Sable Island

I was totally taken with this image on the cover of “The Modern Estate” magazine in the winter of 08. I was completely captivated by the dramatic effect of this enormous photo as the focal point of a NYC apartment.

Every body knows about the wild horses of Chincoteague thanks to the children’s book “Misty of Chincoteague”, but until I saw this article, I had never heard of the wild horses of Sable Island. Robert Dutesco’s hauntingly beautiful photographs of the wild horses made me want to know more about the horses and about the island itself.

The background and history of the island as described by Richard Friswell in the article is fascinating. Sable Island is a crescent shaped spit of sand 125 miles off the coast of Nova Scotia. It is essentially uninhabited except for the 300 to 400 wild horses. Access to the island is restricted and very limited. It must be a sublime place to visit, so remote, and wild and beautiful. Sable Island is definitely going on my bucket list.

The wildness of horses mirrors that of the wild and stormy landscape.

photos by Robert Dutesco

These are satelite views of the island.  It's hard to imagine why this sandbar/island exists 125 miles off the coast of rocky Nova Scotia, seemingly out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

As seen from above.  It looks so beautiful.

Being a map lover, I had to include this.

For more information see the article in The Modern Estate

Thinking Pink

I never miss an opportunity to think pink!  So while everyone else is thinking about red for Valentine's Day, I've got pink on my mind.  I absolutely love the color, from the palest shades of blush to vibrant fuschia.  Except for pink flowers, which to my mind, go well with any decor, pink is not necessarily an easy color to decorate with. Here are some schemes which work well.

Tailored in Toronto

I saw the work of Katherine Newman and Peter Cebulak of the Toronto firm Katherine Newman Designs, in a magazine article a few years ago. I was very impressed by their work. They are published from time to time, but not a household name here in the US. I think they do beautiful work. Their projects have a sophisticated European sensibility. And I think they integrate architecture and interior design in an elegant and seamless way. These photos were taken by Tony Soluri and were published in several different AD articles.

These two halls seem to be inspired by the legendary English architect Edwin Lutyens. 

The large plaster cove mouldings and tons of beautiful paneling seem to be their trademark. It works for me.

The walls in the room below were upholstered in a beautiful blue fabric.

I think this is an awsome kitchen.  I love how the wainscotting in the forground is framed in a panel.  It gives the beaded board a little more elegance than usual.

I love the soft colors and the large cove mouldings;  they help to make these bedrooms super serene.