Category Archives: They Made Their Mark

Contributors to the world of design.

Set Design

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Posted by Denise Smith on April 21, 2008 – 2:52 pm
Filed under They Made Their Mark

King Lear set by Noguchi, 1955.

We spent a busy weekend anchored each day by a performance of my daughter’s high school musical.  (No, not High School Musical.)  While my family’s devotion to performance is dominate in our household, these activities still hold interest for me.  I spend time considering how I would create the sets.

Set design is interior design at the very core, pared down to only exaggerated essentials.  The design has to hit the mark.  Emotionally as well as accurately.   In just a few mouse clicks today I learned that one of my favorite mid century designers, Isamu Noguchi, was captivated by this idea as well.  It is not surprising, his design for King Lear  was built on pure emotion.

 THE Coffee Table. Photo by Ezra Stoller

Noguchi’s Coffee Table defines mid century style.  If you ever see one in at an auction or in a flea market, I had better get a frantic ring!

Pucci and Perfume

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Posted by Denise Smith on March 31, 2008 – 9:35 am
Filed under They Made Their Mark

Chair in Pucci fabric

My daughter returned from London with just one major purchase—a bottle of Pucci perfume, exclusive to Harrods.  She says she chose it only on the merits of the light sweet scent, but I would love to credit her with recognizing the gorgeous bright graphic pattern on the lid.  Call it a mother’s influence. 

Emilio Pucci gained fame in the late 40s for his bright and flowing jet-set fashion, and made a huge contribution to mid-century interior design.  His striking geometric patterns became a trend in fashion that carried over into home furnishings. 

You can buy a wonderful chair upholstered in authentic fabric for a mere 5 grand.  And, of course, a chair like this deserves an entire room designed around it.  Sigh…someday…