Pleating in Design:Zaha Hadid's Eli and Edythe Broad Art Musuem

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Musuem , Michigan State University
(Photo by Paul Warchol)

One of my favorite woman architects is Zaha Hadid. She wowed me with her new Eli and Edythe Broad Art Musuem design, an amazingly steel-pleated building for the Michigan State University. I love everything about this design - its scale, its proportion, its exterior folding and geometric consistency, its open flow to showcase its contemporary art collection and how spaces explode with light due to its angled projections.  

Its due to open this weekend on Michigan State University's campus , November 10th! 

Take a virtural journey through its interior spaces:

(Video from youtube)


The strong pleating on the exterior of this building is so inspiring, I want to 

ROCK THE PLEATED LOOK!:

                                          1.                                                                          2.

                                          3.                                                                             4.

1. Philip Lim Pleated dress

2. Alice + Olivia Box Pleat Leath Skirt $470 austique.co.uk

3. Black Long Sleeve Zipper Embellished Pleated Dress $46 - sheinside.com

4. Dark Red Bowknot Pleats Woolen Dress $183 - romwe.com

(Images Source)

ROCK YOUR HOME WITH PLEATS:

Moon by Zero lighting (Source)

Designers Fredrik Färg and Emma Blanche from Zero show us Moon, with it beautiful folded reflex fabric. Zero lighting add, "the experience of Moon is as enchanting as the one in the sky: the light that surrounds it is reflected on the surface like the rays of the sun when they meet the moon. The effect is reminiscent of a captivating hologram. The viewer’s curiosity forms an interaction: you move around Moon like a satellite that registers whenever the light hits the surface, when the magic reaches its apogee."

Nendo's Cabbage Chair (Source)

Designers Nendo designed the Cabbage chair out of waster paper from the pleated paper textile industry. The chair literally sheds its skin.  Nendo adds, " the design is in response to fabrication, distribution costs and environmental concerns that face the  21st century man."

molo - softwalls (Source)

Architects and designers Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen 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. Learn more about their work in my Spotlight interview with Stephanie and Todd.

Mod Dollhouses

MOD MUST HAVES
stylish, modern, unique

for little girls

Remember playing with your dollhouse? I do. Loved it - great imaginative play for hours and hours! 

Design team brinca dãda has created the coolest dollhouses I have seen in a long time..........." well crafted creations that parents love to look at----and kids love to play with."

All dollhouses are made out of CARB-certified wood and non-toxic and lead free paints.

One of my favorite design websites called FAB is also showcasing them. Click HERE!

Bennett House


The Bennett dollhouse design is influenced by the early 20th century De Stijl movement which emphasizes the geometry of the straight line, the square and the rectangle, combined with  asymmetricality. It kind of reminds me of the De Stijl side table by Eileen Gray. See pic below.



Eileen Gray Side Table (Source)


The Bennett dollhouse has grand glass windows that extends past floors to emphasize the thickness and structural component of its construction. Pretty cool! 

The design features a 2 story living room, elevator, rooftop pool and glass rail balconies in both the master bedroom and kids bedroom.

Zoe House

Love the Pink accents! Inspired by the architecture of Paul Rudolph and Tadao Ando, the Zoe House features a concrete and glass look. Design by architects Tim Boyle and Doug Rollins.

Edward House

The Edward house in inspired by the architecture of Neutra's Kaufmann House which features an open floor plan,  floor to ceiling windows, glass corners,exterior stone, and hardwood floors. See a pic of the Kauffman house below:

Kaufmann House (Source)

The Edward dollhouse design features a living room, master bedroom, bathroom and kids bedroom.

You gotta love all these adorable accessories too! How cute is that round rug?

Maison Collection

Masion Accessories

Top 100 Interior Design Blogs and Modenus

I have exciting news! 

I have been nominated by fellow Interior designer, Laurie Gorelick for the Top 100 Interior Design Blogs curated by Modenus' audiences and social media communities.

If you like my design blog, I would greatly appreciate your vote!!

Thank you so much!

How to vote:

1. Click Link and look for:Mod Design Guru: Thinking-Outside-The-Box-Design.LINK: http://www.modenus.com/blog/interiordesign/top-100-interior-design-blogs

2. Click hand: sign-in with either Facebook, Linked in, Google + OR Twitter.

3. To Vote: click hand again.

Top 100 interior design blogs

View more lists from Veronika Miller

Jane's Carousel is a Beacon of light

Jane's Carousel in Dumbo, Brooklyn
(Source)

Finally at the end of a very difficult week, I find myself not wanting to write about design. I keep seeing pictures of the devastation and am feeling very, very grateful. Of course I complained about living without power for four days, no schools, no internet but we are all safe and sound. My heart really goes out to all the families who have experienced the floods, the evacuations and beach devastation....lower Manhattan, Dumbo, New Jersey, Fire Island, the Rockways.......

Above is a picture of Jane's Carousel, the restored historic Carousel from the 1920's encased in its glass pavilion by Jean Nouvel. I gasped when I saw this picture. My family loves to go to Dumbo and ride that carousel. We watched its restoration over the past 5 years. What amazed me the most is how the pavilion remained lit even thought it is submerged in the waters of the East River. It's truly a Beacon of light, of hope that we will overcome; we will come together and rebuild.

All be safe!

~M

BiTTT's NYC Fundraiser event

I just learned of a wonderful Networking group for Women in Design called BiTTT. Bring it To The Table, developed by Lana Lawrence of Anthony Lawrence-Belfair, provides its members with a place to share resources, experience and make meaningful connections in the design industry.

On November 15^th, BiTTT is hosting a Holiday Fundraiser Party to raise money to provide a scholarship for a young female student that attends the New York School of Interior Design. The scholarship includes a mentorship with premier designers Vincent Wolfe and Alexa Hampton, will place her in a summer internship program and will oversee placement in a design firm after her four years. What an amazing opportunity!

The Fundraiser event is held at The Anthony Lawrence-Belfair Design Center from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.  The festivities will be filled with an assemblage of engaging designers, music, dancing, cocktails and appetizers! 

You can register Here. 

For more information about BiTTT, 

you can link to their

 Facebook, Twitter and their Website.

The Buzz: High Tower's Caravaggio light pendant

THE BUZZ......

I came across a light pendant called the Caravaggio by Danish designer Cecile Manz. It is eye catching! The masculine technology is offset by sexy, curvaceous lines. The dumbbell-like shade is made of aluminum and coated with a beautiful smooth high gloss paint, black or opal color. I especially love the connection between its red cord to the curved steel rods! You can see them in person at HighTower in the New York Design Center. 

Layla Grayce Express your Style challenge - Concrete diggs

Layla Grayce, a stylish haven of items for the home is hosting a series of Olioboard contests, sponsored by Jonathan Adler.” I am participating in their Living room challenge called “Express Your Style,” and I would really appreciate your VOTES! The Top 25 get to be judged by Jonathan Adler and I would love to be one of the 25. Below is my board.

Exciting News is in! Jonathan Adler chose my Layla Grayce/Olioboard Living room contest design as FIRST place! Yahoo!! Click: article

In my image I used a concrete wall from the exterior of a building in the West Village I came across. It became the backdrop for the design. The architect works at his drafting table admiring his creation. 

It made me think that the use of concrete has become very popular in interior design especially for that industrial, urban look and feel. Concrete is an extremely versatile material and can be used in many unexpected and unusual ways......

Foscarini's new concrete suspension light takes its cue from the plumb or plummet weight to ensure the exactness of a line. This light beautifully counteracts concrete's weighty properties: 

 Doreen Westphal defies gravity with her lacy concrete curtains:

Industrial designer Florian Schmid creates amazing concrete furniture called Stitching concrete that are edged with elegant stitches:

Norwegian photographer Tom Haga developed a concrete Wallpaper collection derived by photographing raw and refined concrete and cinder blocks:

The intricate movement in Daniel Ogassian’s concrete decorative tile designs defies the heavy perception of concrete:

Designer Sergey Makhno creates concrete block planters called the Invariants. Each block has different shaped voids that cradle three liter glass jars as a vase.

Olioboard Fashion and Decor Design challenge: McQueen's Victorian dreams

I always wanted to try a design challenge on Olioboard. I happen to come across their Fashion and Decor Design challenge, so fitting for Mod Design Guru. The challenge is to create a space using 2012's fall fashion trends and bring the cat walk look home. I immediately knew that I wanted to do a space inspired by Alexander McQueen's stunning Fall collection. I was just in their Meatpacking district store last Friday and was floored and inspired by the intense amount of detail and rich feast of tactile fabrics and appliques.

Below is my Olioboard for the Fashion and Decor Design challenge:

Alexander McQueen's Victorian DreamsPlease vote here.


Spread the word! Voting ends on October 22nd. I know, 3 days away!
I would so appreciate and love your support!! 

Thanks
~M

Find Mid-century Modern pieces at The End of History

If you want to get inspired and love hand blown glass, rare ceramics and vintage furniture from the 50’s and 60’s, The End of History is the perfect spot!  Step inside a world of color!

A High Line moment

Soak in a moment...

After walking, talking, shopping and lunching in the West Village with the adorable Lana of makingahouseahome and coolster Tyler Wisler from HGTV Design Star, my wonderful gal pal Kim from designthoughts blog and I took in a moment on the High Line this past Friday!

Puff-Buff design: pneumatic and LED technologies

Bubbles Chandelier
Source

Creative experiments in art and design of the 50s and 60s paired with modern technology inspire interior and industrial designer Anna Siedlecka and architect Radek Achramowicz from Puff Buff design studio. Their unique designs combine pneumatic technology with LED (light emitting diodes) lighting. Today, LED lighting gives fixtures the ability to become innovative shapes that emphasize the beauty of light. 

Puff Buff studio manipulates light to bounce off of flexible PVC shapes that are filled with air!! Kinda like clear miniature beach balls....the effervescent effect is quite remarkable. I stopped in my tracks when I saw the Bubble chandelier in person!

Bubbles Chandelier
Source

Bubbles Chandelier

Orca floor lamp and Bubbles Chadelier

Orca ChandelierSource

Bubbles Star ChandelierSource

Lullaby ChandelierSource



You can contact Puff-Buff on their WEBSITE, and Facebook!

Dreamy lighting with the use of modern technology. Love it!

Ruben Toledo for Ralph Pucci International

Source

THE COLLISION OF ART, FASHION AND HOME DESIGN

I have always loved the amazing illustrations of artist Ruben Toledo. 

His drawings are so whimsical, and have a wondrous surreal quality...

Ruben Toledo has painted on every surface you can think of....mannequins, store windows, book covers, dishes, fabrics, carpets.....Now he has crossed over into the world of home design! He teamed with Pucci International, an eclectic showroom of mannequins, art and home furnishings to create a collection of unique furniture.... each table and chair is white-washed oak painted with free flowing eyes, faces and silhouettes. So dream-like, so theatrical...love it! 

 To give you some insights, Ruben Toledo has 

worked with mannequins for Nordstrom:

Source

Source

Ruben Toledo has sketched ads for Nordstrom:

Source

Ruben Toledo worked for Penguin books illustrating their book covers...

Source

The Ralph Pucci International-Ruben Toledo collaboration...

Source (all images)

Love the fantasy in design!!