DESIGN FOR MEN

A couple weekends ago, I checked out Chartreuse & Co in Frederick, MD.  There is a reason why this place made the Great Day Trips in the Washingtonian.  A collection of different vendors in a barn filled with oddities and unfurnished or finds.  Additionally, on the property, there was another barn filled with discards or works in progress as well as a shed filled with architectural finds. My favorite shop and my reason for the trip was Madison and Mabel (the image and below are of the shop). Great industrial and modern finds.

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Of course I had to make a few purchases…but I controlled myself.

Purchased: Crates from the discards barn ($15 for 3, similar to above)

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Purchased: Industrial Pendant  and Eames DCM Dining Chair (let’s just say they were a steel)

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Tempting: Vintage Steel Magazine Rack and Glass Pendant Lamp

So definitely check out Chartreuse & Co for a day trip or you can even just pop in a couple hours…they mentioned cocktails at their Holiday Tag Sale happening this weekend!

IMAGE CREDITS: Photo of DCM Chair by Gararge; Photo of Crates by MyDeco

The U Street Corridor area is quickly becoming one of my favorite sources for furnishings.  The Hunted House is located on U Street near some of my favorites including, Room & Board, RCKDNY. Located on the second floor of a row house on 14th street, the shop feels more like a home than vintage furniture shop.  A hand-selected mix of eclectic and mid-century furnishings are displayed in vignettes, showroom style.

Pair of Ceramic Lamps – already envisioning these with a great modern drum shade

Danish Modern 2-Seater with Teak Frame

Danish Modern Desk

Glass Top Cocktail Table hmmm…I saw the matching end table in Rehoboth

Walnut Side Table

Check out the Hunted House site by clicking here.

Well Built, a new DC furniture shop focused on sustainable, modern furniture.  Loving their dedication to helping people realize that great design can be responsible to the environment.  Check out some from of my favorites.

Hepburn Bed

WD3 Desk

Double Octopus Pendant Also available in White

Deer Collection Side Chair

Sonic Classic Wood Clock

Many of the furnishings at Well Built are available in a variety of finishes.  Check out their website by clicking here.

IMAGES from Well Built

Design for Men reader, Olivier Abry has been interested in vintage furnishings, especially lamps for a long time.   Abry, who lives in Lyon, France, started creating industrial light fixtures by assembling and restoring vintage objects just three months ago.  He now considers himself a “light creator-assembler”, a title I love.  After clicking on his site, I realized that the title fits as his talent and attention to detail blew me away. I was also a bit jealous but that’s beside the point. The fixtures are both sleek and functional. His adjustable arm fixtures remind me of the fixtures by Workstead published earlier this summer.  And pricing is reasonable despite the exchange rates that may apply. The following are a few favorites.

Vendu Wall Light

Double Potence Adjustable Arm Lamp

Liseuse Reading Light

Cage Potence Wall Light

Not bad for three months. Check out his site, Wo and Wé Collection, by clicking here.

Merci beaucoup Olivier pour la présentation! Votre travail est incroyable et bonne chance avec la collection! My sincere apologies as my french is very rusty.

IMAGES from Wo and Wé Collection

This week, I will be guest blogging at Curbly.com. Today, I posted an article on a mural in my DC studio that I created by transferring the line work from a Marimekko wallpaper. I took some photographs and while I was at it snapped some shops of my place which is a work in process. I have started with the basics and I am about 50% done. I am only posting the the living room, which doubles as my home office and kitchen. Stay tuned for more on the design which will include painting accent walls, vintage industrial furnishings, and much, much more.

The color palette is monochromatic primarily because the walls are freshly painted an off white.  Accent walls will be different tones of gray. In my home office / office area, my I love the use of an IKEA kitchen cabinet for storage above my desk.  The walnut desk is temporary…I will be replacing it soon, with something smaller in scale.  Additionally, a cowhide rug, end tables and a custom bench will be added to the living room.  I despise the carpet but what can you do, it is a rental.

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My splurges thus far, have been the Blu Dot Paramount sofa which I absolutely love and a 42″ flat screen television.  The scale of the TV is questionable but it is great for watching movies, I feel like I am at the theater.

The kitchen will be receiving a chalkboard backslash wall and I have a plan to add shelving over the bar which I am excited about.  I am thinking toledo stools for the bar.  No photos yet of the bathroom and bedroom because they are still works in progress – however here is a sketch of the bedroom design…

The same curtains  from the living room will define the entry.  The accent wall will be charcoal gray and I plan to do a coffee sack inspired stencil on this burlap-like fabric which is left over from a project.  The nightstands (click here to view) and pendant will be vintage industrial.

Stay tuned for more on the design process!  And check out the article on Curbly by clicking here.

Vital Steel NYC is a design studio formed by Benno Schoberth, a Film Editor and Robbin Brosterman, a Design Director. The couple initially created the single panel “apartment jewel” to enhance their own small studio  in Manhattan.  Vital Steel offers modern steel and hand-blown glass room dividers & screens. Their collection elegantly unites Mid-century modern with Art Deco.  ANDRA, pictured above, is a graceful three panel free-standing room divider.  And UNA is a uniquely adaptable one panel laser cut divider which appears in the picture below in their New York apartment.  Check out the Vital Steel website for more info and pricing by clicking here.

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IMAGE CREDITS: Image 1 courtesy of Vital Steel NYC, Image two by Susan Farley for The New York Times

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

Really digging this super sleek text based clock by Beigert & Funk which only uses phrases. Available in a variety of colors and languages. The front panel is made of polished acrylic glass and The front surface is made of polished acrylic glass the frame is lacquered wood. The cost is €885.00. Different color panels are €95.00. Additionally there is an iphone app which I love that is $99 from Itunes, click here to get the app.

IMAGE CREDITS: Image 1 from Josh Spear, Image 2 from Biegert & Funk

Last weekend, I stopped byD.C. furniture boutique, RCKNDY the source for my “perfect sofa” and spotted several additional items that I love.  RCKNDY has a great selection of furnishings from modern stores that are a little difficult to find in stores such as Blu Dot and Gus Modern.   I recommend seeing pieces before purchasing, especially seating. I walked in the store and the Gus Modern Rochelle sofa had me questioning my sofa decision.  The following images illustrate why I was tempted.  The Rochelle, pictured above in ash gray is sleek and the right scale for a D.C. apartment.  The image below shows the back which features  seductive exposed legs.  And the sofa is quite comfortable, although slightly lacking in back support which could be remedied with the right pillows.  A flaw that  my Paramount Sofa does not possess with it’s fabulous back cushions.

The following were other knock outs that had me wondering if I could find a location at my place or in a project.  Additionally I thought that I would share my thoughts about comfort and the designs.

Gus Modern GT Rocker Perfect in scale for a small space but a little uncomfortable and the rocking functionality is not as smooth as I would like.  However, the price , the lovely bouclé fabric and the overall design aesthetic may make this worth it!

Blu Dot Buttercup Rocker Despite the bendable plywood frame, this rocker felt more comfortable.

Blu Dot Shilf  Ivory LOVE THIS!!! I noticed this one the last time I was in the store and I am still trying to find a use for this modular powder coated steel beauty.

IMAGE CREDITS: Buttercup Rocker Image from DesignPublic; Others by Design4Men

Modlife, located in Chicago, IL, specializes in mid century modern furniture, lighting, and accessories. Proprietor, Robert Zizzo, travels the country for unique finds. The collection includes items by renowned designers of the 20th Century including Eames, Ed Wormley, Paul McCobb, Milo Baughman, Hans Olsen, Paul Evans, Eero Saarinen and Tommi Parzinger. Here is just a sampling of items that caught my eye.  Above, Eames Aluminum Group chairs – Love the color combo here

Vintage Overman Sofa reupholstered in white leather

Danish Modern Walnut Credenza

Cubed Chrome platform chair in chocolate stamped leather & velvet

Orbit Chandelier

Danish Modern Sette Bench
Images from Modlife