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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Jason Wu's New Arrivals: Jourdan and Stud Accented Satchel Bag

I adore Fashion Designer Jason Wu so I thought I would celebrate his genius this week. Not only do I regard the lines of his clothes; but also the construction of his bags.  You must treat yourself this Fall with Jason Wu's structured, ultra-sleek shoulder strap bag called Jourdan. It is combination of polished red patent with paneled Saffiano leather. The red color reminds me of my favorite Shiraz wine. It features outside open pockets under the magnetic flap closure and has one inside zip pocket.  The gleaming 21" gold-tone chain strap will look dazzling over any fashionista's shoulder!! Its available at Sax Fifth Avenue

JOURDAN designed by JASON WU






Feel fearless wearing the Stud Accented Satchel. Another beauty! Its edgy details make it super fierce! It features an adjustable shoulder strap with one outside open pocket and one inside zip pocket. Also available at Sax Fifth Avenue



STUD ACCENTED SATCHEL designed by JASON WU




(all images from Sax Fifth Avenue)

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Designer Spotlight: Jason Wu for Brizo Collection, "Fashion for your home"



Fashion Designer Jason Wu Home Collection for Brizo

The Jason Wu Home Collection for Brizo is eye catching!! The ultra-sleek lines, the intricate detailing, the unique technology and the beautiful black matte finish juxtaposed against the chrome and brushed nickel finishes make the high-style collection very special and oh, so chic! Brizo continues to be one of my favorite luxury bath–fittings brands because their brand merges fashion-foward design with innovative technology.

Jason Wu Home Collection (photo: Brizo)

And who doesn’t love the sublime fashion designs by Jason Wu? Wu’s 2011 fall fashion collection, inspired by Robert Polidori’s photos of the 25 year restoration of Versailles was outrageously beautiful! 



Jason Wu inspiration board, photo: Vogue.com
Robert Polidori's "The Smalah Room, Versailles" (1984), photo: Nicholas Metivier Gallery

The interplay of old-world opulence and present day materials informed his design-making. One of my faves was the black lace of falling leaves on a belted cream jacquard shift dress: incredible! 



Jason Wu 2011 Fall Runway Collection  (Source)


Collaborating with Brizo, Jason Wu translated his fashion designs into a comprehensive powder room ensemble of innovative faucets and accessories. Seeing the two brands merge and Wu's vision applied to the interiors world is extremely exciting! I had to learn more and understand the story behind the designs and their collaboration. I contacted Brizo and was able to interview Judd Lord, Brizo’s Director of Industrial Design: 


How did Brizo’s relationship with Jason Wu begin? 
The Brizo brand first partnered with fashion designer Jason Wu in 2006 with the intent to bridge the gap between home and fashion design. Both brands share the position that fashion is an expression of personal style and can be achieved on the runway, as well as in the home. This position has been continuously reinforced throughout the relationship. From the beginning, Jason Wu’s inherent sense of style and thoughtful design choices has made him a natural fit for the Brizo brand.

How did Jason Wu come to design for Brizo?
Throughout the years, Jason Wu has created exclusive fashion designs and accessories for Brizo product campaigns and events and his New York residence is outfitted with Brizo Loki®and Pascal® faucets. The Brizo brand and Wu are a perfect pair, sharing not only a similar design aesthetic, but also the same discerning consumer. Collaborating on a shared collection was a natural evolution of this relationship.



See the VIDEO:


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-Ja                                    Jason Wu collaborating with Brizo team
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The Odin faucet is actually quite amazing! You just touch the faucet and the water automatically starts or stops!!  I asked Brizo to describe the innovative details of their timeless bathroom collection of fittings and accessories. 
Besides serving as a platform for the introduction of our exclusive Matte Black finish in the lavatory, the Jason Wu for Brizo Odin faucet features a unique and unexpected rotating handle motion to emphasize the collection’s modern and seamless design. Punctuated by Jason Wu’s signature Miss Wu owl emblem on the tip of the handle, this faucet is truly the collection’s showpiece. 
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In addition, this faucet is also the platform on which Brizo is introducing a number of new and cutting edge technologies for the bath:   SmartTouchPlus™ Technology - The next generation of the Brizo brand’s revolutionary SmartTouch® technology, SmartTouchPlus technology adds hand-free sensing to existing touch-sensitive operation. An LED light lets users know if they are in Touch Mode (solid color) or Hands-Free Mode (flashing). - TempIQ™ Temperature Control Technology - TempIQ technology senses the water before the user does. An LED light built into the faucet changes color from blue to magenta to red, letting consumers know exactly when water has reached the desired temperature. It adjusts the water mixture to ensure a consistent water temperature with no sudden (and unwelcome) increases or decreases. It also features a high-temperature limit stop for an added degree of safety. -
Odin Faucet
Beyond the stunning and sleek Odin faucet, the accessories in this collection feature the subtle Baroque ornamentation that softens the clean lines of this modern collection. The complete offering a wallmount shelf, soap dish and dispenser, drawer knobs and pulls, and wastebasket - all exuding the sophisticated and inspired design for which Jason Wu is known. - See the accessories below:
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Wu's Odin Faucet for Brizo has a simple and beautiful curve, like a woman's silhouette combined with SmartTouchPlus(tm) Technology. Can you take us behind the design and describe the creative process of merging design with technology?
The Jason Wu for Brizo collection strikes a delicate balance between sleek Scandinavian inspiration and Baroque detailing. The juxtaposition of ultramodern clean lines and ornamentation marks the fusion of Jason Wu and Brizo design styles and represents the convergence of the faucet and fashion worlds.  The collaboration between the Brizo product team and Jason Wu draws support from the idea that design, whether rooted in garments or interiors, follows the same path from conception to completion. Working together afforded both brands the opportunity to experiment with new materials, perspectives, and design tools and prompted the teams to re-examine the functionality and design behind each item in the collection.  The similarities and differences between industrial design and fashion design also encouraged each brand to push itself to new limits. For instance, the timeline in faucet design is much slower than fashion design. Each brand was challenged to think differently and use new technologies to satisfy various design elements while still conforming to certain specifications. The entire process lasted about two years from start to finish. In the end, a uniquely slender faucet was created with a handle motion that moves unlike anything else on the market.
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                                         Thank you Brizo for an amazing interview! 
                  To learn more about Brizo, see their WEBSITEFACEBOOK & TWITTER
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Source:  Judd Lord, Director of Industrial Design, Brizo photo and video credit: Brizo

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

THE BUZZ: PID FLOOR inLOVE hardwood flooring

Here's THE BUZZ on exceptional hardwood flooring! I found an elite supplier of hardwood flooring right in the heart of Brooklyn, N.Y. The studio's name is Perfect Interior Design, or PID Floors for short. 


They have expert craftsman in their studio manufacturing hand-crafted medallions and parquet flooring but one really unique collection caught my eye! Its PID’s inLove hardwood floor collection. It is fully customizable! PID Floors says,” every aspect from the wood species to the finish to the color can be changed to suit the client’s needs.” I am in love with inLOVE!!  PID will design whatever your heart desires and you can feel like you are in complete control of the color! 

You can contact PID Floors on their WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, and TWITTER!! 

Here are some examples showing different wood species stained with a variety of unique colors:



COCOA                                                  CARBON FIBER                                            KITANA


                              CARRIBEAN                                                       ARCTIC                                    BLUE RASPBERRY                  
                                

    
CANVAS                                                      BLONDIE                                                   BROWNIE


  CALICO                                                           CAFE                                                             CORAL





Saturday, July 14, 2012

Designer Spotlight: molo design studio


molo studio Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen

Mod Design Guru loves the work of molo designers Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen! What makes molo studio extremely interesting is their core interest related to space making: the exploration of the sensory experience and an interest in flexibility allowing people to tailor their own spaces to suit their own changing needs. At the 2012 ICFF, I watched Stephanie Forsythe of molo design demonstrate how flexible honeycomb paper partitions can redefine space. Like an accordian, their soft pleating walls spontaneously unfold giving people the freedom to re-shape their homes, their work spaces and retail environments. Here are some images which shows how it works:







molo even gave us a peek into their future work at the ICFF. Their chic "blue room" investigated how their soft walls can turn into a speaker.  I remember the sound resonating around me inside the confines of the blue space. The sound was pure and added to the very cool experience! See the video on how they constructed the "blue room":










"blue room"- love the cloud soft lighting too!

The process of making is very much a part of molo's design process. The duo Canadian architect team believes it is important to be involved in the manufacturing and crafting of the things they design. Stephanie adds, " we learn from what we make, inspiration found in the process leads in unexpected directions and brings us to a deeper understanding of what we are working with."  



cloud softlight mobile


From architecture to intimate temporal spaces to lighting, molo's explorations are extremely innovative. Read on as I was able to interview Stephanie. She takes us behind the design of molo's Nebuta musuem and the inspired story behind their collection of flexible walls, blocks and seating.

What is the meaning of your brand name, molo?

The name molo is an acronym for "middle ones little ones". My partner Todd and I are Architects and when we first formed molo, to put some of the furniture and smaller functional items we design into production, we recognized that many of the design concepts and considerations for our smaller scaled work are the same as our work at an architectural scale. For example when designing a tea set we were thinking of how the quality of light from the candle forms a space, and along with the warmth, scent and beautiful ritual of steeping and sharing tea, it becomes a center for people to gather around. And so the name molo derives from this notion of space making with smaller tactile objects.

A nice coincidence is that in Spanish and Japanese "molo" is a sort of slang word meaning "cool little things".


The elegant ribbon-like façade you designed for the Nebuta Museum in Japan is beautiful. molo's ability to sculpt a simple idea and form it into a play of light and kinetic function is innovative. Can you take us behind the design of your artistic- vision. What inspired its form? 


Nebuta Matsuri, one of the three most famous and largest festivals in all of Japan, it is a form of storytelling during which heroes, demons and creatures from history and myth come to life as large-scale (9 x 7 x 5.5m) paper lanterns (Nebuta) illuminated from within. The Nebuta House is a dwelling for these mythical beings to reside. Each year the five best Nebuta, selected for their creative artistry and craftsmanship, will take the place of the five Nebuta selected from the previous year. Functionally the institution is meant to share the tradition, archive the history and nurture the future of this unique cultural art form. Located in front of Aomori train station, where the city meets the sea, the building opened January 5th, 2011.




The building is enclosed by ribbons of twisted steel, enamel-coated deep vibrant red and individually shaped to create variation: openings for light, areas of opacity, views, or opportunities for pedestrian circulation. For each steel ribbon,the bottom was set to a unique and specific angle, with thought to how sunlight would permeate the ribbons as it moved throughout the day, while the top part of each ribbon remains parallel to the building.





In between these fixed points, some of the ribbons follow a natural curve while others were selected to have further bending and shaping to create larger openings and an abstract expression of wind. The steelworkers executed great skill and judgment interpreting the images from the 1:50 scale model that had been made from ribbons of paper, into ribbons of steel (9mm thick x 300mm wide x 12 meters high). In this way each ribbon was individually crafted during prefabrication, then manually adjusted on-site during installation. No part of the finished screen is the result of computer-aided fabrication; like all things handmade, human intervention enlivens function and expression.




The ribbon screen façade creates a sheltered outdoor perimeter space called the “engawa”, a spatial concept originating in traditional Japanese houses. In this case, a dwelling for giant paper heroes, demons and creatures, the engawa acts as a threshold between the contemporary world of the city and the world of history and myth. Shadows cast on the walls and floor through the exterior ribbons have the effect of creating a new material. Shadow and light become another screen– the convergence of material, light, shadow and reflection changing with the sun and weather.








Homogeneous, grey, box-like buildings constitute much of the surrounding cityscape. Commonplace objects like power lines and vending machines are dispersed throughout the uniformity. Here, the building appears as a vibrant curtain at the street’s end – activating the streetscape, transforming everyday experience into theatre. Bicycles and traffic passing by, city workers breaking to eat or children playing in the snow take on a quality of performance and play.



How did the collection of flexible walls, building blocks, and seating come about? Can you describe your discoveries? Is there a story? 

We were working on several architectural competitions with urban sites in different parts of the world, the one thing all three projects had in common was a need for flexibility to make efficient use of space. At the same time we were working on the design of a speaker cone for a stereo system and in thinking about how to create a complex three dimension compound curve with simple means, we thought of honeycomb tissue paper wedding bell decorations... The flexibility of these honeycomb structures immediately struck us. We began making small paper models of bedrooms and private work spaces that could fold away when you are not using them, loaning extra space to the main living area of the house.



In the process of scaling up the small paper models to full size, we thought we would switch over to a "real" building material but to our delight we discovered that even the thinnest sheets of paper provide great strength when laminated into a honeycomb structure.








The soft pleating wall has the ability to redefine space. Can you describe its construction, how it works, how it connects and some of its configurations?


Each softwall is a flexible honeycomb partition wall made from parallel layers of paper or textile material, that can expand about 100 x its compressed dimension of less than 2", to just over 15' long! softwall, softblock and softseating belong to a modular system that allows you to click two or more elements together simply and seamlessly with concealed magnets. The modular magnetic system allows you to join two of the same type of element such as 2 softwalls to create a longer wall or you can join softseating benches to softwall + softblock elements, mix and match materials, colour and sizes or really anything you can imagine. 




opening softwall


softwall and softblock accessories


opening softblock module

softseating detail


Click on for more information on how the systems works:




The workspace of the future is going to have to be more flexible due to new technologies. How is Molo’s soft pleating walls redefining the modular concept for working environments?

The flexible softwall partitions give people the freedom to shape their own work environments in a spontaneous way. You can create and impromptu meeting room or private work area within an open office space very quickly and simply. Additionally the softwalls have internal tunnels that allow you to run wires and cables in a tidy way. These are the same tunnels that you have the option of running an LED ribbon to illuminate the textile softwalls. 

For the future we are looking at a system that turns a softwall into a speaker so that your sound system can be the walls themselves. This is the system we were demonstrating with the "blue room" at the ICFF". (pics seen above)




Thank you molo for bringing us into your creative world!!!

You can find molo on their WEBSITE, FACEBOOK and TWITTER



Friday, July 13, 2012

Big Boy Room Transformation



Pinterest color inspired...


    Source: google.com via MoD on Pinterest




Source: cb2.com via MoD on Pinterest






                                       

The Before...





My little man was ready for a change, a BIG boys room! He no longer liked his bed; okay lets gets real - a converted crib, and preferred sleeping on the floor with all of his stuffed animals. 



The After....

Welcome to Tyler's industrial-mod/space themed room!









To start the design process, we decided on an industrial-mod-space theme with a color palette that will grow with him. I asked Tyler what colors he wanted for his new room. He said, "I want gray,white,yellow,blue and green." 


Direct, right? 


The next day, I brought home Benjamin Moore paint chips from my office along with some images from Pinterest,as seen above. I discussed with Tyler how to incorporate his colors: all the walls and furniture could be different shades of gray, his comforter could be blue and his doors could get a POP of citron green.He flashed me a BIG smile with a rock-star dance! I guess he was excited and loved the color scheme for his room! YAY! 


Here are the final color selections:

BENJAMIN MOORE STONINGTON GRAY HC-170 
FOR THE WALLS
BENJAMIN MOORE YELLOW HIBISCUS 357 
FOR THE DOORS

The key to the design was uniting the industrial -space theme & all the colors (citron green, gray, charcoal gray, blue and white) by creating something personal. We decided on a painting by Tyler: 


To start, we painted the background of the canvas the same citron green seen on his doors and accented in the rug. With acrylic paints, Tyler happily painted space angry birds inside a rocket-ship blasting off to space!


      

 






VOILA...








See how the background of the painting echoes his closet door! 


Tyler loves his new bed and metal cubbie system. It has a dual function. It acts as a headboard for his industrial platform bed and stores many of his toys inside vintage canvas storage bags. LOVE them!




Some more pics and details:

RESTORATION HARDWARE
INDUSTRIAL CART PLATFORM BED


RESTORATION HARDWARE:
FOUNDRY METAL CUBBIE SYSTEM & STEAM PRESS WHEEL LAMP
His dresser drawers are metal with a locker industrial look!




WEST ELM SWIRL RUG





The Swirl rug adds texture and visual interest to his play area and unites all the colors of his room! 


Big bonus is that it also becomes a speedway for all of his many cars!! 

Tyler LOVES his BIG boy room!!!