The Louis Vuitton Bed Trunks reimagined by Pharrell Williams and Nicolas Ghesquière.
Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
The Artful Life: 5 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week
From two new versions of Louis Vuitton’s iconic Bed Trunk to model residences designed by Josh Greene at the Waldorf Astoria in New York
Muse in Santa Monica, California. Photo: Pablo Enriquez
The restaurant was conceptualized by renowned Marc Ange Design Studio. Photo: Pablo Enriquez
1. Santa Monica Restaurant Muse Opens with Bespoke Furnishings and Joan Miró Artworks
Tucked in the chic Southern California enclave of Santa Monica, a new restaurant conceptualized by renowned Marc Ange Design Studio and chef Fardad Khayami highlights how art and cuisine can come together in delicious synchronicity. While visiting Muse, an array of French-inspired dishes are served in an intimate setting of 35 seats in the main dining room as well as four bar stools. The design for the restaurant is a product of Ange’s dual upbringing in Rome and Paris, featuring a warm, earthy color palette expressed through rich wood panelling, sculptural lighting, and bespoke furnishings. To complement the elegant atmosphere, collection of rotating museum-worthy artworks will adorn the restaurant’s walls. In celebration of Muse’s opening, a selection of masterpieces from Catalan-Spanish artist Joan Miró will be on display to give diners a truly artistic dinner experience. Tables can be booked exclusively through Resy. —Shelby Black
The original Louis Vuitton Bed Trunks. Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
The Louis Vuitton Bed Trunks reimagined by Pharrell Williams and Nicolas Ghesquière. Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
2. Pharrell Williams and Nicolas Ghesquière Reimagine Louis Vuitton’s Iconic Bed Trunk
Louis Vuitton has introduced two new versions of its iconic Bed Trunk, designed in collaboration with Pharrell Williams, Men’s Creative Director, and Nicolas Ghesquière, Artistic Director of the Women’s Collection. The bed trunk was first released by Louis Vuitton in 1868 to much fanfare, going on international display at exhibitions and world’s fairs, becoming a staple for travelers worldwide. For Williams’s version, the singer-songwriter turned to the maison’s archives for inspiration but with an updated twist, combining distressed striped patterns on the outside with red and white stripes on the inside. In a daring contrast, Ghesquière’s interpretation is more of a futuristic design: The exterior is inspired by the Cruise 2023 collection, while the interior is decorated in a floral pattern not unlike a jacket featured in the Spring-Summer 2018 collection. Both trunks are on display through early October in Paris, with Williams’s design showcased at the Savoir Rêver Louis Vuitton event at the Hôtel Coeval Blanc, by invitation only, and Ghesquière’s version at the Louis Vuitton store in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. —Alexandria Sillo
interior of the Josh Greene-designed model residence at the Waldorf Astoria New York. Photo: Colin Miller
interior of the Josh Greene-designed model residence at the Waldorf Astoria New York. Photo: Colin Miller
3. Waldorf Astoria Unveils Model Residences Designed by Josh Greene
It’s hard to fathom that seven years have passed since the Waldorf Astoria closed its doors, but the grand Park Avenue landmark is ready to spring back to life following an extensive renovation. The first step is the debut of the Waldorf Astoria Residences New York, which introduced a three-bedroom model apartment, conceived by Josh Greene. “Waldorf Astoria New York is an icon, so it was an honor to work on this incredible, hotly anticipated project,” says Greene. “For the decor, I wanted to mix gracious Park Avenue living with midtown’s 1970s glamor through the use of sumptuous materials, a mix of custom and antique furnishings, and top-notch artwork.” Working in conjunction with celebrated interior architect Jean-Louis Deniot, Greene conceived the space—one of the 375 private residences, which range from studios to four bedrooms—in a spirited medley of rich jewel tones and upscale accoutrements by Little Greene Paint Company, Florense, Lee Jofa, Gracie, and more. Residents at the reimagined Waldorf Astoria, which will open later this year, will have unfettered access to 50,000 square feet of private amenities, including a pool deck and spa, as well as the appointed restaurants helmed by Chef and partner Michael Anthony. —Jill Sieracki
An installation view of “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’,” curated by Christina Mack and Natasha Schlesinger. Photo: Room 57 Gallery
4. Room 57 Gallery Presents Striking Group Show Celebrating Women’s Autonomy and Freedom
“These Boots are Made for Walkin’” may be the name of the famous 1966 Nancy Sinatra song, but this season, it’s also the title of a new group exhibition curated by independent art advisor Natasha Schlesinger and Christine Mack, a collector and the founder of the Mack Art Foundation and Artist Residency. On display at Room 57 Gallery in New York through November 5, the dynamic show features the work of a diverse group of artists in an ode to women’s autonomy and freedom of expression. Special highlights include work by iconic trailblazers like Françoise Gilot, Marilyn Minter, as well as international rising stars such as L.A.–based artist Samantha Rosenwald and painter Lovisa Sköld. “The show proposes to consider featured art works in all their multi-faceted iterations from whimsical and humorous to more serious and poignant,” says Schlesinger in a statement. “Whether expressed as paintings, neon sculptures or ceramic forms, these works tantalize, engage, and inspire the audience to have conversations and debates particularly urgent for our culture and time.” —Lucy Rees
The new Armani/Casa boutique in Los Angeles. Photo: Armani/Casa
5. Armani/Casa Debuts Fashionable Los Angeles Boutique
Robertson Boulevard has long been one of L.A.’s most popular shopping districts, and now it has a new lifestyle boutique befitting that upscale reputation. The newly unveiled Armani/Casa outpost represents a milestone for the beloved brand, founded by Giorgio Armani in 2000, as it transitions from design center concepts to independent retail shops. Spanning two stories totaling some 3,500 square feet, the crisply tailored space beckons to passersby with floor-to-ceiling window walls at the entrance that help showcase the label’s latest home accessories, furnishings, and upholstery pieces. In fitting with the Southern California setting, this location features an outdoor courtyard and terrace, both of which are perfect for displaying the Armani/Casa’s latest outdoor collections. —Geoffrey Montes
Cover: The Louis Vuitton Bed Trunks reimagined by Pharrell Williams and Nicolas Ghesquière.
Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
