lit room that was designed with that in mind. A couple of months back, I visited one of my favorite dealers, and in the process, saved a few of these photographs for my reference and yours. Foscarini is a modern Italian lighting company who is conveniently tucked in the corner of New York’s most trendiest neighborhood, Soho. Located at 17 Greene Street, the showroom offers its customers some pretty unique lighting choices for every home and office projects.
Although I would have rather liked if they carried a wider selection of outdoor designs (that’s precisely what I went in the store for), I came away from the shop feeling pretty good since I discovered several of their newest designs which they collaborated with Diesel. The show Successful Living is long gone, but I still find that shopping on their side of the world is still a bright idea. -
Pure and Rational Beauties
Claude Lalanne”L’Enlevement d’Europe”, 1990Modern Design VisionariesStrong sales results from both Philipps de Pury and Sotheby’s Important 20th Century Design indicate a fervent interest in art deco, modern, and contemporary design. The auction house saw a very positive result for their Claude Lalanne’ “L’enlevement d’Europe” (pictured above) sculpture. This striking piece tells the story of Princess Europa “overtaken by the god Jupiter (in bull form) results in the birth of Minos and the beginning of civilization on the island of Crete – the mythical first spark of society and culture that would sow the seeds for the European continent itself.” The following designs also made news in the art world this week.
Robert Mapplethorpe, Black and white plates
Above left: A series of Zaha Hadid contemporary shelves
Above: Gio Ponti colorful desk, and chairs
Emile Jacques Ruhlmann, an outstanding chaise, and a pair of upholstered chairs(in the background)
“Pure and rational form, translated in a beautiful material, is a requirement.”Emile Jacques Ruhlmann
Jean Prouvé desk, and shelvesSOTHEBY’S
Left: Paul T. Frankl, “Speed” chair and ottoman, circa 1941. Right: Paul T. Frankl, “Skyscraper” bookcase from the library of Lucile Layton Zinman and M. Boyd Zinman,1200 Fifth Avenue, NYC, circa 1927
Top: Michele Oka Doner, circa 1968, Seven torso sculptures, porcelain, acrylic and steelBottom: George Nakashima custom “Kornblut” cabinet, 1984, Persian walnut, American black walnut. East Indian rosewood and burl
Paul Evans, “Sculpture Front” cabinet, 1969
Albert Paley “Masterworks” Sideboard, forged steel and glass, circa 1991
Details of the Masterworks sideboard by Albert Paley
Left: Judy Kensley McKie, “Faces” cabinet, 1991. Painted wood and glass. Right: Hans Wegner, Papa Bear Chair, circa 1950s
Far Left: Paavo Tynell, pair of floor lamps, circa 1945. Right: Pair of “Clam”armchairs by Philip Arctander, circa 1944
An important prototype “large steel”, circa 1950
A series of Gerrit Thomas Rietvelt Zig Zag Chairs, circa 1967
Gio Ponti, a rare “Proteo” desk lamp, circa 1960Photos by High End WeeklyAll rights reserved
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