April, 2017:

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An upcoming trip to Miami has us feeling very Flashback Friday!
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Zaha Hadid 1000 Museum Penthouse James Andrew Design

While on a recent a Florida jaunt, I was struck by the great multitude of marvelous developments and building projects happening in Miami. There are something like 150 apartment buildings being built, along with museums, parks, and marinas—it is really is becoming a quite tremendous tropical city, and no doubt I’ll be helping many with the decoration of their new homes!

I was rather taken by Zaha Hadid’s magnificent masterpiece, 1000 Museum. It’s really building-as-sculpture, standing prominently on the Miami skyline with distinctly futuristic fabulousness. This exceptionally elegant residential tower offers a world class environment for a lucky few who are able to secure one of these exclusive museum quality residences.

As I have mentioned, I do love to design in Florida, and with all the potential opportunity in Miami I immediately began to fantasize about working with an absolute dream client in a Penthouse duplex. It would obviously be a client with a very high level of sophistication and a great deal of respect for Hadid’s architectural vision. I’ve taken the opportunity here to really flesh out the possibilities for just such a client. I’ve gathered a scintillating collection of futurist furniture from different eras (this is a James Andrew Interior Design best of the best!). I’ve had the incredibly talented NYC artist, Scott McBee render my vision of a 1000 Museum penthouse “great room.” I think it illustrates how well these sellect pieces relate to Hadid’s own vision for the future.

Guy de Rougement “Nuage” tables

Tony Duquette console.

As is my trademark, I felt it important to mix in a few antiques as well—in this case, 2 pairs of the most gorgeous grotto chairs referencing the sea. Other elements point to the sky—all embodied in this mansion in the sky.

Grotto side chairs

Grotto chairs

Jansen glass and steel chair

I created 2 seating areas that revolve around a pair of Royere curved sofas and centered on this grand and glorious space a monumental 1960’s Venini chandelier. Perfection!

Jean Royere sofa

1960s Venini Chandelier

Needless to say, if you happen to be one of the lucky few to secure a foothold at 1000 Museum, do give me a ring if you like what you see!

James Andrew at R.T. Facts, Kent CT

Well known to the glitteratti of the worlds of design and decoration, R.T. Facts’ client list is a whose who of fabulous designers, from the late Oscar de la Renta to my exquisite friend Robert Couturier. I myself found the rather fabulous and slightly off the usual radar R. T. Facts many years ago, and they’ve been an invaluable decorating resource ever since – most recently I’ve gathered quite a few objects from them for my Southampton projects and our very own Scott McBee’s maisonette.

R.T. Facts, Kent CT

Founded in the 1990s by Greg and Natalie Randall (both already had backgrounds in antiques and arts), R.T. Facts has been offering fascinating things for decades – brilliant re-imaginings of found objects, vintage and antique objects, as well as creative collaborations with local artisans. The old town hall in Kent CT is their original outpost, and now they’ve recently added a massive space just a stone’s throw away giving them an even greater platform to showcase their many treasures.

R.T. Facts, Kent CT

Their website R.T. Facts is certainly a good start for discovering what they have, but we do recommend a trip to Kent to see them in person – it will be well worth your while!

R.T. Facts, Kent CT

Dressed for a day of treasure hunting (top), I’m sporting a vintage Tom Ford era Gucci olive hunting jacket, vintage RL denim western shirt and olive flannel pants, vintage Gucci python belt with silver double horse head buckle, Tom Ford era Gucci leather “Chelsea” boots, my fragrance Jo Malone Lavender and amber.

James Andrew at home.

Whether via a blog, Facebook or Instagram, it’s a personal thing putting oneself out there on the web. It’s a bit like inviting someone into your home, and there is a certain intimacy when I share my musings and rants on style and taste. I trust my readers won’t take any of these as judgments though, they’re simply my own personal opinions on living an elevated life! I do try to base the aesthetic opinions and ideas that I share expressly on what I’ve experienced, and what I think might be helpful to others, but that’s not to say our readership shouldn’t have some fun developing their own sartorial splendor!

Whether I’m expressing my thoughts on what to wear or on how to set one’s table, it has all been directed towards creating an elevated experience, and by that I mean creating beauty to nourish and soothe the soul! So you see, these aren’t simply superficial concerns – in fact the effects can be felt much deeper. For instance, when I find my thoughts going to dark places, I often turn to things that inspire me. They help me to start to tell myself a better story – all that we are really has so much to do with our thoughts! I find these fantasies I create are crucial to gaining a foothold as I climb out of the occasional depths. They help me to let go of the inevitable big/small disappointments and regrets that seem to come with being here on this planet. The happy consequence of a little shift in outlook more oft than not actually has huge positive benefits – life tends to respond to this more positive energy with similarly positive energy. Truly reality can change in an instant if your heart and mind is open!

I continue to be grateful to so many readers who stop in on us here at WIJW, and it is my wish that by sharing my journey – inviting you all into my home so to speak – I will continue to interest, amuse, and perhaps help to elevate the lives we touch!

James Andrew, detail.

James Andrew, detail.