One of BBG’s dozens of bonsai
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is showing signs of spring—magnolias and hellebores are blooming, but the final bits of dramatic winter light are best viewed in the Bonsai Room, where dozens of tiny centenarians cast dramatic shadows. The room is a great example of using blue-grey paint to give objects greater brilliance. Imagine how lackluster these beauties would be in a white room.
These hard-drinking newsies are here to tell you to read my articles
My byline cropped up a few times this week, first in Manhattan magazine, where I profiled a couple ace interior designers, and then in the The Globe & Mail (the New York Times of Canada, as we can it in the biz), where I reviewed the hotel SLS in L.A., which I wrote about last month. Take a looksy! And, as always you can see more of my work by clicking Articles at the top of the page.
Throne room, Topkapi Palace harem, Istanbul
Istanbul decoration: even better than expected. I anticipated the Iznik tiles, but I wasn’t prepared for the glorious alchemy of when European grandeur veered head first into Eastern tradition. Case in point: Topkapi Palace, the home of Ottoman sultans (and around 4,000 staff) from 1465 to 1853. By the 18th century, sultans were obsessed with Rococo style, hence the gilt ornament in the harem’s Throne Room. (There are Delft tiles and Murano glass windows, too—who says globalization is new?) Click MORE for the prettiest patterns I found in Turkey, including from Hagia Sofia.
Topkapi ceiling
Recently I was in Brussels reporting an article about the city’s antiques and vintages stores. I tend not to shop while I work. It’s not really cost effective, plus, I’m already carrying a map, camera and notebook. But I made an exception for this oddball lamp—for 33 euro, which I found at La Patine. Couldn’t be, I thought. It’s clearly handmade, and has new wiring and a fresh shade. I asked again, and the shopkeeper confirmed the price and encouraged me to return Sunday so the owner could tell me the story behind it. I left with the lamp and vowed to return. But I probably shouldn’t have…
Study hall, Topkapi Palace, Istanbul
I returned from Istanbul nearly a week ago and I still haven’t washed my gorgeous new towels and pestemels, finished eating that sickly sweet Turkish delight or even posted a barrage of images yet. That’s because I was busy sewing pillow inserts for the vintage kilim covers I bought at the Grand Bazaar. (Priorities!) Here’s a teaser—one room of the inimitable harem of Topkapi Palace.
