WELCOME to Nest by Tamara blog

WELCOME to Nest by Tamara blog
Hi- It's Tamara. I'm happy you've stopped by, and since 2010 I've been sharing my passion for interior design, history, art, entertaining, travel & fashion. I am an interior designer, textile designer and writer living and working in New York City and East Hampton, Long Island. My musings have taken me to international design, art, antique and epicurean events and I have lots to share. I'm grateful to have been listed as the #1 top design blog, blogs to watch, top design blogs and named and awarded Rising Star of Design by the IFDA NY industry organization. Please feel free to reach out to our team for an interior design consultation at NestbyTamara.com -Tamara

highlights of the Architectural Digest Home and Diffa's Dining by Design in NYC

 




Two highlights of this week's 
Architectural Digest Home Show 
and the adjoining
DIFFA tabletop event in NYC
on 
Nest by Tamara
Every year the design industry seems to become more and more excited about the Architectural Digest Home Show and the adjoining DIFFA, Dining By Design extravaganza.
at THE AD HOME SHOW
one of my favorite sections is the newer area which highlights many artisan's work called, MADE.  Local Sag Harbor artist, Nico Yektai, brought new pieces from his hand made furniture collection to exhibit this week.
Yektai's Aether bench 

 stop by Nico Yektai's booth 
in the Made Section at the AD Show this week



Aether maple and steel bench by Niko Yektai
photograph credit:  Niko Yektai

 the story I wrote for my East End Nest column
in the Hampton magazine, 
Dan's Papers about Yektai's work.

Local Sag Harbor artist takes his works

on the road, announcing new pieces in his collection

by Tamara Matthews-Stephenson

Sag Harbor artist and craftsmen, Nico Yektai, has been building and designing unique furniture in his Sag Harbor studio since 1995.  Yektai discovered the Hamptons as a child when his father, Manoucher Yektai, noted abstract expressionist painter and poet, came to the East End in the 1950s to create his works.  It was an easy decision for Nico to make this area his home seventeen years ago when he was looking for a place to set up his studio and create his furniture.  Today, he continues to find fodder here in the Hamptons, exhibiting his collections around many of the cultural spots and galleries in the East End.  The connections and exposure he has made locally have helped to propel him as a nationally known artist. Among his other accomplishments, this past year he was listed in Interior Design magazine and voted one of the “Best of the Year” finalists for his Wall Hung Console Table.  This year he was also featured in New York Times, Hamptons magazine, Garden Design magazine, here on Dan’s Papers, Southampton Press, Fresh Home, Modenus, Nest by Tamara, as well as other print and online websites.  In his studio he creates furniture made out of wood, concrete and glass for both indoor and outdoor spaces. 

Yektai has a system and process for creating his furniture, and works hard to maintain a sculptural presence in his pieces.  His style often revolves around using asymmetrical composition and detailed craftsmanship toward furniture design.  When he works one-on-one for a client, he often creates an intricate scale model to work out all the details.  He has some signature details to his work, including bringing the legs of tables to the outside of the piece, and sometimes up and over the horizontal surface of the table. There is both practical and artistic qualities to this and allows the guests to move their feet freely under the table.  It also shows his attention to detail with craftsmanship and calls attention to the fact that it is not an ordinary piece of furniture. 

This year, he is taking his interesting collections on the road to exhibit at shows with other like-minded artists.  He is excited to launch new products in the coming months, and just wrapped up exhibiting for the fourth year at NYC’s Architectural Digest Home Design Show on Pier 94 in New York City, and in the newly handcrafted section called Made.  Please look for Yektai at the upcoming ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) show in New York City this spring.  The ICFF is the 25th International Furniture Fair and takes place from May 18-21st at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. He will also be at The Smithsonian Craft show at National Building Museum from April 25-28.

Among some of the new pieces in this collection includes his Aether bench made with Maple wood and stainless steel brackets.  The bench was organically designed with legs that are composed in a free manner.  Intentionally smaller than some of his other pieces it was created to a sleek 60” length and 13” deep seat.  The gestural back features a lumbar curve to match the comfort of the curved seat.  Since each piece is made by hand, there is almost always something unique to each one, adding to the charm of this one-of-a-kind furniture. All of Yektai’s furniture has interesting details and “big personality.” 

Please call Nico Yektai for a visit to his Sag Harbor studio to view his furniture. Or, check out his website and blog entries over at http://nicoyektai.com


I love DIFFA's DINING BY DESIGN:

I look forward to the beautiful tables creatively designed each year, which offered in conjunction with the AD Home Design Show.  Over the five days guests can enjoy a variety of events from a gala dinner celebration to simply stopping by to "oogle" over the table settings.  This year, DIFFA is honoring Isabel & Ruben Toledo with the David Rockwell Service Award and Rick Wolf with its Unsung Hero Award. 
 click here to order tickets.
I was invited to attend Rachel Ashwell's table for Shabby Chic, but sadly I am out of town, but I want to share with you the beautiful table she set.  Rachel first came onto the design scene moons ago when she brought her unique look--a cozy flea-market, yet chic--aesthetic.  She now has  a fabulous shop in  SOHO, a new book coming out in the Fall, and more goodies to share with us.  
behind the scenes flower market shopping 


Happy Nesting XO