Monday, November 30, 2015

Master of Style and Serendipity: San Francisco Interior Designer Jonathan Rachman Celebrates the Opening of J. Rachman, His Inspiring and Magical New Studio and Shop

It’s the city’s new must-visit boutique — a cabinet of curiosities. Filled with a world of treasures, it’s now an essential stop en route to dinner or lunch (or brunch) at Zuni Café.

There’s an exquisite grey/blue color scheme, shelves crammed with treasures, and a well-stocked zinc bar offering refreshments for devoted clients and new friends.

With rare confidence and lashings of style, Jonathan created a highly original ‘collector’s cabinet’ that everyone in town wants to discover. It’s a cabinet of curiosities—witty, carefree, eccentric and chic, and unlike any other in San Francisco.



Interior designer Jonathan Rachman is noted for his superb curatorial eye and his cosmopolitan and truly avid collecting. Now, after almost two decades in the design world (he was formerly the proprietor of a fantastic San Francisco flower/style shop, Fleur’T) Jonathan has opened J. Rachman.

This week we're focusing on his exuberant new shop displaying (and selling) antiques, furniture, textiles, leathergoods, ceramics, Venetian glass, custom offerings, statuary, sculptures, and lovely things with an interesting and often eccentric provenance. Oh, and flowers. Lots of fresh and romantic flowers.



Diane Vreeland said, “Style is consistency” and in Jonathan’s case his consistent eye has resulted in a gloriously seductive shop that looks as if it has been there for many years. In fact, it came together this fall. The space was formerly an atelier for antique European pianos, where, serendipitously, there were occasional piano recitals on resonant grand instruments of thrilling timbre, and chamber performances, cabaret offerings, and lively impromptu evenings. Now it’s Jonathan’s territory.





Objects of Sumatran origin, creatures in porcelain, fusty paintings, rusty metal, and maps and mirages jostle and jumble together. Oh, and look up. There are shelves of silver, and shoals of silhouettes.






Jonathan loves the gift of flowers. Here are some recent bouquets and blooms.






Jonathan’s Inspiration:

“Travel and especially my favorite places, Paris and Bali and London and New York are always on my mind.


“I was born in Sumatra, went to school in Switzerland, then lived in Paris and the US is my home for 28 years.


“Parisian chic in the manner of Le Marais, where I resided, has influenced my sensibility. It’s an artists' village, a fashionista's heaven, simply chic and always with something to offer for all kinds of creative minds. I love Paris flea markets.


“I visited London a lot. I found it fascinating. All the metals/old constructions gave me a lot of visual design ideas. Now I’m also creating leathergoods in Italy, very old-school and simple, and offering my fabrics from Bolt Textiles. I keep the shop open late—so that my friends on their way to Zuni Café can stop in and pick up a bouquet, or a chair, or an old book, or perhaps a down-filled pillow.”


I looked for years for this space and every time I went to Zuni Café to enjoy a cocktail or dinner I peeked into the space across on Rose Street. I dreamed of having a boutique in this space. It reminds me a lot of Le Marais and ile St. Louis. It’s quirky and the ceilings soar— to showcase collections I have gathered from all around the world.”—Jonathan Rachman







Jonathan told me: “Among my favorite things are an antique extra wide grosgrain ribbon roll found in Paris, piles and piles of old and new fashion and design books with names like Givenchy, Audrey, Ralph Lauren, as well as the vintage book by Dorothy Draper, "Decorating is Fun", Sherrill Whitton's "Elements of Interior Decoration" and Edith Wharton's "The Decoration of Houses". An antique plate from Verona like the one my husband and I used from our last trip holds my afternoon's snack daily.” 





Jonathan has always been, at heart, a designer and a collector. Before opening his own design company, he was the impresario of Fleur’T, a popular flower shop. His love for flowers continues.

“I insist that flowers are always fresh with the most intoxicating fragrance,” he said. “I like flowers to be simple, all one kinds held in a hand painted crystal glasses by Margo Larkin.”




To discover:

Hand painted crystal glasses by Margot Larkin exclusively for J.Rachman.

Top hats, horse bits, corals, nautilus, and glasses and napkins and other objects all marbleized or personalized with monogram upon request.

J.Rachman leather goods line, hand made in Italy. There’s the Jonathan messenger, carry on and weekender made in a simple traditional style out of horse leather, as well as the tote bags, toiletries, clutches. Also cuffs in various colors along with horsehair tassels in classic color combos or preppy colors.

Italian Silk pillows and pocket squares by Alexandra Foster (Harrods in London carries this line).

A new exclusive canvas bag line.

Dr. Vranjes of Florence's candle lines, room perfume.

"The Man Within" new book by Alison Carlson: first coffee table book on Winston Churchill.

Flower nosegays to order or to purchase: Grab and go flowers.



Also among this cabinet of curiosities:

Javanese Dutch Colonial marble table.

Vintage glassware and china with Greek key motifs.

Vintage drug store counter from Iowa, converted into a zinc top bar.

An Alsatia kitchen screen converted with added glass panels to separate the store from the design office.

Vintage and antique vases and vessels

An original wing tip from a DC-4 of United Airlines along with other airplane parts as old as WW II

Marble and plaster busts: antiques and vintage from France, Italy and the US

Antique and vintage silhouettes.

'Green with envy' vases, and handblown glasses and porcelain collections form Hong Kong, Italy and the US.

Vintage jewelry

Antique and vintage dolls from the US, China.

Antique Balinese shutters, holy water vessels, artifacts, dance headdress.

Vintage Hermes saddle.

Chinoiserie.


Jonathan loves Zuni Café. He told me:

“To be opposite Zuni is simply divine. It's a San Francisco institution of over 26 years, and the best neighbor in town. The owner, Gilbert Pilgram, and his staff welcome me and my colleagues and guests at any time of the day. Zuni's corner is almost an extension of J.Rachman. It's like an extra 'conference' room.


“The famous Zuni oven-roasted chicken and matchstick fries are a few steps away from our front door.


“It truly is a community. Gilbert and his partner have been most welcoming and are very supportive of our move. I have found the Europe I miss so much in this most unexpected location.”



The Details:

J. Rachman
1632C Market Street
San Francisco CA 94102

Phone 415.440.1234
Email info@jonathanrachman.com

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am-8pm, Sunday: 11am-6pm, Monday: closed

J. Rachman is located at the corner of Rose and Market Streets, San Francisco (and opposite the main entrance Zuni Café on Rose Street). The studio/shop is located in the mid-Market district of San Francisco, not far from Van Ness Avenue and near Gough Street. If you are lucky, you will also see vintage cable cars from around the world rumbling and whizzing past on the Market Street trolley line. Very San Francisco.


Note: Jonathan Rachman is also available for design and interiors and party planning consultations.




Credits:

Photography by Drew Altizer, 
www.drewaltizer.com
Used here with express permission.

Images of the store also by Aubrie Pick, www.aubriepick.com
Used here with express permission.


Monday, November 23, 2015

What’s Truly Modern and Exciting Now: Restoration Hardware, Re-Inventing Modern

With its ambitious new RH Modern collection, Restoration Hardware jolts the design and interiors world. The key: RH commissioned leading architects and specialist designers to create exclusive new designs, new concepts, new ideas.

RH worked closely with some of the world’s leading designers like Ann Marie Vering, Anthony Cox, Jonathan Browning, Marmol Radziner, the Van Thiel family, Theo Eichholtz, Raimond Puts, Richard Forwood, and others.

The California-based company is now offering thrilling new lighting, clean-lined furnishings, sprightly cocktail tables, bold outdoor furniture, pared-down sofas, and superbly edited new concepts using bronze, rough-hewn wood, concrete, and rich metals.

The key to the new concept is in the fearless mix. Modern here means tables of rich woods with rustic elements, along with tufted sofas in sensual velvet or leather. There are sexy Versailles-appropriate chandeliers and shimmering sconces. There's shagreen, just a dash, to give modern a super-luxe glamour. Or the look can be minimal and yoga-sleek with cashmere-soft sheets, alpaca throws, and mind-altering pure white linen curtains drifting in the afternoon breeze.


ITALIA CHESTERFIELD SOFA, MARCUS RECTANGULAR COFFEE TABLE, BOULE DE CRISTAL ROUND CHANDELIER

Come with me to see my edit of the new RH Modern. I’m impressed with the vision of Gary Friedman, who dreamed up this new direction in design, and embraced modern in a new way.

I’m also impressed with the creativity and confidence evident in the designs by the bold Jonathan Browning with his versatile lighting.

I love the natural tones of new bedding. And there’s the unexpected clash and jolt of modern luxury (crystal sconces, lush linens, velvets) with the surprise of raw concrete.

There’s boldness in the large-scale outdoor pieces. Brushed and matt bronze is the metal of choice. These are pieces to collect and enjoy for many decades. It’s warm modernism, sexy and comfortable.

HAYDEN SECTIONAL, MACHINTO CABINET, CANNELE ROUND CHANDELIER

JONATHAN BROWNING’S PAULILAC CHANDELIER

MASLOW SPIDER RECTANGULAR DINING TABLE, MAXIM SIDEBOARD, CAGED CUBIST PENDANT 

RH Modern Furniture

The collection rollout inspires a new way of thinking about modern. The RH view is not about denial and it’s not Bauhaus. It’s often hand-crafted in ways early modernism, infatuated with the machine-made, would not comprehend. Lighting with crystals and complex geometries, adds glamour and mystery to rooms. Materials are shown to advantage. Wood is celebrated and shown to advantage. Textured linens add to the modern allure. Lines are pure, refined, restrained. And then there’s the contrast and seductive contradiction of tufted velvet, soft-to-the-touch alpaca, and a froth of Himalayan wool.

BARLAS BAYLOR’S WYTHE LIVE-EDGE RECTANGULAR DINING TABLE IN POLISHED BRASS FINISH 

MONTEREY SIDEBOARD BRASS, TEARDROP VASE COLLECTION

SOLID BRASS OFFERING BOWL
BARDENAS SOFA, BARDENAS LOUNGE CHAIR, BARDENAS COFFEE TABLE by Marmol Radziner  

CROSBY SIDE TABLES:Silver Églomisé with Polished Stainless Steel; Gold Églomisé with Burnished Brass, Silver Églomisé with Bronze.

MACHINTO DESK, BEZIER CABINET, NAHLA RUG



Designers on Display

The most impressive aspect of RH Modern is the roster of designers Gary Friedman drew into his orbit. These are experts in their fields—lighting, outdoor furniture, accessories, textiles, wood craftsmanship, pendant lighting, metal. All designs are exclusive to RH Modern. Also on display at the new galleries is the RH Contemporary Art collection.

JONATHAN BROWNING (PHOTO: SETH SMOOT)

JONATHAN BROWNING’S BOULE DE CRISTAL LINEAR CHANDELIER 

ANN MARIE VERING (PHOTO: IAN HANSON)

ANN MARIE VERING’S CYPRESS CHAISE 

THE VAN THIELS (PHOTO: SY DELORME)

MACHINTO FOUR-POSTER BED, MACHINTO DRESSER, NICHOLAS OAK ROUND SIDE TABLE

THEO EICHHOLTZ (PHOTO: MARC HOM)   

THEO EICHHOLTTZ’S CAGED CUBIST PENDANT

RAIMOND PUTS (PHOTO: KOOS BREUKEL)  

RAIMOND PENDANT BY MOOOI BY RAYMOND PUTS  

NICHOLAS AND HARRISON CONDOS (PHOTO: MARTYN THOMPSON)

THE CONDOS' AGEAN OUTDOOR COLLECTION


RH Modern Style

At the opening of the new RH Modern in Los Angeles, which I attended, Gary Friedman, RH Chairman and CEO, noted, “Los Angeles is arguably the creative capital of the world, and has become the epicenter for art, architecture, fashion, film and music. In many ways RH Modern reflects the spirit of this great city, as does the work of the many talented artists, architects, art directors, designers and manufacturers who collaborated to bring this new brand to life.

Gary Friedman also noted, “From antiques to architecture, from the environments we work in to the devices we work with, there is a modern sensibility that is influencing what we see and how we live in the world. While the American market for modern furnishings has always been surprisingly somewhat small, the convergence of these modern trends creates an opportunity to develop a much larger market.” 

ANTOCCINO CONSOLE TABLE

HEATHERED COTTON CASHMERE DUVET, SHAMS, AND SHEETING    

KRISTOFFER SECTIONAL, RAIMOND PENDANT BY MOOOI   


INFORMATION:
Departments dedicated to RH Modern can be found at RH Chicago, RH Denver, RH Tampa, and RH Flatiron in New York City. RH Modern can also be found at the company's first stand-alone RH Modern Gallery in LA.



RH Modern collections on display include exclusive designs by international creators. New furniture collections are from Barlas Baylar, Anthony Cox, Thomas Bina and Rudy Sr. and Rudy Jr. Van Thiel; lighting from Jonathan Browning and a classic lamp by Mariano Fortuny; modern rugs by Ben Soleimani; outdoor offerings from Leo Marmol and Ron Radziner, Ann Marie Vering, and José Gandía-Blasco, and reissues of iconic originals from Milo Baughman.

RH Chicago, The Gallery at the Three Arts Club located at 1300 North Dearborn Parkway.

RH Denver, The Gallery at Cherry Creek located at 2900 East 1st Avenue.

RH New York, The Gallery in the Historic Flatiron District located at 935 Broadway.

RH Tampa, The Gallery at International Plaza located at 2223 N Westshore Boulevard.


RH Modern located at 8772 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles (near North Robertson) has floors of the RH Modern collection, as well as a terrace and garden with outdoor furniture. The RH Modern gallery offers complimentary valet parking. Phone 424.281.1326. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 10am to 7pm, and Sunday 11am until 6pm. 



RH Modern Source Book
540 pages
designed by Fabien Baron 
800-762-1005

Subscribe to or download a digital Source Book: https://www.restorationhardware.com/customer-service/catalog-request.jsp




CREDITS:
All images from Restoration Hardware, RH Modern, used here with express permission.