macworld for design divas

yesterday, i ventured down the street to the macworld conference with jendita (congrats on your new career adventures, j!), to see what there was to see. i can sometimes be a semi-techie geek, but going to this conference proved that i'm a much bigger design geek. below are photos j was kind enough to take for me since i (silly girl) forgot my cam. i was pleasantly surprised at the incredible design-girl finds that macworld offered.

(these 3 gorgeous b&w patterns are from the belkin "house"/booth. the 1st one is the massive 2-story canvas walls they constrcuted on the outer-most layer. the birdies & fleurs are inner walls. beauty swoons from a high-tech products & gadgets company ~ yes)

(the enook is a great design concept ~ it's an all in one, wall-mounted office unit. several finishes to choose from for the case, the back fabric wall/bulletinboard, and the shelves. one photo shows an empty example at their booth, the other is a filled-up unit from their website. functionality, efficiency, and good looks all in one.)

(we waited many minutes for this image to come back on the monitor so we could get a photo of it. the new super-intense color technology from nec is fantastic)

(2 paper lantern-esque, wavy floor lamps add some design dimensions to the macworld floor)

(floating underwater cameras - they're seen here inside a fish tank)

oh, and of course:

the iphone. slowly spinning on its proud pedestal.

new inspiring discoveries

i discovered an inspiring new blogger: sfgirlbybay, where i then learned of an incredible east coast design duo: wary meyers. their eclectic, ingenius combinations of textures, colors & styles are right up my design alley. seeing their work gives me permission to be a bit more daring with my choices. it was so difficult to narrow down my fave photos from their portfolio so that i wasn't putting the whole dang thing up here on my blog, so please go to their site to see a ton more of what they do (painting, clothing, window installations, etc.)

mes textiles

mes textiles ~ funky & super-stylin' high quality wares from the netherlands. i've pulled some favorites from their website to show you.

(stacks of pillows in fun fabrics and faux-furs, with blankets & throws to match)


(painted doily table with bubble legs)

(patchwork beanbags! quick nod to my mom: she made very similar beanbags for my sister & i when we were little kids. as per usual, she's hip before the times)

(silk-screened cabinets)

(table linens)

alvar aalto

there are many things to admire about alvar aalto. he's considered the father of modern architecture & design in northern europe, he's finnish, he was featured on the last version of the finnish mark (before the euro took over), he received several gold medals & international honors for his works during his lifetime, and his architecture & designs are incredible, ground-breaking beauties with much influence still today. he died in 1976 in helsinki.

(auditorium of the once viipuri municipal library, when it was still part of finland, is now the vyborg library in russia. it was famous for its unorthodox wave-like ceiling, sunken reading wells & cylindrical skylights. it was built in 1935 & is under restoration right now.the 3-legged, bent birch stools shown here are another lasting legacy design of aalto's)

(the aalto theater opera house in germany - designed originally in 1959, was opened in 1988. also the showplace of the essen ballet, it has elegant & modern harmonious lines. aalto's original plans were followed closesly even though it was built 10 years after his death & 30 years after he actually designed it. this shows the lasting quality of his talent)

(the landmark auditorium of the helsinki university of technology ~ the inside features the main auditoriums for the university while the outside can be used as an amphitheater for plays & other activities. completed in 1966)

(completed in 1970, this is an interior shot of the largest skylight over a circulation & study area in the mt.angel abbey library in mt.angel (st.benedict) oregon. i've never seen it in person even though i grew up in oregon. maybe my next visit home can include a trip here! )

(the north jutland museum was completed in 1972 in denmark. it's special features include its flexibility ~ mobile partition wall systems can transform the character depending on the requirements of individual exhibitions; and the unique use of natural light, which has helped to make the building world famous)

(the savoy vase is also known as the aalto vase ~ reflecting his organic architectural forms. manufactured by iitalia)

(this photo is taken at the moma in nyc, and shows several of aalto's famous paimio chairs. they were designed for his famous 1929 building, the paimio sanitorium in finland. the degree of bending of the wood for his design was a technological innovation at the time. aalto furniture is manufactured by artek, which aalto co-founded)

when one closes, another opens

(keratuer's exclusiveline doors are a sleek, contemporary take on the front door. horizontal emphasis with bands of glass and wood allow light to come inside while still offering a sense of privacy. the long horizontal handle has a rotating panel that conceals the cylinder lock and optional fingerprint panel)

(layer the framed grilles of the lightsmith collection over windows, doors, ceilings, and mirrors. or use the grilles unframed as partitions, walls, decorative wall hangings, headboards, or railings. choices among 150 stock cut-outs, or create your own design, using paintable medium-density fiberboard, veneered medium-density fiberboard, solid hardwoods, and stainless or powder-coated steel. at pinecrest, inc)

(this impressive door is curved for a perfect fit in a rotunda-style entryway. made of black walnut & leaded glass, found at dynamic architectural doors and windows)

(this unique, minimalist door runs on an exposed stainless steel rail system & eliminates the door swing dilemma. definitely makes an architecural statement with the dark wood & horizontal reveals. by bartels in dania beach, florida)

nesting

to indulge my nesting instinct i've settled on that for my friday's theme. have a fantastic weekend!

(martha sturdy's resin trays are available in rectangular and square versions, each in three sizes. the trays are offered in more than 20 colors. at table art ~ tartontheweb.com)

(the stack spice unit, by designer koen de winter can be found at the fun little site: urbanpeel.com)

(long john coffee table, made of dakota oak and available at the uk site next.co.uk)


(these earthenware bakers from napa style are handmade in italy's famous ceramic's region, montelupo.)

(bedford tables are solid wood with a painted top. found at the company store.)

(eight lotus nesting bowls at whitney smith pottery. functional & beautiful ~ whitney is a very talented lady & found locally in oakland.)

kim family benefit auction

the auction to benefit the james kim memorial fund is now taking place over at: (sutro tower painting by annie galvin)

(tidal green stoneware bottles by sara paloma)

see-thru

there is something appealing about the lightness and clarity of clear furnishings and fixtures. they're somewhat whimsical, yet refined at the same time.

(john brauer's illusions acrylic side table is only 18" high so it would work wonders as a coffee table or end tables. found at retromodern.com)

(george II chair at plexi-craft)

(queen table at plexi-craft. plexi-craft is a factory buy-direct source for acrylic furniture located in new york. these are just two examples of the many styles they make)

(this graceful, ergonomic soaking bath comes to us from jason international. the translucent bathtub is made of acrylic and delicately cradled in a freestanding satin chrome or brushed nickel pedestal)

(glass tub and shower at prizma. prizma is a contemporary furniture design and manufacturing company, the collaborative creation of an american entrepreneur and a hungarian designer. every item is custom-made to meet any & all individual needs)


(cubetto pedestal sink by vitraform. not just a glass pedestal, but a work of art)

(who else but philippe starck would dare mess with a king? reinventing the classic louis XVI armchair for kartell, the playful "louis ghost armchair" (2002) is a postmodern triumph of technical innovation and historical style)

vessels

(black & white striped mugs found at outblush.com ~ they're hand thrown and hand painted, and have a unique handle that allows you to hold the mug in your palm.)

(eva zeisel original goblets ~ not yet for sale, but watch-out when they are on the market! wowsa.)

(kirby cordial glasses by crate & barrel ~ the solid and stable design is so simple and so attractive)

(hand painted tunisian pottery on global exchange's fair trade site ~ i love the colors and patterns on these, plus they are sold at a socially & economically responsible business.)

(cylinda bowl designed by arne jacobsen, found at places & spaces ~ so well-balanced and pure, it doesn't even call to be filled with anything.)


(cubby trays by samira gagne can be used as decorative shelving, floating flower vessels, or trays to carry your tea on. quite lovely & versatile.)