Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/579625
DESIGNER KELLY WEARSTLER IS HAVING ANOTHER MIDAS MOMENT, THIS TIME WITH AN AUDACIOUS NEW COLLECTION OF FURNITURE. The look is unmistakable. Bold shapes, sumptuous textures and patinas, and a mind-blowing array of luxurious materials come together in Kelly Wearstler's first comprehensive furniture line, the Kelly Wearstler Furniture Collection. It hits showrooms across the country this month, including the Allan Knight showroom, which will devote more than 2,500 square feet to Wearstler's entire 62-piece furnishings collection when it hits the floor in late October or early November. "The collection debuted like thunder," says Knight. "It has all the trademark details Wearstler is known for, and the pieces look more like found objects that have been collected and curated." To manufacture her collection, Wearstler has partnered with North Carolina- based E.J. Victor, a top-notch artisanal company that produces furniture for Ralph Lauren and Aerin Lauder, among others. Sculptural, shapely and substantial, the collection showcases heirloom woods such as ebonized walnut; cast bronze, steel and other mixed metals; hand-cut pyrite and quartz crystal; and rich materials such as mohair, parchment, lambskin and mica. Her mastery for combining unexpected elements can be seen in the Huntley cabinet, with its alternating glass and parchment panels wrapped in a broad, blackened steel frame. The Dillon walnut-and-bronze cabinet captures the designer's penchant for texture, with pierced walnut doors that reveal a glamorous, mirrored interior. The lacquered Crescent cabinet's large brass-plated pulls with cast-glass centers are so organic in their origins that it's easy to mistake them for polished stones. The made- to-order Bauble stool dazzles with gemstones chosen from around the world by Wearstler, including pyrite, amethyst, rose quartz, raw aquamarine, barite and pink cerussite. This impressive first showing of furniture comes on the heels of Wearstler's lighting manufactured by Houston-based Visual Comfort, which debuted in May, and follows a slew of award-winning and influential designs for luxury hotels, restaurants and private residents. Rebecca Sherman Crescent cabinet in lacquered wood with walnut interior and burnished brass pulls Upholstered Holmby stool in burnished bronze Dichotomy table in cast bronze and glass with upholstered Elliott chairs in solid bronze Top: Bauble stool in ash, burnished bronze and encrusted in semi-precious stones; by special order Center: Upholstered Melange club chair with burnished bronze legs Holmby console in burnished bronze and glass; upholstered Holmby stools in burnished bronze Kelly Wearstler Huntley cabinet in blackened stainless steel, glass and parchment Dillon desk in parchment, burnished bronze and wood Clockwise from left: Griffith bar cabinet; Hillcrest sofa; Melange side table; Huntley cabinet; Larchmont chair; Alta coffee table; Laurel stool; Sonara swivel chair