Autumn in New York
Fall is in full swing here in New York & there’s nothing more inspiring & fun than spending the day enjoying some of the city’s finest offerings in fashion & design. The 38th Annual Kips Bay Showhouse opened October 14th & runs through November 11th. This year’s designers had to put their creativity & plans on hold when the showhouse was postponed last spring but the fall premier was well worth the wait. The townhouse (at 106 East 71st Street) features awesome architectural details including this magnificent spiral staircase which connects the dwelling’s six floors. 
While the entire show is not-to-be missed, my favorite rooms include:
The Sitting Room by Nancy Boszhardt (photo below)
Living Room by Sherill Canet
The Dining Room by Ellie Cullman (Cullman & Kravis)
Fall Fashion Finds
After visiting the showhouse, I took an autumn stroll up Madison Avenue for some window shopping at the finest boutiques & couture houses such as Chanel, Hermes, Prada & the like. Then, I headed over to one of the best-kept secrets for couture design lovers on a bit of a budget, ROUNDABOUT DESIGNER BOUTIQUE at 31 East 72nd, Just steps away from Madison Avenue, this couture consignment boutique features an incredible array of top designer clothing, shoes, handbags & accessories. I visit often & never leave empty-handed. On my most recent sprees, I found a silk Gucci blouse, a Mui Mui skirt, a buttery-soft pink Ralph Lauren leather jacket & several brand new cashmere sweaters. My heart races thinking about the beautiful bargains!
Getting back to home design…
Kravet recently conducted an informative seminar on the art of fine upholstery in their Bethpage showroom. Feeling educated & enlightened, I’m inspired to share all I learned with my clients who can then make the best choices for all their upholstered furniture purchases.
In a world of “delivered in two days”, mass & machine- produced, so-called “bargain” furniture; fine, handmade custom upholstery stands in a class of its own as a true craft that is so well worth the investment. If you want a sofa or chair that will stand the test of time, to be enjoyed for years, the classically created pieces hand made in America such as those featured by Kravet & Lee Jofa are among the finest on the market.
Kravet’s Susan Lorenz narrated while master upholsterer Mike demonstrated the step-by-step process of producing a finely crafted, impeccably made piece of upholstered furniture from start to finish. With amazing attention to detail & workmanship, the chair took shape before our eyes – from a bare maple wood frame to a luxurious & comfortable chair from Kravet’s collection known for impeccable styling & the utmost quality.
A few of my favorite upholstered pieces in Kravet’s Collection:
The Harmony Sofa (2 styles)
The Medley Sofa
The Montauk Chair
As the weather turns cooler & the days draw shorter, I for one am ready to relax on my (handmade!) sofa in one of those cashmere sweaters & enjoy special time with family & friends. I wish you & yours all the blessings of the fall season & a very Happy Thanksgiving. We’ve so much to be thankful for. Enjoy…
Thanks for the photos on the Kravet chair upholstery seminar...We were not able to attend, but wanted to. We hope to catch the next one.
ReplyDeleteAnd we agree...Kravet's Harmony sofa is one of our favorites too :)