Old Things, New Things

Every year visiting my mom, I incite her to pull out boxes with old photos as if these yellowed images promise me something unexpected and new… She rolls her eyes but obeys knowing my weakness for retro. 

Here is a photo of my mother (on the right), for example, in her student years.  It looks so modern - It could be easily a backstage shot from some recent collection of Giambattista Valli or Fendi… Simple yet presice cuts, slightly untidy chignons - I love his photo.  

Anyway, people are divided into those who love old stuff and those who don't. I certainly belong the the first camp. Doesn't mean I don't like to give a new twist to an old object: remember some time ago I posted my dilemma about an old French oak cabinet? I did risk to paint it red and I do not regret for a second...

And also my love for dusty old furniture doesn't obstruct me from appreciation of modernity, au contraire!  The last modern and funky object that caught my sight was QLOCKTWO by BIEGERT&FUNK. So far I saw them in Zurich and Bern. 

http://www.qlocktwo.com

It comes in three forms (wall, free standing object and hand watch), seven colors and twelve languages.  There are no digits or hands, time is announced every five minutes in a little statement. I would love to have those on my wall. 

And what's going on in your world?

Have a wonderful evening.

Love,

AB

Silver Lining

"I did not err; there does a sable cloud
Turn forth her silver lining on the night, 

And casts a gleam over this tufted grove."

John Milton, 1634

I am not sure about clouds, but my old  chair has now definitely a silver lining. 

Here is a little fun project of yesterday: having a day off I decided to give this old runner, bought at a garage sale a while ago, a little uplift. 

I gave it a new solid seat, a good polish, a layer of silver paint et Voila! 

There is something comforting in furniture renovation for me, the idea of giving objects (and maybe people) a second chance...

Have a productive end of the week and a magnificent weekend!

Speaking of weekends, one of major art events of the world - Art Basel - is buzzing this weekend in Switzerland, see you there perhaps?

Love,
AB

Being John Pavlicek

If you had a choice to be someone who would you choose? (bizarre question, I know, but still...) I'd choose to be John Pavlicek for a day (or two). Looking through old archives of Architectural Digest I came across a wonderful triptych by this American painter. Pavlicek's works remind me of music, they make me dream, they carry me away, they make me sing...well, you get the picture...

 Artist Name: John Pavlicek

Title: Garcia's Bend, 2011 (JP 3284)

Medium: Mixed Media

Width: 44 inches

Height: 66 inches

Artist Name: John Pavlicek

Title: Milly's Garden, 2012 (JP 3301)

Medium: Mixed Media

Width: 42 inches

Height: 60 inches

By the way, speaking of Architectural Digest,    I was looking for articles on renovation, on furniture renovation to be precise. The thing is I found a magnificent old French oak cabinet. Not sure about its age, but considering the layer of dust and mold resting on it I am giving it not less than a hundred. 

In spite of  terrible conditions it has been stored in my new treasure revealed itself in an almost perfect shape. My hands are itching to give it a layer of red lacquer , but I am afraid to lose tiny details in the carvings. I am certain that John Pavlicek would have know what to do... What do you think?...

Lovely evening to everyone.

AB