I promise I am not stalking you. But when I see another of your projects, I fall in love all over again. And you thought you could hide from me in the latest Veranda. Who would have thought to find you here? When I saw the cover, I thought: this is no ordinary Veranda. This is not the tailored and refined Country French I have been accustomed to. This is something altogether different.
I went to see who it was that could be gracing this beautiful and edgy cover. The white upholstered sofas and daybeds (Room and Board), the ebonized floors, the black tiled fireplace surround...I thought I had found a new crush.
But then..... I knew it was you as soon as I saw the white sheers and your custom designed light fixture (ABYU Lighting) in the foyer. Yes...you had me at "Hello". Only you could have piqued my interest with the Country Swedish chair with the seat in Sacco Carpet goat hair!
One of the things I love about you is the way you mix up the high and the low. Like in this Dining Room: putting a Larsen Velvet on a Crate and Barrel chair. It makes my heart smile, like wildflowers in a silver vase. Zimmer + Rohde fabric used as wall art, it's wonderful.
They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Well men aren't the only ones who love the culinary arts. And to find a kitchen at the other end of the Living Room, well that's just magic. And then you go and make it look like this! That curtain of beads by BallChain around the stovehood, the Plexi-Craft barstools.... sigh.
I could lounge here for hours on this banquette by the window. Long relaxing dinners with family and friends. Maybe a little Jamie Cullum playing in the back round. You did this on purpose, I know it. (Chairs through Room and Board).
Then you got really glamorous, but I could expect no less. In the Master Bedroom, you went for the Swarovski crystals on the custom shade and Ostrich Pillow on the bed, both by ABYU. Jean Harlow would be right at home. So could I.
And there it was.... just what I'd hoped for. One of your iconic feather lampshades (ABYU) hiding in the guest room, perfectly juxtaposed with the Man Ray photographs.
What I love about you is that you inspire me. I can watch you make magic using sources available to everyone, like this bed by Room and Board, the Restoration Hardware Lamps, and the mirrors by Crate and Barrel.
I promise, I am not stalking you........yet......
All photos by Antoine Bootz for Veranda, May-June 2008
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20 comments:
Now that is what makes me want to spend money.
All for some good clean decor.
Love it, very crisy, clean and a touch of frou frou!
There are too many great things in those rooms to count! I love the ManRay pix framed in orange and black. Very unexpected!
isn't that cover gorgeous? And yes, you are stalking!!! hahah!! very very good post - made me see this in a whole new light.
Katie - a great post! I passed this up at the airport (I'm often disappointed) but now see I missed a jewel.
He has an incredible eye for design!! So nice and clean! Love it all.
That cover is so elegant! I flipped through the issue yesterday, but used some very flimsy self-restraint and didn't get it. Those bar stools in the kitchen are a trip! I like how all the white pops. Love your blog, Katie!!
Welcome to the decade, Veranda! This magazine has always been one of my old favorites, but there are very few surprises. It was nice to see this spread.
Katie, I absolutely Love Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz' work. What a great spread and post on him! THank you for sharing.
I'm a fellow stalker - I think he is a genius. I got to meet him last year and he is as exuberant as his interiors. Thanks for sharing the store bought sources. It's fascinating how he throws those in and they look like they cost a mint! Very talented.....
Hi all! I thought this spread was very unusual for Veranda, especially putting it on the cover. Very gutsy for them I think. And the use of all of the retail sources on Benjamin's part...also unexpected, especially for a Veranda cover story. I suspect that there may have been a time constraint involved in the design, since it was a summer house. Perhaps they wanted to get in for the season? But what a great thing for us "regular" types who have a budget! And BNO can really make a space unique with his clean, yet playful style.
It's wonderful to have someone who inspires, delights and surprises you . . . again and again.
LOVE the barstools!
Love your take on this issue of Veranda! You helped me see it in a totally new way - maybe I am just in a funk this week. Visit me and see what I wrote - I agree with you on all of the fabulous elements of his design - I just can't get as turned on by it! thanks for a wonderful perspective though. Wonder what my deal is??
Love the plexi bar stools - although at the moment I am looking for some plexi chairs for around my dining room table. Target has a cheap version but they are somehow not really right.
I am back for more! Thank you for your thoughts and I love how you wrote this post - stalking one of your favorites! What an upbeat perspective and great detail - I am going to check back in some older Verandas and see if I feel the same way or if it just something going on with me these days....and the "quirkiness" of his design, I love it too!
I also have a design crush on Benjamin and live for feather lampshades.
HCHG-
It is what makes the world go 'round! If everyone had the same idea about design, we would be bored to tears. There are many designers whom I appreciate but whom I would not be comfortable with for myself. I think BNO is really fun and gets me thinking in new ways. He thinks outside the box. I have done a few posts about him, so it was fun being a "stalker" for a day! :D
Hello Diana's! I had fun with the post, and yes, those barstools are fab! I wonder how long they will look this good?
Tony-
I love your "lunnettes de soliel"! And anyone with a cool blog like yours: www.fopitup.blogspot.com has got to be a feather lampshade (my!)kind of guy! Thanks for the visit.;)
One of my favorite designers! Great post!
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