masongray

7th Floor at Bergdorf Goodman

2010-03-09T16:33:00.000-08:00

The 7th floor at Bergdorf Goodman is filled with good bibelots for the home. Kelly Wearstler has an accessories collection that you can only get there and Amy Lau has an installation she did with Maya Romanoff. Definitely worth checking out when you are lunching at BG.

The Best Little Museum in New York!

2010-02-28T11:49:00.000-08:00

Technically The Fisher Landau Center for Art is in Long Island City, a quick shot over the Queensboro Bridge. Emily Fisher Landau has accumulated an impressive collection of art starting from 1960 to the present from artists like Donald Judd, Agnes Martin, Ed Ruscha, Cy Twombley, Jenny Holzer, Jasper Johns, and Robert Rauschenberg. On a non-descript street in a former parachute factory the immaculately white building is crowd free, as if you are walking around your own private museum. And there is no admission fee. Make a day of it and go to the Noguchi Museum, PS1, and the Socrates Sculpture Park(a Trans Am trophy!), all are nearby.

Classic Cameras

2010-02-20T13:43:00.000-08:00

Stylistically this Rolleiflex camera by Minox is reminicscent of times gone by, but underneath the vintage design is a digital camera with today's technology. The shutter release even requires you to manually wind the crank. It's available in a no non-sense black, or a more sporty red and black. Not surprisingly, Minox also makes the 007 Spy cam, check it out at license-to-shoot.com.

Pendleton Wool Blankets

2010-02-15T15:17:00.000-08:00

This has been a long winter and it's not showing signs of stopping. One of our favorite old school home accessories that you probably remember from Grandpa's cabin are Pendleton Woolen Mill's blankets. One of our favorites is the Grand Teton National Park blanket from the National Park series. The simple, bold designs made from wool will stand the test of time. Warm up the bed and your decor with any one of these. They will last forever.

Savannah Desk and Regency Dresser

2010-02-02T06:58:00.000-08:00

With our new designs, the Savannah Desk and the Regency Dresser, we decided to use fabric to cover the drawer faces for texture and depth. This is another way to customize our furniture so that you can make each piece your own. The fabric option along with our many multi layered, hand applied finishes help you to create the perfect piece for your home. The Regency Dresser is shown in color cerused iron mountain gray with a high gloss finish and wool flannel drawer faces. The Savannah Desk is shown in a weathered finish with Belgian linen drawer faces. Each piece of furniture is hand made in our Connecticut factory. Please contact our Client Services Group and make an appointment to visit our studio in SoHo where we can offer inspiration and ideas for your home.

Please help Haiti

2010-01-25T06:16:00.000-08:00

We encourage you to give what you can to help those in Haiti.

The Red Cross is taking donations and a quick and easy way is to text "Haiti" to 90999 for a quick $10 donation. Or you can make a donation on line to the Haitian Relief and Development Fund. You can also donate at Unicef where 100% of your donation will go towards saving children's lives. American Express Cardmembers enrolled in the Membership Rewards program can redeem points and give them to charity to support Haiti. $1000 points gets you $10. American Express is also one of many credit card companies where you can charge your donation and they will not charge the charity a fee for processing. Others have done this as well, just ask your credit card company.

For a comprehensive list of charities and how you can donate please click here. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti.

Georgia O'Keefe at the Whitney

2010-01-14T14:29:00.000-08:00

We've all seen the flowers and photographs. And if you are lucky, even visited her museum in Santa Fe and her inspirational home in Abiquiu, New Mexico. Both are so simple and elegant, and her home so ahead of its time. So to further your education in O'Keefe, check out the abstract works on view at the Whitney Museum. Beautiful, different, and the movement and color is peaceful and awesome at the same time. Check it out.

Get Healthy!

2010-01-06T13:42:00.000-08:00

It's a New Year with new resolutions and a great time to break old habits and start new healthy routines. Our CEO did a cleanse and loved it so much (and we saw his results) that we all did it. This is not a fast, it's a cleanse so you get to eat but it really helps you break old eating and drinking habits. One of the first things you notice is your complexion clears up, you sleep better, and you really start to notice what you eat. Many people have lost weight and lowered their cholesterol levels. Get all the details here. And Dave is a friend of ours who is always available for advice or questions along the way. We love a personal touch.

And here is some good information from the Harvard School of Public Health on how to get to your healthy weight, what works and what doesn't, and how important your waist size is. Check it out. And finally some healthy and helpful hints from Cooking Light.

Season's Greetings!

2009-12-21T15:51:00.001-08:00

Holiday Inn

2009-12-17T12:19:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the movie Holiday Inn? It's supposed to take place in Connecticut and is only open during the holidays. And the song 'White Christmas' debuted in the movie. Definitely a great movie to watch with the entire family during the holidays. A great hotel that has the same feeling as the hotel in the movie but is open year round, is the Mirror Lake Inn. Located in the Adirondack region of New York it's the perfect place to check in and wish for a white Christmas!

Lonny Mag-Furniture Remembered

2009-12-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

Lonny Mag (stands for London/New York) is a new, clever idea for a magazine produced on-line. You can flip the pages like a real magazine and as you browse the articles and see things in the homes featured you like, you can click on the image and it will take you right to the website of the manufacturer. And, full disclosure, there was a really nice piece about MasonGray in this issue.

Check it out, we think you will soon become a fan.

Old School Meets New Technology

2009-12-03T07:10:00.000-08:00

This wooden radio has an uncoated finish and over time it can be oiled so that each one will have its own patina . It can also connect to your ipod and has MP3 technology. Great for listening to Prairie Home Companion, NPR or Beyonce. Available from Areaware. And it would make a great gift!

Give Thanks

2009-11-22T12:58:00.001-08:00

On a day of acknowledging and giving thanks for all the people we love and bring joy to our lives, please remember those who need our love and support. It can be a small, heartfelt gesture that makes a huge difference in someone's life. Like simply inviting someone to dinner who may not have family in town. And here are some ideas on giving back at Thanksgiving by volunteering. Happy Thanksgiving!

Adelphi Paper Hangings

2009-11-12T16:13:00.000-08:00

We love things rooted in tradition and authenticity and Adelphi is keeping the hand made, artisanal art of hand blocked wallpaper alive. If you want something that reminds you of the past, they have some amazing wallpapers that will take you there. They actually make historically accurate wallpapers from Colonial Williamsburg, but they also have historic English and French patterns available too. They will do custom work as well. If you are thinking about wallpaper check out them out and read about where the paper hangings were first located. Fascinating history with color and patterns that are inspiring.

We love a handwritten note, but...

2009-11-06T12:27:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when you are having a party it's nice to follow Miss Manner's and send a handwritten note by mail. But for those times when the guest list is too big and you just don't have time or you want to send an email but would like to make it memorable there is Paperless Post. A clever idea, taking an old school invite and combining it with email communication. An email arrives but it looks like an envelope and then when you open it out pops the note and design that you hand picked. Our friend Ginny sent one when they moved. Perfect.

Vermeer at the Met

2009-10-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

Fall in New York reminds us of Woody Allen movies, intimate dinners and parties and spending time with good friends and family. After a great walk through Central Park check out the Vermeer exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum. The way he creates light in his paintings is out of this world and inspirational when you see it in person. While you are there, check out the Roxy Paine installation on the roof, you'll love it!

Open House at MasonGray in Soho

2009-10-23T12:56:00.000-07:00

Every Thursday afternoon this autumn, drop by MasonGray in Soho for a glass of wine (or several) and a snack (or two). Meet our designers, talk with our Client Services Group and see our multi layered, hand applied finishes up close. Prada is down the block and Balthazar is right downstairs. Make an afternoon of it. See you soon.

Litchfield County, Connecticut

2009-10-19T12:13:00.000-07:00

In the past few years we have spent a lot of time in Litchfield County, Connecticut. It's where our factory is located and is a short 2 hour drive from New York. Autumn is one of the best times to visit with all the foliage and an abundance of small towns to visit. Some of our favorites are Litchfield, Kent, New Preston and Lake Waramaug. There are also some great hotels and spas to check out like the Mayflower Inn and the Winivan. Along the way there is beautiful scenery and many antique stores to browse. For more specific events and information check out Rural Intelligence. Have a great trip!

MasonGray on ShopAD

2009-10-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

We love 1st Dibs which makes browsing for antiques and vintage pieces for the home as easy as turning on your computer. They also have a portfolio system which allows you to save images of the things you like and categorize them. So you can create your wish lists for all your design projects. Now 1st Dibs has teamed up with Architectural Digest to create ShopAD . So you can select from a large variety of newly manufactured pieces as well, including MasonGray. A great way to shop for vintage pieces and new ones to create the perfect decor!

ASID/dwell Soho Design Walk Oct 2-3

2009-10-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the ASID and dwell magazine sponsored Soho Design Walk, October 2-3, in New York. We will be serving drinks and nibbly bits from Balthazar all day long, both days.

Many other showrooms in the neighborhood will also be open.

Hope to see you here!

The George Washington Bridge at Night.

2009-09-17T15:16:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite things is coming back home after you have been away. It really does not matter how long you are gone, the comfort of your own bed is a great feeling. Depending on where you go, many times your view coming back into Manhattan is the skyline, impressive at any time of the day or night. Another view we love, is the George Washington Brigde, lit up at night. It's like a giant, industrial, beacon welcoming you home! Enjoy the journey.

A Favorite Spot

2009-09-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

Check out the old school Claremont Hotel in Southwest Harbor, Maine. Old school means you have to dress for dinner and it's cash only. Play some tennis, go sailing, go to town for a fresh lobster roll, or just sit on one of the adirondack chairs on the lawn and take in the view. Acadia National Park is close by so you can hike Cadillac Mountain or bike ride on the old carriage trails. There is a perfect Boathouse where you can enjoy your gin&tonic before dinner and a big porch where you can hang out after dinner. We recommend the Phillips House or the Rowse House for privacy.

Enjoy your journey!