AND THE WINNER OF THE WINTER ANTIQUES SHOW YOUNG COLLECTORS NIGHT TICKETS IS...

Thursday night brings out a bevy of amazing  interior designers and those that love a good party at The Winter Antiques Show. It is a great crowd that knows how to have a good time.

Congratulations to Katie Barbatsuly for winning the 2 tickets to the Young Collectors Night at The Winter Antiques Show. Have fun Katie and report back on how the evening went!

Katie picked these mirrors from Hyde Park Antiques. A Pair of George III Giltwood Mirrors. c. 1775. 54 1/2 in. h. x 27 in. w.

ENTER TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO THE YOUNG COLLECTORS NIGHT @THE WINTER ANTIQUES SHOW!

Photos courtesy of The Winter Antiques Show

The end of January is approaching, which means interior designers and collectors are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the 59th Winter Antiques Show. Every year, the Park Avenue Armory at 66th Street and Park Avenue gets transformed for one of the most important antique shows of the season.  Everyone looks forward to the loan exhibition, which this year comes from Newport's Preservation Society. With a collection 60 items strong that comes from over eight historic Newport manses, like The Elms and The Breakers, the exhibit is always beautifully executed.  That being said, the chance to attend an antique show as highly vetted and museum-quality as this is a chance to train your eye. Whether you are an aspiring interior designer, passionate about antiques or an expert, this is a chance to get up close and personal with the treasured artifacts and get the historical background and provenance of pieces that are similar if not identical to those rarities found in the best museum collections.

 If you fall into one of these categories, I am so pleased to be able to offer one lucky winner a  pair of tickets to attend the Young Collectors Night, the evening of January 31st. It is a chance to mix and mingle with the best and brightest interior designer committee of over 70 designers, and walk the show. The evening benefits a stellar NY charity, The East Side Settlement House and along with Wendy Goodman of New York Magazine, le tout New York's design community will be there. Just answer the question: "What antique would you select for your own personal design statement?" by selecting a piece from the assortment below. Then let me know your choice in the comments section of this blog post, comment to a Facebook post here,  Tweet @stylebeat and then  re-pin to it selection of photos  on this Pinterest board over the next three days and I will post the winner the day before the event!

Robert Young Antiques. Exceptional Pair of Sabre Legged Painted Metal Chairs of Classic Regency Style, with Fine Decoratively Painted Details . "X" Form Backs with Central Disc Pattern. American. c. 1815. 34 in. h. x 19 1/2 in. w. x 22 in. d.

Hyde Park Antiques. A Pair of George III Giltwood Mirrors. c. 1775. 54 1/2 in. h. x 27 in. w.

Roger Keverne Limited. A rare cloisonné enamel vase decorated with flowers and butterflies. Ming dynasty (16th-17th century). 13 in. h.

Maison Gerard Talossel and red mirrored glass sunburst mirror. Atelier of Line Vautrin

Derek Johns Ltd. Jean-Baptiste Pillement (1728-1808 Lyon). Chinoiserie, a couple on a boat departing from a shore where a child stands. Oil on canvas.

SYRIE MAUGHAM MAKES A COMEBACK

A new book on the legendary American designer Syrie Maugham was recently written by the prolific Pauline C. Metcalf for Acanthus Press, and I heard her speak on the topic at this year's Winter Antique Show.

Photo courtesy of Acanthus Press
The room that started it all: the glamorous San Francisco bedroom of Celia Tobin Clark. Designed by the go to designer of the day in 1929, this room set tongues wagging. Maugham became known as the "White Queen", for the all white palette she used in her London apartment that helped her earn the moniker. She continued the use of varying shades of cream in her work for Mrs. Clark, shown here, through the use of a Marion Dorn cut pile rug, and upholstery and trim in shades of oyster, pearl and parchment. On the walls, she placed a scrolled, stenciled pattern on a Swedish linen. The green pattern worked with the all white interiors in a space that has became known as an American masterpiece. The room is frequently referenced as such, and is groundbreaking in its use of a singular color, varying textures and simplicity of the pieces used.

James Shearron, a partner in the architecture firm Bories and Shearron, recreated the room for a House and Garden (rip) story in 2001, when he was the special projects editor. The space was recreated down to every last detail. I helped him produce the story and assisted him on the set, where everything was built from scratch. A custom rug was created by Doris Leslie Blau, furniture made to scale with mole fringe in the seams, a custom four poster bed, Minic Table, Sentimento accessories and hand printed Studio Printworks wallpaper all made room come alive. The article we did was the first time the room had been re-created in color. Those were the days when building a set like this was de rigeur.

The paper is now a mainstay in the Studio Printworks collection. The paper was recolored for Liz O'Brien's divine booth at the Winter Antique Show, with the pattern in silver. I always look forward to seeing her booth, since she creates a space you just want to move into. A Scalloped-Back Settee from Maison Jansen covered in a grey fabric is an anchor for the booth and a show stopper.

Syrie, wittily remastered, holds a card with the Studio Printworks wallpaper details.

Liz's large booth was filled with museum quality pieces like a Syrie Maugham Petite Side Table, John Vesey's Folding X-bench, and assorted Grosfield House and Maison Jansen pieces.

Lamps with palm fronds made of metal light up a chest of drawers.

The lamps lights made the silver accents of the wallpaper glow.

DESIGNING WITH ANTIQUES AT THE WINTER ANTIQUE SHOW

Interior designers Harry Heissmann, Eileen Kathryn Boyd, and Philip Gorrivan showcased their ability to mix and match antiques with new pieces in their modern day room vignettes at this year's inaugural Designing With Antiques at the Winter Antique Show. Featuring an eclectic mix of hand picked antique furniture, decorative arts and modern pieces from the show, they combined these select items from exhibitors with pieces from their own collections. The result ended up being a serenity - filled bedroom, quietly sophisticated living room and festive dining area. The installations were on view in a period room, the Board of Officers room at Park Avenue Armory. The backdrop provided a dramatic contrast and perfect foil to the vignettes. Sponsored by The Magazine Antiques, the spaces were a wonderful way to show how to work with and embrace all period styles. Living with antiques and enjoying their history and special details is what its all about.

Harry Heissmann shared his take on classic serene white bedroom. Saying, "The George III tester bed from 1790 is from Kentshire, all bedding and the silver pillows, as well as the throws on the bench are from Nancy Koltes, she was a dream to work with! Smurf chess set on Dansk tray, blue gourd ceramic and 'Blessing' alarm clock are from my collection. Most importantly: flower arrangements by my all time favorite florist Emily Thompson in Dumbo. She is the new Constance Spry..."

The elaborate bench at the foot of the bed is a cast iron Morning Glory settee is from Barbara Israel.

"I selected the Intarsia cowhide rug with Ashley Stark at Stark carpet.
They had just gotten it and I fell in love with the vibrant blue... The rug
set the tone for the entire vignette, as I wanted it to pop. Pair of fine & early fruitwood Art Deco side chairs are by Leon Jallot from Maison Gerard, the chest is by Grosfeld House and Cornucopia plaster lamps are from Liz O'Brien. The blue tall case clock, Maine, circa 1810-1830 is from Olde Hope Antiques."

Nothing says fun like a table set with multiple eye-popping hues. Exceptional with color, designer Eileen Kathryn Boyd blended modern and traditional elements with bright, joyful bursts of orange and pink. She began planning around an incredibly colorful Oushak Rug she found at Peter Pap's Oriental Rugs. A Karl Springer Table from Liz O'Brien and Frances Elkins Loop Chairs were the neutral pieces that grounded the color.

Two candlestick lamps with huge drum shades added a modern element and draw the eye upwards. She used Clarke & Clarke fabrics for pillows and to tie the orange and hot pink scheme together. A Liverant and Son Antiques sideboard in the background added a traditional dark wood piece to the assortment, and Harry Bertoia sculptures modernized it.

Philip Gorrivan had the largest space of the three and used it as a launching pad to showcase his newest fabric collection for Duralee's Highland Court called Gorrivan II. The space was filled with creams, dusty lavender and hints of brass and shiny surfaces. The majority of the accessories were from Maison Gerard and Lost City Arts, adding to the sophisticated mix. He covered the sofas in his Terrazzo fabric, and a pair of stunning Regency chairs from Clinton Howell Antiques were made modern covered in plum cut velvet seats. A pair of 19th c. giltwood klismos chairs with ebonized owls and Asian sculpture were from Kentshire. Spill Cast Sculpture by Bertoia (left of the fireplace) and the collection of Danish seashore rocks were from Lost City Arts.

A bench was covered in Articus a white faux fur that contrasted the sculptural metal legs. An array of pillows were in a variety of his fabrics: Ruskin, Voltaire, Concerto, Newgrange, and Julian. The Coffee table used between the sofas is a wakapu, lacquer and gilt bronze table by Jean-Berenger de Nattes from Maison Gerard.

A large folding screen made the large space appear more intimate. It was covered in London Plane with the trim taken from the fabric Homer. Centered in front of them were two mirrored tables from Liz O’Brien that add sexy glamour.

It's all in the details. A detail I have been spotting a lot lately is painted rugs. A painted Seagrass rug border is a detail Bunny Williams employed at last years Kips Bay Showhouse. Here, a Chinese key design is an effective way to bring in pattern and graphic impact to an otherwise neutral surface.

GOING TO CAROLINA AT THE WINTER ANTIQUES SHOW

Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall Charleston, SC

"In my mind I'm going to Carolina," to quote James Taylor, because it will play a feature role in this year's Winter Antique's Show at the Armory. In it's 57th year, the show promises to be extra exciting, given the events they have planned with leading interior designer's vignettes, book talks and historical - themed lectures. The loan exhibition is from one of my favorite uber livable cities, Charleston. Entitled "Grandeur Preserved: Masterworks Presented by Historic Charleston Foundation" the exhibition brings together over fifty objects from private and museum collections. It complements the 75 exhibitors at the show, whose focus is Americana, with the rest featuring English, European, and Asian fine and decorative arts. All net proceeds from the Show benefit East Side House Settlement, a wonderful social services institution located in the South Bronx.

I am looking forward to seeing the new Designing With Antiques vignettes displayed in the Board of Officers Room. Created by the talented group of designers Eileen Kathryn Boyd, Philip Gorrivan, and Albert Hadley alum, Harry Heissmann, each has selected items from exhibitors at the Winter Antiques Show to display alongside pieces from their own collections. Their varied and unique installations will be a welcome addition.

Starting tomorrow, lectures are held in the "Tiffany" Room at the Armory, and seating is on a first-come basis and is complimentary with admission. So get there early!

Here are some of the events you will want to attend:

Friday, January 21, 2011

2:30 p.m.
Loan Exhibition Lecture:
Phoenix Rising: The Extraordinary Collection in the Middleton Place House Museum
Charles Duell, President, Middleton Place Foundation

4:00 p.m.
Expert Eye Lecture & Book Signing:
The Finest Rooms in America by Thomas Jayne

Saturday, January 22, 2011

2:30 p.m.
Loan Exhibition Lecture:
"Between Vanity and Fashion...": The Arts in Eighteenth-Century Charleston
Angela D. Mack, Executive Director and Chief Curator, Gibbes Museum of Art/Carolina Art Association

4:00 p.m.
Loan Exhibition Lecture:
The Material World of John Drayton: Transatlantic Connections of Taste, Wealth, and Intellect
George W. McDaniel, Executive Director, Drayton Hall
Carter Hudgins, Director of Preservation, Drayton Hall

Sunday, January 23, 2011

12:00 p.m.
Loan Exhibition Lecture:
High Life in the Lowcountry
Thomas Savage, Winterthur

2:30 p.m.
Expert Eye Lecture & Book Signing:
Syrie Maugham by Pauline C. Metcalf

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

2:30 p.m.
Expert Eye Lecture & Book Signing:
Peter Pennoyer Architects by Peter Pennoyer

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

4:00 p.m.
Expert Eye Lecture & Book Signing:
Book signing & champagne reception to follow in Elle Shushan's booth
'My Private Miniatures': Queen Victoria and the 19th Century Portrait Miniature
Vanessa Remington, Assistant Curator of Paintings at the Royal Collection

Thursday, January 27, 2011

2:30 p.m.
Loan Exhibition Lecture
A Great Variety of Gold and Silver: The Colonial Charleston Silver Trade
Brandy S. Culp, Curator, Historic Charleston Foundation

7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Young Collectors Night

Saturday, January 29, 2011

2:30 p.m.
Expert Eye Lecture & Book Signing:
Wallpaper in Vogue: Wallpaper, a History of Style and Trends
Carolle Thibaut-Pomerantz

The show runs from January 21-30 at the Park Avenue Armory, 67th Street and Park Avenue, New York City.
Show hours are from 12:00 to 8:00 p.m. daily, except Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.