Irwin Feld Design Blog

The Madness Continues

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:38:00 -0400

Everyone seems to get caught up in the Madness. If like me, you are finding it difficult to say goodbye to March Madness and the excitement and unpredictability that ensued, fear not because the Madness continues in April, Mid Century Modern - Mad Men Madness - that is.

Everyone, including the president gets caught up in the Madness

(photo courtesy of ESPN.com)

Yes, April abounds with Mid Century Madness and we at Irwin Feld Design couldn’t be happier because we live and breathe Mid Century Modern Design each and every day. Not only has Mad Men the sexy, stylized and provocative AMC drama returned to the airwaves, but thanks to Lumen Lighting and Design’s *Mad for Mid-Century Design* contest happening right now on http://olioboard.com, you have an opportunity to create a little madness of your own!

Mad Men: Don Draper's Apartment

(Photo courtesy of AMC)

Lumen Lighting and design's Mad for Mid-Century Contest on Olioboard

For those of you who are not familiar with it, Olioboard, featured on both the Today Show and the Nate Berkus Show in February, is a fun and intuitive to use social commerce site which allows users to create two and three dimensional mood boards which can be shared AND shopped! The site is easy to navigate and does not require a software download. Olioboard has already organized a huge library of interior design related images that you can just drag and drop into your creations and if you can’t find what you are looking for, you can add images from other websites and your computer as well!

A fabulous 3 D Board Created by Olioboard user irafra

So say goodbye to your obsolete brackets and say hello to the madness awaiting you in April. All you need to do is sign onto Olioboard between now and April 16^th at 12 pm EST and create a Mid Century inspired room using at least five items from the Lumens collection. So get busy and create a little Madness of your own, the results will be inspiring, and who knows, you might be one of the three lucky winners who will receive a Lumens gift certificate for $500, $350 or $150.

say goodbye to your brackets

(Image courtesy of ESPN.com)

And hello to olioboard: Another amazing 3D Board created by olioboard user kari2011

AND Please....Don’t forget to vote for your favorite boards! Our very own Irwin Feld along with incomparable lighting designer James Bedell will be selecting the gift certificate winners from the 25 boards with the most votes by the end of the contest on the 16th!

Irwin & James

Good Luck & Good Fun!

Springing Forward; Roots in Tow

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:17:00 -0400

We are rapidly approaching that time again; that much anticipated moment when we move our clocks ahead one hour and “spring forward”. Despite losing a much needed hour of sleep, I relish that pivotal moment because it means that I have made it over the hump of another cold, dark winter and spring and summer’s renewal are just weeks away.

Spring is riding into town

The appearance of Green

Over the Hump

But as I rush to pack away the coats and boots anticipating days of shorts and flip-flops, I give pause and recall the greater appreciation I have for spring and summer because of winter. It is Old Man Winter with his short frigid days, his bare limbed trees and stormy gray skies that instills within each of us endurance and strength, not to mention the ability to make great strides in difficult times and …immeasurable amounts of snow, sleet and freezing rain.

short frigid days

bare limbed trees

stormy skies

immeasurable amounts of snow

While youth and its vitality are enchanting and alluring and surely the hope of our collective future, after all, who can resist a cute baby, puppy or kitten? Respect and esteem for the elders whose many contributions and sacrifices have made it possible for a new generation to flourish, must never be taken for granted nor overlooked.

Our cute baby

our cute puppy

We are reminded of that everyday as we scan the Gallery and see our CF Modern benches standing shoulder to shoulder with the icons that paved the way for their success. We acknowledge the “Greatest Generation” of craftspeople whose skill and ingenuity made it all possible and embrace our Mid Century masterpieces and the new generation they have given birth to.

CF Modern Style GP 100 Bench

CF Modern Style GP 101

So, as we prepare to move ahead to the longer and more temperate days of spring and summer and the bounty of imaginable opportunities the future will bestow, let’s salute and honor all who came before us and planted the roots that afford us the opportunity to “spring forward” and blossom.

Firmly Rooted

Springing forward

Our Future

'Twas...A Day at Irwin Feld Design

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:23:00 -0400

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.

Sparkle & Shine

Case Pieces, Lighting, Artwork & 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.

Majestic X Based Dining Table

Sputnik Chandelier

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.

Ebonized Entrancemaker credenza

Versatile Buffet with tapered legs and casters

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.

T.H. Robsjohn gibbings credenza

edward wormley for dunbar desk

cerused table by paul frankl

Ben seibel bookends

daphne by george ratkai

tiered urchin sculpture by jere

pair of john stuart benches

dark brite by vincent longo

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!

Welcome to The Holiday Zone

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:36:00 -0400

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.

bare but beautiful

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.

Festival of Lights

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?

One of a kind couture: Priceless

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.

Shedding some light on the holidays

Sconces & Chandeliers add light & sparkle; Mirrors help too

An absolute Standout: Massive sputnik with brass,copper & nickel

crystal sconces and sputniks, oh my!

Capiz Shell pendants; White as snow

brass & lucite chandelier all aglow

Lucite & Brass Table lamps: All wrapped up

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.

A dining table & chairs worthy of any celebration

Lucite, Aluminum & Glass Dining Table: Clearly a winner

An intimate celebration

With 2 leaves & Casters:Versatile and adaptable

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.

seating to spare

This bench is really on the ball

Pull up a seat...or three

This Mid Mod diamond bench: a gem

A pair: Perfect...anywhere

A proper Probber

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

Mirror Mirror on the wall

Right on target

a beautiful reflection

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!

Get Your PINK on For the Only Game in Town

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:55:00 -0400

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.

Autumn's Golden Hues

New Blooms in PINK- more than a coincidence

Wear it proudly

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.

Pink on the field

Photo courtesy of pink-NFL.com

Get Your pink on!

photo courtesy of Hable Textile

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.

Pretty in Pink 4 Life Mid Century Ottoman

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!

Blooming-hills

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 22:50:00 -0400

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.

Our very own chef: Irwin

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.

Jeanne, our neighbor and resident bartender

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.

Lots and lots 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.

a pewter pitcher filled with farm favorites

A silver plate pitcher filled with a breathtaking assortment

the same pitcher over a week later

a simple table set with a petite bouquet

the petite bouquet the following week

a beautiful swan

beautiful still

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.

Wildflowers, including Goldenrod

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.

A Midsummer Lights Dream

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 02:04:00 -0400

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.

Bijou Blanket brimming with color

Fuchsia Zinnia

Rudbekia, a staple in our garden

Queen Anne's Lace

Periwinkle Wildflowers

‘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.

Breathtaking Sunsets

What can be more enchanting on a tranquil summer evening than the warm glow of candlelight?

Simply Enchanting

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.

A real Connection

A star is born

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.

Our 1st lantern, previously owned by Betsey Johnson

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.

Shades of light

We have a collection of glasses that we taped and frosted ten years ago for a family event. We continue to enjoy them especially during the summer.

Ten years....and still going strong

And a vintage silverplate bowl we picked up at a tag sale many years ago has served a multitude of uses, most recently as a candle holder.

Vintage Silverplate shedding new light

And until a better solution comes along, it is absolutely necessary to integrate citronella candles into the mix.

Citronella helps take the bite out of a summer evening

The possibilities are endless and only limited by your imagination. So make the most of every evening,

Divine illumination

All Aglow

Moonlight

and this weekend, as the fireflies make their special brand of magic in the moonlit sky, make a little magic of your own and create a Midsummer Lights Dream.

Pure Magic

Wordless Wednesday: Let's Celebrate

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:42:00 -0400

L E T ' S C E L E B R A T E

T H E 4TH

I N

C O L O R

R E D

W H I T E

A N D

P I N K !

All proceeds from the sale of this Pretty in Pink 4 Life ottoman, a collaboration with Sunbrella, will go directly to Komen CT

Happy July 4th!

A Rosie Forecast for a Lifetime of Celebrations

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:36:00 -0400

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.

Home Made Birthday Pie

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.

Waffle Maker

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

Four Out of Five (Middle Son Had to Work)

Smores Cupcakes

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

How Green is Our Garden

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:25:00 -0400

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.

A bed of Lettuces

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.

sprouting seedlings

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.

Baguette with Fresh garden basil

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

Arugula salad

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

Fabulous frittata

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.

Trifecta Pesto

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.

Proud Parent

Just Chillin'

brotherly love

Say Cheese

Enjoy the weekend!

Wordless Wednesday: Our First Harvest

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:14:00 -0400

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.

Farmer Irwin harvesting picking lettuce

Beautiful baby green & red lettuce

Arugula

Spinach, basil, parsley & tyme

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

A Modern Garden

Thu, 26 May 2011 11:27:00 -0400

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.

A garden in a Box

Read and Seed

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.

Sun-where?

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

Our intern: Zippy

Simple Assembly: A Family Affair

The finished product

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.

How to make your garden grow

For Peat Sake

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.

three kinds of compost

Blending the ingredients

Raking it in

the perfect blend

the good earth

hands on work

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.

Separating the arugula

Almost done

put to bed

great greens

ready to grow

our dream team

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.

Net worth

Just born but sure to grow to love our garden

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?

our future??

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.

A sprout even the green giant would be proud of

Every Day is Mother's Day

Fri, 06 May 2011 15:43:00 -0400

In acknowledgment of all those who came before, all who will follow, and all of us who now walk that slippery slope of madness and mayhem, agony and ecstasy, consummate pleasure and sheer terror every single day in our unending quest to keep all plates spinning as we navigate through the ever changing terrain that is often referred to as Motherhood.

My mother and grandmother

My mother and I celebrating my 1st birthday

My mother-in-law

And in recognition of time served, I mean all of our hard work, we are the lucky recipients of lovely home made macaroni cards, froot loops necklaces, flowers, candy, jewelry and a veritable potpourri of both wonderful and absurd gifts that we preserve in boxes in our closets.

How many Mother’s Day mornings have we been awakened far to early and presented with inedible breakfasts served to us in bed and then watched like hawks as we consumed each and every morsel with gusto? And then, after delivering an Oscar-worthy performance, arrived in the kitchen to find it resembling something post-apocalyptic and as a result, had to spend the next hour cleaning up the debris?

Let there be no mistake, being a mother is hard work. You are never off the clock and you never retire no matter how old your children are. And just when you think you can’t possibly spin another plate or resolve another conflict, you do.

If your life is anything like mine, you probably hold the Guinness record for being thrown up on. You’ve been through a multitude of science fair projects which you were inadvertently made project manager of, you have been to Disney World more times than you’d like to remember, you have been subjected to the noxious fumes of hockey equipment, you’ve been woken up in the middle of the night by a phone call from another continent asking you where a retainer is, you have fought off sleep to become the chauffeur from late parties and stayed awake many others with visions of calamities, waiting to hear the car pull in the driveway.

Disney World...again

You have been driven to tears one moment and unbridled laughter the next. You have cooked, cleaned and done endless loads of laundry. You have been the resident doctor, nurse, lawyer, analyst, personal assistant and confidant, often wearing all of those hats simultaneously.

And despite the fact that you now twitch and occasionally drool, you simply wouldn’t trade one crazy moment of it for anything because you know that Every Day is Mother’s Day and you wouldn’t want it any other way.

my three sons

So pour yourself a cocktail, find yourself a cozy seat (preferably Mid Century) and bask in your accomplishments because...tomorrow is another day!

personally, I'd want to snuggle in this one

Happy Mother's Day!

In A Flash

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:28:00 -0400

As I sit at the kitchen table staring once again at a gray sky and winds whipping leaves around the driveway I am reminded that although the calendar says spring, the thermostat says, well…something else.

Spring is revealing itself daily

Feeling more like Thanksgiving than Passover/Easter, it is nice to see that despite the brisk temperature, spring is revealing itself daily. And today, as we celebrate Earth Day, I relish the fact that I am privileged to be spending it in the country with Irwin, our youngest son and especially with Charlie.

Charlie is delighted to be welcoming spring with us

Last Friday Irwin, Charlie and I left the Gallery in the early afternoon and headed for the country. Although it was too cool to drive with the top down, I was just happy that the temperature was above freezing and no precipitation was in the immediate forecast. The first blooms of the season were making their debut and we were anxious to spend some time drinking in the glorious weather.

After dropping our bags and putting away the food, we grabbed a couple of frosty beers and headed out. On the way, as is my ritual, I checked on the nest outside our front door and was beyond thrilled to discover it had a new addition already built and a lovely expectant couple preparing it for the season. This was a good sign.

A new addition on last year's nest

We settled into our weathered Adirondack chairs and were transfixed by the cacophony of sights and sounds of the season. I was struck by the seemingly simple yet extraordinary fact that each spring season, like a snowflake, looks the same, but in fact there are no two that are exactly alike.

Irwin enjoying communing with nature

A perfect place

Heading inside for a refill, I walked by my laptop and wrote:

And at that very second I heard Irwin scream “Charlie, come back here”.

What was just a serene moment of enjoyment and reflection was instantly transformed into one of absolute panic and chaos. As I headed to the porch door, I caught a glimpse of Irwin running across the lawn and reversed directions heading out the mudroom door to the driveway. While in hot pursuit, Irwin screamed that Charlie, our senior dog with disc problems, had taken off after a fox. Charlie was nowhere to be found as Irwin headed past the future location of our garden and into the woods screaming Charlies name.

into the woods

Thinking that Charlie might be headed for the road, I flew down the driveway, still in my heeled boots screaming his name, hoping that the approaching car did not hit him. But there was no Charlie in sight and at that moment, the all too painful reality struck me like a boulder.

a long way in heels

I continued to scream Charlies name and Irwin’s as well because I could no longer hear him. I ran up the steep grass covered hill thinking that perhaps Irwin, who had been having chronic back issues, might have injured himself while hunting for Charlie. As my breathing quickened I hoped that my ascent would compensate for that morning's missed cardio session while not give me a heart attack. Amazing what runs through your mind at moments like these.

the path of my troubled ascent

these boots were made for Walking NOT running

When I reached the top of the hill and still could not hear or see either Irwin or Charlie absolute terror set in and I had difficulty catching my breath (which I must say, in retrospect could have been caused by my poor cardio skills) and I felt almost as if I was having an out-of-body experience.

Back in the driveway, I was welcomed with silence and my panic ensued. I continued to yell Irwin & Charlies names in vain while conjuring up painful images in my mind.

Just at that moment I heard Irwin shriek: “You get back here right now” and saw Irwin and Charlie emerge from the woods. What in reality was less than five minutes seemed like painful eons. It was hard to imagine Charlie, who has difficulty jumping on the bed sometimes, taking off at lightening speed, but nevertheless, he did. It was even more difficult to comprehend that he could have been lost or worse.

The lessons learned are plentiful and obvious but still worth repeating. Savor each moment rain or shine. Life is finite and even the best laid plans can change in a flash.

As I sit here typing with Charlie at my side and our guest snuggled in her nest, the sun has made a brief appearance and the Magnolia is on the cusp of blooming. And I am grateful to be able to share this happy ending.

Our guest in her nest

our beloved magnolia

Happy Earth Day, Passover & Easter!

Wordless Wednesday: IFD Focus: Art's Part

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:13:00 -0400

Welcome back to our second IFD Focus, which will now be a monthly feature on our blog. It is an opportunity to present, in a primarily pictorial fashion, an area of focus that we deem to be important and believe is of interest to you.

Today’s focus is on Art. The contribution of Art to almost any space is immeasurable and the mediums, styles, and price points available are infinite. Back in March of 2009, Irwin wrote Start with the Art, where he suggests beginning the design of a room with art. Whether you subscribe to that school of thought or to the myriad of other possibilities, incorporating art into your surroundings will enrich your life.

So without further ado, allow me to present some of the amazing works of art we are privileged to have in the gallery.

Oil on Canvas:

Independence by Leon Wall. Oil on Canvas

Oil on Canvas by Sid Maurer

Daphne by George Ratkai. Oil on canvas 1963

Encounter by George Ratkai. Oil on Canvas 1960

Le Ruisseau d' Esparrignac by Henri Cueco. Oil on Canvas 1960's

Silkscreens including a substantial collection by noted artist Vincent Longo:

Cluster by Vincent Longo

1964: Silkscreen 5/25

Center: Grid by Vincent Longo

1964 Silkscreen AP

1970: Silkscreen by listed artist Nadine Prado. 5/10 AP

1970: Framed silkscreen by listed artist Nadine Prado 33/100 AP

Series 8 Vertical Tri Motif Silkscreen AP by Gordon House

Giclee Prints of Etchings:

Print of Horse bit etching from the 1600's

Print of Saturn Cosmos etching from the 1800's

Print of Venus Cosmos etching from the 1800's

Photography:

"Archer"

Giclee Print of Original Photograph

"Fran" by Lu Jarvis

Giclee Print of Original Photograph

Brown Bird in a Blizzard by Marcy Feld. Giclee print 2010

Cardinal in a Blizzard by Marcy Feld. Giclee print 2010

Prints of Pen & Ink Drawings from the '60s:

Whatever your taste or budget, surround yourself with art and become inspired each and every day.

For additional information on any of the art featured in this post, please visit the inventory section of our website.