Design Guy: NEW YORK NOW- Day 1: Shopping the City Part II

As we finished up our day of shopping, we happened on one of the best domestically owned new home stores, Michael Dawkins Home (232 E. 59th Street) with shops in New York and Miami. The store has great style and a specific point of view-- both refreshing-- a great option for those that demand more in personal style than the “RA” look which seems to have taken American style hostage.

Among our favorite things were the Anglo-Indian furniture reproductions with traditional Indian inlaid bone, but all on contemporary style mirror frame, pictured below. We also loved the use of multiple cocktail tables gathered together in front of a Sofa, each in a different style with varying heights, shapes and sizes.

Well executed Anglo-Indian Reproductions

Trend Alert: Multiple Cocktail Tables

Fendi Casa (153 Madison Avenue) has opened their US flagship home furnishings store in NYC, and it does not disappoint, on two floors. The fashion house is in the home furnishings business, not only for themselves but they also produce a line of furniture for Bentley (yes, as in the car company). Granted the style maybe a bit far out for conservative California but it's executed like a fine Fendi handbag. We loved the “Cat” pouf with its wooden Fendi chain just like on their handbags; we again saw the use of multiple cocktail tables gathered together in different heights (a trend?) in front of seating areas, and the white linen SOHO sectional detailed in leather. Sofas and Sectionals were shown with multiple Cocktail tables here as well.

The "Cat" pouf at Fendi Casa

Multiple cocktail tables at Fendi Casa

We loved the SOHO Sectional, upholstered in white linen, framed and trimmed in Saddle leather. A luxe detail -- cushion seams outlined in very small matching leather trim (see last SOHO photo).

Above: The SOHO Sectional by Fendi Casa

Below: The corners of each seating piece is connected by a leather belt

Above: The exposed frame of the SOHO Sectional is covered in saddle leather

Below: Cushion seams are outlined in fine leather trim

The most interesting piece was Fendi Casa's SYNI Buffet (shown below) which slides open from either end to reveal the most accessible storage.

There was also Fendi Cucina, with an Alligator paneled refrigerator with silver double reversed "F" handles, and cabinets with leather drawer bottoms embossed with the reversed “F”.

Fendi Cucina (Kitchen) lacquered cabinets

The Fendi refrigerator is covered in faux alligator and features the double "F" hardware

The Fendi cabinet drawers are lined in double "F" embossed faux leather

The Bentley Furniture collection was predictably car-like: Chairs with lacquered burled wood detailing and leather upholstery, a quilted white leather dog bed that will fit in the floor board of your Bentley… you get the picture.

A Bentley Club Chair in signature quilted Bentley leather and sheathed in the automakers famed Burled wood

The Bentley Dog Bed in signature quilted Bentley leather

Across the street from Fendi Casa was what looked like a junk store on Madison Avenue! It was the salvage company, Olde Good Things which had some of the original marble fireplace surrounds salvaged from the last Plaza Hotel remodel, a bevy of period lighting, hardware, and furniture. One of the best pieces we saw in all of New York was here, a fabulous 7ft. tall X 10ft wide, 1960's solid cast Bronze screen which was so MAD MAN, and of course madly expensive.

What a surprise: A salvage yard on Madison Avenue!

Marble fireplace surround salvaged from the recently remodeled Plaza Hotel

Above and Below: A random find at a salvage yard: An antique hand held, lighted mirror. Black ebony handle, beveled glass, and silver filigree back. The light bulb is protected by the mirrors stand- pretty dang smart.

We made a quick stop at our passementerie (trim) supplier, based in the city, to see their newest collection. We loved the new leather tassels, the bright summer silks trims, and the mid-century metal tiebacks designed by Lori Weitzner.

Nearly Neon bright trim

New leather tassels

Lori Weitzner designed metal tiebacks in her signature geometric style

We rushed back to the hotel to change clothes for our one Broadway play on this trip, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar Grill, starring Audra McDonald.

McDonald won the Tony for Best Actress for her portrayal of the drug addicted Billie Holiday, in her portrayal of Holiday's last live performance at the fading bar and grill. One scene (pictured above) is of Holiday bringing her dog Roxie (actually a rescue dog from Hurricane Katrina) onstage in an attempt to cheer herself up. It was a tough watching the story of the iconic Billie Holiday self destruct from her addiction to alcohol and heroin in front of an audience.

Dinnertime!

Whew, what a day! After the play we headed out for a civilized late dinner at famed chef Daniel Boulud's BOULUD SUD Restaurant (20 W. 64th Street) adjacent to Lincoln Center. The food was terrific and is "Mediterranean-inspired". Caroline had the fish and I had the lamb- both fabulous. The interior is in the art deco style and features a large scale pair of art works by artist Vik Munoz.

A pair of works by artist Vik Munoz center the restaurant

We toured (more like trespassed) the wine cellar and private dining rooms downstairs, and left through a back stair that led up to Boulud's BAR BOULUD, and his Epicerie Boulud. Is there anything Boulud doesn't do?

The wine cellar at Boulud Sud

A wall in the private Dining room at Boulud Sud: Antique corkscrews framed in Plexiglass

Whew- finally, the day was over and we headed home so we could rest up for day 2.

Lastly, I usually end with Worst in Show- but since the show hasn't opened yet and this was shopping the city, we'll call the next few photographs, YIKES!