Bemelmans Bar

Nowhere is the discreet charm of the bourgeoisie more palpable than in this bastion of post-war decadence: think white-jacket waiters, 24-karat gold leaf ceilings, and nickel-trimmed glass tables splayed around the ivories. Settle into a leather banquette and order something strong and adventurous—perhaps with champagne and cognac or fresh mint and muddled lemons. Murals of frolicking animals painted by bar namesake and former Carlyle Hotel resident Ludwig Bemelmans offer a whimsical counterpoint to what might otherwise be suffocating sophistication (and they repay a close viewing—can you spot the armed rabbit stalking its brethren'). Feel an extra boost knowing you're enjoying pretty much the same thing as the folks across the lobby at Café Carlyle, for a fraction of the cover. — Julie Mehta and Andrew Yamato

At 18 years old I moved to NYC and fell in love with it. I will always consider it my home.
I still am and regret my move to Florida , for the most part everyday since.
Except that I had my beautiful daughter in Florida.
I came to Florida for a mini winter vacation (while still living on E 58th. St), and I ran into my childhood sweetheart (we both grew up in Miami Beach on Palm Island – next to Star Island ) , we became inseparable, had a child, and the rest is ……

I never wanted to up-root her from her home town ( Boca Raton ). Her father and I are divorced. We remain very close friends today. But now, all these years later, she is in her 3rd year of college and I haven’t been able to move back.
I talk about it , think about it……
And given an opportunity , I would be back in a heart beat.

‘Andi ‘ is my daughter’s name, and
when she was 3, 4, 5, and 6 years old she
was obsessed with the children’s book Madeline. ( so was I )

She used to dance around on the cocktail table top singing the song from the story....

"I'm Madeline, I'm Madeline..... "

Which brings me back to the bar at The Carlyle Hotel,

and when I first moved to NYC. ……

I was married before I married my daughters father. I was very young, he was
11 years older, a doctor, "yada yada yada"

'The doctor' came to NYC and stayed at the Carlyle. It was there that I became engaged.
…….By Mistake .
What can I say ? I am Jewish from Miami Beach, I thought it was what I was supposed to do.

And here is how this all ties together; there are amazing murals at the Carlyle. One mural is in the Famous Carlyle Café where you can spend an evening with the likes of Bobby Short, Ertha Kitt, etc etc.

And the other ( and the subject of this post ) is in Bemelmans Bar.

In exchange for lodging, Ludwig Bemelmans painted murals of central park on the walls.

Hence , the name of the famous/landmark bar, Bemelmans Bar.

Just in case you've forgotten, Ludwig Bemelmans was the author and illustrator of the Madeline series of children's books .
He even put a group of the orphans in blue hats from the Madeline story in the mural .

I love that !!!

They offer a beautiful High Tea for the little ones

And someday maybe, I will take my grandchild there and bore her to death telling her Dorothy Draper stories, along with showing her fabric swatches and paint chips.

Madeline's Orphanage in Paris

Sites to go to :
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/02/dining/02tea.html

http://www.thecarlyle.com/dine4.cfm

Ludwig Bemelmans with his daughter Mimi and wife in Munich.

If you want to go, here is a map.

BTW, it just happens to in my favorite area in Manhattan.

I would just love to have my kitchen / family room painted with a mural just like this one..

Hmmmmmmmmmmm...great idea for a wallpaper.

It could be done,

because today you can get anything made.

make sure and play video-
this is a recycled post from 2008 - HAPPY NEW YEARS!!

( enlarge any picture for more info and a closer look )

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her Blog of her Adventures in Design,Owner of 'The Trade' Interiors, ,Boca Raton,Palm Beach,Boca Raton Florida,All custom upholstery,case-goods,window treatments,Antiques, Accessories and Antique accessories, built-ins, and all built in seating  bemelmans bar, the carlyle hotel nyc

Decorative Screens, Room Dividers & Partitions

Screens & Room Dividers

can definitely add that finishing touch that few other accessories can do.

They can be extremely elegant as shown in this image. 

Do you need privacy and do not want to put up window treatments?

As you see the creativity concerning screens is endless.

An upholstered screen works well in the bedroom.

Now,

if you are living in an apartment in NYC 

with a kitchen that is wide open to the living room.....

Now you know what to do.

Another clever use for a screen -

providing privacy, yet allowing the light in.

I think this looks fabulous!!

Screened doors are one of my favorite things.

Even on a front door.

I just like diffused light coming through doors.

And there really are so many creative ways you can do it. 

Okay....

now a bit of what is new and wild.

I think this screen curtain is stunning.

Lose everything else in the picture and I can see it dividing

a living room from a dining room.

Even in a mostly traditional setting.

It would add so much punch without being over powering.

Do you agree??

In the design world they have now created 

very expensive fabrics to use for draperies that look just like this.

These are not drapery fabric however.

You can see more of this product if you look up

Razortooth

This I adore.

They have built a large scale - open lattice work screen 

surrounding the breakfast area.

BRILLIANT.

More of  RAZORTOOTH

A jali is the term for a perforated stone or latticed screen, 

usually with an ornamental pattern constructed through the use 

of calligraphy and geometry. 

Early work was performed by carving into stone, 

while the later more elegant used by the Mughals employed the technique of inlay, 

using marble and semi-precious stones. 

Jali typically use Islamic geometric patterns, and less often arabesques.

This architectural decoration was used in Islamic architecture as well as in Indian architecture.

Info Taken from HERE

I have tried to put in a bit of every style of screens and partitions in this post. 

I wanted for you to find at least one thing you liked.

Something that would spark a creative idea for you.

Maybe even solve a problem you might have around your home.

Concerning privacy, or just defining a space.

I would appreciate your input.

Did you get any ideas?

Which was your favorite?

Happy New Year!!

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her Blog of her Adventures in Design,Owner of 'The Trade' Interiors, ,Boca Raton,Palm Beach,Boca Raton Florida,All custom upholstery,case-goods,window treatments,Antiques, Accessories and Antique accessories, built-ins, and all built in seating,decorative screens, room dividers,screens,decorative screens, room dividers,screens,Screens & Room Dividers,partitions,partitions,decorative screens

Miami IS Different - Miami Beach 2011

Yes.

This is what it is really like in case you were wondering. 

These are everywhere....

but in Boca Raton 

the streets are over run with 

(it seems like to me)

the same navy blue Rolls Royce convertibles.

If you have the chance 

and you are in Dania Beach Florida

This is a showroom not to miss!!!!

for more info on terrazzo floors click here

Now when I was growing up terrazzo was EVERYWHERE!!!!

Every hotel, every house, .....,everywhere!

And the for years Floridians spent ooodles of dollars tearing it up and replacing it with

terra cotta tiles. Remember those???

They are gone too.

And we are back to TERRAZZO.

And now .....

look what they can do???

Not for me .... but still....

I appreciate it. 

Welcome to Miami Beach 2011

Your thoughts?????

happy happy new years with bunches of hugs and kisses

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her Blog of her Adventures in Design,Owner of 'The Trade' Interiors, ,Boca Raton,Palm Beach,Boca Raton Florida,All custom upholstery,case-goods,window treatments,Antiques, Accessories and Antique accessories, built-ins, and all built in seating,Miami Beach 2011,Miami Beach 2011

Christmas At Windsor And Their Upside Down Tree

On December 24 1850 Queen Victoria sat down at her bureau at Windsor Castle and wrote breathlessly in her journal: ‘My beloved Albert first took me to my tree and table, covered by such numberless gifts, really too much, too magnificent!’

Now visitors to the royal residence in leafy Berkshire will, for the first time, be able to sample Christmas just as Victoria and Prince Albert did 161 years ago.

Although monarchs have celebrated Christmas at Windsor since the 12th century, the couple were responsible for popularising the celebration in the form we know today.

Christmas At Windsor And Their Upside Down Tree

I hope the lovely Prince and his Wife are as happy today as the day they were married.

They are so pretty, they would make lovely ornaments for the tree.

OOPS....who am i kidding?

I am sure they are sold all over England for Christmas.

I want one too.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2066193/Sauceboats-shaped-like-sleighs-giant-conifer-suspended-ceiling--Get-set-Victorian-Christmas-Windsor-castle.html#ixzz1hSouWopX


Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her Blog of her Adventures in Design,Owner of 'The Trade' Interiors, ,Boca Raton,Palm Beach,Boca Raton Florida,All custom upholstery,case-goods,window treatments,Antiques, Accessories and Antique accessories, built-ins, and all built in seating,Christmas At Windsor And Their Upside Down Tree,Christmas At Windsor And Their Upside Down Tree

Is It Really Only Diamonds That Are A Girls Best Friend This Season?

                                                              I ASK YOU?

But....I just couldn't turn this one down.

No way.

Even if it were Ronny 'FRANKENSTIEN' from Boca Raton offered it to me -

well...I would wear at least for the evening anyway.

What might you do my angels???

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her Blog of her Adventures in Design,Owner of 'The Trade' Interiors, ,Boca Raton,Palm Beach,Boca Raton Florida,All custom upholstery,case-goods,window treatments,Antiques, Accessories and Antique accessories, built-ins, and all built in seating, christmas jewelry, ribies, diamond rings ,sparkling tourmaline, and a fantastic necklace,  christmas jewelry, ribies, diamond rings ,sparkling tourmaline, and a fantastic necklace,i wouldn't turn doen the diamond ring - ever, 1st dibs, 1st dibs