disegno Karina Gentinetta debuts on national TV!

I am honored and proud to be part of More Magazine's 3rd annual, nationally syndicated TV special, “Reinvent Yourself with More Magazine,” airing this month and hosted by the ultimate "More woman" and CBS This Morning host, Lee Woodruff.   I want to thank More Magazine and 1stdibs (especially 1stdibs PR director, Stacy McLaughlin) who helped make this possible.

To view some of my latest creations, please visit www.KarinaGentinetta.1stdibs.com.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2

Okay, I'll admit it (and I hope I'm not the only one here) -- I have not read any of the Twilight books and have not watched any of the movies.  I know, I know, I know!!!!  Where have I been, you must be wondering?  Well, if you read my previous post, you would know.  But I digress.....

So, not knowing anything about the Twilight saga, you can understand that I did not think much of it when, about 2 years ago, a movie set designer walked into my antique shop in Uptown New Orleans (which has since been moved to Manhattan, NY) and told me that she thought my furniture was absolutely perfect for a certain movie set "not to be mentioned" that was being filmed in Louisiana.  Of course, I was flattered that my restored vintage and antique furnishings would want to be featured in a movie (any movie, at that!) so I did not even care or bother to ask what movie they were being used for.  She also asked if my house was decorated in the same way as my store (which, as you can see below, it is) and could she also come see it to check if any other pieces might work for the set.   Sure, be my guest!

(photo by The New York Times, April 2011)

A couple of weeks went by and I received a call from one of the design set crew telling me which pieces they were interested in using and setting a date to pick them up.  A couple of pieces were from my inventory (also listed on 1stdibs) and some from my house.  Here are some of the pieces selected:

This gorgeous 19th c. French Daybed with Belgian Linen

A Pair of 1930s Swedish Style Painted Nightstands or Side Tables

The finish on these little nightstands were done by me in my signature Gustavian grey finish

The little painted grey and gilded side table to the right of  my slipcovered chair (photo by The New York Times, April 2011)

The little french boudoir lamp with antique gold shade on my Swedish Secretary.

Here is a closeup of it as I adore it.  I found it locally in New Orleans, had it rewired and found a beautiful antique gold silk lampshade to go with it.

So enough of the mystery!  Where did all my pieces go?????  Until recently, I was not much at liberty to say.  But now that it has hit theaters, see if you can find the pieces yourself.

They were used for Renesmee's bedroom/nursery.

My 19th c. daybed (on 1stdibs) is shown in this photo with my little painted side table and boudoir lamp directly next to it.

My Swedish Nightstands are next to the crib

You can catch a small glimpse of the nightstands on this photo too.

As for the other pieces, well, I have yet to see the movie myself so I don't know exactly where they ended up on the set.  But as soon as I do, I'll report back.  It is just nice to know that wherever my pieces go (and they have gone far in this world, literally), some of them will be forever immortalized in the big screen.

And since as you can see I am totally out of the loop on this....  Are they or aren't they back together??????

Have a wonderful weekend wherever this post finds you.

We Interrupt This Busy Moment.....

I feel just terrible that I have not been able to post lately.  The good news is that I've been so busy creating and working that I sometimes forget to eat lunch.  I'm sure many of you can empathize!

Here are a few things that have been happening:

I am getting several pieces ready to ship in a container to Australia to my dearest friend Frances Russell of Beautiful Interiors and 18th Century Style who has been equally as busy designing some gorgeous homes.  I cannot wait to see the finished projects and seeing all of my pieces in their new Aussie homes.

More Magazine, the national magazine  for Women of Style and Substance (affluent, educated, sophisticated women) who did the feature on me in June 2012, completely surprised me by inviting me to be part of their national television show.  

Every year More produces a television special titled “Reinvent Yourself with More Magazine”and this year is their third annual, hour-long special, to be produced again this year by the award-winning production company Michael Young Media.  It is nationally syndicated and airs in November-December in over 80% of the markets nationwide, reaching an audience of about 1.5 million. The show consists of inspiring segments about various women who have reinvented their lives in some way. The show is hosted by Lee Woodruff, who is on CBS This Morning, and is the ultimate “More woman”.  Imagine how honored I was when they called me to be one of the women featured. 

We filmed part of the segment in New York (in my showroom at the 1stdibs floor in the New York Design Center) and the second part here in New Orleans.  I cannot tell you how much fun it was and how honored I am to be included.  I will let you all know soon when exactly it will air!

Between designing and restoring my own inventory (and I can't wait to show you some of my latest pieces), I've been working with some very talented designers throughout the country in furnishing some of their client's homes.  From Greenwich, CT, to New Jersey, to Miami, there is a bit of me and my pieces around the country and world (in fact, a fashion designer opening stores in New Zealand has incorporated some of my inventory).  Josephine's design line is absolutely stunning and I invite all of you to check her out.  She designs fashion for both Gregory Limited and Ricochet.  

Gregory Limited

Ricochet

Both Gregory Limited and Ricochet have online stores so hop on over and check Josephine's creations.  And if you happen to be in New Zealand, hop on over to their stores to also check out my furniture pieces that compliment the look of this gorgeous fashion line.

In between this and that, I also designed a hot new restaurant in the Warehouse District in New Orleans.  When Chef Manning, formerly of Clancy's Restaurant in Uptown, New Orleans (which I frequently a lot as a young law associate as I lived directly across the street from it!) asked a friend who asked Sean Cummings who he could recommend to design his new restaurant (which formerly housed Deanie's Seafood), Sean suggested me.  I wanted to crawl under a table and hide when I got the call as I had never formally designed a commercial space, much less in 1 month's time!  But, after breathing into a paper bag several times, I decided to take up the challenge.

So here is before....

And "Whoala!"  The after.....

The artwork on the walls were also done by me and are presently featured on www.KarinaGentinetta.1stdibs.com

 The entrance.  Yes, I also have a green thumb.  

Every week I hand select the week's table flowers, something that I insist every table should have (even it I have to cut Rosemary sprigs from my own garden, which I do many times).

But what draws people to Annunciation Restaurant is its amazing food (the culinary talent of Chef Steven Manning).

Their wine list is exceptional, all hand selected by my husband and General Manager of the Annunciation, A.J. McAlear

(Photos courtesy of http://www.facebook.com/AnnunciationRestaurant)

And in between designing and keeping fresh flowers on the tables, I have been working on many of my own designs and restoring old pieces into gorgeous works of arts.  If you haven't yet checked out my new items on 1stdibs, here are some of my favorites.

Grotto Chair

Mad Men Sofa (1960s Dorothy Draper style Sofa completely restored and upholstered in a Silver Silk Taffeta with down cushions)

Murano Sputnik

Huge Original Painting by Karina Gentinetta

Large Hand Made Italian Sconces in Silver Finish (finished by me).  In fact, I had to fly to Greenwich, CT, to hand finish these babies in time for a dinner party with Goldie Hawn.

Detailed look

French Art Deco Mirror

Hollywood Regency Style Walnut Sideboard (over 9 ft. long!)

French Art Deco Sideboard in Black Walnut

Long Louis XVI bench or ottoman in completely restored and upholstered in French Indian fabric.

Amazingly thick and gorgeous Lucite Writing Desk with drawers

Black Lacquered Art Deco Sideboard

And in the midst of all this, there was Halloween....

I was "Jackie O', the Glamorous Witch of the Upper East Side"

And my little ones....

And another dog.....  Bonzo makes 4.

So forgive me for my absence from the Blogworld!  I've just been a tad bit busy.  But never too far away....

Hope you are having a beautiful day wherever this post finds you.