Dial "D" for Deco

One of the nicest things about living in Manhattan is that you can suddenly realize how a place, one that you may walk by everyday of your busy life without notice, is completely and utterly magnificent. We're training ourselves to really look at what is around us--the Bell Telephone Building on 18th Street in Chelsea is a fine example. Walking home from dinner the other night, we were amazed at the palette and detail of the facade. Rythamic, tonal, geometric with an organic inspiration, the building is deco at its best. Using Bell as the jumping off point, here's a few other deco treasures we uncovered:

Stop by 18th Street's Bell on your way to Barney's Co-Op

A Loeser and Company of Brooklyn's display room circa 1928 via Critical Cities

Geza Voros, Lady in Black Lace Dress via Blog of an Art Admirer and History Lover

Starburst detail, Bell Telephone

Leopold Stokowski studio, circa 1929

Voros, Painter and His Model

Above entrance, 18th Street Chelsea

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A Dark Secret Passion: Design of the '80's

The Standard, NYC

A fantastic knife set I won at Housing Works (auction)

Hartford, CT

While one of us is asleep early with a headache, the other will indulge a secret passion that has been hiding just under the surface for quite sometime--Memphis and 1980's design! Fun, color-saturated and very relevant today, Memphis and 80's design means movement and experimentation. Influenced by Bauhaus, Constructivism, Primitivism and Art Deco, the designs (and unfortunately the worst) of the decade are almost instantly recognizable, as are those inspired by the time...see for yourself:

Forrest Myers, The Wall, 1973. Though early for Memphis and the 80's, I think it epitomizes the colors and geometry of the decade. Broadway and Houston, NYC.

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George Sowden clocks for Memphis

Marco Zanini Colorado teapot for Memphis, 1983

Lacoste sheets currently in the Macy's Herald Square window

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Nathalie Du Pasquier (a favorite!) lamp, Objects of the Electronics Age

Scholastic Building on Broadway, NYC

Peter Shire table via Manishtama

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Ingas Sempe for Ligne Roset in the Soho showroom

Playgound on Houston

Du Pasquier for Objects of the Electronics Age

Houston and Wooster, NYC....I wish they'd try to keep this up! Great building.

Art Deco Masterpieces, on View Daily

No matter how long we live in New York, there are certain sights that always mesmerize us; the Boat Pond in Central Park, Carnegie Hall...the list is endless. And one of the favorites is Rockefeller Center. Just running an errand down 5th Avenue the other day, we got caught up in the architectural and sculptural integrity of the buildings. Here's what we found...

Bedecked & Bejewled

We noticed a midtown jewel yesterday on the way to the subway--the Chanin Building. Built in 1927-1929 for businessman Irwin Chanin, it is one of New York's most decorated Art Deco buildings. Designed by Chanin and Rene Chambellan, the lobby boasts abstract bronze grilles that are said to represent the "intellectual and physical life." What struck us was the movement in these pieces, and the classic motifs of the time that were seen everywhere from building facades to the lapels of the era's most fashionable.

TKF Art Deco pave rhinestone clip c. 1935

Vintage 18K yellow gold, diamond and ruby sea urchin pin brooch by Tiffany & Co.

Peacock tail motif dress clip c. 1935

Vintage 18K gold pin brooch with sapphires by Cartier