As 2011 draws to a close, I thought I would take the opportunity to share some of the highlights from my travels and experiences over the past year. It has been another year of wonder-full experiences and inspirations for which I am extremely and eternally grateful.
Above: the new Malcolm James Kutner studio in Soho affords me plenty of space to work and create.
2011 was the year that got me to India, a lifelong dream. There are more posts – many more – to explore my experiences there, but above is the famous Gateway to India in Apollo Bunder, Mumbai.
A hotel buff since birth, I could not get enough of the Raj-era details of Bombay’s Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. As the octagon is one of – if not my most – favorite shapes, the above cupola captured my attention every time we left and returned to the hotel.
The colonial era lounge in the old Mumbai hotel. A great place to end a hot day with a cool drink.
In the spring, I returned to Bangkok, always a favorite city. Above is an image from the garden of the Jim Thompson House, where we had a private tour with Eric Booth, the owner of Jim Thompson Fabrics, the famous Thai silk house.
I loved the detail of these garden steps in Jim Thompson’s house.
Copenhagen was wonderful in April for the Design Leadership Summit, where I also encountered the wonderful space of Oliver Gustav, whom I wrote about shortly after the trip.
I completed two vignettes for Design on a Dime this year (see my earlier post on this event and these spaces here). The one above was my space, which sold out almost immediately. Items were snatched up by the likes of the talented Miles Redd and Tilton Fenwick, fellow designers and particants of this awesome event.
Above was the bed venue that I did for SFERRA Fine Linens, for whom I created this custom bed based on mens suiting fabrics. Robert Passal purchased the entire bed almost the minute the doors opened. Look out for a line of bedding designed by me for SFERRA 2012! The concept started here at Design on a Dime.
In Mexico for a few days in the spring, I found this detail of wood embedded in terracotta walls enchanting.
I spent this summer in East Hampton working (and playing). This red maple tree was right outside the house, and gave me endless visual delight every time I saw it. I also have a real soft spot for Miscanthus, the ornamental grasses in the above photo.
Just before the year’s end, a quick trip to the Bahamas’ One and Only Ocean Club provided the perfect respite, where the waves provided endless inspiration for future designs and reminders that, as always, Mother Nature is the perfect designer.
In closing, I wanted to share a favorite image of one of my favorite trees in the world. I have photographed in many times through the seasons. It stands on a bluff overlooking the Napeague Bay in Amagansett. This picture is taken from my the kitchen of a wonderful client and good friend. And in 2012, we will be renovating the kitchen, so watch for some Work in Progress images about that!
A favorite tree overlooking Napeague Bay, Amagansett, November 2011.