The black-and-white stripes on the vase make it whimsical yet classic and magical … what an inspiration for the design of a current client’s main living space … and perhaps for other rooms as well.

Proudly, I would like to share with you two links about my design work in an apartment at The Murano condominium in Philadelphia. The interior design for the apartment recently won a Silver 2011 Dream Home Award.

The first link is to Philadelphia Style Magazine. Kathleen Nicholson Webber, whose work has appeared in Martha Stewart Living, the Philadephia Inquirer, InStyle and other major publications, wrote eloquently about my design.

http://phillystylemag.com/living/articles/home-tour-an-artful-italian-abode

The second link is to the blog of Ben Weldon. He is an extraordinary photographer I had the pleasure to work with during the shoot for the article published in Philadelphia Style Magazine.

http://benweldonphotography.com/blog/2012/02/15/philadelphia-environmental-portrait-carlo-fiammenghi-interior-designer/

Enjoy!

I am excited to share with you my latest interior design creation in collaboration with the interdisciplinary artist Michael Biello: Hickory Lane, one of the newest additions to the Fairmount dining scene. Located directly across from historic Eastern State Penitentiary, this new American bistro takes its name from the original name of Fairmount  Avenue.

Simple materials, warm colors and mysterious whimsical accents are the keys of the restaurant design. Burlap curtains and purple trims frame beautiful windows that surround the dining room.

A wall made with vintage ribbons recreates the mysterious feeling of dining in a forest amid rustic wood tables. Antique crystal light pendants, created by Biello, hang from the ceiling like stars in a dark night.

As you enter the restaurant, dancing butterflies welcome you atop a customized exhibition kitchen bar made from reclaimed burnished hickory wood.

Whimsical bunny sconces, creations of Biello, provide muted magical lighting.

My Grazie to Michael Biello, who created unique art; Dan Martin for organizing the impossible, and Michael-Ann who kept track of the impossible.

Here’s a photo of Javier Munoz, Olivia Mell, and Cameron Folmar rehearsing TOTALLY DIVINE last summer where we did our first staged reading of MARRY HARRY as part of New York Stage and Film’s Powerhouse Season at Vassar College.

We’re now in the midst of our AMAS Musicals workshop of MARRY HARRY in New York.  TOTALLY DIVINE opens ACT 2 with Bernard – the faux French wedding consultant extraordinaire – transforming Cudicini’s Restaurant into a magical wedding fairyland – assisted by his entourage of designers including Wayne – his rapper assistant!  In this recording Cameron sings Bernard, Javier sings Wayne, and Olivia and Javier sing backup.  Jeff Caldwell is the musical director/pianist.

Hear a clip from Totally Divine

The music is by Betsy Alexander and lyrics are by Joe Robinette.  The cast includes Jonathan Brody, Philip Deyesso, Kate Lippstreu, Howie Michael Smith, Jordi Wallen, and April Woodall – with musical direction by Jeff Caldwell.

Here’s a clip of the rough mix of Jordi and Howie (accompanied by Jeff) singing an excerpt of THE GIFT – one of the more lighthearted songs in the show!

Hear a clip from I Never Saw Another Butterfly

Here’s a clip of music Dan made for a short animated film – DIVOMENCO POP – by Liz Goldberg and Raymond Ercoli.  It’s a trancey homage to flamenco dancers.  Enjoy!

Hear a clip from Divomenco Pop

It has been such a busy time for me with the start of my MBA program at Philadelphia University.  I hope to write more very soon but for now I would like to share with you the following words, which touch me deeply.  These are spoken by one of my Bikram Yoga teachers to close class during Savasana.  They were given to a teacher of hers by Babaji…

I am as good as I am and can change the things about myself that are changeable.

Human Beings are good in nature.  The more I am on course the more the Universe is on course, so it is in the Universe’s best interest that I am healthy, happy, loving, successful and  will help me be who I really am.

Feelings of love, joy, health, passion and energy are a positive feedback system, built within us – they tell us we are on course moving in the direction of who we really are.  Feelings of sadness, anger, hatred, jealousy, sickness and pain are a negative feedback system telling us we are moving away from who we really are signaling us to get back on course.

The universe loves me more than I love myself, cares about me more than I care about myself and know me better than I know myself.  When I ask for help from the universe the universe responds.

Life is a loving teacher, I may not always like the lessons, but they are always for my highest good, for more joy, wisdom, health and love.

Sometimes people act in desirable ways, sometimes in undesirable ways.  I am always free to choose to feel the way I wish to feel in my emotional responses.  I choose to feel quiet, calm, and smiling.  I can focus on feeling good even if things don’t go the way I wish for them to go.

Each person has a unique purpose of equal importance – I can choose to die only when I am sure my work on the planet is finished – in good health – with a feeling of satisfaction and a sense of completion.  My essence continues to exist and that existence is desirable.  I am curious about what happens next.  Every decision I have ever made was always the best decision I could have possibly made with the awareness, understand and resources I had at the time.  As my awareness grows I may well do things differently.”

My teacher follows this beautiful reading with the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra (to always be chanted in threes):

Om Tryambakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushthi Vardhanam
UrvaRukamiva Bandhanat
Mrytyor Muksheeya Mamritat  om

Until next time…

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti,

Michael-Ann

Amas Musical Theatre presents a workshop of Marry Harry in new york city – april 2012

music by dan martin -  lyrics by michael biello – book by jennifer robbins

directed by kent nicholson – musical direction by remy kurs – choreography by christine o’grady

cast: cameron folmar – annie golden – pia glenn – philip hoffman – jillian louis – javier munoz – adam overett – blair ross – maiand torres – katie zaffrann

presentations @ foxwoods studio.

a new restaurant in philadelphia’s art museum area – designed by carlo fiammenghi with art/lighting by michael biello