Stockbridge Collection

The Vaughan Ellisfield Collection, a new offering from the London-based trade lighting, textile, and furniture company Vaughan, draws inspiration from a diverse array of aesthetic movements and cultural influences. Co-founder Lucy Vaughan highlights the collection's roots in the Arts and Crafts Movement, emphasizing fine craftsmanship, organic materials, and nature. It also integrates elements from the Aesthetic Movement of the 1870s and 1880s, which prioritized beauty for its own sake, and showcases significant Japanese and Chinese influences, adding richness and sophistication to the pieces. This collection marks an organic evolution from Vaughan's previous Chawton Collection, a testament to the brand's flourishing creativity, particularly evident during recent periods of introspection. Among the pieces, the Colemore Chest of Drawers is a standout, admired for its beautiful wood finish, elegantly tapered legs, and fine brass handles. This piece evokes a sense of nostalgia, as its original counterpart has been a fixture in Vaughan's London drawing room for a decade. The Ellisfield Collection signifies a forward movement for the brand while simultaneously honoring its heritage as antique dealers, reintroducing furniture alongside new lighting pieces. This strategic addition of furniture serves to ground the lighting elements and provide functional bases for them. The collection introduces several fresh and exciting pieces, such as the Woodcott, Somborne, and Linford tables, which feature striking ebonized bases that blend contemporary and traditional aesthetics through the contrast of different wood finishes. In the lighting category, the Ibthorpe lantern is a favored item, noted for its naturalistic leaves and soft white finish. The primary materials used throughout the collection are wood and brass, selected for their versatility and capacity to accommodate a wide range of finishes, textures, and veneers. This allows for diverse applications across both lighting and furniture. Vaughan envisions designers utilizing the Ellisfield Collection in various spaces and contexts, suggesting that the new pieces can be seamlessly integrated with existing lighting and textiles from the brand. The anticipation is to observe how designers will innovatively apply these items, allowing them to bring life and a sense of grounding to people's homes. The development of the collection has been a rewarding process, with the most significant satisfaction derived from seeing the finished pieces come to fruition. Each collection presents its own unique journey, and the Ellisfield Collection, in particular, has been a joy to develop, with meticulous attention given to fine-tuning every detail. #EllisfieldCollection #VaughanDesigns #HomeFurnishings #LightingDesign #FurnitureDesign #ArtsAndCraftsMovement #AestheticMovement #JapaneseInfluence #ChineseInfluence #InteriorDesign

Noz Nozawa, a San Francisco-based designer, has introduced a new line of chandeliers and sconces for Corbett Lighting, drawing inspiration directly from her personal jewelry collection. Her design philosophy posits that lighting serves as the jewelry of a home, a concept she has materialized by translating actual rings, bracelets, and necklaces into elegant lighting fixtures. Nozawa's approach involved "mega-sizing" cherished antique and vintage jewelry pieces, extracting their forms, silhouettes, and inherent purposes. This connection between jewelry and lighting extends beyond visual aesthetics to encompass the manufacturing processes. Nozawa observes that the creation of delicate-looking diamond rings and tennis bracelets involves robust and complex techniques, mirroring the metal forging and glass blowing processes found in the lighting industry. She highlights how the fabrication methods for chains and glass in lighting production have clear parallels, albeit on a micro-scale, in jewelry making. This realization allowed her to craft a lighting collection that not only visually references her beloved jewelry but is also inspired by the intricate methods of its creation. One direct example of her translation process is the Bezel sconce, which stemmed from a Victorian-era ring. Nozawa's initial sketch for the collection was a brass wall sconce with inset luna glass, directly inspired by an 1891 three-diamond ring she acquired at an antique show. The ring's bezel-set design, where stones are flush with the gold, gives the sconce its name. Available in three-stone and five-stone versions, the Bezel sconce can be hung horizontally to evoke vanity lights or vertically as a dazzling, organically shaped fixture. Another inspiration comes from an 18th-century-style bangle, which led to the Riviere chandelier featured in Nozawa's own living room. This chandelier, characterized by cabochon-studded elements, addresses her desire for a fixture that emits light outwards rather than downwards, eliminating the need for a glare-diffusing panel. The chandelier's "gems" are crafted from heavily veined ice onyx, whose striations are visible whether the lights are on or off, and are accentuated by a luxurious gold-leaf finish that interacts beautifully with natural and ambient light. The Riviere line also incorporates Nozawa's favored mariner chain motif, reminiscent of ship anchor chains, and includes a wall sconce designed to resemble a dangling earring. Nozawa’s practice of stacking necklaces, as seen on her Instagram, influenced the Daith chandelier. This fixture allows for numerous dramatic arrangements with varying heights, diverging from typical multi-pendant chandeliers that often feature globes of a single size. The Daith chandelier utilizes etched-glass globes that mimic the softened pyramid shape of a sugarloaf cut in gemstones, suspended by her signature mariner chains. The burnished brass finish, designed to replicate 18-karat gold with a pre-patina, provides a rich, orangey hue that feels like a living finish, evoking antique jewelry. The customizability of the Daith fixture is a key feature, allowing all six lights to be draped in either an organized or deliberately disorganized manner. In her own dining area, a chain extends from above the table to the bar area, showcasing the flexibility intended for the entire collection. Nozawa aimed for a versatile collection that appeals to a wide audience, offering a striking "kapow!" light fixture for minimalist interiors or a maximalist piece that gives the impression of layered necklaces suspended from the ceiling. #NozNozawa #CorbettLighting #JewelryInspiredLighting #HomeDecor #InteriorDesign #LightingDesign #AntiqueJewelryInfluence #Chandeliers #Sconces

The article explores ten unique and eclectic antique stores and vintage markets located in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, offering a guide for individuals interested in discovering vintage goods, collectibles, and home decor. These establishments cater to a variety of tastes and budgets, ranging from high-end furniture to quirky knick-knacks. First on the list is Upstairs Downstairs Home, situated on Charles Street in Beacon Hill, also known as "Antique Row." This store is noted for its diverse inventory, accommodating various price points with items such as high-end furniture and more affordable collectibles. Operating hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday from 12 PM to 5 PM. Also located on Antique Row is Elegant Findings Antiques, which specializes in antique porcelain and glassware. The store features delicate teacups, decorative porcelain figures, and a selection of antique furniture, appealing to those with an appreciation for fine historical items. It is open Thursday through Saturday from 12 PM to 5 PM. Bartevian, a hidden gem on Boylston Street, functions as both an antique consignment store and a tribute to Edgar Allan Poe, who was born nearby. This establishment offers a unique assortment of vintage lunch boxes, paintings, sculptures, toys, LPs, and books, along with Poe-themed merchandise. Established in 1910, it is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 4 PM. Fun Antiques in Cambridge focuses on vintage lighting, offering both sales and repairs of lamps and light fixtures. Beyond lighting, the store stocks mid-century furniture and decor, vintage instruments, audio equipment, movie props, and costume jewelry. Its operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM. The Cambridge Antique Market is a substantial multi-dealer marketplace spanning five floors and housing over 150 antique dealers. Visitors can explore a vast array of vintage furniture, lighting fixtures, artwork, fine silver, glass, China, toys, dolls, books, clothing, and other collectibles. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 5:30 PM. SoWa Vintage Market, located on Harrison Ave in Boston's South End, offers a varied selection of merchandise from different vendors. The market is open on Sundays from 11 AM to 4 PM and on the first Friday of each month from 5 PM to 9 PM, with an outdoor open market available during warmer months. Machine Age showcases iconic furniture and lighting from the past century, including rare Danish modern pieces. While not all items are budget-friendly, the store serves as a source of inspiration for high-end, mid-century designer pieces. It is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 12 PM to 3 PM, and by appointment. Select Markets, founded by Northeastern University students, organizes pop-up events featuring curated vintage goods from independent sellers, alongside food, beverages, and live DJs. The schedule for these events is announced via their Instagram page. Retrospect, on Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, offers a collection of items from past decades, with a focus on vintage clothing but also including furniture and various knick-knacks. It is open daily from 12 PM to 9 PM. Finally, friends + family, also on Massachusetts Avenue across from Retrospect, primarily sells vintage clothing but periodically features antique items such as lamps, rugs, and decor sourced from designers. The store is closed on Tuesdays and operates Monday, Wednesday-Friday from 12 PM to 6 PM, Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday from 12 PM to 5 PM. #antiqueStores #vintageShopping #BostonAntiques #CambridgeAntiques #homeDecor #collectibleItems #interiorDesign #MassachusettsShopping

This article explores how three Westchester homeowners master the art of chic collecting, blending formidable treasures and flawless taste to create truly livable homes rather than museum-like spaces. Each homeowner or couple showcases a unique approach to integrating extensive and diverse art collections into their personal residences. Karen Schlansky's Chappaqua home, which also functions as a gallery for her business, Rose Court Asian Antiques, exemplifies how Asian art can be seamlessly integrated into various decors. Her 1987-built "country barn" style home, characterized by wide-planked pine floors and exposed-beam ceilings, eclectic furnishings, and diverse collections. Schlansky's collection includes Tang Dynasty pottery sculptures, a third-century pottery lokapala, and Ming Dynasty musicians, which she skillfully mixes with contemporary furniture and art from other cultures like African masks and Southwestern paper collages. Her journey into antique dealing began with a passion for Chinese history and culture during her travels, leading her to establish Rose Court Asian Antiques in 1997. Initially, her gallery was in the lower level of her home, but she later moved it to the first floor to better demonstrate how the pieces would look in a living space. While most of her pieces are for sale, a cherished Qing Dynasty lacquered leather box, representing her family's leather business, remains a permanent fixture, symbolizing her past, present, and future. Dr. Lewis Shapiro and Linda Swanson, after downsizing from a rustic Briarcliff Manor home to a two-bedroom condominium in Trump Tower at City Center, faced the challenge of displaying their extensive global art collection. Their collection, which began in 1985 after Swanson acquired African art from Sotheby's, includes 20th-century wooden masks from Western Africa, thousand-year-old Casas Grandes pottery from Mexico, and antique Chinese snuff bottles. They enlisted Scarsdale interior designer Linda Blair of Blair Interiors Group, Ltd., who, as a collector herself, understood their desire to integrate art into their living space rather than merely displaying it. Blair designed the apartment with a neutral color palette of cream, beige, and caramel to highlight the art and used traditional yet comfortable furniture. Custom cabinetry in the living room showcases a range of their prized pieces, such as a painted gold Ashanti staff finial, a Kuba cub, and a Dan chimpanzee mask. A concrete pillar was transformed into a display for intricately carved Yoruba twins, and an illuminated niche in the entry foyer highlights ancient Roman artifacts, flanked by 16th-century French church columns. The entrance also features framed illuminated miniatures from Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, holding both artistic and sentimental value for Swanson. Blair's goal was to unify and organize their diverse collection, creating a livable space that avoided feeling like a museum. Marc and Denyse Ginzberg, homeowners in Rye, have transitioned from collecting African art to focusing on Ethiopian crosses. Their sleek, modern home, designed by Charles Forberg in 1993, offers spectacular water views and features custom-made shelves, antique armoires, and chests to display their collections. Initially, their collection included world-class African art such as ceremonial combs, hairpins, hats, sword handles, spoons, clubs, and whistles. After collecting for over 35 years and amassing an impressive collection of authentic African masks and sculptures, the Ginzbergs decided to sell their figurative works due to rising prices. They then shifted their focus to non-figural, abstract objects of use, known as "forms," which were featured in Marc's book, African Forms. After auctioning off a significant portion of this collection at Sotheby's Paris, breaking records for non-figurative African art, the Ginzbergs have now turned their attention to intricately designed Ethiopian crosses from the 12th to 19th centuries, composed of bronze, iron, wood, and silver. This new passion reflects their continuous engagement with collecting and their ability to identify emerging areas of interest in the art world, often ahead of museums and other collectors. #ArtCollection #HomeDesign #InteriorDesign #AsianAntiques #AfricanArt #EthiopianCrosses #ArtCollecting #DecorativeArts #HomeDecor

Robert Highsmith and Stefanie Brechbuehler, the husband-and-wife founders of the design firm Workstead, have curated their living room with a collection of "unexpected heirlooms." Mr. Highsmith, 43, is described by Ms. Brechbuehler as the couple's lead collector, whose passion has filled their home with objects reflecting his thoughts, loves, and curiosities. Ms. Brechbuehler, 47, finds inspiration in being surrounded by these meaningful pieces, which range from ancient urns to midcentury modern furniture. The couple relocated from a farmhouse in Salisbury, Conn., to Charleston, S.C., and strategically displayed their favorite finds in their living room for daily enjoyment. The article highlights three key items that contribute to the unique ambiance of their living room. The first is an "Easy Upgrade" item: a weeping fig tree priced at $395 from Hyams Garden and Accent Store. The couple emphasizes the technique of using a large-scale plant or branches that touch the ceiling to create a lively and enveloping atmosphere. This “scale trick” is consistently applied in their designs, providing an unexpected visual element that pulls a room together. They purchased a nine-foot-tall weeping fig tree shortly after moving to Charleston, illustrating their commitment to this design principle. The second featured item is a "Splurge": a 19th-century boat bench priced at $2,800 from Obsolete. Mr. Highsmith has admired Obsolete in Los Angeles since his student days, finding inspiration in its curated vignettes. After establishing Workstead, he acquired this storage bench, salvaged from a boat and made of chestnut. Its wave and scroll forms, along with its practical utility—featuring doors to contain clutter—appealed to him. The bench currently serves as storage for family board games and a seating area with a view of a park, demonstrating its multifaceted functionality and whimsical quality. The third unique item is an "One of a Kind" antique weather vane from Eldred’s auction house. Mr. Highsmith’s collection includes objects chosen for their essential geometric shapes, which have influenced his light fixture designs at Workstead. Among these pieces are a rusted metal cone, a spherical iron form for casting glass floats, and a marble cylinder used as a pedestal. The timeworn weather vane from Nantucket, crafted from cedar shakes with a galvanized steel nose cone, is a particular favorite. Mr. Highsmith appreciates its beauty as a sculpture and its past functionality, noting how its new context in his living room brings delight to both the couple and their guests. #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #Workstead #CollectingArt #AntiqueFurniture #HomeStyling #RealEstate #CharlestonLiving

This article offers an exclusive look into the Southampton home of Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan, as featured in an extensive spread in the February 1963 issue of Vogue. Consuelo Vanderbilt, a prominent Gilded Age heiress and socialite, moved into her Southampton residence, named Garden Side, at the age of 80, after spending a significant portion of her early and middle life residing abroad. The feature highlights her enduring elegance and the sophisticated environment she cultivated in her later years. Valentine Lawford, the writer for the Vogue spread, vividly describes Vanderbilt Balsan's remarkable presence, noting her famous long neck, straight back, high-arched eyebrow, and a smile that was both shy and flirtatious. Lawford observes that her appearance would instantly bring to mind portraits by renowned artists such as Sargent, Helleu, Boldini, and Carolus Duran. The article also touches upon her storied life, marked by successive names—Consuelo Vanderbilt, Consuelo Marlborough, and Consuelo Balsan—each representing different chapters of her biography. Her life story is further elaborated by referencing her Anglo-American marriage of convenience, set against the opulent backdrops of Fifth Avenue, Marble House, Idlehour, Blenheim Palace, and Sunderland House. This contrasts with her later Franco-American marriage of love, which saw her creating personal gardens, including the gentle Tudor Crowhurst, Eze overlooking the Mediterranean, and the rustic yet luxurious Saint-Georges-Motel in Normandy. The tumultuous war years, however, brought her and her second husband, Jacques Balsan, back to America, where they divided their time between Southampton and Palm Beach. The photographs, captured by Horst P. Horst for Vogue, showcase Vanderbilt Balsan amidst incredibly elegant surroundings. These images reveal a meticulously decorated home featuring lacquered Chinoiserie cabinets, authentic 18th-century rugs, exquisite baroque paintings, and thoughtfully arranged gladiolas. Lawford's commentary underscores the resilience and grace with which Vanderbilt Balsan navigated life's challenges, stating that despite all sorrows, life had bestowed upon her its best, and she reciprocated with equal beauty. The renewed fascination with Consuelo Vanderbilt is noted, particularly with the airing of The Gilded Age season 3, where she serves as the inspiration for the fictional character Gladys Russell. The article emphasizes that while grand estates like Blenheim Palace and her Fifth Avenue mansion were often perceived as gilded cages, her Southampton home allowed her the freedom to live exactly as she pleased, albeit in an undeniably lavish manner. The accompanying photographs provide visual evidence of this luxurious lifestyle, depicting various rooms and details from Garden Side, including the drawing room with its crystal chandelier, Savonnerie rug, and Rococo paintings, as well as a study with an Aubusson tapestry rug and the dining room adorned with roses. These details collectively paint a picture of a life lived with immense taste and opulence, reflecting the refined aesthetic of the Gilded Age era. #ConsueloVanderbilt #GildedAge #SouthamptonHome #VogueFeature #HorstPHorst #InteriorDesign #SocialiteLife #HistoricalHomes