Notes from the Field: Unmarred Success

By Karin Lidbeck Brent

Last Thursday evening I joined New England Home’s Connecticut editor, Kyle Hoepner, and associate publisher, Roberta Thomas Mancuso, at the exciting launch of Mar Silver’s Plunk Collection at the Artelier in Greenwich.

A sophisticated stage was set in the Henry Street studio for Mar’s unique new line, displaying her furniture against black walls, enhanced by dramatic lighting and accompanied by large canvases of modern portraits, photography and sculpture. A chiaroscuro mood permeated the defined spaces, creating a mix of compelling vignettes. Mar’s sensibility suffused the whole assembly, making for a sensual evening.

Adding to the well-attended event, waiters circulated, offering delicious bite-size morsels from executive chef Michael Batt of Food Design. Bravo Mar for choreographing such a perfect evening.

I adored the combination of textures in the simple, elegant bedroom with its constructed gray-linen headboard (called the Bond bed). Warm, inviting and super-sexy! Masculine, feminine, cool, chic, uptown and stylish are all words that describe Mar’s elegantly surprising style.

Mar says, “I love to integrate art into the overall design of a home.†She is passionate about discovering up-and-coming artists.

There is a sense of both the avant-garde and the traditional in Mar’s work. Her designs are playful while using a very refined mix of materials.

A signature piece by Mar, the Tulip table, features a glass top and unique flower-shaped base available in walnut, nero preto, and cerused oak. The table comes in two sizes: a 60-inch dining table and a 48-inch cocktail table.

Overall the night saw a great gathering of friends and design colleagues.

Left to right: New England Home’s Kyle Hoepner, Bilal Barakat (lead designer and architect for Mar Silver), Mar Silver

Left to right: New England Home’s Lynn Galvin and Roberta Mancuso with Mar Silver

Artelier co-founders Claire Maestroni (of Mis en Scene fame) and Franck Areno always intended for the space to become a hot party destination–and this event certainly proved them right!

Left to right: Victoria Vandamm, Olga Adler, Claire Maestroni, Kyle Hoepner, Terri Reilly