Black and White

The Real Estate Market might be plummeting in Chicago and chilling for the new Trump Towers, according to The Chicago Tribune article on Dec.2, 2007. However in the mean times Ivanka is investing her talents, designs, and money in diamonds "yes they are a girls best friend." Darlings in the world of the rich, money always know how to make more money. As recently mentioned in Forbes Magazine as one of the The 20 Most Intriguing Billionaire Heiresses, it seems the favorite Blonde Heiress, Ivanka Trump has partnered with Dynamic Diamond Corp. to design a line of jewelry. The jewelry collection was recently unveiled at the opening of her new flagship store on Madison Avenue. While the collection is quite good, it is Ivanka's super stylish boutique done in black and white (Noir and Blanc) with splashes of yellow and coral, that I really like. Ivanka, Palm Beach heritage shines through in this design style.

My recent visit to Manhattan assured me that some real estate markets are alive and well. Noir Blanc Interiors, flourishes in the winter in Palm Beach Interior Design where swans like Ivanka Trump know Noir Blanc style.

The English Avant Garde

Ann Carrington Limited Edition

Fynedon Gothic c.1790 Wallpaper

Noir Blanc Interiors, discerning Decorator Barbara Segal, is the Women to call when your decor needs the finishing touches. With over 20 years in the Accessory and Gift business and a nationally published advisor in the industry, Segal believes that an accessory can be the perfect final flourish to any decor. "I really like coming in and adding the last finishing touches to an architect's or designers, streamline look." The latest rage is anything English, think Victoria Beckham, Elton John, Maddonna, and the Queen Elisabeth stateside visit to the Kentucky Derby. "The English Are Coming" is suddenly the rage.

Below are some of the English Channels, Barbara suggests for Accessorizing British Style.

ENGLISH WALLPAPER

Hamilton Weston's beautiful wallpapers hang in stately homes and other heritage projects throughout the UK, and have enhancing film and television sets, corporate buildings and private homes around the world.

ENGLISH ART BY ANN CARRINGTON

Only 50 copies of 'Pearly Queen of Dalston' are for sale exclusively from AnnCarrington.co.uk. The original was purchased for the Rothschild Collection at Waddeson Manor Buckinghamshire, in celebration of the Queen's 80th birthday. This print of the original is a full color lithoprint with raised detail. Each piece is printed on velvet paper, and is signed and numbered by the artist. The artwork is an edition of 300 and measures 54cm x 42cm. The costs £195.00 unframed, or £295.00 in a perspex frame specially chosen by the artist. Prices include postage, packaging, and delivery insurance. For enquiries or placing an order please email ann@anncarrington.co.uk

WATERFORD CRYSTAL

The perfect way to bring in the holidays!

The company of Waterford was first established in 1783 in the heart of the Irish harbor town of Waterford. Its founders were two brothers, William and George Penrose, who were important developers and principal exporters in the city. Their vision was to "create the finest quality crystal for drinking vessels and objects of beauty for the home." More than two hundred years later, the reputation they established for creating glass of unsurpassed beauty and quality has transcended the intervening centuries. Today, Waterford's principal manufacturing plant stands on a 40-acre site on the outskirts of the city made famous by its glittering product.

Barbara selects, this elegant Waterford Fine China, Catania for a beautiful Classic English Holiday table .

Celebrity Hip Style

When I saw these rooms online in House and Gardens, I just feel in love with the look. It turns out the designer is Gwyneth Paltrow who seem to have fabulous taste in clothes, men, and home design. Can you image coming home to the lead singer of "Coldplay" serenading you and the kids? The Foyer with the turquoise chair was just so fabulously my taste, and the needlepoint crown by Ann Carrington was a brilliant step to turn the look rock and role minimalists. The decoupage lamp in the Foyer is a John Derian , who I bought from in New York for years and sold in my French Stores, Soiree. It's good to know Gwen and I both have good taste.

Like Gwen herself, the décor gives off a vibe that is softly refined and very hip. A little bit rock and roll. The photos are available online right now (the full spread is in the November mag which is out now).

The Noir Blanc chairs are one-of-kind, which she found at Madeline Weinrib Atelier.

Design At Trump International Towers Moving Ahead

Trump International Hotel & Tower is sure to be luxury living downtown. The convenience and services the luxury private residents will offer, are services that are found only in the world's finest Five Star hotels. Recently we took this photo for our overseas client to see the progress the building is making. Hiring a designer in the beginning stage of a building project is always the smartest way to build. It assures you upgrades and individual design and control of the project at hand, giving you the client value added square footage. At Noir Blanc Interiors we provide all the information needed for successful purchasing and installation. Also quantities and prices from specs are used for budgets and schedules.

While working on specs in our office via satellite Internet with our client, we are jumping with joy at the luxury brands that are standards. Snaidero Italian Kitchens, Wolf Kitchen Appliance, hard wood floors, and fireplaces. Working on the project is a pure joy, knowing we are creating an extraordinary lifestyle opportunity. Playing on the schematics of the panoramic views of Lake Michigan, the Chicago River and the city skyline a client/designer dream come true.


In our design we will create work stations, for a home office, hobbies, games and a Kitchen space crowded with an extended family that never leaves the kitchen. From the dining room, the view of the kitchen will be like a modern painting. Furthered our plan of juxtaposing modern art, which is what the kitchen will be, a rich antique setting. The kitchen is simple, clean and beautiful.

Tranquility At Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore has a fun new viral marketing web site:

Design My Room

http://www.designmyroom.com/Home.aspx

Vote on Barbara Segal's late night design, BarbaraNoirBlanc is user name.

Barbara states, "I only use Benjamin Moore paints in my design work. And I typically paint with flat as it is a much richer look." I was looking up the site to select and suggest paint colors for a recent renovation for a country home that was described as very dark. Upon looking up Benjamin Moore site I stumbled upon their fun new virtual marketing site
Design My Room. As a web publisher I found this new site to be fun and addictive. I could not lay a rug for the life of my laptop so I decided, less is more.
Try it, it's FUN and please be our friend!

High Rise Luxury Design - Chicago Lakeshore East

Noir Blanc Interiors LLC, high rise project at Chicago's Lakeshore East, The Chandler. The 3 bedroom condo design project is under way with eleven shades of paint colors from Benjamin Moore, as shown "Raspberry Truffle" to Ralph Laurens, Prizza Blanca suede, for texture. With a view like this supervising the tradesmen on a Saturday is a joy! The view let's us check out Trump Towers', it is moving along as scheduled and the photo snapped today proves it beauty!

River East is looking gorgeous, last nights River East Gallery Art Center party assured us this is a hot area! Viewing and watching Chicago's newest spiral high rise "Chicago Spire" being built is fascinating. Noir Blanc Interiors, President, Barbara Sheehan Segal states " With my Irish heritage and Chicago roots I look forward to working with client at this International architectural gem!" The Spire is slated to be Chicago's tallest building, according to wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Spire

Wait isn't that what they told Donald Trump?

Bedroom Space

Our consumer driven, worldly, and increasingly wealthy society has resulted in our having many more personal possessions. This has had an effect in the bedroom, which has traditionally been small in terms of space allocation except in the mansions and larger town houses of yesteryear. Today’s households tend to hoard clothes, until such time as space limitations dictate we take our outdated fashion to the charity shop.

Bedrooms, especially in vintage gray stones, historical landmark homes and high rises which abound in Boston, Miami, Chicago, New York and San Francisco are invariably the most likely place to find low beams, sloping floors and bulging or uneven walls. By adding free standing wardrobes, chests of drawers and tallboys we are making way for the more space efficient fitted wardrobes and drawer units.

Although the bedroom is where you also hope to get some sleep the issue which is most likely to keep you awake at the planning stage is: how do I maximize storage space?

Barbara Segal is an expert in solving this problem. She's had years of experience dealing with awkward spaces; but unlike many other people she has an eye for the aesthetics as well as the practicalities. Since the whole aim of the bedroom is to provide the right environment for sound, refreshing sleep, the way it looks and the way it is fitted out are both important. Creaking floor boards and traffic or other external sounds may ruin a good night's rest. So attention to the curtaining, bed linens, pillows, paint colors, and carpeting all come under her scrutiny while working with Noir Blanc Interiors.

Chicago Interior Design

Noir Blanc Interiors, President Barbara Segal was awarded the design for a three bedroom condo at the The Chandler. The new high-rise building is nearing completion and is in Chicago's new Lakeshore East area of downtown.

design architect: DeStefano + Partners, Ltd., Loewenberg + Associates

Other firms: Magellan Development Group, Ltd., Near North Properties, Inc., James McHugh Construction Co., Halvorson and Partners, Loewenberg + Associates, The Office of James Burnett, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, International Engineering Consultants, Inc., JMS Electric, Inc., O'Sullivan, Inc., JMS Electric, Inc., Lindahl Brothers, Inc., Case Foundation Company, Advance Mechanical Systems, Inc., O'Sullivan, Inc., Superior Mechanical Systems, Inc., The Prairie Group, Hanwha America Develop

Noir Blanc Interiors Trumps Decor in Chicago

Trump Towers Chicago
Ever wanted to just move right in to your hotel room? I do all the time. Good news, the cool new Trump International Towers is a hotel with upscale retail and luxury living residential. Future residents of Chicago's most talked about new luxury residents will be design infused by Noir Blanc Interiors. For our International clients we are buying everything from the mattress to the bedding to the art on the walls and bath accessories." With the address of 401 N. Wabash Ave., the Trump Tower shops will overlook a riverfront walkway that is just a block from the North Michigan Avenue shopping.

To date buyers have committed to purchase 601 units, valued at approximately $600 million, in the glass clad tower that also will include 100,000 square feet of retail space, a park and 1,000 parking spaces. The average selling price of the 223 hotel condominiums sold is $1,325 a square foot. The average price of the 378 residential condominiums is $1,093 a square foot.

Trump International Tower, Chicago



Designed by Adrian D. Smith, FAIA, RIBA Design Partner at Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP.

Historical Landmark HighRise

This project was in one of downtown Chicago's best-known landmark districts. The buildings comprising the East Lake Shore Drive historic district were built between 1912 and 1929 and designated a Chicago landmark on April 18, 1985. The architects (Marshall & Fox and Fugard & Knapp) based their designs on established European styles, these plush apartment buildings nonetheless represented a break with tradition. The population influx at the turn of the century had placed downtown Chicago real estate at a premium, and it was these buildings (among others) that made apartment living a viable alternative for the very wealthy. The East Lake Shore Drive historic district is comprised of a total of eight buildings: the Drake Hotel and seven apartment highrises. This property was the former, Mayfair Regent hotel which overlooks the city's prettiest stretch of Lake Shore Drive. Many Chicagoans' dined at its famous restaurant, Ciel Bleu ("blue sky") which was considered one of Chicago's most romantic restaurants with its intimate European ambiance and a superlative view and was located on the 19th penthouse floor. In 1996, the Mayfair Regent was converted to a glittering Gold-Coast apartment by LR Developers. Noir Blanc Interiors LLC, President Barbara Segal spent two jovial years working with the Chicago widowed owner on this historical rehab. It was this project that came to her as epiphany of what her life’s work was to be.

Yacht Interiors Preparation For The 2007 Miami Boat Show

Gearing Up For The Miami Boat Show

Noir Blanc Interiors has devoted much of the last 7 years working in the Yacht Industry. Our design firm has enjoyed working with many clients who live beautiful lives at Sea and we have worked with some of the worlds best Yacht builders like Sunseeker, Christensen Shipyards, and Feadship. February is a busy time of year in the Yachting Industry, it is post Miami International Boat Show. The world largest and finest Yachts are put to Sea, to sail and dock in the Harbors of Miami. This is the boat show of all boat shows and it takes place in Miami Feb. 15-19, 2007. The Worlds finest Yacht builders display their hottest newest designs and mix it up with, A List parties to sell multi million dollar Yachts. All this in anticipation of attracting and selling new owners a yacht. This is big business, after all the wealthy like the "mine is bigger then yours toys." In an article published in the Wall Street Journal, The Wealth Report, written by Robert Frank, Russian oil tycoon Roman Abrahmovich, has ordered a craft that will measure 525 feet, which will be The World's Biggest Yacht. Oracle founder Larry Elliston, built RIsing Sun in 2004 which measures 455 feet which ranks number 5 in The World Biggest Yacht.

Noir Blanc has designed the Interiors and completed dozens of fine vessels. Our latest is a 157-foot trideck, which is anything but just another pretty yacht and we bill displayed at the upcoming Miami Boat Show. "A considerable part of Noir Blanc Interiors success is also due to the contributions of the Yacht owners, combined with our design teams exceptional and exquisite taste in directing the interior design," states Barbara Segal President of Noir Blanc Interiors. So start dreaming about those cabanas on the beach, frosty mojitos, pack your flip-flops and head south—to where the boats are.

Empty Spaces Can Create the Feeling of More Space

Society is more aware of good design because it has become more accessible and affordable. At Noir Blanc Interiors LLC, we beleive that one of the worst things that can happen is when the client interferes in every aspect of the design and doesn't allow the project to develop. "Individuals tend to feel that every corner of a room needs a piece of furniture. But empty spaces can create the feeling of more space. "Interior design is a discipline, and the design process is a collabortive exploratory and appropriate to the specific needs of the client," states Barbara Sheehan Segal. With the explosion of home decorating programs and resources on television, on the Internet and in the design stores, we find the design is increasingly afforable and available. Still, a designer is hired for their taste, talent and professionlism.

Design Is What Makes Your Home

Design is what makes your house a home. Design is what makes a box in the sky, an elegant stylish retreat you call home. It is the reason the best parties wind up in the kitchen. Noir Blanc Interiors, LLC. has an established reputation for providing a pleasant and hassle-free experience of adding style to your interior space. This is reflected by our repeat clients and their referrals. Our unique chic way of working on a budget is what sets us apart. Visit our web site a http://www.noirblancinteriors.com/ or contact BarbaraNoirblanc@aol.com