RADAR / SCENE
#INSTACRUSH
@abigailmarygreen WHO: Abigail Mary Green, a Denver-based writer and stylist who dabbles in photography as well. Through her blog, abigailmarygreen.com, she shares quiet scenes from her home and glimpses of her wanderings, interspersed with her own poetry. WHAT: Ordinary beauty is rendered extraordinary through Green’s artistic eye. Expect dreamscapes of chalky white rooms, bleached wilderness landscapes and tableaux that capture a soft mood. She pairs photos with captions describing a revelatory moment inspired by the scene.
IN HER WORDS: “I look for light, texture and asymmetrical composition in quiet, cozy moments. I also look for calmness in chaos, like a disheveled bed. Art has always been a means to understand myself—or make peace with not being able to.”
TALKING SHOP WITH ROBYN SHAW AND VICTORIA CRAWFORD
TWEED BOUTIQUE
When did you open? We opened at 151 S. Pine St. in Telluride in October 2011. Tell us about the shop. Tweed Interiors was founded in 2007, and we always had a shop in the back of our minds. When a space became available, we went for it. It used to be an art gallery, so it’s perfect for a design space. The lighting is great, and we have tons of glass. On the floor? The store has all our favorite things in 1,000 square feet: bedding, furniture, towels, antiques, body products, rugs and accessories. A lot of the products are from manufacturers we also use in the design business. Describe the interiors. We treat the store as if we were designing a home. We want people who walk in the door to feel happy and comfortable—to touch, feel, open a blanket or move something. We wanted it to be fun and reflect the playful nature of how we like to design. shoppetweed.com
THE INSIDERS DEANA LEWSEY AND JON KETCHUM
“A good piece of furniture should make you want to stay a little longer, have another drink, and remain among friends,” says Deana Lewsey. That’s the notion behind the furniture she and husband Jon Ketchum create for their New Collar Goods studio. The name of their Denver company is a tribute to the craftsmen in New York’s Adirondack region, from which the couple hails. “With access to new design tools and building techniques, we are working toward a new era of blue-collar craft—hence the name New Collar Goods,” Ketchum explains. The unpretentious elegance of their designs reflects a reverence for honest utility and materials that are timeless. “We like to keep our designs minimal but functional, allowing the natural beauty of the wood and the lines of the piece to bring personality and interest,” Ketchum says. Here, the couple share some of their new friends and discoveries on the local scene. newcollargoods.com Where do you find inspiration in Denver? This city is so heavily immersed in art—from cafés to breweries and flower shops, you don’t have to go far to ponder new ideas. Lately, we’ve been cruising around Congress Park to get inspired by the historic homes. We’ve also been heading west to the Baker neighborhood to explore new music and food and north to RiNo to check out new shops and restaurants that continue to pop up. We’re a changing city, and design is at the forefront. Local artist to watch: Strange Dirt, aka Marsha Robinson. Her ink-and-pen illustrations are peppered throughout the city. We’re drawn to the organic quality of her botanic forms juxtaposed with structured Art Deco elements in each piece. Favorite local furniture shops: We love grazing through Mod Livin’ for high-quality design, as well as boutique stores like OKHI in RiNo that work vintage finds into their inventory. We also do a lot of custom work through Revampt, a great shop in Cherry Creek that specializes in locally made, reclaimed and sustainable furniture.
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WRITTEN BY LAURA BEAUSIRE AND CHRISTINE DEORIO
instacrush photos: courtesy abigail mary green. the insiders photo: courtesy new collar goods. talking shop photo: whit richardson.
WHY: Green’s feed is thoughtful, homey and just plain gorgeous. The blend of words and photos manages to be soothing and spellbinding.
RADAR / SCENE
DATE BOOK BATYA STEPELMAN
When she talks about wallpaper, Batya Stepelman gets excited. “Today’s papers occupy the space where art and home decor intersect—but on the wall,” she says. They’re also the ultimate quick fix, she points out: “A single feature wall can usually be installed within hours, and it can completely transform the feel of a room.” Last October, the former Wall Street lawyer made her passion a business when she launched the Denver-based wallpaper boutique and design consultancy WallTawk + Design. “No one was representing the brands I love most and have installed in my own home,” the Brooklyn transplant explains of her company’s catalog of independent designers and artists. “They are thoughtful, meticulous and original, and they push boundaries.” Indeed, an eye-popping array of patterns—geometric, floral, animal and more—can be seen in the WallTawk showroom, located in Stepelman’s historic home in Congress Park. Here, she leads us through her favorite spots, from Cheesman Park to RiNo. walltawk.com
10 a.m. Head to WallTawk, located in an 1895 Denver Square with Queen Anne details, and pore over unique wallpaper patterns from makers including Flavor Paper, Abnormals Anonymous, Abigail Borg, Calico, Eskayel and Fayce Textiles in addition to up-andcoming designers from across the globe. 11 a.m. Walk to the Denver Botanic Gardens, located in Cheesman Park. Visit the iconic Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory and the Japanese Sho-Fu-En garden, designed by Koichi Kawana in collaboration with Kai Kwahara. Don’t miss the exhibition of nine works by Alexander Calder, one of the 20th century’s most influential sculptors, on display until September 24. 1 p.m. Cross town for lunch at Stowaway Coffee & Kitchen in Denver’s River North Art District. The menu reflects the owner’s global travels—try the Levantine fatteh bowl and herb salad (layers of crunchy pita, tomatoes and eggplant topped with tahini sauce). 2 p.m. Walk or bike around the neighborhood to see some of the best street art in the country. Most of the murals were created by local artists, including Regan Rosburg, Mike Graves, Jeremy Burns and Anna Charney. If you’re craving beautiful tree-lined streets and historic Victorians, though, head a few 150 / luxesource.com
blocks east and stroll through Curtis Park, which is one of the oldest residential neighborhoods in the city. 4 p.m. Happy hour is at Bar Fausto, a RiNo restaurant offering delicious small plates like seasonal bruschetta, cheese, marinated olives, salads, wines and delicious craft cocktails (try the #52 or #56). The restaurant also has wallpapered bathrooms—and a photo booth to boot! 5 p.m. Make your way down Larimer Street toward Lower Downtown, stopping at the Denver Central Market, which houses a collection of small local businesses inside the 1920s-era H.H. Tammen Curio Company building. Grab a delicious treat from Temper Chocolates and Confections or a cocktail at Curio, the onsite bar. 6 p.m. As you approach LoDo, take in the beautiful architecture. Peek inside The Maven hotel (located at the Dairy Block) and view the rotating art gallery in the main lobby. Walk through Union Station, the historic train depot now home to fantastic restaurants, lounges, bookshops and flower stands. 7 p.m. Settle into El Five for dinner. This Lower Highland restaurant is decorated with vintage cinema posters from Egypt, Lebanon and Syria, and the interiors are just plain sexy! The fare is Mediterranean Basinmeets-Middle East. Get the green gazpacho, paella and baba ghanoush. Then watch the sunset over Denver (unobstructed views!) while you sip one of the bar’s killer sangrias.
date book photos: portrait, matthew eaton; vignettes, batya stepelman.
9 a.m. Start the morning with a cortado or cappuccino from Aviano Coffee in Cherry Creek North. The shop uses terrific beans and has a great selection of pastries as well as an outdoor patio.