Posts Tagged ‘Crate & Barrel’
In Celebration of Artifice
Real or fake? Appraisal being something of a way of life, this question is applied to almost everything nowadays from memoir writers, TV shows and handbags, along with its more traditional subjects like body parts, bacon bits, and bling. The understanding is always that real is better, preferred, and ideal. And, sometimes it is. But with the holiday season upon us, this seems a perfect time to celebrate an authenticity not of pretty objects and entertainment, but of feelings, words and actions. And conversely, to appreciate the sly value of the blatantly, shamelessly unreal, the charmingly sincere fake that does not seek to deceive. In that spirit, here’s the following fake trees, ranging from tabletop to full size, as an invitation to rethink what makes something “a good fake.”
In the words of the band Blonde Redhead: Fake can be just as good
Felt Trees from CB2
Felt Trees from CB2
The clean lines and spare profile of these soft conical wonders from CB2 add a decorative touch without any fussiness.
Mini Ornament Tree from Crate and Barrel
Mini Ornament Tree from Crate and Barrel
If all you really want is to show off your ornament collection, then maybe all that greenery is just in the way. This tiny ornament tree with its scrolled hooks for ornaments is an ideal way to showcase beloved favorites so they don’t get lost in the branches.
Bottle Brush Tree by Kuno Prey
Bottle Brush Tree by Kuno Prey
This German import featuring a rendition of the humble bottle brush elevates the mundane to the celebratory and was designed by Kuno Prey, a professor at the Free University of Bolzano in Italy.
The Secret’s in the Trunk
As an observer, I’m gripped by the secret lives of others–what people privately hold dear and what they stow away from the watchful eyes of outsiders. As a paranoid resident of New York City, I’m obsessed with keeping my “valuables” hidden. So it came as no surprise to me when, as I was browsing the latest Crate&Barrel catalog that I’d snagged from a random stairwell, I was struck by the handsome quality of the Hunter Trunk and its hidden offerings inside.
The large refashioned steamer trunk with three hinged lids opens to reveal generous storage areas with a surprise at every turn. The center compartment opens up to a space with removable dividers for stashing up to eight bottles of wine (served, no doubt, atop the removable serving tray). And if that isn’t enough, just pull out the lid support arms on either end to keep the storage areas open without sacrificing tabletop space.
The richness of the wood, its iron hardware with clear powdercoat finish, its various compartments for keeping odds and ends like remote controls and straggler DVDs in place. Yes, I could surely visualize my hardcover of The Count of Monte Cristo and a brightly colored, autumn knitting project atop this sophisticated, dark wooded trunk. What might be tucked away neatly underneath? Well, that’s a secret, of course.
There’s nothing quite like a traditional wood chest or trunk to polish off the look of a room, except maybe an old, oak grandfather clock or dark cherry wood built-in bookshelves or a sleek, black baby grand piano. . . but let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.
If you’re into matching furniture, you might also want to check out the companion storage piece to the full-size Hunter Trunk – the Hunter Side Trunk.
Hunter Trunk: $499.00
Hunter Side Trunk: $329.00
Visit crateandbarrel.com for more photos and information.
Posted by Nicole Bruce
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