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Batya Stepelman 7/31/18 Batya Stepelman 7/31/18

Spotlight: Studio DB

Studio DB is an esteemed NYC-based architecture and interior-design practice headed by Damian and Britt Zunino, a husband-and-wife team. I was familiar with the firm's name, but when a 2016 New York Times piece featured the couple's own personal construction project in Amenia, New York, I really fell in love with their philosophy and approach to designing unique spaces. I just can't get enough of their work!

As you'll see throughout this post, Studio DB's residential projects are extremely design-driven, but their spaces are also practical, warm and sensible. This is something that stems from the couple's own life at home, which includes four young children. Studio DB seems to answer two important questions: "Who actually lives here?" and "How does this space need to function?" - all without sacrificing great modern design. (As a mother of 2 very active boys, design-wants are always balanced against practical considerations, so this approach resonates with me.)

I've been pouring over the firm's recently completed projects. While they incorporate the work of some very high-end brands (like deGournay's hand-painted wallcovering, above), I've seen them use moderately priced pieces as well. They have the talent and ability to mix-and-match, and they place the work of independent makers at the forefront of their designs. That, plus the careful consideration of when to use tile, fabric, wallpaper, and color (or even a neutral backdrop), helps them create homes that don't feel like untouchable or staged showrooms; they read as spaces that you'd actually want to live in and entertain inside for years to come.

Thank you Studio DB for providing so much inspiration. Enjoy!

xx, Batya

For more Studio DB head over here.

Photography by Matthew WilliamsCopyright of Studio DB — Photography by Matthew Williams
Copyright of Studio DB

Photography by Alexandra Rowley Copyright of Studio DB — Photography by Alexandra Rowley
Copyright of Studio DB

Batya 5/1/16 Batya 5/1/16

modern monday: favorite modern (nouveau) toile wallpaper

About 4 years ago I came across some photos from the then-new Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg. The design was incredible, the anchoring restaurant looked terrific, but what really caught my eye was the custom wallpaper: a nouveau toile (designed by Dan Funderburgh) featuring illustrations that paid tribute to the industrial past of the historic hotel's structure. That was the beginning of my obsession with modern toile (and in case you're wondering how to say toile, it's pronounced twäl)…

Toile, or really Toile De Jouy, literally translates to a cloth from Jouy-en-Josas, the French town where the printed fabrics were first commercialized. The pattered style of linen or cotton, which became in vogue during the 18th century, usually featured a bucolic country setting, pastoral scene or contemporary mid-1700s life. The toile could have floral motifs, maidens or heroes in typical landscapes, and the colorways were often limited to red, blue, black or green.

Today the narrative of toile fabrics and prints has grown. While there are still many contemporary companies who favor a more traditional pattern, increasingly there are modern designers putting a twist on the classic look. In the modern toile, the landscapes have been updated, the colorways have expanded, prints incorporate more inclusive depictions of city life, and some have even woven powerful social commentary into their work.

Toile is even inspring digital installations at LACMA!

Here are some of my favorite toile, y'all!

xx,

Batya

Sheila Bridges' "Harlem Toile De Jouy" - a satirical piece that lampoons (some of) the stereotypes deeply woven into the African American experience.

Toile de Derby- Sandbagging by Flat Vernacular

Bay Area Toile by Matt Ritchie and JormaTaccone  featuring Too $hort, Humpty Hump and Mac Dre, Alice Waters, Joe Montana, and Angela Davis.

I FLIPPED out when I saw this custom wallpaper at the Henry Howard Hotel in New Orleans. I lived in the city for 6 years and fell in love with this design faster than beads fly off a float during Mardi Gras! Here, take a closer look:

It was designed by Kathleen Fitzgerald and Lauren Kolesinkas.

Cole & Sons Versaille Grand Paste the Wall

Kalahari Vignette by Over + Over for Anthropologie via Cup of Jo.

Brooklyn Toile by Mike D (Beastie Boys!) & Vincent J. Ficarra/Adela Qersaqi of Revolver New York

Toile mural by Surface View spotted on Elements of Style and House + Home (UK)

Folie Versaille by Cole & Sons

Wythe Toile by Dan Funderburgh for Flavor Paper

From Beekman 1802 via Lonny (House Tour)

Cloud Toile by Timorous Beasties

Balleroy in Rose by Manuel Canovas for Cowtan & Tout

Cities Toile by Rifle Paper through Hygge & West

Peacock Toile available through Anthropologie

London Toile from Timorous Beasties

And more toile-centric design here:

Hazelnut New Orleans offers New Orleans-centric fabrics like Magnolia and Cafe au Lait!

Spoonflower for more toile options at varying price points.

Batya 11/9/15 Batya 11/9/15

modern monday: concrete + cement

Concrete (that durable composite material made from a mixture of broken stone or gravel, sand, cement, and water) and cement (the main ingredient in concrete) have been popping up everywhere in the design world...from lighting to tiling to jewelry, and even inspired wallpaper.

Recently I won a fiberglass-reinforced concrete Kreten Candelabra from Souda (thanks Instagram contest!). It's a strong statement piece which sits on the mantle in our living room, and it provides a nice contrast from my other tabletop and décor objects, which tend to be softer and lighter. The Kreten is always a topic of conversation, so naturally it sparked a new interest in concrete.

Here are some designs I’m really fond of right now. Got any favorites? Feel free to share them.

Happy modern Monday!

xx,

Batya

Top Row (L to R):

Kreten Candelabra from Souda

Concrete Earrings from Konzuk Shop

Concrete Lighting Round-Up via Blood + Champagne

Middle Row (L to R):

Rainbow Shades from Julien Renault Objects

Edgy Tiles from Kaza Concrete

100% Sand from Anabella Vivas

Bottom Row (L to R):

Vases from Seung Yong Song
JWDA Concrete Lamp designed by Jonas Wagell for Menu

Cement Ceramics by Studio Twocan via The Design Files

Batya 7/31/15 Batya 7/31/15

friday favorites: wallpaper, 2.0

Our home is an historic structure, built in1895, the year Grover Cleveland was President and serving out his second non-consecutive term. I often find myself thinking about the people who lived here. I wonder about the Colorado women of the 1890s who occupied our space. What did they read? Did they spend time in mountains over long weekends? Did they cook? Enjoy cocktails? Gather around the fireplace? Look up at the stars? Garden or discuss politics? Raise a family here? Love wallpaper as much as I do? The list goes on…

Not that long ago, our home had been carved up into apartment units before being re-converted into a single-family residence, about a decade ago. Lots of historic details remain, but the personal style of the home's original inhabitants has long since been removed. When we bought our house about 2 1/2 years ago, all the plaster walls had been painted a neutral off-white/cream color. But I've been working hard to give the rooms a bit of color, pattern and a touch of us…mostly, in the form of wallpaper.   

It's been about 35 weeks since we put Hygge & West in the entryway, and over a year since we hung fig wallpaper from Miss Prints in the kitchen. I've been pacing myself and saving up for a new project. I think it might be time to consider something for the bathroom or bedroom! (Maybe an early birthday present?) I'll keep you posted.

Here are some of my favorite wall coverings right now. I started off with a design from Badgers of Bohemia that I spotted while working at ICFF. I mean really, a sloth smoking a hookah!? Need I say more? 

 Enjoy! 

xx, 

Batya

Click here for my first wallpaper round up.

Note if you're in the Denver metro area and looking for someone to hang your paper, my recommendation is Tony of Corbell Interiors.

Top row L to R:

Badgers of Bohemia

Alar from Trove

Deco from Wolfum

Middle Row L to R:

Blue Plumes from Badgers of Bohemia

Deep 3D Wallpaper in Bloom from Pratt and Twenty2

Secret Garden by Dan Funderburgh for Flavorpaper

Bottom Row L to R:

City Toile from Rifle Paper Co.

Night Slate from Calico

Urban Chaos from Timorous Beasties

Entryway, before (and before) and after (and after):

The kitchen...

Batya 12/5/14 Batya 12/5/14

friday favorites: holiday gifts under $100

I know it’s been a little bit quiet on the blog-front these days, but all new posts- chock full of recipes and walking tours- are coming your way soon! In the meantime I thought I would post the first installation of a three-part Holiday Gift Guide today, you know, to be timely and all…

These would all make a perfect gift for me someone you love.

Hope you're having a wonderful start to the holiday season!

Xo,

Batya

Gifts Under $100 (And Many Under $50!)

1. NY Cutting Board from AHeirloom. $48. (I decided to go with my home-state because Colorado’s shape is square, but they carry it if that’s what you’re looking for!)

2. Kitchen Trivet in Walnut with Dots from AHeirloom. $48.

3. Moon Coasters by Karen Kimmel, available at Woonwinkle, seen on Sight Unseen. $36.

4. Tea Egg in Rose by Made By Makers for Normann Copenhagen, available via the CoolHunter. $19.

5. The Solvo Opener by Sempli. $35.

6. Haand x SL Geometric Mug by Haand Ceramics and Sarah Loertscher. $48.

7. Paloma Serving Tray by Wolfum. $68.

8. Hive Vessel by House Fish (Denver). $89.

9. Aquarelle Knife Set (3 pc) from Waggo Home. $89.

10. Sedona Planter by Swedish Gypsy (Colorado)…because I keep lots of succulents in my kitchen. $35.

11. Pincushion Napkins (set of 2) by Skinny La Minx. $20. I buy my Skinny La Minx at Hazel & Dewey in Denver.

12. Pinch Pots by Universal Expert by Sebastian Conran for West Elm. $26.99

Thank you to Carly Loman, my colleague at DLD PR, for putting the collage together. Please note that while my firm works with Sempli, UE, Waggo Home, and Haand, this is not a sponsored post and the recommendations are my own!

I enjoy traveling, photography, hiking, street art, design, architecture, food trucks, gardening, the cosmos, cooking with the seasons, political activism and wallpaper! I know my interests span a variety of categories, here's where they all come together.