To keep the beautiful Audubon Islands and their indigenous wildlife afloat, local Palm Beachers team up to take on the much-needed role of conservationists.

Every now and then, you need a quiet escape into the wild, and these islands are the last wild place in Palm Beach,” says local conservationist and filmmaker Katie Carpenter, one of the volunteer leaders of the Audubon Islands Sanctuary restoration project.

These islands, located in the Lake Worth Lagoon between Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, have been untouched by development under the watchful protection of three Palm Beach families—the Binghams, the Boltons and the Blossoms—for many years. The islands are home to over 89 species of wading birds, migratory songbirds and raptors—not to mention native vegetation including gumbo-limbo, seagrape and black mangrove, to name a few. The islands also act as an important buffer for the city’s coastal communities from storms, wind and dangerous surfs.

Carpenter, along with longtime Palm Beach friend and architect Campion Platt, has worked with Audubon Florida to step up efforts to give the islands the tender lover and care they have so badly needed. Carpenter and Platt have been instrumental in raising awareness, funds and hosting local cleanup days to move these efforts along. “We feel so lucky to be a part of this restoration project,” Carpenter enthusiastically responds. “We’re learning native trees and plants from Audubon’s master botanist and subtropical wading birds from Audubon ornithologists.” Adds Platt, “And more and more, we are finding our neighbors and friends are getting excited about the islands, and when the restoration is complete, it will be the first beautiful look at Palm Beach as you come across the renovated Southern Bridge. We want to make sure it’s a truly dazzling sight.”

- Jayne Chase of Modern Luxury

Honoring its past, accommodating present-day preferences and preparing for the future; those were some of the challenges of an interior renovation project at the Hotel duPont in Wilmington.

The setting for so many special occasions and memorable overnight stays over the years, the downtown Wilmington fixture changed ownership in 2017.  Until then, it was the oldest single family-owned hotel in the United States. The stately building on Rodney Square has historic status, as do many of its features.

How would modern trends and history intersect?

“A lot of loving care was given to the hotel over the years,” designer and architect Campion Platt said. “Nobody wanted too much change – that was kind of the first priority, not too much change and not too quickly.”

Platt had already been enlisted by the Buccini / Pollin Group for two other hotel projects. This one started later, but was to be done first to honor the requested time frame.

Stone floors, ornate ceilings and travertine wall tiles remained, but new furnishings, lighting, artwork and carpeting transformed the look and atmosphere of the lobby space. The setting encourages people and small groups to relax, work and converse.

“There’s a trend in general of getting people out of their rooms and back into the public spaces of hotels,” Platt said.

Additionally, The Green Room Bar was transformed into a more inviting space. Platt will also be involved in a renovation of the main dining room, The Green Room.

Platt added that he looked to “complement” the building’s history, rather than create a contrast between old and new. According to the famed designer, one of the most rewarding aspects of this and other projects is to get a positive reaction from the “common man” – or woman.

“If it makes you feel good, and you don’t know why, then it’s a big success,” Platt said.

- Mark Fowser

Chez Ben, an all-day French bistro and coffee bar concept led by Chef Paras Shah, shares a storefront with M. Brown’s, a moody, aged spirits and cocktail bar. M. Brown’s inventive small plates artfully accompany the lounge’s signature aged spirits to create an elevated experience that is driven by the idea that everything gets better with age. Both Chez Ben and M. Brown’s feature engaging views of historic Independence Park and are soft opening on March 16th, 2018, joining Philadelphia’s internationally-acclaimed dining scene.

“Behind every successful restaurant is a dedicated team ready create a memorable dining experience. At Chez Ben & M Brown’s, we will create this experience with both great food and detailed service, all with a personal connection,” stated Michele DiPietro, General Manager. Chef Paras is “excited to have guests enjoy food that is grounded in modern French technique and honors local products.”

Chez Ben is inspired by its namesake, Ben Franklin.  He was not only an inventor, writer, and statesman, but a dedicated Francophile, intoxicated by Parisians’ joie de vivre.  In this spirit, Chez Ben is an all-day Bistro serving playful French classics with contemporary flair. Menu features include a raw bar, tarte flambées, mouthwatering entrées like roasted blood orange duck breast with sunchokes, and classic moules frites with white wine and garlic.  As befits a proper French establishment, Chez Ben offers an extensive by-the-glass wine selection, aperitif cocktails, and more. Chez Ben’s convenient coffee and juice counter offers the local neighborhood all-day, grab-and-go offerings including buttery, locally sourced pastries, fresh juices and smoothies, and a bespoke coffee and espresso program from Philadelphia’s own La Colombe.

M. Brown’s will be a moody, retro-contemporary spirits and cocktail bar with a focus on aged brown spirits and inventive small plates. Sip and savor with relaxed, whiskey-wise service in a smart, charismatic environment with a menu that goes beyond the classics. Offerings span the decades and the globe, from classic and signature cocktails and single barrel bourbons to Japanese whiskeys. An inventive food offering includes scotch cured salmon tartine and merguez sliders.

Both locations will officially open to the public on March 16th, 2018 and will be located at 401 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106. For more information on hours of operation, please visit https://www.chezbenbistrophilly.com/  and https://www.mbrownsbar.com/.

Chez Ben, an all-day French bistro and coffee bar concept led by Chef Paras Shah shares a storefront with M. Brown’s, a moody, aged spirits and cocktail bar. M. Brown’s inventive small plates artfully accompany the lounge’s signature aged spirits to create an elevated experience that is driven by the idea that everything gets better with age. Both Chez Ben and M. Brown’s feature engaging views of historic Independence Park and are soft opening on March 16th, 2018, joining Philadelphia’s internationally acclaimed dining scene.

Behind every successful restaurant is a dedicated team ready create a memorable dining experience. At Chez Ben & M Brown’s, we will create this experience with both great food and detailed service, all with a personal connection,” stated Michele DiPietro, General Manager. Chef Paras is “excited to have guests enjoy food that is grounded in modern French technique and honors local products.”
Chez Ben is inspired by its namesake, Ben Franklin. He was not only an inventor, writer, and statesman, but a dedicated Francophile, intoxicated by Parisians’ joie de vivre. In this spirit, Chez Ben is an all-day Bistro serving playful French classics with contemporary flair. Menu features include a raw bar, tarte flambées, mouthwatering entrées like roasted blood orange duck breast with sunchokes, and classic moules frites with white wine and garlic. As befits a proper French establishment, Chez Ben offers an extensive by-the-glass wine selection, aperitif cocktails, and more. Chez Ben’s convenient coffee and juice counter offers the local neighborhood all-day, grab-and-go offerings including buttery, locally sourced pastries, fresh juices and smoothies, and a bespoke coffee and espresso program from Philadelphia’s own La Colombe.

M. Brown’s will be a moody, retro-contemporary spirits and cocktail bar with a focus on aged brown spirits and inventive small plates. Sip and savor with relaxed, whiskey-wise service in a smart, charismatic environment with a menu that goes beyond the classics. Offerings span the decades and the globe, from classic and signature cocktails and single barrel bourbons to Japanese whiskeys. An inventive food offering includes scotch cured salmon tartine and merguez sliders.

Both locations will officially open to the public on March 16th, 2018 and will be located at 401 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106. For more information on hours of operation, please visit https://www.chezbenbistrophilly.com/ and https://www.mbrownsbar.com/ .

- PhillyBite

Philadelphia will soon be home to two new dining spots in a shared storefront at 401 Chestnut Street, when Chez Ben and M. Brown’s hit the Old City culinary scene. On Friday, March 16, they officially open to the public.

Chez Ben will be an all-day French bistro and coffee bar concept with Chef Paras Shah heading up the kitchen. The new bistro will share a storefront with M. Brown’s, a moody, aged-spirits and cocktail bar. Both Chez Ben and M. Brown’s feature engaging views of historic Independence Park.

Chez Ben is inspired by its namesake, Ben Franklin, who was a dedicated Francophile intoxicated by Parisians’ joie de vivre. In this spirit, Chez Ben is an all-day bistro serving intriguing French classics with contemporary flair. The menu will include French fare offerings, such as raw bar delicacies, tarte flambées, roasted blood orange duck breast with sunchokes and classic moules frites with white wine and garlic. For your sipping options, Chez Ben will offer an extensive by-the-glass wine selection, aperitif cocktails, and more.

In addition to being a sit-down dining establishment, Chez Ben will offer a convenient coffee and juice counter featuring all-day, grab-and-go offerings including buttery, locally sourced pastries, fresh juices and smoothies, and a bespoke coffee and espresso program from Philadelphia’s own La Colombe.

M. Brown’s will be a moody, retro-contemporary spirits and cocktail bar, with a primary focus on aged brown spirits and inventive small plates. Classic and signature cocktails, single barrel bourbons and Japanese whiskeys are just a few of the beverage offerings which M. Brown’s will provide. Inventive food offerings from Chef Shah will be available, including scotch-cured salmon tartine and merguez sliders.

“Behind every successful restaurant is a dedicated team ready to create a memorable dining experience. At Chez Ben & M. Brown’s, we will create this experience with both great food and detailed service, all with a personal connection,” states Michele DiPietro, general manager. “Chef Paras is excited to have guests enjoy food that is grounded in modern French technique and honors local products.”

Once open, find Chez Ben and M. Brown’s at 401 Chestnut St. in Philadelphia.

- Kristen Kwiatkowski

The two concepts will share a space at 4th and Chestnut Streets. The Franklin Hotel in Old City is unveiling not one but two restaurant concepts.

Chez Ben, an all-day French bistro, and M. Brown’s, a retro-contemporary cocktail bar, will share a storefront at 401 Chestnut Street.

After a soft opening on Friday, March 16th, a grand opening will follow later this month. Chef Paras Shah, who opened Barcelona in East Passyunk last summer, will head up the shared kitchen.

Chez Ben’s menu is going for French classics presented with a modern twist — think entrées like roasted blood orange duck breast with sunchokes and moules-frites with white wine and garlic, plus a raw bar and a selection of tartes flambée, Alsatian flatbreads also known as flammenkuche.

For breakfast, the menu includes French and American staples — omelettes, pancakes, eggs Benedict, a croque madame — plus contemporary additions like fresh-pressed juices and quinoa bowls. They’ll brew locally roasted La Colombe Coffee.

M. Brown’s will specialize in long-aged brown liquors from around the globe plus classic and specialty cocktails. The bar menu will include small plates like Scotch-cured salmon tartine and sliders made with merguez sausage.

Chez Ben will serve breakfast from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. — with the coffee counter open for drinks, pastries, and light snacks from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. — and dinner from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. M. Brown’s will be open from 5 p.m. until 1 a.m. Both will be open Monday through Sunday.

- Alex Jones

Chef Paras Shah, who wowed at the opening of Barcelona Wine Bar on East Passyunk Avenue, has traded Spanish for French at the comfy Chez Ben, a spiffy brasserie featuring a cafe counter, and M Brown’s, a bar specializing in aged spirits.

Both are in soft-opening phase on the ground floor of the newly rebranded Renaissance Downtown Philadelphia at 401 Chestnut St., the former Franklin Hotel that for years was the Omni.

The hotel used to have its dining room on the second floor of the Chestnut Street frontage; that space is now private dining and banquet.

Management wisely took over the lobby with the current setup.

Chez Ben, open from breakfast through 10 p.m. and including an all-day cafe counter, serves raw-bar items, tarte flambée, bites such as crispy chickpea fritters, French onion soup that recalls H.A. Winston’s classic, and entrees such as steak frites and bison burgers, all reasonably priced.

Its bar has an extensive by-the-glass wine selection and French aperitif cocktails. Across the way, on the Fourth Street side, M Brown’s serves mainly finger food that’s been smoked, cured, pickled, and aged.

Ben Franklin and Francophilia imbue the whole concept: a lineup of portraits depicts Franklin’s mistresses, a metal railing’s design includes bifocal glasses, and waiters wear Breton striped shirts (alas, it results in an unfortunate Where’s Waldo? look).

Shah, born and bred in Queens, N.Y., with a kitchen background that includes externships at Momofuku Ko and Per Se, says his menu reflects seasonality. He’s also using local suppliers wherever possible.

Shah also says he had no intention of leaving Philadelphia after his departure from Barcelona.

“This place reminds me of Queens,” he said, specifically comparing his block in Bella Vista with Woodhaven.

- Michael Klein

Saturday’s 47th annual Earth Day celebration reminded residents of Palm Beach — and people across the world — that no matter our geographical, cultural and political differences, we all share the same fragile planet.

On the island, where an outdoor-focused lifestyle is a given for many residents, the natural environment regularly makes headlines, especially when the issue involved is sand erosion, water quality, clean beaches and related challenges.

And even with some 190 countries taking part in the Earth Day events coordinated by the Earth Day Network, much of the day-to-day work to ensure environmental sustainability remains focused on grassroots efforts.

That’s certainly true in Palm Beach, where a number of residents’ conservation efforts have earned recognition this month:

* Gray Foster, a 15-year-old ninth-grader at Palm Beach Day Academy, last week was honored with the Florida Wildlife Federation’s Youth Conservationist Award. It recognized his efforts to ban waste that poses a threat to wildlife, including plastic bags, balloons and plastic.

* Garrison “Gary” Lickle was recognized by the same organization with the Francis S. Taylor Outdoorsman of the Year. Among his achievements: He has worked to promote and protect water quality, control invasive species and even helps stop African poachers.

* Sue and Paul Efron, along with their landscape designer, Keith Williams of Nievera Williams Design, accepted the Preservation Foundation’s Lesly S. Smith Landscape Award on behalf of the couple’s drought-tolerant North End garden, which employs a variety of water-conservation methods, including innovative watering systems.

* Campion Platt, Katie Carpenter and other residents — along with Audubon Florida officials — have won the Town Council’s support for their efforts to restore native plants in the Bingham Island bird sanctuary south of the Southern Boulevard bridge.

All of these residents — and many others — have set an example of environmental responsibility that not only deserves recognition but thanks.

The 2017 Architectural Digest Design Show features top luxury brands of the year and College News magazine takes a sneak peek behind the scenes with interior designer of the stars, American Architect, Campion Platt. The Architectural Digest Design Show is the time to unveil new products from luxury brands and to share innovation in design. This year, Platt hosts a series of products by Jenn-Air with future proof technology that ensures top-of-the-line quality for prolonged future use. The kitchens of the future come with downloadable future-proof technology that anticipate the future. It is always upgradable! So, check our latest video interview from the 2017 Architectural Digest Design Show with Campion Platt and learn how you can keep up with the latest trends in interior design.

CN: What’s new at the 2017 Architectural Digest Design Show?
CAMPION PLATT: This is the best show of its kind! When you come here, every year there is something new. There are great products across the spectrum of all aspects of interior design. There is furniture, lighting, landscapes and accessories from Jenn-Air and companies like them.

CN: How can I get the latest information on interior design?
CAMPION PLATT: This is the Architectural Digest Design Show, so you should go to architecturaldigest.com. It is a great resource for young inspiring designers and architects and to find great products.   

CN: What is future proof technology?
CAMPION PLATT: Future proof technology is the same as saying it is always upgradable. For instance, the Jenn–Air products and the appliances they have will download new software and enhance that appliance for you for many years to come!

CN: How can college students maintain a cheap and affordable place to chill while staying with the trends?
CAMPION PLATT: As an architect and designer, when we search for products, we search by image. We go to google search and we go to image and instead of looking at companies—forget about price for the moment—just look at the images. If you find an image of something you like, you can go to the website and find out the price. There are great product companies out there at all price levels depending on what you can spend.

CN: Do you have any advice for inspiring architects?
CAMPION PLATT: I think by going to archdigest.com and by coming to shows like this can inspire. You can follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Also go to archdigest.com and jennair.com.
– See more at: http://www.collegenews.com/article/in-conversation-with-american-architect-campion-platt#sthash.g9Ew77Ca.dpuf

- David Morales

Recently luxury brands from across the world came together in New York City to share carefully curated design inspiration at the Architectural Digest Design Show (ADDS).

Marking its 16th year, this premier design event draws approximately 40,000 design aficionados who get to experience incredible design displays from more than 400 brands.

As a major sponsor of this event, luxury appliance innovator Jenn-Air teamed up with architect and designer Campion Platt to highlight some of this year’s top picks at the show. From lighting with elegant hand-blown glass to innovative appliances like the Jenn-Air induction downdraft cooktop, join moderator Campion Platt as he highlights a few of his favorite finds at the show.

Interior Design Phenom – Campion Platt has an eye for luxurious style. His dining room at Holiday House is seasonally themed “Black Friday”. Campion’s team has mixed Alcantara (the Italian Kings of textile technology) with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams furniture and accessories. Art connoisseurs will appreciate the decorative details throughout the room and budget conscious consumers will liken to the affordability of the functional furniture. High low details

So here’s the thing: I’ve heard preservationists scoff at the stark juxtaposition between the newly constructed townhouses on Sullivan street just north of Broome, and the quaint 19th century houses across the lane. But I find such contrasts exciting; they are part of the DNA of New York’s architectural landscape, metaphorically linked to the city’s much respected multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-religious panorama.

Inside #40 and #50 Sullivan Street, Holiday House New York founder Iris Danker has orchestrated a group of talented designers for a 2-for-1 show house event benefitting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. And in keeping with the streetscape, diversity is the order of the day…

Right out of the gate, let me remark about my favorite idea in the house: Tina Ramchandani‘s sitting room (image above) with it’s sophisticated ombre walls. Faced with a long rectangular space, Tina adopted a subliminal approach, choosing to beckon visitors to travel from one end of the room to the other (and down a closeted hallway to the bathroom) with a subtle gradation from dark to light in vertical bands — ending with a view of eastern sun. Good stuff.

Another highlight? Harry Heissmann channeling Christian Lacroix circa 1988 with a riotous mix of black-and-white on black-and-white — seems all that’s missing is Pat Cleveland.

Harry explained that the carousel Zebra on the window ledge was his inspiration, which extrapolates through the chetah carpet to the velvet flocked wallpaper to the branch covered ceiling. (Be sure to grab one of those black and white cookies off the Alpha Workshops Tabouret on your visit!)

More black appears in Campion Platt‘s ‘Black Friday’ dining room, replete with stuffed crows perched atop place setting chargers. Graciously proportioned, the space calls out for a crowd with inky black walls setting a dramatic vibe. The variegated-black chevron rug draws you in like a side-winding snake, while the regimented grid created by the casement windows imposes order.

And one final highlight: Joan Dineen‘s master bedroom/sitting room. As someone who’s self-admittedly more interested in the utilitarian approach to decoration often espoused by architects (which Joan is), the spare furnishings, angular silhouettes, and muted color punctuated by a red skeletal chair are most appealing.

Now you’ve probably noticed the spaces I’ve chosen to write about are all meditations on a black and white scheme, but make no mistake: there’s lots of color at this year’s Holiday House. Go visit, it’s worth the trip and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation is a worthy cause.

(open through January 8th – more information on the website — all photos by Alan Barry)

Holiday House Design Shows has announced plans for Holiday House Soho, its ninth-annual NYC-based interior design showcase and its first in NYC’s Soho neighborhood. Top names in design and style will create one-of-a-kind living spaces inspired by holidays and life’s memorable occasions. All event proceeds benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®.

Holiday House Soho will take place in two brand new, state-of-the-art townhouses (40 & 50 Sullivan Street) that are part of the acclaimed 10 Sullivan development, designed by the celebrated, NYC-based architects Montroy Andersen DeMarco and Cary Tamarkin, the site is owned by Atlantic Investors LLC and has been developed by Property Markets Group and Madison Equities. Over twenty-five leading interior designers have brought these townhouses to life with a mix of cutting-edge and classic aesthetics.

Iris Dankner, Founder and Chair of Holiday House, says, “With all of the Holiday House showhouses, our goal is to bring interior design to life in new and fresh ways. After eight years of producing the event in the beautiful, historic Academy Mansion on the Upper East Side, we jumped at the chance to make a move to Soho and do something with more of a ‘downtown’ vibe. This enables us to reach a new audience and grow our support base for the most important aspect of this event— raising money to fight breast cancer.”

Public viewing is available to the public from November 17th, 2016 – January 8th, 2017

11 am – 5 pm (closed on holidays), Thursdays, until 8 pm
Link for general admission ticket purchases to holiday house: holidayhousenyc.com/buy-tickets/

We love love love the annual designer showcase Holiday House—this year, it made a big move downtown to SoHo, adorning two new townhouses at 40-50 Sullivan Street. A few of our favorite design picks from the mix of 20+ established and rising design talents:

For his “Black Friday” dining room, Campion Platt used Alcantara’s Vaalbara Anthracite, a durable, suede-like material typically used for car interiors…as window drapery!

Holiday House Design Shows just opened its ninth-annual NYC-based interior design showcase and its first in NYC’s Soho neighborhood. Top names in design and style will create one-of-a-kind living spaces inspired by holidays and life’s memorable occasions. All event proceeds benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®.

Holiday House Soho will take place in two brand new, state-of-the-art townhouses (40 & 50 Sullivan Street) that are part of the acclaimed 10 Sullivan development.

Iris Dankner, Founder and Chair of Holiday House, says, “With all of the Holiday House showhouses, our goal is to bring interior design to life in new and fresh ways. After eight years of producing the event in the beautiful, historic Academy Mansion on the Upper East Side, we jumped at the chance to make a move to Soho and do something with more of a ‘downtown’ vibe. This enables us to reach a new audience and grow our support base for the most important aspect of this event— raising money to fight breast cancer.”

Holiday House Soho will welcome visitors Tuesdays – Sundays from November 17, 2016 – January 8, 2017.  Ms. Iris Apfel will serve as Honorary Chair for the event. Iris Dankner and Jared Seligman are Co-Chairs. Geoffrey Bradfield, Robert Couturier and Alexa Hampton are Design Chairs.

Listen to today’s episode where I interview Campion Platt who designed the “Black Friday” themed Dining Room. 

check out the amazing room designs!

Get ready for the winter season with a festive trip to the Holiday House Design Show in Soho.

Explore two attached luxury townhouses at 40 and 50 Sullivan Street with spaces created by New York’s most notable interior designers including Campion Platt,  Ryan Korban, Patrick McGrath, Harry Heissmann, Jared Seligman and more. Each designer’s room is based off of a different winter holiday or theme including Friendsgiving, Rosé All Day, St. Lucia Day, Black Friday, Holiday Tea and more.
Begun in 2008 by Iris Dankner, the exhibition promotes breast cancer awareness, with all proceeds donated to breast cancer research. This year, 95-year-old style icon Iris Apfel serves as honorary chair—be on the lookout for the portrait of Apfel by Bradley Theodore in the stairwell.

For the past eight years, the interior designer Iris Dankner has held Holiday House, the design show she founded to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, at a historic mansion on the Upper East Side. “You sort of saw the same faces every year,” said the cancer survivor, adding that it was time for a change.

“She said to me, ‘I want to shake things up!’” recalled Jared Seligman, a top New York real estate broker, who subsequently found her two newly constructed adjacent townhouses downtown in Soho, and enlisted a new guard of talent — including himself — to outfit them. “It’s not just new decorators, it’s also visionaries,” said Dankner, referring in part to the fashion designer Brandon Maxwell, who adorned Ryan Korban’s dark, luxurious sitting room with mannequins wearing his gowns.

Fashion, as it turns out, has emerged has a prominent theme within the showhouse, which opens today and runs through January 8. Like Korban, whose first big project was decorating his shoe store Edon Manor, many of the participants started out not at traditional design firms, but rather in fashion, and it’s evident in the rooms they’ve created.

Patrick Mele worked as an interior stylist for Ralph Lauren before starting his own firm in 2012. His space, a richly layered lady’s boudoir complete with lavender cotton upholstered walls and a Chinese deco carpet, was inspired by the work of fashion illustrator Kenneth Paul Block. “I was trying to evoke that 70’s Parisian world of Diana Vreeland and Sao Schlumberger,” he said.

Next door, Patrick McGrath, who worked at Armani before starting his own company last year, created an elegant gentleman’s dressing room using an 18th-century daybed procured at Christie’s, Loro Piana cashmere curtains, John Currin etchings, and an Hermes valet that once belonged to Jacques Grange. “It’s sort of a mix of everything,” he said.

For her part, Sasha Bikoff, whose m.o. is reupholstering antiques in remnant fabrics from the runways, has fashioned a whimsical flamingo-pink dining room with French Empire chairs in a Pucci silk and a Pierre Cardin lacquered sideboard. Many of the items on display are available on her website and 1st Dibs.
“This is a place where designers can really be creative,” said Dankner. “And I love that most of them went out of their comfort zone.”

Sasha Bikoff, Ryan Korban, Campion Platt, and more transform two townhouses in SoHo for a great cause.

In his dining room, Campion Platt created a dark ode to Black Friday using furniture from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, wallpaper from Alcantara, and a table setting featuring stuffed crows.

Luxury, innovation, and eco-consciousness all converge into Campion Platt’s designs. Backed by a career spanning over 25 years, the world-renowned architect and interior designer’s ecclectic array of projects include residences, boutique hotels, custom furniture, and textile collections. He wrote his first book in 2010, Made to Order, which features a compilation of his published projects accompanied by his design philosophy and personal anecdotes. Campion has been featured on Architectural Digest’s “AD 100” list of the top architects and interior designers in the world.

Though no two of his projects are the same, clean, fresh luxury is the common thread that ties Campion Platt’s designs together. Whether it takes its form through sumptuous finishes like leather, resin, or marble, or through clear, open spaces in the confines of a Manhattan abode, Campion’s take on luxury always combines fine craftsmanship, contemporary touches, and eco-consciousness. Instead of capitulating to preconceived notions, Campion’s designs are driven by detailed wish lists his clients create, yielding highly personalized spaces.

Campion Platt is one of the designers participating in the annual Holiday House Showhouse in Soho, benefitting The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Incollect is the exclusive presenting sponsor of the event. He is designing an extravagant dining room around the well-timed theme of “Black Friday.” Campion’s design will summon the notion of consumerism and excess, juxtaposed with the generous spirit of the holidays. These paradoxical elements create a tension that is fun and fabulous, with a bit of a dark twist. Though Campion is extraordinarily busy preparing for Holiday House, he was able to catch up with us to talk about his plans for the show, his design aesthetic, inspiration and more, as well as give us his top picks on Incollect. “All the pieces I picked have a timeless and personal craft component to theme that makes a more authentic story, and more valuable as an investment piece. One can sense the human hand in their design and fabrication.”
Incollect: Tell us about your upcoming Holiday House showroom! How did the theme of “Black Friday” inspire your design?

Campion Platt: My team and I are always looking for a funny and appropriate take on holidays. We thought of all the fun and elegant ways to depict this consumer pre-holiday we have all become accustomed to. The art and fabric in the room particularly carry the “Black Friday” theme. I like the rooms to be beautiful, but also reflective of the times, and moods.
Incollect: You received your Masters in Architecture from Columbia University. When did you first know you wanted to be an interior designer?

CP: I was always interested in interiors and furniture. From the beginning of my practice, and particularly in NYC, I focused on architectural interiors and the interior design. As we developed more, I focused on fully customized interiors and furniture. 

Incollect: What are 5 words that describe your design aesthetic?

CP: Modern, classic, fresh, fun, smart.

Incollect: Who are some of your favorite designers, architects or artists and how have they influenced you?

CP: I like many of the Italian mid-century architects and designers like Scarpa and Mollino. I appreciate their personal, quirky take on a holistic approach to the design of all things.

Incollect: What nontraditional, unique, innovative materials do you find yourself drawn to?

CP: I find myself being drawn to recycled plastic and graphene. I used recycled plastic in my ECO collection for HBF Textiles. Graphene will be seen in many new products on the horizon because of its incredible structural and conductive properties.

Incollect: Your clients help steer the design process through their detailed wish lists. What is your favorite aspect of working with a client on a project?

CP: The joy my clients feel upon moving into something truly special, something they helped create, is one of my favorite aspects of the work I do.

Incollect: What room or space is most compelling to design? What about it appeals to you?

CP: I think that kitchens, in a traditional sense, will go the way of butler’s pantries. Kitchens are the new family room and as interior designers we all must design to that aesthetic.

Incollect: Are there any particular design movements or periods that you are inspired by?

CP: I find the Glasgow, Italian modernism, Shaker, and traditional Chinese design movements inspiring. I believe all my work has the combination of linear organization and free form organics. I think all my studies and travels have allowed me to sense the appropriate combination of these elements in a satisfying and comforting design.

Incollect: What are your three must-have design elements?

CP: A great lamp to read by, a sofa with character to be proud of, and an organic coffee table to center a room.

Incollect: What do you hope your clients feel when they live in a space you have designed?

CP: Calm and quiet, like the ocean, I want their heartbeat to go down a bit.

Incollect: What type of project is on your wish list and why?

CP: I’d like to develop a new version of retirement housing. Human needs change over time and this sector has not really been fully, properly addressed. Aging in place has become a whole new area of study and design as we begin to accommodate the baby boomers in retiring years. Coupled with the newer field of wellness design, new design finishes, colors and textures become appropriate to this community.

Campion Platt
152 Madison Avenue, Suite 900
New York, NY 10016
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212.779.3835
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Holiday House NYC runs from November 17, 2016 to January 8, 2017, with an opening night party on November 16 from 6:30 – 9:30pm. It is open 11:00am – 5:00pm, and closed on Mondays. Located at the Sullivan Mansions on 40-50 Sullivan Street in New York City, Holiday House supports the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. To learn more about the event, visit http://www.holidayhousenyc.com.

As I’ve gotten older, it’s become increasingly more difficult to thoughtfully select presents for all 50+ on my shopping list, especially distant relatives, coworkers, and obligatory acquaintances. Gift cards look lazy, wine assumes that the recipient drinks, and sweets aren’t appreciated when gyms have shortened hours and cakes and pies are already running rampant around the kitchen (ie. the holidays). For these very reasons, books have become my go-to gift for both genuine book worms and home dwellers with coffee tables in need of literary decoration, which essentially covers all the adults I know. Everyone’s reading preferences are different, so I’ve broken down this list of the best books to give as gifts into the following categories: books for anyone, books for the fashionista, books for the entertainer, books for the interior designer, books for the creative, books for the wanderluster, books for the comedian, and and books for the mindful.

Made to Order is recommended by architects and interior designers alike all over the internet. This lavish color presentation of over 200 images showcases the results of Campion Platt’s unique approach to clean and simple design coupled with an embrace of color in eighteen projects that range in size and location from demure city pied-à-terres to chic lofts and grand country estates.

This four-bedroom rental, located in a 1920 Murray Hill townhouse, has already had its close-up: Designed by celebrity architect Campion Platt, it was featured in Architectural Digest. No wonder: The sprawling duplex is outfitted with striking details that include multiple fireplaces, bay windows, prewar wainscoting, and French doors that open onto its own private patio. All that style and space doesn’t come cheap; the home is listed by Corcoran for $12,500 per month.

On the ground floor, the living area is roomy and bright, the ideal space to gather around the working fireplace once the weather gets chilly; the adjacent dining room, with its view onto the private patio and garden, provides another option for entertaining. And the open kitchen blends rustic and upscale, with its dark wood floors, exposed ceiling beams, gleaming countertops, and stainless steel appliances.

Upstairs, the master bedroom is situated at the rear of the home, allowing for privacy as well as views of the garden. The space feels sumptuous thanks to its high ceilings, pretty bay windows, custom mill work and marble mantle; it also includes a large dressing room. The en-suite bath boasts a double vanity, soaking tub, and walk-in shower.

You’ll find three additional bedrooms on the other side of the unit, although one of them is small enough that it would be better suited as an office, guest room, or nursery. Outside, this private pathway leads to a serene greenspace.

The floorplan reveals an additional three bathrooms, as well as a walk-in closet and washer-and-dryer unit on the second floor. Furthermore, the home is just a block away from the 33rd Street 6 train, making for both a spacious sanctuary and a quick connection to the rest of the city.

- Brick Underground

SHANGHAI, Sept. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — The 38th China International Furniture Fair (CIFF) Shanghai hosted from September 7 to 10 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai brought the public’s attention to pioneering furniture design concepts and products, highlighting modern architecture’s relationship with art through a series of exhibitions, forums and dialogue seminars.

The EAST design show was one of the most popular exhibitions at the 38th CIFF, designers and artists of nine brands and 24 studios from China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia and more displayed unexpected home furniture and décor works and shared the ideas behind the creations as well as the future trend of furniture industry at forums with institutions, buyers and e-commerce representatives.

The show featured two special events, the “EASTOOL Design Show” presented the big ideas of the small folding stool and “48 Stands Youth Collection” showcased various works by young designers.

Spanish artist Cristobal Gabarron presented another solo exhibition titled “Gabarron’s Hub for Artistic Creation by Siza,” which showed the complete design of La Casa Gabarrón (The Gabarron House) project by Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza, including Siza’s first drawings, designs, architectural and manuscript models as well as a large number of photos and videos by Siza and Gabarron. Siza is among the most celebrated and influential architects in the contemporary era and winner of the 1992 Pritzker Prize.

The Pinnacle Awards, also known as the American furniture Oscars, hosted its first exhibition of the first tour in China at the 38th CIFF that included home furniture and décor designs of diverse styles. American architect Campion Platt, Ralph Lauren Home Asia-Pacific representative Brent Smith and Arteriors Home international sales manager Henry Hart also joined the first design master salon on September 8.

“The CIFF is committed to building the bridge to link furniture designers with manufacturers, institutions and buyers, we are very honored to introduce international design maestros and young talents to more audiences and we hope to carry it forward in future CIFF exhibitions,” said committee staff of CIFF.

About CIFF

As the first and largest furniture fair in China, the 38th CIFF is organized by China Foreign Trade Center (Group), Guangdong Furniture Association, China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Light Industrial Products and Arts-Crafts and hosted by China Foreign Trade Guangzhou Exhibition General Corp.

WATERMILL, N.Y. — If the plans of a group of Palm Beach residents come to fruition, there will be more new to see on Southern Boulevard than just the bridge.
There will be a people sanctuary, co-existing with the Bingham Island Sanctuary.

To that end, Katie Carpenter, Campion and Tatiana Platt and Robin Leacock hosted an event to kick off the Audubon Islands Sanctuary project.

The gathering took place July 31 at the home of Robin and RobertLeacock.

The evening included cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a look at proposals to turn the neglected Bingham Island Sanctuary into a jewel of the Intracoastal.

Campion Platt, an architect, will donate designs and plans for the project, which will include paths, yoga stations and overlooks.

They plan for all the permits to be in place by the time the new bridge construction begins so the work can be done at the same time.

More than 50 people attended, including Lea Brokaw, Peter Farmer, David and Margaret Luce, and James and Margo Nederlander.

Stunning interior design and traveling in style? Two things we take pretty seriously at the Decorist studios. In an effort to pay proper tribute to two of our all-time favorite things, we’ve decided to dedicate today’s post to the hotels we’re dying to check out (and a few we’re already smitten with).

From lobbies re-imagined as multi-use gathering spaces to guestrooms appointed like the finest luxury spas, some hoteliers and their designers just know how to elevate the hotel experience to an art form.
Check out these stunningly chic hotels that will definitely give you something to write home about. After all, isn’t it the destination not the journey that really matters?

1. The Palladian / Seattle

Our home away from home during Seattle Showhouse, The Palladian seems to be on the design world’s radar right now.

Brought into being by the Kimpton Hotel Group, the boutique hotel hitmaker, the recently-opened Palladian gets our vote for its retro-eclectic design aesthetic — think old-school rotary phones, quirky portraits, clawfoot tubs — and luxe, hipster vibe that just feels on-point and on-trend. 

One of our fave designers, Nicole Hollis, is the brains behind the Palladian’s award-winning design. We always love seeing her breathtaking work and look forward to experiencing it first hand next week.

2. Haymarket Hotel / London

The whimsical Haymarket mirrors the vibrancy and vitality of its setting in London’s colorful West End theatre district. Unmistakably English, the hotel’s interior marries contemporary references with a classical pedigree in a style that’s been coined “Modern British.”

Recently redesigned by hotel design guru Kit Kemp, much of the furniture is custom made and virtually every surface is covered in a charming, contrasting textile. Kit has effortlessly mixed eras and assigned a new order based on her own set of unconventional design rules. A true English gem.

3. Ett Hem / Stockholm

Formerly a private residence (a grand one, at that), the luxury boutique hotel Ett Hem is a taste of true Scandinavia. Cozy in its winter palette of dove gray, alabaster and Icelandic blues, it offers a low-key luxe in keeping with the laid back but orderly vibe of Stockholm.

Brimming with antiques and personality, each individual space somehow manages to echo the lean, minimal look the Swedes are known for. Designer Ilse Crawford was aiming for a sense of calm and intrigue, and you definitely get that in spades at the Ett Hem. We also love the “indoor-out” spaces with all the comforts of a sitting room in an open-air patio. Truly magical!

4 The Parker / Palm Springs

Decorist’s own authority on all things ‘mid-century,’ Celebrity designer Darren Brown has his fingerprints all over the interior of this exciting desert destination. The Parker Palm Springs is known for its retro modern exuberance that feels funky, fresh and a little Rat Pack-fabulous.

The one-of-a-kind interiors, which Darren collaborated on with Jonathan Adler, can veer toward kitsch but are brought back to a luxurious elegance that effortlessly marries the high with the low — not an easy design feat to pull off this beautifully.

Throw in a full-service spa, three pools, clay courts and gorgeously landscaped grounds and you’ve got yourself a real bucket list contender. 

5. Hotel Alfonso XIII / Seville

Magnificently decorated in the authentic Moorish, Castilian and Andalusian styles, Hotel Alfonso XIII is a taste of old-world Seville as authentic as it comes.

Constructed in 1929 and considered to be one of the most prestigious hotels worldwide, it features a sea of white marble and Moroccan-inspired hand-painted tile.

Just three years ago, it was lovingly refurbished to infuse a posh new glamour to elevate its old-world sensibility. Trend-forward geometric rugs, Moroccan light fixtures and medieval-inspired studded tables create a rich tapestry of texture and color that will, undoubtedly, bring lots of inspiration for your next design project.

6. The Mercer / New York

Last but certainly not least on our list is the Mercer Hotel, designed by newly introduced Decorist Celebrity designer Campion Platt. Located in NYC’s SoHo district, the Mercer is the chic big sister to L.A.’s bohemian Chateau Marmont.

Platt, whose design genius extends to both the Mercer and Marmont (including the residences of many celebrity clients), is known for his signature masculine assertiveness and the ability to effortlessly mix color, materials and finishes. The chic Mercer, with its clean lines and intimate NYC loft-feel, is no exception.

Want to work with a Decorist designer who’s designed a fabulous hotel interior? Many of our talented designers (Campion Platt and Darren Brown, to name a few) have put their personal design stamp on high-visibility hotel projects.

- Decorist Editorial Team

With few Addison Mizner-designed houses remaining in Palm Beach in some semblance of their original condition, this week I took advantage of the opportunity to visit Villa dei Fiori (Addison Mizner, 1921) where its possible restoration/renovation was the subject of an imaginative presentation by interior designer Campion Platt and landscape designer Keith Williams, under the aegis of the Coudert Institute. Since its completion last month, I have taken several strolls to appreciate the rejuvenation of Memorial Fountain and Park at Town Square, a showcase for architect Addison Mizner’s eclectic design talents. Despite the most unseasonable Florida weather, on one recent day I trekked to the wetlands to make note of this season’s bird life, minutes before the crowds converged.

The Future of Design & Architecture: Mizner-Fatio Magic”
Coudert Institute at Villa dei Fiori

“We are not a one-philosophy institute,” said Dale Coudert, founder and chairman of the Coudert Institute, a non-partisan and non-ideological cultural organization. The institute welcomes open dialogue and diverse opinions rather than maintain any pre-conceived agenda as is the policy with many policy groups and think-tanks. This season the Coudert has presented a range of programs, including The Art of Meditation and Staying Calm with Lama Migmar and Making Sense of the Senseless Middle East with Ralph Nurnberger, PhD. On March 9, the Coudert Institute presents sculptor Edwina Sandys who will speak on her grandfather, Winston Churchill: A Passion for Painting, at The Colony Hotel.

Whatever happened to Mizner Plaza?

In January, after years of meetings, arguments, disputes, and discussions, Palm Beach celebrated the completion of a $7.9 million restoration of Memorial Fountain and a makeover of the adjacent Memorial Park at Town Hall Square. Following the recent ballyhoo at the rededication ceremony, officials announced Town Hall Square would be renamed Town Square. But this was not the first time Midtown’s most unique attraction was renamed. In February 1933 on the day of Addison Mizner’s memorial service at his Worth Avenue apartment, the newly elected Palm Beach Town Council made as its first official act a unanimous vote to change the name of Town Hall Plaza to Mizner Plaza, “ … in memorial to the artistic debt Palm Beach owes Addison Mizner.”

The Palm Beach Post reported in a page three story, “Name of Town Plaza is changed to Mizner by action of Council.” The article stated that the council instructed the town’s attorney to incorporate the name change as a part of all the town’s resolutions. In Donald Curl’s authoritative book Mizner’s Florida, he refers to it as Memorial Fountain Plaza, not as a square or a park, keeping with Palm Beach’s penchant for Spanish-Italian references.

Nevertheless, what began as a European-styled plaza has been transformed with hedge rows, large potted plants, fencing, gravel, pastel tables and chairs, and, of all things, a sodded lawn. Fueled by their success, the Town Square Celebration Committee has apparently decided to continue fundraising and make another attempt to open the south side of the fountain’s base to accommodate a staircase leading into what is now a park hedged with oak trees. While the endeavor has met with overwhelming public approval, as in most matters Palm Beach, there have been some caveats. Last week, a resident suggested more tables and chairs. Perhaps, less Tuileries and maybe more Florentine, was the response. Whether Parisian or Florentine, perhaps Phase Two might consider reconfiguring it back into a plaza as it was originally intended.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., March 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Luxury appliance innovator Jenn-Air will once again serve as a major sponsor of the annual Architectural Digest Design Show (ADDS) and host a “Who’s Who” of the design world at its kitchen-themed presentation stage, the Jenn-Air Master Class Studio. Taking place March 17-20 at Piers 92 and 94 in Manhattan, the show is widely considered the nation’s premier luxury design event, attracting over 45,000 affluent consumers and design professionals over four days.

At its extensive display in the “REFRESH” section of the show (booth #353), Jenn-Air will exhibit a collection of its innovative and sleekly designed appliances. They include the first downdraft induction cooktop available in the U.S.; the first Jenn-Air Wi-Fi connected wall oven; and a growing collection of refrigerators featuring the brand’s signature Obsidian interior.
Luxury appliance innovator Jenn-Air will once again serve as a major sponsor of the annual .Architectural Digest Design Show (ADDS) taking place March 17-20 in New York. At its extensive display in the “REFRESH” section of the show (booth #353), Jenn-Air will exhibit its latest collection of innovative and sleekly designed appliances.

Luxury appliance innovator Jenn-Air will once again serve as a major sponsor of the annual .Architectural Digest Design Show (ADDS) taking place March 17-20 in New York. At its extensive display in the “REFRESH” section of the show (booth #353), Jenn-Air will exhibit its latest collection of innovative and sleekly designed appliances.

As in past years, Jenn-Air has partnered with Architectural Digest to offer a complete suite of Jenn-Air appliances valued up to $26,000 to one lucky winner.  Entries must be received by April 15 and those who wish to enter can do so here http://www.archdigest360.com/jenn-air-sweepstakes/. 

“For consumers and design professionals, ADDS is unmatched in bringing the latest trends, the most inspiring experts and the most desired luxury products together in one place,” says Brian Maynard, the brand’s director of marketing. “For Jenn-Air, this is an important opportunity to showcase the design and innovation separating us from other high-end appliance brands.”

On Friday, March 18 from noon to 1:00 p.m., as part of a special “Trade Day” preview, Jenn-Air General Manager Steve Brown will join a panel discussing “THE NEW HOME TECHNOLOGY: CUTTING-EDGE WAYS TO TRANSFORM HOW YOU LIVE.”  Moderated by interior designer and home technology expert Campion Platt, the panel will also include Greg Hu of Nest, Wayne Turett of the Turett Collaborative, Ed Gilmore of Gilmore’s Sound Advice, and Ken Takeuchi of Sony.

Jenn-Air will offer attendees a new installation at the show this year where they can take a moment to recharge.  Located near the café and show office, the Jenn-Air connected kiosk will feature a charging station for mobile or electronic devices.  While taking a break, attendees can learn more about the brand’s new connected wall oven and built-in coffee system which has been incorporated into the kiosk.

Highlights of the show and Jenn-Air brand’s participation will be posted throughout the weekend at jennair.com, facebook.com/jennair, instagram.com/jennairusa and twitter.com/jennairusa.  For additional show details visit http://addesignshow.com.

About Jenn-Air:
Since the introduction of the first self-ventilated cooktop in 1961 and downdraft ventilated range in 1965, Jenn-Air brand has consistently grown its reputation as a technology and design innovator. Its selection of style options includes two distinct stainless steel collections and a cutting-edge Floating Glass finish in black. From downdraft cooktops, wall ovens and professional style ranges to dishwashers, refrigerators and such entertaining essentials as warming drawers, built-in ice machines and wine cellars, Jenn-Air brand offers a complete line of major kitchen appliances. To learn more about the Jenn-Air® appliance collection, or speak with a member of the concierge team, please visit jennair.com, facebook.com/jennair, instagram.com/jennairusa and twitter.com/jennairusa.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160308/341669
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130624/DE37658LOGO

- SOURCE Jenn-Air

Em meio a armazéns e fábricas da região de Tribeca, em Manhattan, um loft antigo, instalado dentro de um galpão, foi transformado no lar de um casal de advogados apaixonado por design e fotografia contemporânea.

Graças à reforma recente, realizada pelo arquiteto norte-americano Campion Platt, o imóvel até então desocupado, de 297 m², virou um refúgio repleto de conforto, com ares bem diferentes dos da vizinhança, essencialmente industrial.

Em meio a armazéns e fábricas da região de Tribeca, em Manhattan, um loft antigo, instalado dentro de um galpão, foi transformado no lar de um casal de advogados apaixonado por design e fotografia contemporânea.

Graças à reforma recente, realizada pelo arquiteto norte-americano Campion Platt, o imóvel até então desocupado, de 297 m², virou um refúgio repleto de conforto, com ares bem diferentes dos da vizinhança, essencialmente industrial.

O conforto foi um dos principais pedidos dos proprietários, assim como espaços adequados para expor seu acervo de fotografia e de itens de design. Campion, que soma no portfólio projetos de casas de celebridades como Al Pacino e Meg Ryan, atendeu aos desejos dos novos clientes com elegância e bom gosto, repetindo sua assinatura marcante, que deu luz também a esse apartamento em Nova York.

“Eles desejavam também uma área social intimista, uma suíte máster elegante e muita madeira”, conta Campion. Novas divisórias, portas e armários de madeira ajudaram a delimitar um número maior de ambientes e, de quebra, trouxeram o aconchego almejado. Os objetos de decoração, por sua vez, ficaram encarregados de trazer alma ao espaço, assim como neste apartamento pontuado por obras de arte.

Para conquistar o semblante atual, marcado por um projeto estratégico de marcenaria, que exalta a coleção de arte e de design do novo morador, foi necessário esquecer completamente a disposição antiga. O resultado final veio para provar que o trabalho valeu a pena.

- Casa Vogue

What if you could rouse a rendering to life, from the flatness of two dimensions to the realism of three? Mixed reality—a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image onto a user’s view of reality, creating a hybrid world where real and holographic items are, well, mixed—isn’t merely the territory of techies, gamers and software engineers. It’s also an innovation that may hold ample, if yet untapped, potential for interior designers. The Microsoft HoloLens, which uses lenses to project holograms onto the viewer’s environment, is now being applied to architecture and construction, with some interesting implications for interior design.

HoloLens is a device you wear on your head, a bit like a halo,” explains Dave Crawford, senior user experience program manager at Microsoft. “It has some transparent lenses on the front that sit on your nose like glasses. It is completely untethered in that it doesn’t require a phone, PC or tablet connection to work; it is a completely self-contained Windows 10 device. Unlike virtual reality, which seals you off from the real world, you can see through the lenses in HoloLens. It continually scans the environment around you and overlays holograms into your space.”

Microsoft hasn’t built software specifically for interior designers yet, though the company is seeking partners to apply for development kits. (App builders can submit their ideas through January 11.) Crawford notes the potential: “Because it is continually scanning the space around you, HoloLens can recognize surfaces and can anchor holograms to them. For example, you could place an item of holographic furniture in your room and walk around it, lean in closer for a better look, etc., and it won’t move from that spot.”

The tool is being used in architecture and construction, such as via a partnership with Trimble, a firm that provides design solutions for architects and structural engineers. “Today, the best way [the hundreds of parties involved on a particular project] have to interact with each other is paper, paper drawings. But people aren’t good at visualizing 3D,”  Doug Brent, vice president of technology innovation at Trimble, explains. 3D technology like the HoloLens allows architects to become fully immersed in an in-progress project, viewing how it will look in the context of a real environment as opposed to on paper. It also allows real-time collaboration, letting users in different locations enter and interact with the environment together. Other current partners include Volvo, Case Western Reserve University, Autodesk and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

There are a number of conceivable benefits for designers: visualizing a space; seeing the full capabilities of a product; collaborating with clients located out of the country (or simply out of the office). “The more we can see, the better we can design,” says interior designer Jon Call of Mr Call Designs. “Over the last year, all the projects I’ve been working on have required measuring professional, high-level renderings. I’ve noticed that I get the renderings, and it takes about three months, and once I get the rendering it goes immediately into marketing/advertising [for commercial projects]. I realize, I could’ve done this so much better if I had these renderings three months earlier. We do the best we can with 2D, but when it comes to more fine-tuned details, technology like HoloLens allow the designer to solve more problems ahead of time—before the project gets into construction.”
“Secondly,” Call says, “I would use it with clients; they’re so busy and we don’t have offices to do reviews during the design. We email imagery and proposals or FedEx materials and plans, but we’re generally doing the reviews remotely. It’s difficult for clients to visualize what an interior is going to look like. When they get samples and 2D drawings, it can be scary for residential clients—when they’re taking their own money and investing it in themselves, they really want to see it.” Call described a frustrating experience after buying a carpet that he loved from Alpha Workshops. “They gave me a two-inch sample, and I have a photo of what it would look like in a larger scale. But the client could not see what it would look like in the finished space. The client got nervous, and ended up going with a safer decision, versus risking an adverse decision. I’m seeing that across the board with residential—clients will go with the safer decision because they can’t visualize it.”

The tool can also bring the apps of a smartphone to life. “While we’ve made incredible advances as an industry in the way in which we interact with computers, we are still constrained by the need to conform to the ways computers recognize our commands through mouse clicks or by touching a screen,” shares Hannah Staton of PR firm WE Communications, which represents Microsoft. “Using holograms, you can pin your digital content, such as apps, information and even multidimensional videos, in the physical space around you, so you can interact with them in the same ways that you interact with other physical objects.” (Check out the above video to see this feature in action.)

For the immediate future, the concept may be relegated to the trade, shares designer Campion Platt of Campion Platt Interiors, who has been following developments in 3D, augmented-reality and virtual-reality technologies and their applications for architecture and interior design. “Hololens, Oculus and Magic Leap are, I believe, important technologies to watch. Using HoloLens today for architecture is an important step in visual communication; however, for interior design, it is still aspirational,” he tells EAL. “HoloLens can be a very good commercial tool used by professionals, but the wide application of this technology must be for average consumers, the ones who have facile use of the smartphone, aren’t gamers, and need to design their interiors with the same ease as making a shopping list for the family.”

Yet, Platt continues, “It’s great that Microsoft is behind HoloLens, as it takes a giant to get the tech and the content partnerships right. These kind of technologies will empower homeowners and change our industry forever. I can’t wait.”

- Editor At Large

It’s that time of year again: Dusk starts to fall at 4:30 P.M., and by 5 P.M., it’s totally dark outside.

The Turks have a name and a holiday for it: Nardoqan. It’s a celebration of the deliverance to light from darkness. And interior designer Campion Platt has interpreted it – with a twist – in a single, poignant room at Holiday House in New York, to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

He calls it the “Therapist’s Office.”

“There are two chairs for couple’s therapy, and reference material for a real therapist’s office,” the 2012 AD Top 100 designer says.

Plus, hand-knotted Turkish rugs by Çinar in black, blue, and dark hues, lush tones and textures from Larsen fabrics, and a black-painted ceiling for pondering the universe. It’s aimed at evoking the winter solstice on December 21st, when darkness is defeated by the emerging new sun.

“I spend all my time in New York, which is a very high energy city – so I wanted soothing futuristic music, dim lighting and quiet for interacting with someone,” he says. “I wanted to focus on warmth and the light from the fireplace.”

That stone Chesney fireplace stands at the heart of the room, surrounded by an upholstered wall panel set against a background of copper- and slate-toned wallpaper by Cowtan & Tout. Milky blown glass lanterns are by artist Moshe Bursuker.

Size was an issue for the designer, but one he turned to his advantage. “It was too small for a bedroom or lounge – but just right for an office,” he says. “I always like to do interesting theme rooms – you can test it out with people.”

He filled it sparingly with Bright furniture, including a daybed, along with accessories by Christofle. It’s all designed to inspire and comfort people on a personal journey out of darkness into light – especially those affected by breast cancer.

And it excels at that mission. “People said it was the most comfortable room in the whole house,” he says.

Which is the way a therapist’s office ought to feel.

- Architects & Artisans

Inspired by Nardoqan, the Turkish Winter Solstice, designer Campion Platt wanted his room to evoke the time “when darkness is defeated by the emergence of the new sun.” Combining a shadowy palette with a copper-lined fireplace and warm lighting, Campion told DecoratorsBest that his goal was to incite personal reflection. For a similar look, choose a theme that inspires you, and use colors as the medium to communicate it.

Noted interior designer Campion Platt: “Our concept is inspired by Nardoqan, the Turkish Winter Solstice when darkness is defeated by the emergence of the new sun. This is evoked in both the shadowy palette of our design and in its unexpected function.

Drawing on the mysterious atmosphere of Nardoqan, our room is enveloped in magically intricate Turkish rugs by Çinar, and richly layered in somber but lush tones and textures. The flicker of flames in a bold, stone Chesney fireplace, surrounded by copper toned wallpaper and warm Edison bulbs in lanterns by glass artist Moshe Bursuker shed a glimmer of light on our solstice theme. To express the mystical meaning of Nardoqan, a Therapist’s Office lies at the heart of our plan, complete with elegantly structured Bright furniture, including an inviting daybed. Here, one embarks on a journey of personal transformation, from darkness to light.”

- Bill Indursky

Hi! Its that time of year again – hard to believe we are going to Holiday parties because its so ridiculously unseasonably warm in NYC right now – but we are!

The Holiday House NY officially opens its doors again this week, and yesterday I was invited in for the press preview. I spent the morning on two school trips with both kids, so I was kind of beat by the time I got there. Camera battery was also beat, so by the end I popped out my iPhone. So I’m apologizing for photos that are not superior, but I still thought you all would enjoy a peek.

Click the link to the left so see images

Color, whimsy, fun and sophistication prevail at this year’s Holiday House NYC. Each room of the house is inspired by a theme or holiday. Designs include a game room; a glamping retreat, complete with the soothing sounds of nature; and a sexy Valentine’s Day room with a large bowl of Hershey Kisses in the fireplace. Each of the 21 participating designers gives his or her own interpretation of a holiday theme. The house is part of the eighth annual fundraiser benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

The rooms are not intended to create a unified interior. Instead, much like a fashion show, they are created independently to showcase each designer’s personal style. Click on the link to look at what the designers have put together this year.

Holiday House — a decorator show home held annually on New York City’s Upper East Side — could not be more fittingly named. For one, the house provides the gift of good health: all proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. In the past seven years, the organizers of Holiday House have donated nearly $1 million dollars to fund breast cancer research and support women fighting the disease.

But the Holiday House also offers another gift, one specifically pointed toward 21 very lucky interior designers. This gift is the opportunity to decorate a room in the exceptionally beautiful 1920s limestone Academy Mansion, located on one of the city’s toniest blocks. Told only to loosely base their concept on a particular holiday, these designers were given carte blanche to makeover their rooms from floor to ceiling, lending their own unique imprimatur to the home. The results are jaw-dropping, entirely transformative and speak to the singular vision of each designer.

All photography courtesy of Holiday House NYC. “Before” photographs by Carl Bellavia. “After” photographs by Alan Barry.

Widely known for his progressive melding of luxurious and contemporary designs with sustainable technologies, architect and interior designer Campion Platt has made his career designing homes for the likes of Al Pacino, Meg Ryan and Hamptons author Jay McInerney. Only using the finest materials and cutting edge products to develop his designs, Campion is focused on creating efficient, conversational and modern designs utilizing eco-friendly technology – the same mantra he brings to his Hamptons home life where he is a doting husband to wife Tatiana, and father of four, three of which are under the age of five.

Campion’s east end home life is a constant balancing act of creating child-friendly spaces, while still remaining true to his design aesthetic. While his professional approach is clean and contemporary, always using rich colors and interesting fabrics, his personal style is unique all on its own, reflecting his lifestyle: family oriented, active and colorful. Campion takes our readers on a tour of his stunning Watermill home in this NEW KDHamptons Design Diary, below:

KDHamptons: How long have you been summering in the Hamptons? Why do you love it so much?

Campion Platt: I have been coming east since 1981. Over the years, I have lived in Southampton, Sagaponack and Amagansett, but call Watermill by the beach home now. The hamlet of Watermill consists of a windmill, a few shops and restaurants, and no real “Main Street” to speak of, but it has great access to all our friends and the beaches.

KDHamptons: What does a perfect day in the Hamptons look like for you and your family?

Campion: In 7 words: slumber, pancakes, beach, naps, sports, barbeque, fireside s’mores! A typical perfect day would be a morning swim with the kids, followed by a quick stop at Ye Olde Bakery in Southampton for fresh morning pastries, eaten on the street bench, then home for an outdoor shower and breakfast, a little reading…..Then it’s off to the beach with the family, lunch, playing around house, early dinner, sitting around the fire pit looking at the stars – it’s all about the kids. Nighttime ends with reading under the covers wearing a miner’s headlamp.

KDHamptons: You are such hands-on dad, what is something you are looking forward to this summer with the kids?

Campion: We planted an organic garden to teach the kids the fundamentals of living healthy, to understand how things grow, and to learn where one’s food comes from. Foraging the garden for a fresh dinner with the kids is something I love to do all summer.

KDHamptons: How would you describe the design of your Hamptons home? Do you have a favorite design element?

Campion: The love shack − now with kids.  The outdoor shower is hands-down the best room! We live in a small beach cottage – the redeeming features being that it is close to the beach and on a pond – so we are close to the water all the time.

Campion’s Bedroom Tip: The design of a bedroom should be easy and soothing to the eye, letting in the light [even though the room is to sleep in]. Curtains are my benchmarks. While the bed is the most ergonomically important for good rest, the spirit of the room contributes greatly to calming the mind.

KDHamptons: Please share your top three Hamptons design resources?

Campion: Southampton is happening! HomeNature just built a fab new store, AERIN is open on Main Street, and Hagins & Mortimer are a designer’s must.

KDHamptons: Do you have any tips to share when it comes to designing a great room for kids?

Campion: I would say think low, rich, and textural. Kids have a great, and very detailed vision of the world. They love to hide, dream, and play hard. I love secret spaces and try to incorporate one in all of my projects.

- Kelli Delaney

If you follow us on Instagram, you probably saw that our Chief Curator Anna Brockway, was recently on a panel with interior designer and architect Campion Platt talking about the intersection of technology and design. Campion is no stranger to the world of luxury. As a thought leader in the eco-friendly and technology-driven design space with vast experience in custom architecture and interiors, we are very excited that he’s listing some of his favorite pieces on Chairish. We also took the time to chat with him about design technology and how it affects his commitment to clean, fresh luxury.

What is your design motto?

Fresh, modern and personal.

What is the best design tip you’ve ever received?

Successful design comes in layers that reinforce a simple idea.

How has modern day technology affected the way you design interiors throughout your career?

The design tools have not changed much in last few years because of the technological barrier to true 3D design. I believe you will see that change in the next year with true 3D options.

What are you most excited for in the future of interior design and technology?

I’m looking forward to true 3D design with true materiality, color and lighting. New platforms like http://www.insidemaps.com coming to market later this year will transform the design possibilities for the average consumer. Designers will be paid more for their expertise than just to generate a discount for their clients.

Is there ever a point where smart homes can be “too smart”? (The movie Her, anyone?) Where and how do you draw the line?

The only limit to Smart Homes is the human mind. We will continue to create models that duplicate our hands on care and maintenance of our home, but as the technology progresses, the functions will migrate into the background service role as forward-thinking user friendliness devices. Check out the new movie Ex-Machina for a glimpse of our future.

For those who are people who are just starting to explore the idea of the connected home and are overwhelmed, what advice would you give them?

Start simple with NEST products, thermostats and smoke alarms.  The ease of use of these and other products will convert even the most timid.

- Chairish

While technological breakthroughs in the last 10 years have had a significant impact on the world of interior design, future innovations are poised to permanently change the relationship between consumers and designers.

Industry experts speaking on the “The Internet of Design: How Technology is Changing the Design Landscape” panel during D&D Market Week agree that developments in 3D visuals and live-streaming will allow consumers to use the Internet to participate more directly in interior design. It is important for brands to take advantage of these new technologies as they become available and to seamlessly integrate them into their online and mobile marketing strategies.

“The internet is a great equalizer, and it allows people to find information,” said Campion Platt, architect and interior designer. “There is a lot of technology in gaming that is coming into the interior design world.

“Technologies derive from other markets. Bandwidth advances in the future will allow us to upload videos and create rich interactive environments.”

The third degree
The new developments in technology that are taking place have the ability to affect interior design in a number of ways. While social networks provide new communities, changes in photography and bandwidth speed can alter the way in which consumers view products online.

In recent years, innovations in social networking have fostered a unique space for designers and consumers to connect online. Web sites like eBay and Facebook have created communities for people with similar interests to share thoughts and images with one another.

Newer applications such as Instagram and Snapchat have a large potential to bring consumers together in new ways. For example, Chairish has begun hosting live shopping trips via Instagram in which a designer posts images online and consumers can bid in real time.

Live-streaming apps such as Periscope will facilitate these experiences, giving consumers access to products and designers that may not be available locally.

Improvements in photography and digital imaging can allow consumers to view products more accurately before purchasing. Innovations in 3D visuals make it easier to see scale and proportion in images, providing a clearer picture of what a room will look like when it is finished.

Some brands have already begun to take advantage of these new technologies. For example, U.S. linen maker Matouk helped consumers visualize their “perfect bed” with its first online configurator.

For example, Matouk allows both retailers and consumers to mix and match bedding to create their own combinations, which appear on a photorealistic 3D bed. Since it can be difficult to imagine how the range of possibilities would look once on an actual bed, this tool will help to make the decision process easier, and make consumers more confident in their final choice (see story).

Intellectual property
New technology can also be used to improve products directly, offering unique solutions by targeting consumers’ specific needs. Smart products can use environmental cues to obtain information and react accordingly.

This technology could allow appliances such as dishwashers and ovens to be powered remotely, so that consumers have the ability to turn them off or on from a distance. These innovations are not only convenient for the consumers, but also environmentally friendly and waste reducing.

Some companies have already begun to offer smart appliances for luxury kitchens. For example, German faucet and fixture brand Dornbracht helped make running water more high-tech with a new Smart Water system.

From remembering family member’s preferences in the shower to measuring water for consumers in the kitchen, the concept is designed to “enhance everyday experiences.” As technology becomes more integrated in consumers’ lives, enabling electronic controls in the kitchen and bathroom provides a service (see story).

This new technology will undoubtably change the relationship between designers and consumers.

“There is a fusion between the Internet and designers,” Mr. Platt said. “Better tools are coming to help everyone in the industry.

“Designers are becoming more editors and curators of peoples’ taste instead of doing the shopping for them, because they can do that on their own and get discounts on their own now.”

- Kay Sorin

SCOTT SELTZER’S beach house in Sagaponack, N.Y., would have been finished in half the time, if not for the screening room. That one room took two years, but Mr. Seltzer, who works in finance, has no regrets.

“I lived in small apartments my whole life,” said Mr. Seltzer, 52, who grew up in Queens and now lives in Manhattan. “When we were building this house, I said I’d like a screening room. I could watch movies or the news. Then I thought, let’s make this special.”

It was that word “special” that doubled the project’s time for one room in his 8,000-square-foot home, taking more time to finish than the spa with the Turkish marble floors or the wine cellar.

“What most people call screening rooms are glorified dens, with a big television and leather chairs, maybe some stadium seating,” he said. “I wanted mine to have a vision. I feel it’s one of the most impressive screening rooms in the country.”

The screening room, which is oval, has a hand-painted ceiling that mixes silver and gold leaf with Swarovski crystals.

He declined to say how much the entire project cost, but said he spent $350,000 on the screening room alone. The house was valued for tax purposes at $3 million last year, though the actual value is certainly higher when the renovations and land are factored in.

After faltering slightly, luxury building is again booming in the traditionally high-end parts of the country, like South Florida and the Hamptons, as the economy continues to show healthy signs, architects and designers say. But even people with more modest homes in mind are turning their desires into reality. A study to be released next week from Liberty Mutual said that 44 percent of Americans were planning to move or renovate their homes this year.

The idea of building a dream home can captivate many people’s imaginations. It allows them to create spaces like screening rooms that are uniquely theirs. There is, after all, only so much you can do with bedrooms and dining rooms.

But those grand plans do not always come off smoothly. There are reasons for that and blame to be shared among clients, architects and builders.

“It’s very hard for someone who is not trained to get all the subtle nuances of the houses right,” said Campion Platt, an architect and interior designer, who worked with Mr. Seltzer on his home. “It’s about scale and proportion. Until they see it all assembled, they can be surprised.”

The toughest spaces are not screening rooms, he said, but great rooms, those vast open spaces meant to be the convening spot of a home. “It has to do with the scale and placement of the furniture,” he said.

But people make seemingly smaller mistakes that have larger ramifications. They skimp on lighting and tile, said Shane Inman, an interior designer who specializes in kitchens and baths.

And just as bad as having too much furniture in the great room, people don’t allow enough space for a kitchen to be functional. “They don’t know how many inches they need to walk past something,” Mr. Inman said.

To minimize those gaffes that detract from a dream home, many people with means hire a team to help them, such as architects, contractors, craftsmen and landscapers. Finding them is not easy. One option is the famous architect route, picking a Richard Meier or Robert A.M. Stern, the dean of the Yale University School of Architecture. But that is out of reach of all but the wealthiest people, and even those who can afford them need to want a house that matches the architect’s style. Another option is to seek referrals from friends.

John Patrick, founder of Above the Fold, a New York talent agency with a focus on home construction, is trying to create a gallery system where he will assemble teams of architects and contractors for people who want to build luxury homes.

“There is not a place for people to make a credible and insightful decision about an architect or interior designer,” he said. “A budget doesn’t dictate whether a building could be iconic. If someone has an intention, they can make it work.”

For many people, channeling that intention comes from finding an architect they have chemistry with. That relationship will keep the project on track and still allow clients to realize their vision.

“You have to trust that your architect, and your contractor, too, is not there milking you to get as much money out of you as possible,” said Jane Sachs, design principal at HS2 Architecture. “The moment it gets adversarial it falls apart. We have to believe everyone is there trying to do the best job they can do.”

When Robert and Carol Aicher decided to renovate a home they owned in Traverse City, Mich., they were living in New York City, where he was working as a lawyer. They were nervous about the distance, but also concerned about remaking a home they had once co-owned with her sister.
They hired Mr. Inman to renovate the house, which sits on a bay. “He gave us a number at the beginning, and we probably ended up spending 15-20 percent more than that, but mostly because of changes we made,” Mr. Aicher said.

Mr. Inman suggested a second-story deck to capture the water view, but also smaller touches like a built-in cutting board that could be flipped over to empty the scraps into a garbage can below. In the laundry room, he put in drying racks that hide away when not in use.

“Those details made mundane tasks seamless,” Mr. Aicher said. “They’re not really ground-shaking, but they’re nice to have.”

Mr. Aicher would not disclose the cost of the renovation, but said, “for up here it was a huge amount of money.” Those extra touches are what often drives the price up.

“It always boils down to two things: to money and to how bad you want it,” Mr. Inman said. “I had a client who bought a $20,000 grill. He said, ‘I just have to have it.’”

For those creating a dream house through renovation and addition, there is, it seems, a fairly direct correlation among authenticity, patience and cost.

A house Ms. Sachs worked on for Bob Doyle, who manages country musicians including Garth Brooks, and his wife, Alex von Hoffmann, was on 750 acres outside Nashville. They decided to restore the old part of the house and use wood from other buildings on the property for the interior finishes on the addition.

“It was a recycling of resources that was unusual,” Ms. Sachs said. “It would have been cheaper for me to knock it all down and buy reclaimed lumber from someone else. It felt irresponsible to them.”

It also took them over three years to finish the job. For most projects that stretch beyond 12 to 18 months, seemingly small changes can ripple through the entire project.

“It’s not like shopping where I return the pair of pants and I get the credit back,” Ms. Sachs said. “The pants are tied to my foundation, which is tied to my power, which is tied to my A.V. These plans are a tight puzzle: You take one little piece out and there is a big domino effect.”

For a recent interior design project for a 10,000-square-foot house, Mr. Platt’s firm put together a 260-page book of ideas, including ones that would not work. And that was just a first pass.

Tony Ingrao, an architect who has worked with celebrities like Kim Cattrall, said first-timers needed to be flexible, above all else.

“The best projects are always a collaboration between the client and the designer,” he said. “You can push each other, and it goes back and forth, and it’s really fabulous.”

Mr. Seltzer continues to love his home and his screening room. But he still tinkers. He recently worked with Mr. Platt on a custom-built garbage shed.

“The home can be a layperson’s own art to express who you are,” Mr. Seltzer said. “We wanted something that was comfortable and inviting, which we have, but not too overly formal. And not too rustic. We wanted something elegant too.”

In other words, a mix of aesthetics that reflects an individual’s taste and preferences.

- By PAUL SULLIVAN

To say it has been a long winter would be an understatement. The weather forecast for the first day of Spring even includes snow flurries, but all those daffodil leaves bravely poking through the ground give us hope that beautiful weather is just around the corner.

To get us in the mood, we are celebrating the Spring Equinox by reflecting on inspired displays of flowers – both real and artistic interpretations – in past Holiday House design spaces.

For Holiday House Hamptons in 2014, Campion Platt infused his master bedroom with an exuberant, feminine feel by having de Gournay‘s oversized lilies (‘Lilium’ on Custom Cream Edo painted silk) dance over the headboard, which was upholstered in a fresh, green fabric from Beacon Hill.

Jennifer Duneier‘s 2011 Easter themed room for Holiday House NYC was also inspired by the season of rebirth.  Traditional Home said, “The pink tones of the flower photograph reference the symbols of Spring in an elegant, sophisticated way.”  Vases by Lladro and a custom designed chair brought to life by Avery Boardman also reflect the floral forms while the geometric “Kikko Trellis” wall covering by Osborne & Little plays the support that holds them up.

For her “Spring Forward” room in 2012, Tobi Fairley gathered delicate pinks in the peonies, furnishings, art and accessories to represent the Spring spirit, which seems to float gently on top of the strong black and white background.

Laura Krey brought even more of Spring to our winter show house in 2014 with this exquisite wall installation of porcelain flowers by Brooklyn-based artist Syra Gomez, which were scattered across Farrow & Ball‘s bird-like Yukutori wallpaper.

In 2013, J+G Design breathed some fresh air onto the grand marble stair landing of the early 20th century mansion that houses Holiday House NYC with custom Fromental panels featuring flowering, bird-filled trees.

Honoring Holiday House NYC’s first year benefiting The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in 2012, we were thrilled to exhibit the artwork of BCRF founder Evelyn Lauder, much of which was inspired by Spring’s floral bounty.

And now to get you even more in the mood for the season (or to forget about the possible snow!), here is a refreshing cocktail suggestion, courtesy of Campion Platt:

Spring Awakening Cocktail

Gin, Lillet and citrus pop on the palate in this refreshing cocktail from Drink. Well. In Austin.

3/4 oz. gin
3/4 oz. Lillet Rouge
3/4 oz. Paula’s Texas Lemon (or substitute triple sec)
3/4 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
Absinthe (for rinsing the glass)
Tools: shaker, strainer, fine strainer
Glass: coupe

Rinse a chilled coupe with absinthe. In a shaker, combine the remaining four ingredients, shake with ice and fine-strain into absinthe-rinsed coupe.

- Holiday House NYC

Plum was one of fall’s top hues, and Campion Platt made the color look stunning in this urban living room by balancing it with fur, silk, metallics and sheers. This dreamy space makes us want to move in right now!

Perspective plays a major role in producing true perceptions — a fact that organizers of the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show know well.

Toward that end, Palm Beach Show Group’s CEO Scott Diament and the American Red Cross have produced their annual Designer Showcase, featuring six room vignettes created by interior designers using items available from vendors in the show. The show is open to the public Saturday through Tuesday at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, with a by-special-ticket-only preview tonight.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view and purchase fine art from across the broad spectrum of styles that include old master, German expressionist, 18th- and 19th-century European, American Regionalist, modern and contemporary. They also will have the opportunity to browse collections of silver, glass, textiles, sculpture, porcelain, Asian art, furniture and antique and estate jewelry.

But how might buyers’ selections fit within their home environments? “We created the showcase to give buyers help in selecting items, showing rooms that work for today’s lifestyle,” Diament said. “Our dealers benefit, as do the buyers and the designers.”

Using treasures selected from the show’s 160 dealers, augmented by other items, this year’s showcase will demonstrate how art and antiques can be used to enhance one’s home decor. Participating designers including the showcase’s curator, Campion Platt, along with Lars Bolander, Jennifer Garrigues, Suzanne Kasler, Gil Walsh and William and Phyllis Taylor.

Showcase designers will also participate during a 4 p.m. panel discussion Saturday titled “What’s New, Palm Beach,” moderated by Veranda Interiors Editor Carolyn Englefield.

Here’s a look at three of the vignettes.

Campion Platt: Hollywood Glamour

Palm Beach and New York designer Campion Platt’s has designed his lounge to be an interactive, multipurpose space that could be used for entertaining as well as for yoga.

Platt says his idea of luxury combines fine craftsmanship and contemporary styling with eco-sensitive design. He often selects opulent and unexpected finishes to accentuate spatial forms. The lounge’s palette of gold, silver, black and white recalls Hollywood glamour, emphasized by a portrait gallery wall featuring photographic works by Alex Guofeng Cao from Cavalier Galleries in Greenwich, Conn.

And when it comes to luxury, he says, more is more, with a choice of dramatic Art Deco furnishings: a Jules Leleu daybed from Valerio Art Deco in Coral Gables, a pair of Jacques Adnet mirrored black lacquer tables and a refined French-limestone mantel from Decorations of Palm Beach.

Taylor & Taylor: In a Marine Mood

William and Phyllis Taylor of Taylor & Taylor Inc. in Miami Beach are known for designs showcasing indigenous elements of climate and water to capture a carefree ambiance of the tropics.

For the showcase, they have created what they describe as the ultimate Florida sport fisherman’s den, with a Hemingway sensibility achieved by a mix of mid-century modern pieces in wood, chrome, leather and soft-hued marine tones.

A vintage Biedermeier desk from Hatchwell Antiques of London is the room’s centerpiece, and a sea-life inspired carpet from Orley Shabahang lends a tidal energy. The color palette combines soft ocean blues and neutrals punctuated with the shine of metal accessories.

Gil Walsh: Sitting Pretty

For her sitting room, designer Gil Walsh of West Palm Beach and Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, has teamed up with lifestyle guru Aerin Lauder — daughter of Palm Beach residents Ronald and Jo Carole Lauder — and her collections of furniture, fabrics, lighting and decorative accessories.

Walsh’s vignette features pieces from Lauder’s home collections along with selections from the show, curated to present a room the designer describes as timeless with an unexpectedly youthful quality. Items drawn from the show’s vendors include a 1962 abstract painting by Carl Holty, 18th-century Italian mirrors and French pieces from the 1930s and ’40s.

Architectural Digest’s editors present their favorites, from stately and traditional to sleek and modern

“The interiors are open and refreshing and take in the local spirit,” architect Campion Platt says of the Palm Beach, Florida, house he and his wife, Tatiana, renovated. A mirror surrounds the fireplace in the living room. Platt designed the club chairs, the sofa, the low table, and the banquette. (September 2009)
Photo: Ken Hayden

The refined aesthetic of Sony’s new 4k Ultra Short Throw Projector allows for a more freely enjoyed high-definition viewing experience. The signature product is part of Sony’s revolutionary vision, “Life Space UX,” which aims to transform preconceived ideas of living space through immersive user experiences and innovative technology, enabling users to enjoy entertainment content more liberally, without the spatial constrictions of previous models. Placed directly in front of the wall, the projector’s laser light casts a 4,000 pixel resolution, high-definition image and creates an expansive wall canvas, while its sleek design takes up minimal space and enhances the design of the interior.

The modular design of the projector integrates the cabinets, speakers, and projector into a single unit. In order to maintain interior elegance, the top cover of the device closes flat when not in use, the cabinet units provide additional storage to accommodate other home electronics, and the integrated speakers eliminate the exposure of cables.

Premium manufacturing technologies enable the harmonious merging of lens and laser to create superlative image quality. The unique innovation behind the precision lens incorporates Sony’s technological advancements in order to a project a 4k picture with a Digital Cinemas Initiative-based resolution up to 147 inches, without any electronic enhancement of pixels. The laser light source is composed of blue laser diodes and showcases an automatic optimization feature that enhances the contrast in accordance with the scene. Thus, the technology produces a high-contrast image with maximized black and white levels and an optimal color spectrum.

The design of the 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector addresses the challenges faced by many urban apartment dwellers when trying to make the most out of small spaces. The projector’s capacity to operate while directly adjacent to the wall enables the opening up of interior space. According to Domus Design creative director Babak Hakakian, the projector “can always be on, creating different moods in your home. Or it can be turned off — it’s there but not there. Its genius is that it has the power to create beautiful, thrilling or relaxing living environments, yet never intrude.” The ability of the design to fade into the background when not in use makes it the ideal design for creating multipurpose living spaces.

Designer Campion Platt, art director Jens Ahlemeyer, and Babak Hakakian collaborated to unveil Sony’s latest novelty at Manhattan’s Waterfall Mansion. From a lush living room to a sleek sports lounge, the interior spaces were transformed into customized backdrops for the sleek aluminum projector. The recently restored historic mansion on East 80th Street, which was once the home and workspace of fabric designers D.D. and Leslie Tillett, currently functions as an art gallery that houses the largest indoor waterfall sculpture. The creative space of the Upper East Side edifice served as a fitting backdrop for the Sony debut, as it explored the projector’s urbane furniture-like design in its capacity to complement an intricately rendered, sophisticated interior space.

- Hayley Arsenault

Interior designer and architect Campion Platt and Domus Design Collection created model rooms to show of Sony’s new discreet yet powerful projector, yours for just £30,000 (as long as you live in New York)

Having a huge television set may once have been something of a status symbol; but not everyone wants a large and intrusive piece of technology spoiling the elegant lines of their living room.

Interior designers often tackle this problem by hiding the TV in a cabinet or even making it sink down into a recess in the floor when not in use; increasingly, though, designers and style-conscious home-owners are doing away with TV sets altogether, opting instead for discreet yet powerful projectors that can turn a blank wall into TV at the touch of a button.

Today, Sony launched its latest offering, the 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector, which at the moment is only available to New Yorkers.
Placed inches from an open wall, the projector’s laser light source has the ability to cast a 4K Ultra High-Definition image up to 147-inches, creating a wall-sized canvas and transforming living spaces into home cinemas.

And it’s more than just a TV: According to Sony, ‘Blank walls become high-definition “entertainment windows”—cinema-like movie screens, gallery walls to display favourite art, or even virtual windows into far-away places—offering uniquely immersive entertainment experiences.’

For the launch event, Sony collaborated with interior designer and architect Campion Platt, Domus Design Collection partner and creative director Babak Hakakian and Art Director Jens Ahlemeyer to create model rooms in Manhattan’s Waterfall mansion.

Sony has also collaborated with ddc to showcase the 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector in the retailer’s flagship showroom at 136 Madison Avenue, amid its offerings of fine furnishings.

Unsurprisingly, it’s not cheap: the 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector costs $50,000 (£31,000) and can be ordered online.

Coverage is initially available throughout most of the New York metropolitan area and will be gradually expanded to other areas, beginning with the Los Angeles area in the coming weeks.

Sony Electronics today announced that its sleek, state-of-the-art 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector is available for purchase by consumers in the New York City metropolitan area beginning today. The introduction of the projector is the first step in realizing Sony’s “Life Space UX” vision, a new user experience that enables people to enjoy entertainment content more freely, beyond preconceived ideas of living space.

“The 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector provides a completely new and innovative life space experience that only Sony can deliver,” said Michael Fasulo, Sony Electronics President and COO. “We believe there is a healthy appetite in the luxury entertainment marketplace for state-of-the-art design and technological advancement, and we are excited to see how consumers respond to what we believe is a very special and transformative product.”

For today’s launch event, Sony collaborated with noted interior designer and architect Campion Platt and Domus Design Collection Partner and Creative Director Babak Hakakian and Art Director Jens Ahlemeyer to create model rooms in Manhattan’s Waterfall mansion to realize new life space experiences with the 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector. In addition, Sony has taken the unique step of working with ddc to showcase the 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector in the retailer’s flagship showroom at 136 Madison Avenue, amid its offerings of fine furnishings.

Placed inches from an open wall, the projector’s laser light source has the ability to cast a 4K Ultra High-Definition image up to 147-inches, creating a wall-sized canvas and transforming living spaces into evolving environments. Blank walls become high-definition “entertainment windows” — cinema-like movie screens, gallery walls to display favorite art, or even virtual windows into far-away places — offering uniquely immersive entertainment experiences. With the 147″ image, your favorite movies and sports appear on a grand scale. And, the projector uses Laser Light Source to create an image with stunning brightness and color accuracy. The Laser Light Source reaches peak brightness quicker than conventional projector lamps, and lasts up to ten times longer.

The 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector’s stylish, furniture-like design, featuring lavish use of aluminum, harmonizes with existing living spaces. The refined aluminum finish makes any living room look more luxurious. When it’s off, the all-in-one design looks like an elegant piece of furniture. The speaker units eliminate exposed cables and the cabinet units accommodate other home electronics for neat storage.

Easy to install and operate, it’s simply set next to an open wall and plugged in to begin experiencing large screen, 4K Ultra HD images. Consumers can enjoy current video content services from IP, satellite or cable providers as well as 4K content sources, including Video Unlimited 4K, Netflix and 4K content shot on Sony’s expanding range of 4K Handycam® camcorders. Sony is also currently providing free ambient content that can be viewed through its FMP-X10 4K Ultra HD Media Player to give 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector customers an additional way to enjoy their life space.

The 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector will retail for $50,000 and can be ordered by calling Sony Electronics at 866-294-7669 or online here. Coverage is initially available throughout most of the New York metropolitan area and will be gradually expanded to other areas, beginning with the Los Angeles area in the coming weeks. To confirm if your address is within the area of coverage, call 866-294-7669.

AD100 designer Campion Platt recently partnered with Beacon Hill to conceive a lavish, color-filled master bedroom for Holiday House Hamptons.

Adorned in grandly scaled patterns—Olavanna Ikat in Magenta for the drapes and Perspective in Mint for the headboard—the room captured the joie de vivre of its fictional owner, who Platt wittily referred to as a “social cougar.”

Whether it’s transitioning from summer to fall or balancing patterns and textures, designers are revealing their best style secrets on Go Design Go’s Tip Tuesday. This week, designers Denise McGaha, Campion Platt and Laura Umansky and architect Richard Sammons shared their favorite ways to light up interiors.

“I approach lighting first with function—what are you going to DO in this room?—then design. Distinctive style is important when choosing a chandelier or lamp, and while lamps can match, they don’t have to… at all. In kitchens function is key. We add layers of light and can lights; over and under cabinet task lighting; and lastly, decorative lighting with pendants and chandeliers. Use color and shape to complement your kitchen design, as I did in this great yellow kitchen. Also, these great pendants have a metallic lining to the shade casting warm light over the entire space and keeping the kitchen from feeling too cold.”—Denise McGaha (interior shown above)

“A lot of people consider furniture and decoration paramount in design; however, correct lighting plays a crucial role in creating the spirit of an interior or exterior, for that matter. What is important for an inviting warm interior is the source of light, but also its temperature. Many more designers are using LED and energy-saving lighting now because the color rendering is very close to that of typical incandescent bulbs. As the technology progresses, almost any surface can be a light source. My favorites are warm LED light coves that cast an indirect romantic glow on entire walls and create an intimate mood in any room.”—Campion Platt

“Rooms are best lit from lamps, sconces and picture lights. Hanging fixtures are for halls, dining rooms, living rooms (only if tall enough) and never bedrooms. Baths and utility rooms are excluded. Keep the wattage low. Remember that a watt is the equivalent of the light from five candles, so a room with two 100-watt light bulbs is like have a thousand candles going. Keep the color warm. We are biologically hardwired to prefer the warm colors of a campfire and the yellow light of our sun.”—Richard Sammons of Fairfax & Sammons

“I always try to bring daylight into every space. Turns out that the most common windowless room in the home is the powder room. Every homeowner wants their powder room to be a gorgeous ‘jewel box.’ The more light we can bounce around a windowless room, the better. I love decorative, framed, mirrors and plate mirrors equally. Sconces on side walls or flanking the mirror are perfect. We never, ever install a recessed fixture directly above the vanity. It casts terrible shadows and makes even the freshest face appear haggard.”—Laura Umansky

When not sketching ideas for my architectural projects, I often comb the Internet for the latest home-design technologies and software. Easy-to-use apps for smartphones and tablets can be invaluable to homeowners and professionals alike, offering ideas and clever tools to assist with renovations. Having reviewed more than 70 home-related apps, I’ve selected several standouts—most of them free and downloadable (for both iOS and Android devices) at the Apple iTunes store and at Google Play.

Helping to inspire and to take the guesswork out of paint selection are three apps: Behr Paint’s ColorSmart, Benjamin Moore’s Color Capture, and Sherwin-Williams’s ColorSnap (pictured above). All make it easy to browse and save colors, find purchasing locations, and matchpaints to hues in images you’ve selected from your device’s photo albums. I love to use these apps to pinpoint colors that catch my eye while traveling. The ColorSmart and Color Capture apps also allow you to input room dimensions to calculate paint costs, and share your color schemes on Facebook and other social media. ColorSnap’s iPad version (which offers more functions than the phone app) also lets you try out different shades in a room by virtually painting uploaded photographs with the brush of a finger. behr.com, benjaminmoore.com, and sherwin-williams.com

With the elegant Homestyler Interior Design app, users can point and shoot a room, import existing photographs, or use one of the software’s room templates, then drop in furniture, lighting, rugs, and finishes to see how they look in the space. I find it great for showing rough concepts to clients as well as for visual reference when making shopping decisions on the go. There are options to save and share ideas (including within the Homestyler community), and the app can help connect you with design professionals in your area. homestyler.com

When working on clients’ gardens, I like to use iScape to plot out basic features and explore ideas. I simply take a photograph of an outdoor area and start adding in trees, plant beds, water features, walkways, and furniture from the app’s database. The paid version ($9.99) provides a much more extensive image bank, while iScape’s sister app, HardScape ($4.99), offers an extra-wide array of options for rendering surfaces, walls, fences, and more. iscapeapps.com

The recently updated Home Design 3D is a robust interior design tool that enables you to create or upload floor plans and populate the rooms (in 2-D or 3-D) with sample furnishings and textures. The real treat is designing with the paid version (starting at $6.99), which allows you to import and customize your own decor elements as well as save and share projects. homedesign3d.net

- Text by Campion Platt

Holiday House Hamptons rings in summer, breast cancer research, stellar design, and all the while showcasing beautiful, historically rich architecture and sponsored by HC&G magazine.

What an evening—an extraordinary showcasing of the Bulova Watch Factory’s transformation in Sag Harbor.  For years, I drove by the eye sore that was left virtually abandoned.  The property is prominently placed and can be seen when entering Sag Harbor, and many wondered what would happen to this former factory where generations of Hampton residents were once employed.  The history is strong and yet it needed to be preserved, paid homage to in some format.  Years later my good friend Craig Wood had a vision to hold onto pieces of the lovely brick factory, but bring it into the modern day.  Wood thought about every detail of how he’d make his dream come to fruition.  Seven years later Watchcase is a force to be reckoned with in Sag Harbor with a growing compound and many outbuildings, promising to become the “shining star” of this once sleepy seaport.  One of the first original whaling towns in the United States, Sag Harbor has had many transformations.  Today it remains one of the most picturesque villages in the surrounding areas of the Hamptons.  Somehow with all the modernity here, it retains a small town charm.  With an old fashioned fire station set smack in the middle of town, and a beautiful harbor and bridge overlooking the village, Watchcase now greets visitors with the original regal brick facade still intact.  The partnership with Holiday House Hamptons on this special showhouse is fortunate for many.  Holiday House founder Iris Dankner is passionate about bringing great design to the Hamptons, while at the same time progressing medical advancement and ultimately curing breast cancer—genius!  To listen to Dankner speak one is soon filled with her enthusiasm for helping this worthwhile cause.  This year the designer line-up is varied and the spaces are spread out across townhouse and penthouse apartments on the property.  Come take a look at a few highlights and corners of spaces that inspired me.  Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll bring you more, but today here’s the first from the celebratory White Gala—Cheers!

- Tamara Matthews-Stephenson

Just last month I attended the Hamptons Cottages and Garden “Holiday House” Event at Fendi Casa where interior designer extraordinaire Campion Platt designed three window vignettes. In awe of his impeccable design, I made sure to make my way over to the designer mid-event for a chat and picture. After the event, I had to hear more about his success and work ethic, so I got a little interview time. So here we are, a peep hole inside this incredibly talented designer’s mind as well as some pointers for untrained interior designers!

H: How do you like to approach a new space or project?

Platt: I always tune my senses to the space. There is inherently an efficient elegant solution to design, think iPhone on a grander scale. I am known for crisp, smart modern design and we pride ourselves on innovative details for every project – see my book aptly named “Made to Order”!

FH: What do you find to be the biggest obstacle to good design?

Platt: Rushing the creative process. Like a writer or painter, designers need their quiet time to absorb, reflect, be inspired and then dazzle.

FH: When you meet with clients, what is the process like?

Platt: Personal contact is always the best.  We are social humans and nothing takes the place of a 1 on 1 meeting. For interim meetings, I often use software like Teamviewer and Logmein to review plans and presentations remotely with clients. Everyone’s busy, but sharing visuals – in our niche world – is really the only way to move a design forward and make sure the client fully understands every detail and nuance.

FH: It’s been over 20 years since you founded Campion Platt. How has your firm developed in that time?

Platt: I am still full service design shop and like to do all kinds of projects. My staff turns over every 3-5 years because I make it interesting and a great learning environment. I try to stay small to be able to focus on each project with the same design integrity. I love working with vendors and artisans to be part of the beauty of their designs and knowledge. The magic of the visual partnership always reveals itself in the final product or piece of furniture.

FH: Why is this an exciting time for architecture and interior design?

Platt: The money is flowing and technology tools for our trade get better and better. Watch out for a true 3D design and purchasing world. Check out insidemaps.com, a company I am involved with for the latest and greatest.

FH: Any advice for amateur designers {like myself!}

Platt: Travel as much as possible to absorb all the designs of the world to make them your own. Knowledge is power, in our business too!

About Campion Platt:

World-renowned interior designer and architect, Campion Platt, is no stranger to the world of luxury. Whether he is designing a custom residence, a home-away-from home, a boutique hotel or a line of custom furniture or textiles, Platt’s projects are a mix of fine craftsmanship and contemporary styling, with a particular eye on eco-friendly consciousness. His holistic approach to design creates highly personalized spaces; no two projects are the same. The only element that consistently remains the same throughout Platt’s work is a commitment to clean, fresh luxury.

A member of prestigious organizations such as the American Institute of Architects, the New York School of Interior Design Advisory board and the Architectural League of New York. Platt has received numerous accolades for his work such as distinguished rankings on Architectural Digest’s “AD 100” list of the world’s top interior designers, as well as on New York Magazine’s “The City’s 100 Best Architects and Decorators.” A favorite DESIGNER amongst celebrities such as Al Pacino, Meg Ryan, Roger Waters, Conan O’Brien and socialite Anne Hearst, CAMPION’S eye for extravagance and his affluent clientele have not only established Platt as a leading designer to the elite, but have also made him a notable name amongst society’s movers and shakers.

- Fashionable Hostess

On Saturday June 28th the second annual Holiday House Hamptons Decorator Showhouse White Gala was held at Watchcase, a new Luxury Development in Sag Harbor, New York. Watchcase is a new Luxury Loft Condominium which was a Bulova factory with very chic new loft condominiums and townhouses in Sag Harbor. The development is already 60% sold out. The showhouse is open to the public daily thru Sunday, August 10th and proceeds will benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. The event is presented by HC&G (Hamptons Cottages & Gardens).

The designers and landscape firms showcased their work by creating unique rooms and spaces. The participating 18 designers contributing their efforts are Bjornen Design, Brady Design, Campion Platt, dale cohen designstudio, Elizabeth Dow Home, Elsa Soyars Interior Design, Eugenia Au Kim – The Design Studio, Huniford Design Studio, ID Creations, Jen Going Interiors, Milly de Cabrol – Ani Antreasyan, Scott Formby, Studio MRS, Tamara Magel, Terradesign, Vicente Wolf, and West Chin Architects and Interior Designers.

Above Iris Dankner from ID Creations showcasing a living room she designed which is very warm and inviting. A beautiful living room to relax and enjoy with families and friends perfect for a summer house or condominium. Mrs. Dankner, founder of Holiday House is a 17-year breast cancer survivor who created the event to join her passion for interior design with her determination to eradicate this deadly disease. “We are thrilled to return to the Hamptons this summer with another must-see showhouse in a truly spectacular location. this showhouse is extra meaningful to me, for the first time ever I am both Co-Chair and a designer for Holiday House Hamptons. It was exciting constructing my own vision and I am honored to have worked alongside our amazing designers in creating this event. I invite everyone to join us celebrating life this summer in Sag Harbor!”

The very talented Campion Platt from Campion A. Platt, P.C. is a very well respected interior designer and architect. Below is his contribution to the Holiday House Hamptons, a bedroom called “Spring Awakening”. A truly exquisite bedroom, the type which makes you not want to leave the room.  The colors, subtle and vibrant at the same time are welcoming and simply exquisite. The wallpaper, a beautiful floral pattern completes the room but a mere $4,000 per roll. No detail was left behind creating the room and space throughout, as the closet was another beautiful statement true to Campion Platt’s signature style. The bathroom is a place where you would not want to shower but bathe to experience a serene relaxing time. The private terrace is subtle but just perfect with beautiful shades of blue hydrangeas. A paradise reached at Holiday House Hamptons thanks to Campion Platt’s vision. 

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On Saturday June 28th the second annual Holiday House Hamptons Decorator Showhouse White Gala was held at Watchcase, a new Luxury Development in Sag Harbor, New York. Watchcase is a new Luxury Loft Condominium which was a Bulova factory with very chic new loft condominiums and townhouses in Sag Harbor. The development is already 60% sold out. The showhouse is open to the public daily thru Sunday, August 10th and proceeds will benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®.  The event is presented by HC&G (Hamptons Cottages & Gardens).

The designers and landscape firms showcased their work by creating unique rooms and spaces. The participating 18 designers contributing their efforts are Bjornen Design, Brady Design, Campion Platt, dale cohen designstudio, Elizabeth Dow Home, Elsa Soyars Interior Design, Eugenia Au Kim – The Design Studio, Huniford Design Studio, ID Creations, Jen Going Interiors, Milly de Cabrol – Ani Antreasyan, Scott Formby, Studio MRS, Tamara Magel, Terradesign, Vicente Wolf, and West Chin Architects and Interior Designers.

Above Iris Dankner from ID Creations showcasing a living room she designed which is very warm and inviting. A beautiful living room to relax and enjoy with families and friends perfect for a summer house or condominium. Mrs. Dankner, founder of Holiday House is a 17-year breast cancer survivor who created the event to join her passion for interior design with her determination to eradicate this deadly disease. “We are thrilled to return to the Hamptons this summer with another must-see showhouse in a truly spectacular location. this showhouse is extra meaningful to me, for the first time ever I am both Co-Chair and a designer for Holiday House Hamptons. It was exciting constructing my own vision and I am honored to have worked alongside our amazing designers in creating this event. I invite everyone to join us celebrating life this summer in Sag Harbor!”

​

 

 

 

 

The very talented Campion Platt from Campion A. Platt, P.C. is a very well respected interior designer and architect. Below is his contribution to the Holiday House Hamptons, a bedroom called “Spring Awakening”. A truly exquisite bedroom, the type which makes you not want to leave the room.  The colors, subtle and vibrant at the same time are welcoming and simply exquisite. The wallpaper, a beautiful floral pattern completes the room but a mere $4,000 per roll. No detail was left behind creating the room and space throughout, as the closet was another beautiful statement true to Campion Platt’s signature style. The bathroom is a place where you would not want to shower but bathe to experience a serene relaxing time. The private terrace is subtle but just perfect with beautiful shades of blue hydrangeas. A paradise reached at Holiday House Hamptons thanks to Campion Platt’s vision. 

Holiday House Hamptons 2nd Annual
Opening Night Preview and White Gala

Iris Dankner Founder of Holiday House with all the Interior Designers for this year’s Holiday House Hamptons.
Writer & Editor for this story: Yerelyn Cortez Hidalgo
Photos courtesy of LUXXELIVING

The Holiday House Hamptons white gala preview cocktail party started with a presentation by Iris Dankner about Holiday House Hamptons and the introduction to the designers participating in this years’ event. Kendell Cronstrom, Editor-in-Chief from HC&G said “As admirers of Holiday House NYC, we at HC&G are once again so pleased to give a sense of place to Iris’ mission in our own backyard. This summer, Holiday House Hamptons will encompass all that is wonderful and stylish about life in Sag Harbor. We can’t wait to see what our exciting list of established and up-and-coming designers dream up for their personal spaces, as we all join together to support this worthy cause!”

Guests enjoyed wine, sparkling wines, champagne, as well as mixed drinks and summer cocktails. In addition,  guests enjoyed brick oven pizza and various hors d’oeuvres including deviled egg with bacon, tuna tartar, shrimp, tuna steak and desserts as well dancing throughout the evening and into the night.

To see more of the interior designed rooms and outdoor spaces peruse through the photos below to catch a closer look at the exquisitely designed rooms and an inside look at the White Gala Preview Cocktail Party.

I cannot wait to experience Holiday House New York and Holiday House Hamptons next year!!!

 

- Yerelyn Cortez Hidalgo

KDHamptons Design: The 2nd Annual Holiday House Hamptons Presented by HC&G to Benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation

The 2nd annual Holiday House Hamptons opened its doors on Saturday, June 28th for its Opening Night White Gala. The showhouse will be open to the public daily through Sunday, August 10, 2014. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Breast Cancer Foundation®. The showhouse will be featured in the August 1st issue of HC&G magazine.

Holiday House was founded in 2008 by Iris Dankner to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer through the interior design industry. Having survived the disease through early detection, Iris has made it her mission to support breast cancer research and help women who are facing the same fight. In 2008, Iris combined her passion for design and her efforts to help others by creating Holiday House, the first showhouse in New York City to benefit a breast cancer organization. Each year since, Holiday House has recruited top interior designers from across the country to transform the historic Academy Mansion on the Upper East Side, establishing itself as a premier designer showhouse in Manhattan.
HC&G (Hamptons Cottages & Gardens) delivers the finest regional luxury design editorial to residents of one of America’s most affluent communities. This award-winning publication informs and inspires readers with beautifully photographed features on architecture, interior and landscape design, plus insider views of real estate, entertaining and art. KDHamptons is a contributing editor for HC&G. The magazines are oversized and well designed to emphasize superior journalism and photography, inspired by a local “sense of place.” Visit cottages-gardens.com. Like us on Facebook (HamptonsCandG); Follow us on Twitter (HamptonsCandG) and Pinterest (CottagesGardens).

About The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®, founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, is an independent not-for-profit organization committed to funding scientific research to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime. In October 2012, BCRF awarded $40 million to 197 scientists across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and China. With 91 cents of every dollar spent by BCRF directed towards breast cancer research and awareness programs, BCRF remains one of the most fiscally responsible charities in the country. For the tenth time since 2002, it has earned 4 stars from Charity Navigator. Additionally, BCRF is the only breast cancer organization rated an “A+” by CharityWatch. For more information about BCRF, visit http://www.bcrfcure.org.

- KDHamptons.com

Beacon Hill has taken its elegance beachside this summer as a sponsor at the second annual Holiday House Hamptons (June 28 – September 1). Interior designer Campion Platt collaborated with Beacon Hill to transform the master bedroom at the Watchcase in Sag Harbor finding inspiration from a fictional female Hamptonite he dubs a “social cougar.”

Playing on the contrast between coral and mint, Campion pulled from Beacon Hill’s rich offering of ikats and abstract designs including the dramatically scaled Olavanna Ikat in magenta and Perspective in mint, balanced with soft neutrals in shades of linen and cloud. He complimented the space with hand-painted wallpaper from de Gournay to warm up the loft space.

Read on to learn more about Campion’s inspiration and design process for the master bedroom.

What was your inspiration for the room this year?

The Hamptons social cougar that loves color inspired me to create this room. I envisioned a woman moving from her house where she had to take care of the garden and house to something with more creature comforts and amenities.
How did you go about sourcing product for your room?

After we have a concept in mind, we look to the best vendors to support that theme and in the products they offer. I reach out and visit a number of shops and vendors we normally use to help us with the project. Then we develop a strong PowerPoint presentation of our idea and circulate that to help our suppliers find what is best for the design.

What fabrics and wallcoverings did you select and why?

I wanted something very new, fresh and wildly colorful, nothing structured, conservative or muted. I lean towards more organic designs, but fell in love with the green headboard fabric from Beacon Hill/Robert Allen because it seemed so fresh. We added a rope detail to the center to strengthen the connection to this old whaling town of Sag Harbor and industrial nature of the Watchcase building.
Why did you choose to team up with Beacon Hill? What was the collaboration like?

Beacon Hill has an amazing range of products that suited our designs. I like to support them because they love to support showhouses. We need more of that inspired vendor mentality to reach our audience not only through magazine publications, but also in live-room setups where the public can really connect with the designer and product. Nothing takes the place of a live tour.

As far as the collaboration, they turned around our requests in a day and made the impossible possible. What more can I say! Using our design presentation, we met with them a few times to select the most evocative fabrics to describe our concept. They make the rest easy.

What was the collaboration like with de Gournay?

De Gournay makes the most beautiful wallpapers and has a great history and following in the industry. What was unique for us on this project was they were also introducing this new amazing line of hand-painted lilies on silk. The large scale of the lilies played perfectly into our notion of the strong-minded, take no prisoners cougar mentality.
What do you hope guests will take away after visiting your room?

Don’t be afraid of color and large scale. It is all a matter confidence of balance. I am also known for more muted colors, so for my office and me this was a fun departure from the norm, but we had to channel our strong-minded fictitious client to really make the room sing.

Holiday House Hamptons is now open through September 1, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Beacon Hill products are available in Robert Allen showrooms in the DDB, Suite 301; PDC, Suite B499; or DCH, Suite 141.

- Go Design Go

Last weekend, I visited Sag Harbor with Vyna St. Phard (High End Weekly) and friends to preview the 2nd Annual Holiday House Hamptons, presented by HC&G (Hamptons Cottages & Gardens) located at Watchcase, 15 Church Street in Sag Harbor, New York. Watchouse, a 130-year old historic, former Bulova watchcase factory, is undergoing a dramatic transformation by the developers Cape Advisors into the Hamptons’ first resort-style luxury condominium project.

Eighteen top interior and landscape designers, each transformed a unique space within three Watchcase homes,  featuring original holiday-themed indoor and outdoor living spaces. The showhouse will be open to the public daily through Sunday, August 10, 2014.  Proceeds from the event will benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®.  Holiday House Hamptons’ participating design and landscape firms: Bjørnen Design, Brady Design, Campion Platt, dale cohen designstudio, Elizabeth Dow Home, Elsa Soyars Interior Design, Eugenia Au Kim, The Design Studio, Huniford Design Studio, ID Creations, Jen Going Interiors, Milly de Cabrol – Ani Antreasyan, Scott Formby, Studio MRS, Tamara Magel, Terradesign, Vicente Wolf, West Chin Architects & Interior Designers.

- Alice in Queens

Now in its second year, the Holiday House Hamptons, an annual summer-entertaining-themed design show benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (it’s the Hamptons extension of Iris Danker’s NYC-based Holiday House, founded in 2008), will feature work from 16 leading interior and landscape designers, including Vicente Wolf, Campion Platt, and West Chin Architects and Interior Designers, from June 29 through August 10.

Presented by Hamptons Cottages & Gardens, the show will also preview three apartments—a penthouse loft, a townhouse, and a bungalow— within the iconic Watchcase factory (15 Church St., nr. Sage St., Sag Harbor;  631-725-7200 ) before construction concludes at this luxury condo building. General admission is $35.

Holiday House Hamptons is fast becoming a major fundraiser on Long Island’s South Shore to benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The second annual edition will open at the historic Watchcase, Sag Harbor on June 29 and run through August 10, 2014. Fendi Casa is broadly publicizing the show house with window displays curated by Holiday House Hamptons’ designer Campion Platt, on view at the New York flagship showroom from May 7 through July 31. The three vignettes, titled Oasis, Ocean and Opulence, are inspired by the showhouse’s theme of “Luxurious Summer Fun.”

“The [Holiday House Hamptons] designs are always edgy and push the envelope just like the research foundation,” says Platt, expressing enthusiasm over the house’s spirited approach in shining light on designers while supporting a good cause. Top interior designers will join honorary chair Steven Gambrel and co-chairs Mary McDonald, Thom Filicia and Vicente Wolf in creating holiday-themed living spaces in the newly restored residences: an open loft, a bungalow, and multi-level townhouse.

Watchcase is the first resort-style luxury condominiums in the Hamptons with interiors designed by Steven Gambrel, a Sag Harbor resident. The former watchcase factory, built in the late nineteenth century, is currently under restoration by the developer Cape Advisors and architects Beyer Blinder Belle, a firm lauded for its sensitivity to historic landmarks of which Grand Central Terminal is a penultimate example.

Kicking off the show house festivities in Sag Harbor is the Opening Night White Gala on June 28 co-chaired by Christopher Hyland and Iris Dankner, the founder of Holiday House, which originated in Manhattan. Hyland says, “Ms. Dankner—an interior designer and cancer survivor—wanted to galvanize the design industry to help fill a void. In our first year in the Hamptons we raised $500,000, a sum we expect to better.”

Designers for the 2014 Holiday House Hamptons include: Bjørnen Design; Brady Design; Campion Platt; Dale Cohen Studio; Elizabeth Dow Home; Elsa Soyars Interior Design; Huniford Design; Milly de Cabrol LTD; Scott Formby; Studio MRS; Tamara Magel Home; Thom Filicia; Vicente Wolf; West Chin Architect.

- Tamara Moscowitz

On Earth Day, interior designer Campion Platt dropped by the D&D Building to discuss current environmental problems and solutions, as well as eco trends and products.

“Right now, we are in every way expanding society,” he said. “We have greater needs, and get them at the expense of our environment. Deforestation, pollution, and excess garbage are just a few of the problems we need to address as a society.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), humans have 15 years to solve problems such as rising sea levels, ocean acidification, effects on health and the breakdown of food systems. “Extreme weather events are leading to the breakdown of critical services such as electricity, water supply… and health and emergency services.”

Since 1970, cumulative CO2 emissions have doubled and 33% of that comes from electricity, according to Campion. “We still obviously need it. It makes everything function, but what we need to do is de-carbonize it—use other means to produce electricity.”

Through productivity, he believes new design can help the environment. Campion shared the following tips and facts as a guide for designers:
-made within 500 miles
-FSC, Greenguard or WaterSense certified
-Clean Air Council approved
-No VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
-Natural Materials (cotton, wool, latex, wood and stone)
-Ceiling Fans
-House Plants
-heavy drapes, heavy furniture or rugs,
-Re-use gray (used) water
-Solar Panels
-Use EnergyStar efficient appliances

Appliances and materials to reduce carbon footprint:

• Structural insulated panels (SIPDs) provide a tighter, more insulated building envelope.
• Double glazed windows prevent heat from escaping in the winter and radiated heat from entering in the summer.
• Solar Shingles and panels create solar energy—an alternative to electricity.
• Smart irrigation for the outdoors senses temperature, humidity and time of day and adjusts irrigation according to the conditions.
• Phillips Hue lighting system access lights remotely from smartphone to save energy.
• Cloudwash washing machine provides presets to manage time and water usage.
• Nest thermostats save energy with its programming capabilities.
• P3 International Kill a Watt PS assesses efficiency of appliances hooked up to it.
• Oras Etrna Showerhead monitors water usage.
• Salatube Lighting brings natural lighting to interior spaces.
• Dual flush toilets use less water.
• Low flow faucets use an aerator to save water.
• Natural and recycled materials: bamboo, cork, linen, organic cotton, wool
• Sustainable flooring, insulating panels, denim insulation, green walls, recycled leather, recycled glass, low voc paints.

To finish up his presentation, Campion presented a few of his projects that use eco-friendly products. For the sixth annual Holiday House NYC, he collaborated with Sleep Studio to create a master bedroom suite and used all latex mattresses, renewable plant based materials, no VOCs, organic cotton and linen sleepwear.

He also participated in the Idea House show house where each designer contributed to create sustainable interiors. Many of the materials were recycled while others were bought on eBay or from antique stores. He also used local vendors to reduce his carbon footprint.

Prior to the lecture, Campion spoke with a group of NYSID students about entering the interior design business. “They have to have an inspired idea behind every project and focus on one of the four areas of design—architecture, interior architecture, interior design and decoration,” Campion shared. “The more spectrums they cross over, the more work they will be open to.”

Through his environmental research, knowledge and projects, Campion demonstrated how sustainable design can make a change. His presentation encouraged designers—and students—to be proactive in the design world.

- Go Design Go

Viyet is transforming the way people buy and sell pre-owned furniture and decorative items. It has differentiated itself from other furniture consignment sites by servicing the top echelon, featuring a highly-curated assortment of exclusive designer and brand name furniture. The company excels at providing unparalleled professional white glove service every step of the way—from pricing and photography to storage and delivery. Viyet offers furniture, lighting, art, and accessories from renowned designers such as Christian Liaigre, B+B Italia, Mies van der Rohe, and Jonathan Adler, among others. The average price point for an item on Viyet’s website is $1,800 marked down from an estimated retail price of $4,000, representing average savings of over 50%.

Viyet’s new to-the-trade program will allow Viyet to attract and deepen their relationships within the interior design, architect, and trade community. Upon joining Viyet’s trade program, members will receive a 15% discount, allowing them to deliver even more value to their clients on top of Viyet’s already reduced prices. Additionally, members will have the opportunity to build their brand by leveraging Viyet’s robust social media presence, blog, and curated emails to showcase their work and attract new clients. Members will enjoy many more trade-specific features as the program continues to evolve over the coming year, including the ability to purchase new product before it is release to the general public, print tear sheets, and create project lists for individual clients. The to-the-trade program will launch on April 14th.

Leading the charge is CEO Elizabeth Brown, who joined the company in September 2013. Brown formerly led Corporate Development at Poppin, the innovative retailer of design-inspired office products founded by J. Christopher Burch, co-founder of Tory Burch and founder of C. Wonder. Since arriving at Viyet she has tripled sales every quarter, developed key trade partnerships with designer trade showrooms (including Designlush and most recently Atelier), and overseen various design and tech updates to the Viyet website as well as the introduction of a very lively design blog.

Brown made key hires in technology, design, and other departments, including adding a number of curator positions to respond to the overwhelming amount of inquiries from prospective consignors. Key hires include:

  Sameer Khanna, Vice President of Engineering, formerly of Lot18.
  Jennifer Koen, Vice President of Marketing, who joins from Godiva where she was Director of Innovation and Licensing, and prior to that worked with Coach and Movado Watch Group.
  Camila Hori, Creative Director, overseeing brand and all digital marketing, whose previous experience includes Ann Inc., Brooks Brothers and Bluefly.com.

The increased headcount at the booming company led to a relocation of headquarters this month from the Upper West Side to a spacious and sunlit loft in Soho.

“Viyet has gained a tremendous amount of momentum in the past year, and we owe much of that growth to our consignors and buyers in the design field,” said Brown. “I am proud of the relationships we have developed with interior design talent, both up-and-coming and established. We are committed to helping these design professionals continue to grow their business, and I am excited to continue our support of the design community through the introduction of our new trade program.”

Those in the creative community have a significantly higher incidence of depression, according to research done by the Hope For Depression Research Foundation (HDRF). With this in mind, Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show President Scott Diament partnered with the organization to present the Hope Designer Showcase, which supports the HDRF and serves as a platform to raise awareness of depression and its related mood disorders.

Now celebrating its third year, the showcase invited six top interior designers and two event designers to create a group of room settings featured at the entrance to the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, which opened to the public earlier this month.

Jim Aman, John Meek, Bruce Bierman, Campion Platt, Jennifer Post and Scott Snyder carefully selected art and antiques from the 180 international exhibitors of the show to create the vignettes, from a vast range of antiquities to the mid-20th century modern. The designers’ goals were to create individual room settings that showed guests how the products and creativity could enhance their environments and their lives.

The Hope Designer Showcase was previewed at the show’s Opening Night Preview Party and all guests were able to mingle with the designers and have a sneak peek at the show’s offerings.

How to Design Your Dream Eco-Friendly Apartment: Campion Platt’s Tips

Let’s say you’re one of the lucky and striving NYC residents who’s ready to invest in a piece of real estate. A loft in Greenpoint. A three bedroom on the Upper West Side. A pied-a-terre in TriBeCa.

If you’re at all interested in getting your home updated in a way that is both stylish and sustainable (and really, when have you moved into an apartment that you love as is?), you might turn to the architectural firm of Campion Platt, which in the process of designing the Perfect Apartment, gently nudges its clients to a less toxic and more energy efficient living style.

“Everyone is ready to adopt this,” Platt told me over the phone. “I don’t get any resistance to using eco products … as long as they look and feel correct.”

That ethos–seeking out sustainable products and incorporating design in a way that still satisfies that taste of his clients–has left his picky high-end clients satisfied since the 80s. His latest large-scale project is the luxury Greenbriar Sporting Club at White Sulphur Springs in West Virgina, with all the materials coming from within 500 miles.

Lest you think otherwise, his architectural firm doesn’t just do the moving around of walls. His approach is holistic, from the wiring to the love seat.

“The general consuming population of architecture/interior design/decoration/staging, generally has the assumption that the two disciplines are different. They’re different in a state-licensing perspective, but–you see much more of this in high-end interiors–you have a real integration between architecture and design. The way I see the world is that there is no difference between them. When you walk into a beautiful room, you don’t say, ‘I love the architecture and I love the interior design.’ It’s like, ‘I like the room.’ When you translate that to the world of eco design, it’s in both parts.”

However, while he says the technology for efficient architecture has been around since the late 1970s, he’s still innovating and searching to find high-end interior design materials that make the grade. One project he collaborated on was with HBF textiles, in which U.S. mills were used to create all but one of the products, with materials like bamboo chenille and recycled plastic textile. “That was three or so years ago. Now there are so many products now,” Platt says.

Still, NYC architectural and design projects come with challenges. “In New York City apartments, contractors pour a terrible poison inside the walls to kill anything that goes in there, but that outgases at some point,” Platt says. (Wow, that makes you feel good, right?) ”There’s so much poison around us anyway. You just try to get away from it, and create an oasis in the home environment.” Other challenges: Some of the older apartments have asbestos in them, or if you’ve settled on a prewar apartment, you might have to invest in some serious rewiring. “Many times I have to bring power up the building through the elevator shaft to the apartment,” Platt says.

Clearly Platt serves the high-end market of bespoke apartments, but he imparted some wisdom that anyone can use. ”The greatest thing anyone can do to be energy efficient is to have good insulation in the house,” he says. “Because you want to trap your heat or trap the cool.”

Other things he recommends: well-insulated windows, reclaimed wood for floors (which is says is actually quite affordable), specialized insulation materials, non-formaldehyde plywood, low-VOC paints, natural hemp carpets, natural dyes, non-toxic glues for the millwork and veneering, LED lights (though they don’t always play nice with smart lighting systems and dimmers), and the Nest thermostat, of which he is a huge proponent. “Is the product itself made from sustainable materials? Probably not. But it’s a small enough device that changes enough in your life to cause electricity to be consumed less.”

He even is a proponent of wiring houses a special way, “so you don’t create electrical fields of interference for people who are sensitive. Everyone is affected by it, just the degree to which they are affected by it differs.” I’ve heard of this view before in France, where people refuse to live under large power lines. But most of the literature I found on the subject deals with how electrical interference affects devices like radios, TVs, and pacemakers, not people. It certainly can’t hurt, though!

So, when looking for an apartment that you’re willing to renovate, Platt suggests you ask yourself these questions:
•How much power does the apartment have?
•What kind of air conditioning is available? Is it the inefficient through-the-wall kind? (Which also leaks air)
•What are the ceilings that you can actually deal with? Many places have been renovated over time and the ceiling has been lowered. “One time we took down a wall and found four additional feet, plus a fireplace,” he says.
•Look at the appliances in the apartment. Are they Energy Star and new?
•What’s the existing lighting in the apartment, and can it be easily changed for more efficiency?
•How do the kitchen cabinets look? Can you just replace the fronts instead of ripping the whole thing out? (Just make sure to get non-formaldehyde cabinets.)

Oh, and if you’re looking at co-ops instead, I hope you’re patient. “It’s a much tougher process,” Platt says of getting approvals for your changes, eco-friendly as they may be. “There are always people who have an opinion because they can.”

- Alden Wicker

On the Scene with Campion Platt

Interior Designer to the stars, Campion Platt and Soho retailer, Sleep Studio, debuted their first ever collaboration – the “Suite Dreams” master bedroom at the 2013 Sixth Annual Holiday House to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  The master bedroom centered on the notion of sleeping beautifully and plentifully throughout the holiday season.  All proceeds from the Holiday House, as well as 10% of all sales at Sleep Studio during the duration of the event, went to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

Let’s say you’re one of the lucky and striving NYC residents who’s ready to invest in a piece of real estate. A loft in Greenpoint. A three bedroom on the Upper West Side. A pied-a-terre in TriBeCa.

If you’re at all interested in getting your home updated in a way that is both stylish and sustainable (and really, when have you moved into an apartment that you love as is?), you might turn to the architectural firm of Campion Platt, which in the process of designing the Perfect Apartment, gently nudges its clients to a less toxic and more energy efficient living style.

“Everyone is ready to adopt this,” Platt told me over the phone. “I don’t get any resistance to using eco products … as long as they look and feel correct.”

That ethos–seeking out sustainable products and incorporating design in a way that still satisfies that taste of his clients–has left his picky high-end clients satisfied since the 80s. His latest large-scale project is the luxury Greenbriar Sporting Club at White Sulphur Springs in West Virgina, with all the materials coming from within 500 miles.

Lest you think otherwise, his architectural firm doesn’t just do the moving around of walls. His approach is holistic, from the wiring to the love seat.

“The general consuming population of architecture/interior design/decoration/staging, generally has the assumption that the two disciplines are different. They’re different in a state-licensing perspective, but–you see much more of this in high-end interiors–you have a real integration between architecture and design. The way I see the world is that there is no difference between them. When you walk into a beautiful room, you don’t say, ‘I love the architecture and I love the interior design.’ It’s like, ‘I like the room.’ When you translate that to the world of eco design, it’s in both parts.”

However, while he says the technology for efficient architecture has been around since the late 1970s, he’s still innovating and searching to find high-end interior design materials that make the grade. One project he collaborated on was with HBF textiles, in which U.S. mills were used to create all but one of the products, with materials like bamboo chenille and recycled plastic textile. “That was three or so years ago. Now there are so many products now,” Platt says.

Still, NYC architectural and design projects come with challenges. “In New York City apartments, contractors pour a terrible poison inside the walls to kill anything that goes in there, but that outgases at some point,” Platt says. (Wow, that makes you feel good, right?) “There’s so much poison around us anyway. You just try to get away from it, and create an oasis in the home environment.” Other challenges: Some of the older apartments have asbestos in them, or if you’ve settled on a prewar apartment, you might have to invest in some serious rewiring. “Many times I have to bring power up the building through the elevator shaft to the apartment,” Platt says.

Clearly Platt serves the high-end market of bespoke apartments, but he imparted some wisdom that anyone can use. “The greatest thing anyone can do to be energy efficient is to have good insulation in the house,” he says. “Because you want to trap your heat or trap the cool.”

Other things he recommends: well-insulated windows, reclaimed wood for floors (which is says is actually quite affordable), specialized insulation materials, non-formaldehyde plywood, low-VOC paints, natural hemp carpets, natural dyes, non-toxic glues for the millwork and veneering, LED lights (though they don’t always play nice with smart lighting systems and dimmers), and the Nest thermostat, of which he is a huge proponent. “Is the product itself made from sustainable materials? Probably not. But it’s a small enough device that changes enough in your life to cause electricity to be consumed less.”

He even is a proponent of wiring houses a special way, “so you don’t create electrical fields of interference for people who are sensitive. Everyone is affected by it, just the degree to which they are affected by it differs.” I’ve heard of this view before in France, where people refuse to live under large power lines. But most of the literature I found on the subject deals with how electrical interference affects devices like radios, TVs, and pacemakers, not people. It certainly can’t hurt, though!

So, when looking for an apartment that you’re willing to renovate, Platt suggests you ask yourself these questions:

  How much power does the apartment have?
  What kind of air conditioning is available? Is it the inefficient through-the-wall kind? (Which also leaks air)
  What are the ceilings that you can actually deal with? Many places have been renovated over time and the ceiling has been lowered. “One time we took down a wall and found four   additional feet, plus a fireplace,” he says.
  Look at the appliances in the apartment. Are they Energy Star and new?
  What’s the existing lighting in the apartment, and can it be easily changed for more efficiency?
  How do the kitchen cabinets look? Can you just replace the fronts instead of ripping the whole thing out? (Just make sure to get non-formaldehyde cabinets.)

Oh, and if you’re looking at co-ops instead, I hope you’re patient. “It’s a much tougher process,” Platt says of getting approvals for your changes, eco-friendly as they may be. “There are always people who have an opinion because they can.”

- Alden Wicker

Designing a home in the Hamptons requires an infusion of country leisure into a luxurious setting. In March of this year, a classic, new constructed Water Mill home was placed on the market for $10 million. Joe Farrell, the leading Hamptons builder, was eager to try a different sales approach, so he asked Manhattan based designer Campion Platt to stage his house. Elegant life in the country can seem like a contradiction in terms to city dwellers. Add limits such as strict budget and a six week timeframe and a call for ready made pieces, and Campion’s challenge was set.

Campion Platt’s eye for understated elegance shows ay every angle here.  The rooms photographed embody his twenty first century approach to the country home: exquisitely attuned to the natural elements about the house and the rustic context.  The differing natural light profiles of each room inform their respective color palettes.  Each has its own unique statement.  The furniture choices bolster the house’s classic, understated architectural elements, while the art provides a layer of individuality throughout the home. 

- Go Home Ltd.

Campion Platt creates “Suite Dreams” master bedroom in collaboration with Sleep Studio for the sixth annual Holiday House NYC 2013.

Interior designer Campion Platt and Soho retailer Sleep Studio recently announced their first-ever collaboration on the “Suite Dreams” master bedroom for the 2013 Sixth Annual Holiday House. The master bedroom is located on the third floor of Holiday House in the Academy Mansion at 2 E. 63rd St. in Manhattan. All proceeds from the Holiday House will benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and 10 percent of all sales at Sleep Studio, located at 73 Wooster St. in Soho, during the duration of Holiday House will also benefit BCRF.

Campion Platt envisioned his Sleep Studio room awash in warm earthy tones. He enhanced the original classical detailing of the existing room by contrasting it with curvilinear modern forms. This interplay stimulates us visually, but also relaxes the soul. The magical fabrics from Calvin Klein and Donghia spin a warm cocoon to help us “Awaken, Refresh, Relax and Dream,” which form the founding principles of the Sleep Studio.

The highly detailed, sumptuous Giorgetti furniture adds a crisp, masculine and luxurious level of detail to the room, while the feminine feather light pendants contrast and soften. Creating quiet pods of repose, the Carini Lang Tibetan rugs float atop a muted Stark Carpet base supporting the playful sleep-related activities presented in this unique master bedroom. Richard Taittinger Fine Art echoes the visuals with museum quality art pieces and sculpture that engage the spirit around the world of dreams and the ethereal.

“I have always wanted to design the master bedroom at Holiday House, as it is traditionally one of the most important rooms in a home,” says Platt. “This year I was happy to collaborate with Sleep Studio for a number of reasons. In addition to their luxurious products, I really believe in their philosophy of, ‘Awaken, Refresh, Relax, Dream,’ because sleep is the most undervalued asset in our fast paced world. I approached the ‘Suite Dreams’ room in collaboration with Sleep Studio as a study in repose – how to slow down, reflect and reinvent.”

“In thinking about a designer to partner with for Holiday House, Campion Platt immediately came to mind,” says Sleep Studio founder Michael Rothbard. “His design philosophy and sensibility has a very serene and calming feel to it. Our goal was to bring the peaceful, refreshing experience of Sleep Studio’s Soho store uptown for Holiday House visitors to enjoy.”

Holiday House NYC kicked off with a gala preview event last week, and is officially open to the public every day through December 18. A variety of events will take place throughout the run, from author’s night with Mario Buatta to live music and wine tastings

Mario Buatta: Golden Anniversary
In celebration of his new book Mario Buatta: 50 Years of American Interior Decoration, “The Prince of Chintz” has installed the iconic mural of his maximalist apartment, orginally seen in Architectural Digest in 1974, under the grand staircase at Holiday House

Ally Coulter Designs LLC: ‘Tis the Season
“As a designer, I’m honored to be able to spread awareness for breast cancer through my work. When people enter my room, I want them to experience the power of the life-force of the room, to feel the joy, hope and warmth that perseverance brings,” said Coulter.

Campion Platt: Suite Dreams
“I have always wanted to design the master bedroom at Holiday House, as it is traditionally one of the most important rooms in a home,” said Platt. “This year I was happy to collaborate with Sleep Studio for a number of reasons. In addition to their luxurious products, I really believe in their philosophy of ‘Awaken, Refresh, Relax, Dream’ because sleep is the most undervalued asset in our fast-paced world. Designing around the concept of beautiful sleep will become more important as we all begin to more fully understand its profound effect on every aspect of our lives.”

Cullman & Kravis: 30th Anniversary
“Since we are celebrating our firm’s 30th anniversary, we wanted to personalize our room with some of C&K’s favorites,” said Ellie Cullman. “The cover of our new book inspired the palette-shades of orange, cream, gold and silver and of course, a touch of leopard. In honor of all the women who have worked at C&K over the years, we have selected contemporary art created by female artists. We are toasting to special milestones and hope our guests can experience the celebration!”

CW Design: Republic Day
Catherine Weinstock’s dedicated space, which is a “Reading & Reflection” room, evokes subtle Moghul influences from Northern India and Pakistan, with some “Modernist” elements.

Darrin Varden Design: Winter Solstice
“The Winter Solstice occurs on the shortest day of the year, which in many cultures symbolizes the moment of renewed hope since astronomically it marks the beginning of shortening nights and lengthening days,” said Varden. “The colors of blue and green are representational of water, cleansing, baptismal. The repetition of the circular shapes in this room remind us of the continual process of life and living, our interconnectedness to others and the world in which we exist.”

Deb Landis Design: Chinese New Year
Drawing from the inspiration of classical chinoiserie for the holiday “Chinese New Year,” the traditional interpretation has been given a contemporary twist by choosing a black and white chinoiserie grasscloth wallcovering printed with an enlarged pattern and added negative space. By adding modern furnishings to the vaulted hallway, the embossed white leather rattlesnake credenza with polished stainless steel pulls and trim, the art deco nickel and frosted chandelier from the 60’s and the black and white contemporary art, the designer distinguishes the hallway as an important and beautiful space within the mansion.

Deborah Martin Designs: Summer Solstice
Set against an opulent backdrop of caviar-like pearl glass bead and gold leaf wallcovering, a bold and sizzling summer palette signals summer full on. Richly ripe fruit and floral hues relate summer themes, and a 52-inch diameter Christopher Guy mirror mimics the sun’s glory. Curated accessories in pops of white amid photographs of nude bathers clearly gesture to summer. The bright pinks and fuchsias in internationally acclaimed artist Paul Thomas’ works pay homage to Holiday House. 

Decor by Guillaume Gentet, Inc: Women’s Day
Gentet’s vision for the intimate courtyard space, which he has entitled: “Time to Go to Palm Beach,” draws inspiration from the luxurious textures and furnishings of a festive salon de thé. Pastel hues and detailing of a unique bar, a banquette sofa centerpiece flanked by lighting á la baccarat, Parisian café table tops and chairs set amidst a field of lush fabrics, turf, and lattice work were assembled to create a festive gathering place within the jeweled heart of Holiday House.

Franklin Eighth: Jazz Appreciation Month
Inspired by the complexity and contrasts within jazz music, and the Art Deco aesthetic that defined its heydey, interior designers Sarah Sarna and Tina Ramchandani of Franklin Eighth have brought their sophisticated sensibility to the elegant first floor ladies lounge. Tina and Sarah marry patterns and textures popular in the 1920’s, like geometrics, sateens, and mohair, with a present day palette of blacks-and-whites.

Gregory Allan Cramer: Celebrate the Holidays
Growing up in small rural Pennsylvania town instilled in him the simple reality of love, health, family and cherished friends. The bold design is dedicated to his favorite Aunt Lorraine, who was taken by breast cancer, many years ago. She was a vibrant woman who enjoyed her time on Earth and was his Auntie Mame.

J&G Design: A Painterly Christmas
Although traditionalists at heart, this is not your average Christmas. Through their signature traditional-meets-modern style, J+G Design has transformed this grandeur setting into a lively and cheerful atmosphere by creating moments of pop and color. With vibrant hand-painted panels at the center of their inspiration, the designers wanted to bring attention to the artist at work. The room features sculptural metalwork, a specially designed settee, and fabrics inspired by a painter’s palette.

J Cohler Mason: New Year’s Day
“Our master sitting room is a warm and inviting space, one that welcomes you in to escape the hectic life of the city,” said Cohler. “This room is a curated collection of contemporary pieces mixed with elements from the past. It features sophisticated clean lines with sumptuous fabrics and furniture. A soft warm gray provides a neutral background to this space, which is infused with pops of color in the fabrics, art and accessories.”

James Rixner: My First Apartment
The grand scale of this room inspired James Rixner to create a complete living environment in one room. Rixner envisioned a young female executive in a new position, who has just purchased her first apartment. The colors and furniture express a youthful, hip approach to this luxurious space.

Joseph Parisi Interiors: Cartier Holiday: Evelyn Lauder’s Love Bracelet
The inspiration for the room is the Love Bracelet commissioned and designed by Leonard Lauder for his wife Evelyn Lauder.

Kelley Jackson: Venetian Holiday Gallery
Inspired by Rubelli Venezia’s new wallpaper Principessa Kocacin, based on an eighteenth-century embroidery, the sumptuous gallery includes a vintage Murano chandelier and a Chinoiserie style bench of Kelley Jackson’s design executed in pink to honor the cause. Down the corridor a colorful chandelier by Lladro anchors a more starkly modern space with a sleek vintage Venetian mirror.

Michael McKinnon: St. Andrew’s Day
McKinnon’s design is inspired by the Scottish country house and serves as a context to display oil paintings done by his grandmother, Ellen McKinnon, a breast cancer survivor. The table will be set for high tea, a Scottish tradition, with crystal, china and silver by Baccarat, Bernardaud and Christofle.

Patrick J. Hamilton: St. Patrick’s Day
Like most things in Ireland, this room starts with a story. Transport yourself to the sitting room of a Dublin row house, recently inherited from his family by the worldly young man in residence. In a mix not unlike Dublin itself today, the past rubbing elbows and elbow patches with the present, the room celebrates a modern interpretation of St. Patrick’s Day within a traditional shell, and pays tribute to the lore, backdrop and history of both the Emerald Isle and its celebrated patron saint.

Rachel Laxer Interiors: Valentine’s Day
Laxer’s mother is a breast cancer survivor (she’s so fortunate for early detection and seems to be doing fine), and supporting this cause means the world to her. An advocate of “functional art,” meaning that art is not something you simply hang on the wall but it is the table, chair, lights, etc, Laxer’s intent is to celebrate and show many wonderful and unique pieces by different artists from many locations.

Scott Formby: Aftermath Lounge: December 25th/10pm
A place to retreat after all the presents have been opened, the kids are in bed, the in-laws are out the door, and the fights have been fought. “Our world is moving so fast, we all need an aftermath lounge,” said Formby. “This velocity affects design as well, and this influence is evident in my room. No longer do we rely on one style, one culture or one voice.”

Studio Tim Campbell: The Blue Angel
“Our room is inspired by the film, The Blue Angel—a modern interpretation of transformation, decadence and desire,” said Campbell.

Susanna Salk: New Year’s Eve
Inspired by a picture on Instagram of a young world traveler home between trips, Salk was inspired to create a room in the same spirit: for a worldly young woman just coming home after a journey filled with excitement and laughter. She craves a haven that cocoons but also encourages her to seek out the next adventure.
 
Tony Ingrao and Randy Kemper: Casablanca Christmas
“For the Holiday House this year we decided to explore a more exotic side of the holidays—Christmas in Casablanca,” said Ingrao and Kemper. “Our room pairs the dark elegance of a Moroccan club with the grandeur of the Woolworth mansion. Rich woods and massive paintings mix in with a light, neutral palette; organic sculptures and vibrant palms lushly dress the crisp white walls. It’s East and West, North and South—a real international celebration of the season.”

Weitzman-Halpern Interior Design: Sweet 16 Bedroom
Weitzman and Halpern wanted to create a modern, sophisticated room that captures the youthful energy of today’s 16 year old. Inspired by Instagram and social media, they designed a custom wallpaper for the featured wall that documents a day in the life of this teenage girl. The pattern and color palette of the carpet, a Weitzman Halpern original design, sets the tone of the room’s energy. By combining the use of new and vintage pieces, they’ve created a unique space that reflects the personality of today’s dynamic and tech savvy teenager.

Patrik Lonn Design: A Swede in Scottish Holiday Spirit
Lonn’s recent travels to the Scottish highlands inspired his design of this room. He was intrigued by the warmth of the Scottish people and the wealth of the rich traditional flannels and textiles. The deep, vibrant colors consistently used drew Lonn to Callanish plaids and Craigie inspired textiles. A 19th-century Sultanabad rug anchors the room and adds to the holiday spirit.

Stephen Bastone: Madrugada (not photographed)
Titled “Madrugada: In The Nascent Holiday Hours”, the room features numerous fine components: fine porcelain from Bardith Ltd.; an outstanding antique rug from Beauvais; custom textiles and trimmings from Christopher Hyland, Inc.; two chairs covered in rare Prelle upholstery; antique furniture from Newel as well as Alexander’s Antiques. The adjacent courtyard garden is designed by Bastone in collaboration with Zeze.

Located at 2 East 63rd Street in Manhattan, the home is open from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with extended hours until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday evenings. Tickets are $35 and proceeds benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Campion Platt created a wonderful room for this years Holiday House that is more a Holiday “wish” than an Actual “holiday.” ”Suite Dreams” seems like a wonderful holiday wish…especially at this time of year when things are so hectic.

I caught up with him with some questions about his efforts, here’s what I learned from our chat…
.
JL-What is your favorite thing about your room?
CP-Everyone who comes in starts to relax, slow down, and wants to stay……design experienced is most successful when it creates a mood and changes one perception in that moment.

JL -Were there any serendipitous last minute, unplanned changes that you were delighted with?
CP-I have been working with Richard Taittinger for the last 8 weeks on selecting just the right art for the room, and we finally found the perfect “sound art piece”. Working all the senses the wonderful “Black and Blue” piece by Julianne Swartz really ties the sleep concept together

Campion worked closely with Sleep Studio, and their values of AWAKEN, REFRESH, RELAX and DREAM created the inspiration for this beautiful room which allows the visitors to do just that. Many beautiful things are from Sleep Studio.

- John Lyle

You may not have kids, but if you’re expecting little visitors over for the holidays this year, you should do some child-proofing in advance in your home to keep them — and any valuables or breakables — safe.

“Most items needed for a standard house cost a few dollars,” says Campion Platt, a New York-based award-winning architect and interior designer who happens to have three children under the age of 5.

“Anyone can do it, really. The best and fastest way is to move your fine Lladro porcelain away from reach, crayons out of sight and all Sharpies in the family safe.”

On Platt’s must- and should-do short list:

Must

1. Cover electrical outlets and sharp corners.

2. Put away sharp objects and face knives sharp side down in the dishwasher.

3. Put a lock on the under-sink cabinet, and wherever else household cleaners are stored.

4. Place a child gate at stairways and make sure it is sturdy.

5. Ensure smoke alarms and CO2 detectors are working.

Should

6. Remove slippery floor coverings and obstacles from steps.

7. Hang leveler blinds high out of reach, “as kids love to swing on them,” Platt says.

8. Keep kids away from the audio/visual equipment.

9. Safeguard pets around small kids, especially fish bowls, which Platt recommends forgetting about until school age.

10. For more permanent solutions for expecting parents and those with young ones, Platt suggests installing magnetic locks on kitchen cabinets, replacing glass bowls and candle holders with wooden or other ones and adding carpet to the stairs for traction.

This morning, Lonny Articles Editor Jen Fernandez and I were just strolling down East 63rd Street, minding our own business, when we stumbled upon the Academy Mansion. Ok, that’s a lie—we planned to be there. But we didn’t plan on finding as much design inspiration as we did. At the sixth annual Holiday House NYC, interiors experts have joined together to transform four sprawling floors of a classic townhouse to raise awareness and critical funding for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

We were honored to tour the space with founder and co-chairman Iris Dankner and overwhelmed by all of the fine details so carefully thought out by each designer. We don’t want to reveal too much—this is surely just the beginning of many conversations the House will inspire this month—but here are a few highlights we had to share right away.

How many of you love browsing Instagram for inspiration? Well, so does Susanna Salk! Her New Year’s Eve lounge was inspired by fashion stylist Caroline Sieber’s IG post—a scene of returning home to relax after an overseas adventure. Can you believe this sofa is from Ballard Design? Salk added a luxe nail head trim detail and finished the room with a fuzzy Madeline Weinrib rug.

My iPhone photo isn’t doing the ambience of this bedroom justice, but trust that Campion Platt and Sleep Studio took every sense into consideration when designing their serene space, from the cozy Carini Lang handwoven rugs to the soothing Myrrh-infused Dream Candle that scented the room.

Patrick James Hamilton commissioned a custom folding screen large enough to wrap all the way around the white marble mantle of his St. Patrick’s Day-inspired den. The deep green Heliodor wallpaper by Arte had a beautiful gold undertone—a great compliment to the gilded ceiling. 

The colorful fabric of this pillow inspired Gregory Allan Kramer to cover the walls of his “Celebrate” room in an original graffiti mural. Check back here in the next few days to see more from these amazing spaces—they each deserve their own post!

Whether he is designing a custom residence, a home-away- from home boutique hotel, or a new line of furniture or textiles, interior designer Campion Platt [above] has one thing in mind: luxury. “Luxury is about both materiality and context,” he explains adding, “context might mean creating clear, open spaces within the confines of a Manhattan residence, or selecting opulent finishes – such as leather, resin, or marble – to accentuate spatial forms.” Incorporating fine craftsmanship, contemporary styling, and eco-sensitive design has become a signature trademark for Campion Platt over the past twenty years.

KDHamptons: Please describe your perfect Hamptons summer day in detail for KDH readers?

Campion: Morning beach swim with the kids and friends before breakfast, quick stop at Ye Olde Bakery in Southampton for fresh morning pastries, eaten on the street bench…home for outdoor shower and breakfast, a little reading….off to the beach with the kids, lunch, playing around house, early dinner, sitting around the fire pit looking at the stars – it’s all about the kids’ day.

KDHamptons: How would you describe Campion Platt Design for KDH readers..

Campion: I design always with my clients’ inspirations in mind. The projects vary because the program and style changes, but mostly the designs are always fresh, modern, easy on the eye and livable.

KDHamptons: What is the most exciting project you are working on now?

Campion: A 10,000 square foot ground up house in Southampton for a very nice young couple, with all the bells and whistles, but done in a nice, understated kind of way.

KDHamptons: What is the Hamptons design trend du jour?

Campion: While the shingle style design is still all-pervasive, I think a return to the more modern eclectic beach styles seen in the ‘80s will return, but with a more contemporary edge.

KDHamptons: Please describe your own Hamptons home/decor style? Which room and item in your house is your favorite and why?

Campion: We live in a small beach cottage in Watermill – the redeeming features being that it is close to the beach and on a pond – so we are close to the water all the time! Our favorite room is the sun room, recently converted to a dining room after Hurricane Sandy. Our new outdoor shower is my favorite possession and the most used room in the house.

KDHamptons: If you could design a home for anyone in the world [dead or alive], whom would you choose?

Campion: Louis XVI, because that kind of house style and purpose has evolved. It would be interesting to design an updated version of Versailles, not from the perspective of how much money one could spend, rather how has society, culture, architecture, interior design, living style and landscape design matured since that famous period. Every so often in history, great examples of such works are built. I would try my hand at that!

KDHamptons: You are known for having great personal style. Do you have a Hamptons “uniform”?

Campion: Thanks for that! I love comfort and casual style, mostly though, linen with Nehru or open collar shirts and sandals. I wear shorts any time I can, and no socks from early May until October!

KDHamptons: Have any new Hamptons home purchases you have become obsessed with that you can share?

Campion: Actually….. a good new sprinkler system! I spent the summer trying to tweak my system – which was not a very good one. So now I’m hoping for a great organic garden next summer.

KDHamptons: What is your favorite Hamptons restaurant? Got a favorite dish & drink you get every time?

Campion: FRESH in Bridgehampton. I am gluten-free so that great open barn structure is always my best best….their gazpacho is great!

KDHamptons: Do you like to entertain at home? Who cooks, and what is your “go-to” dinner menu?

Campion: I like to entertain and am usually the cook. Since we are cooking for 9 every day, it seems like I am always entertaining! I love anything on the grill, but my favorite dish is crispy chicken wings baked with gluten-free breadcrumbs — my oldest son’s favorite too!

KDHamptons: Do you have a Hamptons mantra?

Campion: Longer summers and more ocean swims. The salt water heals all!

Please Join Diana Riser of Modern Luxury Medias Miami Magazine and panelists Thom Filicia and Campion Platt as they discuss relevant resources in todays marketplace and how they use them to help create a flawless end result. This integral attention to detail is what makes these two designers stand out in the industry. Following the keynote panel, meet Thom Filicia in the Kravet showroom Suite B-180 for a lunch reception as well as a book signing and meet Campion Platt at the Inside Out showroom Suite B-216 for a book signing, dessert, and coffee.

After more than 20 years in business, MercBar, a staple of SoHo social life, is closing, its owner said on Monday

Owner John McDonald planned to make Monday the last evening at the 2,000-square-foot bar, which he opened in February 1993 with the architect Campion Platt, fresh from graduating Columbia University the year prior.

Originally, Mr. McDonald leased the building—what he described as a single-story “shared wall structure” with a mezzanine—from Mr. Platt and Andre Balazs, who were constructing the Mercer Hotel at the time and parked their cars in the space. (He bought out Mr. Platt more than a decade ago and purchased the building in the last five years.)

The vision for MercBar was modeled, in part, after a lodge the fashion photographer Bruce Weber kept in the Adirondacks. Even now, that vision holds, with barn wood lining the walls and a canoe hanging above the bar.

From the get-go, MercBar attracted a fashion crowd, said Mr. McDonald, thanks to Mr. Balazs’s relationship with Katie Ford, the former CEO of Ford models, and Mr. McDonald’s own connections in Manhattan nightlife.

At the time, he explained, “most of going out involved big clubs. This was a small boutique, with no sign.” He added that the philosophy of MercBar never changed over the years: “We were open seven days a week, no DJs, no promoters, no drink specials, no mirrors, no TV set. Even though everything has been reupholstered 15 times and the carpets change, it’s always remained a time machine.”

Although fashion people, model bookers and photographers who worked in SoHo still flocked to MercBar for after-work drinks over the years, it attracted a broader audience, like “anything that’s very busy long-term does,” Mr. McDonald said. “For true longevity and a viable business, the crowd you always want is busy.”

Mr. McDonald, who operates two other restaurants that bookend Mercer Street, said he wasn’t closing the bar because of a lack of popularity. “On Saturday, it was as busy as it’s ever been,” he noted. But, as with most old buildings, the infrastructure is giving way, slowly. The floors are sinking and the walls are cracking. He has some ideas of what to do with the space, but he explained, “I’ve got to get through this mental chapter first.”

Having passed the two-decade mark, it seemed like a good time to call it quits. “I just had to pick a day,” he said. “I didn’t want there to be too much build-up. It’s drawing a line in the sand. For a lot of reasons you have to learn how to say goodbye to time versus letting it drag out.”

- Marshall Heyman

Although the smartphone-and-tablet era has been taking the amount of physical books surrounding us, we still have plenty of them to enjoy page by page, being part of our daily dose of inspiration.

In our bedside table, in our living room, in our office or in our wishlist, this is our ultimate selection:

To order straight away:

Made to Order by Campion Platt

The hallmarks of Campion Platt, principal of the award-winning New York interior design firm of the same name, are clean and simple design coupled with an embrace of color, beautifully crafted millwork and environmentally friendly materials.

Architectural Digest has named him to its AD100 list of top designers, and we selected his book as one of our TOP 5.

At a brownstone in New York City, designer Campion Platt, transformed a characterless dining room into a welcoming study. He designed the hearty metal panel to match the new French Doors; darkened ceiling beams tie the scheme together.

Project Decor ( http://www.projectdecor.com ), the design industry’s newest and most dynamic social home decorating platform, announces the launch of “Style Exchange,” an interior designer—based online community, connecting users to real life experts for daily decor inspiration.

Beyond shopping, Style Exchange allows design aficionados to explore a variety of products, meet the designers, and discover the inspiration behind some of the world’s leading interior design projects. Curated among the industry’s leading experts, this invite-only program provides designers with the tools to share interactive design boards and posts, highlighting items they recommend.

“Whether you’re just beginning your design journey or your personal style is well established, you can follow your favorite designers and get a glimpse into their creative vision and purchase items they love,” says Brooke Stoddard, Project Decor Creative Director.

This unparalleled access allows consumers to experience the professional design process through the lens of established designers from the comforts of their own home. Users can shop from leading international brands such as Knoll and Kravet as well as directly from their favorite design boards and rooms. Participating Style Exchange contributors also receive 10% commission on all sales made through their boards, empowering designers to monetize their expertise. Prior to launch, Style Exchange received over 800 interior design applicants.

As part of Style Exchange, Project Decor is featuring select VIP StyleMaker shops that feature top designer’s boards alongside their personal inspirations. Featured designers include Alexa Hampton, Michael Aram and Campion Platt.

“Project Decor harnesses the ecommerce potential that has been lacking in the home sector with a beautifully conceived, robust and fun online design experience that allows imagination, creation and purchasing all within a few key strokes,” says Campion Platt, renowned interior designer.

Project Decor is open to design enthusiasts, who can discover the best home design products and be inspired by professionals through the Style Exchange Design Shops. Users can create and share boards of their own, or virtually upgrade their living space by uploading a photo of their room and introducing their favorite items seen on http://www.projectdecor.com .

About Project DecorProject Decor ( http://projectdecor.com ) is a resource for interior designers and design fans, allowing users to express their personal design styles, share ideas online directly with friends, and purchase furniture, lighting and accessories from dozens of major brands, all in one place. The content-driven platform brings social commerce to interior design by delivering a creative and curated experience that facilitates conversations with trusted sources including friends and family. Created by entrepreneurs Andy Appelbaum, Cliff Sirlin, and Aaron Wallace, Project Decor is a one-stop design shop to help users create, style and share. For further information on the Style Exchange program, please visit us at http://ProjectDecor.com/StyleExchange

This time of year, children often begin to despair over the end of summer and the looming school year. For many parents, mid-August signals the start of school-supply shopping season and perhaps a time to rethink their child’s work space.

The architect Campion Platt, who is a father of four, ranging in age from a 1-year-old to 21, has some advice about that.

“They need to spread out, and the bigger the surface, the better,” said Mr. Platt, 52. “If you give them a dedicated surface, they tend to keep things there. Otherwise, the whole room becomes their workstation.”

Built-in cabinetry is one way to address this issue, but it isn’t the only way. To prove it, Mr. Platt recently took his three youngest offspring and a reporter on a tour of workstations and desks for children of various ages.

His first stop was Kid’s Supply Company on the Upper East Side, where a desk-and-shelf combination caught his eye.

“The multicolored design is fun,” he said of the piece, which borrowed heavily from Charlotte Perriand’s 1950s Bibliothèque, although the store’s owner described it as Prouvé style. “It has a lot of surfaces to do different things, and I find the sliding panels more effective than regular cabinet doors. You can put stuff away, expose some things.”

The Offi Half Pipe desk, at Bobby Berk Home in SoHo, got the nod for being an “elegant, updated version of a ’50s or ’60s bentwood desk.” As Mr. Platt said, “You could roll Matchbox cars up on that edge, so it’s a play surface as much as a work surface.”

And the Jonathan Adler Channing desk was “perfect for a prissy 13-year-old girl’s room,” he said. “It’s almost like a makeup-table-dressing-table-work-surface.”

But the Pivot desk by Shay Alkalay for Arco, which he found at M2L, in Midtown, was the most interesting workstation “from a design point of view,” he said. “And a good urban solution, because you can plug it in anywhere and it doesn’t take up too much space.”

For his own family, however, Mr. Platt chose the most economical piece: the $119 Expedit workstation from Ikea.

“That end piece is also available as a free-standing bookshelf,” he said. “I bought two for my son’s room, one vertical, one horizontal. It’s the best deal out there.”

- RIMA SUQI

WITH booming e-commerce and the proliferation of showrooms that encourage anyone to wander in off the street, design is so closely within reach that the average shopper doesn’t have to extend an arm. But just because consumers have grown more autonomous doesn’t mean they have the experience and taste to dispense with advisers and friends. And where’s the fun in filling a digital shopping cart all by yourself?

Project Décor, a Web site that opened for business on Monday, combines e-commerce and social media to create a virtual, democratic design center. Founded by a trio of entrepreneurs — Andy Appelbaum, Cliff Sirlin and Aaron Wallace — the site lets visitors drag and drop products from 50 international design brands onto an inspiration board or a photo of an existing room and solicit responses from a decorator, family member, respected friend or benevolent stranger. (The boards can be shared on the Project Décor site or on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.)

Products may be searched by category (like lamps), manufacturer (like Artecnica), color (like orange) or genre (children’s furniture) or picked up from the boards of professional designers like Campion Platt, who have been invited to create vignettes.

Any of the 5,000-plus items can be bought on the spot. The e-commerce model also allows shoppers access to goods off the beaten path — offerings by obscure young companies, exotic international labels and even contract furniture companies like Bernhardt Design that have never marketed directly to consumers until now. Brooke Stoddard, the site’s creative director, said she expected more than 100 brands to be on the site by the end of the year.

Visitors, who are encouraged to form “teams” to trade decorating ideas and follow “friends,” may be tempted to use Project Décor strictly for entertainment. Ms. Stoddard described the site as a “creative platform overlaid with a fertile social landscape.” It’s a place to hang out and covet, less snooty than a showroom, more intimate than a mall and filled with the kind of inspiration that used to be torn from shelter magazines before so many of them went the way of the fainting couch.

- JULIE LASKY of the New York Times

Irwin Weiner ASID – As upper-echelon interior designer in Manhattan, Campion Platt knows beauty, good proportions, style, and timelessness. It’s clever that Corcoran Realty teamed up with 1stDibs and several top designers to videotape luxury property tours.

It promotes the real estate inventory in the City – yes, that’s a given – but it also gives us the guilty pleasure of walking through these hallowed, prestige spaces guided by designers who know what’s good when they see it. Campion tells us what he loves about this apartment at 1030 Fifth Avenue. And what’s not to love about being on Central Park, close to museums, shopping, and city attractions?

For the full video tour, please go to http://www.campionplatt.com/press/view/luxury-collection-1030-fifth-avenue-aptarmetn-3w-upper-east-side

Sign up for some great events:
KEYNOTE: MOROCCO UNEARTHING THE DESIGN MAGIC
Experts in Moroccan design, culture and architecture explore fascinating artisanal design traditions and their applications in current design.
Moderator: Susan McFadden, Editor, California Homes, Panelists: Maryam Montague, Chris Barrett., Campion Platt, Philip Gorrivan
May 10, 2012 10:00 am

Or Book Signing: Campion Platt for Made to Order May 10, 2012
Location: Remains Lighting
808 N La Cienega Blvd
4:00 – 6:00

Designer Campion Platt was in town from New York the other weekend, signing his book Made to Order- (Monacelli Press) and sharing his work with an audience of interested Portlanders. He’d spent the morning soaking up the Portland experience (rainfree that day): sketching at the Chinese Garden, wandering through Powell’s and stopping at Kenny and Zuke’s for a pastrami sandwich.

With a practice based in New York and a stream of high-end hotel and residential clients over the years (including Meg Ryan, who “channeled” Charles Rennie Mackintosh for her Central Park-view apartment), Platt knows a thing or too about living – and designing – well. I had the chance to chat with him before his lecture at Bedford Brown. We talked about his projects, design philosophy, and the state of the field today. Here’s some of that conversation (edited for space).

On designing for celebrities:
They’re very good clients because they’re almost like corporate clients – because it’s usually they’re only involved in the aesthetic. They’re not involved in the money, they’re not involved in the schedule, they’re not involved in the process, because they’re off doing something else. Which is great – you get the best use of their time, talking about exactly what you want to talk about.

On how and why, after architecture school at Columbia, his career has veered toward interiors and furniture rather than building design:
Well it was kind of an organic process doing projects in New York…You start off small and you’re challenged by the lack of real estate, small apartments, trying to do renovations. So we ended up doing a very kind of modern design, a lot of millwork, that kind of custom building because I’m very keen on creating storage areas where there are none, and we started creating interiors for which we really needed to customize and scale the furniture to make the room scale and fit and look properly. So you couldn’t go to place like (names a furniture store) that had all this big overstuffed furniture back then and so we ended up making our own. And so over the years I’ve just developed a great relationship with a number of what I call artisan vendors… The quality of the work is beautiful, and it’s real, fine cabinet work, it’s not like production work at all… And for the clients I think it’s more and more fun if they can personalize something, make something unique.

On the greening of the design field:
Am I totally green, no. What I tell people is I’m light green. Because actually, as it turns out, in the architecture world, you can and could’ve from about 1970, ’72 or so, built totally green houses. On the interiors side, there’s still not a lot of product out there…and if it is, then it’s basically natural hemp, or something that’s more kind of a treehugger aesthetic than it is an Upper East Side aesthetic…But where we’re talking about it like it’s the unlikely piece in the room now, it’ll actually be so commonplace in ten years, I think, that it’ll become part of the landscape.

On why he loves designing interiors:
It’s the tactile quality. When you really get down to it, that’s what the experience is, that’s what I’m interested in for that particular client. It’s like, how can I change their world, how can I change their life for the better, because otherwise if I’m just making a dollar on it, what’s the point really? If I can provide my therapy – my therapy for them is kind of an oasis of beautiful design that they can relax into and really feel like they’ve been a part of it. And in most cases, people are spending the most amount of money they have, ever, in their life on either a house or design or interiors. It’s the biggest decision of their life.

On his favorite building type to design:
I’ve always loved the hotel building typology the most, because you have the ability on the design side to create everything from the building alone to the most public to the most private. So you can be making a bespoke toothbrush and you can be doing the planters at the entry all the way to the toothbrush in the room. And with the volume of rooms, anything over 50 or 60 rooms you can make custom.

On which designers he has been inspired by:
I like a lot of the Italian characters who did a lot of furniture. Carlo Mollino, (Carlo) Scarpa – Scarpa was an amazing designer. He did very personalized design…He did some crazy work, but I think it was really driven by what the story was…When I was in school, Frank Lloyd Wright was kind of blacklisted for a while there, but I always loved him because I said, here’s somebody who could do it all. It’s complete, total holistic design. It’s attitude, and execution, and a story…and the design isn’t pigeonholed into the architecture or the interiors. When you walk into a space, you’re not saying, oh, great architecture or great interiors, you’re saying, great space, and the two are both together. I’ve always thought of it that way…The best designs in the world are the ones where they live together.

On Portland:
There was lots of facial hair and backpacks today. But everyone seemed very nice. I saw a lot of the city. I thought it was very quiet for a Saturday, but of course I’m also in the center city. New York is never that quiet on a Saturday. New York might be that quiet after a storm or hurricane or something!

 

- Kristin Belz

Each year Presidents’ Day weekend brings exciting art events to the county, and this weekend is no exception. The 2012 ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival (February 18 – 20) in Abacoa Town Center, Jupiter has been named one of the top 50 art festivals in the country and top 20 events in the southeast. The event showcases a juried exhibition of outstanding fine art along with activities which include live entertainment, artist demonstrations, children’s interactive art activities, celebrity art doodles, Youth Art Competition Gallery and the opportunity to meet more than 300 of the top artists from around the world. Among them is local artist Lynn Morgan whom you can find in booth 626.

In addition, for the first time, Jupiter’s Artigras festival offers a glimpse of local artists’ visions of EcoArt: art that does a job, namely by specifically helping the environment directly and in highly visible, educational and aesthetically interesting ways. Artists Daryl McCann, Lucy Keshavarz and Jesse Etelson will showcase their recent work at EcoArt Works!!, a joint presentation by the US Green Building Council’s Palm Beach County Branch and EcoArt South Florida. Gregory Lombardi Design, Inc. is sponsoring the presentation.

Artigras tickets are available online and at selected locations throughout Palm Beach County. Advance Sale One Day Ticket (good any one day) – $6.00. Advance Sales Three Day Ticket (good all three days) – $12.00.  Kids 12 and under admitted FREE – limited to 2 children with each adult. $1.00 from each ticket sold in advance will be donated to local school art programs.

In West Palm Beach, the Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach is hosting Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, February 18 – 21, 2012.  Show dates and hours are Saturday – Monday, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.  Hailed as one of the most important events of its kind in the US, the show has something for every collector from the novice to the museum curator.  Pieces span time ranging from the antiquities to the 20th century, including Deco and Modernist periods.

A highlight of this year’s show will be the “Hope Designer Showcase,” curated by AD100 interior designer Scott Snyder. The exhibit features five room vignettes created by Snyder and other top interior designers, including Geoffrey Bradfield, Jim Aman and John Meeks, Bruce Bierman and Campion Platt. The designers utilize fine art, furniture and decorative accessories from exhibitors in the show to create beautiful spaces that exemplify how antiques integrate into today’s lifestyles. Tickets for this show can also be purchased online.  A one-day pass is $15 or a four-day pass is $25. 

Don’t forget to click on Subscribe to Email at the top of the West Palm Beach Fine Arts Examiner page for the most current art info.

- Maxine Schreiber

Visitors to the four-day Palm Beach Jewelry, Art and Antiques show, which opens Saturday, will likely find plenty of items to divert their attention among the 175-plus vendor stalls set up in the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

But not all of the art and antiques will be displayed inside the booths. Instead, some have been pulled from the stock of the exhibiting vendors by well-known interior decorators at five design firms. They’re led by Palm Beach designer Scott Snyder, whose namesake company also has an office in New York City.

They have created room settings that showcase the items and, perhaps, offer a few design lessons on using antiques at home. In addition to Snyder, the participants include Geoffrey Bradfield, Campion Platt and Bruce Bierman as well as Jim Aman and his partner, John Meeks.

For his own vignette, Snyder has envisioned a “proper” living room filled with notable objects and furnishings culled from the shows dealers, who have traveled to the convention center from across the Atlantic and the country — and even from across town, he says.

“I’m using 18th- and 19th-century antiques from Cedric DuPont Antiques in West Palm Beach, mixing them with contemporary mid-century upholstered pieces and modern 20th-century art,” Snyder says. “It’s a juxtaposition of the late 1800s and 2012, which is very much the mood of the show, as well as the mood of today.”

He also chose upholstered furniture of his own design, and art from Cavalier Galleries Inc. of Greenwich, Conn.

“I love antiquity mixed with modernity,” he says. “It’s brilliant. You just have to know when to stop and where to start.”

Snyder’s choice of the display’s color palette — yellow and gray — wasn’t incidental, by the way. Those hues are the signature colors of the Hope for Depression Research Foundation, the show’s new nonprofit charitable partner, which replaced the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, the event’s beneficiary for the past several years.

Creative connection

Hope for Depression was founded in 2006 by Palm Beacher Audrey Gruss, one of Snyder’s longtime clients and a friend. The organization funds research into the cause of depression, its effects and possible cures and medications.

Gruss was instrumental in establishing the partnership between the charity and the show and sale, says Scott Diament, who co-founded the event nine years ago. She also helped secure Snyder’s participation in heading up the room displays, which have been christened the Hope Designer Showcase.

“I have a passion for art, especially decorative art,” Gruss says, adding that research into depression has revealed a linked to the art and design community. As a result, she says, she saw a certain synergy to partnering her foundation with the show.

“Almost 20 percent of people in professions that use their creativity are susceptible to some form of emotional imbalance,” she says, adding that 20 million Americans suffer from depression.

“Audrey has been to (antiques) shows all over the world, and she was helpful in involving some top dealers and getting the word out,” Diament says.

Open to anyone attending the show, the designers’ showcase is also a centerpiece of the inaugural Hope Art-of-Design Weekend, a series of private events for the charity’s donors that include a high tea hosted by Gruss and private guided tours of the show. It all came out of a brainstorming dinner session with Gruss, Snyder says.

Designers’ choices

The room vignettes are similar to ones that Snyder and other designers created several years ago for a different event — the now renamed American International Fine Art Fair, which closed Sunday at the convention center.

Adding a designer’s showcase to the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show fulfills one of Diament’s longtime goals for his event, he explains.

“That’s something we’ve wanted to do for a long time,” says Diament, who co-founded the show with partner Kris Charamonde. Palm Beach Show Group’s other co-founder, Rob Samuels, has since left the organization to concentrate on his jewelry business.

Snyder has designed a pavilion on the exhibit floor that will house the five vignettes. Decorator Platt’s salon, for instance, will feature Art Deco furniture from Valerio Antiques, a New York City-based company that also provided pieces for other vignettes.

“My own style tends toward modern,” says New York-based Platt, who with his wife, Tatiana, owns an award-winning vacation home in Palm Beach. “Typically, I like to use natural woods, metal and steel. A beautiful screen creates height and proportion. My rooms are always meant to be comfortable with multiple seating areas, so that it feels active.”

Geoffrey Bradfield of Geoffrey Bradfield Inc. in New York City, meanwhile, has created a sophisticated-and-glamorous room setting that he envisioned as an international art dealer’s lair, he says.

“As a devoted champion of the Art Deco movement, it’s a pleasure to incorporate furnishings from Valerio Antiques,” Bradfield says. “I’m using a fine desk from the 1930s, a pair of armchairs, coffee table, desk chairs of the period and an ultra-chic vertical book case in matching dark wood.”

For art, he’s including a portfolio of John “Crash” Matos’ paintings from Art Link International of Lake Worth, as well as a massive fossil mural from Eostone of Miami for a focal point and Flywheelsonata, a sculpture by John Chamberlain from Dean Borghi Fine Art of New York City.

Grounding the setting is a carpet Bradfield designed as a part of his new collection for Stark Carpet.

“I named it Mr. Willoughby, after the young man who rules my life, my 5-year-old Yorkshire terrier,” the decorator says.

Aman of Jim Aman + John Meeks in New York City says he is not seeking an over-the-top reaction from those who view his firm’s foyer vignette.

“We do the transitional look. Our color palettes are very subdued and we are about great art and fine antiques, which is never trendy and does not go in and out of style. So that’s what we are doing for this show,” Aman says.

For his foyer, he’s including Jules Leleu chairs and an Andre Arbus console from New York City’s Primavera Gallery. He also chose sculptures by Donald De Lue and Giacometti Diego from Childs Gallery of Boston and art by Clifford Smith and Wojciech Fangor from Gavin Spanierman Ltd. of New York City.

‘The best medicine’

New York City-based Bruce Bierman of Bruce Bierman Design says he agreed to do a vignette as long as he could get people to laugh. The title of his room is “Happiness Is.”

“This is about hope for depression, and laughter is the best medicine,” he says. “I was sitting in my studio with two designers, who happen to be women, and I asked them what would make them happy, and they said new shoes. So, we are doing a woman’s dressing room. Saks (Fifth Avenue) was kind enough to give us many pairs of shoes.

“We are using wonderful furniture and art from Valerio, Borghi Fine Art (of Engelwood, N.J.) and The Silver Fund (of San Francisco) — and all the accessories will be women’s shoes.”

Last night at the Mandarin Oriental the New York Botanical Garden held its annual Orchid Dinner. Center at this dinner every year are the breathtaking orchid centerpieces created by more than twenty leading designers from the worlds of fashion, architecture, design, and horticulture including Alessandra Branca, Sherrill Canet, David Easton, Stephen Elrod, Philip Gorrivan, Juan Montoya, Robert Marinelli, Richard Mishaan, Campion Platt, Tiffany & Co. by Richard Lambertson, Baccarat by Rafael de Cardenas, Lexington Gardens, and Roric Tobin for Geoffrey Bradfield.

The evening was sponsored by Veranda Magazine. The Botanical Garden also honored Tiffany & Co. and The Tiffany & Co. Foundation for the Foundation’s decade of support as the Founding Sponsor of The Orchid Show, celebrating the company’s 175th Anniversary.

Every winter, exotic orchids provide the tablesetting magic for The New York Botanical Garden’s Orchid Dinner. The glorious event, generously underwritten by Veranda, BNY Mellon and Tiffany and Co, is a way to celebrate and support one of New York’s best loved horticultural treasures, The New York Botanical Garden.

“We were thrilled to sponsor the Orchid Dinner for our 5th consecutive year,” said Veranda editor in chief Dara Caponigro. “The evening supports the New York Botanical Garden’s vital work in conservation and education and we are pleased to have helped the Garden attract so much creative talent in support of its mission. This event is always a showcase for some of the most extraordinary design.” If you have not been to the gardens, go! The stunning Orchid Show that opens March 3rd draws quite a crowd from far and wide, as does their beautifully-edited gift shop.
For the table designs, interior and floral designers start with the delicate looking blooms, and build their design story around the flower—sometimes using masses upon masses of them. This year, the tables were as divine as ever, with orchid arrangements created out of every possible variety and hue soaring heavenward.

- Marisa from Stylebeat

Wednesday evening I was thrilled to attended the New York Botanical Garden‘s annual Orchid Dinner. This year’s event honored Tiffany & Co. for their foundation’s decade of support as the Founding Sponsor of The Orchid Show. There was also reason for celebration as the iconic company is about to celebrate its 175th anniversary.

In addition to Tiffany, BNY Mellon and Veranda Magazine were again sponsors for the evening. I had heard what a beautiful event this was but must admit I was not prepared for the truly spectacular tables and centerpieces that were designed for the evening. Although I didn’t make it to every table, here is a round up of several I loved.

Anchoring the room was the gorgeous Tiffany and Co. table designed by Richard Lambertson with David M. Handy Events. Elegant yet fresh and modern, it handled its size with grace and glamour.

As soon as I saw this striking table, I knew it was the work of Allessandra Branca. Using her signature black, white and red color palette, she created a dramatic look. It was my pleasure to have a chance to chat with the talented designer whose effervescent personality is often expressed in her interiors.

I loved how Angelica Gomes of Angelica Flowers and Events set off her fabulous colorful bouquet against the dark tablecloth. And you can’t really see the vase but it was a fun handpainted almost graffiti-esque container that was a great counterpoint to the elegant flowers. Be sure to visit her website – it is as colorful and beautifully designed as her table.

Just like his work, architect/designer Rafael de Cardenas‘ table with Baccarat, reflected his cosmopolitan respect for tradition with an eye toward the contemporary. The crystal was a sparking addition to the elegant bouquet.

Bowman Dahl Floral & Event Design had a very clever solution to the centerpiece. Set in a very thin candlestick like structure, the bouquet explodes at the top in a canopy of color, leaving room below for across-the-table conversation.

My photo does not do justice to designer Campion Platt‘s jubilant ode to Chinese New Year. The fantastic paper dragon towered ceremoniously above an elegant table display.

The table of antiques dealer David Duncan was a carnivale worthy display of color. What a great mix of size and form in the centerpiece.

Felipe Sastre created a majestic statement for Flower School New York. With such a fabulous tree-like structure, I think it was the right decision to keep the table neutral. It was all about texture and proportion.

Boutique owner Laura Vinroot Poole‘s table, executed with John Lupton, Andrew Thomas and Leontine Linens, was an explosion of color. And I of course loved the orange monogramming on the napkins!

LMD Lewis Miller Design set an elegantly simply table where the pure white of the orchid was offset by the metallic tablecloth and napkin rings.

Michael Walter for Lexington Gardens created a fun vertical ode to the garden with tools and bird houses at practically every level.

Philip Gorrivan partnered with Lalique to create a table inspired by the classic Normandie. With flowers from l’Olivier Floral Atelier, Sferra Linens, Christofle flatware and china and deco style embroidery courtesty of Villa Savoia, the table was a spectacular contemporary nod to the amazing style of that iconic liner.

Robert Marinelli for RMID purposefully created a low centerpiece to enable conversation. The incredibly youthful looking designer’s table had a lovely natural organic feel.

It’s always fun when designers set the stage. Roric Tobin for Geoffrey Bradfield created an entire safari theme, hats and all. The rustic chic worked perfectly with the beautiful yellow.

One of the most creative centerpieces of the evening was by Selina van der Geest NL-GB with Brett McCormack. Constructed entirely of paper, this was truly a work of art.

Sherrill Canet with Phillip Jeffries table had a sophisticated sort of Out of Africa appeal. I loved the play of textures and the jolt of slightly acid green.

Lastly, Stephen Elrod for Brunschwig also gave a nod to Africa with his giraffe topped bouquet. The riot of color in the flowers was echoed in the colorful new Brunschwig pattern.

The crowd was happy as the proceeds from the evening, around $600,000, support the Garden’s orchid research and education.

 

A home of about 2,286 square feet, according to the owners, with three bedrooms and 2½ bathrooms, asking $2.3 million, or $984.25 a square foot. Property taxes in 2012 are $27,291, say the owners.

DETAILS: The owners say this house, built around 1925, was “worn and in need of updating” when they bought it in 1998. They did a 10-month remodeling that included making a television room out of a screened porch while preserving original details like the pecky cypress ceilings in the living room and library, the handblown stained-glass panes in the powder-room door and the Cuban tile floors in the dining room. The owners planted Cuban royal palms in the front yard that neighbor and interior designer Campion Platt says make the house. “It’s very sculptural from the outside, it has great curb appeal because of the palms,” says Mr. Platt, describing the house as an adapted Spanish-style. While Mr. Platt hasn’t worked on the house, he says he likes the interiors, though “there’s no place that I don’t go into that I don’t mentally rearrange.” He calls the one-bedroom, one-bathroom guesthouse overlooking the pool “a necessity” as it lets guests have their own schedule. The family uses the living room in the guesthouse as a gym.

NEIGHBORHOOD: It’s just minutes to the Palm Beach Recreation Center where you can sign up for French, Spanish or Italian lessons.

OWNERS: Neil and Luiza Kozokoff. Mr. Kozokoff is a real-estate developer.

WHY WE’RE SELLING: The Kozokoffs would like a larger home in the same neighborhood.

WHAT WE’LL MISS: “The charm and the location,” says Mr. Kozokoff, who likes being able to walk to the beach, Starbucks or the nearby tennis courts in 10 minutes. Mrs. Kozokoff will miss her combined dressing room and office suite.

WHAT WE WON’T: “I’d like a garage,” says Mr. Kozokoff, adding that you can fit six cars in the driveway, so it isn’t a question of hunting for parking.

WHAT WE PAID: The couple paid $505,000 for the house in 1998 and estimate that they put $1 million into updating and restoring it. “A lot of the money was spent on preserving the character of the home,” says Mr. Kozokoff.

COMPS: A 3,685-square-foot house on the same street sold for $2.7 million in 2010.

OTHERS SAY: Ted Ward of Barrett Welles Property Group has shown the house and calls the price fair. He says it “lives like a newer house,” though it has original details. Listing broker Paulette Koch of Corcoran Group Palm Beach Real Estate also points out the period details. She shares the listing with Dana Koch.

- Sarah Tilton from The Wall Street Journal

Interior designer Campion Platt, known for designing hotels in New York as well as celebrity homes for Al Pacino, Meg Ryan, Conan O’Brien and music star Roger Waters, unveils his newest book, “Made to Order,” in which he showcases tips and ideas to help people practice the “Platt approach.” Ornare Showroom, 3930 NE Second Ave Ste. 102/103, Miami; 305-438-0260.

Campion Platt has hung out with some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities, and we’re not talking on the red carpet. He’s the architect/interior designer behind lavish hotels and homes belonging to anyone who’s anyone, from Jay-Z to Al Pacino. The Massachusetts native, who splits his time between Palm Beach and New York’s SoHo, will be stopping by the ORNARE showroom in the Design District Friday 6-8 to sign copies of his latest book, Made to Order. Guests will be able to ask the star designer what makes him tick and get advice about their own personal spaces. We caught up with Platt before he got down to Miami:

Who was your favorite celebrity to work with? Meg Ryan. She loved secessionist art and the Glasgow art and architecture movement from the 1930s. We looked at [famed Scottish architect] Charles Rennie McIntosh as a departure point and then made it modern and for NYC. She was great to work with and very similar to how she is onscreen: highly intelligent, well informed and very gracious. We transformed the kitchen, hallway, and maid’s room into one large room with a center sink area. The cabinets were walnut, the island zinc metal and soapstone—materials used in the ’30s—the ceilings coved with a pulley lighting system

What was it like working with Al Pacino? We did not meet much; however he wanted everything relaxed and informal, like his lifestyle. We worked on both his house on the Hudson River and a NYC apartment. Conan O’Brien must have been fun. Conan was great. Very smart, gave me lots of latitude to design something that fit the Majestic (“Art Deco style”) building on the Upper West Side. I did two projects with him before he moved to L.A. for The Tonight Show. He has a cool guitar collection.

What was your most unusual celebrity request? A specialized custom meeting/entertaining and viewing sofa for Russell Simmons.

Most lavish request? A sound recording studio for Roger Waters of Pink Floyd.

We read that you worked on a house in Harlem where Jay-Z’s video was shot for “Blue Magic.’’ How did you get involved with that project? This was a show house for Esquire magazine where we designed a double story living room looking over Central Park. Jay-Z came to a party their and loved the space, the feeling, the vibe of a room we call “Heavens Chamber.” You can see the balcony at night in a couple of shots on YouTube

- Madeleine Marr

Star interior designer Campion Platt, known for designing hotels in New York as well as celebrity homes for Al Pacino, Meg Ryan, and Conan O’Brien and music star Roger Waters unveils his newest book, “Made to Order,” at the ORNARE showroom in Miami Design District.

This event marks the first book signing opportunity in Miami. Platt’s first monograph, “Made to Order” also showcases tips and ideas to help people practice the “Platt approach” on their own. Projects featured include an 1857 sea captain’s house; a show house in Harlem, New York, where Jay-Z filmed a music video; a loft in Astor Place; and a writer’s retreat for novelist Jay McInerney. Eighteen projects in total reveal Platt’s creative process and explain the inspiration from which each space’s theme is derived, giving readers a privileged inside view of how a world-class designer weaves his spell. Celebrating Platt’s latest book and a new design partnership, Ornare will be hosting the Florida launch and signing of Made to Order. For one night only, guests will be given the opportunity to participate in a discussion lead by Ornare and Platt about celebrity design, expert craftsmanship, contemporary styling and eco-sensitive design.

When: January 27, 2012 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Price: Complimentary
Event Phone Number: 305.438.0260

Where:
ORNARE’s Design District Showroom
3930 NE 2nd Ave Ste. 102/103
Miami FL 33137

What:
Star interior designer Campion Platt, known for designing hotels in New York as well as celebrity homes for Al Pacino, Meg Ryan, and Conan O’Brien and music star Roger Waters unveils his newest book, “Made to Order,” at the ORNARE showroom in Miami Design District. This event marks the first book signing opportunity in Miami.

Platt’s first monograph, “Made to Order” also showcases tips and ideas to help people practice the “Platt approach” on their own. Projects featured include an 1857 sea captain’s house; a show house in Harlem, New York, where Jay-Z filmed a music video; a loft in Astor Place; and a writer’s retreat for novelist Jay McInerney. Eighteen projects in total reveal Platt’s creative process and explain the inspiration from which each space’s theme is derived, giving readers a privileged inside view of how a world-class designer weaves his spell.

Celebrating Platt’s latest book and a new design partnership, Ornare will be hosting the Florida launch and signing of Made to Order. For one night only, guests will be given the opportunity to participate in a discussion lead by Ornare and Platt about celebrity design, expert craftsmanship, contemporary styling and eco-sensitive design.

Made to Order: Celebrity Book Signing at ORNARE
Friday, January 27th from 6-8pm
ORNARE’s Design District Showroom
3930 NE 2nd Ave Ste. 102/103

Claudio Faria, director of US operations for ORNARE, recently featured in Wallpaper*, Associated Press, and VOGUE.

Campion Platt, principal of the award-winning New York interior design firm of the same name. Platt has been on the Architectural Digest AD100 list of top designers, and New York magazine pronounces him one of “The City’s Best Architects and Decorators.” His work is featured regularly in Elle Décor, Esquire, Gotham, Travel + Leisure, Wallpaper and other leading design magazines.

Star interior designer Campion Platt, known for designing hotels in New York as well as celebrity homes for Al Pacino, Meg Ryan, and Conan O’Brien and music star Roger Waters unveils his newest book, “Made to Order,” at the ORNARE showroom in Miami Design District. This event marks the first book signing opportunity in Miami.

Platt’s first monograph, “Made to Order” also showcases tips and ideas to help people practice the “Platt approach” on their own. Projects featured include an 1857 sea captain’s house; a show house in Harlem, New York, where Jay-Z filmed a music video; a loft in Astor Place; and a writer’s retreat for novelist Jay McInerney. Eighteen projects in total reveal Platt’s creative process and explain the inspiration from which each space’s theme is derived, giving readers a privileged inside view of how a world-class designer weaves his spell.

Celebrating Platt’s latest book and a new design partnership, Ornare will be hosting the Florida launch and signing of Made to Order. For one night only, guests will be given the opportunity to participate in a discussion lead by Ornare and Platt about celebrity design, expert craftsmanship, contemporary styling and eco-sensitive design.

Design concept: The 1908’s old house, with an area of ​​836 square meters of spacious villa surrounded by a pack of green lush natural landscape, the air can smell the pine and maple flavor. To the ancient appearance and architecture and the surrounding scenery echoes vitality, interior design places to do old furniture, natural wood, warm earth tones …, lay out a good-natured tone of rustic American country, coupled with many of these Building a sense of soaked years of history of art to match the old house, indoor and outdoor natural harmony.

Projects of Campion Platt

Designer Campion Platt makes design look easy and, for most artists, that’s the highest compliment one can receive.

His interiors aren’t forced or fussy, instead flowing together so naturally that it seems he waved a magic wand and Poof! Perfection! But achieving such balance requires massive effort. His art is in the details, weaving together individual elements to achieve a cohesive, unique space. Unique. Every time. Rather than setting out to create a “signature style”, Campion’s made creative flexibility his calling card. “I can be somewhat of a chameleon,” he told 1st Dibs, drawing on a client’s unique tastes and infusing it with a luxurious touch.

The attainment of livable luxury remains a guiding principle for Campion Platt, the New York City architect and decorator who has crafted homes for such celebrated clients as Al Pacino and Meg Ryan and also codeveloped glamorous hotels like the Mercer in Manhattan and the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.

Platt’s residential commissions, surveyed in the 2010 monograph Made to Order (The Monacelli Press), consistently brim with high-end finishes, exotic materials, and artisanal furnishings. His holistic approach to design has led him to consult on several planned resort communities in recent years and has spawned textile, carpet, and furniture collections as well. campionplatt.com

Architect Peter Marino — whose projects include scores of Chanel and Dior stores — wore full black leather biker gear that included an eye-popping cod piece to the Architectural Digest AD100 party at the Guggenheim Museum on Tuesday night.

One guest said Marino’s outfit raised more eyebrows than the provocative Maurizio Cattelan works on display, which included a sculpture of the pope hit by an asteroid. Others joining Marino on the AD100 list included Richard Meier, Nicholas Haslam, Robert A.M. Stern, Norman Foster, Campion Platt and Mica Ertegun. Event planner Bronson Van Wyck put the names of the 100 lucky list-makers on soaring pillars in the museum’s rotunda to symbolize their status in the design community. Attendees included Martha Stewart, Robert Verdi, Tony Ingrao, Randy Kemper, Mayor Bloomberg’s decorator Jamie Drake, Jason Wu, Aerin Lauder and Alexandra Wentworth. Aileen Mehle, who penned a piece about her chic apartment done by her friend Mario Buatta in the issue, was also on hand. The magazine’s editor Margaret Russell hosted the Jaguar event.

Santa arrived in the Capital City early this year, not only to greet boys and girls at area malls and along parade routes, but to bring one prestigious gift to a group of local architects.

The special gift was notification to McAlpine Tankersley Architecture that the firm had been selected to be among the new AD100, Architectural Digest magazine’s biennial list of the top talents in architecture and interior design.

First published in 1990, the AD100 is known as “the list that Matters,” and features an international fellowship of trailblazers and standard bearers whose work is imaginative, intelligent and inspiring.
The honor came with a special invitation to a gala celebration in New York hosted by the magazine and its always stylish editor-in-chief, Margaret Russell. In addition to partying in a room filled with “who’s who,” Russell, who had been a vice president and editor of Elle Decor magazine for 10 years, was also celebrating her first time selecting the list’s honorees since taking the helm of AD in 2010.

Russell wore a stunning red dress and spoke about the importance of timeless design as McAlpine Tankersley Architecture was among those on the list officially announced during the gala.

Founded in Montgomery in 1983, the firm is the partnership of Alabama natives Bobby McAlpine, Greg Tankersley, John Sease and Chris Tippett. Known for their design of artistic and romantic houses and evocative rooms across the country from Florida to Oregon, New York to Napa, Aspen, Dallas, Houston, Salt Lake City, Chicago and the Bahamas. The firm was also responsible for designing local structures at the A&P Lofts in Cloverdale and on the grounds of Blount Cultural Park, including the Shakespeare Garden addition, as well as the Wee Top, the Bridge and the park’s Vaughn Road entrance.

The McAlpine design umbrella also includes McAlpine Booth & Ferrier Interiors, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., Atlanta and New York; and McAlpine Home furniture, available nationwide. Bobby McAlpine is still enjoying the acclaim of his book, “The Home Within Us.”

Soaking up the excitement of the recent honor, Greg Tankersley and his wife, Mary Robin Jurkiewicz, enjoyed a couple of days in the “Big Apple,” meeting with New York clients and enjoying Manhattan’s holiday atmosphere; while Chris and John made a quick turnaround trip, arriving in time to enjoy the celebration of the new list last Tuesday night at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on Fifth Avenue.

Celebrated names in the design world were among the guests who joined Russell and the Architectural Design team for the occasion including Martha Stewart, White House decorator Michael Smith, and architect, author and dean of the Yale School of Architecture Robert A.M. Stern, whose firm boasts the George W. Bush Presidential Center, slated to open in Dallas in 2013, as one of it latest projects.

Other design world luminaries in attendance included interior, garden and furniture designer and author Bunny Williams; Martyn Lawrence Bullard, a favorite interior designer to Elton John, Cher and Sharon and Ozzy Osborne; and Mario Buatta, a fixture in the world of residential design, who was long known as the “Prince of Chintz.” Observing his 50th year in business in 2011, Buatta is developing something akin to a Southern drawl as he works on several current projects in Alabama, South Carolina, Texas and Florida.

Also seen there were Calvin Klein; cosmetics heiress and beauty entrepreneur Aerin Lauder, who is launching her own line in 2012; socialite, former model and entrepreneur Nina Griscom; comedienne, actress and author Alexandra Wentworth, who is the wife of ABC’s George Stephanopoulos; Jason Wu, the Manhattan-based Tiawanese American fashion designer who created first lady Michelle Obama’s 2009 inaugural gown, and the creator of a new limited edition collection of affordable women’s wear and accessories for Target to be released in February.

Also seen there were British interior designer and socialite Nicholas “Nicky” Haslam; Campion Platt; Darryl Carter, Amy Fine Collins, Jamie Drake, and Peter Marino; Robert Verdi and Richard Mishaan, who enjoyed a sneak peek of the January 2012 issue of the magazine that features the list. The issue is on national newsstands today.

It was a great night for a party, as Giulio Capua helped welcome everyone amid sheer white panels of fabric; special white columns created to feature the “new AD100” logo and names of the honorees; cozy, yet sleek and modern vignettes of white leather furnishings; mirrored cubes set aglow with votives; and a wait staff offering celebratory flutes of champagne throughout the evening.

- Deborah Hayes Moore

Move over hipsters, there’s a new type of guy coming to Brooklyn.

Billed as the “Ultimate Bachelor Pad,” the penthouse of the ClockTower Building in DUMBO has been decked out by Esquire Magazine and features cutting-edge design, fashion and technology.

For their ninth edition of the Esquire Apartment project, the magazine ventured outside of the usual safety zone of Manhattan and for the first time ever the featured apartment is located in Brooklyn.

The 6,800 square-foot apartment features a master bedroom decorated by Campion Platt for Italian designer Ermenegildo Zegna, and comes complete with hi-tech Toshiba gadgets like the 10-inch Thrive tablets and the Satellite laptop computer.

Other amenities include an Asics home gym, a clock that displays various worldwide locales and a study tricked out with a state-of-the art work table.

The most impressive part of the penthouse paradise is the fourth-floor rooftop terrace, which features a 360-degree view of the New York City skyline.

In addition to those luxurious features, the apartment comes equipped with it’s own live-in “ghost.”

Living within the apartment’s walls and structure is Charlotte, who is brought to life by “Pan Am” television star Margot Robbie.

Robbie is designed to interact with and at times even playfully “haunt” males, continuing Esquire’s theme of the spot being heralded as the “ultimate bachelor pad.”

The central piece of the apartment is the sleek glass-cased elevator located in the middle of the apartment and is surrounded by a oak spiral staircase. In addition to the elevator, the apartment’s great room, located on the first floor, features four 14-foot tall clocks from which the historic building derives it’s name.

The ClockTower penthouse serves as the centerpiece for David Walentas’ nearly thirty year renovation of Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood. Originally purchased by Walentas and Two Trees Management in 1982, Walentas began to turn the ClockTower building into 120 condominiums in 1998 and only recently turned his focus to the penthouse.

The ClockTower penthouse was originally listed for $25M in 2009, but the asking price has since dropped and can be purchased, unfurnished, for an economical $23.5M.

For those who are more interested in seeing Esquire’s Ultimate Bachelor Pad in its entirety, a one-hour special documenting the design and building of the ClockTower penthouse can be seen in January on the DIY Network.

- ANTHONY SULLA-HEFFINGER

This is not what I was going to share with you today. But when I ran across the Esquire Apartment, a collaboration between top designers & brands, I HAD to change course.

You see, the Esquire Apartment is designed as the ultimate bachelor pad – but it also screams spa style! Cozy, whimsical and retro – it’s more like bachelor bliss! The only thing missing from these photos is the smell of cigars, tequila & musk. Enjoy and happy Friday!

Master Bedroom
By Campion Platt for Ermenegildo Zegna

Campion Platt incorporated Zegna’s suited up style via fabrics right from the line’s collection like pure cashmere, silk and superfine wool in the bedding. Even a Chinese silk fabric used in suit linings morphs into a duvet cover.

As one magazine editor noted, she saw me running all over the Design and Decoration Building (DDB) during Fall Market Week. It was hard to miss me, as I was in a tuxedo all afternoon on Wednesday, in preparation for the Stars of Design Awardsdinner hosted by Charles S. Cohen!

With the topic being A Contemporary Dilemma: What Men and Women Want, we embarked on a two-pronged journey with verbiage and images of Campion Platt and Eric Cohler’s work. With their design aesthetic being as different as night and day, their presentations were perfectly in suit with each bringing their own tastes and spin to the table. Platt, whose work is considered masculine and modern with a sexy feminine side to his palette, walked us through many of his projects, including images of his son’s bedroom. Cohler, on the other hand, takes a contemporary approach with classical elements, colors and textures layered into his masterpieces.

                                                                                                       

- Harry Daniell