2Modern Design Talk - Modern Furniture & Design Blog

Modern Architecture in Seattle

I was up in Seattle last weekend. There is some very innovative modern architecture, especially in civic spaces. Very impressive.

You want to talk about power players? Holy flying buttresses...It seemed like every other building was designed by 2 chicks (yeah!) that rule the Seattle roost when it comes to designing modern spaces.

Shannon Nichol and Jennifer Guthrie, founding partners of landscape architecture firm Gustafson Guthrie Nichol. A curved wall of red glass defines one edge of City Hall plaza, an open space intended for public gathering.

Seattle City Hall

Seattle Justice Center

Seattle Center Theater District

Talk about world domination! Check out their project list. I drooled on my keyboard and sparks were flyin!

Modern Umbrella Stand

An umbrella stand is definitely needed this week. This cool umbrella stand comes in 8 bright cheery colors. The Aki Umbrella Stand from BLine is made of roto-molded polythene. Designed by Rodolpho Bonetto.

Modern Kitchen IV

First we took a look at Arclinea. We then covered the basics of preparing for a modern kitchen design. Next, we drooled over bulthaup.

We now are going to throw some more basic education on kitchen design and selection. Pay attention or you will go to detention and/or have a really awful kitchen (that you spend thousands on)...

Here are some resources that you might find useful:

The National Kitchen & Bath Association

This is a good place for lessons, tips and ideas. Check out this section:
Kitchen Design Tips... which will give you a nifty little workbook to help plan for your kitchen redesign.

You can go to the Find a Professional area and search by zip code. Tons of professionals came up with links to their websites and portfolios, so you can match your taste.

Versatile Modern Design

Versatility is key in a modern space. The ability for a piece to change with your life, space or with your mood makes the object more valuable and practical to own. This "table - slash - shelving unit" Quattro Quarti 4/4 Table Set by Rodolfo Bonetto in 1969 does just that. The pieces can be rearranged and snap together for different looks and functions.

Modern Kitchen Accessories

Nice Post(s) Xander! Now if I only had an extra 50 G's lying around.

One thing I think I could afford were some of the modern accessories I saw on at bulthaup.

Wood Boxes

Cutting Board

Serving Tray

While I'm at it, here are some other popular Modern Tabletop Accessories:

Modern Basics Coasters

Designer's Eye Table Runner

intoto Drop Glasses

Modern Kitchen III

Okay, now that we have covered the basic steps, back to what is most important here: MY KITCHEN!!! :)

Okay, so we first took a gander at Arclinea : now that was tasty!

Now we will take a look at another finalist for the best modern kitchen design...

bulthaup

bulthaup System 3

clean, simple, elegant...

taster's choice...

Okay, automatic finalist.

If any opinions arise, let me know. The search continues...

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! We are thankful for beautiful design, those who create it and those who want to read about it!

We hope you have a great holiday season.

Peace...

EcoSmart Fire

I was at a Birthday party the other night at the Matrix in San Francisco (ummm > yeah...you need a new website).

They had a glass fireplace as a centerpiece in the lounge area of the bar. People really flocked around this area. I am sure you have been to quite a few nightclubs/bars that have this set-up, because it works. It's warm, inviting and cool to look at.

Why not have this for your own home?

Check out Ecosmart Fire : there are several rooms you can put this in...kitchen, bedroom, living room or den. It requires NO power, fuel lines or venting.

Modern Kitchen II

Okay...so it looks like I will take a step back. I started throwing design at you, just because that is the fun part. But my friend (or enemy?) Robbie, told me that I should give a quick primer on what I should look for when taking on this rewarding, yet laborious, project.

Proper steps to redesigning a modern kitchen:

1. Determine the space you are working with. Sure, you can dream and wish for the extra-sized refrigerator, separate freezer, island with built in sink, 6 burner industrial cooktop, warming oven and skylights, but unless you sleep in the kitchen also, your NYC apartment not accommodate. Measure and prioritize!

2. Identify your objectives. What is most important to you? How often do you cook? Is it a work environment or a social environment or both? Do you have a separate bar or do you integrate?  Are you modern? Martha Stewart? Country?

3. Budget. This will likely lop off some of #2 and help prioritize. Who is doing the work? Are you hiring a contractor (please do unless you are serious handyman with electrical and plumbing skillz plus all of necessary tools). Do you need a designer/architect or do you feel comfortable with your goals (see #4).

4. Plot and plan. Research the appliances and fixtures that fall in your budget. If you feel confused, reference magazines or blogs to get ideas. If you really love something, tell your contractor....I WANT THIS. Show him/her as many visuals as possible.

5. Keep an eye on what is happening! Don't let people make even the smallest decisions. Meet with the contractor(s) once a day or every other day and give them a cell phone to reach you with details. Unless you have worked with someone before and you are very comfortable with their decisions, it will save you more time and money in the long run if you just get it done right the first time.

Hopefully, that helped! The most important thing is to have as much fun as you can designing your contemporary kitchen space!

Modern Kitchen

After much deliberation, procrastination and saving, it is finally time to redo my kitchen. I spent the last 3 years working on my East Hampton place (pics to come). That was a lot of fun and a HUGE PAIN IN THE ASS! But it really looks great! Thanks Angelica, Robbie and Thomas!

Okay, now on to my Upper West Side pad. I got away with being retro for a while, because the place is very 60's. But honestly, I have milked it for all it is worth, but it is now looking...tired.

Due to the drain on the digits from other establishments, I am going to start with the kitchen, since that is where everyone wants to hang out when entertaining. Plus I love to cook. Keep in mind that this will kick off a much larger project that will drive me crazy and into bankruptsy I imagine.

I will share my thoughts and if you have any comments or suggestions, please let me know. As you can imagine, this is going to be a modern contemporary kitchen...or bust. We will start with one of the premiere names in modern kitchen design: Arclinea

Italia : Sleek, but very metallic

Ginger : Too white for my messiness

Florida : Closer, and I like the wood accents

Florida Young : Love the colors, etched glass and wood accents. My vote is here...

But trust me, I will change my mind a few times before coming back to this one, and this is just step one. I will be running several different ideas by you. There seems to be no shortage of appliances, accessories and designs for the modern kitchen.

Your very own Spa

I was staying at a friend's house in Dana Point (the O.C.). The master bathroom, amongst other rooms, was completely redone.

The highlight of the whole place (and there were a lot of amenities), was the built in spa for the home. I was in that thing 2 times a day for about 30 minutes a pop. Seriously, I was a different person. Refreshed, relaxed and about as clean as a human being can get.

The WetSpa is an innovative, contemporary, frameless glass multifunctional shower environment. This thing has aromatherapy, fibre optic chromatherapy, steam, hydromassage and stereo sound, providing the flexibility of a spa environment in the privacy of your own home.

I miss it.

Holiday Pillows Thomas Paul Teepee Collection

Snowburst Holiday Pillows from the Thomas Paul Teepee collection. Great for gifts or to give your home an splash of winter.

Jess Shaw Lighting

You have to respect English lighting designer Jess Shaw. She really pushes the boundaries with her contemporary lighting design. Using non-conventional materials to construct unique lighting that is far more art than light. They are delicately constructed masterpieces that would engage conversation in any setting.

Ruff: vylene, wire, light

Blob : Took giant meteorological balloons, filled them with water and lit them from below.

Dancing Wood Anemones: made of goose feathers & light

She makes one-off, made-to-order modern lighting. Worth a look.

modern christmas

Holidays can be great or they can be a bummer. The key is to have a sense of humor through it all.

When Uncle Bitz throws down one to many egg noggs and launches into a tirade about how Gram Gram spanked him more than Aunt Bebe and the Turkey goes flying into the yams, well...you just have to laugh.

I don't know about you, but the whole tree expedition can be downright unfunny. That is why I am going to go for the sense of humor route this year.

The Charlie Brown Pathetic Christmas Tree

It is available at Urban Outfitter for $24.

Even the base is as raggety as it should be.

Another alternative is the Modern Christmas Tree:

Made from Solid Oiled Larch. You can turn each arm individually.

Did I find this one? No...Design Sponge did!

Alexander Calder

The Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art is having an exhibition of Alexander Calder currently. I went yesterday and was very impressed. The exhibit will look at various stages and pieces of his 50 year career.

Alexander Calder invented mobiles, sculpture that moved, in the early 1930s. Later, he added large-scale stabiles, fixed sculpture. During World War II, Calder created the Constellations series.  Many, like the Vertical Constellation with Bomb, rest on a flat surface, but some Constellations are mounted from the wall at an angle.

Most are constructed using small abstract forms carved from wood that are carefully arranged in three dimensions. The materials are either painted or left unfinished.

Vertical Constellation with Bomb (1943) Painted steel wire, Painted wood and wood.

Calder said "(Constellations) had for me a specific relationship to the Universes which I had done in the early 1930s. They had a suggestion of some kind of cosmic nuclear gases—which I won’t try to explain. I was interested in the extremely delicate, open composition."

Other modern art works:

Stegosaurus (1972) Painted Steel

Untitled (1962) Gouache on Paper

As an FYI...on a larger scale, there is a HUGE display at the National Gallery of Art.

Designing a Waiting Room V

Check you out! You have your contemporary chairs, tables and entertainment. You've got your mood-setting modern art. Now, if people could only see what they are doing! Don't forget the lights...

Modern lighting is going to tie everything together. It is going to set the tone. You don't want it so dim that people feel like they are at a bar or put them to sleep. You don't want it so bright that it kills the atmosphere. You want it just right. Stick with simple, contemporary modern lighting that might get some interest but in no way dominates the room.

Of course you would likely have some natural light and recessed light. These pieces are for additional light, but primarily decorative enhancements.

Suggestions:

knoll Copeland Lamp

dform basket pendant

Ogus Floor Lamp

Gus Lightbox (light, table or seating)

Light's Up! Meridian Table Lamps

You are set! Remember:

- Create a space that represents you and your identity well
- Don't be afraid to ask for help from a design professional
- Coordinate, but don't over-coordinate
- Let people feel relaxed and entertained while they patiently wait for you

Good luck!

Designing a Waiting Room IV

Okay. Let's check it off:

- Modern seating
- Modern tables
- Modern magazines and racks

So what, you now gonna go Thomas Kincaid on me? I don't think so...

Let's have modern artwork along the same mold. Simple, clean and beautiful. There is no need to make a huge statement here, just something that makes people go "oooohhh, ahhhh and ahah"...not "whoa" or "hmmm".

Those are general guidelines. Some suggestions:

Campbell Laird (2004) Optik Series

James Verbicky (2003) Come Together

Gregory Deane (2005) Reparto

Another idea is to have a video wall that is showing various colors and designs. Changes could happen subtly. No sound and definately no TV. Just some morphing changes. Check out the Vidiwall by Phillips.

Next up: Modern Lighting to give the ambience.

(More) Timber Veneer Lamps

More Timber Veneer from Jefdesigns. They come in Zebra or Teak wood veneer. Love the combination of wood and light stripes.

How to Decorate with Mirrors

Mirrors are a wonderful addition to each room of your home. Not only are they practical and beautiful but they make spaces look larger. Which is great if you have a small apartment, loft or room. Here are some great ways to use them:

Desiron Mirrors

1. Use a mirror at the end of a long thin space to make the space appear double in size. A hallway, entryway, narrow room or bathroom.
2. Hang a large framed mirror in a dim space to make it lighter. Mirrors reflect light and can brighten a room tremendously.
3. Mirror the backspash of a kitchen. This will reflect light on your counter tops for cooking and mirrors are easy to wipe clean.
4. It is practical to put full length mirrors in bedrooms. This is a great thing to have in a guest room.
5. Mirror the backs of bookcases for an added sense of depth.
6. Put a mirror over a flaw in your wall.
7. Bunch many small decorative mirrors together on a wall for a fun focal point.
8. Put a mirror above your bed. Yowza!
9. When putting a large mirror in a room, make sure to have it reflect something wonderful like art,flowers or scenery.
10. Try leaning (not hanging) a large wall mirror in a space. This can add different effect to a room. And, it makes it easy to rearrange for different seasons.
11. Flank a fireplace or large bed headboard with 2 large wall mirrors.

Pablo Vela Mirror

And most of all, make sure to admire yourself often in your new mirrors!

Designing a Waiting Room III

Now let's talk about entertainment.

Say you are a doctor and you schedule an appointment for 10:00AM, but really you have no intention of actually seeing the person till 10:45AM. Why do you do that!?! I mean, just schedule it for 10:45AM Dammit!!!

...Sorry, that was a recent experience that I still have issues with...okay back on track.

First of all, you have to know your audience. Definately have industry related magazines. If I am an architect, I have Architectural Digest, some coffee books that might have some pictures of my work. But let's not bore people completely. I will now venture out of my immediate zone and have some related mags: Dwell and Metropolis for example.

Then I am going to throw some other publications at them that are not necessarily related to topic, but to the demographic. I am going to throw in Surface Magazine and Travel & Liesure.

Tip: Keep the publications current.
Tip 2: Have the subscription go to the office, not 'donated' by other people with the address lable scratched off.

Now, where do you put these? Sure some are on the tables and such, but let's keep it tidy okay? And while we are at it, let's store them somewhere cool:

Gus Modern Magazine Rack

OFFI Mag Organizer

You are so cool now. But wait, can you get cooler? Yes...in my modern waiting room, you can. Some people like to read, but I provide the retro games of yesteryor for enjoyment...top of the list:

Etch a Sketch

Last, but not least. Have a phone there. Either go high-tech and good looking:

Inventel Blue Tooth Cordless Phone

or just go old school baby:

Next up: Modern Lighting and Art.

Designing a Waiting Room II

Okay, so you now have your couch, chairs and ottoman. People can sit and relax. But we now need some tables don't we? Obviously, we want to stay with the same contemporary style.

Here are some suggestions for modern side tables and coffee tables:

Simon James Ejection Table (click for bigger picture)

Simon James e2 Table (click for larger image)

Gus Modern Steel Cube

Desiron O Coffee Table

These are only a few, I could spend days listing all of the cool choices. But you get the idea. We are looking for simplicity. Something clean.

Next up...distracting your visitors from getting impatient while they wait.

Designing a Waiting Room

If I was a doctor. No wait...a principle. No scratch that, I didn't like that guy. If I owned a really cool space downtown and was so important that people needed to wait for me, I would have a design a modern waiting room that people maybe didn't want to leave.

"Mr. Smith, HE will see you now..."

"Uhm...just a few more minutes...and another espresso please."

Let me tell you where I would start: Moroso. First...very cool contemporary chairs are a must. Let's go with the GLUON by Marc Newson.

The seat and the back are in steel covered with injected flame-retardant polyurethane foam. The sides are in rigid polyurethane, grey lacquered. The basement is in steel, lacquered grey.

Get a couple of different colors. The couch, the chair and the ottoman...a MUST! I mean, let the people relax won't you!

Okay...next post, I will discuss the tables, then the lighting and then the magazines. Don't laugh. The reading material reflect who you are. Don't be a dork. Please.

Modernism: 100 Years of Design

Modernism: A Century of Style and Design: November 10-13, 2005 at The Park Avenue Armory

This is a very cool event, I went to it last year and it was quite amazing to see all of the various concepts of modernism over the last 100 years. Bring your wallet! I was even more amazed to see the price-tags on some of the modern art, furniture and accessories.

If you are a collector, I am sure you will find some items otherwise never seen. Though if you are just a contemporary design enthusiast or historian, this is a worthwhile event.

Schedule:
Thursday – Friday noon-8pm;
Saturday 11am-7pm;
Sunday noon-6pm

Preview Gala: Wednesday, November 9th, 6-9pm benefiting the Brooklyn Museum. The following awards will presented at the gala preview benefit: the Brooklyn Museum / Modernism Design Award for Lifetime Achievement is to go to Herman Miller. Ross Menuez will be presented with the Young Designer Award.

VANILLA FUDGE : Chaise Longue, 1998 Ross Menuez

How to Select an Area Rug

Adding an area rug to a room is an easy way give your space a new look, provide warmth or add color. If you find a rug that you love, you can use it as inspiration and decorate your space around it. Area rugs are easy to move from room to room. Don't limit the rug to the space that you buy it for: Put rugs in different rooms of your home to create fresh looks. Or, swap out rugs for different seasons.

Angela Adams Rug

COLOR:
Because it takes up much of your living space, an area rug can be the foundation of your room's look. Even if your existing taste is traditional, a contemporary rug can add a nice contrast. In a modern room, a traditional or oriental rug can soften the look.

Look for a common accent color in your room and use this color in your rug for emphasis. If your room is brightly colored, select a neutral colored rug. If your room is neutral, a vibrant rug will add a needed statement and focal point.

In general, dark colored rugs add warmth to a room, light colored rugs make a space appear larger. If you have pets or children, consider a dark rug to hide dirt. And, make sure the rug is stain resistant and easy to clean.

SIZE:
Area rugs are great for defining spaces within a room: A sitting area, a cozy area in front of a fire place. If you are using a rug to define a space, leave no more than 2 feet of carpet past the edge of the furniture on it.

For a dining room, 18' x 24' is a standard rug size. The rug should extend at least 16" from the edge of the table so that the chairs have room to pull away. For an entryway, make sure to swing the front door open and leave 2.5 feet of floor from this space clear. Runners in hallways should have at least 5" of floor showing on all sides. To warm up a bedroom, use runners on each side of the bed. Or place a large rug under the foot of the bed only. Use small 2' x 3' area rugs over existing carpet at entry points or high traffic areas to protect your carpet from wear.

A great way to test what size rug you will need is to lay down some sheets or towels in the area that you are considering to get a picture of the size and space. You can also use masking tape to mask out the area. This helps to give you a picture.

Angela Adams Rug

CARING FOR RUGS:
Rug pads protect your rug from slipping and make sure your rug retains its original condition and are highly recommended. Clean spills at once:

1. blot stain with a clean white cloth (do not rub)
2. spot clean with a solution of water and clear dish washing detergent (non-bleach)
3. rinse with water
4. blot dry

Regular vacuuming is a must to extend the life of your rug.

Area rugs are an easy and inexpensive update to your space.

Eichler Design

Not until recently did I learn that I grew up in an Eichler house. Kind of a funny story.

I was at a party in Los Angeles, and everyone was making a big deal out of this, interesting, yet familiar, modern ranch-style house. It reminded me of the old San Mateo house that I grew up in. There was an "Eichler-head" there (I made up the term :), who knew just everything about Joseph Eichler.

Through the course of the conversation, I realized that Eichler designed houses in Northern California as well. Eichler Homes, I learned, actually did most of his work in the greater San Francisco area. No wonder it looked so familiar. I described the location, the interior and exterior of the house, and it turns out that the Eichler fanatic had actually knew the house and had seen it in person like 5 years ago.

Little did I know, that there was an underground cult of Eichler-heads cruising around the hood taking pictures of the house. Funny. Scary. Interesting!

Simple Exterior: Ranch Style

You start to appreciate some of the modern architecture design here at the front door.

  The inside/outside area is a trademark

Nice to know my parents were cooler than I thought! Maybe they were closet Eichler-heads and I didn't even know it.

Roppe Corporation

Large-scale commercial development is not really my forte, so I was fascinated when a friend of mine, who specializes in rebuilding older establishments into modern commercial spaces, took me on a tour of a recent project: The Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center in Queens.

His firm, AENArchitects, is a top-knotch architectural and design firm, specializing in reforming residential and commercial spaces into beautiful modern establishments.

I am more interested in the aesthetics. The shape, texture and modern decor. But looking further into the picture, you get a better sense of detail that goes really makes or breaks a project. Stuff that you likely don't appreciate unless someone points it out to you.

One of these items was flooring. When was the last time you noticed the flooring at your favorite modern establishment? I had never even heard of Roppe before. It started 50 years ago and has become one of the biggest suppliers of rubber and vinyl flooring products (wall base, stair treads, floor tile, stair nosings, carpet edgings, etc.)

Rubber Tile

Stair Treads

Vinyl Wall Base

Boring? Well what I found is that for large modern architecture and development projects, what kind of details you use make a big difference in immediate and future costs, safety, function and peripheral aesthetics. In an empty building, it was even more obvious.

Best Modern Design Blogs

My Favorite Modern Design Blogs:

Design*Sponge

MocoLoco

Better Living Through Design

Apartment Therapy

Trendir

Cool Hunting

Tree Hugger

Uncrate

Inhabitat

Frank LLoyd Wright Marin Civic Center

I didn't think there was going to be anything good about jury duty. But, I Found myself staring and amazed at all the details of Frank LLoyd Wrights Marin Civic Center. We all know he is an incredible designer and architect, but I was amazed the details of the building: The gold plastic and metal clock, the door handles and circular details around the knobs, the circular courtroom and hypnotizing recessed bulbous light fixtures. Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera, but I did take some mental notes. Hmmm....I think I like jury duty.

Timber Veneer Lamps

Lighting designers are using timber veneer to create ambient diffusion effects with lighting. These veneers "glow" and cast a warm light in the environment.

Dform Lighting

Luzifer Lighting

Jefdesigns

Modern Baby

I am not sure if there could be a hotter category right now than the modern baby. It was also a space that was relatively neglected for a while, but in the past few years, several new designers have jumped into the mix.

Many of the modern enthusiasts, their entire house has a contemporary design, it only makes sense that the offspring have the opportunity to come in this world with a sense of style.

We can start with the modern cribs. Here are 3 well made, functional and stylish sleep zones for the little ones:

  Nurseryworks Aerial Crib. Functional features for the Aerial Crib include an adjustable side rail, an adjustable mattress height, several decorative slat and end selections, a two drawer optional underneath, and an easy conversion to a toddler daybed.

The OFFI Bebe Crib has an adjustable rail with hidden hardware. The trundle underneath will hold all your extra linens and clothing so you roll them out when whenever needed.

The Oeuf Crib and Changing Station has fixed sides but it is easy to reach into with its adjustable mattress height and low profile. The coordinating changing station fits securely on top of the crib to make changing just one movement away. Comes with a changing pad.