Maison Gerard in New York is exhibiting the sculpture of Mario Dal Fabbro from February 22nd to March 30th. I wasn’t familiar with his work (or so I thought) when I came across it on Mondo Blogo last week, but there was something about it that I felt an affinity with.

So I did a bit of research. It turns out he was born in Italy in 1913 to a family of furniture making craftsmen. He studied art and design and worked in the family business before immigrating to New York in 1948. An accomplished woodworker and furniture designer, he went on to work for Knoll, J.G. Furniture and Paul McCobb Design Associates, and wrote several books on furniture making. If you frequent vintage bookshops as I do, you may have come across “Modern Furniture: It’s Design and Construction” or “How to Build Modern Furniture”, two of his more popular books.

He dedicated himself full time to sculpture in 1968 until his death in 1990. As a woodworker and furniture designer, I find it impressive and inspiring how he adapted his craftsmanship and design skills from functional objects to sculptural works of art with such seamless grace.

This room by French decorator and furniture designer Jean Royere is a stunner. From the 1950’s, his use of textural materials and simple graphic contrast create an environment that is both chic and cozy.

From Galerie Chastel-Marechal via You Have Been Here Sometime

A Wallscape resting in the garden before the long journey to its new home in Amsterdam.

This is a wonderful example of a simple, inexpensive and clever way to create an interesting and functional environment in a non-descript space. For a salon near Tokyo, designer Tetsuya Ito installed hanging screens of semi-transparent mesh fabric silkscreened with ghostly images of classical European building facades. The screens define areas and lend the all white space some architectural detail while maintaining a light, ethereal feel. I also like the chandelier made out of fluorescent tube rings.

These oak chairs were a sorry sight when I spotted them abandoned on the sidewalk outside of someone’s house. Although battered (broken stretchers, dents, worn out finish) it was obvious that they had beautiful lines and good bones. Made by “The Marble & Shattuck Chair Co.” of Cleveland, their original home was probably a library, but they had lost their way and fallen on hard times.

A rescue mission was in order. After extensive gluing, sanding, filling, a coat of primer and three coats of milk paint, they’re just like new and ready for many more years of use.

Mission: Accomplished

Having visited their showrooms in London, New York and Los Angeles, and purchased a rug from them that I’m delighted with, it’s safe to say I’m a huge fan of The Rug Company. It’s not just the marvelous design and high quality of their handmade rugs that I’m enamored with, but the overall presentation that is so special. It’s rare to see the modern and the traditional mixed with such effortless style.

I also appreciate how The Rug Company collaborates with interior, product, and fashion designers to create beautiful designs, rather than as a marketing stunt, which is all too common these days. Pictured above is a small sampling of their rugs in inspiring settings by fashion designers Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, Mathew Williamson, Marni, Alexander McQueen and Diane Von Furstenberg. Have a browse through the Roomsets & Inspirations on their website for much more. Be sure to have a drool cup handy.

Our Parquet Table/Stool is in the Winter 2012 issue of Anthology Magazine! There it is, in the lower left corner. Each quarterly issue has a theme, and this time it’s “Handmade at Home” – celebrating artists, designers and makers of handcrafted goods. Featured are homes and businesses that utilize handcrafted products and methods, including San Francisco’s Sightglass Coffee. If you’re looking to get crafty and need some inspiration, check it out.

Big thanks to stylist (and author, designer & creative director) Meg Mateo Ilasco for including our piece in the shoot.

Check it out, a mysterious topless woman is typing while gazing out of my window! Fantasies aside, this is the view from my office chair, with the built-in bureau and palm trees outside reflected in the ‘68 Italian experimental cinema poster. Nice.

Here’s an example of a potentially bland (yet tasteful) space that has been brought to life with a bold introduction. Barcelona based designer Lazaro Rosa-Violan hung striking graphic abstract art in the mostly white interiors at the Hotel Pulitzer Roma, and boy, what a difference it makes.

Sometimes a bold move can be just what the doctor ordered. Whether on a wall, a rug, a chair, or an accent pillow, a bold color or pattern (or both) can bring a room to life. I’m digging these geometric patterns from the sixties by Australian designer Florence Broadhurst. A strong remedy when you need a cure for the decoration blahs.