Faux Bois - Better than the Real Thing?

October 10, 2011

Faux bois (or "fake wood" in French) refers to the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains in various media. According to LA artist Richard Davis of Richard Davis Decorative Painting, Inc., this very old technique became popular in Holland during colonial seafaring times. Since the good hardwoods were being used for ship-building, wealthy patrons turned to faux bois as an alternative.

Why go "faux" rather than use real wood? In the case of one of our Clients, it is to overcome the difficulty of finding sufficient veneers and solid woods - in the sizes required - that match. In this particular home, each room is dominated by a specific wood species, so there are a variety of specialty woods and veneers - all requiring a perfect match of grains.

Though you can buy wood graining kits at your local hardware store, artists like Richard Davis fabricate their own brushes. Davis uses combinations of paint, dye, stain and even water-based materials that can be modified with a damp brush after the material has dried. To achieve some of the effects, numerous layers are applied on top of one another, often with shellac used in between as a sealer. The process is not only complex but physically demanding and labor intensive.

The beams pictured here are a fine example of the beautiful effect that can be achieved by an artist such as Davis. We think even Mother Nature would have a hard time telling if it's real or faux!

Did Someone Say "Winter"?!?

September 15, 2011

Labor Day has come and gone and while many folks are thinking about after-school schedules and fall sweaters, our Service & Maintenance team is obsessing about ensuring our Clients’ homes are ready for winter (yes, we said it – winter!) With the change of season just around the corner, we want to remind everyone how important it is to prepare your home for the colder weather. Now is the time to:

  • Maintain exterior window and door seals
  • Clean fireplace dampers and flues
  • Prepare HVAC for heating (as well as perform routine maintenance)
  • Check humidifying systems
  • Clean terrace drains
  • Change timers for interior/exterior lighting
  • Move and store seasonal furniture

While you’re at it, don’t forget to:

  • Clean windows
  • Clean and maintain kitchen exhaust fan filter
  • Clean, hone, polish, seal and repair stone and marble
  • Re-lamp light fixtures
  • Maintain audio video and security systems
  • Re-plate door knobs, fixtures, window hardware and plumbing fixtures
  • Repair and refinish wood flooring
  • Adjust door and cabinetry hardware
  • Maintain A/V and Security systems

Please don’t hesitate to contact our Service & Maintenance team for help with all of your home maintenance needs!

People Who Inspire Us...

September 1, 2011

...Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller are the principals of Carrier and Company Interiors Ltd., a NYC based design firm working on projects throughout the United States. This husband and wife team opened their firm in 2005 and in 2010 they were named by Elle Decor as one of 5 Designers to watch from Elle Decor's "A List" of 30 Designers! Stay tuned for info on an upcoming "secret" project...

...Nitzan of Nitzan Design. This Manhattan based design firm is known for its simple and sophisticated interiors with a warm modern aesthetic. We were lucky to have recently worked with Nitzan on a six-story 12,000 square foot townhouse renovation on Manhattan's upper west side. We look forward to bringing you more news on this rising star...

...Jay Fielden, Town & Country's EditorIn-Chief. Jay attended the Design Leadership Summit in Copenhagen this past spring where we had the pleasure of getting to know him. Formerly the Editor-In-Chief of Men's Vogue, Jay took the reins at T&C back in March 2011. Jay has said that he would like to modernize the magazine and make sure it remains relevant to readers. We are excited to see the direction of both T&C and Jay's career...

...Melanie Charlton-Fascitelli, the Founder, President and Creative Director of Clos-ette and Clos-ette Too. Clos-ette, a custom closet design firm founded in 2002, is the international leader in organizational design. Clos-ette Too sells custom organizational products including hangers, jewelry cases, shelf dividers, and more. For tips and tricks on how to whip your closet into shape, check out Melanie's book, Shop Your Closet: The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Closet with Style. And keep an eye out for future Clos-ette and I-Grace collaborations...

...Keith Granet, Founder of Granet & Associates, a firm that provides management consulting services to the design industry. With a focus on the business side of design (i.e., finance and operations), Keith has worked with some of the biggest names in the community (his Client list reads like a "who's who" in the world of design!) Not only does Keith provide invaluable insight and advice to an ever-expanding list of Designers, but he has written a book titled The Business of Design: Balancing Creativity and Profitability, published by Princeton Architectural Press and available now...

...Everyone at The Nanz Company, the custom hardware manufacturer. Nanz works with Clients on the selection, specification, scheduling and coordination of hardware for their high-end residential projects. With a 50,000 square foot factory in Long Island and showrooms in NYC, Los Angeles, Chicago, Greenwich, CT, Miami and London, England, Nanz is a company to watch (or better yet, visit one of their fabulous showrooms yourself)...

Green Demolition on the Upper West Side

August 1, 2011

We recently completed the renovation of a six-story 12,000 SF townhouse on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, designed by Nitzan Design with architecture by Signature Architecture PLLC.

Prior to the beginning of the demolition phase, the I-Grace Project Team suggested calling in “green” demolition and recycling companies to remove any materials that could be reused or repurposed. We made this recommendation to the Owners since the townhouse was in “like new” condition. We partnered with Green Demolitions and The Demolition Depot who removed the existing Kitchen cabinets, appliances, and stone slab countertops as well as the fireplace mantels, stone and wood flooring, and bath fixtures. In addition to the environmental and charitable benefits, this “win – win” proposition provided the Owners with an unexpected tax deduction, free removal and pickup of the existing materials and eliminated disposal costs.

In addition to being “green”, the house has several unique features including a refurbished Rear Yard off the Kitchen that features Ipe wood decking and fencing, a beautiful water feature and a bamboo garden. The landscaping program, designed by Edmund D. Hollander Landscape Architect Design P.C., includes a water irrigation system and low voltage accent lighting for the Roof Terraces and the Front and Rear Yards. The Owners, who enjoy spending much of their time outdoors, put a lot of thought into creating their own quiet haven in this busy NYC neighborhood.

Click here for a more indepth look at photos of this Upper West Side Townhouse project.

Recently Published

July 15, 2011

Click here to see our latest article published in the June issue of Quest Magazine, where David J. Cohen, our CEO, discusses how to build a successful project team. And check out the illustration by our own Jonathan Imphong (who knew we had a cartoonist in our midst?)

Binnacle? (It Rhymes with Pinnacle)

June 21, 2011

Our Service & Maintenance division recently completed a unique project for a collector of distinctive historical artifacts. The collector’s designer came across an antique navigation compass in desperate need of repair and we were called-upon to participate in the restoration of this unusual find.

After sending the compass out to a specialty company in Massachusetts, we focused on creating a custom base, restoring the binnacle and mounting the entire unit on a bearing system which allows it to rotate freely. The metal correcting sphere was reattached, the imperfections were touched-up and the brass cap and glass viewing portal were cleaned. When we received the restored compass, the differences were impressive – one could now distinguish on the surface of the compass that it had been fabricated by The Lionel Corporation in 1944.

Our final step in the process was illuminating the compass by removing the existing interior wires and replacing them with LED strip lights that are controlled remotely. The collector is very impressed with the restoration of his newly acquired piece and is eagerly awaiting delivery of the finished product.

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