All together now
On an up-and-coming stretch of Highland Avenue north of Melrose, the Nickey Kehoe store has opened with an assemblage that co-owner Todd Nickey calls “from refined to utilitarian, rustic to Mod, 19th century French to 1960s Dutch.†Partner Amy Kehoe adds that the store is an extension of their design sensibility -- “what we love, what we collect and how we put things together.†The team (at right), which counts actress Natalie Portman among its clients, mixes contemporary accessories -- including Matteo linens, Campo de’ Fiori pottery and John Derian dishes -- with striking vintage pieces such as a French settee recovered with a vibrant green Moroccan rug. The store also serves as a showroom for Nickey Kehoe’s furniture collection, which includes the NK Barrel chair, shown here in suede ($2,250) with a blue linen ottoman ($585). The vintage railroad lantern and striped rug are $175 apiece; the wool elephant on the ottoman ($36) is made by Kenyan artisans. Kehoe and Nickey are shown with their hemp headboard ($1,725) and a ticking stripe blanket ($250). 730 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles; (323) 957-0370; www.nickeykehoe.com.
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MEDIA
Like others before it,
Domino falls too
Domino publisher Conde Nast announced this week that it was closing the magazine less than four years after its much-heralded launch. The March issue will be Domino’s last. Though the publication had quickly gained a devout following with its mix of home decor and fashion, aimed particularly at young women, Conde Nast pulled the plug, citing the steep industry-wide decline in advertising and the bleak outlook for 2009. The news follows the closing of Home & Garden, Cottage Living, In Style Home, Oprah Winfrey’s O at Home and Martha Stewart’s Blueprint, among others -- all within the past year and a half. True to the effervescent, exclamation-point-happy attitude that won fans and critics alike, Domino remained positive to the end. As rumors of the publication’s demise spread, on Jan. 5 a reader named Grace wrote on Domino’s Facebook wall: “I really hope that Conde Nast doesn’t shut down Domino.†To which the magazine responded the next day: “Don’t worry Grace. See all of our wall posts and realize that we are here to stay!â€
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TRENDSPOTTING
Classically modern
Everything old is new again -- particularly in modern design these days. Among the growing number of pieces to call upon the past to make a statement in the present: Ligne Roset’s new Spindle table. Made of two sheets of gracefully curved glass with an ornately carved wooden post as an asymmetrical support, the table is at once contemporary and neoclassical. “I wanted to create a beautiful balance of two diametrically opposed styles in a way that truly celebrates the history of both ornamentation and minimalism,†designer Brad Ascalon says. “I didn’t want the juxtaposition to be ironic or humorous, but rather, respectful of the qualities of each style.†The table is $1,797 at Ligne Roset showrooms in L.A., Santa Monica and Newport Beach; www.ligne-roset-usa.com.
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FINDS
A cameo appearance
In hommage to her childhood days as an equestrienne, Five Zero designer Nancy Batlin has created Horse Set, a collection of fine porcelain dinner dishes with a glossy black finish and a statuesque horse head in white. The collection also features busts of a boy and a girl; decorative print rims include flowery wisteria and fleur-de-lis designs. The 10 3/4 -inch plates are sold in sets of four for $240 at the Gallery of Functional Art at Bergamot Station. The solid black Cameo plate shown here is also available as a $90 charger. 2525 Michigan Ave., E-3, Santa Monica; (310) 829-6990; www.five-zero.com.
-- David A. Keeps
