Tchochkes

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?

L.L. Bean is one of my favorite clothing shops in the US, their quality is excellent, the styles are classic, and they ship to Israel. Better yet, they also ship furniture and accessories to Israel.

Feather and Black is this wonderful bedroom furniture manufacturer in England and their stuff is just divine.

I’m in love with this bed and I think the style would be a perfect fit for a lot of Israeli homes. I realize so many people here are into the ‘low bed’ but I also know that most people have a serious lack of space to put stuff (myself included) and this bed gives a nice stylish solution to that issue.

See the drawer to the right? This is how a drawer is meant to be made. With dovetail joints. This is something that will last an extremely long time and is well worth the cost.

This bed on the left is the simplest bed on their site, and it’s the one I want for my own bedroom. I’ve actually considered going to a metal working place to see if they can copy it, because to send it here is prohibitively expensive. (Maybe if enough of us write to their website and beg they will open up a store here?)

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Betili over the years. They’ve always been perfectly nice and wonderful to me (and their sales people are typically really lovely) but the style they have is so hit and miss. Plus the bedrooms are so boxy and bulky. I’ve always preferred them for accessories (sometimes their tchochkes are inspired with color, shape, and style).