DESIGN FOR MEN

I am really enjoying the new direction of West Elm in their Fall 2010 catalog.  The design team has integrated some of the vintage elements while preserving the West Elm look.  The result feels more like what a home should be, a mix! I always love to see a product catalog that is inspiring from a design standpoint.  And it helps people envision a space that doesn’t feel like it came straight from a catalog.  I stopped cold when I saw the above image.  I love the gallery of frames and the wallpaper.  After doing some digging, I located the wallpaper which is “elizabeth on shimmer” from the eco-friendly madisonandgow.  Here are more new West Elm items that I love.

Woven veneer pendant

Jigsaw Spin Bookcase (L) Wood & Resin Boxes (R)

Tripod Table

NICE JOB WEST ELM!!

Images from West Elm

Factory 20 is a design collective located in Sterling, VA focuses on providing an eclectic mix of art, furniture, lighting, and beyond.   I love the attention to detail in their styling and the consistency and sophistication of their photography.  The following are some of my favorites items in their current inventory.  Above, the 1950s Scolari Vintage Brass Chandelier is stunning! No wonder it is sold!

Custom Early Century Shop Desk

USA, 1920s, Custom Early Century Shopkeepers Writing Desk and Storage. Custom made for a bookseller’s shop in Boston. This piece was created to display rare books and for bookkeeping. Solid old growth oak. Open-backed for wall placement. One of a kind.

Victorian Eastlake Pier Mirror Cabinet

USA, c.1880s. Impressive High Victorian Pier Mirror Foyer Cabinet, Solid Walnut Construction. Designed in the fashionable Eastlake style.

Paul Laszlo Brown Saltman Desk

USA, c.1940. Paul Laszlo (attr.) for Brown-Saltman. Bleached Mahogany Students Desk. Very Good Condition. Early Modernist Form.

Artist Atelier Modular Steel Drawer Unit

USA, c.1940. Artist Modular Storage Wall Units. Atelier Organization, Infinite Drawers. Two Units Pictured, Two Units Available.

Vintage Spun Aluminum Beehive Lamps

USA, 1940s, Vintage Beehive Spun Aluminum Tripod Floor Lamps. Fully Adjustable. All Aluminum Construction. Newly rewired with vintage braided cloth wire.

Images and Product Descriptions by Factory 20

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This weekend I stopped by Marshall’s for workout clothes.  Instead, I found this table lamp with a Jonathan Adler-esque base on sale.  I loved the the base but despised the crazy hot pink zebra lamp shade.  I thought, I would buy the lamp and grab another shade.  Then, I thought, there are ton of lamps here…so I started trying out different ones and settled on this off-white one from another clearance lamp.  Another customer said, “Wow, I would have never thought to do that” so I thought I’d share.  While I feel slightly bad for switching the shades.  My guilt was overpowered by my cheapness.  Rather than spending even more on another shade, I walked out the door with a great lamp for only $20.

Some spaces perplex even me. The idea of letting it all hang out is hard to swallow prompting people to store most of their items out of site.  This apartment featured on OWI is all about exposure.  The consistent use of wood shelving throughout cohesively ties all of the rooms in the home together.  Additionally, the minimal furnishings prevent the space from feeling cluttered.  Essentially the items on the shelve function as artwork in the space.

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The living area / office combo features blinds lining the entire window wall, creating a nice screen adding even more texture to the exposed brick walls.

The barn door is propably one of the largest that I’ve seen creating more of the feeling of a portal at the door. Although I am a bit confused about why there is a skateboard in the middle of the room.  I always find it odd when just one element in an organized space is out of place.  But perhaps the owner uses the skateboard as transport from room to room.

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The detail of the accentuated edges of the shelves creates a nice slated wall at this platform area.  We find the same shelving in the kitchen/laundry as well which feels quite industrial and intimate.

The bathroom is definitely my favorite space tying in the shelving with the wood slats of the tub surround.  And I love the use of steel for the tub even though it makes me feel like I would be bathing in a large sink.  Nothing in this home is expected and clearly there is a little something to letting it all hang out.

Images from OWI, photography by Vercruysse Frederik

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Color me inspired by Workstead, a New York based design studio led by Stefanie Brechbuehler and Robert Andrew Highsmith.  They are focused on creating dynamic environments that are environmentally responsible.  The images included are of the inspiring East Village Apartment completed in 2009.  The warmth of the space is overwhelming achieved with the use of walnut in furnishings mixed with the deep gray sofa, all against somber white walls.

Although, not a part of the above project, I love the sliding kitchen in Brooklyn, NY.

As if interior design wasn’t enough, Workstead does virtually all things design from architecture to lighting.  My favorite, the industrial 6 arm chandelier below, also available in a 3 arm.

IMAGE CREDITS: Workstead

The best thing about the summer is all of the fabulous sales!  RCKDNY, one of my favorite stores in D.C. is currently having a sale on Essential upholstery pieces by Gus Modern.  I am really digging this new sectional from the Richmond collection (above).

IMAGE CREDITS: Gus Modern

Simply put…Awesome!  I recall loving my race car themed childhood room.  But this room designed by Kate Dixon of Artistic Living Spaces for the Symphony Designer Showhouse in Kansas City takes the cake (sorry mom).   The circus themed room features her son as the ringmaster and the space somehow marries fun and sophistication.   I love all of the clever storage solutions found in custom components from the ferris wheel to the awesome bed.  I wouldn’t mind having that bed myself.  Check out the full article on Design Sponge by clicking here.

Adorable and inspiring…what an great way to start the weekend!

Photography by Chad Jackson, Images from DixonStyle

John Beck, owner of John Beck Paper & Steel, is a humble craftsman based out of  Edwardsville, IL.  Beck has channeled his passion for welding and working with his hands into a successful business.  He is doing what he loves and I must say that I am loving what he is doing.   Here are some stand out stars from his work.

Furniture

ANTI-TRUNK (pictured above) 1/8” steel sheet construction, hand painted, distressed and waxed. You can choose the number.

LIMITED EDITION TABLE Sheet Steel Construction, Solid Wood Core

DESK 3 Steel tube frame with glass top

ADJUSTABLE SHELVING UNIT Steel frame w/ adjustable steel shelves

Kitchen

ADAM ISLAND Steel sheet top, under counter storage with built in cutting board and knife storage

Lighting

LIGHT ONE & MINI LIGHT ONE Steel tube / with wire mesh shade / 30W Edison style bulb

GREEN DEPOT CHALKBOARD PENDANT This steel sheet lamp shade can be written on to send a message.

Custom Projects John Beck will do just about anything custom including exhibits, signage, work stations,  furniture, and lighting.  At Treo Salon, JBPS designed the monolithic bar with backlit logo, pendant fixture, as well as the cutting station in the rear.

Transformations The team at JBPS also transforms vintage finds into functional furniture.  The stunning table above was created using steel frame, reclaim wood drawers turned, and glass top.

Sliding Doors 2” steel frame, sheet steel insert panels.  Includes hanging track and wheels.

IMAGES FROM John Beck Paper & Steel

Last week, I did an interview with Dave Odegard for AOL’s Rented Spaces. Dave was working on piece about interior decorating for guys, mainly on how to transition from the “dorm room” look into creating an adult space. I jumped at the opportunity to share insight on this issue. Check out the full article, “Interior Decorating for Men, Made Easy” on Rented Spaces by clicking here.

The new Room and Board store opened two weeks ago in the U Street corridor area of Washington, DC. The building, formerly known as the R. L. Taylor Building, was  a Ford Motors showroom. Room and Board purchased and renovated the property to create 36,000 square foot of showroom space.  I was like a kid in a candy store checking out all four levels of the showroom. And of course many things caught my eye for use in projects.   Additionally, I always enjoy the power of seeing furnishings in person.  The following are some of my findings.

It is important to see and experience a piece of furniture before you buy.  I loved the Louis leather chair (above) in person but disliked the chair online.   A great contemporary take on the club chair and surprisingly comfortable.  What is also great about showrooms is how the different room scenes and vignettes  can generate ideas.   The kidney shape of the Newbury desk (shown above) in walnut worked very well in this tight corner.

The most eye catching scene for me was the living room shown above.  I loved the color scheme.  The rich camel colored Wells leather sofa paired nicely with the Noguchi table, dark charcoal Wegner wing and easy chair.    I loved the use of  clustering of the Makenge baskets as artwork.

Oddly, I was perusing the West Elm Fall 2010 Preview catalog and noticed similar bowls, see above photo.  Although, I must say that the Room and Board options are far better quality.  However the West Elm versions are much cheaper ranging from $29-99, while the  R&B baskets are $79-189.

This article barely scratches the surface of what Room and Board has to offer.  So, stop by the new showroom at 1840 14th Street, NW.  For more information check out the website by clicking here.