Innehållsförteckning för December 2014 från ELLE DECOR

WHY DO WE AT ELLE DECOR DO WHAT WE DO? Why do you read this magazine? What is it about looking at photographs of rooms, mostly empty rooms, that we find so compelling? For centuries, artists from Vermeer to Chardin to Matisse have lovingly depicted interiors, but almost always with people in them. The empty room as a subject only came into its own in the 19th century, as the exhibition "Portraits of Interiors" reminded me. This small show at the Redwood Library & Athenaeum in Newport, Rhode Island—on view through January 31, 2015—features charming drawings and paintings of grand interiors in Rome, Venice, New York, Paris, and, yes, the gilded "cottages" of Newport. Mostly they are by minor masters, but that doesn't make them any less appealing, and there…

Among the well-heeled and well-traveled, winter has long meant not parkas and mittens but bikinis, capri pants, and other poolside-appropriate apparel. International café society—from the denizens of the French Riviera in the 1920s, to the golden-skinned celebutantes photographed by Slim Aarons in the 1950s and '60s, to the libertine resort-goers of the Reagan years—have proved a source of never-ending fascination. A fantasia of cerulean water and pink stucco, Escape: The Heyday of Caribbean Glamour by Hermes Mallea (Rizzoli) brings to vivid life the rarefied tropical worlds frequented by the affluent: the Mediterranean-style estates of early-20th-century Miami; Jamaica, the getaway for Paul Newman, Marilyn Monroe, and other Hollywood A-listers; the cosmopolitan Havana of the 1950s, home of the dazzling Tropicana nightclub; and 1970s Haiti, where pleasure-seekers reveled at resorts and clubs.…

Gustave Eiffel is largely known as the creator of Paris's iconic tower, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. But Eiffel by Eiffel (Edition Olms), an illustrated book compiled by his descendant, Philippe Coupérie-Eiffel, reveals the full scope of the engineer's amazing career. Rare photos, letters, and sketches tell the backstory behind many of Eiffel's projects, including his work on the Statue of Liberty and his design for Portugal's Douro Bridge. Just as fascinating is his personal story, from the early years of his marriage to the parties hosted in his mansion on the Rue Rabelais. PAGE PROOF New York's newest bookshop, Albertine—named for the Proust character—is a plush, Jacques Garcia–designed space tucked inside the French Embassy, with more than 14,000 works by Francophone authors under a Medici-inspired starry ceiling…

Current, a 2014 installation by Orly Genger at the Austin Contemporary Museum in Texas. Granny pendant lights by Pudelskern for Casamania; casamania.it. Powder Puff fabric* by Pollack; pollackassociates.com. Hand-Painted Alpaca Bouclé fabric* by Rosemary Hallgarten; rosemaryhallgarten.com. Slumber poufs by Aleksandra Gaca for Casalis; karkula.com. Mesh Wide gold bracelet by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.; tiffany.com. Poodle fabric* by Clarence House; clarencehouse.com. Quadrant rose gold and silver necklace by Arielle de Pinto; arielledepinto.com. Rashon cape and Keeton sweater by the Row; therow.com. Fletcher pillow by Ralph Lauren Home; ralph?lauren?home.com. Macro Chevron fabric by Claudal; 917-628-0466. Rhombus module by Patricia Urquiola for Gan; gan-rugs.com. Knit Large wallpaper* by Brett Design; brettdesigninc.com. *Available to the trade only. See Resources.…

JASPER MORRISON 12 THINGS HE CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT Jasper Morrison was normcore before it was cool. The English industrial designer's book Super Normal (coauthored with Naoto Fukasawa) is a paean to such everyday objects as water glasses and felt-tip pens, many of which he sells—along with his own designs—at his eponymous shop in London. Morrison operates offices in London, Paris, and Tokyo, creating everything from sofas to toasters and even bus stops for clients including Vitra, Cappellini, Flos, and Maharam. Up next: a chair for the American firm Emeco, to be unveiled at the Milan Furniture Fair next April. His philosophy of design is simple: "That it should make good atmosphere." 2. Oscar Niemeyer's Serpentine Galleries Pavilion, 2003. 7. Takashimaya food hall. 3. Mallorca. 6. Black tape painting by Fabrice…

MONN ON ENTERTAINING IN STYLE "One of my colleagues has said that when it comes to entertaining, there are no rules," says David Monn. "I'm here to tell you that is not true. There are rules." It's his consummate mastery of the social playbook—not to mention his flair for dramatic party decor—that has turned Monn into one of the nation's most prominent event planners. He has orchestrated everything from a White House state dinner to a 90th-birthday party for Henry Kissinger. At this time of year, Monn is understandably in overdrive, his schedule filled with charity galas, winter weddings, and the holiday parties he oversees for the top tiers of Manhattan society. "People entertain because it makes them feel good, but it's not always just about being openhearted," he observes.…

Aerin Lauder in the living room of her Manhattan apartment, designed by Jacques Grange, with a tree decorated with ornaments she has collected over the years. Her dress is by Valentino; the painting is by Robert Ryman, the curtains are of a vintage French fabric, the rug is from Le Décor Français, and the walls are painted in a custom shade by Donald Kaufman Color. FACING PAGE: The table is set for a holiday dinner with plates she inherited from her grandmother, Estée, and branches in vases from her Aerin line. See Resources. Aerin Lauder's Manhattan apartment, which was decorated by Jacques Grange, is always soigné, but never more so than during the holidays. Each year, Lauder spends hours adding festive touches to her living room—from vases arranged with deep…

A GREAT HOUSE is not necessarily a great house. The former is historically important, architecturally significant, and frequently intimidating. The latter is a place where you want to hang out. So it's a credit to Peter Spears and Brian Swardstrom that they've turned the 228-year-old Ludlow Homestead, in Claverack, New York, into a house that is distinguished, fine, and proud, yet also so congenial that you can't help wanting to curl up by the fire and take a nap. "Our goal was to have it not be a museum piece," says Swardstrom, a talent agent whose clients include Tilda Swinton and Michael Douglas, "but rather livable, comfortable, warm, and relaxed." The couple also felt a deep respect for the history of the house, which was built in 1786 and will…

MASTHEADS PAGE 22: Jane dining table by Christophe Delcourt for Roche Bobois (212-889-0700; roche-bobois.com). Portofino deck chair by V. Van Duysen for Paola Lenti from ddc (212-685-0800; ddcnyc.com). TREND ALERT PAGE 54: Granny pendant lights, $690 each, by Pudelskern for Casamania (917-237-0123; casamania.it). Hand-Painted Alpaca Bouclé fabric, $220/yard, in Teal, by Rosemary Hallgarten, to the trade from Thomas Lavin (310-278-2456; thomaslavin.com). Powder Puff wool blend, in Domino, #9132-01, to the trade from Pollack (212-627-7766; pollackassociates.com). Mesh Wide gold bracelet, $8,500, by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. (800-843-3269; tiffany.com). Poodle viscose-wool, in Brown, #34788-2, to the trade from Clarence House (800-803-2850; clarencehouse.com). Macro Chevron silk-cotton, in Charcoal-Ecru, #OB2457-15989, by Claudal from Atelier Moderne (917-628-0466). Fletcher pillow, $395, by Ralph Lauren Home (888-475-7674; ralphlaurenhome.com). Lowell mohair-wool blend, in Calm, #K13764, by…

GEOFFREY SOKOL Photographer Geoffrey Sokol, who captured this issue's What's Hot column (page 35), shoots for a range of magazines and advertisements, but his personal work takes a different tack. "It tends to be about finding something calm and graceful in the world, whether it's abstract or real." Orange #2, left, from his "The Movement" series, is, he explains, "an image of fabric. I throw or toss or wave it, so the process as well as the result becomes one of physical involvement, change, time. It's highly exhilarating to jump and move as part of the creative process." For inspiration he looks to the work of photographers Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind, Duane Michals, and Minor White. "They imagine the world in the moment, with gentle, lyrical results." AXEL MUNTHE The…

SHELL COMPANY New York designer David Weeks is best known for his sleek lighting, featuring forms that evoke bird crests, horns, and globes. Now he's conquering the table with elegant brass nesting bowls. With a shape borrowed from his classic shell sconce, the bowls have a matte glass-bead interior and a shining polished exterior. A set of three costs $550; the largest measures 7" l. × 5" w. × 3" h. 212-966-3433; davidweeksstudio.com 1 / OVER THE MOON With its elemental shapes and luxurious materials, West Elm's Half Moon desk lamp is reminiscent of midcentury industrial design. A bronze shade and solid marble base are augmented by brass accents; the adjustable knob allows the light to be maneuvered in an arc. The lamp measures 14" dia. ×…

Place de l'Étoile in Paris shines a little brighter with the launch of Victoria 1836, a restaurant and bar in a stately 19th-century hôtel particulier. (The name nods to the year the nearby Arc de Triomphe was completed.) Designer Sarah Lavoine has complemented sweeping views of the monument with sleek neutrals and a lush 1970s-style opulence, as oversize copper geometric light fixtures hover above rows of tony seating accented with peacock-blue velvet. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant—like its menu, from Le Meurice alum Alexandre Auger—is at once elegant and contemporary, a quintessentially Parisian affair steeped in unadulterated luxury (victoria-1836.com). Lockwood de Forest's 1881 oil sketch of a palace in India. GRAND RETURN Block-printed French wallpaper, c. 1925. An 1873 patent model for a clothespin. 19th-century cherry-and-walnut staircase…

WHAT'S NEW TO THE TRADE—FABRICS, FURNISHINGS, AND FABULOUS FINDS 1 For its 125th anniversary, Swedish rug company Kasthall is reinterpreting classic sketches from its archives. The Secret Treasures collection includes Virvel, shown, adapted from a vibrant 1950s design and made of hand-tufted wool and linen. 212-421-0220; kasthall.com. 2 Available in three etched-bronze finishes—satin is shown—Carole Gratale's new andirons bring glamour to any fireplace. The faces measure 7.5" l. x 14" h. and can be custom-sized. 212-758-5000; ef-lm.com. The Musc armchair by Christian Liaigre comes in a variety of wood finishes and leathers; it is shown in walnut in glossy Macao and upholstered in Chili from the designer's Lisse line of fabrics. The chair measures 21.5" w. x 22" d. x 33.5" h. 212-201-2338; www.christian-liaigre.us. 4 For his Left Bank fabric…

At first blush, occasional chairs may seem like one-off pieces, not necessarily tied to a room's defining scheme. But decorators know how powerful they can be as tools for enlivening a room. "Occasional chairs are meant to be moved around," says designer Kelly Behun, "so you can use them in all kinds of different ways, whenever you need them—for a party in the living room or as an extra seat at the kitchen table." They are also, she notes, an opportunity to step outside your aesthetic comfort zone. "Because they're a small gesture, they give you latitude to play and take chances." "I think of occasional chairs as accessories," says designer John Douglas Eason. "They come and they go, depending on how a space evolves, and they provide a decorative…

FLOOR LEADER Unica's Nomad porcelain tile has a subtle textured pattern that conjures the timeworn look of vintage silk rugs. The 24? sq. floor and wall tiles have a hand-applied glass glaze, which allows for both indoor and outdoor use. The tile costs $33 per sq. ft. and is available in six colors, including Turchese, top, and Papiro. The tiles are shown with Hans Wegner's CH25 chair for Carl Hansen & Son. 800-811-2536; akdo.com A CUT ABOVE The sharpening surfaces of Brod & Taylor's Professional Knife Sharpener are made from solid carbide, making it effective for standard, serrated, Japanese-style, and Damascus-blade knives. Spring-action bars adjust to accommodate different blades. It measures 4.25" w. x 3.5" d. x 6" h. and costs $119. 800-768-7064; brod and taylor.com HEAT WAVE…

The woman emerging from the vast basement workshop of her rustic Connecticut home is not what you might expect of a self-proclaimed "radical do-it-yourselfer." Willowy and blonde, with perfect features, Anne Bannert seems more suited to walking a fashion runway than operating a belt sander. Which makes sense, since she modeled in the 1990s for the likes of Armani and Bain de Soleil and has recently been featured in ads for Lancôme and Elizabeth Arden. But these days, instead of entertaining in a lavish Manhattan apartment, as she once did, or dallying at benefits, swathed in cashmere, Bannert spends her off time in jeans, combing yard sales and flea markets, throwing unusual and often enormous objects into the back of her trusty 1984 Jeep Wagoneer. She is eager to strip,…

Alessandra Branca was born to la dolce vita. The interior designer had the consummate Italian childhood, with an artist mother who introduced her to the wonders of Bernini and Michelangelo and a city that afforded endless inspiration and visual delight. "I was obsessed with architecture and art history," says Branca. "When my friends were hanging out in sidewalk cafés, I'd be wandering into churches and roaming the cobblestone streets, just soaking it all in." She moved to Chicago more than four decades ago. It is where she attended university, met her American husband—businessman Stephen Uihlein—and established her career as a bravura decorator with a penchant for interiors that mix the refined with the relaxed. But in all that time, Branca never stopped dreaming of returning to Italy. "I think everybody…

Rings solid iron fireplace tool set by West Elm, $169; westelm.com. Henry hand-forged-iron fireplace tool set by Arteriors, $900; arteriorshome.com. Steel shovel, $310, and poker, $210, by Tom Kundig for 12th Avenue Iron; 12thavenueiron.com. Ridings steel fire tool set by Chesney's, $1,875; chesneys.com. Forged-iron fireplace tool set by Aero, $525; aerostudios.com. Chimo stainless-steel fire tool set by Andre Gilli, $485; blomus.com. Hearthside tool set by L.L.Bean, $179; llbean.com. Bend wall-mounted fireplace tool set by CB2, $149; cb2.com. Industrial iron-and-zinc fireplace tool set by Pottery Barn, $129; potterybarn.com.…

MAIL The October issue was a favorite of mine, especially "Fashion Forward," featuring the homes of young designers and memories of the same from seasoned pros. These are places where, says Michael Boodro, "you can rely on little more than your eye and ingenuity to create a haven that fits your personality and inspires your creativity." This is what we amateurs always rely on and hope to achieve in our homes—thank you for validating our efforts! Pam Oman, Hudson, Wisconsin Your October story on the New York apartments of a new generation of fashion designers was adorable. So much color and style! It brought back recollections of my first Manhattan apartment in the mid-1990s. It was no bigger than a shoe box, but it was big enough to hold frequent…

Santas, snowmen, red-nosed reindeer—while Christmas-card aisles at the local drugstore are glutted with the predictable and mass-produced, a new exhibition at New York's Morgan Library & Museum is a vivid and witty reminder that the most memorable seasonal greetings always have a personal touch. "Handmade: Artists' Holiday Cards from the Archives of American Art" features nearly 60 creations by such midcentury masters as Helen Frankenthaler, Claes Oldenburg, Ad Reinhardt, Philip Guston, and Alexander Calder. Some play with traditional imagery: For a 1959 card, mosaicist Elsa Schmid laid out tiles in the form of an elegant Yule tree, while in 1945 Saul Steinberg doodled an ice-skater as a gift for Museum of Modern Art curator Dorothy Miller. Other artists opted for the far-out and freaky, such as Robert Smithson's 1964 riff…

The parlor in textile designer Lisa Fine's Paris apartment—housed in an early-19th-century building near the Musée d'Orsay—is tented in a fabric she purchased on the street and reflects the designer's passion for the dramatic colors of Indian and Persian miniatures. A red velvet banquette, inspired by one made for socialite São Schlumberger in the 1970s and realized by the Parisian upholstery shop Decour Décoration, sits opposite a wall of built-in bookcases that house Fine's collection of travel and design books. The upholstered wrought-iron chair is from the south of France, and the wood table in the shape of a camel is from Galerie Flore. The mirror above the fireplace is English Regency; a Moroccan chandelier, found in a Paris flea market, hangs above the cocktail table. 1. In the dining…

From a distance, David Allan Peters's small-scale abstract paintings appear to buzz with dashes of vibrant color. These kaleidoscopic patterns may radiate over the entire panel in starburst formations, as in Untitled #13, or abutting triangles, as in Untitled #7, both made this year. But when seen up close, what look like Impressionistic brushstrokes reveal themselves to be tiny but precise indentations, carved into surfaces that have been built up with dozens of shimmering layers of acrylic paint. "David's paintings appear topographic—they're a psychedelic version of what you might imagine the surface of the moon to be," says Amy Brandt, a curator at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia. "When you look at them from the side, the layers look like pages of a book. For me, these…

ELLE DECOR: Who hired you to design this house? THOMAS FOURTANé: A couple with two grown children. They work in finance in Paris and have their own company, which is doing well. They came to Corsica for vacation and found our firm, Archipetrus, because we're right here in Porto-Vecchio. Our office has five people, including a landscape architect, and that connection between nature and architecture appealed to them. ED: So this is a vacation house? TF: Yes, they live in Paris most of the time. We have an airport here that's quite close to their house. It's only a one-and-a-half-hour flight from Paris, so it's very easy. ED: Why did they decide to build in Bonifacio? TF: Near their place is a famous golf course with a series of villas…

I like to say that profiteroles are the hot fudge sundae of France. The dessert—pastry puffs stuffed with ice cream and topped with warm chocolate sauce—has always been a crowd-pleaser. While few people think of making this bistro standby at home, it is actually quite easy to prepare. When done right—that is to say, made from scratch using good-quality eggs and milk (the version at Daniel et Denise in Lyon, France, is one of my favorites)—this sweet ending can be sublime. But not all profiteroles are successful. The trick is in the choux pastry that creates the puffs. You've got to vigorously stir the batter until it comes together into a sticky yet firm dough, then beat in the eggs one at a time. This gives the flour elasticity, which…

You wouldn't think it could take a decade to find a decent home on Capri, the diminutive Italian resort island that has been a stylish holiday haunt since the early days of the Roman Empire. But for one discerning man, finding the right house turned into a protracted project. The homeowner, an attorney from Naples, began visiting the island regularly in 1991 and spent part of virtually every stay looking at properties. "I looked at so many houses," he says, "but I was drawn to none." Then, on the last day of his summer vacation in 2000, he heard about a possibility in Linaro, an area of Anacapri on the island's mountainous western side. The home sits above Capri's famous Blue Grotto and is not far from the fragrant pine…

It may have been more than 20 years ago, but the owner of this house on Patmos recalls her first trip to the Greek island in vivid detail. A Paris-based fashion executive, she had arrived by boat at 3 a.m. to discover the resort still in full nightlife swing. "There was lots of activity," she remembers. "I wondered just where I'd landed." Once she recovered from the initial shock, she quickly fell in love with Patmos. There's the sunny climate; the rocky, almost inhospitable landscape; and the magical light—"white in the morning, purple and pink in the evening," she says. She also treasures the variety of beaches, the brilliance of the turquoise sea, and the refreshing lack of snobbery. "There's no question of which restaurants are hip or not," she…