The Home Stretch

View from 'our' (shared) rooftop in the East Village

Fire escapes never looked so good.

Painted building... can't remember where sorry!

Top - Construction debris squished into tiny little roller trolleys, presumably as a result of working in building with small lifts/narrow hallways. Bottom - exterior of the incredible Comme de Garcons store in Chelsea. We went to see art - but ended up shopping. What can you do?

More stunning greenery on the streets of NYC. Top image taken in Chelsea... Bottom image is a close up of a stunning Dogwood tree (thanks for the botanical info Mum!). I am so in love with these gorgeous trees which seem to be all over New York . I am definitely going to have to find a Dogwood tree in Melbourne...

Ok so this is the last day of NYC stuff, and I am flying home today! I'll be back in Melbourne at 2pm tomorrow.

Anyway, I can only apologise (again!) for the sketchy posting these last few weeks... I have been so inspired by this trip and still have lots to share, including a San Francisco shopping guide which I have been feverishly trying to finish, and an interview with everyone's favourite design blogger - Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge! All this I promise will be up later this week, but in the meantime, I hope you don't mind today's very lazy post - essentially just a collection of random NY photos and observations...

From this Wednesday I'll be back to regular posts every morning, Monday - Friday! Promise ;)

Giant scribble? I don't know what this is about... but I like it.

Guggenheim NYC - Frank Lloyd Wright

The Guggenheim Museum

There are a LOT of museums in New York City. You could go for 10 days and visit a new one every day. And of course they are all amazing, so you could easily spend all day in each. Given this abundance, we had to do some careful shortlisting. We ended up visiting The New Museum on the Bowery, MOMA (of course) and The Guggenheim. All were completely brilliant.

The Guggenheim was showing an exhibition called From Within Outward, about the work of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who also of course designed the Guggenheim museum itself. It was so so great! Actually it was also a nice break to see an exhibition entirely made up of architectural sketches and models, especially after seeing so much incredible fine art elsewhere - more than you could ever absorb in just one visit.

From Within Outward celebrates Frank Lloyd Wright's incredible body of work, spanning his celebrated 72-year career. The exhibition brings together 64 projects, including privately commissioned residences, government buildings, religious and performance spaces, as well as super-futuristic unrealized urban mega-structures - designs complete with hovering helicopters and other space-age details! Included are more than 200 original Frank Lloyd Wright drawings, as well as newly commissioned models and digital animations. It is quite incredible seeing just how contemporary and relevant Frank Lloyd Wright's work still appears today, more than 50 years after his death. It was also really entertaining to get an insight into the character himself - through personal letters and correspondence. One article on show quoted the architect referring to himself not just as the best architect the world has ever known, but also as the best architect the world will ever know in years to come! ha! (More arrogant yet super-entertaining quotes from the Lloyd Wright can be found here!).

If you're heading to NY anytime soon (I feel like everyone in Melbourne is going this year!), the Guggenheim is a must-see. A word of advice - take the lift to the top and walk down rather than up. Much easier on the legs!

Frank Lloyd Wright - Original Sketch for The Guggenheim Museum

Guggenheim Museum interior

Models of Frank Lloyd Wright's work

Frank Lloyd Wright's studio / intern workshop at his private, custom-built residence / workspace - Taliesin

Frank Lloyd Wright : From Within Outward
Until August 23, 2009


Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
1071 Fifth Avenue (at 89th Street)
New York, NY

Spring in DUMBO!

Spring - a design store / gallery in DUMBO, Brooklyn

Ok... so clearly I am quite behind with all my NYC posting... I am not even there anymore, and am still catching up with all my photos etc! Thank so so much for all your patience! Also a huge huge thankyou for all your comments and a few emails too! I really appreciate it and am so sorry I haven't been able to reply to every single comment!

These photos are from an area in Brooklyn called DUMBO. New Yorkers love to abbreviate. DUMBO = 'Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass' (ie just at the base of the Manhattan bridge, near the river).

I wish we had been able to discover more of DUMBO... but we did visit a fantastic design store / gallery called Spring. So lovely - and the owners are also super super nice. They support a lot of emerging design talent, and have regular exhibitions showcasing the work of both local and international designers and artists. The current show is called Lost and Found, and was curated by Spring owner and co-founder Anna Cosentino.

Top image - products at Spring, including the Zip Tie Chandlier by Joe Ponciano. Bottom image - Good Eggs ottoman and Drum Stool by Inna Alesina.

Spring stock so many unique designs I had not seen elsewhere - that light fitting in the window (top image) is constructed from cableties (such versatile little things!). In the bottom shot, Inna Alesina's fantastic colourful stools are made entirely from egg cartons - tightly packed and simply held in place with tight cables. They look amazing! Beautiful pieces in their own right - aside from the brilliant eco-friendly concept.

Downtown DUMBO.

Mosaic details

Shop entrance in Nolita, NYC

Beautiful shimmery green/silver mosaic flooring in Barneys, San Francisco

Been noticing so many intricate mosaic floors in the US - Both in NY and San Fran... wonder why there isn't more of it in Melbourne?

Original tiling at beautiful Brooklyn restaurant Dressler - highly recommended for a romantic dinner, btw!

Nolita again

more NYC favourites...

Even the 'garbage' in Soho is special.

So sorry for the irregular posting of late... been a a bit all over the place. Left NYC few days ago and spent three blissful days in South Lake Tahoe, on the border of California and Nevada. Such beautiful scenery! All snowcapped mountains, emerald pine forests and glistening water. Only downside was struggling with somewhat unreliable internet reception!

Anyway still trying to catch up on all my NYC posting... so here, in no particular order, are some more of my favourite finds in and around Soho and Nolita...

ps) Thanks so so much for all your lovely comments - and even a few emails with tips and recommendations! I'm really sorry I haven't been able to respond to all... but thankyou so much for making contact :) It is so lovely to hear from you!

Moss - 150 Greene street, Soho

The current exhibition at Moss showcases Bavaria - a range of limited-edition furniture by Dutch duo Studio Job, featuring a a rosewood finish with folk-art inspired decorative inlay. It was totally AMAZING. This range was commissioned exclusively for Moss.

Moss blurs the distinction between retail design store and gallery... no price tags, stunning one-off pieces displayed individually in glass cabinets like works of art or ancient relics. Beautiful space, incredible concept... but... how do they make any money? I guess perhaps at these prices, one sale a month is enough to pay their rent?

Anyway, Moss is absolutely a must-see if you're a design junkie (like me!). Also, here it kind of feels ok to gawk at all the high-end design without any intention of making a purchase - the staff are mildly snooty... but they're clearly more accustomed to browsers than buyers.

Moss shows pieces from the 'Smoke' range of furniture by Dutch designer Maarten Baas.

Paul Smith - Greene st, Soho

Right next door to Moss, Paul Smith is absolutely worth a visit for the interior design and layout alone. I promise! The layout is similar to a residential home - you wander from room to room. greeted by a slightly different feel and aesthetic in each new space.

One room, in particular, was absolutely covered in original artwork and paintings, hung salon-style all over the walls. The effect was amazing! Also in the entrance area, open books were artfully strung on fishing line and hung across the ceiling... I really love Paul Smith's eclectic decor - no two stores are the same, and yet they all share a distinct aesthetic unlike any other retail environment.

Kisan Concept Store - Greene st, Soho

This store is just across the road from Paul Smith and Moss... a French 'concept store' - the shots on their website really don't do it justice - this store is truly beautiful. An artfully curated mix of ultra-feminine clothes and accessories (ridiculously expensive, of course), cuper-cute designer kids stuff, and slightly quirky yet completely gorgeous home accessories. Interesting, carefully considered mix. Very pricey.

Kelley & Ping - 127 Greene st, Soho

Kelley & Ping is in Soho right near Moss, Paul Smith and Kisan... tasty, quick-as-flash Chinese food (noodles and noodle soups mainly). Cheap and cheerful, in a really lovely industrial meets Hong Kong hawker-bar inspired space. Great for a cheap, casual feed (not always easy to find in this area). Also you're unlikely to have to wait for a table, which is also somewhat of a rarity at lunchtime in NYC.

Kelley & Ping

Kate's Paperie - 72 Spring Street, Soho
(between Crosby and Lafayette Streets, also other stores across New York - see website for details)

BEAUTIFUL paper / stationary / gift wrap and gift card shop. Truly beautiful. Eat your heart out Zetta Florence.

Kate's Paperie

The MOMA store - Soho

Definitely worth a visit in Soho, because trust me, the last thing you feel like doing after 5 hours on your feet at MOMA uptown is killing another hour browsing in their store. Another great reason to visit the Soho store BEFORE you head to MOMA itself, is that you get a free pass to the museum if you spend over $50 in store (I think?). Which is pretty easy to do - especially once you head downstairs to the bookstore! It is AMAZING. I could have seriously spent all afternoon in there. Also a great little selection of designer furniture and lighting, all of which appears to be much cheaper than in it in Aus. Go figure.

John Derian Company - 6 East Second Street (Bet. 2nd Avenue and The Bowery), East Village.

John Derian is a quaint little French-inspired vintage, antique and repro furniture, homewares and kitchenware. They specialise in decoupaged things (apparently)... which seems a little strange to me, and these were certainly not my favourite things in store... but there's enough treasure to uncover here to make it worth a visit nonetheless.

John Derian Company

Maryam Nassir Zadeh, 123 Norfolk (at Rivington Street), Lower East Side

FANTASTIC new clothing /accessories / randomly fabulous things, all pulled together like museum artefacts in a stunning minimal white retail space. A truly unique and perfectly curated collection of international pieces. Don't miss it! I mean that.

A great, detailed review with more product info is here.

Maryam Nassir Zadeh - Top and bottom photos by me, other shots found here. The bottom shot is of the bar across the road from Maryam Nassir... unrelated, but so photogenic I had to include it!

Le Labo - 233 Elizabeth st, (between Prince and Housten), Nolita

Le Labo is an NY brand with a French name, and a very French sensibility. No off-the-shelf perfume here... instead you create your own fragrance from scratch, for a truly unique olfactory experience! Cute concept, very cute shop, even cuter website.

On a side note, Nolita was absolutely my favourite window-shopping / people-watching spot in all of Manhattan - quaint little cobbled streets, lovely little boutiques and gorgeous cafes on every corner (including the wonderful Cafe Gitane!).

Le Labo

Williamsburg with Grace Bonney!

I wanted to do a detailed illustrated map of Williamsburg.. but.. no textas, no time, no scanner. Blah. :( This will have to do for now. The 'M' at Bedford Ave is the subway station - it's just one stop from Manhattan. The loop we walked was kind of between North 7th and Grand sts, with the main drag along Bedford Ave.

OK so, as you guys have probably picked up, I spent most of last week wandering around New York wide-eyed enthusiasm... I can't help it! It's such an inspiring city. But nothing could compare to the excitement of meeting Grace Bonney in Williamsburg last Friday!

YES! How cool is that!? I am still recovering from the excitement!

Grace is totally my blogging idol. Design*Sponge has been such an inspiration to me - both as a blogger and an independent creative business-person. Grace sets the standard for independent craft and design blogging - she's so incredibly prolific, and seems to have an innate ability to curate the site so perfectly - with just enough sneak-peek eye candy, new product and trend news, as well as introducing us to so many amazing emerging designers... not to mention supporting independent business women with her Biz ladies meet-ups and events! Ms Bonney clearly knows a thing or two about efficient multi-tasking.

Needless to say I was a little nervous to meet Grace - and totally star struck of course! But she truly is as sweet as she seems - so warm and genuinely chirpy and smiley and friendly, and so generous to spend an afternoon traipsing around Williamsburg in the rain to show me all her favrouite spots! I felt so lucky to spend a couple of hours in her company. Thanks so so much Grace!

Williamsburg looks like this. It feels a little bit Melbourne (Fitzroy-ish I guess), and a little bit London too - beautiful on a crisp sunny spring day... not quite as nice in the pouring rain...! Surprisingly it doesn't feel much like Manhattan at all.. it has more of a quirky charm and a real sense of community.

Below is a little round up of some of the lovely shops Grace took me to - as well as a few additions I discovered later when re-visiting Williamsburg on the weekend... Most are design-related, although I've thrown in a little coffee (and chocolate) too! Enjoy!

1) Blackbird Parlour - 197 Bedford ave (at Nth 6th st)

Stopped at this lovely cafe on Bedford Avenue near the subway station for a coffee and a chat with Grace before our little tour! They have an espresso machine and make a great cafe latte - something we take for granted in Melbourne, but is often a rarity in New York! The vibe is relaxed, and the decor similar to many of New York's favourite haunts - a little bit dilapidated and grungy, with timber fixtures and vintage pendant lamp lighting.

Blackbird Parlour

2) The Future Perfect - 115 Nth 6th st

After reading so much about this famed Brooklyn design shop online over the past few years, I was eager to visit The Future Perfect! David Alhadeff opened the store back back in 2003, and has since been credited with really kick-starting a the new design scene in Brooklyn.

I was excited to see a mix of local Brooklyn design on offer, as well as famous pieces by reknowned international designers like Jaime Hayon, Patricia Urquiola and others... Grace and I loved the little faceted glacier glasses by David Wiseman for Artel... just a little out of my price range!

The Future Perfect

The Future Perfect

3) A & G Merch - 111 Nth 6th st

Alhadeff's more recent project is A & G Merch - The Future Perfect's more affordable younger sibling! Sorry no photos on the inside... I get shy sometimes! Check out their website for more.

4) Moon River Chattel - 62 Grand st

Moon River Chattel is a stunning shop full of delicate french antique linens, a mix of antique and vintage semi-industrial funiture, beautiful antique and reproduction lighting etc etc. Think Izzi and Popo meets Ici et La... only a bit more pared back... a bit less less colour. Beautiful beautiful. Many more photos on their Flickr here.

They also have an absolutely beautiful little 'secret garden' out the back door... truly magical, like some kind of fairy-tale - the walls covered in lush ivy etc... sorry no photos.. it was private property :( We just peeked through the back window.

Moon River Chattel - top photo by me, bottom photo found here.

5) Sprout Home - 44 Grand st

Sprout Home is another store I've been curious about ever since reading the gushing reviews on various NY-based design blogs over the last few years... it's the most gorgeous little garden shop, filled with cascading foliage and picture-perfect potplants. They also sell stunning individual blooms by the stem. More photos on Apartment Therapy here.

How cute is the pink-leaved plant below? Must try and track this down back home! Sprout Home also have a blog.

Sprout Home

6) Voos - 103a Nth 3rd st

The latest addition to Brooklyn's burgeoning design scene is Voos. Voos sell only locally- produced design pieces, so you're likely to find something truly unique here.

Voos - love those squat little concrete planters! Top image from here, bottom image by me.

7) Mast Brother's Chocolate - 105 Nth 3rd st

...well a girl can't get by on design alone!

Mast Brothers do the lovely wrapped chocolate I wrote about here. These guys are so popular right now, when Grace and I dropped by they had no chocolate left! Instead a team of chirpy locals were congregated around a communal table, feverishly packaging up more chocolate blocks in wrapping paper!

The Mast Brothers are decidedly old-school in their approach to chocolate making - they are New York's only 'bean to bar' chocolate makers, and each bar is handcrafted by the brothers themselves. Oh, and check out their beards! If that doesn't lend an air of old-fashioned sophistication to their business I don't know what does!

Sadly I didn't get a photo... so popped back on the weekend for these shots.

Mast Brothers Chocolate

8) Bedford Cheese Shop - 229 Bedford ave

Grace and I dropped in here because Mast Brothers had no chocolate for us! So we picked up a couple of bars here. Gorgeous deli and stinky cheese shop. Lots of lovely gourmet treats on offer, and a beautiful older-style deli fit-out complete with tiny mosaic tiling on the floor.

Oh HELLO they also have a really cute website. Check it out.

Bedford Cheese Shop

9) Roebling Tea Room - 143 Roebling st Brooklyn

I actually didn't visit the lovely Roebling Tea Room restaurant with Grace... Gordon's friend Glen from Core 77 took us here on Sunday. I loved it! Such a great semi-industrial space - the building is filled with artists's studios on the higher floors.

They have seriously like 50 different types of tea... as well as a fantastic menu of lunch and breakfast treats. But this place is worth a visit just to check out the wallpaper. Super cute!

Roebling Tea Room entrance

Boys food and girls food. (ham, eggs and CHUNKY bread vs. fetta and pink grapefruit salad)

Gorgeous detailing at the Roebling Tea Room - love the sage green colour-palette and wispy wild flowers everywhere.

Couple of other restaurants / cafes that we didn't visit but which caught my eye..

10) Juliette - 135 Nth 5th st, Brooklyn

Just off the main drag of Bedford ave, this cafe's main drawcard is that fantastic generous rooftop space. Wish we had time to visit. Nice review here!


11) Radegast Hall and Biergarten - 113 N 3rd St (between Bedford Ave & Berry St)

I don't really like beer, but the fantastic space and sizzling barbeque in the open-air annex are enough to tempt me... the food looked (and smelled) fantastic. I feel like Little Creatures Dining Hall in Fitzroy had perhaps visited this place and tried their own slightly more polished version...

More great photos of the fantastic beer garden annex here.

Radegast Hall and Biergarten

DKNY sign disappears!

DKNY sign - before and after. Before shot by wallyg on flickr, after shot from Bowery Boogie.

Walking through Soho the other day we were totally shocked to see that the famous DKNY city-scape wall mural (cnr Broadway and Houston), which we had only been admiring days earlier - had been PAINTED OVER. In beige.

How sad. Although it was an advertisement of sorts, it was something of a New York icon. :(

Both these photos are from the Gothamist website (sorry I am on a plane and have no camera cable!!). Pre-beige photo originally from wallyg on flickr, post-beige photo from Bowery Boogie.

According to the flickr caption, the original mural apparently became recognised worldwide after it's inclusion in the opening credits of NYPD Blue! In 2008, Abercrombie and Fitch signed a 20-year, $71-million lease to open a 40,000 square-foot store in the building, and DKNY lost the rights to use the wall. Boo.

Renegade Craft Fair!

Can you believe that the super famous Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn NYC was on this weekend whilst I am here!?? What amazing luck. I had no idea! I remember reading about Renegade years ago when I first started reading American craft and design blogs (my early favourites included my paper crane and boygirlparty!) It always seemed like such an awesome event! ...and then I just happened to find myself reading a free 'what's on in Brooklyn' magazine last week and RENEGADE jumped off the page - yaaaay!

Here are my highlights from the 2-day craft extravaganza! There was so much great stuff to see... and I even spotted a few craftsters whose blogs I am familiar with! (But was a little star-struck when I spotted Laura Normandin at her stall...! So I didn't say hello :( Silly silly.) Anyway, it was just another reminder that the world is so small when you're a blogger!

Must apologise to my poor fella who was so patient (but very bored!) whilst I oohed and ahhed over all the handmade goodies, made friends with lots of lovely craftsters and photographed to my heart's content! Thanks Gord!

Something's Hiding in Here

This stall belongs to talented creative duo Something's Hiding in Here - Melbourne readers may recognise those fabulous hand carved moustaches from Penelope Durston's gorgeous shop - Cottage Industry in Fitzroy!? A brief chat with the stall holders revealed that Cottage Industry is their first international stockist! Good work Pene!

Something's Hiding in Here have a gorgeous blog which you should totally bookmark. Also do you remember this gorgeous little project which also belongs to them? Super cute and super clever.

Illustrated paper goods by Anna Bond of Rifle Design

OMG. Totally obsessed with Anna Bond's beautiful detailed illustrations. She creates ridiculously cute custom-designed wedding invites and party favours, as well as beautiful little gift cards and recipe cards under the name Rifle Design... so gorgeous. See more below. AND you must visit her blog and website for more (bigger and better) images. TOTALLY GORGEOUS. Worth a click I promise.

Illustrated paper goods by Anna Bond of Rifle Design

Illustrated paper goods by Anna Bond of Rifle Design

Screenprinted posters by Jen Skelley and Nate Duval

I was really impressed with these beautiful hand-screenprinted posters by illustrators Jen Skelley and her partner Nate Duval... Aren't they gorgeous? Beautiful colours... and such amazing variety. Such good value too. This really is affordable art! I was so tempted... but was a bit scared they might get squashed in my suitcase :(

Screenprinted posters by Jen Skelley and Nate Duval

Handmade ceramics by Brooklyn-based Perch Design

Handmade ceramics by Brooklyn-based Perch Design... who also apparently stock a shop in Western Australia!? Any other Australian retailers interested should get in touch! These pieces are beautiful... love the perforated tealight holders.

Handcrafted timber home accessories by Kindling

Timber home accessories by Kindling. Love the faceted shapes... and also the little birch picture / placecard holders. Cuteness.

More Etsy-love!

Bumped into the lovely Christina Batch-Lee again, manning the Etsy stall (so sorry didn't catch her colleague's name... whoops). They gave me a free tote bag! So lovely!

Up in the Air Somewhere

Beautiful delicate ceramics by Chicago-based artist Susan Dwyer (her label is called Up in the Air Somewhere). How gorgeous is their stand!? They went to a lot of effort! Susan's website has much better shots of her beautiful work - be sure to check it out!