Summer Beauty

Summer is the time of palm trees, cool blue waters, and the no-makeup makeup look. When it comes to effortless summer beauty, a good eyebrow and a simple bag can make your look. At ONA VILLIER we have compiled a list of 7 incredible summer beauty and fragrance products and expertly paired them each with a matching bag.

Glossier Boy Brow VIBE: Structured

Matching bag: Bonet in Indigo—cool, yet expensive

The Glossier Boy Brow has quickly become a cult favorite since it was released, and it deserves its holy grail status because it’s truly a one stop shop for groomed (or messy) brows. Sweep this product across your brows in upward motions to fluff and sculpt.

Dior Lip Glow Reviver Balm VIBE: Ethereal

Matching bag: Pompeii crossbody—light and aery

The Lip Glow Reviver Balm from Dior is not only a hydrating balm, but it is formulated with color reviving technology, making the most dull lips look vibrant. This balm gives a sheer, pink glow to the lips giving your entire look an ethereal summer glow.

Diptyque Roses Room Spray VIBE: Romantic

Matching bag: Atlas Messenger—Romantic and deep

Diptyque describes their Roses Room Spray as smelling like a “tender, freshly picked bouquet” that “pays homage to the queen of flowers.” Roses can take on a new vibe during each season of the year, and summer is a particularly romantic time to use the intoxicating scent of rose.

Glockengasse No. 4711 VIBE: Enchanting

Matching bag: Gotica Tote—Enchanting and complex

4711 is a traditional German fragrance that people have been obsessing over for more than 200 years. The notes include orange oil, peach, lemon, jasmine and tahitian vetiver, making 4711 a perfect choice for a summer fragrance. Citrus gives it brightness, while the deeper bottom notes ground this complex and iconic scent.

Sephora Cheek Ink Gel

VIBE: Bright

Sarria bag—structured, clean, yet undone.

The Sephora Cheek Ink Gel is a long-lasting (and underrated) blush that goes on as a gel and acts like a stain on the cheeks. The shade Water Lily is a bright pink that keeps its depth even as you sheer it out onto your skin. The shade is also more of a cool tone which instantly brightens your face. Apply a tiny drop of product onto a dense buffing brush and apply in circular motions onto the cheeks, starting at the hairline and moving towards the apples.

Glossier Concealer

VIBE: Effortless

Matching bag: Alhambra Foldover—Effortlessly beautiful

The Glossier stretch concealer is a holy grail for coverage. According to Glossier this product contains healthy oils and microwaxes that move with your skin. This concealer truly has the ability to look just like skin, which makes it perfect for summer when you just need to cover a few blemishes or discoloration without putting a layer of foundation all over your face.

Check out these bags (and more!) on the ONA VILLIER website.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Brand is Born

Our names, in part, are what make us who we are. As a child, I really wanted to have a more popular name — something like Sylvia or Jess — but as I grew older and no longer had the need to blend in or fit in, I started to appreciate the unique and simple name I was given.

 

As it turns out, Ona is not only my name, but also a word that has many meanings in different languages and cultures around the world. Here are some of them:

 

— In Catalan, which is my native tongue and the official language of Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, Ona means “wave”. Growing up on an island surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, I always thought that was very appropriate.

 

— In Euskera, the language spoken in Spain and France’s Basque Country, Ona means the “the good one” as used for a feminine pronoun. In Spanish, it would be “la buena”.

 

— My father, who is an artist and loves using the Japanese Sumi watercolor technique, once discovered in his research that “woman” in Japanese was pronounced “ohn-nah”, and that it has its own Kanji symbol. I thought that was so cool that when I was eighteen, and to my mother’s dismay, I had the Kanji symbol tattooed on the lower back.

— In Russian and serbo-croatian, Ona is the pronoun “she”. This makes for “Who’s on Next” type of conversations between my Croatian friends and their friends when referring to me.

 

— Ona was also the name of my great-great grandmother, born in Russia. We found this out after I had my name, so as my mother likes to say “it feels like this really WAS pre-ordained.”

I always love learning about the different meanings of my name, and I like to think that with each one I grow into its significance.

 

A BRAND IS BORN

 

Out of BINICHIC emerges the namesake brand “Ona Villier”

 

Some months ago, we met and instantly connected with New York-based Jodi Sandman of Crescala Fashion Development. We knew we shared the vision and the passion for creating beautiful, wearable quality objects, so we started on the path together to create “Ona Villier”.

 

At that time, our brand was BINICHIC, a handbag and accessories collection inspired by our Mediterranean Lifestyle. Bini represents the rustic, the natural the antique. Chic is how we mix it up with refined and designed things giving objects and space a new and inspired life.

 

As Jodi says: “We changed the name to Ona’s “namesake” because we thought her identifiably European and Romantic name was the perfect tagline for our beautifully European-made product. To us, the name infers a more refined and luxurious product.” BINICHIC will always be the Mediterranean Lifestyle —- the source of Ona Villier’s inspiration.

 

Moving forward, you will still see the subtle and unique screening of our original prints on the bags; and our beautifully crafted soft and supple leathers in modern and wearable silhouettes; and now we have introduced a few new trend driven silhouettes; more updated and elevated hardware, and some finishes that are new for us, that make the product even more special. All of our bags are still made in Menorca in their entirety by very talented artisans. In the near future, we hope to add some simple jewelry and other accessories.

 

Ona Villier: Luxury Handbags Made in Spain

 

As a graphic designer and the co-founder of the brand, creating the logo and the collateral was a dream job and also one of the hardest projects I have ever taken on. What would be the “perfect” way to represent the brand and also my own name? After many versions, feedback and quite a bit of reflection, I decided that what felt true to me was using a stylized version of my signature. I wanted it it to feel personal and with its own character.

 

Come visit www.onavillier.com

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

A Holiday in Menorca

 

Guest Post by Mary Robertson

What a pleasure for my husband Jim and me to visit Menorca and drop in on the life Susan Unger has made for herself there.  I first met Susan on Menorca 20 years ago when I visited the island with a friend.  I was happy to find the island still pristine and beautiful, and to see that 20 years down the road Susan is still making her art on the island.

Binichic_mary_1

Susan invited us to S’Olivera, the farmhouse she recently remodeled to be ultra comfortable but with the character of a centuries old, whitewashed farmhouse.
The house, surrounded by wild olive and fig trees, contains a studio where Susan works and where she has kept various pieces from the collections she has offered, a colorful archive of dresses, scarves and other silkscreened fabrics, including fashion and home accessories.

Binichic_mary_11

Binichic_mary_2

We spent one afternoon exploring her archive treasures.  Motifs of the island appear again and again in her creations– waves from the azure coves, grasses and insects, foliage, stone patterns and motifs from the island’s ancient culture.

Binichic_mary_10Binichic_mary_9

She showed me one of her first collection books she made to show clients.  It proves how unwavering her artistic vision has remained whether she was doing beautiful silkscreened pieces as Violeta des Moli (Violet of the Mill in Catalan) in the late ‘70s and ‘80s, as Susan Unger in the ‘90s, or now, as she is producing with Ona as Binichic.

Binichic_mary_6

On the collection book, she placed a piece of leather she had chosen for Binichic’s spring 2016 collection next to a color palette from Violeta des Moli.  The dusty taupe for next spring complements beautifully the shades from one of her first collections.

Binichic_mary_5Binichic_mary_4

For Susan, living on the island has always meant making art on the island.  A photograph from 30 years ago of her workshop shows nearly a dozen people silkscreening, dyeing, cutting and pressing fabric for her creations.  As we flipped through her scrapbooks, there were images of a lovely young Queen Sofia of Spain, wearing in the 1980s an Iris print blouse from Violeta des Moli.  In those days, Susan’s collections were sold in some of the finest European boutiques including Cacharel in Madrid and Fiorucci in Barcelona.

Susan wrote of her inspiration at the time, “Sometimes a Spanish Morning Glory, a sprig of lavender, a bunch of poppies, sometimes a flock of birds, are then silkscreened by hand directly on to fabric… in a limited edition, like a little work of art.”

Binichic_mary_12

We admired, among the pieces, brightly color chiffons, a beautiful riot of colors.  Many dresses exhibited what the French call “flou” — with flowing layers, creating a fluttering, romantic silhouette.  As beautifully as her pieces move on the body, it’s not surprising she has designed costumes for many dance and ballet companies.

When I met her twenty years ago, Susan was just about to leave for New York City where she designed fashion and home collections under the label Susan Unger.  I was delighted to acquire a beautiful collection of her silkscreened dresses in silks and velvets.

susan_unger_5

Bergdorf Goodman offered her pieces and Donna Karan used her Susan’s lyrical prints in her runway collections.  (I told Ona that one day I would give her my Susan Unger pieces, but not yet, I’m still wearing them!)  While working in New York City, Susan always kept her house on Menorca, truly her home and a well of artistic inspiration.

susan_unger_10

The word artisanal is overused today in fashion and food, but Binichic is the real thing– made by hand in small quantities in beautiful Menorca.  Binichic is even more of a family affair than I knew.  In her earliest days on the island, Susan met and married the artist Marcel Villier, Ona’s father.  Marcel’s current wife Nuria works with Binichic, silkscreening leathers and coordinating production with Susan and Ona.  One morning of our stay, Carlos– the man in Susan’s life now and the one she calls My Love– was helping her stretch a silkscreen for a spring ’16 print.  And Ona’s daughter, Ariadna, is the inspiration for the Ari handbag.

Binichic_mary_14

What a beautiful life Susan and Carlos have made at S’Olivera, interacting with a wide circle of family and friends, swimming in the clear blue waters, stargazing at night.
It was such a joy to see my friend living her dream on Menorca.  We hope to return one day, ideally when a local museum curator on the island organizes a Susan Unger retrospective.  That’s a fashion show I’d love to see!

*Below, a photo of the author and Susan

Binichic_mary_3

We’d like to thank Mary for her beautifully written post.

All photos by Mary Robertson (except the Donna Karan and the Susan Unger fashion archive photos)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Modern Classics

In a world of fast (and disposable) fashion that values trends over quality, one company has decided to do things differently. Sabah shoes produce quality leather slip-ons in limited quantities, and are the perfect, bright outfit maker for city dwellers.

 Binichic_sabah_1

These shoes are hand stitched by craftsman in Turkey who are specially trained in shoe construction. Sabahs are made of a hand picked leather or suede upper and rubber outsole, lending to their aesthetic and quality. Sabahs are a durable shoe, meant to last for years with soles that can easily be replaced by a cobbler.

Binichic_sabah_2

Micky Ashmore started Sabah while working for Microsoft in Turkey. While there, Ashcroft discovered the classic slip on shoe worn by Turkish people. When Ashcrofft returned to the U.S. he continued to wear the shoes, and friends began asking where they could get pairs for themselves. Not knowing anywhere in the U.S. he could send them, he began producing them in small quantities for his friends, but with a few changes (such as adding rubber to the traditional leather soles.) He began selling Sabah’s as a side to his 9-5 job, choosing to rent out a space on Sunday’s and offer drinks to potential customers.

Binichic_sabah_4

While many new companies rush to sell their products online (we all know anyone can have an Etsy store nowadays) Sabah likes to keep things personal. Shoes can be ordered via e-mail, but there is no sign of an “add to shopping cart” or “proceed to checkout” on the site. This is for two reasons, and the first has to do with production. With quality shoes hand sewn by artisans, the company chooses to produce them in limited monthly  quantities.

Sabah also prides itself on having a relationship with everyone that purchases their product, and chooses to interact via phone, e-mail, or in person over the e-commerce approach. Appointments can be made at their New York space to purchase shoes in stock, or special order a pair that is usually received in 6-8 weeks.

Binichic_sabah_5

Post by: Kari Gibbons for Binichic.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Not Your Typical Kilim

I believe that what makes a project “great” is the designers’ ability to take a good concept and give it shape with an original design, solid quality and a sustainable production. Fellow designers and dear friends of ours, Ivana Blaž and Nina Mršnik of Kobeiagi Kilims, are the brains behind this great new project. Their love and lifelong admiration of handmade traditional Bosnian kilims led them to create a line of handwoven rugs with their own contemporary designs.

Binichic_kobeiagi_5

Originally from a small Bosnian town, Ivana is a citizen of the world. She studied architecture in Venice, and later moved to Barcelona, where we met and became good friends while getting our Masters at Elisava. She finally settled in Ljubljana (Slovenia), where she is currently living. It was there that she reunited with Nina, with whom she had studied in Venice, and together they collaborated on various projects — one of which we featured in an earlier blog post — in the areas of illustration and architecture.

Nina is a very talented designer and illustrator who has worked with some of today’s eminent names in the world of design and architecture. She got her MA at the renowned Royal College of Art in London. I knew that ever since Ivana and Nina moved to Ljubljana they had wanted to create a project together that was dear to their hearts and which would allow them to grow as designers while giving back to the community. Kobeiagi was that project.

Binichic_kobeiagi_3

Ivana has been surrounded by kilims since early childhood, since they are an indispensable element of décor in many homes in former Yugoslavia. Apart from being used as regular carpets, i.e. placed on the floor, kilims are regularly featured on walls, sofas and beds. Due to a disappearing labor force of artisans (making each piece almost a relic) and changing tastes, these days traditional kilims are harder to find in modern homes.

Binichic_kobeiagi_4

Binichic_kobeiagi_1

This  decline in popularity is why they decided to give the kilim a new life through the use of fresh patterns, following the latest trends in world design.

As Mršnik and Blaž perfectly state: “The idea of starting the ‘kilim revival’ project had been on our minds for quite some time before it ripened; but after our visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where we saw with our own eyes that almost nobody continues to practice this traditional craft these days, we decided to step into action.

Binichic_kobeiagi_7 Binichic_kobeiagi_6

On that same occasion we also accidentally made the acquaintance of Mrs Lejla, the driving force behind the small community of women in Visoko who to this day continue the production of kilims. We were completely fascinated by the weavers’ skills; we immediately found common ground and started collaborating.”

Binichic_kobeiagi_9 Binichic_kobeiagi_8

Their designs are whimsical and timeless — and yet they perfectly retain and capture the many hours of savoir-faire and dedication an artisan woman has spent weaving it into creation.

Through their Kickstarter campaign, Mršnik and Blaž want to open a new chapter in the revival of the kilim’s popularity. They believe that its high quality, combined with a freshened and unique design, enables the kilim to rise above the huge supply of cheap carpets of mass production.

Binichic_kobeiagi_12 Binichic_kobeiagi_11The weavers use exclusively local wool, which is renowned for its superior quality. Wool is a remarkable material, as its thermo-regulating properties allow it to keep one warm in the winter and cool in the heat.

Every kilim is unique and it is the result of concentrated, patient handicraft; thus a kilim of 100 cm x 70 cm takes 4 days to realize, while the largest kilim with the dimensions of 200 cm x 300 cm takes a good six weeks!

Binichic_kobeiagi_10

They named the rugs after their favorite people, and each piece is sure to become part of your family as it transcends trends and becomes an heirloom to be passed down through the generations.

I am very excited to see this project come to fruition and receive my Kobeiagi kilim in a couple of months… now I just have to make up my mind and decide which one to pick!

www.kobeiagikilims.com

https://www.facebook.com/KobeiagiKilims

https://instagram.com/kobeiagi_kilims/

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Bedding Story

I finally have the time to sit down and write a proper post. We’ve been so busy lately working on different BiniChic projects, that it’s been hard to find the time to tell you all about them. We have some exciting news today: our bedding collection is here! Yes, you read that right — BiniChic partnered up with WestPoint Home and designed a beautiful, quality and affordable line of bedding.

Detail of Terracotta collection

Having our own line of bedding made perfect sense: our BiniChica Susan Unger has spent most of her life creating poetry with fabrics, so this was a natural extension of our brand. We delved into the BiniChic archives and created mood boards that represented the different “vibes” of the BiniChic Lifestyle.

Together with the talented team of designers at WPH, we selected our favorite moods and made artwork which they then used to create the duvets and pillows.

The BiniChic Bedding is inspired by the Mediterranean Island way of life mixed with a fresh modern take on bohemian vintage of Fortuny and Barcelona’s architecture. We wanted a collection that speaks of craftsmanship for today’s world — something that reminded you of that wonderful trip you took to the Mediterranean (or that you’ve always dreamed of taking). Easy to live with, it is refined and traditional.

BINICHIC_BEDDING_9

The image above is of the Terracotta bed. Inspired by Spanish mosaic floors and glass windows, the top-of-bed is a mattelasse jacquard handdrawn quatrefoil motif in ivory on a warm terracotta ground.

The Terracotta bed transports you … the warm sun is coming through the trees and houses while you stroll down Barcelona’s winding streets in the Barri Gòtic….

BINICHIC_BEDDING_10

We wanted our bedding to be both beautiful and practical, so we made all the duvets reversible. This way, you can create an entirely different look and feel as easily as turning the duvet over.

The Terracotta reverses to a 300-thread-count cotton sateen, which feels very soft and rich to the touch. The motif is an off-white scalloped mosaic texture that is reminiscent of the street pavements the ancient Romans made while in Barcino (that was Barcelona’s name during Roman times).

BINICHIC_BEDDING_11

BINICHIC_BEDDING_20

To go along with the duvets, we designed a series of pillows that highlight the rich heritage of the BiniChic Bedding. The Stained Glass is a design from the Susan Unger archives. Susan was inspired by the windows in a Romanic church in Barcelona. She created the effect of the stained glass by silk-screening the outline of the window in metallic over a colorful hand-painted background.

WestPoint did a wonderful job of interpreting it in this decorative pillow:

BINICHIC_BEDDING_15The white-on-white embroidered pillow is also cotton sateen, and adds an airy touch to this warm bed. Its design is another interpretation of the Mosaic motif, inspired by one of the many mosaics from Tarragona, an important colony in ancient Rome.

BINICHIC_BEDDING_12

BINICHIC_BEDDING_7

The Scallop motif reappears in this square pillow featuring mother-of-pearl buttons and silk embroidery on cotton velvet. We love the richness of the details.

BINICHIC_BEDDING_13

Foscari is the name of Fortuny’s Venitian Palazzo, as well as that of our second bed. Originally from Barcelona, Mariano Fortuny was well-known for his innovations in textile creation and for his marvelous atelier-palace in Venice. Since he’s always been an icon to us, we thought it would be appropriate to name this bed after his home.

BINICHIC_BEDDING_8

With this bed, we take you on a trip to the Venice of another time … through the tapestry-covered salones of Fortuny’s Palazzo, filled with rich velvet draperies and vintage lamps.

BINICHIC_BEDDING_5

The main motif of the Foscari bed is a hand-drawn damask pattern from our archives. Printed on a 300-thread count cotton sateen with a textured ground in foggy aqua and subtle metallic highlights. This bed feels very lavish and elegant.

The reverse of the Foscari bed is a linen-like fabric printed with branches and falling leaves in subtle metallic ink. We really like the feeling of rough-luxe that comes from the juxtaposition of the front and the reverse of this bed.

BINICHIC_BEDDING_19

BINICHIC_BEDDING_18

The oversized lumbar pillow is a restful lotus flower embroidered on a cotton sateen. It pairs very nicely with the Tree of Life, which is printed on cotton velvet with appliqued metallic leaves. These designs of ancient symbols are from the Binichic archives. They both feel like they could be items from Fortuny’s prized collection of antique artifacts from faraway lands.

BINICHIC_BEDDING_21

Metallic embellished pillows give a sense depth an add to the “luxe” aspect of the bed. In the 18″ square, we love the contrast between the cross-dyed tafeta background and the wool embroidered leaves scattered across it. The bolster with sequins reminds us of an old botanical illustration.

Eclectic, sensual and contemporary. Stay put for more information on where to get your own BiniChic bedding!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

A Breath of Fresh (Island) Air

Refined and traditional, yet eclectic, sensual and contemporary; our bags are easy to live with.  Like good art or wine, they are timeless. For this new collection — the Solivera — we wanted to capture the tones and textures of nature, especially the stones, minerals and ground cover in all of its glorious variations and subtleties.

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_1

The inspiration came from a need for sturdy, functional everyday bags, with that special touch of BiniChic. We wanted each bag to be a precious object — with its raw details part of the timeless design.

Our newest collection uses a bovine leather which is soft and supple to the touch, yet so thick and beautiful it doesn’t need lining or stiffeners. The body of the bag is pure hide, which we print on both sides instead of lining. This leather is ready for a busy life: it can be washed and buffed, resists stains, and develops a beautiful patina over time.

We loved working on the photos for this collection with the established photographer from Menorca, Jordi Escandell.

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_5

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_8

In fact, it is the same leather used to make the trendy Menorcan sandals — avarcas. Our designs are rooted in craftsmanship for today’s world: made in the Mediterranean by artisans.

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_7

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_2

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_3

The bags are simple in design and natural in materials. Most stitching and seams are on the outside, revealing the raw edges and impeccable craftsmanship.

The bags are accented with unique hand carved pieces of bone (off white) and horn (black) accessories.  Susan worked with artisans to make them years ago, and just discovered them in her archives in Menorca.  We are excited to offer this limited edition.

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_9

The palette is neutral — fresh from the Mediterranean — colors which can layer together or work on their own. Ebony, Natural Tan, Stone, Marble (shade of off white) and Indigo. They work in any season, any climate.

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_10BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_4

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_23

The prints are textures from nature and classic geometric patterns. Because they are printed by hand here on the Island, each piece is unique, with its own look and personality. We find beauty in the small imperfections.

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_11

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_12

Metallic inks combine with matte leather to produce the layered look and feel of  minerals, stones, wood, earth. They are like precious primitive icons.  They embody that combination of opposites we find in nature. The natural, the raw, the antique meets the refined and designed, contrasting rustic and rich materials.

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_13

Each bag is hand buffed after finishing, with natural wax, to nourish and protect the leather. Our bracelets, cardholders and change purses are easy pieces that complete any look (and make great gifts!)

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_18

As you can imagine, hides are not regular pieces like a piece of cloth might be, so we had to find a creative and useful way to make use of the scraps we collected after cutting out the main collection bags.

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_14

We have been making these pieces with the already-printed “scraps”, making each one a unique combination of prints and hide colors.

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_16

However, in the tradeshows we participated in this past summer, they have become so popular that we now have to buy the hides especially to make these items!

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_17

A few items in the collection are made with lambskin. The Cora bag is very versatile and can be worn both as a clutch and as a large pouch by just switching the placement of the clasps. Following photos by the wonderful Patrushka.

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_20 BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_21

BINICHIC_SOLIVERA_22

These bags will soon be available on our online store, so check back soon! We also have special prices for our store newsletter suscribers, so make sure to sign up and stay up to date with our news and discounts. Enjoy your BiniChic bag!

Photo Credits: Jordi Escandell – www.jordiescandell.com
Photos of Cora bags: Patrushka – www.patrushka.es

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Moroccan Rugs: The Vernacular Becomes Art

Our Southern Mediterranean neighbor Morocco is comprised of a unique blend of Arab, African, and European influences. The coastal country is known for its breathtaking dunes, exotic animals, and most recently in the eyes of interior design world, their one-of-a-kind woven rugs. Born out of an expressive, creative culture, the Moroccan rug captures the essence of color, texture and abstract art.

binichic_moroccanrug13

This vintage Moroccan Boucharouette rug features a stunning assortment of abstract geometric figures. Source
 

Rural productions of rugs from Morocco are notable for their abstract, primitively modern designs. Generations of Berber weavers have created these ceremonial and functional rugs using a double knot technique and 100% wool. Utilizing geometric motifs and bold, natural colors such as saffron, henna, indigo and madder root amongst others, each design was created as a means of personal expression and communication.

The patterns are traditional and ancient, and vary depending on the region and tribe that crafted them. Since they are vernacular, their use and thickness also varies. Heavy pile is useful for the snow capped Atlas Mountains, or they can be lightweight to suit the hot climate of the Sahara desert.

binichic_moroccanrug3

This mid 20th Century vintage Moroccan rug incorporates an elaborate variety of ancient symbols. Source
 

Moroccan rugs’ lively textures and one-off patterns complimented the sleek designs of the Bauhaus and Mid-Century Modern designers, giving rise to their popularity in the West. Original Moroccan designs are featured prominently in the iconic designs of LeCorbusier as well as in those of the Frank Lloyd Wright and the Eames duo. The synthesis of rural, ancient rug designs beneath Le Corbusier’s contemporary chrome and leather furniture made for a surprisingly pleasing and well-matched combination.

binichic_moroccanrug7

This vintage mid 20th Century rug displays the abstract iconography and distinctive minimalist tendencies that made it so popular amongst designers such as LeCorbusier, Eames among others. Source
 

The Beni Ourain tribe live in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, and produce the black and white rugs popularized LeCorbusier during the mid 20th Century. They are easily recognizable because they are typically colored with neutral hues, such as off-white and shades of brown and black, have a shaggy pile and abstract geometric patterns.

binichic_moroccanrug8

Beni Ourain rug in a house by LeCorbusier. Source
 

binichic_moroccanrug9

Colorful Moroccan rug in Falling Water by Frank Lloyd Wright. Source
 
binichic_moroccanrug12
The Moroccan rug featured in the Eames’ Pacific Palisades home studio provided a warm interior
to a structure made mostly of glass and steel. Source
 

Part of their appeal to the modernists was the primitivism and imperfection of each carpet, and how they fit wonderfully with modernist décor. This unique weaving process has proved its staying power in the modern marketplace. In recent years, interest in the bright patterns and the luxury of these plush floor coverings has become a staple in modern interior design. Whether you prefer the vibrancy of the Boucherouite style — the one-of-a-kind recycled fabric rugs — or the elegant simplicity of the Beni Ourain, a Moroccan rug might be the perfect way to revive your living room.

binichic_moroccanrug15

binichic_moroccanrug24

binichic_moroccanrug25 binichic_moroccanrug22 binichic_moroccanrug17binichic_moroccanrug27 binichic_moroccanrug26binichic_moroccanrug16
 
Sources: 1 // 2 & 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8

Credit: Text by Keely Murphy

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Mad about Mod

This year’s fall trend report headlines read MOD. From Rothko to Go-Go we’ve compiled our favorite vintage snapshots and current runway looks reminiscent of our very own “Color Block” Justine Scallop bag.

justine_scallop1

The recent revival of late 1960s textiles, graphic design, and vibrant color palettes can be seen in ready-to-wear shows by Valentino, Marni, and Louis Vuitton.

mod_binichic1

Bringing together Pantone Color of the Year selects Radiant Orchid, 2014, and Tangerine Tango, 2012 creates our most vibrant bag in stock, reminiscent of the Swingin’ Sixties daring combination. We’ve also spotted the hottest colors and Mod influence on some great designs and vintage inspiration shots:

mod_binichic2

Our own version of this psychedelic combination is overlaid with our signature art deco-inspired Scallop print in gold metallic, resulting in a unique piece that suits the trend, livens up any outfit, and avoids looking like a 1960s flight attendant.

Images: 1. Rothko, Untitled 12 (1968) 2. Peggy Moffitt modeling Rudi Gernreich design, photo by William Claxton (1966) 3. Valentino Fall 2014  4. Marni Resort 2015 5. Hiroko Matsumoto, photographed by Jack Ward, Vogue (April 1, 1966) 6. Jean Shrimpton, Vogue (1965) 7. Vintage 1960s curtain pattern 8. 1960s boot fashion 9. Feather texture, author unknown 10. Guinevere Van Seenus for Vogue Italia (March 2012) 11. Surya Brentwood Rug 12. Brush Strokes, author unknown 13. Bell Table by Sebastian Herkner 14. Manolo Blahnik flat pumps

 

Credits: Text by Keely Murphy. Image Collages by BiniChic

 
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

S’Olivera Chronicles: The Calm Before the Storm

A few years ago, Susan commissioned Regan Bice to give S’Olivera a contemporary relevance while retaining its original soul and spirit. The solution was to adapt the interior so that the very essence of emptiness revealed its purity. To take it back to a blank canvas of pure white walls, so that their art, along with the architectural features and a few well-chosen objects became the main focus. These are the chronicles of this process. We hope you’ll come along with us for the ride!

binichic_solivera_calm1We want to share some photos we took of our house, S’Olivera, right before we start the renovation. We don’t have a lot to say about it—its more of a visual  experience.

binichic_solivera_calm3In looking through the photos of our Living Room, I notice lots of windows and openings to break up the interior space.

binichic_solivera_calm6

The doors and windows come in several styles, all of which were restored and repurposed for this setting, over 30 years ago.  This room will become an independent Studio/apartment with its own entrance.  We hope to reincorporate some of these doors and windows in the new construction.

binichic_solivera_calm5

binichic_solivera_calm7At the top of those steps is the kitchen—where the magic often happened. That is why we want to keep it as the center of the home, a place for our family and friends to gather over a good meal.

Marble counters, trimmed in very old hand painted tiles, tile floors and some basics— fire and water — were all that was needed to convert groceries and garden produce into food and sustenance over the years.

binichic_solivera_calm2A big table was in the middle of the room, and that’s the opening of the cistern next to the door. We made that corner pantry and all of the cabinets in the kitchen from repurposed pieces of wood.

binichic_solivera_calm8binichic_solivera_calm9Our bathroom was a sturdy collection of restored and rebuilt sinks, mirrors, tubs and tiles. The view of Menorca’s highest mountain— Monte Toro — from the tub was spectacular.

binichic_solivera_calm10The hallway is like the dorsal spine of the house—-bringing light and movement throughout.

It has an unusually high ceiling with 3 skylights, so we used a collection of tall, elegant doors to define bedrooms, storage and work spaces.  This will be a dramatic shift when we eliminate all of these walls and doors to return this space to its original hay barn open loft plan.

binichic_solivera_calm11binichic_solivera_calm12Another opportunity to observe how the widows poke bright holes in the massive, solid walls comes in the bedroom.  First we have some of my personal favorites—the original,  primitive arches, (from the humble sheep stable origins) which we took great pains to preserve with clear glass and a framed window.  The 4 ft thick walls enclose the view in mythic proportions.

binichic_solivera_calm13

binichic_solivera_calm14This picture shows how doors of many sizes and styles work together on one wall.

binichic_solivera_calm1The closets were hollowed out of the space between rooms.  They give a rectilinear, geometric slant to the otherwise organic shapes.

This gives you an idea of S’Olivera from the inside. Next we will take a tour of the outside and see how the garden looked before and after.

All photos in this post by Susan Unger — except for three, which were taken by Núria Gavin.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment