Being a busy year for me...

Still Vacationing: Some Random Shots from Bordeaux...

                                                                                    

Vacationing ... and back soon.

Sunday House Hunting - A Costa Rica Gem

This unique Italian villa designed by renowned architect Ronald Zurcher, is located in Pinares, an exclusive and private neighborhood in the east side of San Jose, Costa Rica. 

The house boast 11,797 square feet of living space, and features grand reception rooms, spacious bedrooms, marble and wooden floors, high ceilings and unique finishings. The exterior is graced with classic European gardens adorned by a reflecting pool and a pool house, which provide a perfect setting to enjoy the views and soak in some sun.

The property is offered through Camille Cadet of Sotheby's International Realty in Costa Rica.

All the details and pictures about this property can be found here.

Michael Simon: Composing Interiors with Classicism and Decorative Arts for the 21st Century

I have been a fan of Michael Simon for about twenty years, when I first saw a Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia residence he designed.  

Michael Simon is a New York based interior designer, collector, and an antiquarian. Michael began his career in music, studying under the legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, and subsequently at Carnegie Mellon University and  Manhattan School of Music. 

He has been designing lived-in space for his roster of international clients for more than two decades. Michael design philosophy is "to reinterpret classicism for the 21st century."

Michael Simon

Pictures are via here.

Antiques Shopping Sunday: Le Village Suisse

Collectors have knack for browsing auction houses' catalogs and visiting antiques stores looking for that wonderful pieces that others may have overlooked. For collectors, Paris is a heaven for  antiques; as you will find the large and prestigious to small dealers all located within reasonable distance from one another. 

Today, we are visiting Le Village Suisse located at 78, avenue de Suffren in Paris. Swiss Pavilion was built for the World Fair of 1900 and currently house about 80 antique dealers.

A L'ame Du Village

En 95 - Grande allée

Here are some of our finds: 


1. From Didier Lanrieux, we found this interesting vase soliflore with a decoration of courtship. 

                          Auguste MOREAU - Vase soliflore       

2. This richly carved and gilded Regency console is form Galerie Domenico Casciello. With 3 faces on 4 legs decorated with shells, scrolls ending in paws resting on tapered legs with steps. The legs are joined by a cross X in Traverse decorated with acanthus leaves, and the top is in imperial red marble.

Gilded Regency Console form Galerie Domenico Casciello

3. Form Galerie Domenico Casciello; a pair of Napoleon III  red marble cassolettes resting on a square base with feet, and decorated with ram heads, garlands,  and pine cones all in gilded bronze.  

Pair Of Napoleon III  Red Marble Cassolettes form Galerie Domenico Casciello

4. This pair of Louis XVI armchairs  are from Galerie Domenico Casciello. It is in the manner of  Georges Jacob; richly carved with gilded friezes decorated with interlacing, rosettes, palmettes and Acanthus leaves. 

Pair of Louis XVI Armchairs from Galerie Domenico Casciello

5.   This commode in the manner of Reisener is from Galerie Domenico Casciello.  The original of this commode by Reisener  was made for the King's Chamber at Fontainebleau. It is made in amaranth wood and satin cycomore. It opens with a central door decorated with marquetry depicting a aiguillère, farm and musical instruments.  The hardwares are all in gilded bronzes.

Commode in the manner of Reisener from Galerie Domenico Casciello

6. A pair Charles X cassolettes in white marble and gilded bronze. It has Medici vase with scrolled handles,  and decorated with shepherd boy in the rectangular base. This pair is from Galerie Domenico Casciello.

Pair Charles X Cassolettes in white marble and gilded bronze from Galerie Domenico Casciello

7. A pair of large Louis XIV rectangular boxes decorated with foliage, tendrils, and coils brass tortoiseshell brown in the background. It is richly decorated in gilt bronze with a mask of Hercules. The interior has a beautiful patina made out of walnut and threaded in ebony. This pair is from Galerie Domenico Casciello.

A Pair of Louis XIV Boxes form Galerie Domenico Casciello