AXEL VERVOORDT, OH, YEAH

I recently whined that "Elle Decor"  left out the designers on its "Top Sixty" I admire most:  Thad Hayes, Kara Mann and Axel Veervoordt.

Vervoordt, a Belgian antiques dealer and interior designer to Sting, among others, appreciates wabi sabi, the Japanese concept that sees beauty in the imperfect, the worn, the old.  (I just saw a photo of a Japanese teacup whose cracks had been filled with gold.)

Anyhow, I love Vervoordt's work.  It reminds me of a Vermeer painting even when it includes contemporary art like a Basquiat painting.

Here are some pics of it:

Above is a Basquiat painting in the background!  Street-inspired art with a Buddha, both beautiful ideas.

                                                   One of Vervoordt's first books above.

Note  painting with all this rusticity.

This kitchen and fireplace below are in a mountain chalet in uber chic Verbier, Switzerland.

 This degree of purity knocks me out.





















Below:  Jan Barrett designed this small tv room before she knew Vervoordt's work.  It has the same combo of luxe, with its silk and italian wool and silver leaf art, paired against the old rustic picnic table from the 1950's, though not the country antique AX would have, of course.