'Diamond in the Rough'

Mike D of the Beastie Boys may rock the stage. But his mother Hester Diamond rocks the art world.

The fact that Diamond is as fascinating as her son is undeniable. The New York Times Style Magazine toured her Upper West Side duplex last fall just to prove that this once social worker mom in the 60’s was even cooler.

What the magazine found in Diamond's home was a unique pairing of Renaissance art with postmodern design. The end result is what they coined a “postmodern cocktail party set in a 16th century Florentine Church.”

Diamond told the magazine that she first started collecting art in the 50’s when she worked as a social worker and public school teacher. Widowed in the 80’s, Diamond moved on to marry then NYU Dean Ralph Kaminsky. The union fueled the couple’s addiction for Leger, Picasso and Kadinsky paintings.

“Back then you could put stuff on layaway for $25,” explained Diamond (If only I could purchase a Picasso on layaway).

To support her habit, the Beastie Boys mom launched her own interior design business and made millions from auctions at Sotheby's. It was how she invested in the works of Bernini and how she helped patron the non-profit Medici Archive Project in Florence.

Informally versed in art from trips as a child to the Museum of Modern Art, Diamond is fond of color and unusual shapes. She conspired with interior designer Jim Walrod and the two pushed the color envelope.

The ultimate design guru, Walrod is best known as the “furniture pimp” as referred to in the Rolling Stone. The Jersey City native has consulted and designed interiors for the likes of hotelier Andre Balazs and architect Jean Nouvel.

Near a window that overlooks Central Park, Diamond opted for a clear magenta desk with acid yellow drawers by Italian design firm Ycami.

Opposite the lavender B&B Italia chairs and magenta dining table is Ghiberti and Studio’s “Virgin and Child” set atop a white pedestal.

She had the walls of the master bedroom painted a lemon yellow color. Surprisingly, the unconventional hue draws a stark (but well-executed) contrast to the red headboards of the beds; the orange end tables; and the reds and blues in the prism styled rug. On the walls hang Ortolano’s “Circumcision” and Jacopo Del Sellaio’s “Cupid and Psyche” – their rich blues and reds acting further as accents.

“Good taste can be a system of constraints,” said Diamond.

So too, is the recipe for being a pretty cool mom.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of the New York Times Style Magazine

'Pop Goes the Weasel'

My Little Pony. Rainbow Brite.The Little Mermaid. 101 Dalmatians.

These were some of the characters that wound their way onto my pajamas, bedcovers and curtains when I was a child. I am not alone. Most people can place their childhood by the comic book heroes, fairytale princesses or animated cartoons they worshipped.

Unfortunately, trends come and go and eventually so does the merchandise. What often results is a stockpile of unwanted ‘Beauty and the Beast’ duvets and ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ curtains locked away in a closet. Someday, the same fate will befall the ‘Hannah Montana’ couches and the ‘Dora the Explorer’ vanities.

Livening your children’s bedroom doesn’t have to involve lavish purchases or intense renovation. Want to make a room pop? Creative accent pieces charged with color will satisfy even the toughest young critics until the next big craze comes along.

While lining dresser drawers with wrapping paper protects clothes, how about lining the walls of a bookshelf with your child’s favorite ‘Thomas the Engine’ or ‘Barbie’ prints? Use double-sided tape and first make a template of the shelf's back wall before mounting the wrapping paper. The paper is interchangeable and proves to your child that you too value his idols.

Don’t buy a new lamp to match the equestrian theme running rampant in your daughter’s room. Replace the lampshade with a splashy color like red or yellow. Better yet, paint the lampshade in a punchy hue from leftover paint lying around.

Removable decals (right) make their way from the wall and onto the unlikeliest of places. InStyle recently suggested sticking the decals on an old stool or wooden chair for a quick revamp. But lampshades, dresser drawers, and mirrors could all use a makeover. One week, it’s butterflies. And the next , it’s blossoms.

Children pay attention to detail. Why not add a daisy to the end of that curtain rod? Or how about topping it off with a train? Decorative curtain rods are a no fuss approach to dressing up a room.

No more coloring on the wall. Invest in a $32 whiteboard so that your next little Pablo Picasso can perfect his technique. From bold artwork today to listing homework assignments and term papers tomorrow, a whiteboard is worth every penny.

Steer clear of the ‘High School Musical’ and ‘Disney Princess’ themed whiteboards.

That’s what brightly colored decals are for!

And voilà:

Pop goes the bedroom.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of flickr.com, www.storesense4.megaservers.com, www.decorinnovation.com

'Lights out, blackout'

If you can’t take the heat, then get out of the kitchen.

Or grab a set of blackout curtains, because that’s exactly what I did.
The untimely heat wave that hit the East Coast this past weekend made me draw several conclusions:

1. I am ill-equipped to fashionably survive the hot summer season.
2. I must go shopping immediately for jumpsuits, shorts and dresses.
3. My upstairs is hotter than a sauna when the temperature rises.

Regarding no. 3, I knew that something had to be done when my fluffy Pomeranian (who recently got a short haircut) was panting from the increase of moisture in the room.

When I lived along the Mediterranean in France during those especially scorching summer months, I might have welcomed ‘a little bit of heat’ upstairs. In fact, I think I did without an air conditioner the same summer that I returned to the States – sleeping comfortably underneath a fleece blanket (can you imagine) with the windows open.



But that was then, this is now.

Not too long ago, a colleague had gifted me a set of black blackout curtains printed with stars to use in my bedroom. Unlike other curtains, blackout curtains are made of a thicker polyester fabric in order to block sunlight and insulate the home. And different from blinds, blackout curtains reportedly drown out noise from the outside – ideal for those living with lawn-mowing neighbors. The curtains date as far back as World War II (above left), when the British would cover their windows to prevent any flicker of indoor light from shining through. It was said that Nazi fighter planes were likely to bomb the structure if they suspected there were people living within.

I first discovered its use working as the occasional fashion stylist among a team of hair/makeup, models and photographer. The blackout curtains are invaluable to photographers looking to block sunlight or cover mirrors when shooting.


With a pool of sweat building over my brow, I clawed at the plastic casing that held the curtains. (I noticed the zipper at the top of the package only after I had shreds of plastic on my wooden floor.) I had decided that the lucky windows to hold them would be the ones facing East, in the direction the sun rises. About 15 minutes later, I had significantly blocked out most of the sun from the one side of bedroom.


And I had brought instant relief my on-the-verge-of-a-heat-stroke puppy and myself.

Find yourself in a similar situation? From jacquard to zebra-striped blackout curtains in your living room or home theater (above left), go to Decor Innovation to get them:

- S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of planetgreen.discovery.com and blog.audiovideointeriors.com

'Fashion, furniture and the future'

Italy’s most sought after fashion designers transformed their vitrines and store spaces into cutting edge exhibits showcasing the newest in furniture and lighting for the Salone Internazionale del Mobile last week in Milan.

The streets, it seemed, caught trade show fever too – with Via Montenapoleone the site of large lanterns decorated with the word “Emozione” looming over visitors’ heads.

Open to the entire public, the 48th annual Salone Internazionale del Mobile is the largest of its kind. Please note: Victorian lamps and neoclassic chairs you won’t find here. The Salone prides itself on “innovation and creativity,” in addition to discovering young, fresh talent.

The event attracted more than 500,000 to high-end stores like Giorgio Armani, Moschino, Versace and Blumarine. Designers like Roberto Cavalli teamed up with the German-based Windfall to spice up their store space with tinkling chandeliers.

Participants all reported the highest spike in both furniture and clothing sales of all year.

It may have been all business and receptions for designers at the six-day show, which ended yesterday. But for enthusiasts with a penchant for innovation and style, the event serves as a springboard for future fashion and design trends.

My personal favorites first:

For a burst of color, Blumarine(above left) chose plastic fuschia chairs by design firm Kartell to accompany its own floral-laced table linens and dishwares. Missoni (below right) presented a backdrop of cacti in acid green and purple with bean-shaped chaises and side tables in similar colors. Striped curtains in complimentary colors were the finishing Missoni touch, a brand which is known for its funky knitwear.

Unlike the Versace fashion label, the Versace home line is flourishing – up 9.3 percent in sales from last year, according to WWD. A look at its mobile display explains why. Resembling a dentist’s chair of the future, Versace constructed the chaise out of crystal and then upholstered it in silk and leather. The CEO told the publication that the Versace house is always experimenting. It is in fact the first such label, said the CEO, to use titanium and ceramic for its designs.

No other label than the urban cool Diesel could have printed its linen lamps with amp switches for its design. The rock-infused collection also starred vintage treated chairs and tables, studded linens and furniture made to look like a musician’s traveling instrument case.

What to expect:

With the thrust of the Salone on new contemporary design, there may be a few things in store for us next season.

Think proportion and shape as Normann Copenhagen and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec manipulated foam, stitching and tufting foam material to create the “Memory Chair” and “Quilt” chair (below right), respectively.

Don’t be surprised to find the latest tables and kitchen accessories crafted from such materials as stone, enamel, veneer and crystal. I personally liked Tom Dixon’s spinning plate tables and a Francesca Madera chair pieced from leather and newsprinted hemp.

It’s enough to make anyone think outside of the box.

- S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of WWD and http://trends.voyce.com

'Mother It Up'

Living in a perpetually recession-and-global-warming-obsessed world, this year’s Earth Day had the expected bombardment of ‘Go Green’ advertisements and ‘Earth-Friendly Fashion’ newsletters crowding my inbox. While I do commend my boss and coworkers’ efforts to ration our use of paper and lighting in the office, I do not see myself sporting any of the eco-masks that were being passed around.

Plus, I don’t think that I usually expose myself to harmful fumes. I don’t even own a moped…

As for talk of eco-sustainable initiatives and ‘Green jobs – Hope or Hype,’ I’ll save it for the other 364 days of the year.

But I will take my inspiration from Mother Earth and the sense of rebirth that follows spring’s first budding flowers. From frilly chiffon dresses to ornate glass tumblers, nature’s green thumb is cropping up everywhere:

1. Thakoon has a lovely floral dress for $1,255. Zac Posen has a similar ruffled number for $2,400. And model Theodora Richards and actress Rachel Weisz have been sighted wearing mini and tulip-skirted versions by TopShop and Phillip Lim in May’s issue of Vogue. Finding a print with microscopic blossom flowers is key. To the bottom, a reversible silk Rag & Bone tank from Shopbop.


2. Because I drink at least two cups of tea a day, Pier 1 Imports has a ceramic tea set painted with a delicate floral design. Inexpensive (on sale $24) and perfect for entertaining guests.

3. A mixture of mother-of-pearl, wood and pearl beading, this flower beaded ring by Miriam Haskell ($280) for Vivre.com is a definite conversation starter.


In my continuing promise to Mother Earth, I vow to start setting up fresh flowers and plants around the house. There is nothing like a growing pot of lavender flowers or even some aloe to both freshen up a room and serve medicinal purposes. Why thank you Mother.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of Shopbop, Pier 1 Imports and Vivre.com