United Nations' North Delegates Lounge in New York

 

This fantastic space is the North Delegates' Lounge at the United Nations building based in New York - and it was recently renovated by architect Rem Koolhaas and Dutch designer Hella Jongerius. Along with a team of Dutch creatives, Koolhaas and Jongerius aimed to create a space of both comfort and professional informality. The history of the space was carefully edited by the team and the existing mezzanine was removed to open up the view to the East river. Jongerius created the bead curtain from hand knotted yarn and 30,000 porcelain beads. I think the space looks great - read more about the project here.

 



Photographs by Frank Oudeman via Dezeen.

Scandi Style Kitchen

 

Here is a great Scandinavian style kitchen that has been designed for a Swedish-American family in Brooklyn, New York. I like how the dividers create the spaces without having to build walls - it keeps the overall interior spacious and creates a flow throughout. Read more about it here.

Stainless steel bench top with exposed plywood edge.

This freestanding unit houses the fridge and kitchen storage. It also acts as a dividing wall between spaces.

The divider becomes a bookshelf on the other side towards the living room.

Another built in divider, which houses the coat cupboard, defines the entrance and the living spaces.

 Photographs by Matthew Williams via Remodelista.

A Taste of New Zealand in New York

Here's another restaurant with a New Zealand connection - this time in New York.
Kiwi Matt Lambert is the executive chef and owner of The Musket Room, a fine dining restaurant in Noho, Manhattan. Lambert is joined by his wife, Barbara Lambert and restaurateur Jennifer Vitagliano in serving their unique and New Zealand inspired menu.
The Musket Room was designed by Alexander Waterworth, an interior design firm in London and these photographs were taken by Emily Andrews, a New Zealand born, New York based photographer. Love seeing Kiwis doing well overseas.

Photographs by Emily Andrews.

Modern New York Family Home

Here's another cool home from Dwell magazine - this time a brownstone renovation in Brooklyn, New York. I love the stylish dining room and the shot of turquoise in the bathroom. Read here to find out more about the renovation using surplus and salvaged materials as well as working with design-build company, MADE.
Photos by Matthew Williams via Dwell.

FILMography - Matching Film Stills with Real Life

 

Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard from Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

 

Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand from The Way We Were (1973)

Robert Redford in Three Days of the Condor (1975)



Diane Keaton and Woody Allen from Annie Hall (1977)

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally (1989)




Matt Damon and Emily Blunt in The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

 

Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner in The Avengers (2012)

This is FILMography - a fantastic website by New York journalist, Christopher Moloney. He has recreated more than 250 film scenes around his famous city using film stills and comparing them to the real life locations. It's amazing to see from the old films what hasn't changed. Go on, have a look and find your favourite film moments.
Photographs via FILMography.

New York Weekend House

Frank Muytjens

Kitchen with vintage lights and draughting stools.

Living room with vintage stools used as side tables.

Muytjens' cool wardrobe.

Main bedroom.

This is the weekend home of Frank Muytjens, the head of men's design at JCrew (a US fashion brand that I love!). This two bedroom house is located two hours out of Manhattan in a town called Hillsdale. I think the house has a great lived in, masculine and unpretentious feel about it. Read more about the home here.
Photographs via Elle Decor.

Kiwis Living In New York

Kiwis Gus McKay and Miranda Dempster share an apartment in Greenwich village.

The secret to living in a small space? Being ruthless about unneccessary furniture.

The letters on the mantlepiece came from an old sign for a neighbourhood dry cleaning business.

Photograph by Stephen Shore hangs above the mantlepiece.

The print by Kate Small, an NZ artist, hangs in the dining area.

The fish poster is a true touch of kiwiana - these are often found in our fish and chips shops.

The bedroom has a prime view of the park.

Here is the New York apartment belonging to kiwis Miranda Demspter, an art director and her partner, tailor Gus McKay. This home made an appearance in HOME New Zealand magazine last month and has been featured in this week's NY Times.
The area of this rental apartment is 56 square metres - and Dempster talks of being ruthless while furnishing the small spaces carefully. Read the rest of the article here.
Photographs via NY Times.