Tag Archives: Travel

Maison de Verre (House of Glass) Paris

November 29, 2012
The elegant Annie Dalsace who collaborated with the architect to create this wonderful early 20th century masterpiece.

Slideshow

This industrial looking wheel controls the ventilating system. Its' handsome silhouette is enhanced against the glass blocks that form the exterior of the house.

During our trip to Paris we were fortunate to visit Maison de Verre, a former 18th century townhouse turned into a modern dwelling by Pierre Chareau in 1928. There was no precedent for how he created this house considering that Chareau could not touch the top floor of the existing building. An “old lady” was living there who could not be moved. So he left the top floor intact and replaced the exterior of the lower levels with translucent glass bricks, completely re-imagined the interior space, installed remotely controlled swiveling windows, and divided the interior with perforated metal screens that either rotate or slide. There are no plastered walls in this amazing glass box.

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Muriel Grateau: A Favorite Paris Shop

November 29, 2012

The very subtle store front of Muriel Grateau at 37, rue de Beaune.Slideshow

Several months ago I wrote about my favorite shop in Paris, Muriel Grateau. I, clearly, am not the only one to find her and her shop an inspiration. Last Saturday the WSJ Off Duty section did an interview: 20 Odd Questions with Muriel Grateau.  I have attaching a link to the article and reposted my own:

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Dering Hall

November 27, 2012

Hand Beaten Mirror by SoaneSlideshow

I have been searching for a large mirror for my sitting/dressing room for too long. I decided it needed to have a gold leaf frame with a lovely worn finish, perhaps a little decoration and, of course, I needed a specific size. I imagined I would easily find it in one of the “antiques” centers I visit regularly. Alas, nothing with the right finish or size has yet to catch my eye or suit my pocketbook. So it was on to the web. I love the Dering Hall site and decided to shop there. I’m having a great time exploring the mirrors they offer.

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Lots of Dots: Damien Hirst in Paris

November 24, 2012

A Damien Hirst painting of "Spots" created on a circle canvas. Gagosian Gallery, Paris.Slideshow

When I was in Paris I finally got to see one of the 11 exhibits of Damien Hirst’s “Spots” paintings at the Gagosian Gallery. The Complete Spot Paintings 1986-2011 was conceived as a single exhibition shown in multiple locations all over the globe. There are more than 300 Spot paintings, the spots ranging in size from 1/2″ inch to a monumental painting that has only 4 spots, each 60″ in diameter. It is said that there is no single color that has been repeated. The paintings were lent to the exhibition by public institutions and private collections.

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