The Calming Affects of Candida Höfer

As a designer so many images come across my screen on a daily basis it takes one extremely special to make me stop and stare! Well this is EXACTLY what happened when viewing photos from Kips Bay Showhouse. This dining room designed by Elissa Cullman and Tracy Pruzan of Cullman & Kravis is just stunning! The piece that literally drew me in, craving for more, was the larger than life photograph by Candida Höfer. Just one look at "Palacio Nacional da Ajuda Lisboa VII" and I was a serious fan.

Yes the Biedermeier Chairs are gorgeous and the color palette whispers serenity but it's the wall decor that captures all my attention. In this room I would have to strategically seat myself facing away from the piece as to not be completely distracted by it. The way she photographs her pieces makes one feel like they are actually standing in the space and with this particular room, an enormous sense of calm comes over me. Isn't it amazing when a piece of art can engage all of your senses?!

Höfer's work has been described as "psychology of social architecture", quite appropriate I would say!

 

 

 Another touch by the designers I love is that they did not feel the need to mimic the long tables in the art work. The round dining table works perfectly as it moves your eye around the room to include all of its aspects!

(images from Washington Post,  Contemporary Forum & StyleBeat)