Issue № 16 SUMMER 2014 $12.00 U.S.
it’s all
rELATIVE THE FAMILY ISSUE
HOMEWARD
TRIED AND TRUE 35 An Alabama-based photographer adds her grandmother’s favorite recipes to her own repertoire.
Contents Summer 2014
CREATIVE FIX 68 Three sisters have called the same New York apartment home—and two teamed up to revamp the place. CHILD’S PLAY 75 Our roundup of babies’ and kids’ rooms offers decor inspiration for all ages.
FEATURES
Cover Photograph by HENNY VAN BELKOM
OUR BUENOS AIRES 85 An author and entrepreneur shares the highlights from a family trip to her native Argentina.
IN EVERY ISSUE
EDITOR’S LETTER
FIT FOR A FAMILY 96 An interior is designed with kids, as well as the parents’ modern sensibilities, in mind.
CONTRIBUTORS
SHOPKEEPERS’ PICKS
A WARM WELCOME 105 In L.A., a couple rejuvenates a bungalow with plenty of family history.
DIVERSIONS
DINING AMONG THE VINES 112 When three generations of the d’Amboises get together, dancing and delicious fare are enjoyed by all.
THE GATHERING KIND 42 A New York writer considers her relationships—the good and the bad— with various relatives.
MARKET REPORT
ALL DOLLED UP 54 For a Bay Area designer, her career can be traced back to a childhood doll. ALLA FAMIGLIA! 62 An Italian grandmother’s limoncello recipe yields an idea for a new business venture.
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MAKING THE MAGAZINE
FAMILY STYLE 46 Siblings, parents, and children discuss their kin’s influences on their creative pursuits.
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CONVERSATION Nathalie Mignot 14 SCREEN PLAY RESOURCES
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BY THE BOOK
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PRIZED POSSESSION The Novogratz 128
THAYER ALLYSON GOWDY
HOMESPUN CHARM 26 Color splashes and myriad DIYs infuse a San Francisco residence with personality.
Text and Photographs by MELINA HAMMER
Recipes Adapted from LILLY STEINLAUF
TRIED
and True A Birmingham, Alabama, photographer inherited her grandmother’s passion for cooking, as well as her trove of reliable recipes
Previous page: Noni’s handwritten
recipe cards alongside some of her favorite paintbrushes, which she kept in coffee cans on her painter’s cart.
MY NONI, LILLY, WAS A WOMAN with great taste. She was well put-together without being fussy, spoke succinctly and with meaning, and loved to present a beautiful meal at home. Her idea of beauty didn’t depend on what was trending, but instead consisted of artifacts and flavors gathered during her travels around the world. She spent her early years in Berlin and Paris until forced to flee to Ecuador to escape the Holocaust, eventually making a new life in New York City. Noni frequently travelled with her husband on business trips to Korea, China, and Latin America. Her more than 35 years as an abstract painter began after living for two years in Mexico City. Each locale shaped what my grandmother surrounded herself with and informed her and my grandfather’s palates, including what she cooked at home. One day a number of years ago, my Noni gave me a stack of her recipes—thinking that as I began to establish my own life, I might want to incorporate dishes she found particularly tasty and reliable. In 2005, she passed away. When I recently decided to recreate some of her recipes, I realized just how little I knew of her habits and process. I wish I could see her moving about the kitchen again. I’d take notes on how she prepared those meals—like how she handled her knife or atmospheric details—and would express extra thanks as our family celebrated being together, seated around her table. 36
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CUCUMBER SALAD Serves 4-6 This salad was a staple of Noni’s summer diet. Served in shallow bowls with just enough liquid for the cucumber slices to marinate, it was a refreshing bite before dinner. She often served it to her husband upon his return from work, the coolness and crunch imparting a bright and soothing segue to the dishes she prepared for later in the evening. 2 tsp honey 2 English cucumbers, sliced very thinly on a mandoline 3 ½ tbsp good red wine vinegar ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper ¼ cup cold, filtered water 5 sprigs fresh dill gray sea salt, or flake salt
1. In a small bowl, whisk honey with 1 tbsp of lukewarm water. In a medium serving bowl, combine cucumbers, the honey water, vinegar, pepper, and just enough cold water for the cucumbers to marinate in but not be submerged, about ¼ cup. Chill for at least 2 hours, up to overnight. 2. Just before serving, pluck dill in small sprigs from the stems and toss with the cucumbers. Season with salt to taste.
“This salad was a staple of Noni’s summer diet.”
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All Dolled Up Crafting handmade toys for her daughter propels a mother to go into the business of making heirlooms for others Text by ANH-MINH LE Photographs by JEN SISKA
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In the Northern California town
of Petaluma, in a former grain mill, a grain chute is perhaps the only reminder of the space’s past life. Today, the production happening there is far removed from agriculture. It’s where Jess Brown’s namesake company has its studio—where dolls, women’s apparel, and housewares are created. A pair of vintage shoe-factory racks holds piles of textiles and bins overflowing with fabric scraps. Metal wire shelving units are receptacles for doll-sized outfits and accessories, including necklaces and party hats. Japanese bento boxes have been repurposed to store embellishments like buttons and trims. Oversized wooden tables are heaped with works in progress. To look at her career and workspace, you might think that Jess was raised in a crafty household. But that wasn’t the case at all. She spent her early childhood in New York City, where her family was involved in the fashion industry (her father dealt with licensing and marketing). When she was 11, her mother relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area with Jess and her younger sister. “On my 18th birthday, my mom gave me a sewing machine,” Jess recalls, adding that it seemed like an odd present since neither she nor her mother knew how to sew. Luckily, Erio Brown—Jess’ future husband and, at the time, boyfriend of several months—did know how to sew, and he taught Jess. The skill would later come in handy when their first child, daughter Stella, was born. “I always felt that my kids should have handmade toys,” says Jess. “The fact that every single one is different—you’re the only person who has this, it’s truly special—is something that I wanted for them.” With a rag doll that she’s had since she was two as her muse, Jess started making dolls for Stella, who turns 16 this year. When son Tiger was born in 2001, Jess—who previously worked as a teacher and a director of a preschool—was a stay-athome mom. But she was starting to get antsy, she remembers. So in 2005, Jess and a friend, Stacy Lauer, opened a retail shop in downtown Petaluma called Maude; the inventory included Jess’ 56
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This page and opposite: The dolls designed by Jess Brown (left, and below with daughter
Stella) start out in a San Francisco workroom, where the heads and bodices are cut and sewn. These “blanks” are then brought to her Petaluma studio (shown here), where Jess’ team transforms them into one-of-a-kind figures. They fill the blanks with a corn fiber stuffing, sew on the arms and legs, embroider the faces, and stitch on the hair.
Creative Siblings team up to bring new life and functionality to a studio apartment in New York
FIX Text by ANH-MINH LE Photographs by NICOLE FRANZEN Styling by KATE S. JORDAN
In Caroline Hurley’s New York living room, a salonstyle wall is anchored by one of her own paintings, New Morning, which is inspired by the Bob Dylan album of the same name.
Global View Travel keepsakes abound in Caroline’s home. In her dressing area, the rug is from Bali. The living room coffee table is topped with a textile acquired during a recent trip to Morocco. “I spent a week in Essaouira to get inspired for my winter line,” she says. Also in the living room, prayer rugs from India are mounted behind flea-market metal chairs. WHEN FINE ARTIST and designer
Caroline Hurley was looking to renovate her New York City apartment, she knew exactly who to turn to: her sister Angela. Not only is Angela an architect, but she has intimate knowledge of the space, since she had previously called it home. And before Angela, there was Mia—the oldest of the three Hurley girls, all of whom were raised in Memphis and later occupied the studio apartment at various points in their lives. Back in 1993, Mia was studying at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. At her urging, her parents decided to invest in real estate in the West Village. Caroline, who was 11 years old at the time, remembers visiting Mia and “thinking she was so cool. She seemed like such an adult. It just felt super significant, since she was the first one out of the house.” Her initial impression wasn’t totally positive, though. “It was not a great area,” she recalls. “Looking around, I thought it was so scary! But Mia had the foresight.” Indeed she did. The property proved such a good investment that, in 2000, when another unit in the building came up for sale, the Hurleys snatched it up. With Mia moving into the newly purchased 70
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apartment, Angela—who by then was attending NYU—soon laid claim to the old place. In 2004, after Caroline graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design, she intended to crash with Angela temporarily. “I ended up living with her for a year, until she moved in with her boyfriend and I took over,” says Caroline. The 450-squarefoot studio was overdue for a renovation, and Caroline finally set the wheels in motion about four years ago, enlisting Angela’s expertise. “It feels so much bigger and airier now,” says During a past Thanksgiving—“so Caroline. “It’s much many years ago,” says Caroline—her more functional.” A father and older sisters Angela and bit of a domino effect Mia sit down at the dinner table in the apartment that Caroline now octranspired: They had cupies. (The kitchen island is now in the ceiling lifted, that spot.) which resulted in a couple more feet of height throughout. That allowed for a lofted bed area above the kitchen and bathroom. Since the sleeping quarter adjacent to the living room was eliminated, they could remove the demi-wall separating the two zones, thereby enlarging the living room. They knocked down one of the galley kitchen’s walls as well, to open it up into the dining/living area. An island was added
Open Plan Raising the ceiling allowed for a lofted sleeping area that overlooks the kitchen. As part of the apartment’s redo, Caroline’s architect sister Angela opened up the galley kitchen, as well as added storage space and work surfaces. The light fixture is the Edison chandelier from Pottery Barn, whose cords are designed to be individually draped from the ceiling for a spider-like effect; Caroline opted to let the cords and bulbs hang straight down. Her own creations include the pillows gracing her bed and the ceramics with geometric motifs on the kitchen island.
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R U O S O N E ES U B R I A
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I CH INOV M I S N ENA RSO LOR y I CK E b D t x Y Te y AM
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This page and opposite, clockwise from top left: Lorena Siminovich
and Esteban Kerner with daughter Matilda in front of their Airbnb apartment. Elementos Argentinos specializes in knitted and woven wares. Breakfast at Ninina Bakery. A vintage car in Palermo. Esteban and Matilda at Jardín Botánico. Caminito, an attraction in La Boca.
or many, Argentina conjures visions of steak- and wine-filled evenings, tango escapades, and soccer fanaticism. While those things are all national sources of pride, they’re just one headline to our story. Buenos Aires—the country’s capital and largest city—is a cultural wellspring. For instance, there’s architecture that draws on the most revered European styles, shopping that rivals Fifth Avenue, and an opera house, Teatro Colón, that is considered among the finest in the world. It’s no wonder Buenos Aires is the most visited city in Latin America. I was born there and fortunate enough to call it home for the first two decades or so of my life. In 2001, I moved to New York City seeking new horizons, both personal and professional. I reconnected with Esteban Kerner, a childhood acquaintance from Argentina who had come to New York to pursue a career in fashion design. We wed in 2005 and later relocated to San Francisco. Since the birth of our now five-year-old daughter, Matilda, our annual sojourns to Buenos Aires have become even more important to maintain her ties to our families and our culture, as well as the Spanish language. Chronicling our most recent visit for Antholog y lent me fresh eyes; I discovered and explored places and things I had taken for granted. In the early 1900s, Buenos Aires was a leading destination for immigrants from Italy, France, and Spain, in particular, thus European influences abound. It is immediately noticeable in the architecture, where the Art Nouveau style is abundant in the most central areas, thanks to wealthy families who commissioned French architects and often imported materials from Europe. Before decamping to New York City, I spent several years working in the design department of the central post office, which is housed in an amazing building often referred to as Palacio de Correos (Postal Palace); it was designed by the French architect Norbert Maillart in 1889. Many common Argentinean foods can also be traced to Europe. My own grandparents hailed from Germany and Romania, and there is a collage of cultures at my family’s dining table. Around town, some popular dishes came from Italy, like milanesa (breaded fried veal) along with sorrentinos and ravioles (two types of stuffed pasta); while others have Spanish roots, including rabas (fried calamari). Of course, there are items that Argentina has become well known for, such as empanadas (meat or chicken stuffed pastry) and the many varieties of asado (grilled meats). 87
Breakfast tends to be French inspired, with café con leche (café au lait) and medialunas (croissants) served. There is always snack time around 5:00 p.m.; called merienda, it is a tradition borrowed from Italy and Spain. And let’s not forget dessert. Buenos Aires has an ice cream shop on every block, but artisanal helado is the best. My favorite sweet spots include Volta (ice cream, pastries, and chocolates), Arkakao (gelato), and Abuela Goye (ice cream and handmade chocolates). Locals—known as Porteños—usually imbibe more than one cortado (macchiato) a day with friends, and in the evening enjoy chatting over a glass of red wine. Argentina is the largest wine producer in South America, and one of the biggest in the world. Social gatherings are a regular occurrence and the more improvised or last minute, the better. Growing up, one of my favorite activities was high tea with my grandma at Las Violetas—located in the Almagro area of the city, which is a bit off the tourist circuit but worth the detour. Almost any time of year is good for visiting Buenos Aires, but keep in mind: it is in the southern hemisphere, which means the seasons are opposite from the United States (summer in the U.S. is winter in Argentina). Esteban, Matilda, and I prefer to go in November, when it’s not too hot, yet you can still comfortably dine at the sidewalk cafés. The heat can make January and February unbearable, so locals flee to the beaches in nearby Uruguay and Brazil, or to the mountains in other regions of the country. Since Buenos Aires is a city of four seasons, the winter months of July and August can be quite gray. Although the temperatures rarely go below freezing, it is not the most desirable time to vacation there. Traveling to Buenos Aires for the first time can be overwhelming. It’s a large urban metropolis, with a population of 3 million people and miles of traffic congestion. For example, the distance between the Centro and Palermo districts is only seven miles, but the drive from one to the other can take an hour during rush hour. Taxis are cheap—if you can bear the traffic! A great alternative is the subway, although the system is best to avoid during peak commute times (it can be overcrowded) and at night (safety concerns). Overall, Buenos Aires is very walkable within neighborhoods, though, and exploring on foot is a great option for stumbling upon hidden gems. The sidewalks aren’t always even or well-paved, so if you’re using a stroller, the ride may be a bit bumpy for your little one. This page and opposite, clockwise My itinerary usually includes places that I’ve been going to for years, from top left: Pastries at Las mixed with new haunts. While I grew up in Belgrano, when I go back, Violetas. A street musician in I stay in either Palermo, a shopping mecca that used to be indie and San Telmo. French-influenced architecture in the city. The patio is now more mainstream, or Barrio Norte, a residential neighborhood café at Pehache. A table set for closer to downtown. Other popular areas include the affluent Recoleta, tea at Las Violetas. Lorena with her mother and daughter. which is full of French architecture, and San Telmo, where tourists and
EXPLORING ON FOOT IS A GREAT OPTION FOR STUMBLING UPON HIDDEN GEMS.
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In Jill Robertson and Jason Schulte’s San Francisco home, typographic art by Ewald Spieker presides over the breakfast nook. Opposite: The couple’s
twin boys, Leo and Max, hang out in the tent in the family room. The wall behind them is lined with Annie Galvin’s 49 Mile Scenic Drive prints.
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Fit for a Family
Design-savvy parents inject modern and playful touches into a century-old home
Text by ANH-MINH LE Photographs by THAYER ALLYSON GOWDY Styling by MIRANDA JONES
Over the years,
Jason Schulte’s design talents have served him well, both personally and professionally. Take his initial encounter with his future wife, Jill Robertson. It was at the Memorial Union on the Iowa State campus, where she was studying journalism and he was a graphic design major. “I was at a computer trying to design a flier,” she recalls. “He looked over my shoulder and thought it was terrible.” (And yes, he did end up helping her out.) Post-college, Jason landed at Charles S. Anderson Design in Minneapolis. Jill later joined him in the Twin Cities and enrolled at the University of Minnesota Law School. Once she completed her law degree, they returned to their Ames alma mater for their May 1999 wedding. Soon after, the pair decamped to San Francisco. At the time, they thought the move would be temporary—a year maybe—since they didn’t have jobs or much money. It all worked out, though. Office (visitoffice.com), the San Francisco-based creative agency that Jason founded and leads as a creative director, turns ten this year. Clients past and present include IBM, (Red), Disney Baby, Google Chrome, Target, and Fanta. In April, the Cooper-Hewitt museum honored the firm with the 2014 National Design Award for Communication Design. Following a stint in corporate communications, Jill came on board at Office in 2007; in her current role as president, she oversees operations, accounts, and brand strategy. When the couple was considering starting a family, they embarked on what would ultimately be a two-year house hunt. It turned out, finding something that harkened to their own carefree youth proved challenging. Jason and Jill hail from towns in Iowa—Green Mountain and Audubon, respectively—and “grew up with tons of space,” he explains. “We’d play outside for hours, until we were called in for dinner.” Finally, in 2010, after touring a stately 1915 four-story abode in the city’s Outer Richmond area, situated on a quiet street next to the Presidio, which is part of the Golden Gate National Parks, they knew they were home. “The neighborhood sold me,” continues Jason. “The kids own the neighborhood.” 98
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This page, top to bottom: The
boys in their bedroom. The mural in the downstairs playroom is a photo by Jason. Opposite, top row (l-r): A
shell-topped side table. The family on a midcentury-style daybed. Middle row (l-r): The Rosenthal vase was found at a Copenhagen flea market. Leo takes a break. The boys’ reading corner. Bottom row (l-r): The home looks out over the Lobos Creek Valley. Leo rearranges characters on the dining room’s magnetic wallpaper.
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PRIZED Possession Photograph by TARA DONNE
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ROBERT: “Since the first day we got
CORTNEY: “I love it because it has really
it, our Belu sculpture—or ‘Jaws’ as our kids call it—has made quite the statement. It is so big that we had to hire a crane to lift it into our bedroom window. Cortney and I love it and are surprised that the kids have really taken a liking to it, too. They have even turned it into a jungle gym. Just don’t tell the designer, Zaha Hadid.”
sexy curves. When we host parties, people tend to gravitate toward it and sit on it. We’re not sure that was the intention when we brought it into our bedroom, but as far as design is concerned, anything goes in our home.” ROBERT and CORTNEY NOVOGR ATZ are the husband and wife behind the design firm The Novogratz (thenovogratz.com). They reside in New York with their seven kids.