Internationally renowned artist BettinaWerner is the Queen of Salt – literally. She invented a complex technique of creating art using vibrantly pigmented salt crystals from Sicily, and established the Salt Queen Foundation to encourage other artists working with innovative techniques.

When the artist entertains at her beautiful loft in Philippe Starck’s luxury “Downtown” building across the street from the NY Stock Exchange, she chooses Crypton placemats
for everything from the kitchen (pictured) to the dining table – Bettina even puts a placemat under her MacBook! “I love that they are made with green technology,” she says.

If you aspire to live surrounded by magnificent artwork, you’re in luck – The Salt Queen is renting out this live-in museum while she takes a trip abroad, and it’s a showcase for her breathtaking canvases. Everywhere you look, you will see precious paintings which range from $5,000 – $54,000: In the bedroom, the kitchen, even the bathrooms! View
pictures of this amazing place here.

All artwork by Bettina Werner

Posted by Julia Szabo.

We’ve had stars in our eyes ever since learning that Traditional Home’s new zodiac column mentions Crypton in the June issue! Here’s what “Star Style” has to say about the sign of Cancer: “In the kitchen, nurturing crabs – like TV’s Sandra Lee – may take culinary shortcuts or wear a stain-resistant astrological apron from Crypton, but at a sit-down meal, it’s linen cloths and napkins all the way!” Read all about the style and entertaning tendencies of all 12 zodiac signs on pages 38 and 40.

Posted by Julia Szabo.

Animal Planet’s “It’s Me or the Dog” features glam, globe-trotting dog trainer Victoria Stillwell making house calls to help modify undesirable dog behaviors. On the episode about
Victoria’s recent visit to the palatial pad of Jill Zarin, a star of “The Real Housewives of New York City,” we spotted a few of our fave pet products: a matching Doodle Dog pet bed and pillow in Jill’s living room, plus another Doodle Dog pillow outdoors, on the balcony seating. Jill and her family know from fine fabrics – her father founded Zarin fabrics, a New York City institution – so this is a high compliment indeed!

Posted by Julia Szabo.

The actor dubbed “The redoubtable Daniel Reichert” by The Los Angeles Times is a leading man of the California stage whose talent, dark good looks, and mesmerizing voice command the spotlight in a wide array of starring roles.

He’s as sought-after for the pictures he takes as the scenes he makes. When he’s not playing theater roles to critical and popular acclaim, Daniel moonlights as a headshot photographer. His keen eye for portraiture helps his fellow acting talents put their best faces forward, to secure the plum parts they deserve.

Daniel has the classic Virgo’s  perfectionist eye for detail, so not surprisingly, his very collectible fine art photography zooms in on familiar things – a quarter, a pencil, a fork – with microscopic precision. Viewed through his lens, these ordinary, often overlooked objects appear iconic and much larger than life.

We were thrilled when Daniel applied his signature “Up Close” technique to a place mat. The result, we think, is a perfect portrait of Crypton Super Fabric: combining yesterday’s charm (the retro glamour of a rum highball) with tomorrow’s convenience (spill-proof protection).

Cheers!

Posted by Julia Szabo.

Heather Green is a photographer whose specialty is capturing the unconditional love between people and their pets. Her soulful, glamorous portraits are in demand from New York City to Aspen to Los Angeles.

Heather shares her Denver home with a three-pack of dogs – a Doberman named Jaidyn and two Great Danes, Remi and Bella. After recently relocating to a new address, Heather planned to do what she’s always done: decorate with canine comfort as a top priority.

Heather takes dog comfort so seriously, in fact, that she’s undertaking what must be a design first: Keying an entire room’s decor to the burnt orange “Gameboard” Crypton dog bed by William Wegman!

It takes a bold, confident aesthetic to design a high-style room with orange accents, then let it go to the dogs. We’ll update you when Heather’s dog-bed-inspired living room is complete!

Posted by Julia Szabo.

New Yorker Julie Klam is the author of the best-selling dog memoir “You Had Me at Woof,” which chronicles her adventures in Boston Terrier rescue. A must-read, the book is really wonderful: alternately heartbreaking and hilarious,but always heartfelt.

Julie is a hardcore dog lover, and although her heart belongs to Bostons, she won’t hesitate to help any dog in need, regardless of breed. This past summer, she and her family came across a sweet pit bull who had been abandoned outdoors for hours in the hot sun. Says Julie: “I wasn’t going to leave him there – I would leave myself there first.” The pit, named Puck, is a staff favorite at The Simon Foundation, an excellent animal sanctuary in Connecticut where he awaits his forever home. (To inquire about adopting him, go here.)

Meanwhile, back in New York City, Julie insists that her daughter Violet, age 7, is the real dog person in the family. “She’s the biggest dog lover I have ever met in my life – she makes me look indifferent,” Julie says with a laugh. Here’s Violet enjoying a cat-nap with K9 Dahlia on a size-medium dog bed that’s big enough for two!

Posted by Julia Szabo.

Yesterday’s most-watched and re-watched “Today Show” segment featured Animal Fair’s Wendy Diamond showcasing holiday gifts for four-legged, furry friends.

In addition to pet beds, winter coats, treats, and toys, Wendy highlighted home furnishings for the animal lover on your list.

And what was top of Wendy’s list? The Crypton Throver, of course!

Wendy’s pick was especially festive: the new “Show” pattern by William Wegman.

Happy Holidays !

Posted by Julia Szabo.

Last week, Newsweek interviewed our own Julia Szabo for a video feature on pet pampering. Viewers got a tour of Julia’s New York City apartment, which she’s customized for the comfort of her four – count ‘em, four – large dogs.

We spotted our favorite dog beds and pillows used as cushions on Julia’s bed, which she shares with her pack of canine companions.

Meanwhile, we learned about a new use for our multitasking  throver. We knew it comes in very handy on the bed or sofa, in the car, even on a boat. Now we saw Julia use the Throver as a handy mat on the floor, where her veterinary chiropractor “adjusts” the senior dogs, to get their spines in proper alignment.

Now that’s what we call pampering! Watch the video here.

A microsuede throw is a must around the house. But what about the car? Spread out in the back of a vehicle, the microsuede multitasker can be a driver’s best friend, protecting and beautifying the automobile’s interior while cushioning the ride for a very important passenger – the driver’s dog – on rocky roads.

Exhibit A: The Toyota Scion that ferries a sweet, handsome pit bull named MacCrash, recently adopted from Animal Care & Control of New York City. Mac’s daddy is photographer Christian Johnston, who appreciates the Screensaver pattern for its graphic appeal and silvery hue.

The road-ready Throver also happens to coordinate nicely with his Scion’s gray interior – but even more importantly, it’s a handy, high-style backdrop that spotlights Mac’s photogenic white-and-black coat!