Friday, September 24, 2010

Parkdale Victorian 3

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Thank you to Design Lines for the article in the Fall issue!  Finn O'Hara took great photos, Alex Bozikovic wrote the piece, and we enjoyed sharing the stories behind each of the design elements with the editors.
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The house is still very much a work in progress as we gradually refine all of the finishing details and renovate other areas.  It has certainly undergone a dramatic transformation already!  Our priority was to open it up as much as possible, with high ceilings, bright white walls, simple lines, a sensible plan, and a beautiful new engineered walnut floor that flows throughout the ground level.  The rest - one detail at a time...
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One clarification: The Jens Risom inspired bench is a 3rd Uncle piece for the Drake Hotel.
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 CUSHIONS BY BEV HISEY, WOVEN BASKET FROM HOLLACE CLUNY,
LARGE SCALE ARTWORK BY JF

Meadow House 1

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What a beautiful day to assess this country site for a series of little retreat buildings.  The first on the design agenda is perfect for the meadow in the lower image, just beyond the wild rock garden.  I spent the day measuring and sketching plans.  Two other small buildings are in mind for the future, one to be sited discretely within the clearing in the upper photograph.  These are part of a long term vision for the property, responding to and respecting the sprawling beauty and historic uses of the land.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

DL

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I'm looking forward to seeing the new Design Lines, coming out sometime in the next week or two.  Tickled by this photo!  There's Marc, and my favorite hat, picked up during my last trip to New York.  (The hat, not Marc...)

Monday, September 20, 2010

Hotel Le Germain_VICTOR 7

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This is one of eight custom designed white oak and brass sofa frames in the Cooper Bros wood shop, just before staining, finishing and upholstery.  The velvet seat and back cushions were being made in the adjoining upholstery workroom - I had just decided on what kind of stitching would be best, as the last step following the approvals on wood and brass finishes.  This is one of my favorite moments - perfecting the final details on a custom design with the fabricators.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Forest Hill South House 3 - Painting Studio

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT NORSWORTHY

This painters's studio on the top floor of a Forest Hill home has been fitted with expertly made custom millwork.  The millwork and and sliding double doors have been designed with solid wood edging, perfectly matched veneers and high quality hardware fittings.

Sketchbook 23

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ISTANBUL, PARIS

Monday, September 13, 2010

Olive Avenue Residence_3

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY SCOTT NORSWORTHY

Phaidon Agenda

The newly reconfigured Phaidon website is a perfect alignment of so many of my own passions - Architecture, Art, Design, Food and Photography... beautiful images and subjects.  I have added it to my list of daily web visitations.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Toronto the Good

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YVES ST LAURENT'S HOME OFFICE, PHOTOGRAPHED BY HEDI SLIMANE

It's a great day to be in Toronto, with the film festival in full swing, the fundraising walk for womens's cancers taking place through the streets, and the whisper of fall starting to make itself known.

I'm excited to see the documentary about Yves St Laurent - L'Amour Fou - playing as one of the TIFF films.  The YSL launch party is going to take place at Hotel Le Germain's VICTOR, with our newly designed custom furnishings there just in time.  Hopefully Pierre Berge will enjoy lounging on our new velvet and brass sofas!  Also on the agenda - a reception at the Spoke Club and dinner at Buca with my dear friend Carmen Dunjko, whose Schoolhouse was just published in this month's House and Home.

Of course, as always on this day, I remember New York, and I feel very grateful to be able to enjoy the city, and life.

JF

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Lo Sono L'Amore

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Luca Guadagnino's recent film 'I Am Love' utterly captivated me, with its gorgeous architecture and interiors (the Villa Necchi Campiglio is an example of Italian rationalist architecture from the 30's with decadent bourgeois furnishings), the impeccable clothing (Fendi and Jil Sander, no less), the typography, masterful use of colour, cinematic score, and the use of cuisine to add further sensual notes throughout.  Even the melodrama was a welcome display... this is cinema.  While not a perfect film, this movie, like Tom Ford's 'A Single Man', left me in deep meditation.  Beauty seems to be a perfect environment for pathos.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Hotel Le Germain_VICTOR 6

In preparation for several Toronto Film Festival events the custom couches and tables are being fabricated, using rich materials such as white oak, aubergine velvet, brass, limestone, steel, and antique mirror.  Dining chairs are being upholstered in a rich black leather, and the suite of new menus have been designed.  The full renovation of the space has been strategically rescheduled to occur later in the year, in order to accomodate the many events scheduled within the hotel.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Halifax 3


A preliminary design package has been assembled for the Halifax residence, with gorgeous pieces that stress the importance of quality, craftsmanship, and refined luxury.  Among the proposed furnishings are the 'Living Platform' sofa by Walter Knoll (available through Plan B), BBDW's 'Captain's Mirror' (from Hollace Cluny), and Bocci's '28 Standard' pendant fixture.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

West Annex House 2

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CUSTOM WALNUT SHELVES, BANQUETTE AND TABLE





A belated post - these are snapshots of two living spaces in the West Annex House.  The house was renovated throughout with a simple and modern palette: exposed brick, hardwood floors, sisal runners, linen windowcoverings, crisp white walls, and a few pieces of custom millwork including a banquette in the kitchen.  New lighting included the custom made drum lamp over the dining room table, Artemide fixtures, and a Nelson pendant lamp.  The owner already owned a Bocci pendant, which we installed so that glows beautifully in the upstairs hallway.  The home is filled with the owners' collections of books, music and framed artwork - essential components to add delight and focal points to any home.