Holiday Greetings from Irwin Feld Design,

Where Mid Century Modern sparkles and shines.

From case pieces to lighting to seating galore,

Artwork and mirrors, accessories and more.

Majestic dining tables restored with love,

Spotlighted by sputnik chandeliers hanging from above.

A pedestal desk with a tripod base,

A sleek floor lamp with a shade of lace.

Credenzas and dressers and beautiful chests,

Five thousand square feet of furnishings welcome our guests.

Versatile buffets with tapered legs and casters,

Timeless design created by masters.

Now Gibbings! Now Ponti! Now Wormley and Kagan.
On, Frankl! On, Seibel! On Ratkai and Baughman.
With Jere and Probber, Stuart, and Springer,

Longo and Sonneman et al, each one a winner.

No need for the chimney, our door will do,

A magical kingdom is waiting for you.

With wishes for Holidays joyous and dear,

And health, happiness, peace & prosperity throughout the next year.

Have a wonderful Mid Century Holiday!

 Autumn has arrived with all of its spectacular colors and aromas and the excitement is palpable.  The once brilliantly green trees are almost bare, their leaves now blanketing the ground and snow seems to be in the forecast for some as early as…today.  After over five months of bringing the indoors out and utilizing our outdoor living spaces during those long and lazy days of spring and summer, we are preparing to do an about face.

Despite the fact that is still only October, seasonal commercials have begun to permeate the airwaves thrusting us into into:

t h e  H o l I d a y    Z o n e 

And while we would prefer the old school holiday season that begins on Black Friday, we also believe that to be “forewarned is to be forearmed” and that the extra month (if you can stand the plethora of commercials) is a gift; the gift of time.

With Halloween around the corner, we are getting ready to embark on that frenetic, exciting and unpredictable marathon of indoor entertaining that begins at the end of the month and goes on and on and on…and on.

So take a deep breath, pour yourself a cocktail and use the gift of time, not to become overwhelmed, but rather to plan, prepare and revel in the long season. 

This is a joyous time in the Gallery.  The anticipation of so many celebrations and the lifetime of memories that will be made are not lost on us.  We know all too well the importance of holiday celebrations in our lives and are delighted when our Mid Century masterpieces play an integral part.  After all, these pieces represent the talent and design ingenuity of our greatest generation.  They have been lovingly restored and re-invented, offering clients a unique opportunity to own a one of a kind piece that has stood the test of time and is available for immediate delivery.  And let’s be honest, who can resist that kind of opportunity?

Whether you are hosting your first or one hundred and first celebration this season, there is a lot to think about. So let’s get started.

Today we will lay the foundation for holiday entertaining and focus on four key elements that need to be considered when preparing your home for the season.

 1.  Lighting                                                                                              

 2.  An amazing dining table                                                                           

 3.  Extra, multifunctional seating

 4.  Mirrors 

Regardless of your design aesthetic or your budget, there are a multitude of options available, and we always recommend that you purchase the best quality that you can afford. 

By the end of October summer’s endless days are little more than a memory.  When we turn the clocks back at 2 am on November 6^th, evening will turn into an afternoon affair and supplementing the rapidly diminishing natural light becomes crucial.  This is the time to let your imagination shine and select appropriate additional lighting for your home, especially the areas you plan to use for entertaining.

The centerpiece for holiday entertaining is most often the dining room. If you have large celebrations and have adequate space, a large table or a table with an extra leaf or two may be best.  If your celebrations or space are on the smaller side, a smaller table will probably be more appropriate.  Whatever the size, chose a table that you LOVE and everyday entertaining will become a special event.

No holiday season would be complete without adequate multifunctional seating.  This most often comes in the form of benches and ottomans that can be stored under other pieces if necessary and then moved to wherever they are needed, whether as extra seating at the dining table or as additional conversational seating.  The options are endless.

AA

And there is no better way to enhance the sparkle & dimension of any space than the addition of a beautiful mirror.

So put your thinking caps and prepare to enter...

 t h e  H o l I d a y    Z o n e     

Begin the planning process early because while some of us (Irwin included)  are often inspired and creatively motivated by the adrenaline rush of last minute preparations, most of us benefit from early planning and organization.  And while there are sure to be a few bumps in the road, the season will be infinitely more enjoyable and      N O T  scary at all!

Sometimes it is truly difficult to remember how really lucky we are.  Day to day life can be overwhelming when the fairytale lives we were promised by the Cleavers and the Reeds have not quite materialized.  But we are here as active participants in the only game in town, and for that, Irwin and I are eternally grateful. 

While summer has given way to autumn and the trees are awash in a golden hue, there are still signs of new bloom.

A subtle yet powerful reminder that despite the fact that life can change in an instant forcing us to recalculate the direction our path will take, we must move forward with hope, love and support.

We are now more than halfway through the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and from the NFL to our own back yards (and soccer fields) awareness and funds are being raised.

As many of you know, we have a commitment to Susan G Komen for the Cure.  We participated in Holiday House NYC in 2009 and 2010 and have also, with the support of our friends and colleagues in the design industry, sold our first Pretty in Pink 4 Life Bench this past February.   ALL the proceeds went directly to the Connecticut Affiliate of Susan G Komen for the Cure.

                                       Pink- the color of life                                                         

We currently have another A M A Z I N G custom Mid Century Pretty in Pink 4 Life piece available for sale. We collaborated with Sunbrella and produced this fantastic ottoman, which is perfect for both indoor and outdoor use all year long.   And may we add that it would make any young girl feel like an absolute princess?  ALL the proceeds from the sale of this ottoman will once again go directly to Komen CT. 

 We are hoping to find this wonderful piece of reinvented Mid Century style a new home before the end of the month and would appreciate your help spreading the word

So, Get your PINK on and celebrate the only game in town: Celebrate Life!

Over a week has passed since our 2^nd Annual Road Party and while the bubbly and food have all but disappeared, the memories and flowers linger still. 

This year we opted for a brunch event where we served our newly famous Belgian waffles with fresh whipped cream and fruit along with home made biscotti and thirst quenching Mimosas.

We decided to utilize the porch and front lawn, which are both shady and cool during the early part of the afternoon and had an immeasurable amount of help from our neighbor Jeanne, who co-hosted the gathering as well as our good friends Marty and Robyn, who came for the weekend.                                              

Our neighbors brought an array of epicurean edibles including scrumptious spinach and mushroom strata, spinach and feta individual spanakopita, a homemade peach cobbler, herb biscuits, parmesan rolls, a fresh blueberry pie from the local blueberry festival and bottles and bottles of Prosecco.

Unlike an evening event, which allows for more time to capture the set-up pictorially, a brunch with a warm main course does not permit such a luxury, so we hope you will use your imagination.

What I was able to capture were the simple,colorful floral arrangements Irwin made from an assortment of flowers Jeanne ordered from a local farm.  The total cost for the flowers was a mere thirty dollars and we are still enjoying the blooms more than a week later.  Irwin employed an assortment of vintage pieces including a silver plated pitcher, a pewter pitcher, assorted glass vases and our personal favorite, a ceramic swan that Irwin purchased in Virginia last year.

 Needless to say, a good time was had by all.                                                                 
 

                                      enjoying the afternoon

In our last post we suggested using found objects to hold candles for a little Midsummer Lights Dream. Found objects can also make interesting containers for flower arrangements, making every day a special occasion.  And this time of year the burgeoning plethora of wildflowers are wonderful additions to seasonal blooms.                                                                                                                          

So, this weekend, purchase or pick some of this season’s best and fill your favorite containers.  Whether you are enjoying your time indoors or out,   surround yourself with the sweet bouquet of flowers and enjoy your very own Blooming-hills.

Ah, the beauty of summer, with its never ending warm, sunshine filled days that entice us to take the long way home and drink in the cocktail of colors.  Where annuals and perennials conspire with wildflowers to present us with a symphony of sights that are in a constant state of transformation is where I have chosen to reside. In fact, I have become so enraptured with this season, I have all but forgotten to share it with you.

‘Tis the season to bring the indoors out, and enjoy every moment from dawn till dusk and beyond.  So, as the sun disappears and gives way to the cool breezes that usher in starry nights, Irwin and I like to add our own brand of illumination: candlelight.

We know only too well how instrumental candles are in setting the proper mood either indoors or out during any season, but candlelight outdoors during summer is absolutely sublime.                                                                                                                                                          

It is the season of infinite possibilities so use your imagination.  Many found objects in your home can be the perfect vessel for a candle or tea light.  An old lantern that we purchased our first summer in the house sits along side an inverted vintage capiz shell lampshade that houses a candle.

While we employ a variety of candles, we particularly love using tea lights because they are small and can be placed in a wide array of vessels.  Additionally, these short burning beauties are readily available and extremely inexpensive.  

I love June!  While I don’t necessarily enjoy the frenetic race to reach the finish line at the end of the month, it is usually a month filled with happy occasions like the end of the school year and graduation (our youngest graduated from high school this month), weddings, birthdays (Irwin’s was on the 18^th) and Father’s Day. The last couple of weeks are often chaotic and exhausting, but the days are some of the longest and the weather is finally truly warm. AND…summer finally arrives.

Graduation

Summer Arrives

These are the days I cherish, the days I long for all year. The days I hold firmly in my heart as I wade through mountains of snow in the absolute darkness of late afternoons in December.  I cling to these early days of summer as I begin the count from the shortest day of the year to the longest and am always astounded to have made it back again, another year under my belt.  It is cause for celebration: A time to truly be grateful for all that we have. And what better place to do it than in the country; where we can focus on the basics of a quality, slow home lifestyle.

Slow Home

Busy Bees

 We arrived in the country on Friday and were greeted by our neighbor Jeanne, and our four-week old garden.  Jeanne had baked a strawberry/rhubarb birthday pie for Irwin from scratch with fruit she had gotten at the local farmer’s market.  The smell of the sweet fruit wafted through the air and the plate was still warm to the touch when she handed it to me.  The garden offered up rose-colored radishes along with growth by leaps and bounds.

Rosie Radishes

Although Irwin is not big on birthday celebrations, we have grown to understand how really special each one is so we began his birthday with the gift of a waffle maker and my preparation of a delicious Belgian waffle batter from scratch along with fresh whipped cream.  The result was so delicious, that I have vowed never to use a mix for either waffles or pancakes again.

Breakfast Remains

Then the boys gave Irwin a very special gift and card and it was then time to pass the Kleenex. 

A Kleenex Moment

The rest of the day was spent relaxing and taking some family photos and ended with an easy barbeque and consumption of Smores cupcakes I made thanks to a recipe shared by @RidgelyBrode

Simple and sweet, we ended the day driving our youngest to camp. 

The events of last weekend may not seem out of the ordinary in any way and that is exactly my point.  It was a simple relaxed birthday weekend that we were privileged to share as a family: A privilege that we would like many others to have the opportunity to share for years and years.

And so, we are welcoming summer with another kind of celebration.  A celebration that we would like to share with all of you.  Through the power of social media, we have collaborated with Sunbrella to introduce our latest Pretty in Pink for Life piece to benefit Susan Komen for the Cure CT.

Our Latest Pretty in Pink 4 Life to Benefit Komen

This fabulous fuchsia powder coated Mid Century iron ottoman covered in Sunbrella’s Canvas- Hot Pink 5462 and Steeplechase-Malibu 56064 fabrics is phenomenal and is perfect for summer fun either indoors or out!

So please help spread the word and help us find this wonderful ottoman a home so that Komen CT can benefit from ALL the proceeds of the sale.  It is our way of sharing the simple pleasure of birthdays with others.

For Details on this piece:

www.irwinfelddesign.com/index.cfm/product/1182_13/pretty-in-pink-4-life-mid-century-fuchsia-sculptural-ottoman.cfm

Our Modern Garden is almost three weeks old and like most new parents, we are simply over the moon.  Our hearts are bursting with pride and our fledgling farm is flourishing.

 We arrived last weekend just in time to pick a substantial amount of lettuce, arugula, basil, spinach and parsley. 

  
The seeds planted are sprouting like mad and we anxiously await picking the radishes as well as the beets, which appear to be making quite a bit of headway while the carrots, cucumbers and sweet basil are still in-utero, so to speak.

The menu reflected our current harvest and included:

Fresh Mozzarella, tomato and arugula sandwiches with olive oil and garlic on a fresh farm store baguette.

A wonderful mixed greens and arugula salad with goat cheese, beets ( not from our garden yet) and toasted slivered almonds.

A delicious frittata  using garden spinach and basil along with feta cheese, tomatoes, peppers, mushroom and just a bit of mozzarella.

And finally, with our garden greens all but picked we combined the remaining spinach, arugula and basil to make a fantastic pasta with pesto and sun dried tomatoes.

With the weekend almost here and the plants replenished, some new "farm to table" dishes are sure to be on the menu.

And, have we mentioned our latest guests?

I awoke this morning to find this family of five woodchucks.  The parent was foraging on our lawn as the four babies lounged on the porch steps, posed for family photos and went exploring in our flower beds.  I'm hoping they graze on the lawn like their parent and not on out plants.

Enjoy the weekend!

Well, our Modern Garden is little more than one week old and we have already “harvested” our first crops.  Our seed plantings have all begun to sprout and our vegetable plants, like all of the plants and flowers on our property are experiencing mega-growth.  While our neighbor Gloria attributes the plant and flower growth to the fact that all the plantings were covered in three to four feet of snow during most of the winter, we can only attribute the early success of our vegetable garden to the combination of good soil, lots of sunlight, more than a fair amount of rain, luck and…LOVE.

Whatever the reason, the results are very encouraging as well as delicious, and "locally grown" has taken on a new meaning.

AND, our good friend and partner Steve has just given us two tomato plants that he grew from seeds to plant so...stay tuned!

Two months after sharing our first post about our Garden of Dreams, it has become a reality.  But as is often the case with best-laid plans, the final incarnation is much different than the original proposal.

Yes, it is true: we got carried away!  We got so caught up in the excitement of having our very own, slow home garden this summer, that we neglected to realize that our initial plan of 10’x10’ raised planter beds was waaaay too ambitious for citiots like ourselves.  In addition to it being too large and requiring serious fencing, it was too far from our water supply and would have required massive amounts of bending.  So we went back to the drawing board and our wonderful neighbor Jeanne, who is collaborating with us on this venture, came up with an alternate plan.  She found Western Red Cedar tool-free assembly elevated garden beds made by Gronomics and we purchased two from our local garden store along with a simple gardening book that explained how to prepare the planting beds. 

We initially planned on placing the beds, which measure 34” x 48” each, in front of our shed, but after waiting patiently and unsuccessfully for days and days and days AND days for the sun to make an appearance so that we could ascertain if the location was indeed sunny enough, we decided to plant them in our driveway, where we were sure that six hours of daily sun would not be a problem.

So this past weekend, in between the thunder, lightening and soaking rain, we assembled the beds and planted the garden.

  Thanks to Jeanne’s diligence and research, we filled the beds with a mixture composed of:

1/3 Vermiculite

1/3 Peat Moss

1/3 Compost mixing three kinds including organic compost, a compost/humus mix and compost Jeanne had accumulated last year.

We began by spreading a tarp and combined the mixture for each bed separately so that it would be more manageable.  Then our youngest son shoveled it into the beds where we continued to mix it and water it so that it was well blended and moist.

We planted one bed with plants including two kinds of lettuce, two kinds of mint, arugula, spinach, jalapeno peppers, red peppers and thyme and the second bed with seeds for carrots, cucumbers and radishes along with several kinds of beet plants.  We are planning on filling in with other herb plants this coming weekend and are still discussing how best to house tomato plants.

 For now, both beds are covered with bird netting to discourage the deer, possibly the only animals that can reach the comfortable height of 32 inches.

There is something so wonderfully rewarding about getting your hands dirty and planting food to harvest that we all, including our youngest, were swept up in the excitement.  We were so thrilled with our initial planting, we ran back to the farm store for more plants!

And this is just the beginning.  If we are successful with these two raised beds this season, we will plant the larger raised beds we had originally planned, next year and use these two raised beds for herbs.  And there I go again, getting ahead of myself, but it is almost impossible not to.

The simple pleasure of this modern take on ancient agrarian farming has really inspired us and the possibilities are endless. With our Garden of Dreams taking shape, can Alpacas be far behind?

So, as you begin your holiday weekend, think about building your own Garden of Dreams, however small.  The results will be magical!

 And here is the proof: Our first radish sprouts popped up yesterday, just three days after planting the seeds.