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February 9, 2010: Spotlight on Suzani and Ikat: Are You Still in Love?

In Suzani; Ikat; Kathryn Ireland on February 9, 2010 at 1:00 am

By Lynn Byrne. Lovers of interior design have had an infatuation with suzanis and, their close cousin ikat textiles, for sometime now.  I was not surprised to see this booth last week at the NY International Gift Fair filled with suzani pillows and throws.

Photo by Lynn Byrne

What is a bit more unusual are accessories adopting the pattern.  Ikat and suzani teapots anyone?

Photos from modernluxury.com and Distant

They have also crossed over to fashion–the border between interior design and fashion being so amorphous.  I am not wearing ikat tights, but I guess someone is.

Photo from Wide Open Spaces

What everyone does seem to be doing, however, is using the textiles as upholstery fabric.  I spotted this chair done up in suzani at the NY International Gift Fair.

Photo by Lynn Byrne

And later that same week, I unearthed this lovely pair of Jansen style armchairs recovered in an ikat fabric at the Hamptons Antiques Gallery in Stamford, CT.

Photo by Lynn Byrne

So what makes these textiles so special?  Cue the history lesson.

Suzanis and ikat textiles have been with us for thousands of years.  Suzanis are Central Asia’s answer to the American quilt.  A real suzani is handmade and hand stitched, with, generally, all natural dyes.  Like quilting, traditionally, different family members each stitch a section and later all of the sections are sewn together.  Things don’t always match up perfectly, which gives a true suzani its charm.

Older suzanis have a neutral background, while newer ones can have colored backgrounds like red, pink, yellow and occasionally violet.  For a brief period during the late 19th and early 20th century, some suzanis were colored with synthetic dyes.  These are less desirable and considerably duller than those made with natural dyes.

Ikat  (pronounced “ee- cat”, not “eye-cat” ) is a textile that is made with what is essentially a “tie-dye” method.  The technical name is “resist dyeing”.  Parts of the  threads are tied up in bundles (today, often using plastic) and then dyed before they are woven.  Typically it is the warp threads (the ones going cross wise) that are resist dyed, but occasionally the weft (vertical) threads are also dyed.  This is known as a double ikat.

Then, true ikat textiles are woven by hand on narrow looms.  A pattern emerges from the resist dyeing as the threads are loomed.  The hand-woven fabrics have a completely different feel and appearance than fabrics made from a power-loom production.

Now, back to the eye candy.  Here are some inspirational rooms featuring suzani or ikat.

These dining room chairs are upholstered with an ikat inspired fabric from Osborne and Little.  Love the lucite based table.  (For more lucite, click here.)

Photo by Paul Massey for British House and Garden

The suzani settee relates well to the art hung above it and makes this small area special.

Photo via The City Sage

Here is a sofa done in a very traditional ikat pattern.

From Patricia Gray Interior Design

This bird’s eye view of Kathryn Ireland’s living room shows a chair upholstered in suzani in the left side.   Following the birds eye view is a close up of the chair.   Interesting how the suzani is highlighted by using it only in the middle of the chair and surrounding it with white.

Photos from housebeautiful.com

Suzani and ikat are combined in this room with suzani-like fabric on the valance and ikat on the sofa.

Photo via Cote de Texas

Love this ikat inspired rug.

Photo from Dose of Design

An absolutely amazing transformation of a granny wing chair using antique suzani textiles brought to us via Design Sponge.

And, finally, ikat fabric applied to the walls.

Photo from the Elle Decor book, Style and Substance

I love pattern and color so much that I don’t think I will ever tire of suzanis and ikats.  How do you feel about them?

Suzani and ikat history via housebeautiful.com, wikipedia, and mekongrivertextiles.com.

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February 8, 2010: Introducing New Etsy Shop: Katie Armour Home

In Katie Armour Home; Accessories; Vintage Home Decor on February 8, 2010 at 1:00 am

By Lynn Byrne. Still a new blogger (Decor Arts Now has only been around since Columbus Day Weekend 2009), I have found that one of its best benefits is the support and comraderie of others out in the blogging community.  Now I would like to pay it forward.

Kate, author of the blog, The Neo-Traditionalist, not only writes an interesting blog, she has opened a fabulous store on Etsy, called Katie Armour Home.  Kate has combed flea markets and antique shops for unique and unusual accessories, so you don’t have to.  All of the objects are well priced.

Kate wisely spends time styling her finds before she photos them for the store, which only serves to make them more appealing.  Her suggestions on how to use the stuff are great.  Hold on tight to that wallet folks.  It is hard to resist.  I, myself, quickly scooped up a couple of things.

First, I acquired this instant collection of brass camels.  There are actually seven of them  in graduating sizes (only $24).  I plan to do just as Kate suggests and line them up on a bookcase.

Next, at $14, this cute marble seahorse is going with me to the Montauk house.  I also am really attracted to the vintage books that Kate is using as styling  props.  I hope to see some for sale in the store in the future.  I know I will never pass another book pile again without searching for such attractive volumes.  
Here are some other cute items that were in the store when I wrote this post.  Everything is one of a kind, so since the store opened over the weekend and this post is on Monday, they may no longer be available.  Kate, however, says she has lots of stuff to sell, so there will be frequent additions to the inventory.  If something shown here is gone, I feel confident that you can find something else that appeals.

Love this knight brass letter opener ($18).  Kate suggests that it would make a fabulous gift coupled with some pretty stationary.

This little bamboo planter, stamped McCoy, is a great find at $24.  The cute elephant, print and glass candle holder were not in the store.  Future inventory I hope?  The elephant would be a great addition to my brass animal collection (those camels) that I started today.  Hint, hint.    

Though most people I know these days don’t smoke, this attractive ash tray can hold change.  And we all need the match holder to light our candles.  The set is $26.  The brass pineapple is a giveaway prize that Kate is offering to commemorate the opening of her store.  Details can be found here, plus more pictures of her wares.

The milk glass urn ($16) looks great with the seashells and flower.  Lovely vignette.  This time, I had to tie my hands.  (I can’t buy everything–I need to leave some cute stuff for you!)  

How about this very pretty pitcher for $26?  

This $14 vintage black glass dish made in France is a great holder for the “jewels”.  Organization never looked so good.

Hurry up and check it out.  I don’t think Katie’s inventory will sit around.  And remember, she says she has lots more coming.  I can’t wait.

Prices listed above do not include shipping.  All photos from Katie Armour Home.

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February 5, 2010: Foodie Friday: Opposites Attract: A Hadley Kitchen and Super Ribs for the Super Bowl

In Foodie Friday: Albert Hadley; Kitchen; Dining Room; Lidia Bastianich; Spare Ribs Roasted with Vinegar and Red Pepper on February 5, 2010 at 1:00 am

By Lynn Byrne. OK already, I admit it.  I just have Albert Hadley on the brain this week.  Today’s kitchen is not from yesterday’s house, but is located in a New York City apartment.  I only have one shot of the kitchen (wish I had more), but it is enough for the Hadley flair to shine through.  Look at the mirror backsplash.  Awesome for increasing the sense of light and space in what is usually a cramped and dark area even in “luxury” apartments.  I also like the composite material countertop.  It is quartz with recycled glass sprinkled in.

For good measure, I will toss in a snappy of the apartment’s dining room since it is so awesome.  Those groovy chairs were repurposed from a previous residence.  There, they were slipcovered, but to show off that fantastic shape Mr. Hadley “undressed” them.  Definitely the way to go.  Love how the lampshades match the chairs.

Finally, a lovely tablescape.  I will now be hunting for a porcelain cabbage.  Who knew I needed one?

Now after the elegance of Albert Hadley, I am going to give you a great recipe for a Super Bowl snack.  Want to get away from the standard chili and wings?  These ribs sure do the trick.  The recipe is from the book by Lidia Bastianich entitled Lidia’s Italian-American Kitchen. When I am serving the ribs as a meal and not finger food, I also roast little potatoes, carrots and parsnips, as shown in the photo.

Spare Ribs Roasted with Vinegar and Red Pepper

Ingredients

1 rack, about 3 1/2 pounds pork spare ribs, cut into single ribs (the butcher can do this for you)

Sea or Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

12 cloves garlic, peeled

4 fresh or dried bay leaves

1 cup (or as needed, start with 1/2 cup) canned reduced-sodium chicken broth  (Of course if you are a truly dedicated cook, homemade chicken or meat stock can be used as well.)

1 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons honey

1 to 2 teaspoons crushed hot red pepper to taste, pulverized or chopped fine (I just sprinke straight from the spice bottle)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Pat the spare ribs dry and season them with salt and pepper.  Toss them in a roasting pan into which they fit comfortably with the olive oil, garlic and bay leaves.  (I use the biggest roasting pan I have.  The ribs should not be crowded.  They will brown better).  Pour in the stock (I start with 1/2 cup stock) and roast, turning occasionally, until the liquid is almost completely evaporated and the ribs are golden brown, 45 minutes to an hour (add a bit more stock if you see that the ribs dry out well before they are done).

Meanwhile, stir the wine, vinegar, honey and crushed red pepper together in a small bowl until the honey is dissolved.

Brush all sides of the ribs with some of the vinegar glaze, then pour the remaining glaze into the roasting pan.  Continue baking, turning every few minutes, until the glaze is syrupy and the ribs are mahogany brown and sticky to the touch, about 20 minutes.

Serves 6

See you Monday.  My boys say the Colts are going to win.  Let’s see.

Kitchen and dining room photos from housebeautiful.com.


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