The other evening Reggie and Boy had what I consider to be the type of New York evening that I fantasized about having one day, back when I was a young and callow lad, before I moved to this glittering city more than thirty years ago. It included a generous mix of cocktails, a gallery opening at the city's most magnificent museum, dining in an impossibly smart restaurant, and meeting new, interesting, and noteworthy people. And it all took place in the most beautiful and fashionable part of the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Reggie was livin' the dream that night. Well, at least his dream at this stage of his life . . . Sitting Room, ca. 1820, by Johann Erdmann Hummel Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin Okay, Hipsters, you can have your Meat Packing Districts, your Nolitas, your Chelseas, and your Williamsburgs. Reggie truffled his way through those gritty parts of town when he was younger, too. Now he is quite happy to be a boring, middle-aged investment banker living and frollicking in what you might consider to be the stuffy and dull old UES. And he's quite happy if you should feel that way, too, since that means there's more room for him and his kind right where he wants to be. But I digress . . . The Family Circle, ca. 1830, by Emilius Bærentzen Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen Our evening began with attending an opening cocktail party for a new exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where we were the fortunate guests of one of the museum's curators. It was for Rooms With a View: The Open Window in the 19th Century, a charming show of early nineteenth-century European paintings and drawings of interiors with views through windows. Most were painted by German, Scandinavian, and Baltic artists during the neo-classical and Biedermeier periods, and many are on loan from museums and collections in central Europe. View of Dresden, 1824, by Karl Gottfried Traugott Faber Staatliche Kunstsammlunger Dresden, Galerie Neue Meister The paintings are intimately scaled and precisely and skillfully executed, and quite lovely to look at. They are a fascinating record of interiors and furnishings of early nineteenth-century continental Europe, including many of the artists' own studios or homes, and are well worth studying at length. This is not a show that one should breeze through—it merits close and careful observation. I plan on returning to see it again soon. I have already spent several hours reading its well-written, highly informative, and profusely illustrated catalogue so that I will be better informed when I return to see the paintings again. The curator of the show, Sabine Rewald of the Metropolitan, did a superb job. I highly recommend that you make plans to see the show, Dear Reader, as it is a not-to-be-missed, absolute gem. Interior from Amaliegade with the Artist's Brothers, ca. 1829 by Wilhelm Bendz The Hirschsprung Collection, Copenhagen Afterwards, in need of more sustenance than visual stimulation, vodka, and cheese balls, we headed over to Swifty's, where Robert Caravaggi was kind enough to give us a table on the spur of the moment and without a reservation. The place was packed! As one often does at Swifty's, during dinner we fell into a pleasant conversation with a couple sitting at the next table to ours (the tables are very close together at the restaurant, so one is rather cheek-to-jowel with one's neighbors). They were quite jolly and chatty, and we had a delightful time speaking with them. Interior with Young Woman Tracing a Flower, ca. 1820-1822 by Louise-Adéone Drolling Saint Louis Art Museum Looking around the room, I noticed that David Patrick Columbia of New York Social Diary was also there, so I stopped by his table and said hello to him and his guest. On our way out we passed James Andrew of What Is James Wearing?, whose blog I am a regular reader of and who is a sometime commenter on mine. We stopped and introduced ourselves to him and his dining companion, and they couldn't have been nicer. We had a lovely evening! View from the Artist's Studio in the Alservorstadt toward Dernbach, 1836, by Jakob Alt Albertina, Vienna And to top it off, the next morning we were invited to a cocktail party by the couple we sat next to at dinner at Swifty's, and with whom we exchanged contact information at the end of the evening. We were delighted that they invited us to their party and that we were able to attend it, and we had an absolutely marvelous time at it. One does so adore living the life in New York . . . The exhibition's catalogue Rooms With A View: The Open Window in the 19th Century April 5 through July 4 The Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 Fifth Avenue New York, N.Y. 10028 All images taken from the show's catalogue, except for the final photograph, by Boy Fenwick
You may think we're in Paris when you peek into this small studio apartment. But that's not the case; this tiny studio apartment, named "Little Paris," is
We recently met with the minds behind this Studio City dream home—Rob Diaz and Mark Alexander—for an insider’s tour and a glimpse into their creative process.
A move to Dartmoor was the impetus for Cath and Jeremy Brown to capitalise on their creative talents and start making pieces that developed into design studio Feldspar
You may think we're in Paris when you peek into this small studio apartment. But that's not the case; this tiny studio apartment, named "Little Paris," is
Den naturalistiske maler Claire Basler har skabt et unikt kunstværk med sit slot i Frankrig.
With Architectural Digest, we visited photographer Hartwig Klappert in his 600-square-meter studio that was formerly a factory. Built on a tiny island at Nonnendamm, Klappert’s...
This visit to Yrjö Kukkapuro's home and studio, first featured in Wallpaper’s April 2020 issue, highlights the evolution of the Finnish designer's experimental approach to furniture
In France’s Oise department, David Jimenez fills his centuries-old home with antiques and art gathered across the countryside.
South Korean-born DJ and Kirin designer Peggy Gou has provided followers with a look at her new home/studio in Berlin. We
Sebastian Bergström's flat in Stockholm is both a joyful expression of his love of colour and pattern, and a demonstration of his remarkable efficiency with a small space
Le Petit Trianon, one of San Francisco’s most historic homes, is the setting of the 42nd annual designer showcase
Interior designer Hugh Leslie has transformed his nineteenth-century Chelsea studio into an airy, harmonious showpiece for high-quality joinery and understated taste.
Art leads the way in this midcentury-meets-eclectic abode.
A photo tour of the sitting nook.
Image 28 of 33 from gallery of V-Plan / Studio B Architects. Photograph by James Florio
Let's PEEK INSIDE a luxurious apartment with Colorful Classic Decor in London inspired by OUT OF AFRICA, blush pink, and a nod to American preppy style!
The deluxe master suite in this beautiful European home plan has his and her bathrooms as well as separate closets, finished off with a welcoming sauna tucked in the "hers" side. Tray ceilings top off the bedroom, with convenient access to the nearby laundry room. The front-facing study with a fireplace could easily be adapted to an extra bedroom with its proximity to a full bath. Two bedrooms and a game room occupy the second floor with a studio and sitting room off to the side.
The Livsrum Cancer Counselling Centre in Næstved, Denmark by EFFEKT is made up of a cluster of seven house-shaped buildings.
Welcome to #cochateau! This beautiful home is nestled on 55 acres of pasture that overlooks the beautiful Colorado mountains. The original home inspired the French elements that run through the design. We even incorporated original elements like wood ceiling beams, stone fireplaces, crown molding and hardware.We wanted this home to feel elegant and refined while also being effortlessly comfortable. Many of the spaces are grand in scale but the design was intentional in making it feel intimate and grounded. I love the unique details, inspired moments, and unexpected character that this home evokes. I can’t wait to share more of each space with you!
Owned by Bert Verschueren and Vincent Defontainers, Boulevard Leopold is located in a 19th century house in Antwerp, between the Albert Park and the City P
Image 34 of 42 from gallery of Hlöðuberg Artist Studio / Studio Bua. Photograph by Marino Thorlacius
David and Yuge Bromley's latest project, a rambling country home in Hepburn Springs.
A principal at Cutler Anderson Architects has created a small outbuilding at his residence overlooking the Puget Sound, which both he and his kids can use.
Artist couple Angus Taylor and Rina Stutzer’s home and studio outside Pretoria– at the foot of one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges.
EMILY Ratajkowski loves to show off her enviable figure on social media and around her stunning loft that she shares with husband Sebastian Bear-McClard. The model-come-actress’s Los Angeles …
Image 1 of 32 from gallery of NVD House / Studio Arthur Casas. Photograph by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
The couple behind Buchanan Studio have taken a blank canvas of an Edwardian house in north-west London and transformed it into an airy, bright and deeply comfortable home for themselves and their young family
The couple behind Buchanan Studio have taken a blank canvas of an Edwardian house in north-west London and transformed it into an airy, bright and deeply comfortable home for themselves and their young family
Our 2023 House & Garden Awards have been announced; Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay, who has won our Project of the Year award, sponsored by V-Zug, offers her dos and don'ts of decorating
In an effort to keep the bones of her flat neutral whilst not sacrificing character, Lishan Tham of Studio Shan has cunningly layered art and materials in her Holborn apartment.
Inspired by Art Moderne and the romance of vintage travel trunks, all-female design studio Le Whit revitalised this dual apartment space for a family in New York City. Photographed by Nicole Franzen
New York hospitality legends, Home Studios, have taken all the character and creativity of their bars and restaurants and adapted the style for a family home
By combining architecture, art, and design, a skilled team gave new life to a collector’s apartment
Message
This week we are chatting about Em's latest romance coming-of-age novel, Ryann's tool for getting a good night's sleep, & an inclusive nude heel plus more!
Interior designer Gavin Houghton offers his personal principles for good decorating
For this couple with a young child, it was a priority to live in a house that lent itself to family life as much as to entertaining. With the help of Tiffany Duggan, the small terrace is now a space that thrills as much as it functions
Image 8 of 24 from gallery of Albion Barn / Studio Seilern Architects. Photograph by Philip Vile
Woven, by Giles Miller Studio, sits 100m from the cliff tops of Broadstairs on the Kent coast and features an almost fully glazed ground floor. The stunning kitchen is the central core of the ground floor, with views all around...
Image 40 of 40 from gallery of OG Home & Studio / Omar Gandhi Architect. Model
