2Modern Design Talk - Modern Furniture & Design Blog

Happenings In High Point

For people in the Furniture and Design industry, October means traveling to High Point, North Carolina to see all of the new introductions from manufacturer's across the country. It also means very little sleep and lots of visual stimulation. Upon my return from High Point last week, I decided it might be interesting to share some of the photos and facts that I learned on my biannual trip to the Tri-City area of North Carolina. For the next few weeks I will be posting information about interesting manufacturer's and people that I think merit mentioning. Please don't hesitate to comment if you have any questions or additional information about the designers and manufacturer's that I will be showcasing.

With my first entry, I would like to introduce you to a hip and stylish upholstery manufacturer based in Southern California called John Charles Designs. The forward thinking approach of this family owned business has captured the market in the contemporary upholstery design community. John Charles Designs has been producing award wining designs for nearly 30 years. Management at JCD are the first to tell you that their products are made 100% in the USA, which these days is a very unusual feat given the influence of the Chinese in the Home Furnishings industry. Nancy Genova, Owner and Director of Designs was recognized this October with a Pinnacle award for one of her latest designs, the Teri Chair. The Pinnacles are an industry based achievement for unique design. This Pinnacle achievement marks the Fifth year in a row that John Charles Designs has been recognized as leaders in the stationary upholstery category. Kudos to Nancy and her team at JCD for wining this award and being acknowledged as trend setters and influential in the design community.

The John Charles Designs line can be found at retailers across the country. You can also check out their website at www.johncharlesdesigns.com. The customer service department is very helpful and will be able to direct you to a retailer near you. The employees at JCD know their stuff, most of them have been with the company for over 15 years, another unusual feat for manufacturer's today.

Stay tuned for more Happenings from High Point. Next week I will highlight another cool find...

P'kolino Play Furniture

P'kolino Play Furniture is an entirely new concept in play furniture. A playfully smart, multi-purpose product designed to be fun, functional, and fashionable! The bent wood table is great for traditional table projects, but it can also be repositioned for use as a lounge, toy ramp or whatever imaginations conjure up.

Flickr MOO Minicards - NEW!

By: Holly Becker, decor8

Tah-dah! Introducing Flickr MOO Minicards which now officially makes Flickr my all-time favorite website (outside of decor8 and 2Modern, of course!). I'm totally obsessed, especially now that I can take 100 of my favorite Flickr images, slice 'n dice 'em, and create super cool calling cards on glossy, full-color cardstock for only $19.95.

MOO wants to take the boring business card to a new sophisticated level, an advanced generation of calling cards for the in-the-know, on-the-go peeps. In other words, all of us!

How do you create Flickr Minicards?

Choose the photos you'd like on your cards from your Flickr photostream. Every card can be different if you'd like, so create up to 100 for only $19.99 (+ $4.99 delivery - anywhere in the world!). Next, crop the images by highlighting the area on the photo that you'd like on the card. Now add your personal details on the back using various fonts and colors. You can even use your Flickr buddy icon or the Flickr logo (optional). Oh, and one last thing, after they arrive, hand them out!

What do you do with them?

Well you can start by using them to network your brains out. Or you can get crafty and create art. Other ideas: share photos of your kids at the next family gathering, scrap 'em, add to your inspiration board, create gift tags, or anything else you can think to do with 100 very cool little cards.

Start creating your cards here and spread the word to your friends because all Flickr addicts need to learn about MOO asap!

So... Will you MOO? What do you think about these? Do you have ideas for them that you'd like to comment on? I'd love to hear some creative uses for these...

(images from richard moss, torontofotobug, lorilea, and pooleworks.)

Modern Recycled Art (posters)

BetterWall has partnered with over 20 major art museums around the country to salvage and sell their used exhibition street banners.

The banners we sell are the actual banners that have been hung on city street-posts to promote major exhibitions in New York, LA, Chicago, San Francisco and elsewhere. These vinyl banners are gorgeous, and bear images of some of the world's greatest works of art (including works by contemporary artists that aren't often found in reproduction) in a large-scale format.

I guess it is best described as a form of contemporary advertising art. They give a portion of the proceeds from each banner that is sold through their website, www.betterwall.com, back to the museums, providing much needed revenue to these valuable cultural institutions.  Any banners that are damaged are destroyed and recycled for the raw materials - they've already kept over 10 tons of vinyl out of landfills in the past year alone.

Green Dry Cleaning

Time to dry clean those covers on your Twenty2 Maxwell Linen Pillows and  your Kookoon Silk Throw?

Consumer Reports found that carbon dioxide dry cleaning was the most effective, even over the traditional perchloroethylene solvent dry cleaning.  Apparently dry cleaners are the largest user group of perchloroethylene, which is known to be toxic to humans and emits greenhouse gases.  The new carbon dioxide and silicon cleaning methods (aka GreenEarth) are more environmentally friendly, they clean better, and aren't toxic to your health.  You can find carbon dioxide cleaners near you at www.hangersdrycleaners.com and silicon cleaners near you at www.greenearthcleaning.com.  So, next time you see 'Dry Clean Only' on your tags or the dry clean symbol....

find a dry cleaner that will take better care of your textiles and your earth!

Eco-Expert Danny Seo

By Holly Becker, decor8

Have you heard of Danny Seo? I saw him in the May issue of Country Home, they featured a huge spread about his amazing eco-friendly lifestyle that he calls "Simply Green".

Why so amazing? See for yourself...

"Born on Earth Day in 1977, Danny has championed on behalf of the natural biodiversity of our planet from a very young age. On his 12th birthday, he founded the organization Earth 2000 with just a few friends and $23. By his 18th birthday, he transformed the grassroots organization into the country's largest teenage activist charity spearheading worldwide campaigns on behalf of the environment. As an Editor at Large at COUNTRY HOME magazine, through his bestselling books, his how-to lifestyle lectures, weekly Sirius Satellite Radio program and his upcoming companion TV show, 29-year-old Danny Seo encourages America to live a greener lifestyle."

How's that for impressive?

Danny's Home

In his new book Simply Green Parties, there's an easy DIY project to help you transform old or leftover tiles into beautiful faux bois coasters.

All you need is: tiles, a wood graining tool (from the paint section of the hardware store), and porcelain glaze paint (craft store has this).

Instructions: Clean the tile, dry it well, slap on some glaze, run the graining tool across, let it dry and bake it in the oven. Easy!

DIY wood grain tiles

Danny didn't just jump on the eco-conscious bandwagon when it became "cool". He's been at this his entire life, since childhood. A true eco-expert, Danny has earned his chance in the spotlight. Visit him on his website or blog to learn more.

More shots from Danny's Home
(photos from danny seo)

Cheeky China from Trixie Delicious!

By: Holly Becker, decor8

This etsy seller is one cheeky chick! Customize a vintage plate with any word you desire, including the really raunchy words, and she'll create an art plate just for you. No matter how low you can go, Trixie Delicious can deliver. For dining or displaying, these plates are food safe and non-toxic.

I'd love to see them served at a formal dinner party. When the guests finish their meal, a word or image is revealed to show them your playful side. You can also display them on a wall, mixed in with your dainty floral china. Definitely will give your wall a sense of humor. ($25 and up)

"Trixie loves to create art plates for people with a sense of humour. She has had many years experience as an exhibiting artist and designer and has a BFA in sculpture. When she gets a break she likes to spend time with her family and pets and also to travel. She needs a soundtrack when she works and her current faves include Goldfrappe,Ladytron and some golden oldies like The Cars, Blondie and T-Rex. She also enjoys red wine, tequila and movies by John Waters and the comedy of Eddy Izzard and Billy Connelly."

(images from trixie delicious)

Modern Austin

2Modern Design Talk is going to take you on a little tour across the United States, looking for the best in modern lifestyle resources by major metropolitan city. We are starting with Seattle and zig-zagging our way to New York. If you have any suggestions for our directory, which we will be constantly improving and adding, please let us know by providing comments to the posts.

Modern Austin

It's hip and trendy, yet in a vintage sort of way. It's high-tech and laid-back. It's politically charged and culturally rich. It's eclectic by nature and creative by design. Most of all, it's a place where people like to have a good time.

   

Modern Furniture Stores:

NEST Modern

Azzia

Your Living Room

ec-lec-tic furnishings

Zanzibar Home

Modern Art & Museums:

Austin Museum of Art

D Berman Gallery

Blanton Museum

Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum

Austin Galleries

Modern Architecture:

Modern Main

Asti Tratoria

NXNW Brewery

Cafe Josie

Modern Architects & Designers:

Jauregui

Custom Design Services

Motif Modern Living

Solux Design

Spazio Interiors

Modern Etc:

Live Music

Paramount Theater

SuperNaturale's New Book: Craftivity!

By Holly Becker, decor8

Have you heard of SuperNaturale? They are an "independent site dedicated to the Do It Yourself culture in all its glorious forms. From simple afternoon home improvement projects to radical lifestyle choices - we love them all. We celebrate ingenuity, creativity and the handmade."

In addition to their inspirational website, they are soon to celebrate something else, the launch of a new book, CRAFTIVITY — 40 Projects for the DIY Lifestyle" by Tsia Carson. It hits bookstores this month (also online via amazon).

Craftivity is a giant project based book with loads of how to tips, fun DIY projects for your home, and many great gift ideas. SuperNaturale says "It is gigantic (224 pages!), GORGEOUS, and chock full of information. Want to know how to crochet a skull? Want to spin yarn or felt? Want to make a platform bed but have no woodworking skills? Want to make your own money? Well, this is the book for you." Here's what else they want you to know about Craftivity: - Features 40 how to projects made by the brightest stars on the alt D.I.Y. scene - Easy to follow, step-by-step instructions and photos. - Lots of projects for the beginner as well as the seasoned maker. - Projects are actually fun to make. - Detailed explanation of techniques used—like knitting, stitching, woodworking, slip mold casting. - Showcases of inspirational work that expands the idea of D.I.Y. - Smartly designed and stunningly visual with photography and illustration throughout.

(images from supernaturale)

Modern Oklahoma City

2Modern Design Talk is going to take you on a little tour across the United States, looking for the best in modern lifestyle resources by major metropolitan city. We are starting with Seattle and zig-zagging our way to New York. If you have any suggestions for our directory, which we will be constantly improving and adding, please let us know by providing comments to the posts.

Modern Oklahoma City

This metropolitan area, which started out as a mass of tents, is now filled with sophisticated restaurants, upscale furniture stores, and numerous entertainment facilities.



Modern Furniture Stores:

Amini's Galleria

Statuary World

The Woodchuck Shop

Decorative Arts



Modern Art & Museums:

Oklahoma City Museum of Art

City Arts Center

Howell Gallery

Paseo Arts

Untiltled Artspace



Modern Architecture:

Stage Center (formerly Mummers Theater)

Price Tower

Oklahoma City Federal Building

Omni Dome Theater

Oklahoma City Museum of Art



Modern Architects & Designers:

Architecture Design Group

Calvin Design

Frankfurt Short Bruza

REES

Andrew C Thomas



Modern Etc:

Oklahoma City Centennial