THE ROMANCE OF TARTAN

THE MOST ROMANTIC of all patterns is tartan - you find it all over the world, in India and Asia in particular - not only in tribal Scotland.


My favourite is Fraser hunting tartan - left.  

My Scottish friends kindly gave me permission to create my own Stefanidis tartan, woven in Scotland on heavy silk, designed on a computer with Annie Stewart from Anta with me looking over her shoulder www.anta.co.uk


Right  - John Stefanidis Dress tartan [red]
             - John Stefanidis Hunting tartan [blue]    

                                             A tartan themed room I designed in Ohio, USA

..and another in England.

Degas and the Ballet: Picturing Movement

I have just been to Degas and the Ballet at the Royal Academy--highly recommended!  Fascinating insight about the influence of photography in the 19th century. 
Until December 11, 2011





www.royalacademy.org.uk/Degas 

The Knight of Glin

I had determined never to have pictures of people on this blog but I am making an exception – Desmond Fitzgerald, the Knight of Glin has died.  The photograph shows Desmond, Thalita Getty and Mariga Guinness, all stylish, not only in appearance, but in their depths.

The Knight was handsome, erudite, funny, urbane and sophisticated, not unlikely to take offence but he was always a forgiving, constant and loyal friend.  The 29^th  Knight, the most romantic of all titles will cease to exist.  He will be missed. 

Frank's Campari Bar

Before it's too late, venture south of the river for a an Italian truck driver's cocktail at.............................
Frank's Campari Bar --a pop-up bar on top of a multi-story car park in Peckham with breathtaking views of London, run by Frank Boxer--open until end of September 
..................................................................................................................http://www.frankscafe.org.uk/.  

The Bonnington Square  garden opened in 1994 on a bomb damaged
area managed and maintained by local residents.

On your way, stop for an espresso at Charlie Boxer's delicatessen & cafe in charming Bonnington Square in Vauxhall http://bonningtonsquaregarden.org.uk/

BIZARRE FABRICS

William Hogarth - The Spode Family 18th C.

It is very difficult to distinguish where Bizarre fabrics were woven in these extraordinary and strange patterns since they were made in Venice, Constantinople and London at Spitalfields.  My collection does homage to these unique designs: www.stefanidisfabrics.com

Alexandrine / Acid Green

Alexandrine / Soft Blue

Alexandrine / Hot Pink

Alexandrine / Citrine

Spitalfields - Azure/Magenta 

Spitalfields - Viridian / Plum 

Istanbul

Venice

FAREWELL TO SUMMER

LEFT - An Athens terrace, seen through a pinoleum blind, an all time favourite as it filters light so well.


BELOW - Tote bag from LL Bean [U.S.]--still the best, available in many colours, washable and can be monogrammed, containing a lap top in a velvet case and traditional 'adieu' - a rose or gardenia when in season.  

         FAREWELL TO SUMMER

MARSDEN WOO GALLERY

A very interesting interpretation of Vermeer: 


CAROLINE BROADHEAD
MAISIE BROADHEAD
Taking The Chair
15 September - 30 October, 2011




Marsden Woo Gallery
17-18 Great Sutton Street, London, EC1V oDN 
+ 44 (0)20 7336 6396
www.marsdenwoo.com

Nostalgia - Sea planes

Sea planes that took me as a child from Cairo to Khartoum in Sudan on my way to join my parents in Eritrea.

John Stefanidis Fabric 'Josephine' - available in 2 colours

Josephine in Red/Gold                                 Josephine in Mink/Peach

Simply Fabulous.
Josephine in Red/Gold
(chosen by Oprah Winfrey for her sitting room)

Available from:

London:          Tissus d'Helene, Chelsea Harbour, London, SW10 0XF

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7352 9977

                        Email: tissusdhelene@mac.com

                        Website: tissusdhelene.co.uk

Miami:            Monica James, 40 NE 40th Street, Miami, FL  33137
Phone: + 1 305-576-6222

                        Email: sales@monicajames.com

                        Website: monicajames.com

Los Angeles:   Harbinger, Almont Yard, 636-A North Almont Drive, CA 90069

                        Phone: +1 310 858 6884

                        Email: Info@HarbingerLA.com

                        Website: harbingerla.com

John Stefanidis Fabrics Website:      stefanidisfabrics.com

Venetian Navigators: The Voyages of the Zen Brothers to the Far North

Thanks to some excellent books we know so much more about exploration and journeys across the continents in past centuries.

One of the latest is Venetian Navigators: The Voyages of the Zen Brothers to the Far North, by Andrea di Robilant [author of A Venetian Affair]

Might the Zen brothers have reached the New World a Century before Columbus?

DECEIVING THE EYE: TROMPE L'OEIL

 












Above and left: From Roomscapes, the Decorative Architecture of Renzo Mongiardino-- always a source of inspiration.    

Trompe l'Oeil used to great effect on a landing for a house
 I designed in the American Mid West. 

A wall painted to look like lace in a bedroom in Florida
 - taken from my book Stefanidis Designs  

A hallway floor in a New York apartment
Painted to look like marble -- very durable!