Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Fantastic (never mind the cushions on the ground)

Looks good!

Very crisp.

Great this very unassuming mirror.

Love the wall covering!
Loose the candle sticks.
Welcome, welcome everyone!!
You know I love all things tasteful; ok minus the gold candle sticks on the coffee table; but I digress. I love all things glamorous and full of umf!!! Fantastic this Zebra runner; so Hollywood. If you are going to get crazy and by all means please do, I am going to have to insist you keep it controlled by using a strong neutral palette as your background. Oh, also try not to become crazy with accessories ( I know we all love accessories...), sometimes they make a space look and feel junky.

FOCUS.


The iconic fireplace design that put Focus on the map is as relevant today as at the time of its creation by Dominique Imbert in 1968. This mod, suspended model rotates 360 degrees, and has been exhibited in New York’s Guggeheim, The Bordeaux Modern Art Museum, and the Grenoble Modern Art Centre. Voted "Worlds most beautiful object" at the 2008-2009 Pulchra competition in Italy.http://www.euroflues.com/

Friday, October 23, 2009

Platner does Altanta







I was so please to see the Platner chair used properly! I mean, it's a beautiful piece - and, it could go anywhere, even I'd say it can carry a space on it's own. However, Toronto firm Burdifilek had the guts to upholster with a brown/turquoise pattern...and it works. I must admit, this may not have been a combination I would have come up with myself, however I know this is something Anna would have brought forth in a brain storm. I have such appreciation for reinterpretation of modern classics only when it is done with dignity. W Atlanta is home to these beautiful customized Platner chairs. Be warned, don't try this at home; leave it to the professionals!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009






Here (for your viewing pleasure) are some fantastic pieces ; new to the Fornasetti collection. The top three images are porcelain additions and the bottom image is a magazine rack. The thing with these pieces is the depth they bring to a space. When looking for accessories you just can't go wrong with a Fornasetti piece. The Fornasetti catalogue comprises three categories: the Grand pieces; the Home Accessories and the Delicate Objects. From Grand Pieces (jaw dropping) to Delicate objects, these objects are considered true artistic reproductions as they are drawn from the historic archives of Piero Fornasetti.
www.fornasetti.com
Contact us for any and all of your Fornasetti needs; let us share our passion! www.igloodesign.ca

Tuesday, October 6, 2009







We are almost done with the ladies washroom here at Igloo world headquarters. I just can't get over how fabulous it looks. Of course we used Bardelli tiles (www.bardelli.it); we decided to work with the Cuban Black collection designed by none other than Ruben Toledo. Let's just get the nitty gritty out of the way: the quality of this product is unparalleled, the craftsmanship unrivaled. There, now we can get to the fun part. This collection was inspired by Ruben's native land: Cuba. As its name indicates it, this collection represents a Cuban Veranda in a beautiful poetic way. Ruben Toledo, one of my favorite designers was born in Havana, Cuba in 1961. He is designer extraordinaire!! A painter, sculptor, illustrator, fashion chronicler and critic, and surrealist. You name it, he has designed it or collaborated on it. There is no limit to this man's genius and creativity. Give us a call and stop by it's worth a peak, it truly is.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Igloo Design - Spa Calme











Igloo Design - Spa Calme
I had a chance to experience one of our own spaces this weekend. It was a great experience! This spa was designed over a year ago, and as always, I make a conscious effort to stop thinking about projects after they are done so that when I walk through them with a fresh pair of eyes. This is the only way of being able to asses ones work. When I arrived to the spa, I was welcomed by a fantasy like reception desk-we used a white 8x8 ceramic tile that looks like a tufted pillow. The contrast between visual and actual texture creates a lot of interest. Beyond that, there is the change rooms and relaxation area. I was happy to see how the owner Natalie grew into her space by adding her own 'Spa Calme' touches, such as relaxing music and special scents. Needless to say, the service was impeccable and the experience was grand. I left as a returning client and most of all a proud Interior Design Professional!








Wednesday, September 30, 2009


















Fashion Designer Anna Sui remains very true to herself with this awesome apartment of hers. I can't help but be happy for people that remain true to their personal style and identity when designing and decorating their homes. I know that this seems like a "duh" kind of statement but you would be surprised at how many people don't trust their own instincts when it comes to their own spaces. Remember, you never want to feel like a stranger in your own home. you want to make sure that you respect both environment and personal vibe. Never try to re create, rather borrow and reinterpret. It really is the only way to feel connected to your home.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

"Happy 99th Birthday, Hoffman!"

“Hoffman Series B” Drinking Set
Design: Josef Hoffmann, 1912



I almost choked on my sandwich when Anna showed me this fabric! I became crazy. Like all that is perfect, it can easily be adapted and applied to many different mediums ei; textiles, accessories, carpets, etc. This pattern called "Linien" is the proof. The strength is in its simplicity. One very basic element of design was used..."contrast in direction". My clients are always amuses when I say "It's so simple and yet, complicated." The possibilities with this pattern are endless. Also, it's been around for nearly 100 years. This textile now produced by Unika Vaev, is as valid today in the 21st century as is was the day it was created. I look forward to specifying this textile to a worthy project. It will truly be an honour!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Marni, Madison Avenue









So many people have tried to dispaly clothing in a way similar to displaying Art and I can tell you that more often than not they have failed. This boutique is brilliantly done; London's Sybarite has truly created "a prime example of synchronocity emerging from a mix of moder art and fashion" p.59 Frame , issue 70. www.sybarite-uk.com.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Manhattan





The Neue Galerie
www.neuegalerie.org



The Lobby of the Mark hotel
www.themarkhotel.com



The New Museum
www.newmuseum.org

Here are some great glimpses at the epicenter of art fashion and design.


Got nothing to do this weekend? Do yourselves a favor and go to New York city for a couple of days. There really is so much happening there and no great excuse for missing it. Fly, drive you get the drift; just go! I know, I know you've been, but there is always something new to see and experience, Manhattan is constantly reinventing itself, and you will always come back home re-energized and inspired.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Viva Las Vegas!








I just got back from a much needed Las Vegas getaway, I drank by the pool side at the Trump; gambled at the Bellagio (can you say Muranno); tried to re-new my vows at the Graceland wedding chapel (never mind $800) and ate at the renowned Aureole restaurant. However the one thing I did not have the pleasure of visiting was the Barbie-themed suite at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas created by none other than Jonathan Adler. If you grew up with Barbie (as I have), can you imagine how fabulous this life size, pink-filled doll house must be?
From the wall decor to the furniture to the bathroom accessories Jonathan Adler has brought Barbie's world to life.


Monday, September 14, 2009



What a treat for Fabio Novembre fans! They sure got their fill at the Triennale Design Museum in Milan with a retrospective of his furniture designs, including two new pieces. The whole idea: exploring Novembre's world (process, obsessions and inspirations). www.novembre.it

Friday, September 11, 2009

Broadway Boogie Woogie


This painting is awesome in person. I saw it at the MoMa a few years ago, and I think of it often. Mostly for it's complex composition, and use of colour. Balance is the prominent element of design here. I've included below a blurb explaining it's story...
Escaping to New York after the start of World War II, Mondrian delighted in the city's architecture, and, an adept dancer, was fascinated by American jazz, particularly boogie–woogie. He saw the syncopated beat, irreverent approach to melody, and improvisational aesthetic of boogie–woogie as akin to his own "destruction of natural appearance; and construction through continuous opposition of pure means—dynamic rhythm." Bands of stuttering chromatic pulses, paths of red, yellow, and blue interrupted by light gray suggest the city's grid and the movement of traffic, while the staccato vibration of colors evokes the syncopation of jazz and the blinking electric lights of Broadway.
Many architects and designers have been influenced by Mondrian's Broadway Boogie Woogie. Below is Dutch artist Gerrit Thomas' famous chair. He's also known for having set the tone for movement of De Stijl. I think this chair is one of the very few pieces that have been influenced by Piet, that actually is successful.


Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (25 June 1888–27 June, 1965) was a Dutch furniture designer and architect. One of the principal members of the Dutch artistic movement called De Stijl, Rietveld is famous for his Red and Blue Chair and for the Rietveld Schröder House, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rietveld designed his famous Red and Blue Chair in 1917. In 1918, he started his own furniture factory, and changed the chair's colors after becoming influenced by the 'De Stijl' movement, of which he became a member in 1919, the same year in which he became an architect. He designed his first building, the Rietveld Schröder House, in 1924, in close collaboration with the owner Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck. Built in Utrecht on the Prins Hendriklaan 50, the house has a conventional the ground floor, but is radical on the top floor, lacking fixed walls but instead relying on sliding walls to create and change living spaces. The design seems like a three-dimensional realisation of a Mondrian painting. The house is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

Rietveld broke with the 'De Stijl' in 1928 and became associated with a more functionalist style of architecture known as either Nieuwe Zakelijkheid or Nieuwe Bouwen. The same year he joined the Congrès Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne. He designed the "Zig-Zag" chair[1] in 1934 and started the design of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, which was finished after his death. He built hundreds of homes, many of which in the city of Utrecht.





Less for me, but in the right setting, I could be wonderful. Please ask a professional if you are going to buy these, it may become a total disaster.

I think this could be good if the colours were the original ones. Why play games when the concept it perfect? This is what happens when people think they are getting 'creative'. Stop. If you feel you can adapt to the concept, and succeed, then do it; otherwise-don't!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Lladro - Equus







Equus Collection. I must admit, I was surprised to see so much zebrano wood veneer.




Seating area upstairs





Equus collection



Equus collection

I just came back from Barcelona and headed for the Lladro showroom! After being allowed access into the shop, (yes, we had to be buzzed in!) I was in pure amazement. Not only was the interior lighting and detailing impeccable, but the product followed suit. I must admit, I was surprised to see so much zebrano wood veneer. I think I've seen too much of it over the past 4 years, and it's starting to loose it's charm. There are so many innovative materials on the market, there is no reason to dwell on zebrano. I really think zebrano is starting to have what I like to call "The lucky bamboo effect". But I digress...
I'm not that much into porcelain, but I have to say that a 24" Chinese dragon retailing for 18,000 euros, caught my attention. What I fell in love with is the beautiful and brilliant Equus Collection.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Caziness!!!















Yesterday my boyfriend and I were visiting the Telio showroom and we came across the new Jim Thompson collection inspired by Tony Duquette (http://www.jimthompson.com/). Now you all know how much I lovecraziness; none crazier than wonderful Tony Duquette (and I mean good Crazy) . This collection is so very well put together, that you just want to use it everywhere. It clearly embodies the Design Icon that was Duquette (http://www.tonyduquette.com/) and very much reflects that L.A feel that is so present in his work (as you all know Duquette worked for the the film industry in Los Angeles, and mainly with Vincent Minelli). The collection says extravagant and lavish yet tasteful. I can think of a million applications already!!!

Monday, August 31, 2009


















Dear readers, these are the mother of all rugs. I remember seeing these rugs in a catalogue and thinking to myself that these were some of the most beautiful rugs that I had had the pleasure of encountering. Now, I am not talking about just the Fornasetti factor here, the craftsmanship behind these is exceptional, incomparable even. Once I set foot in their New York showroom, I had to be sedated; these rugs were mind blowing. I wanted each single one, only I did not possess enough rooms to display them in. The depth, the colour, the feel and vibe. Every single detail: perfection. www.roubinirugs.com



Friday, August 28, 2009



From plates, to pillows to versatile high impact fabrics, that is the magic of Thomas Paul!



Rugs: hello!



Very very cool!



This Nautical theme is great.







Paul's accessories and textiles are always bold and create a lot of impact. Obviously not for the faint of heart. If however like me you are a screamer, than let out and get some of this!!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009




You go Sarah Morris: art work translated into fabrics. www.maharam.com




Armani Casa oval Ginger bowls out of cast brass. www.armanicasa.com





Amethyst gold leaf drawer pulls by Eduardo Garza. www.eduardogarza.com


I love to shop for fabulous accessories and textiles that shape the character to my home. These are the type of add ons that can only be acquired through time and have to sort of hit you when you see them. Again, there isn't a recipe as far as purchasing these objects is concerned; it's got to be a gut thing. But these are the typesof items that truly can make a home special.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009















As you all know I have a great love for all that is Italian. I also think we can all agree that this is not one of those crazy unjustifiable loves; this is an affair based on quality, content and above all excellence in all matters design. I know, I know there are other great design nations, I am not saying that there aren't. I am simply saying that I prefer to focus on the Italian design geniuses. With that out of the way , this morning I came across the new book of Aldo Rossi Drawings (Thames & Hudson ). The book contains more than three decades of sketches, concepts and watercolours until his death in 1997. Do yourselves a favor: get it. The book is really well put toghether and the content is pretty inspiring. www.thameshudson.com

Monday, August 24, 2009


The diva of design has teamed up with Pickard to create her first porcelain line; it' s beautiful! Available at Bergdorf Goodman (www.BergdorfGoodman.com).

Friday, August 21, 2009

some fabulous in Montreal








Artist Peter G.-Ray is now showing some of his very cool and unique work at the Dom Rebel lifestyle headquarters (www.domrebel.com). If you are in the market for some serious art work I think you will find what you are looking for.

Thursday, August 20, 2009







You know Art is wonderful and so necessary in a person's everyday life, but it is also one of the touchiest elements when it comes to home decor. I am not talking about the type of Art a person prefers, I am talking about all the other element that follow that initial choice, like framing lighting, placement and of course the not son obvious big C: context. People please, if you don't know ask an art consultant or someone who can guide you to make the right decisions for your home. Remember be fair to the piece and its Artist, expose it as it deserves to beappreciated.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009



You know this fixture is just the type of item that could really make a space feel a little lighter. It's nice to not take yourself so seriously sometimes. I really encourage my friends and clients to take the time and look for special whimsical items that provide significance to their spaces. It's also important to understand that if the item is valuable to you, it's not wrong and can somehow be worked into the space. It can always be worked into the space, in fact call me!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009








It does not matter what you do for a living, what you consider your style to be. What does matter is how comfortable you are in the space you practically live in: your office. Take a minute, personalise your space, enjoy it, appreciate it. Clearly some environments are easier to love than others ,but anyone can love and style their office in order to make it a place they enjoy coming to. I know I love my office , I am always happy to come in in the mornings and eager to get going.

Monday, August 17, 2009









What's cool? Sometimes just the right combination of objects, furniture, people and of course location. If ever you are in Austin texas, do stay at the San Jose. Remember it's not always about how many stars there are.