NEWSLETTER - HOLIDAY SEASON 2006

Investing in Art: How to purchase and build a collection

On December 12, 2006 Ms. Aldouby presented a seminar on art as investment: from how to purchase artwork to building a collection. Below is a summary of the event.

An art curator and advisor specializing in emerging contemporary art as well as Jewish/Israeli art, Aldouby has worked with auction houses such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s, the Appraiser’s Association of America, museums, corporations and private collectors. She holds a BA from Boston University, an MA in Retail Art and Gallery Administration from FIT and is currently working on her PhD Candidacy proposal from Columbia University in Art Education. Aldouby curates exhibitions around the US in museums, galleries and outdoor venues. Her recent International projects include the 2005 and the upcoming 2007 Venice Biennale.

ADA Art Consulting, www.adaartconsulting.com offers professional art consulting services which include curating, art acquisition and advisory services. The firm was established in response to a changing art market; as many of its clients realized that the established practices of the major players in the art market: auction houses, galleries, and dealers needed explaining. Says Ms. Aldouby, “Our aim is to make the art market approachable and guide you through the processes of integrating art in your personal space according to your passion, needs and budget.”

They advise from the early planning stages to completion, through an on-site assessment and identification of objectives to proposing a budget and an art allocation plan. Accordingly, we create an on-site presentation, acquire the art or enhance an existing collection. We also assist with custom framing, delivery and installation and make sure that the art fits perfectly in your home. We work in complete coordination with you, your architect, interior designer and contractor, making sure your home becomes your castle.

Art collecting with an art advisor
Fine art is one of mankind’s greatest achievements but it also enriches life, beautifies the home, gains value and makes an impression. Whether you are entering the art market for the first time or you have made it a life-long passion – art will change your life.

Although the idea of art appreciation intimidates many people, art operates on many unique levels and allows you to be transformed by its powerful meaning and aesthetics. It influences your perceptions, emotions, thoughts and mode of operation.

Art is an integral part of the home and its collection can be a long term process or the last stage in the renovation of a house. The key components which enhance a home, create its “personality” and reflect on its inhabitants can be paintings, sculptures, mixed media, photography, or a combination of all. These in turn, work together to transform your home into a tasteful and aesthetic living space.

As you begin to appreciate art, the opportunities to learn and grow are endless. Collecting is a pleasure, but it might become a very expensive one if you do not watch the pitfalls that the art market presents. Creating a collection without a detailed project and a guiding professional can lead to a considerable waste of time and of good buying opportunities.

Even though at the beginning it may seem easy to make acquisitions relying on instinct and chance, as your home changes, your existing art may appear to clash with the your décor and the current art in the market. The art expert is here to help you through the process of making art appreciation, evaluation and acquisition easier.

To understand more about how art can be integrated into your home using various mediums of art, and receive tips on collecting art, come and meet Danielle Ayelet Aldouby - an art advisor and curator, who will help you, integrate art into your home with more ease and confidence. Tuesday, December 12, 2006, MyHome NY Showroom, 353 West 48th Street, New York, NY 212.586.8155 x 325.

Ask the Expert - What You Should Know Before You Hire an Interior Designer or Architect
By Karen Fisher

Next to finding a lover or a best friend, there are few relationships that can be the source of more pleasure than selecting the right designer or architect. Most of us assume that when we’ve finally reached the point where we can afford the luxury of hiring a designer that one will magically appear. Not so. Finding the right designer means finding someone who shares your aesthetic, has a personality that you enjoy, and will spend your money in a way that meets with your approval.

Aesthetics, personality and money: these are the three ingredients that either make or break almost any marriage! And yet with a very short courtship – sometimes nothing more than one interview – you’ll be selecting a person who will be your partner in the whole decorating process.

The secret for finding the right designer or architect often starts with Karen Fisher of Designer Previews, who is hailed as “The Design Matchmaker” because of her hugely successful track record of helping clients find the right designer.

Fisher really knows her stuff. She’s been a design editor for Woman’s Wear Daily, Cosmopolitan, Esquire and American Home. She’s in the Interior Design Hall of Fame and an author of many books on decorating.

We’ve been lucky enough to snag Karen for our monthly client event and she’ll give you the inside scoop on everything you need to know before you hire a designer: what questions to ask; what you should look for in his/her portfolio; how to decide whether to renovate or decorate; how much it will cost and how to spot the right person for your requirements.

If you’re planning to renovate, decorate, add a kitchen or a bath, this evening will answer all the questions you’ve ever wanted to ask before you start!
For a preview, please visit www.DesignerPreviews.com.


Design & Trend Report – Countertops – Good, Better, Best

Countertop surfaces are an integral part of every home and come in a variety of materials and qualities. They can be installed with or without a backsplash, as bath vanity tops, on islands, table tops, and in some cases even cut and installed as tile flooring. Depending on the material itself, they accommodate self-rimming or under mount sinks and a variety of edge treatments. In many cases, installing a new countertop is enough to give a kitchen or bath a freshly renovated look.

The original “Formica” decorative counter veneer (developed in the late 1920’s) has been superseded by an array of products in a broad range of styles, colors and uses. Among these is CaesarStone, the first quartz surface material invented in the world, developed on an Israeli kibbutz (a voluntary collective living and manufacturing community), 1987, utilizing intrinsic quartzite from the Dead Sea. CaesarStone is produced by compressing the powdered quartzite with 7% resin, pigment and other materials under intense heat and pressure—the same way nature creates stone only better!

Quartz surface material is stronger than natural stone and is priced comparable to granite, but it has many features that make it more desirable than natural stone. It is one of four main categories of counter surfacing materials; the others are: natural stone/granite, stainless steel and solid surface (often recognized under the brand Corian.) Each of these materials has specific properties that make it appealing to different consumers.


For years retailers urged consumers to install granite or natural stone as their counter surface material citing the best return on investment when the residence is sold. Consumer awareness on issues of bacteria growth, durability and stain resistant properties has led to an increase in demand for Quartz surface counters, overthrowing the notion that granite or stone yields a better ROI. Quartz surface counters provide a permanently sealed surface that neither harbors nor grows bacteria. CaesarStone is easy to clean, easier to maintain, and resists all the abuse that occurs during food preparation and entertaining, thus earning the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. In addition CaesarStone was the first quartz surface company worldwide to carry the ISO 14001 environmental standard making it healthy for the planet as well. Their commitment to the environment is part of the CaesarStone corporate culture.

CaesarStone comes in a variety of stylish colors and finishes, even some that closely replicate concrete and limestone but without the inevitable cracks, pits and staining that occur in the natural material! Please visit any MyHome showroom to see a full display of CaesarStone quartz surface material. For your convenience, we have lightweight slim-line CaesarStone color chips to keep with you while shopping for additional home décor purchases.