Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Christmas at Tiffanys

This year, Geoff Howell Studio was honored to be selected to design and install their holiday 2010 interior throughout all 4 floors of their flagship store on 57th st and 5th ave. Working in collaboration with their design team, the theme was built around a fairytale that was written just for this holiday season, hence the motif of books, birds, and animals that runs throughout the store interior and the windows as well. Below are some preliminary photos of the complete presentation, with more to follow on future posts, including the the original concept drawings, installation photos and shots from the opening night party!

The first floor consisted of five 15ft high christmas trees in custom made planter boxes, one 22 foot high spiral staircase filled with Tiffany gift boxes and books, six large wreaths and two custom made wrought-iron soaring silver and gold arches spanning the center walkway at the entrance and creating and creating a vista to the signature marble wall and its handsome stainless steel clock.





















On the second floor, a forest of trees grows from planter boxes throughout the room. The largest one is the first tree you'll see as you step off the elevator, standing in a bed of snow and surrounded by a wrought-iron arch






Leaving the second floor, our next stop is the fourth floor. From the elevator, you're greeted by a wintry scene showcasing a silver and Tiffany blue antique sleigh filled with presents, pulled by a flock of bejeweled birds and coming to a halt in front of an arched doorway leading to the splendid world of Tiffany gifts. Throughout this floor, more Christmas trees abound spreading Holiday cheer. On the other side of the floor is another vignette featuring a dining table designed by Geoff, surround by chairs upholstered in frosty blue velvet and bedecked with hand painted dishes and other wonderful gifts, also framed by a large arched doorway. This vignette stands atop a flight of curving stairs that go down to the third floor. For this staircase, Geoff designed cascading crystal curtains, and the structure that holds them, mimicking a light sparkling snowfall onto the rows of Christmas trees below.















Monday, November 29, 2010

Oh Crystal Christmas Tree


The beautiful holiday Steuben window in vivid red plexi glass, features a shimming tree with its branches hung with crystal Christmas ornaments surrounded at its roots with be-ribbonned boxes showcasing holiday gifts.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

And a Peacock in a Porthault Pear Tree

These peacocks made their debut in Silver during last September's Fashion Night Out and were so popular they turned into gold just in time for the holidays. Porthault's signature pink hue was the color of the season and was used throughout the store to highlight their beautiful new merchandise. The back panel of the window display features large flower outlines in brilliant gold and dotted with pink lights.


Geoff's original sketch of the window's design


a trio of lovelies on the 58th st side.


The store throughout was merchandised with pink and gold and a matching background was placed behind the bed at the back of the store, inviting you to explore further...





Saturday, November 27, 2010

A Conde Nast Christmas


A Christmas tradition with our studio is to 'deck the halls' of Conde Nast and their family of magazines with some holiday cheer. Over 40 floors and 7 different locations in Manhattan and Delaware kept us busy with the installation over the Thanksgiving weekend.









Thursday, November 11, 2010

Ross Bleckner for Steuben

Recently, celebrated artist Ross Bleckner collaborated with Steuben's Robert Nachman to create a trippy new sculpture based the molecular structure of LSD. Encased in a crystal cube is a 3-dimensional model of LSD surrounded by a spherical void cast inside the cube. In the background is a related original work of art by Mr. Bleckner.





Here's a vignette we arranged within the store with images showing the magic of glass-making at work. In front of the photgraph are Mr. Bleckner's monograph and a crypt-like crystal paperweight with the word 'forgotten' inscribed on the bottom.


In the foreground of this image are two of Steuben's new tree trunk vases with another of Bleckner's sculptures in the background.


A look at the front of the magnificently crafted crystal sculpture of a multitude of spheres cast within the thick, polished glass slabs.




A shot of the sales floor that Geoff restyled for the occasion.




A last look at the limited edition LSD cube.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Pretty in Pink




Geoff's latest Christmas installation at the Wilderstein Historic Site in Rhinebeck, NY. The beautiful (untouched since 1888) interior's slowly but artfully decaying silk wall coverings and hand carved paneling in white and gold provides the setting for this year's theme of a Modern (and anachronistic) Christmas. Sitting in a beautiful 19th century cast iron urn stands a six foot Christmas tree wrapped in hot pink lights encircling the tree and reaching out across the floor, spilling a warm neon glow of holiday cheer. A huge hot pink bow made of dyed coconut matting ties the whole thing together with a dramatic flourish!

This room and the rest of the mansion is open to the public through Christmas.

The Ghost of Christmas Past: Click here to see Geoff's Winter Princess installation last year!


Click Here to see out the article about Wilderstein in the Poughkeepsie Journal, featuring Geoff's work!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

La Vie Grand Marnier!

Recently, one of Geoff Howell studio's very talented project managers designed a window display expanding on a graphic provided by Grand Marnier. Retaining the graphic's feeling, the rendering above was produced and a table, risers and chandelier were designed and made specifically for this installation. Below is a photograph of the finished piece. This window is one of many that GHS tackles for various 'spirits' brands including Veuve Cliquot, Moet Chandon, Avion Tequila, Skyy and Belvedere Vodka and Bacardi.