Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Just Cut


Now here's an interesting company for Interior designers. Justcut is a Toronto based company that can cut practically anything with extreme precision! From glass to plastics, these guys use their CNC machine to the maximum, allowing us creative types to let loose. Looking forward to working with you meticulous boys and girls soon! http://www.justcut.ca/

Friday, April 25, 2008

Moscow City Tower


Moscow City Tower - taller than any other building in Europe - is a striking new addition to the dynamic high-rise skyline of Moscow City. The mixed-use project - incorporating apartments, hotel, office and leisure space - will have an ‘energy cycle’ that will pioneer sustainable architecture and reinforce the economic and social vitality of Moscow City. The construction started in 2007, and occupancy is expected for 2012.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Royalton


I think this speaks for itself. It's well worth looking at...

Friday, April 18, 2008

Speed Style




The sleek little number shown here is the new XSR48. The 48-foot boat is said to be the world's fastest diesel production boat. The boat will be put through a series of world record attempts to be conducted this year. The interior is cool and reflects the overall sharp and image of the vessel. It’s value started off at 1million and has risen to 3million dollars since its unveiling at the Monaco Yacht Show.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsagDKpbc3w

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Ketchup This!






I found this new restaurant as I was flipping through a magazine last week. Ketchup-the restaurant, of course, is an all American adaptation of, well, Ketchup. Based on burgers and french fries, the concept is clear, good American food! I think this space is a success and worth talking about, the materials are appropriate, and the menu is honest, the perfect recipe for good design. My favorite feature? The art ketchup bottle above the banquette! Nice one! http://dolcegroup.com/ketchup/

Monday, April 14, 2008

Undersea Restaurant

What is going on here? Craziness!!! Somebody take me to the Maldives, hurry!!! Rumored to be conceptual while under construction; Ithaa (means pearl) restaurant is quite real. Located in the Maldives (Hilton Maldives, Resort and Spa Rangali Islad), six meters out to sea and five meters bellow water via a spiral staircase, made out of curved transparent acrylic walls, Ithaa leaves nothing to the imagination (the underwater view is spectacular). This Gem of a restaurant is considered tiny by resort hotel standards (it seats 12) and it is priced at approximately $187 per person.



















Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Perfect Paint

The Company was founded in the 1930s in Dorset, on the south coast of England, by chemists John Farrow & Richard Ball. From small beginnings, it rapidly established a reputation for quality which won it important contracts for the supply of paint to the Admiralty and the War Office. During the post-war period, while virtually all other paint manufacturers abandoned traditional formulations and switched to cheaper acrylic paints with a high plastic content, this privately owned company stuck to its craft and continued making paint to its original formulations, using the finest raw materials. Farrow & Ball was always appreciated by a loyal group of customers, and with the revival of interest in restoration and historic colours twenty years ago, its reputation began to spread. Since the turn of the century, Farrow & Ball has been discovered by discerning customers in countries across the world, all of whom appreciate the unique Farrow & Ball look. As an Interior Designer, there is no need to look further for colour. Not only is the quality of the paint outstanding, the predetermined colour selections are all perfect. Call it dummy proof! http://www.farrow-ball.com/

Friday, March 28, 2008

IN with Ingo Maurer

Porca Miseria! 1994

L'eclat joyeux 2005
German-born Ingo Maurer is one of the most prolific and respected artist/designers working today. Fascinated by what he calls the “magical and mystical” properties of light, Maurer constructs luminous atmospheres that play with traditional concepts of color, brightness, and shadow. Since 1966, Maurer has created more than 150 different lights and lighting systems and designed lighting for diverse international venues, including fashion runways, public buildings and monuments, and private commissions. Maurer uses unexpected materials and found objects to create light, and he is a pioneer in the usage of new lighting technologies.
http://www.interiordesign.net/id_article/CA6513687/id

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Cappellini Sydney Dedece showroom

Contemporary Classic Icons
"The most prestigious Italian design company", as defined by the Financial Times, has products in the permanent collections of the most prestigious contemporary art museums in the world, from MOMA in New York to the Pompidou Centre in Paris, and in international design shows.These products are exhibited as examples of what is contemporary, iconic, avant-garde and experimental. http://www.cappellini.it/indexf.htm

Monday, March 17, 2008

Farnsworth house


Talk about understanding your environment!


You want modern, take a letter.


Colour used in appropriate fashion, how novel!



Notice how the kitchen remains somewhat hidden


Perfect!



The Farnsworth House, built by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1951 and located near Plano, Illinois, is one of the most famous examples of modernist domestic architecture and was considered unprecedented in its day.This house remains a monument to modernism, there isn't much to say, it speaks for itself, however I've got a few quick words. Modern does not mean beige! Modern does not equal trendy, this house is as relevant today as it was when it was built! Modern does not exclude pattern, notice the perfect balance between the starkness of the house and the nature that surrounds it. Modern is a beautiful and very sensitive aesthetic, that is butchered daily; in fact I can't think of a movement that is more misrepresented and misunderstood.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Dellis Cay




This project on the southwestern shore of a previously uninhabited island in the Turks and Caicos chain will cover 35 acres with a beachfront Mandarin Oriental hotel and residences. It will mark the first phase of development on the 560-acre island, with other projects planned for the future. Owners of the residences — 24 one- to four-bedroom units in the hotel building, 54 one- to three-bedroom units in nine other buildings nearby, and 17 free-standing villas with five to six bedrooms — will have the option of placing their properties in a revenue-sharing rental program. There will be 25 suites in the hotel to add to the residences offered for rental. This part of the overall development is designed by Piero Lissoni, the Italian architect and designer, with Asian elements. The residences will feature large terraces and balconies, and there will be four restaurants, infinity-edge pools, tennis courts, a beach club and shops. The spa will be built suspended over a lake, and it will have an outdoor pool for water massage treatments.http://www.delliscay.com/

Monday, March 10, 2008

JBK Gallery

Tea pot

Tea pot


Gorgeous, Gorgeous

"The Manhattan Series"

We often look for items to accessorize our homes without really focusing on their process or intent. Often decorative objects seem empty and feel like clutter without adding to the feel of the home. A space should speak of its owner, should tell his story, and accessories are a great way to help get that story across. Truth be told, it’s quite hard to be discerning; although it’s such a design conscious world there is a whole lot of junk out there. That being said, every so often one comes across a great artist who produces beautiful things like Jeroen Bechtold (Amsterdam, the Netherlands). Have a look at some examples of the really cool ceramics he produces (the Manhattan series are by far my favorite).
When I saw his work in Amsterdam a few years ago, I had to be sedated. I thought the stuff was out of this world! I kept trying to buy a few pieces but it was impossible (the shop was always closed), but that’s neither here nor there; perhaps you’ll have better luck buying online. I will say this, the internet does nothing for these pieces, they should be seen in person. www.jbk.nu

Friday, March 7, 2008

Frank Stella


Frank Stella is famous for saying of his artwork: "What you see is what you get." This sentence became the mantra of minimalist artists of the 1960's and established Stella as one of the pioneers of a new art movement that stressed the reduction of the image to its most basic elements of colour, shape and design. From an interior design perspective, his work is strong enough to carry as space to the end, as it did for http://yabupushelberg.com/ in the Princess of Wales theater for the Mirvish brothers in 1991.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Speaking of Black and White...











The Night Hotel in New York, situated near Time Square in the city center, is a prime example of good, current design. Vikram Chatwal & Mark Zeff, pulled inspiration from black and white feature films of the twenties, and transformed this Gothic-style building into a place of incredible luxury, to pay tribute to the throbbing vitality of the New York nights. Detailed with Bang and Olufsen electronics, state of the art materials and finishes, every square inch of the hotel was thought out, designed and executed with perfection. Worth a try! Alain

"Rococo: the Continuing Curve, 1730-2008"




Moooi's Club chair



Moooi's "Chandelier"



Moooi's Fixture

Traditional Rococo pattern


Should you happen to be in New York any time soon, be sure to catch this beautiful exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum. You will be shocked to find that Rococo never really left the scene since its origins in 18th century Paris.
From its inception, exuberant, organic, and sensuous rococo style has inspired subsequent revivals and new movements.As rococo's influence once again gains momentum, Cooper-Hewitt invites scholars Laura Auricchio and Paul Greenhalgh, to discuss the social and cultural histories behind rococo in eighteenth-century France and its revival in Art Nouveau at the end of the nineteenth century.

Friday, February 29, 2008

Versace in the sky


Versace decided to start to collaborate with TAG Aircraft Interiors and the result is a lavish interior for one of the largest private aircraft : Airbus A319 Corporate Jet. The Airbus A319 Corporate Jet will benefit of 16 seats arranged in one salon, one galley, one business office, and one stateroom. The entire interior will be signed by Versace and the result of the project could be seen at then end of 2008.

Versace Press Release:
“Versace and TAG-AI joined forces in April last year to create this exclusive interior design service catering to the needs of private jet owners. In this partnership, Versace Design is responsible for all aspects of content, design and style, while TAG-AI, with the parent TAG Group’s 30 years of experience as a world leader in the sale, completion and management of private jets, manages the sales, marketing, logistical, and technical aspects of the completion contract." The European client’s ACJ will have 16 seats in an exclusive four-compartment arrangement: salon, galley, business office, and stateroom with en suite bathroom.
Versace will provide the aircraft interior with a unique design customized to the aircraft’s specifications and floor plan. It will feature executive armchairs embossed with Versace’s signature Greek fret motif, furniture made of the best materials, and exclusive finishes and luxury detailing spanning the four cabins of the aircraft.
http://www.tagai.aero/

Monday, February 25, 2008

Good eats in T.O.



This is not the type of thing I would normally blog about but I just can’t help myself. Alain and I were in Toronto this past weekend for the Interior Design Show (fantastic by the way!) and stumbled upon this awesome little eatery called Flavours catering (www.flavourscatering.ca). As it was we were desperate for a little place to have a quick lunch that would satisfy both our very picky natures and let me tell you this was it. The food was awesome, the service impeccable and the ambiance was very much Montreal. If you’re in town and in the mood for a quick bite or need to cater a particular event give these people a call. Oh one last thing, Alain and I both agree, best croissant we’ve ever had!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

And we are off...


Off to the 10th annual Interior Design Show, Canada's premiere platform for contemporary residential design. Over the past 10 years, millions of Canadian and international furnishing, fixtures and accessories for the design of a home have been launched and exhibited by hundreds of designers, manufacturers, importers, retailers and distributors, here at IDS. Speakers like Marcel Wanders, Karim Rashid and Barbara Barry have participated in talks and lectures to the industry's professionals. I look forward to seeing what new things will brought back to the firm!