>> giulio cappellini

Earlier today I interviewed Giulio Cappellini, the head of the avant-garde Italian design house Cappellini. He spoke faster than I thought was humanly possible in a combination of Italian and English, but it was one of the most energizing and interesting interviews I've ever had the privilege of conducting. Check the Los Angeles Times Home section blog for a little story about his latest collaboration with Disney. It's pretty wild.

Some Cappellini pieces through the years:

Rive Droite armchair by Patrick Norguet with Pucci fabric, 2001 ($4,160); Ribbon stools, 2007 ($538); 2009 re-issue of the Proust armchair by Alessandro Mendini, 1978 ($11,855); Stich chair, 2009 ($719); Rainbow chair by Patrick Norguet, 2000 ($15,688); Peacock armchair, 2009 ($6,406); Wooden chair by Marc Newson, 1992 ($5,641); Cappellini stool by Tom Dixon, 1992 ($894).

>> supergas!

Matt got me a pair of black Superga 2750 Classics for my b-day (best present EVER!).

Oh, weird, Ashley Olsen has them too...what a...coincidence, it's not like I read three different blogs about the Olsen twins, so I wouldn't have known that otherwise. To read more about Supergas, check out this DW post on sneakers from last year.

Nicolo Taliani

Current lamp obsession: Lamp No. 1 by Italian designer Nicolo Taliani. Coming to the US very soon.


Have a great weekend!

Cindy City

I'm currently digging the new Cindy Lamp by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell. I think it would look great in a super-sleek office—it's certainly got a lot of flash. I especially love the bold color palette including platinum, bronze, mint green, tangerine, ultramarine, flamingo, gun metal and violet—in true Kartell style. I don't know who's retailing yet, so not sure of the price, but will let you know when I know.

Luisa Cevese Riedizioni placemats

We put a placemat in front of Harrison's food and water dish because she's a messy eater—for her it's a two step process, get the food out of the bowl and on to the floor, then eat it. We use a Tair Mercier plastic mat and it looks pretty cool. After two years it's all banged up, so I've been eying some Luisa Cevese Riedizioni placemats ($50 each) as a replacement. Of course they'd look pretty spectacular on a dining table too! Bonus points: They're handmade in Italy from recycled industrial waste.

TheFoodinista.com

When my friend Heather told me she started a blog last month, The Foodinista, I got very very very very very excited. Her extensive knowledge of food and wine coupled with her years in the fashion world and her chic chic chic taste could only make for a great blog—one which I read every day and am slightly obsessed with. Her concept: "Although stereotypes would suggest that fashionistas aren’t all that into food, and the images on the Food Network would indicate that foodies aren’t all that into fashion—in real life I’ve found that isn’t always the case." Every Friday she opens up the blog to guest bloggers for posts about fashion and food in film. This Friday that guest blogger is me, with a post about The Talented Mr. Ripley, check it out! Have a great weekend!

Stepping up the sneaker

A new installation from DESIGNwatcher fashion correspondent, Amy Fox!

Stepping up the sneaker
By Amy Fox

Sure everyone loves their favorite Chuck Taylor's, Jack Purcell's, Stan Smith's, Rod Laver's and Vans, but when you're ready to step-in to something a little more serious, check out some of the new wardrobe staples of the well-heeled. Counter-clockwise from top: Common Projects ($332 as shown) is making some of the most stylish sneakers out there right now. Above is their version of a cutting edge take on the classic hightop. I also love how their label signature is only the article number, color and size code stamped in gold on the heel. Supergas ($80 and up) are the must-have Italian sneaker. You can chose from hundreds of colors and patterns, but the original design dates back to the 1920s. Spring Courts (about $90) have been around since 1936 and claim to be the original white shoe. Perhaps the best way to describe them is the French Chuck Taylors—they revolutionized the game of tennis like Converse did to basketball; of course now they're a big hit with musicians like Thom Yorke and fashion icons like Kate Moss—who wears them with a wide leg trouser suit and simple tank. Very classic and very chic. Their website is not yet up for online shopping, but you can order them via phone from Steven Alan in Venice (310-452-3413) or from their Nolita shop in NYC (212-226-7482).

Fornasetti Times

Well, speaking of coasters, the thermometer has been telling me lately that it's officially scotch season. Here in Chicago the mercury just peaked over 20 degrees and it's not even officially winter (hurrah!). Last year at this time I thought the cold weather was a fun novelty, but this year...well, that's what the scotch is for. Matt pours a glass of Dalwhinnie with a splash of water nearly every night around 9pm and asks if I want any. "Of course not," I always say, but I sip from his throughout the night in the amount that always garners my own drink. One of our Tervis Tumbler double old fashion glasses got water-logged in the dishwasher, so I'm in the market for something new. If I had it my way Matt would (we would) be sipping the Single Malt from these chic and whimsical Fornasetti Theme & Variations Drinking Glasses ($305 for six).

Hebi lamp

There's a lot of re-issues out there and a surging interest in furniture and design of the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, but it isn't always the case that the objects look like a specific era. Sometimes I see something that's Art Deco and at first think it's mid-century, or will assume something is 70s design when it's early 60s, for example. But when I look at the 1970 Hebi lamp ($199), I think it might belong in the set design for the movie Sleeper, fitting it's time squarely. The Hebi lamp was designed by Japanese designer Isao Hosoe for the Italian design house Valenti and is included in the permanent collections of museums around the world. The lamp comes in white, black, red and yellow—but I think I would have to have this guy in white.

Teapots of the Eighties

If you owned a Gordon Gekko cell phone in the Eighties, chances are you had a designer teapot resting on the stove top in your sleek kitchen, too. The above Michael Graves 9093 teakettle designed for Alessi in 1985 is an internationally recognized 80s icon. In fact, it was the first product by an American designer to be included in the Alessi catalog (go USA!) and paved the way for the whimsical and colorful design style that seems to characterize the late 80s/early 90s. The Graves teakettle is actually the product that has sold the greatest number of units in the entire history of Alessi. You can pick up the "new Americana" icon for $148 right here, certainly the top teapot design of the decade.

The four runners up clockwise from top left: Frank Gehry's Pito tea kettle 1988/1992, made from polished steel and mahogany—the only Gehry for Alessi design ($399); Aldo Rossi's Il Conico kettle 1986, ($199); Andrea Branzi's Mama O kettle 1988, ($330); Richard Sapper's 9091 kettle 1983, Alessi's first designer kettle ($239). If I had to chose one to own it would probably be the Graves because of its icon status, but the Sapper is a really close second.

Kartell Jolly

With the post about the antique calendar hovering close below I can post about the above Kartell Jolly side tables without feeling too name-brand modern. I've been thinking about getting one of these little guys in the smoke color for a side table near our couch. I've always wanted to have a Kartell piece despite my recent experiences at Pinkberry (if you've been there, you get it). I made a deal with Matt that there would be room near the couch for his surround sound speakers-something, so in order to hold up my end of the deal, I need to provide him with some flat space near by. It's a rather small table (about 16" x 16), so we're still thinking about it: check out more about it at Hive Modern ($149). Design by Paolo Rizzatto, 2002.

The Fornasetti Legacy

Piero Fornasetti is one of the most recognized Italian artists of the 20th Century. He was a painter, a sculptor, an interior decorator, furniture maker, and more. After he died in 1988, his son Barnaba took over the atilier making it possible for a new generation to discover and own Fornasetti items. You may recognize his work as he consistantly drew from a handful of themes like the sun, playing cards, harlequins, and hands. But, perhaps the most recognizable of Fornasetti's themes is the enigmatic face of a woman that he found in a 19th Century French magazine: her name was Lina Cavalieri. Her face has been reproduced onto ashtrays, umbrellas stands, trays, pillows, and of course, plates. The two porcelain plates below are sold at Barney's. They are available on their website for $110. If you are really serious about Fornasetti, check out their unbelievable vintage selections right here.

A Match made in Italy

I think people are developing a more eclectic taste when it comes to glassware and barware. For example, sometimes you want to drink wine out of a stemless Riedel goblet, sometimes drinking wine out of morrocan tumbler is more appropriate, it just depends on the mood. But, I have to say that when making a classic cocktail, like say a Hendrick's and tonic, I prefer something classic and sturdy, like the above double old-fashioned glass by Match. I love the medieval/goth/old-school quality it posesses, which sort of combats the melamine craze—who wants to drink a martini from a plastic cup anyway? All of Match's products are made by Italian artisans from either pewter, iron, wood, stone or glass. In the past year or so they have gained quite a reputation for the quality of their pewter. Get the above glass for $50 at Barneys or check out the Match website for more info.

For relaxing times, make it Campari times.

This suspension lamp is made out of Italian Campari soda bottles. It might give your apartment a little of that red-light district feel (?). You can get the lamp at the Goliath of all design stores, New York's MOSS. Ummm yeah...maybe I am just using this as a segway to blog about everyone's favorite Italian cocktail:

The Negroni

1 oz. gin
1 oz. sweet vemouth
1 oz. Campari

Pour three ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker, shake well. Pour over ice in a low ball glass, splash some soda water on top and garnish with an orange slice if desired. Happy Friday everybody!