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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 Stepelman 5/6/18 Batya Stepelman 5/6/18

For Your Mother (and other mothers)

The best gifts are those that are personal and purchased with the recipient in mind, but I think this round-up has universal appeal and would be appreciated by any mother next Sunday (ahem, that's a reminder for my husband - and kids - who might pop on here from time to time!). Of course the gifts of love, patience, sleep, laughter and understanding should be given too...

Thank you to all the mothers who care, heal, nurture, teach, encourage and inspire us each and every day!

xx, B

1. Ditto House through Pop Life Universe.

2. Anything from the Chocolate Lab on Colfax.

3. I'm having a mild obsession with Callahan Ceramics right now!

4. A membership or day pass to the Denver Botanic Gardens. Stroll around and take in the flowers, the pixelated sculptures by Mike Whiting, and the art by Jason DeMarte!

5. Farm Girl Flowers for the ranunculus-enthusiast (hint, hint).

6. A beautiful cushion by Edie Ure, the Boulder-based natural-dye (plant) textile and fabric star (who is also a dear friend!) . Edie hosts classes from time-to-time, so grab a coveted spot the next time one is offered.

7. The gift of craft and experience over at Fancy Tiger.

8. Wallpaper, quite possibly the best gift ever :) Willie Weston is shown here. Email us for an appointment and we'll show you what we've got!

9. Sterling-silver watermelon tourmaline earrings, or anything, from Bird Brooklyn!

10. A beautifully crafted clutch from Denver-based, Animal Handmade.

11. Send a COLORADO CRAFTED customized box filled with all sorts of locally-made products. They've got everything from lotions, chocolates, caramels, jams, totes, etc. Of course the WallTawk box is our personal favorite and 10% of all sales will be donated to local charities such as Project Worthmore, Project Angel Heart, and the Gathering Place to name a few!

12. Shesh-Besh, backgammon...whatever you call it, it's a fun game. We love this board by Wolfum.

13. Gift the mom in your life a card to a local bookshop, and then give her some time to read!

14. One of these stunning new ceramics by Cara Taylor.

15. A pollinator push garden from Modern Sprout will give her blooms all summer long! And it will help bees & butterflies, too. Win-win!

16. Can you imagine juggling the responsibilities of motherhood, while simultaneously dealing with the impacts of war, poverty, or food insecurity? I can't. The IRC, which was founded by a famous refugee named Albert Einstein, will be working with mothers directly. They have several RESCUE GIFTS , including Care for Mom and Baby and 3 Newborn Baby Kits. You can also send young girls to school for a year. Find an option that resonates with your mother and donate in her name. Believe me, she'll appreciate it.

Happy Mother's Day!

Batya Stepelman 5/2/18 Batya Stepelman 5/2/18

Be still my wallpapered and historic-loving heart (The Osborne)

I'm that person - the one who, while sitting in a relatively quiet coffee shop, gasps audibly when stumbling upon well-designed interiors...which is exactly what happened when I laid eyes on Howie Guja's images from this beautiful, iconic and historic structure.

The Osborne, an ornate 19th-century apartment building located at 205 West 57th Street in Manhattan, sits catty-corner from Carnegie Hall. It is a New York City landmark (1991) and on the National Register of Historic Places (1993). The eponymous building, constructed between 1883 and 1895, was the brainchild of a stone contractor by the name of Thomas Osborne. It was designed and built by James Ware, an architect who was an early designer of fireproof warehouses. More than 135 years since its initial construction, it is still a highly coveted residence.

One of the building's apartments, now occupied by a young couple and their children, was updated by Laura Flam of Reunion Goods & Services and Jacob Sandmann of Fogarty Finger Architecture. What I love most about the space's modernization is that the historic details weren't stripped away, and that so much of the building's charm was retained in the updated design. The transformation, which blends elements of old with elements of new, does so seamlessly. The architectural bones still shine through despite the 21st century appearance.

I really can't imagine how many years it took to design this apartment, but the careful selection of lighting, the use of wallpaper (OMG!), along with the strategic placement of beautifully made furniture, only made me fall deeper in love...

Enjoy! I hope this inspires you.

xx,

Batya

Photographs courtesy of Howie Guja and used with permission. Thank you, Howie!

[I originally read about this residence in The Cut by Wendy Goodman (2016), and rediscovered it while doing some research for an interiors project. It has also been featured in Domino.]

The living room features a light pink S designed by Pierre Paulin for Ligne Roset, the Nour pendant by Julie Pfligersdorffer and a photo from the Sky Series by Eric Cahan. On the far side of the room there is a Prado daybed from Ligne Roset and the Mimosa Pendant by Atelier Areti .

A pair of vintage Chiclet Armchairs, designed by Ray Wilkes for Herman Miller, were covered in Rogers & Goffigon blue chenille fabric. Brilliant!

The woodwork in the doorframe is original.

The dining room features a custom wallpaper design by Eley Kishimoto. The bright graphic contrasts nicely with the minimal feel of the adjacent spaces. The look is made complete with felt chairs and a custom poured-resin table from Martha Sturdy. (Eley Kishimoto is available through WallTawk.)

Original parquet floors, intact. Mic-drop!

I love the splash of color that was achieved by the sea-blue scalloped wallpaper, along with the fixtures from Fantini. The wallpaper was designed by Eley Kishimoto, the same surface designer who created the custom pattern in the dining room.

The restoration and additional millwork throughout the apartment was done by Katsura Construction.

The lead-paned windows are original to the residence.

The perfect use of tile is on display. The azure-blue mosaic floor tiles are from Mosaic House.

The boy’s bedroom is wallpapered with a custom design by Rebekah Maysles and Reunion. The yellow table lamp is from Jieldé.

The polka-dot-painted walls are the work of Cassandra Holden .

A personalized touch comes in the form of a climbing wall from Everest Climbing and a custom wallpaper from Cavern Home. (Cavern Home wallpaper is available through WallTawk.)

I LOVE how this space was utilized; it's no easy feat to make a triple bunk-bed (designed by Reunion) look light and airy. The Northmore Minor fabric was designed by Rachel Parker for Studio Flock. The pattern is digitally printed in a lovely mix of bold bright and fresh colors on crisp white linen.

I just fell over, THUMP! The wood paneling in the foreground is part of the new transformation, and was made to match the original section above. There's even built in storage space; it's a New York City miracle!

The light palette of the master bath featuring various shades of gray that result in a fresh and modern look. The custom marble trough sink was designed by Reunion and the floor tiles are by Lindsey Lang. (I'm pretty sure the wallcovering is Villa Louis by Lincrusta.)

Batya Stepelman 12/15/17 Batya Stepelman 12/15/17

Spotlight: Ghislaine Viñas

Home is important to me. In addition to being a place that provides shelter and protection, it's also where I find refuge and sanctuary. Home provides a temporary escape from the current sociopolitical climate, which continues to frustrate and anger me to no end. I think that's why when I'm not marching, volunteering, mothering or working, I spent my time pouring over colorful design. It's escapism that actually makes me feel inspired and creative. Penelope Green, a writer for the NYT, noted, "[people] are trying to feather their own nests as a prophylactic against the chaos" and they are searching for beauty, comfort and a bit of joy. I couldn't agree more, which brings me to the work of Ghislaine Viñas. Her designs just lift me up; simply put, they make me happy.

Joyful (or is it joyous) is definitely a word I would use to describe Ghislaine's Sky House project - designed in collaboration with architect David Hotson - for which she won the Interior Design Magazine BOY in 2012. In fact I would use that same adjective to describe all of the spaces that she designs; they are infused with style, art, humor and so much COLOR (I can't think of many other designers who embrace bright hues more). Every project Ghislaine puts her finger on is so readily (and immediately) identifiable as her’s. Her original aesthetic and obvious passion are why she has accomplished such mastery over her domain. Ghislaine says that, "being a designer, staying authentic and unique is my job. It’s what I do to stand out and differentiate myself from what others are doing. You can be inspired by peers or those who came before you, but you need to bring your unique flavor to the work you do."

I really enjoyed listening to this Clever Podcast . In it Ghislaine talks about her childhood (she was born in the Netherlands, raised in South Africa), being an interior designer, starting a business at the same time as having young children (my biggest personal struggle is balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood) and she shares her general philosophy:

"The most important thing for me is that [clients] step into the house and they just feel good; it's [really about] the aesthetics of happiness... it just makes you feel happy or calm or it feels like home." She also adds that it has to be stress-free.

I hope this post brings you some joy, happiness and inspiration. Enjoy the weekend!

xx, Batya

[The photos have been posted with permission, courtesy of Ghislaine Viñas.]

MONTAUK BEACH HOUSE, BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS. ARCHITECT: ARCOLOGICA    |   PHOTO: GARRETT ROWLAND — MONTAUK BEACH HOUSE, BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS. ARCHITECT: ARCOLOGICA | PHOTO: GARRETT ROWLAND

MONTAUK BEACH HOUSE, NY. ARCHITECT: ARCOLOGICA    |   PHOTO: GARRETT ROWLAND — MONTAUK BEACH HOUSE, NY. ARCHITECT: ARCOLOGICA | PHOTO: GARRETT ROWLAND

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MONTAUK BEACH HOUSE, BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS. ARCHITECT: ARCOLOGICA | PHOTO: GARRETT ROWLAND

WILD THING WALLPAPER DESIGNED BY GHISLAINE VIÑASFOR FLAVOR PAPER. Photo by Garrett Rowland — WILD THING WALLPAPER DESIGNED BY GHISLAINE VIÑASFOR FLAVOR PAPER. Photo by Garrett Rowland

TriBeCa FAMILY LOFT, NYC. BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS   |   PHOTO: ERIC LAIGNEL — TriBeCa FAMILY LOFT, NYC. BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS | PHOTO: ERIC LAIGNEL

WARREN STREET TOWNHOUSE, TriBeCa, NYC BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS |   ARCHITECT: DDG   |   PHOTO: ERIC LAIGNEL — WARREN STREET TOWNHOUSE, TriBeCa, NYC BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS | ARCHITECT: DDG | PHOTO: ERIC LAIGNEL

LOS FELIZ HOUSE, CA. BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS. ARCHITECT: CHET CALLAHAN   |   PHOTO: ART GRAY — LOS FELIZ HOUSE, CA. BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS. ARCHITECT: CHET CALLAHAN | PHOTO: ART GRAY

LOS FELIZ HOUSE, CA. DESIGN BY BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS. ARCHITECT: CHET CALLAHAN   |   PHOTO: ART GRAY — LOS FELIZ HOUSE, CA. DESIGN BY BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS. ARCHITECT: CHET CALLAHAN | PHOTO: ART GRAY

LOS FELIZ HOUSE, CA. ARCHITECT: CHET CALLAHAN   |   PHOTO: ART GRAY — LOS FELIZ HOUSE, CA. ARCHITECT: CHET CALLAHAN | PHOTO: ART GRAY

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SKY HOUSE, NYC. DESIGN BY BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS. ARCHITECT: DAVID HOTSON   |   PHOTO: ERIC LAIGNEL — SKY HOUSE, NYC. DESIGN BY BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS. ARCHITECT: DAVID HOTSON | PHOTO: ERIC LAIGNEL

Ghislaine's instagram posts are a constant source of inspiration!

Batya Stepelman 11/1/17 Batya Stepelman 11/1/17

Inspired: No. 1

Our mood board this week features lots of earthy tones, like rust and sienna, as well as colors that pull from a purple palette, such as plum and fig.

From top left to right: 1. The Ambra Table Lamp by Studio David Pompa, in Mexico City, with cantera rosa pink lava stone and copper. 2. The new Musée Yves St. Laurent in Marrakech, Morocco. 3. Refracted in Cadmium Red and 4. Silk Scraf in Alizarin, both from Porter Teleo wallpapers 5. The living room of Terry de Gunzberg , 📷Francois Halard for @wmag via @archdigest France. 6. Assemblage by Porter Teleo in Cerulean.

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.