screen scheme

(andrew tey designed the eileen screen found at places & spaces ~ multi-panelled aluminum screen is contemporary in style & function. the various panels pivot, articulate and fold up. made of anodized aluminum sheets with steel fittings in either silver, gold or black.)

(inhabitat's hanging slats - while thoroughly modern - bring coziness, individuality, and warmth to the mix. they come in a wide array of prints and colors to suit your style. you can use them as wall hangings or as soft room dividers. they allow natural light through during the day while providing privacy in the evening)

(the flipper screen by material furniture is both nice looking and easily fulfills the basic needs of a screen: it's easily moved around to divide a room's space or shroud an area in extra privacy. there's more beauty than meets the eye, though, because the screen's unique circular cutouts hinge to "flip out" on a secure locking mechanism, providing stable extra shelving and an engaging view along the way.)

(the tetrad by bravespace ~ it works just like the game: reversible and interchangeable, these sturdy blocks will provide for endless stacking configurations for displaying art, books, and framing empty spaces.)

(perfect punctuation for a room, this felt folding screen is riddled with cutouts in the shapes of commas, asterisks, and exclamation points. the "feel-thru", as it's called, attaches to ceiling rails for greater mobility. made by abr produccion in barcelona)

taste of italy

with much excitement, i'd like to introduce you to one of italy's finest kitchen creators: febal cucine!
now a historical trademark of quality kitchens, febal has been working with the most talented italian designers for more than 40 years to produce kitchens that are high quality, innovative and stylish. their attention to detail can satisfy the desires of any lifestyle, with endless design and modular solutions, and work areas featuring advanced technology and innovative storage spaces. febal creates a setting in which to exhibit and to live, where the presence of wood and lacquered finishes, with their deep rich colors and clean lines, highlights the class and quality of the materials.

cool casa candy

a nice mixture of treats for accents in your home or as gifting ideas. 'tis the season!

(diy ice scultpure found at urban outfitters ~ just fill it up with water through the handy hole, freeze, unclip the mold and pop out the bird! create a winter wonderland for you & loved ones for only $20)

(the rosendahl wine tube made of brushed aluminum ~ elegant & smart storage for wine! the bottles and their labels form an integral part of the design piece. this is in contrast to more traditional wine racks where only the necks of the wine bottles are visible. the exposure of the label makes it easy to get an overview of your wine collection. i saw this in several places but the best price was just under $100 at http://www.totalhomestore.com/)

(recycled aluminum bark vases ~ these capture the delicacy of birch bark with its rich texture and intricate veins. irregular holes are intentionally placed high on the sides to insert cut leaves or branches for display. just over $100 at http://www.vivaterra.com)

(dual function aquarium/vase called "o" by salviati (swoon!) found at 5.5 designers starting at $500. the idea is great though & i think you could recreate with 2 clear vessels from crate & barrell for much less moolah.)

(edible art pieces by erin adams design ~ fused chocolate candies are sweet beauties. www.erinadamsdesign.com)

james kim memorials

i grew up on the oregon coast ~ a couple hours north of gold beach where the kim's were trying to go that tragic evening. it's a beautiful area now scarred be such unfortunate events. my deepest sympathy goes out for the loss of this heroic man.

(memorial roses lie next to the cnet logo at the company's offices on 2nd street where james worked)

(flowers in the doorway of doe, a store on haight street owned by the kims)

(cards and flowers at church street apothecary, in noe valley, owned by the kims)

let's green this city

a new organization, let's green this city, has blessed san francisco with its presence. because i'm fond of green design, i wanted to do a little news posting today - plus i think this is a great idea for lawn furniture!

on november 17th, in an interactive art installation to launch www.letsgreenthiscity.com , san franciscans were invited to lounge on grass couches at several landmark spots across the city. these living green sofas appeared at the ferry building, justin herman plaza, alamo square, in front of city hall, at 77 beale street, on market street in the castro, and at the 16th street mission bart plaza. tons of passers-by, including gavin newsom, had their pictures taken sitting on the grass couches and got to take home instant photos in frames made from recycled cardboard and printed with soy-based ink.

thai spice

tonight i'm going to learn some thai cooking for the first time. thai food is one of my favorite cuisines, & i'm so excited for the class that i'm using it as the inspiration for my blog offering today.

{when i travel to thailand someday i don't plan on staying anywhere like this ~ too removed from the traditional culture for my taste ~ however, it is a noteworthy hotel for several reasons. nestled on the banks of the mae ping river, in chiang mai’s center, the chedi chiang mai combines contemporary and local architectural elements. it is built-up around the site of the former british consulate; the 1920s structure has been integrated within the hotel design, giving a nod to its colonial history. the rooms incorporate an approach to south-east asian housing that fuses modern concepts with local thai materials and giving them a contemporary twist}

{the bali lounge by tuuci practically beckons you to swoon in tropical languor. the 4x8-foot bed frame is constructed of wood-grain fiberglass with a teak finish, is crowned with venice solid-aluminum finials, and is upholstered with sunbrella fabrics. let the backyard retreat begin!}

{viva terra offers a wonderful array of earth-friendly & organic products. the "chambra ware" line of dishware above is all handcrafted & looks perfect for serving-up tonight's creations. they are made of naturally colored, unglazed, matte-finish clay that imparts no off-tastes, evenly conducts heat, and cleans easily with minimal care. i have a special place in my heart for my old-school cast iron casserole dish but this chambra version may trump it for day-to-day use}

{tucker robbins in new york designs & builds beautiful, rustic pieces of furniture. in my office we're using these particular pieces as inspiration for an entire set of custom built-in bar cabinetry. made of blackened & hammered pine, bamboo & rattan}

show & tell: new family room in a tight space

every once in a while i'll be posting about work i've done. because, well, i need a place to store it too ~ and what better place than on my design blog.

(looking into the new family room addition through the eat-in kitchen. new pillowed travertine floor tile throughout lends continuity. the arched entry & coved ceiling detail give special interest to the new space. understated recessed lighting in the new room keeps the focus where it should be)

(the clients wanted a way to display their art, house their plasma tv, and store their a/v related components in a comfy yet contemporary way. the addition was constrained in size by property lines, so large pieces of furniture to solve their issues wasn't necessarily the best option. instead, i opted for custom wall niches & a low, understated row of window-seat-esque custom millwork. paint colors were chosen to highlight the special wall while keeping a soft, cozy feeling.)

(the a/v equipment & movies are stored in the cutsom millwork (natural cherry) with an antiqued uba-tuba (granite) ledge at a height that doubles as a bench)

(photos by david duncan livingston)

charming chairs

time to take a seat. a varietal collection of lovely chairs to tantalize the sitting experience.

{west elm's very affordable, very simple, very easy-on-the-eyes "club chair". comes in two upholstery finishes & two wood finishes. it isn't a surprising chair but it does offer a slightly new twist on contemporary classics}
{the astrid chair found at anthropologie is a great combo of features ~ wake-up happy color, snuggly boiled wool upholstery, styled with a high back, webbed seat and lathe-turned legs with castors}

{the "trix" by kartell is a setup featuring three cushions linked together by elastic tie-rods. the trix sofa can somersault to serve as a bed, chaise lounge, or armchair. made with expanded polyurethane and polyester fabric with a three-dimensional weave, the piece is available in black or white}

{italian designers at zanotta, the palomba's, have created the dora chair ~ in rotation-molded plastic, this lovely feminine seat is suitable for use both indoors and out. the engraved floral body is available in several finishes & colors}

{nancy corvine gives fauvism a delightful come-back with the museum slipper chair. the black-and-tan pattern suggests both wildcats and jungle leaves, but the gently fluted legs and the plush seating whisper refinement}

{no chair posting would be complete without a nod to the classics.... if you haven't heard of smith & watson: take note. smith & watson is regarded as one of the premier manufacturers of the highest quality traditional furniture available anywhere. taking inspiration from the genius of chippendale, sheraton, hepplewhite and others associated with the "golden age of furniture," they have carried the excellence of the 18th century successfully into the 21st. this is their gorgeous hepplewhite wheel back armchair ~ an exact replica of a 1780 piece, they have been making it for over 60 years}

wild side

i have this thing for animal print as a subtle accent, not as an overwhleming theme, in interiors. my collection of favorite products that correspond to this motif are the focus for this friday's submission.
{this room by edelman leathers shows off their cowhide "4-square cubes". available on stationary legs or a recessed swivel base. the design is classic, and with your choice of any of edelman's leathers you can customize them to fit in any environment. i must confess, i chose this photo for the brown & white fur-on, cowhide upholstery ~ ce magnifique!}

{just to show what extent edelman leather's skills can go to ~ a custom elevator for bmc software in houston texas is "upholstered" in their black & white fur-on cowhide. at this scale, it's more like an art installation}

{a fabulous company called extremis, who specializes in contemporary outdoor furniture & accessories, has a line called "dolly" using genuine sheepskin for unique purposes.

the dollypop: a sheepskin & neoprene bottle cover. for white wine & champagne only.

the picnik: made from a massive plate of aluminium, this table-&-seats-in-one behaves like a functional piece of art. its simplicity in design and its contemporary colors make it perfect for the urban 'bourgeois-bohemian'}

{the "icecube" is also brought to you by extremis ~ it's made from polyethylene, has an integrated 2-bulb light system, and has an optional seat in faux cowhide. great for indoor or outdoor use}

{madison leathers makes these interesting & sophisticated multi-hide rugs in their natural hair hides collection. expert hand sewing in italy adds a topstitched accent to the finished patchwork for floors—though i'm sure the pieces are equally at home on walls}

{popcow's lilac colored "super zebra" rug is dyed hair-on cowhide from argentina. silk-screening animal prints on specially tanned cow fur produces an unendangered species that is supple enough for upholstery}

{john boyd textiles, a british manufacturer, keeps alive the centuries-old tradition of weaving horsehair, using a process that dates back to 1837. the bench, wall covering panels, and decorative cubes shown above are all part of their product offerings}

{because it's friday, i couldn't resist a little fun in the posting.....wowbow's limited-edition "mija" bed. customized by leather designer bill amberg, the clear acrylic frame is partially wrapped in calfskin. when four-legged friends get dog-tired, they can snooze on a mattress covered in fuzzy sheepskin. oooo-la-la!}