Giant Lampshades in Production!

Here's a look at the hard working GHS crew making magic for Victoria's Secret (international baby!) The super tall lampshade seen below was destined for Dubai! In addition to what you see in the photo, this shade was fitted with custom Swaroski computer programed sparkling LED backed crystals!

Christos and Erin working their magic on a multi-striped silk lampshades destined for New Bond Street in London

This is a finished shade in another style for the same London location. Keep your eye out for an Architectural Digest magazine feature article coming soon on this store!

Smells like Success!

Set in the famed hills of West Hollywood, The London Hotel played host to this year's Aramis Designer Fragrances Sales Conference. Once again Geoff Howell Studio was given the honor of working with the wonderful team at Aramis in designing, producing and installing all the decor for the various product launches and all the fancy food fests!

A view of downtown Los Angeles from the roof of the London Hotel

A swanky welcome dinner on the roof of The London features one long long table with a reflecting pool of water running the length filled with floating candles and orchid blossoms

The after party was decorated in a rich silver and white palette,  added to the pool side cabanas, offering amazing rooftop view as well

If you look closely you can spot Geoff waving to the camera in the middle of another rooftop luncheon

Dinner at  the chic Italian eatery Cecconi's on another evening, was decked out with luscious bouquets of hundreds of  red roses on every table, as well as accents of white pillows, candles and silver garden stools.

For a special last night blast, dinner was held at the STK steakhouse. Fuchsia was the tone of the evening implemented in the up lighting of the walls and the vivid color of the orchid display dominating the center of the room. To add a touch of high elegance, Geoff added his own custom candelabras into the mix. The orchids were placed in tall glass cylinders in water to create a magical refractive optic effect while passing by.

Brian of Geoff Howell Studio and Kristin of Aramis behind the scenes.

Hundreds of orchids lying in wait for their moment!

A much needed moment of rest in between product launch/decor changes.  Geoff snaps a photo while the crew catches a breath on a sumptuous gold leather sofa in the London Hotel lobby.

Through the Looking Glass

Thus grew the tale of Wonderland:
Thus slowly, one by one,
Its quaint events were hammered out —
And now our tale is done
And home we steer, a merry crew,
Beneath the setting sun.

-opening poem, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

 

Samuel & Sons, a specialist in the world's finest passementerie and APF Munn, a custom mirror maker of the highest order joined together for this year's Hospitality Design Conference & Expo at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas. Samuel & Sons came up with the brilliant and fitting notion of a 'Through the Looking Glass' theme. To bring this idea to life Geoff was brought on to come up with clever ideas to make it all come together.  Making the booth stand out in a heavily corporate-looking show was an important goal of all involved. Inspired by the beautiful collections in Samuel & Sons repertoire, Geoff selected a vibrant color palette for the walls that would highlight the different products. Geoff chose a light 'champagne' colored carpet to help reflect light upwards and make the booth even brighter. In the center of the booth, fours chairs were custom upholstered, fit for a queen! 

The time frame was challenging, but working with the delightful, helpful and committed people from both companies made the job so much more satisfying! The crowning glory of the presentation were perhaps the hand painted cut-outs of the story's main characters inspired by the original Tim Dennial drawings for Alice in Wonderland, exquisitely dressed using Samuel and Son's trims, tassels, crystals, and fringe along with fine fabrics from Jim Thompson. 

The fancy white rabbit checks his watch before hopping through the looking glass

Opposite the white rabbit, Alice's growing and shrinking potions await!

A 9 foot tall Alice looks on in shock at her new size.

A closeup of Alice's dress with all the trimmings!

The Queen of Hearts, dressed in her finest,  points a recriminating finger at Alice

The Caterpillar, fancier than ever before, sports his silk and glass trimmed jacket, complete with genuine jade fringes along his silk body suit.

A bedecked Mad Hatter awaits Alice to join him for Tea. The party boasts a new fringed tablecloth and trimmed cake!
A beautiful etched mirror floats above!

The stripes of the Hatter's coat and trousers are made from black velvet and silk borders

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum 'mirror' the circular mirrors on the wall nearby in their spiffy striped jumpers and braces!

 

Detail from Tweedle Dum fringed outfit showing off the Roger Thomas designs.

Taking a cat nap on one of the mirror tops, the Cheshire Cat reposes.

Here you see his wild stripes are actually made of brush-fringe (which comes in at least 70 colors!)

Here's a peep at the Queen's Rose Garden, made from mirror and fringe.

And finally, here's  are some of the beautiful Samuel & Sons product in a more traditional display.

 The Making of  'Through the Looking Glass':

A plethora of Samuel & Sons trimmings awaits

The Mad Hatter, freshly tea-stained is ready for some definition and a sharp new outfit

Alice got more than she bargained for when she sampled the contents of this bottle!

Don't be a drag, just be a queen...

The naked caterpillar hits on the queen in her speed tape undergarments!

All dressed for a reigning day, someone's head will roll!

Breakfast (Table) @ Tiffany's

For Tiffany & Co's New York flagship, we made this elegant 18 foot long, long polished white lacquer, including the design and turning of the legs. Please note our defiance of gravity in successfully keeping a sag-free table with no center support!

We also painted and re-upholstered the gorgeous booth-like 18th century style chairs with white pleather.

Although rather impractical for an intimate 'Breakfast at Tiffany's', sitting 18 feet apart in womb like chairs catching glimpses of each other through the myriad of candles, it does present an elegant and dramatic centerpiece for the room.