via azadehshladovsky.tumblr.com |
31.5.12
eye on: azadeh shladovsky
it can't be easy to shape metal into graceful curves or fashion individual pieces of wood snugly together and then wrap them with a perfectly polished band of nickel or chrome. azadeh shladovsky can do it and the final product looks like it was just meant to be. the ideas behind her work are simple and refined with the use of natural materials to form clean, uncomplicated shapes that result in a distilled elegance. each piece is a little jewel for the home. azadeh's tumblr is evidence of her astute attention to colors, textures and the tiny details that are so easily over-looked.
25.5.12
friday finds
this happy bunny sums up the feeling i had yesterday as i wandered the local antique mall. i rarely buy but i love the search, imaging the former lives these items had, where they came from and who owned them. most of all, i love to imagine how they could make my house interesting. i like to hide little figures in with my books as a fun little surprise, and a big sculptural object can always stand at the center of attention on a table or guarding your front door.
images: wit + delight; éclat
24.5.12
dining...in style
in certain instances i love to see sofas paired with full height dining tables. i prefer it done in small spaces/homes when there's no formal eating area so you're "forced" to create a comfortable little place to eat and lounge. there is absolutely no reason this can't be glamourous. pairing a small vintage french sofa with some other period pieces can really do the trick.
23.5.12
designed to be memorable
a couple things i'm interested in architecturally as well as in interior design are scale and mass. so many different elements are born from and feed off of them: spatial definition, optical illusion, the play of light and shadow, groundedness versus loftiness, and...drama. they are elements that i would like to explore more within my own work because i think they help to make spaces surprising and memorable.
images: pinterest; david hicks in LA; john lautner
images: pinterest; david hicks in LA; john lautner
22.5.12
tobia & afra scarpa: the soriana sofa
via kwid |
it, however, was not love at first sight.
not for the sofa (or for wearstler's work but that's changed and is a story for another day). these pieces kind of puzzled me at first, i really wasn't sure i liked them - kind of bulbous and creature-like. were they cheesy? where they too much? probably definitely too much money. after having this image constantly pop back up on my computer, i became intrigued. they are really quite interesting pieces of furniture (i could go on about the lamps too but will spare you/me).
here are some details that give a little insight as to why these end up on sites like 1stdibs and in some of the swankiest auction houses:
designed: around 1970 by tobia scarpa and his wife afra. tobia is the son of carlo scarpa who was an absolutely amazing architect. if you are ever in venice definitely go to the querini stampalia foundation. tobia and his wife were in glassworks but branched into furniture design right around the time that italy was beginning to embrace and master industrial design practices.
via artnet |
via 1stdibs |
the soriana set is no longer in production [that i have found] but they are available. these aren't pieces that you'll come across every day. they're not being churned out and sold in your local big box furniture showroom - while there is nothing particularly wrong with that furniture. these are pieces that people collect, pass down to their children, or recirculate to others with a discerning eye.
21.5.12
we have to ask...why?
why does furniture cost so much money? after skimming the "top 10" list in ell decor i'm always a little put off - by the lists they come up with and occasionally by the two proud designers who are credited with finding the best-ofs. on plenty of occasions i've looked at that list and thought i just saw a chair like that at ikea last weekend and it only cost $39.99…why does this one coast $7,011? and why are these two grinning at me like that? are you seriously suggesting that these are the best choices…that one table you picked looks like my grandpa's work bench! But, on the other hand i get it. not all the time, but i do get it. there are designers, styles, and pieces that have truly become iconic for a variety of reasons, and it's not to say that their popularity hasn't been influenced by trends or even celebrity. i'm interested in some of the more tangible reasons as to why, when you read the captions in an editorial, a piece is usually called out with a designers name attached - "an edward wormley table is paired with a palshus lamp". There are interesting reasons as to why certain designers and specific pieces end up in the interior design hall of fame. i'm not really looking to give history lessons, but (and this is primarily for myself because i have no real idea if anyone out there even looks at this thing/blog) i'd like to keep learning and on some level i feel like i need to remind myself that design is important. in my opinion, spaces become a whole lot more interesting when a little knowledge and history are layered in. so, i want to (occasionally) use this blog to shed a little light on this topic. if anything, i'll learn something.
16.5.12
wedding wishes
a friend of mine is getting married this coming fall so of course this has gotten me thinking about the perfect gift. aside from choosing an item off of the ol registry, i like to include something hand-picked and special. i'm loving the little salt and pepper shakers from michael aram, especially the pears or the figs. we received a set of monogrammed totes for our wedding and they have really come in handy for trips to the beach and weekend get-aways. the bride-to-be lives by the sea so i've included some ocean-themed items as well. here are some thoughts...
items: pears by michael aram; woven totes at jason home; turkish towels at lekker home; and crab canape set at michael c fina
items: pears by michael aram; woven totes at jason home; turkish towels at lekker home; and crab canape set at michael c fina
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