DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: BOBBY BERK OF BOBBY BERK HOME

If you love hip and urban luxury, then you will love Bobby Berk's design aesthetic. Moving to NYC with only a dream and a $100 in his pocket, Bobby Berk now has an extensive online shop called Bobby Berk Home. Bobby believes in fun, affordable luxury design to the masses. His mantra is everyone can have a fun well designed home with quality pieces and not feel like they broke the bank. He uses bright colors, fun designs and unique prints so your home is a happy livable place. 

I met Bobby in Vegas on BlogTourKBIS and he is personable and fun to chat with. I am thrilled to share this interview with him where he talks about his design inspiration, wallpaper designs for Tempaper and beautiful interiors for the Responsive Homes  built by Pardee Homes.  

Me and Bobby Berk

YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE?

I am definitely more of a mid-century modern inspired designer with a penchant for a minimalist and clean aesthetic, but with a dash of cheeky youthful pop fun. 

 BARS wallpaper

WHAT IN DESIGN FIRES YOU UP?

I get excited about new and innovative products and materials, but the cornerstone of any good design is still classic, tailored modern upholstery and case goods. So when I see a company that produces a great piece that is beautiful in its simplicity and really celebrates form and quality construction, that can get me equally excited as something new or techy.  

Transit Bench - Thermoscad Grey Tempaper

TAKE US BEHIND THE SCENES OF YOUR RESPONSIVE HOME DESIGN: THE DESIGN PROCESS, INSPIRATION AND ANY CHALLENGES?

Designing these homes was a lot of fun. I liked that there was a set demographic which was a great place to jump off and formulate concepts for both homes. I really connected with the millennial demographic that these show homes were being geared towards, because I’m a millennial too! Even though I’m on the back end of the age range, I’m still very pop culture-centric and am rooted in tech culture which connects me to this demographic in so many ways, and yet my experience has lent me the wisdom to distill the needs and priorities of millennials from my own perspective and translate those values to the greater builder market.  

Larger Contemporary Responsive Home, Vegas

The smaller of the homes was a contemporary farmhouse, designed for first time home ownership, and the larger a gallery-style modern dessert oasis which was geared toward the millennial professional buying at a slightly higher price point, perhaps a second home ownership situation. For the contemporary farm house, I wanted all of the selections and materials to be accessible for real first time home owners and fit a modern farm house aesthetic, so I felt that West Elm was a good fit for a lot of the furnishings. It comes in at a great mid-level price point and the brand has embraced mid-century modern furniture with a bit of rustic sensibility that I think was a great complement to the concept. 

Smaller Farmhouse Responsive Home, Vegas

We chose in both homes to carry a very cohesive material palette throughout all of the wet spaces, and the we ran the same flooring throughout the homes, even into the showers and outdoor spaces, which really made the homes feel quite expansive, connecting indoors and outdoors. For the large home, I wanted very neutral flooring and walls to serve as the perfect backdrop for an art collector’s gallery space, with fun pops of vibrant color in the art and accessories that gave the space a fun sophistication that didn’t take itself too seriously. Despite it’s playful aesthetic, the home still had the perfect layout for entertaining, and we utilized huge pocket sliding doors that tucked away into the walls and completely doubled the living space to the fabulous backyard entertaining area. The landscaping and pool alone made the home a really fantastic party pad that anyone would be thrilled to host from.

Responsive Home, Vegas

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH TEMPAPER?

My partnership with Tempaper started ten years ago when I was one of their first retailers. I love working with everyone at Tempaper, and they've always been really good to me so it made sense to expand the partnership into a licensing deal. Now Bobby Berk for Tempaper is available on Target.com and their collection was one of the top ten sellers in home goods last month, so it's really exciting to see this partnership expand and be well received. My prints have been featured on the Today show and Good Morning America as well as Wall Street Journal.  

JAMES LOUNGE -GREY LOVE WALLPAPER

FAVORITE DESIGN MATERIALS? HAVE YOU USED IT IN ONE OF YOUR HOME DESIGNS?

One of my favorite materials right now that I'm obsessed with is Calcatta gold marble. It has beautiful veining with grey and gold warm hues that really make it look so luxurious and distinct. I used it throughout a model I just finished in Las Vegas and would be very happy to use it again, because it can be worked into any aesthetic as a beautiful complement. 

Responsive Home, Vegas

WHAT CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY ARE YOU LOVING FOR HOME DESIGN?

The Crestron home automation system from Audiovisions is a really cool way to put everything you want to control in your home at your fingertips and makes your entire home feel like a "smart home" that you can interface with via an iPad, or on your phone. You can do everything from regulate different temperatures in different rooms to turn on the television to a certain channel with all of your pre-specified controls saved just the way you like them. 

Responsive Home, Vegas

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO FIND COOL LIGHTING IN FURNITURE IN NYC?

While living in New York I always had my own store that I curated with all of the things that I love, so I honestly never really needed to do a lot of furniture or lighting shopping. I still maintain a strong online retail presence and I do a lot of shopping online for projects. I frequent high point and Las Vegas markets and so I typically know what lines speak to me and constantly get to see new product in the flesh, so I know what I'm getting when I place an order. 

Responsive Home, Vegas

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

I have no regrets. Everything that I've been through in life has shaped me into the person I am today and I wouldn't trade any of those experiences. I feel like there is a reason and a purpose for everything that life hands you, and even the failures are moments that offer you perspective, causing you to take pause and appreciate the things in your life that you can be grateful for. 

Responsive Home, Vegas

Thank you Bobby Berk for the enjoyable interview! 
Image Credits: Bobby Berk Home

You can connect with Bobby on his WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, TWITTER

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Spotlight: A & E Storage Wars Moe Prigoff

Moe Prigoff

Have you ever watched Moe Prigoff on A & E Storage Wars, Texas? What makes him so lovable? Is it his charming ways or his dapper fashion sense? No matter, this funny gentlemen is a Mid Century Modern furnishing expert who has an experienced knack to find decor gems. He has been a collector of modern furniture and antiques for over 30 years and has opened up a gallery of all his favorite things. So if you are in Dallas,Texas, go visit Moe at his shop the River Regency Modern. 

There is an art to knowing what could be valuable in a sea of junk. And Moe's got IT!  I am happy to share an interview with Moe today! 

WHAT FIRES YOU UP ABOUT MID CENTURY MOD FURNISHINGS?

Clean lines, natural elements, longevity and color influence. 

LESSONS LEARNED ON STORAGE WARS?

It’s a tough way to make a living.  What you expect to find in a unit isn’t always what you end up with. I’ve bought a lot of duds!  And if you think it’s a dud, more than likely so does everyone else.  Hence the junkyard that was once my garage.

MOST IMPACTFUL FURNISHING YOU HAVE FOUND AND WHY?

When buying from estates or bidding on storage units, you never know what you will come across.  We see a lot of home furniture, broken electronics and bric a brac.  Occasionally you find a great treasure hidden among the cast offs.  My favorite was a lithograph by Alexander Calder. I have always been a fan of his work and never would have dreamed I would find one of his works in a storage unit. Low and behold, I found two litho’s in one locker. One was a work by Peter Maxx, and the other by Calder. It was a great day!

FALL IS HERE AND THE CURRENT TREND IS AN EARTHY VIBE. DO YOU VIBE WITH THIS TREND?

There is nothing more earthy than wood and metal, in combination or otherwise.  I love it!  One of my favorite designers is Frank Lloyd Wright. He was all about bringing the outdoors in.

BEST ADVICE WHEN YOU ARE UNDER THE GUN? Give things a second look. When in a hurry, we often miss things such as damage and repair.  Those two things alone can make a huge difference in value. Slow down and spend the extra time to look closely at the item you are purchasing.  Once you’ve bought it, it’s yours!

WHAT MANTRA ARE YOU LIVING BY LATELY?

Call me old school, but my mantra has always been the same. Live by the Golden Rule. Treat others like you would want to be treated yourself. It’s just that simple.

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DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: THE STACY GARCIA LIFESTYLE

I had the pleasure to personally meet Stacy Garcia, hospitality designer and rock star in the textile world at the 2015 Architectural Digest DIFFA Dining by Design show. She is just a delight to chat with! She is all smiles and very passionate about what she does. She took me into her optical and multi- layered wonderland of shimmer, stripes, and gorgeous flowers -  a part of her Paper Muse for York Wallcoverings collection. The explosion of dimension showcases her inventive use of color and pattern. Really powerful presentation.

Besides beautiful textiles, her talents are very diversified;  She also applies serious style to furniture. With Bernhardt Hospitality, Stacy has collaborated a "rugged luxe" line of furniture called The Foundry. Pairing rough torched woods with acrylic, polished chrome and gold details underlines Bernhardt's brand of chic with expertly crafted pieces. Love it!   Her inviting designs feature product with personality and aim to the sense of well-being to all who enter a hotel or home. 

Learn more about Stacy Garcia. I'm so excited to share an interview with her today!

YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE?

Our brand produces designs that all have an eclectic, well-traveled, high-art appeal. My personal style is reflected in many of my interiors, as well as, my wardrobe with thoughtfully collected pieces and a playful mixing of vintage and new.

WHAT IN DESIGN FIRES YOU UP?

My design aesthetic is inspired by couture fashion. In particular, how fashion designers create their collections. I’m lured by the idea that classic design can feel timeless, but at the same time I’m fascinated by how their designs evolve each season. It’s incredible to see the detail and level of craftsmanship that is involved.

HOW DO YOU FORECAST TRENDS?

My team and I meet once a year and we’re typically forecasting trends at least two years out. We start by taking a look at society’s drivers in art, media, and fashion. We’ll even examine mediums like politics and the environment, as many factors can have an impact on trends. We start on this more macro level and progress to a more micro level, looking at how these factors impact specific product categories within our industry. At this level, we’re really looking at the details, such as color, pattern, material and scale, and how they can be used together. When dealing with the interior world, we really want to capture the essence of evolution rather than revolution within the marketplace.

WHAT IS YOUR STUDIO VIBE LIKE?

Contained chaos?! Just kidding...kind of. Joking aside, we work in a highly creative environment with materials and prototypes scattered everywhere. We get to have fun together, even though we’re running a business.

ANY LESSONS LEARNED WHILE PREPARING/INSTALLING FOR DIFFA DINING BY DESIGN?

There was definitely an initial panic over all the moving parts when we started. The biggest lesson I learned is that I am capable of doing things outside of my comfort zone. There are a lot of considerations involved in this event. There is a lot of documentation that needs to be submitted in the early stages including a technical rider, fire certificate, inventory list and table renderings. I had to find the right vendors and partners for my installation and relied on them to guide us, as we hadn’t done this kind of install before.

ANY CHALLENGES WHILE DEVELOPING YOUR LATEST PAPER MUSE COLLECTION FOR YORK WALLCOVERINGS?

The hardest aspect for me is editing, because there is never a lack of creative ideas. This is the most selective collection that I’ve designed for York Wallcoverings. I have a very eclectic design aesthetic and that can be challenging at times. With this collection, I really wanted to merchandise beautiful textures that have global appeal, and make sure that the editing work was done for the interior designers.

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE PARTNERING WITH BERNHARDT HOSPITALITY TO PRODUCE THE NEW FOUNDRY COLLECTION?

Bernhardt Hospitality is absolutely terrific to partner with. I look to Bernhardt as a leader in the industry–the very best in class within the scope of manufacturing companies involved in hospitality and residential design.

They were receptive to our ideas and willing to take a departure from the look they were previously offering to the hospitality market. We encouraged them to incorporate unique materials, details and finishes into our collection, such as, raw and torched wood finishes and rose gold details.

BIGGEST DESIGN IMPACT ON YOUR WORK?

I would say that the biggest design impact on my work is the appetite today for good design. People have become increasingly more design-savvy. They have traveled more extensively and are looking for ways to incorporate features of hotel living into their own homes. This trend in consumerism has ignited another spark in what we do. The design-centric individual pushes us to keep innovating. It has become our mission to transcend ordinary design.

MOST IMPACTFUL TRAVEL EXPERIENCE THAT INSPIRES YOU?

My most impactful travel experience started with seventeen months filling out paperwork and planning with anticipation of adopting our daughter from Russia. I've been very blessed with three biological sons and we were called to complete our family with a little girl. The process proved quite an adventure with three trips to Moscow and Samara. The biggest inspiration of all was our new daughter.

BEST DESIGN ADVICE YOU FOLLOW WHEN YOU ARE UNDER THE GUN?

When we are up against tight design deadlines, it is always tempting to make concessions. When it comes to design and product, we have to love it!  “Meh” never makes the cut.

WHAT MANTRA HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING BY LATELY?

Stay Inspired. What else would it be?!

To connect with Stacy Garcia, 

check out her WEBSITE, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST


image credits: Courtesy of Stacy Garcia, Inc.

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DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: FU-TUNG CHENG | ZEPHYR VENTILATION HOODS

Do you think that a range hood could be sexy? 

ZEPHYR- LED LIGHTING

CHENG's  TRAPEZE FOR ZEPHYR

Well, if its a Zephyr hood! 

Zephyr is making sure that unique hood design is the next revolution for kitchens. Some are curved, some sleek, some geometric and some with cool LED lighting! Whatever your preference, kitchen hoods can be a real architectural statement and reflect your taste and personality.  

San Francisco Zephyr showroom

On Modenus' Blog Tour Cali, I was introduced to Zephyr Ventilation. What a gorgeous San Francisco showroom! Zephyr is committed to smart design and making sure that range hoods are no longer an after thought. Zephyr gets that today's customer is savvy and not only wants something innovative; but also wants something cool, beautiful and captures one's imagination.

San Francisco Zephyr showroom

Pairing style and functionality, Zephyr's artful hood designs are great for modern kitchens: extremely quiet, self cleaning technologies and high CFM output. Zephyr has gone as far as partnering with innovative thinkers such as Fu-Tung Cheng and Robert Brunner bringing ventilation to a whole new level. 

CHENG's OKEANITO wall ventilation hood for Zephyr 

At our exclusive dinner, the bloggers got to meet Mr. Cheng and hear him speak about his firm Cheng Design, a history of innovation.  I had the opportunity to chat with him during our amazing dinner! What an honor!

Michele Alfano (me) and Fu-Tung Cheng

Mr. Cheng is trained in fine art and an innovator in the use of concrete. A man who is inspired by beauty in everyday life. He told us that he is not a trained architect;yet he knows how to build entire homes out of concrete!  Of course years of experimentation starting out in his very own home! (image below) His new book Concrete at Home shows some of his wonderful work! 

I am so inspired by his thinking that I had to learn more about him...I am excited to share an interview with Mr. Fu-Tung Cheng!

House #6

WHAT IS YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE?

I would describe my style as modernist (Bernard) Maybeck...after the Bay Area famous, turn-of-the-19th century Beaux-Arts trained architect who in turn trained Julia Morgan of Hearst Castle fame. I love the work of Antonio Gaudi in Barcelona and aspire to put a minute portion of his detailed craftsmanship and artistry in my work.

Cheng's Home Kitchen concrete countertop

WHAT IS YOUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY?

I approach architectural design somewhat like a painter approaches a blank canvas––excited at first, anticipating the infinite possibilities. Apprehensive edge of fear.  The lengthy creative process to discover, or uncover, the final design is too big for one person. So I rely on all the influences from every person engaged in the process, from client and staff architects to contractors and sub contractors. Each contributes crucial bits of information and expertise. It’s akin to movie making, where you have a writer, producer, director, editor, and of course, the all-important actors. Each adds their unique ingredient to spice the collective stone soup. My role is the shape-shifter chameleon who maintains the DNA of the vision. Sometimes I keep to the background, camouflaged. Sometimes I am front and center. 

Concrete Fountain

House #6

WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET OVER THE YEARS TO BECOME AN EXPERT AT CONCRETE?

None really. The material itself is so versatile, so essential to structures that its myriad possibilities re-sets new goals to achieve, organically, project to project. From modest countertops to whole houses of concrete, I have risen to the challenges of the big change in scale, while maintaining the same level of active play with the material.

Cheng Zephyr Range Hood

WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING WHEN DESIGNING WITH THE ZEPHYR TEAM?

In product design, there is the added challenge of what price the target market is willing to pay for a given design. The vetting process of finding out what the market needs, who will pay for, and how it will be made at an affordable price with a profit to be made, is different than with custom design. I take in all the data and sketch with pad and pencil. We all look at sketches and make short lists. The factory gives their input. Then we go back to the drawing board. Working backwards from the price at retail is sometimes the only realistic way to design what will actually evolve to production.

House #6

WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE ON HOUSE (#6)?

Working out the concrete wall "lifts" around the perimeter of the house was a first for Cheng Design. This method of "Slip" casting four foot high sections of wall enabled me to place colored 'geological' strata along the length of some of the walls. It is somewhat of a blind placement as it is difficult to see what is happening in the few inches of clear space between the re-bar, mesh and wall forms...as the concrete is being vibrated. One has to rely on instincts and experience to achieve distinctive results. House 6 could have easily felt cold and forbidding with its small portholes and concrete floors, walls, and kitchen countertops. But the eclectic textural and material array of warm Japanese plaster, wood, and paper lanterns combine with the rich imbedded tones of the shiny smooth concrete walls to assuage the seemingly hard surfaces.

House #6

WHAT LESSONS DID YOU LEARN WHILE WORKING ON HOUSE (#6)?

Not to over-reach with too much manipulation of the building finishes process and trust that the space, light, and form of the building can hold its own as the core experience. 

Concrete Geocrete Countertop

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPACTFUL SPACE YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT HAS INSPIRED YOUR WORK?

Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona, Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian houses and Taliesin West and East, Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain. Temples in Kyoto. Paolo Solari's studio Cosanti in Scottsdale, AZ. Christian Science Church in Berkeley by Bernard Maybeck. Sacred Kivas of the Anazasi in Arizona. Venice, Italy.

Concrete Geocrete Countertop

WHAT IS THE BEST DESIGN ADVICE YOU FOLLOW WHEN YOU ARE UNDER THE GUN?

Meditate or take naps!

Concrete Fireplace Design

WHAT MANTRA YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING BY LATELY?

Don't Worry, Be Happy––Meher Baba. 

Concrete Fountain

Thank you Zephyr and Mr. Cheng for the wonderful interview!

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