Saturday, April 28, 2012

Border drama


After the rain dramatic light


Well, I am not talking of any horrible conflict, but rather of the dramatic going-ons in our neighborhood, where colors wildly explode and blossoms compete...






It's, of course, a peaceful battle and the only weapons, I can see, are planting tools and the leaf blowers, although these, in my opinion, should be on the international banned list, for they create so much unnecessary noise.  Oh, how much I prefer a good old rake...











The dog pulled me in excited sniffing mode from one tree to the next, but I still had enough time to take in all the beauty around me and the realization of spring's enormous potency.







It is overwhelmingly pretty and I love to see nature's progress.




Some of the neighborhood beauties






It has been raining a lot last week, something I am grateful for, it had been too dry over the last months.




This should be my dream studio

 In summer and winter I absolutely adore that little garden house under the big tree!


Come on, next big stone ahead


I can't help but look at some of the pretties around while I am on my walk with our old boy...




American & Canadian flags greet us every day!

And finally we turn the corner - we are home!




May joyful colors greet you wherever you are and the battles are peaceful ones around you! Happy Sunday!




All images by V.Zlotkowski
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Thursday, April 26, 2012

10 Iconic furniture designs


Continuing on from my previous post, I'm exploring some of the iconic furniture styles that were designed mid century and still are sought for  contemporary decor. Here are 10 of my favourites.

Eero Saarinen Womb Chair

Lake District Residence

 The beautiful Womb Chair, designed by Eero Saarinen for  Florence Knoll in 1948, is  available in many vivid colours. This green is perfect with the pale floors and gray walls. 


The Eames Molded Plywood Chair

Amoroso Design modern living room
 Amoroso Design

Time  Magazine called The Eames Molded Plywood Chair "the best design of the 20th century" and it continues to be a staple into the 21 century. It was designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1946 for Herman Miller. 

Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Chair 

|| C O B U R N - A R C H I T E C T U R E || contemporary dining room

 Arne Jacobsen designed this chair in  1955. The curves  move your eyes in a restful rhythm and there is such softness to the overall look. I love the colour of these  particular chairs and the shape has always appealed to me.

Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair

Vintage Furniture modern bedroom

Arne Jacobsen designed the egg chair in 1958 for the Radisson Royal Hotel. I visited Prague this past summer and this was the style of chair in one of the lounges.  They are super comfortable.

 George Nelson  Platform Bench 
 
pearl district loft - entry modern entry

The  George Nelson Platform Bench manufactured by Herman Miller

You see the George Nelson Platform Bench quite frequently in trade magazines .  It is very versatile and works equally well as a coffee table or a bench.  Place it in a hallway, at the end of your bed, in an entrance where space is at a premium.  or in a living room. 

                                                      Florence Knoll  Lounge Settee

European Salon traditional entry
 Lucy Interior Design

This beautiful,  white Florence Knoll  Lounge Settee fits perfectly in this tiny space. The straight lines, tubted back and seat provide all t he detail that is needed to see why this is a  highly popular design in the 21 century.   




Isamu Noguchi Coffee Table 
 
source

  Isamu Noguchi tables are widely available and relatively affordable. They were in constant production from 1947 until 1973, and then returned to production in 1984, and  are still available.  Because of its rounded triangular shape it works well with one edge parallel to a sofa and the the other two edges facing two chairs on angles.  I have also seen it used to great effect with a sectional sofa and a chair arrangement. 

Wegner Wishbone Chair

Design Public, Dwell Studio

Have you ever seen The Wishbone Chair in anyone's home?  It is i probably the most popular Hans J. Wegner chair because its rounded style fits with so many other different styles of  furniture. .  This  designer  began his career as a cabinetmaker and then spent time as a furniture designer with  Arne Jacobsen's architectural practice. The Nelson Pendant light is another iconic mid century design. 

Nelson Bubble Light 
Kitchen design contemporary kitchen
Urban Homes

The first Nelson Bubble Light was designed by George Nelson in 1947.  They are hanging shades comprised of sculptural wire skeletons covered in translucent plastic. There are a variety of forms including: the Propeller, the Cigar, the Crisscross, the Ball, the Saucer, the Apple, the Pear, and the Lantern which are still in production today.

.Cherner Armchair  Side Chair

Dining Room modern dining room
Rachel Reider Interiors

Norman  Cherner designed this beautifully curved chair in 1958 and it went out of production in the 70'd. His sons started producing them again in 1999. 


Do you have a favourite?

 
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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Birdsong


Have you been watching 'Birdsong' on PBS? (Click on the link to watch the trailer)
I am a newly minted fan, since on the same day the book, which I had ordered a few days earlier, had arrived. Now I read parallel and a little ahead, since the second (and last) part will be shown Sunday, 04/29!




In the ruinous trenches of northern France, Lieutenant Stephen Wraysford (Eddie Redmayne, My Week with Marilyn, Richard II) barely seems to register the death and destruction all around him. His eyes are fixed instead on his drawings and his deck of cards, and his mind is focused on the memory of his one love, Isabelle Azaire (Clémence Poesy, 127 Hours,Harry Potter). For Stephen, events unfolding on the Allied front in 1916 are eclipsed by his memories of the summer of 1910, when he met Isabelle in Amiens. When Isabelle leaves her oppressive husband René (Laurent Lafitte), the two lovers share a blissful existence that seems to make up for a lifetime of loneliness and isolation for Stephen. But their idyll is cut short when Isabelle leaves without explanation. Stephen battles the Germans on the front six years later, as he also battles his own internal grief and confusion over his loss. Adapted by Abi Morgan (Iron Lady, The Hour) from the Sebastian Faulks novel, Birdsong tells the story of Stephen's awakening to love and his determination to reclaim it.





Image via PBS website
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Sunday, April 22, 2012

Make mine MCM

  I'm a baby boomer who  loves a sleek, open and slightly boxy look and  hates "do dads".  I was chatting with a  friend the other day and  praised  the mid century modern  (MCM)  period in home decor and was met with a quizzical look.  "Ah", I thought a good topic for a blog post.

Just as the name implies, this style  spanned a period of roughly thirty years  in the middle of the 20th century, from the mid-1940s to 1970. This fresh aesthetic developed  after  the Second World War when there was a desire to  recast earlier design to be more in keeping with  the bold new world that was expected. 

  HGTV 

Mid century modern  took from the simplicity of Scandinavian design and gained inspiration from the earlier Bauhaus style in Germany. During that period of time architects like Frank Lloyd Wright were designing  using organic, natural shapes  and bringing a whole new aesthetic to design.  This was also the era of mass production of furniture and accessories which made them more accessible to the average family.

The elements of MCM I like best are the  pared-down forms, contemporary patterns and  natural materials. 
I like to pick and  choose aspects from this design era and mix them with contemporary pieces. The 50's space age look - metal and mesh chairs,  sunburst clocks, bubble lamps and pole tension lights- is not to my personal taste, but I love to see it paired in someone else's decor. 

If you want to reference a mid century modern look in your decor consider the following: 



 Choose round and sleek


Saarinen Executive Chairs, a Florence Knoll table and a PH Pendant create the ultimate mid-century dining area.   The MCM  look is  about spaciousness and light. Think lots of windows, minimal walls,  clean and sparse styling with eye-catching elements.   The rounded lines and monochromatic colour scheme here produces a very calming look. I particularly like the tone of green which is similar to the wall colour in the room below.  Versions of George Nelson's bubble fixtures are still found in today's decor.

 Margaret Ryall

 Even mid century styled  rectangular furniture often had slightly  rounded edges as seen in this  hand crafted dining room furniture.  

 Explore Medium Toned Wooden Furniture

Mid-century style entry modern entry
Niche Interiors: San Francisco Interior Design Services modern living room
Niche Interiors

  As this era was about embracing nature, lighter  woods such as teak, oak and fir made their way into living rooms. 

Use  mid century modern  materials 

While the use of wood was a prominent feature of mid century modern decor, man made materials were just as prominent. Plastic including Bakelite on table tops, along with Plexiglass and Lucite, were all the rage.Other common materials wer  molded plywood and  wire mesh.   A good example of  how plastic was molded and is still popular today is  the tulip chair by Saaranin.

Kitchen table modern kitchen


Use bold textures and colours 
Living Room modern living room

There are so many mid century modern designs that are still popular today that I'll need another post to do them justice. Stay tuned. 



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Friday, April 20, 2012

Stolen moments

I do not know about you, but sometimes I sneak in some stolen moments at a small cafe around the corner, which makes me feel like I am on vacation in France. I know, 
I am pushing it here...

via

I indulge in a delicious soy latte and unfold a magazine or two, just to browse and to get some inspirational juices flowing.
There is a seat across from me, so why don't you sit for a moment and have a peak?
Truthfully, I have no idea which magazines they are from, I guess Elle Decor, House and Home, House Beautiful?

Anyway, there is something about a white kitchen....




and patterned walls and a sofa with a pop of color....


And ... oh, should we try this perfume? It says here it's unisex (LOL), but I think there is no such thing, really?


And speaking of unisex.... this bedroom just appeals to me, very feminine/masculine



While this one is just girly, wouldn't you say?
And so happy!


Next magazine: Another gorgeous kitchen, in the city I adore??? Ohhhh...


Sorry, the light here.... this turned out pink, but its a lovely off white on white....


 Another glam bedroom! Three pillows....


But this one here is an killer amazing room! I absolutely love the moody feel of dark walls in a library, with the cozy seat.... and a silver ceiling? Get out! Sorry, a really bad photo, but you get the idea?


And this one? Can it get more elegant and fun? 
Turquoise, white and gold with a dash of red!!! 
J'adore!



Shhh, we are way to noisy, the patron over there gives us already the evil eye....
Are we done?
Let's just go home now and put to good use what we have learned here!!!

via


Au Revoir!
See you next week darling, have a splendid weekend!






All images via various current shelter magazines, sorry no exact source.

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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Touch of gold





Gold colored metals have made a comeback over the last years and truth be told, I always had a weakness for a little bit of shiny gold in design. Our front door sports gleaming brass fixtures and I think it looks great with the classic colonial style of our house. I think of a ship sometimes, the house has a navy feel with the blue and white...but that was actually unintended!


This was a year ago, now the mail box hangs and the grass has grown into the area next to the walkway.

Many years ago my husband brought a lovely antique clock back from a visit to Amsterdam and it has graced our mantle ever since. It has of course invited the use of more gold tone metals, bronze, brass and gold plated...It glistens at night and always makes me feel festive.


The walls are painted in a desert sand by BM and glow warm at night.

 Usually my use of these metals is sparingly, I am not the magpie type and I hardly use gold tone jewelry, but a few days ago I bought a gold colored Asian garden stool and I am happy to report it adds a lovely portion of glamour to our music salon. 


Via Joss & Main, a great shopping experience, btw.


Are you in favor of golden accessories? I do stop at gold tone bathroom fixtures, those still have a dated feel to me.
But I also mix metals, dark, silver toned and golden.
And I do not mind oxidized metals either...I rather dislike to much polishing! A little patina adds to the charm of things, don't you agree?









All images by V.Zlotkowski

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