Elle Decor December 2012 - Ashe + Leandro

hair and makeup by yoshie kubota
Vicente Wolf and Ariel Ashe
with, from left, a table by
Minotti, a chair by Blu Dot,
and a bar cart by Crate &
Barrel. See Resources.
the top 10 metal furnishings
Designers Ariel Ashe and Vicente Wolf take a shine to furniture and
accessories in copper, brass, and bronze that add a subtle gleam to any room
From Tutankhamen’s gold throne to the bronze Giacometti
lamps commissioned by Jean-Michel Frank,
metal furnishings have long lent sparkle and style to
interiors. André-Charles Boulle lavishly decorated
Louis XIV’s furniture with gilt bronze, the Arts and
Crafts movement celebrated humble copper, and, in
the 1960s and ’70s, Gabriella Crespi and Karl Springer
made brass chic.
For designer Ariel Ashe, metal furnishings play a key
role in rounding out the mix of materials in a room.
“Your eye is always drawn to metal,” she says. But she
adds a note of caution: While a French gilt mirror
brings richness, too much glitter can be a distraction.
Decorator Vicente Wolf seconds the call for restraint,
but likes to shake up expectations. “Everybody
thinks gold leaf is traditional,” he says, “but I
love using it in contemporary environments to add a
sense of warmth.” He also embraces different types
of metal, from copper to brass to gold. “Mixing them
together gives a space depth,” he says.
text by laura regensDorf / photography by bJÖrn WallanDer / proDuceD by Quy nguyen
TRUTH IN DECORATING
the experts
ariel ashe
together with reinaldo
Leandro, ashe helms the new
york architecture and
design firm ashe & Leandro.
their projects range from
a London townhouse to a
martha’s Vineyard home.
asheleandro.com
vicente wolf
the well-traveled decorator
mixes streamlined pieces
and global antiques. he is
currently designing a
furniture collection for
restoration hardware.
vicentewolf.com
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2 / real gooD chair
by blu Dot
“Sheet metal is very cool right
now,” says Ashe, admiring
the copper-plated steel of
the body and tubular legs.
“I’d use this as an accent chair
in a bedroom.” Wolf is a fan of
the folded contours—“It looks
like origami”—and imagines it
pulled up to a desk or at a
breakfast table. “That’s your
‘bang’ in the room,” he adds.
A variety of powder-coated
colors are offered, as well
as a seat pad. 19" w. x 19" d. x
33" h.; $299; bludot.com
4 / Jett table by oly
“This has a 1920s feel, but
the finish brings it up to date,”
says Wolf of the brass-
veneered table. Ashe considers
the demilune shape ideal for
an entryway. She would soften
the piece with a few eclectic
accessories: “I see an antique
wood mirror or a color- field
painting above this.” A larger
size and a stainless steel version
are offered. 43" w. x 16" d. x
25" h.; $1,125; olystudio.com
The opinions featured are those of ELLE DECOR’s guest experts and do not necessarily represent those of the editors.
All measurements and prices are approximate.
1 / oscar Dining table by
egg collectiVe
“It’s a throwback to the 1970s,” says
Vicente Wolf of this pedestal table,
which has a faceted base of brassplated
steel. “I like the play of the travertine
top against the polished metal,”
he adds. Ariel Ashe praises the oval
shape—the lack of corners makes for
comfortable seating. She pictures a
set of sleek walnut chairs around the
table, in keeping with the midcentury
vibe. Other stone and metal options
are available. 78" w. x 40" d. x 30" h.;
$12,000; eggcollective.com
3 / still table by
minotti
Wolf considers this table,
with its laser-cut circles in a
gold-nickel finish, both chic
and versatile. “It would work
equally well in a mod, Austin
Powers–style space or a crisp,
architectural setting,” he says.
“You can see through the
base, which creates a floating
effect.” Ashe would pair it
with clean-lined furnishings:
“This has just enough curve
for a room.” A chrome version
is also available. 11" w. x 11" d. x
22" h.; $2,145; minottiny.com
5 / fragile table lamp
by obJet insolite
“Very sculptural—this reminds
me of a Giacometti,” says Ashe
of the lamp’s base, made from
sand-cast bronze. “It would be
beautiful on a lacquer bureau.”
The angular shade and textured
body make for a strong
combination, according to Wolf.
He also likes its taller height: “In
a foyer, this would throw good
light.” Shown in a gold finish,
it comes in two other metal
finishes and a variety of shade
colors. 30" h. x 13" w. x 13" d.;
$2,318; objetinsolite.com

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7 / polyheDron stool
by maDe gooDs
Made of molded ceramic
with a crackled, gold-leaf
glaze, this stool is designed
for indoors and out. “It has a
Brancusi quality, and the
warm finish is beautiful,”
says Wolf, who would set it
between club chairs or in a
garden. “It looks contemporary
but has an organic feel,”
Ashe says. She envisions a pair
flanking a fireplace or serving
as cocktail tables. “It
catches the light nicely,” she
adds. 19" w. x 19" d. x 19" h.;
$625; plantationdesign.com
9 / libations bar cart
by crate & barrel
With its brass-plated frame
and leather-wrapped
handles, this is a “great value,”
says Wolf. “It can work in
any environment, from modern
to eclectic.” The glass
shelves—one clear, one antiqued—are
a clever design element,
he adds. Ashe is also
a fan. “Leather, glass, and
metal are always a handsome
combination,” she says.
33" w. x 14" d. x 33" h.; $599;
crateandbarrel.com
6 / louise DaybeD by paul
mathieu for stephanie
oDegarD collection
“I love the patina on this,” says
Ashe of the copper-clad daybed.
“It would be striking in a modern
loft, topped with white cushions.”
Wolf agrees: “This makes such a bold
statement,” he says, but he also
admires the precise detailing,
including the tiny nailheads along
every seam. Other metal finishes are
available. 85" w. x 44" d. x 25" h.;
$14,000; stephanieodegard.com
8 / copper DesK by manglam arts from anthropologie
“So pretty and feminine,” says Ashe of the three-drawer desk sheathed in copper.
“I picture this in a teenage girl’s room, paired with a simple black chair.”
Wolf points out that the design marries Indian techniques and European lines.
This could double as a bedside table or serve as an extra surface in a
kitchen, he suggests. 47" w. x 24" d. x 31" h.; $1,298; anthropologie.com
The opinions featured are those of ELLE DECOR’s guest experts and do not necessarily represent those of the editors.
All measurements and prices are approximate.
10 / a330s penDant
lamp by alVar aalto
for arteK
Ashe admires the perforated
edge on this brass pendant,
designed by Aalto in 1939. “This
has a youthful look—it would
be great hanging above a bar,”
she says, adding that she
would keep the other furnishings
dark to offset the highshine
finish. Wolf would use a
series of three in a foyer. “I love
how it reflects whatever’s
around it,” he says. Additional
finishes are offered. 7" dia. x
8" h.; $320; artekfurniture.us