Tchochkes

Doesn’t mean you can set up your own interior design firm.

SpiceIT are an interior design team based somewhere in Israel. My husband sent me their link and asked me what I  thought of them while he was researching topics for tchochkes.co.il.

I find their work provoking. I say this because I looked at page after page of ’straight out of IKEA’ boredom and dullness and wanted to scream. Where is the style? Where is the individuality? Where is the creativity? Where is the design?

I think their work sucks. The room above, for example, has no actual bedding on the bed. The silver lamme drapes should go down to the floor. The padded walls make it look like an asylum. The white on white everywhere is done the wrong way and the IKEA table is just stuck there, too far to be a bedside table, too small to be a coffee table for the sitting area. The silver cushions are tacky, the silver on the door is worse.

I like the color of the base of the bed. That’s it. The room above looks like it was decorated by kids in high school who are simply copying IKEA. If that were the case - I would love the room. However, one has higher expectations from someone stating to be an interior designer expecting to be hired.

Anyone who would pay to have a room look like that should have their head examined.

The room above would be fine if it was, again, just someones room. Actually it looks like a room in a zimmer (Israeli version of bread and breakfast). Still, my old complaints are there - where’s the bedding? What is the purpose of the netting at the foot of the bed? It’s obviously not against mosquitoes. Only one bedside table has a light on it. The bed needs a box spring - the mattress is way too low. And then of course, my favorite - twigs in a vase.

My G-d, do I HATE TWIGS IN A VASE.

Also, what are those blue things on the bed? They obviously aren’t rose petals. Rose petals don’t come in that color. I can’t imagine why someone would decorate a bed with marbles…

Apparently someones poodle died in the center of the bed.

Hate it.

I do like the drapes. Their tonal shading is quite nice. I also like the wall bedside lamps.

Lucky for me, SpiceIT also has kitchens on their site - which I will give my comments on later this week.

I know what you’re thinking. You’re wondering when I’m going to get tired of Kips Bay posts? - Never I tell you, never!

White Webb is the team of Matthew White, an ex-dancer turned designer and Frank Webb, an ex-trader baby who probably made millions and doesn’t ever need to work again so now he just makes things pretty for a living. (This is simply my guess from reading their bios - and I have to say I am seething with jealousy towards Webb - does it show?)

Regardless of their credentials - they do make a place look fabulous. The guest room, below, was their contribution to Kips Bay.

My only serious negative critique of the room is the fact that it is meant to be a guest room, yet the placement of the bed gives it the impression of an afterthought. Maybe placing the bed in the center of the room, or somewhere a couple could get in on each side, is just too old fashion - but I’m just that kind of gal. I don’t really want my hubby climbing over me to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night. (Is that too much information?) The room is big enough to accommodate a proper bed, the type a guest would actually want to sleep in.

Love the tapestry blanket draped over the arm of the chair. Like the turqouise pillows on the floor. Kind of dig the tchochkes on the side table (not that I can tell what it is - but it looks neat). Not really loving the shape of the shelves, but they do go with the gold in the embroidery of the chair. The books on the shelves is one of those decorator details that no one who reads could actually live with. While it’s not as annoying as the twigs in a vase (thank G-d they don’t have that here) - it still irks me.

The back wall, however, I just love love love. According to their website the back wall is an art piece made out of tin can lids. I couldn’t even imagine how many cans of soda went into the making of that wall, but what a great way to recycle!

Now, how to get the look?

The bed is actually easy enough. You could go to Florentine in Tel Aviv to any sofa maker and get it custom made to fit the size of your mattress - you could probably haggle them down to around 3,000 NIS max since they don’t have to make regular cushions and it’s only one piece. The back wall you could make yourself after ingesting enough caffeine sugary poison to make a diabetic go into apoplectic shock.

The chairs can also be custom ordered in Florentine, but you would probably have to buy the fabric seperately in one of the specialty fabric shops down there.  The above chair is from Beitili, and I’m certain they would have a fabric available which is closer to the one in the Kips Bay room. Is it the same shape? - No, but it’s close. However, that back chair leg makes me pause. Is it just me, or are they showing damaged goods on their website? What’s up with that?

The wall lamps could be found easily enough as well - but the table lamp would be a hard find. I can not understand why Israeli’s aren’t into table lighting, but they don’t seem to be from the extreme derth of selection in the stores.

The nesting tables are designed by White Webb - perhaps they ship to Israel?

What are those two semi-posts at the top of the bed where the headboard should be? ‘Look, it’s the bull-horn bed!’

My midnight searching for entertaining furniture led me to Marom Furniture, located in Haifa. Their site is packed with all sorts of goodies to make you giggle, and a few cute items thrown in so you actually have a reason to go and buy.

The sofa above was another item that left me tilting my head slightly to the left with a perplexed look on my face. I’m almost afraid to imagine the person who would buy such a thing. No. I’m not almost afraid - I am afraid.

I could do another rant here over how to make a proper bed… not to mention the swags of fabric everywhere. Is this bed in a bedouin tent?

The bed is made well. The pillows are in place, the sheet is back, it looks inviting. However, that back wall looks awful and completely overpowers the bedroom set. Also, where are the bedside table lamps? Paint the back wall something pale, but not white - and add some light colored accessories, please!

This is more like it. I have no idea what those things are on the dresser. But nevermind that. The bed is made nicely with cute accent pillows. The bedside tables have lamps on them. The floor is good and the back wall, while being a rather depressing color, is nice and goes well with the set while not overpowering it. This is a bedroom set I would actually drive up to Haifa to get a better look at.

I know I have been neglecting the blog lately. I swear I’ll start focusing again soon - just give me a few weeks where school doesn’t bog me down, children aren’t sick, and work is normal!!

So instead of writing about things in Israel (there are three houses in my neighborhood waiting for me to photograph them for house tours) I’m writing more about Kips Bay. Ok, I’m really writing more about Kips Bay because I found parts of this room shockingly ugly and I wanted to rant about it to anyone who will listen.

I don’t know what Philip Gorrivan was thinking.

The first pic shows the part of the room that I like. The sofa with the geometric cushions are great. The geometric carpet is a bit much, but again, it fits and it emphasizes the style of the room. The upper wall and ceiling color are divine and I love that contrast with the red in the cushions. The narrow table and the geometric wall mirror - also very cool.

Then look to the back wall…

See those awful beside tables? It’s Hotel 6 circa 1977 - all it needs is orange shag carpet and avocado green wallpaper. Open it up and you’ll find a Gideon Bible. It’s 70’s design, but the bad 70’s design. The kind that makes you cringe. To make it worse the back wall has a tacky mirror inlay. See - geometric sheets, good. Geometric pillows, good. Geometric carpet - I can live with that. Mirror inlay to veneer wall in a geometric shape - OVERKILL.

And really, what’s with the pictures behind the pillows but in front of the headboard? (That is the headboard, right?)

Here’s the thing though - I went to Philip’s site - and his work is seriously gorgeous and amazing. Not a single flaw on any of the pages. You MUST go there to see his work, it’s colorful, interesting, current, and fun. Retro, but in a very chic way (instead of the ewww - 70’s show way.) Of course, this is what Kips Bay is all about. Designers taking risks - so I can’t really chastise that much.

Even still, I hate those side tables…

In 1985 Out of Africa inspired Ralph Lauren to create a safari-esque collection which was also reflected in his home designs. Today Atonement is having the same affect. The MayFair Collection by Ralph Lauren is 1940s avant-garde glamour. Of course the 1940s weren’t actually so avant-garde for most people, so the whole idea of it is a farce, but who needs logic when finding inspiration for design?

Color is defined by tones and textures in this collection. If it isn’t a shade of black, cream, or khaki then it’s metal or mirror. Linen, mirror, chrome, velvet, silk shantung, and wood come together to create a moody and brooding background. This is pure bred interior design with a slight pout and brooding eyes.

The bed, undressed.
I like the trunk. What I’m not so nuts about is the base. I don’t really understand the point of it. It doesn’t make the trunk easier to move, it does let you clean underneath it - but it wouldn’t get dirty underneath if it was on the ground. Perhaps they designed it, and realized it was too short. The base was fixing an original design flaw? Whatever it is, this doesn’t do it for me.

Spring has already sprung when it comes to the latest collections for bedding. Here are some examples from four known designers.

I love the energizing brights mixed with soft, flowery accents
used here by Ralph Lauren.

Donna Karen manages to ease us back to life with dusty metallic lilac and grey. The mix of texture, finish and subtle woven pattern makes this collection very “in the know”.

Calvin Klein goes subtle but adds a touch of nature by adding a leaf print…
is it something new?
This stencil like botanical print looks fresh to me.

And last but not least, Notori goes all out by combining ethnic prints with rich vibrant color. This bedding ensamble taps into the “ethnic wave” happening in designer collections across the board.

Modern design in a babies quilt, handmade, cool colors, graphically appealing made by someone in Billings Montana. Yes, you read correctly - Billings.

I did an Etsy search for bed quilts after writing about Lisa’s cool window covering (look at the post below) and found Shelece’s amazing baby quilts.

The work put into these quilts is mind boggling, and I can understand why she is asking for $275 for the urban baby (left) and $250 for the dotty baby (below). She ships worldwide for $15.

These would also look good hanging on a wall, sans baby stains.

House-in uses twigs in their room styling *cringe cringe*, and you know what - I can forgive them for that because their bedroom set design is

Take the bed with the drawers (left) - now imagine it with the drawers from the armoir (below) instead (I’m certain they make it all on order so these types of changes wouldn’t be difficult). You could keep the drawers white or a contrasting color. Regardless I would change the handles. I’m sick of those handles - they are everywhere.

I’m not so nuts about this bedroom, but I know other people who would be, so here it is. One thing that leaves me perplexed is the low table with the tchochkes on it. What is the purpose of that?

I’m not sheets obsessed, regardless of how it looks. It’s just that once I started writing about places to buy bedding I started to remember all of the other places I’ve bought after moving here. Lands End has an Overstock site which ships to Israel. Their price for shipping is $15 for priority air (one to two weeks) if you spend up to $100.

This may seem high, but if you get something on a really good sale it’s not such a bad deal. Keep in mind that you will have to pay 15.5% tax if the purchase is over $50.

I also have to admit a small issue I have with Lands End since they were bought by Sears. (Childhood trauma of being the only kid in Toughskins when the rest were in Calvin Klein). With that said, I have some sheets by them and they are fine quality - 300 percale Egyptian cotton.

For high end there is Franzai (mentioned in the post below). They carry Descamps among other fabulous brands (and the maker of the sheets pictured here).

If you want nice sheets at a discount I have a secret for you. Near Hadera there’s a sheet manufacturer who has a store in their factory of overruns. This is a place that makes sheets for US clients. They have odd hours and they are not open on Friday, but you can get over runned good first quality sheets (in American sizes as well) at significantly less than the equivalent would cost elsewhere.

Why would they have extra sheets for sale? If the first printing colors didn’t turn out exact, but the greige fabric (the basic sheet fabric) was fine then they would make sheets and sell it in the store.

If you are interested in the details email me and I will send them to you.