Spring is such a beautiful time. We are all shaking off our Winter doldrums and preparing for the regeneration of our spirits. With so much in bloom, it's not hard to understand why meeting with a group of antique dealers in a mentoring program led by none other than the Antiques Diva herself would provide a much needed shot in the arm. Toma, aka the Antiques Diva, and I first met when I was an exhibitor at the Antique and Design Center of High Point Furniture Market. Obviously I was immediately drawn to her boundless energy, positive attitude and incredible business savvy. We became fast friends all those years ago. And over the years we stayed in touch.

So when she reached out to me in regard to her inaugural mentoring program and asked if I would speak to a group of women who were in the antiques business, I responded with a resounding YES. Even though these past few months have been trying at best and disappointing at worst. And even though my steps backwards had begun to feel less like a cha-cha and more like a marathon run in reverse. I was ready to dig deep into all that I knew and share it with this wonderful group of ladies. A group of ladies who I really need to thank because they allowed me to be part of their journey in the business of antiques. We each walk our own path, but moments like this when we come together as one to encourage and inspire are truly remarkable. Sharing my story with this group reminded me that I still have much work to do. That I have made promises to myself and my daughters. That I have discoveries to make and more stories to share. And later on that afternoon after the program, I sent an email to the group. I'll share it with you, "I’m writing this as I sit on the subway heading to pick up my girls from school. And I’m sitting here totally inspired by your enthusiasm and passion. I’m sitting here reimagining the possibilities that first drew me into the antiques business all those years ago. I’m sitting here thankful to have spent a few hours with all of you. It’s the community of strong, positive women who are our most valuable resource. I would like to extend an invitation to each and every one to stay in touch. To stay connected. To stay part of this community. I’m looking forward to cheering your successes." So on that note, take some time today to reach out and connect, it does a world of good for us all!

High Point Furniture Market has come and gone, but I'm going to take this moment to reflect back and share with you a couple pics from a couple years ago and a couple weeks ago. I really loved seeing all the fabulous pics from High Point Market and I also love posting them here for you to see! Here’s a couple... the first is from Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam Ltd and features an amazing pair of vintage brass Chinoiserie lamps that he and Philip Vergeylen sourced from 20th Century by HKFA at High Point a couple years ago. They had become regular customers every April show and I could always count on them to purchase my most favorite finds. And the second image is from the Kristy Cohn Design booth at High Point from just a couple weeks ago and features a vibrant mid century still life painting that she sourced from 20th Century by HKFA while I was set up at Brimfield this past May. It’s an amazing honor to be part of the journey of these vintage, antique and mid century works of art, furnishings and furniture. Each piece tells a story and I’m always thankful to play a small part in that story.

With What’s New What’s Next coming up soon, I’m thinking back to a few show houses and showrooms. Places where I’ve been honored to be part of through art and sculpture. Being part of the history of an object is a humbling experience. To then have that object celebrated amongst many other pieces within a creative space curated by a top designer is another level all together. Scroll down to see a few...

Justin Shaulis - Christopher Kennedy Palm Springs Show House
Florence Knoll armchairs, Vintage concrete torso sculpture, One of a pair of rock / stone / quartz / crystal lamps, Vintage brass floor lamp,
Vintage brass vase, Vintage brass accessories


Patrick Hamilton - Holiday House New York City Show House
Vintage 1970's shaped canvas abstract painting by Sidney Guberman


Michel Smith Boyd - Southern Style Now New Orleans Show House
Contemporary portrait painting by Clintel Steed


Paolo Moschino / Philip Vergeylen - Nicholas Haslam London Showroom
One of a pair of vintage Gabriella Crespi style split reed bamboo side tables


Tyler Hays - BDDW New York City Showroom
One of fourteen antique hand painted oversize mural paintings


Thom Filicia - Sedgwick & Brattle New York City Showroom
Vintage cast iron sculptural coffee table with custom lucite top


Ron Marvin - Design on a Dime New York City Housing Works Showroom
Vintage brass sculptural antelope


Patrick Hamilton - Southern Style Now Savannah Show House
19th Century marble sculpture of Psyche, Vintage abstract gilt bronze sculpture

It's really amazing how things happen. And where folks meet. I met Nicholas Obeid at the Chelsea Flea Market a few months ago. Right off the bat we clicked and he became a great customer. He has a great eye and aesthetic and I couldn't be happier for him. Take a peek through the House Beautiful spread and see his gorgeous New York City apartment. By the way, the iron and cane balloon back chair is one of a pair sourced by 20th Century by HKFA and the Aristide Maillol style nude is also a find from 20th Century by HKFA.

Tags: Antiques

Sharing this beautiful pic from friend, interior designer and all around super star Justin Shaulis. Justin sourced this vintage, double-sided, abstract painting from the Modern Look Book / 20th Century by HKFA space in High Point a few years ago. This work was originally purchased in Philadelphia then put on display in my home in Massachusetts and then shipped to High Point for sale and has now travelled to Hampstead London. I just love the story that Justin tells with each of his interiors. With custom, bespoke, antique, vintage and contemporary pieces all adding their own histories, Justin always creates inviting interiors. Thank you again Justin!!!

Saturday night found my daughters and I at the opening reception of Into View at Sweet Lorraine Gallery in Red Hook, Brooklyn. We were there to support our friend Clintel Steed. And I was there to see the looks on their faces when they saw their portrait on exhibit. Modern Look Book celebrates the contemporary and the antique, the vintage and the modern - the mix of histories and stories in today's interiors. And I will happily celebrate the incredible talents of Clintel Steed, Jonathan Harkham, Jenny Dubnau, Sam Levy, Robert Anderson, Polina Barskaya - the artists represented in Into View which is on view through the 31st. Visit the Sweet Lorraine Gallery and see this powerful work for yourself.

Tags: Clintel Steed

Huge congrats to interior designer Patrick Hamilton for his gorgeous Savannah study! at the Southern Style Now Show House! I spy a 19th century marble statue of Psyche and an abstract sculpture in bronze both from 20th Century by HKFA. Visit the Traditional Home Southern Style Now Savannah Show House to see the study designed by Patrick Hamilton and the whole beautiful show house in the Savannah Historic District Many, many thanks to Patrick!!!!

Thinking about show houses from the past few years and what it means when an interior designer curates a look with custom and bespoke pieces that are tailored to suit the specifics of a project and then presents them alongside antique, vintage, modern and contemporary finds. It means that designers love to mix things up.Here's to friends and colleagues who have opened their projects and invited Modern Look Book and 20th Century by HKFA to be part of their vision. Pictured from the top left clockwise: Featuring the designs of Michel Boyd at the inaugural Southern Style Now / Traditional Home show house in New Orleans, Justin Shaulis at the Christopher Kennedy show house in Palm Springs and Patrick Hamilton at the Holiday House show house in New York City. Each room illustrates the sophistication and elegance of the respective designer and his aesthetic. Products featured from the top left clockwise: a contemporary portrait by New York City artist Clintel Steed, 1980's vintage brass accessories and a pair of 1950's Modeline lamps, and a 1970's vintage abstract shaped canvas by Sidney Guberman.

Throwin’ it back on Thursday and Flashin’ it back on Friday to when I gave a lecture on picture frames during the High Point Furniture Market at the Antique and Design Center a few years ago. When I was tasked to come up with a topic, I immediately thought of how I got into the antiques business... frames. They are at once artistic and utilitarian, art and furniture, something that adds beauty and something that protects beauty. I was in awe of their multi-tasking! So when I needed to fill an hour or so, I hit the books and wrote out an entire spiral bound notebook of text. Adding in images of frames, frames on paintings, frames on mirrors, frames by themselves, frames used in completely different applications - I was astonished to see how many interior designers shared my love of frames. I gave a quick history of the frame going back to the 1300’s or so and taking them up to the present day. Gotta say, I was happy to see a packed lecture room and that everyone stayed awake. Ha ha ha. I think the shot (or two) before the lecture helped! ;-)

Tags: Antiques

As in Filicia. Seriously. I was set up at an antique show in North Carolina. When he and his team strolled down the aisle directly in front of my booth. I was eyeing them from the back corner of my booth, not wanting to jump on them but making sure that I was available if they had any questions. There was only one… can you get this delivered to us in New York? So, let me backtrack a bit and tell you the story of how I purchased this amazing table. At the time I was living in Philadelphia and was out shopping specifically for the show. I had stopped by one of my favorite pickers as he was pulling up to his warehouse. I quickly parked my SUV and jumped out, making a bee line for his pick up truck. Peering in I saw a wrought iron foot of the table and it was stamped 'Made Italy'. In my book, that's always a good sign. I quickly priced and purchased the table without even seeing the rest of it. Immediately, I rummaged through the rest of his finds and purchased the lot of them. Days shopping accomplished in under fifteen minutes! And the table you ask? Well, it's currently in his Sedgwick and Brattle showroom in the New York Design Center. Lisa Mende even blogged about it, click here to see. Here's a pic, or three…

Tags: Thom Filicia, Interior Design

When my friend Ron Marvin, a New York City based interior designer, reached out to me and asked if I would donate to his Design on a Dime vignette for Housing Works thrift shops I said Yes immediately. Ron is a terrific friend and Housing Works does great work. It's a win-win. I needed to get the vintage brass antelope sculpture mounted on a marble base to him. And quickly. At this time I was living in Massachusetts and tt just so happened that I was heading to NYC for the weekend. With an overnight bag on my shoulder and a big sculpture in my arms I hopped in a taxi to the waterfront to take the ferry to the train station in Boston. Anyone else thinking trains, planes and automobiles? It was the almost end of the Winter of 2014 - 2015 and folks on the South Shore were still digging out from a record snowfall of about 10 feet. There was a TV news crew on the ferry who were interviewing folks about their commute and giving away free coffee and donuts as a way to say, 'hold on - Spring is around the corner'. As you can imagine, the early morning ferry full of commuters were less than enthused about the camera crew, the giddy news reporter or even the coffee for that matter. They had all endured a brutal Winter of long commutes, delayed transportation and slippery floors. But, I on the other hand, was equally as giddy as the reporter and more than happy to be interviewed on live morning TV. I think it was the antelope that got his attention! We chatted, the camera recorded and the news reporters in the studio were equally as fascinated with the antelope. I 'may' have said that I brought it everywhere with me… No, just kidding. I shared how it was being donated to a charitable event in NYC through Ron's beautiful design. Another win-win. Funny story for morning TV and a nice plug for the event. The remainder of the trip, this leg by train, was uneventful in so far as news crews, but I did have some great conversations! Here's a pic of Ron's Design on a Dime vignette:



The antelope is placed on top of a stack of books on top of the fall front desk. Of course the vignette was a sell out and a huge fundraiser for Housing Works. I'm so happy that Ron asked me to participate!

Here are a couple fun pics of the commute…

Tags: Ron Marvin, Design on a Dime, Interior Design

Kelli and I first met in Las Vegas when I was chosen to be a tour guide for her Design Campus tour at Las Vegas Market. I was blown away by her generosity and exuberance. Kelli definitely has a magnetic personalty. Fast forward to April 2016 when I bumped into Kelli at an antiques show. She was debuting a line of furniture of her own design at Universal Furniture and wanted a few accessory and art pieces to jazz up the showroom. Of course I jumped at the chance. This market I was debuting the Modern Look Book concept and Kelli absolutely loved the oil paintings by New York City based artist Clintel Steed as well as the black and white street photography by Philadelphia based photographer Michael Penn. Kelli chose two works from each artist along with a selection of vintage brass tabletop accessories. The showroom looked great. Here are a few pics…

Tags: Kelli Ellis , Interior Design