From Assouline’s new book, Secret Stays.
Photo: Atul Pratap Chauhan
The Artful Life: 5 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week
From House of Matouk’s first retail location to Assouline’s beautiful new travel tome
Interior view of the new House of Matouk, designed by company creative director Mindy Matouk and Morgan Wendelborn of Wheelhouse NYC. Photo: Read McKendree
Monogrammed towels on display at the House of Matouk, opening April 4 on East 67th Street in New York. Photo: Read McKendree
1. House of Matouk Unveils First Retail Location
For its first retail location, celebrated American linens brand Matouk pulled out all the stops, installing its decadent collections for bed and bath in a high-design pre-war residential building on New York’s East 67th Street. “For many years, our team has dreamed of creating a space where we could create a fully immersive Matouk experience,” says company creative director Mindy Matouk of the 2,300-square-foot boutique, crafted in collaboration with Wheelhouse NYC’s Morgan Wendelborn. Inside the House of Matouk, which opens its doors on April 4, a custom Egyptian limestone framed fireplace, marble shower with brass fixtures, Oly Studios furniture, and sculptural Urban Electric Co. lighting complement the full array of Matouk products, including a selection of House of Matouk exclusives. An on-site design team will offer suggestions for customization while a fully-stocked wet bar and an outdoor patio add allure to the shopping experience. —Jill Sieracki
Villa Palladio Jaipur. Photo: Atul Pratap Chauhan
Villa Mabrouka. Photo: Andrew Montgomery
2. Assouline Releases New Travel Book Called Secret Stays
The latest addition to Assouline’s Classics Collection, travel tome Secret Stays is the perfect resource for finding the best hidden gems to plan a dreamy summer vacation. Featuring 22 properties owned by extraordinary people to the likes of the Countess of Burlington. From the cherry-red hand-painted rooms of Villa Palladio in Rajasthan to a rustic Taylor River Lodge in Colorado, the book features charming boutique hotels across the globe. Melinda Stevens along with Issy von Simson and Tabitha Joyce bring the history of each of the hotels matched with wanderlust images that will inspire your next trip. —Stefanie Li
The Brazilian Court in Palm Beach has unveiled a guests-only pool bar called Lily’s. Photo: The Brazilian Court
3. The Brazilian Court in Palm Beach Opens an Exclusive Guests-Only Bar
As Palm Beach seems to get buzzier—and busier—by the week, one place on the South Florida island where elegance and anonymity still reigns supreme is The Brazilian Court. Now, with the opening of Lily’s, a new pool bar at the boutique hotel, there’s another place to gather and relax away from the throngs. Tucked behind the pool, the bar is nestled under a canopy of fragrant jasmine vines. Hand-painted tiles on the bar and a mural of a Spanish lemon grove, all by artist Austin Kerr, add to the vibe of beachy sophistication. The go-to drink has already become Lily’s Scent, a light and bright mix of gin, strawberry, and lime. The only catch is this special bar is only open to guests of the property. But with all that plus a menu by Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud, it’s worth checking in just to check it out. —Jacqueline Terrebonne
Installation shot of "Tony Notarberardino: Chelsea Hotel Portraits, 1994–2010" at ACA Galleries. Photo: Courtesy of ACA Galleries
4. ACA Galleries Presents Exhibition of Chelsea Hotel Photographer Tony Notarberardino
Before it became one of the priciest stays in Manhattan, the Chelsea Hotel was the cultural magnet of the city’s most mysterious and creative characters. Among the legendary figures in performance, music, and nightlife who called the complex home was Australian-born Tony Notarberardino, who began photographing guests and residents after moving into the property in the early ’90s. Now, an exhibition presented by ACA Galleries called “Tony Notarberardino: Chelsea Hotel Portraits, 1994–2010” features a series of black and white images taken over this 25-year period, including familiar faces such as punk rock bassist Dee Dee Ramone, Blondie front woman Debbie Harry, performer Amanda Lepore, as well as an intimate glimpse of the legendary hotel’s past and current residents. The exhibition runs through April 27. —Shelby Black
The new Poltrona Frau flagship on Madison Avenue. Photo: Poltrona Frau
5. Poltrona Frau Debuts New York Flagship on Madison Avenue
After decamping from its former SoHo location, heritage Italian furniture maker Poltrona Frau has just unveiled a massive flagship in trendy NoMad, in the heart of Manhattan. Located on three floors in the historic Madison Belmont Building, originally designed by legendary Beaux Arts firm Warren & Wetmore, the 19,000-square-foot store was revamped by Milan studio AMDL CIRCLE as an experiential showroom offering design solutions for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Stop by to see the latest collections from not just Poltrona Frau but also Ceccotti Collezioni, Officine Gullo, and Cappellini—as well as a fully-stocked materials library that provides an immersive, tactile experience. To mark the opening, a special leather edition of the brand’s iconic Leplì pouf will be available exclusively at the flagship, limited to just 50 pieces.—Geoffrey Montes
Cover: From Assouline’s new book, Secret Stays.
Photo: Atul Pratap Chauhan
