New York through my eyes

New York is definitely a magnetic and magical city!  Many of its magic has to do with the good willingness of its people.  New Yorkers like to share and provide information to those who need it.   I've been living in New York, on and off, for more than twenty five years and the people in this City never fail to amaze me.  Today for instance, I visited a jewelry maker, he ended up not being able to help me nevertheless he spent about 45 mints with me sharing all kinds of insight information, showing me around his studio while explaning me the entire process of jewelry casting and providing me with other companies information who could help me.  I'm extremely happy when I'm in New York City, something about it brings a smile to my face every time.  I love to play a tourist here and take lots of pictures.  Here are some of the latest I've taken.  Enjoy and don't forget to share!

Aynhoe Park

Who ever tells you is a collector, send him/her here or better yet let's redirect them here, to see the the world's largest collection of plaster casts, many of which were formerly sold off by the Metropolitan Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.  James Perkins, event organizer and property developer is the owner of the restored Aynhoe Park which is full all kinds of Architectural fragments you can possibly imagine from capital columns, huge rosettes adorning the walls, statues, busts, corbels, brackets, pilasters and you name it.   Stuffed animals sit on tables or stand on floors.  The impressive country house in the Oxfordshire countryside of England dates from the 17th Century and it's furnished with a mixed of sculptural contemporary and traditional furniture.  The detail of the disco balls hanging in the orangery, which looks almost like a museum, is a completely unexpected one. This incredible mansion is available for events, just be careful and don't go and smash anything.  Enjoy!

Love the friction between modern sculptural furniture and the traditional architectural elements.

The huge Acanthus leaf ornaments hanging between Ionic Columns.

Frederique Mechiche: One Bathroom Four Ways

Frederic Mechiche's bathroom in Paris has been featured in Elle Decor UK Interiors and most recently in Elle Decor US December issue.  And, no wonder why, with some changes and addition here and there this bathroom can transform into different personalities.  The grisaille wallpaper and the black and white checkered floor set the stage for the amazing copper, deep bathtub to be the focal point.  That's until Andy Warhol pop art comes in.  Of course my favorite of all the settings is exactly that one, where neoclassical architecture meets Pop Art.  My kind of thing.  Enjoy!

Frederic changed the art in each of the shots covering a niche above the tub.

Here, I'm a little bit scared to now what's inside that serious box in the niche.  

In this last shot featured in Elle Decor US he got rid of the niche and replaced the tub for a thinner one, in order to incorporate a marble column and an Urn with Greek key handles.  I also don't want to know what's in it.

Across from the bathtub, are the sinks with Empire looking cabinets.

Have A Happy Weekend

I'll be signing off early for the week.   I wanted to apologize to my blogger friends who I haven't been able to visit as often as I'd like.  My days are pretty hectic these days my friends.  Between work and deadlines, Lucas' new school adaptation, family responsibilities, and daily duties, it seems that waking up at 6:00AM sharp and going to bed at 10:30PM is not enough.  I can't find a time for leisure, although I know it's important to do so.  It looks like the only "free time" I can get is when I get to spend time with the little one, which is probably the most important time of all.  I hope you understand.  :)

These images of extraordinary Architecture make my day.  Enjoy your weekend. 
Images found via Tumblr.

For the love of reading: New books on Architecture

I have told my husband that once communism is over in Cuba we should buy a vacation home there and bring any kind of business that has been nonexistent and let's call it a life.  Easier said than done, but until life throws the dice I'll be content with having The Splendor of Cuba 450 Years of Architecture and Interiors (Rizzoli) by Michael Connors and photography by Brent Winebrenner .  This tome includes 295 color photos of Cuba's well preserved and extraordinary architecture from 1500's to 1950's featuring spectacular well preserved colonial Spanish Creole, sugar plantations, baroque palacios, to unique 20th century modernism movement. This is a book designed to enrich the knowledge and vocabulary of those Architecture aficionados but it's also a coffee table book that will be the start of many an interesting and opinionated conversations. 

The first time I visited Versailles back in 2000 I was in complete awe by its magnificent and perfect harmonious Gardens as much as The Chateau itself.  The recently released “Versailles: A Private Invitation" (Flammarion), with photographs by Francis Hammond and text by Guillaume Picon gives us a very intimate look into this Paris landmark.  Hammond was given access to every room in order to create a comprehensive new record of the estate.  Items and details such as personal gifts given to Marie Antoinette, the bed where Louis XVI would lie down after taking baths are pictured in this must-have book. 

 

 Below are a few images:

 Amazing how this graphic marble court looks so current.

 The Staircase of Provence, in the south wing.

 The spectacular Hall of Mirrors.

 The bed where Louis XVI would rest after bathing. 

 Marie Antoinette's Bedchamber.

 The Great Stables.  How magnificent is this?

The Orangerie Parterre.