MoD Must Haves: AIM, visionary lighting by the Bouroullec brothers for FLOS

MoD Must Haves

stylish, tactile, novel 

for lighting lovers

Inspired by the way plants grow, dangle and wriggle their way around trees, designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec created the AIM light fixture for FLOS, an Italian manufacturer of iconic lighting. FLOS is known for their dedication to research into innovative materials and technology and the AIM lighting system fits right in. A really engrossing piece I think because it is so animated........the adjustable pendant light can be angled in all varying directions. The cables are just as important, they too provide maximum freedom to adjust the direction and height of the light source. There is no limitation to this fixture's placement...pure flexibility... it can hang in the middle of your room, punch light over a table, highlight art on your walls and reflect light up on the ceiling. Like vines, the AIM LED fixture is as organic and natural. YOU can design your lighting landscape just as you want it.... true design that inspires one's imagination...... 

For the techies in the house...the shade is photo-etched optical polycarbonate made from varnished aluminum. The cables are about 29 feet long and can suspend about 10 feet from the ceiling. Loving that it only comes in black, white or polished aluminum, there is something very graphic about it. You can purchase it on the FLOS website for $695. 

You can connect with FLOS on their WEBSITE, FACEBOOK and PINTEREST.

(all images courtesy of FLOS)

  

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Future concepts for the Home of 2025: GE appliances

GE innovators are working on cutting edge technologies that will change and enhance the way we live tomorrow... as close as 12 years away!! They have been envisioning the home of 2025 in ways that would make our lives a bit less complex and more enjoyable... some of these innovative appliances can help prepare meals, wash clothes and even dispense medicine in a more efficient way. Hurry, hurry, I cannot wait! Have a sneak peek:

Future appliances will be refrigerated drawers for fresh vegetables..

They are developing Smart Mirrors that will be able to take biometric information and dispense medications as you need it. Great for the aging population! 

This is ingenious: a laundry machine that will be able to wash, dry, fold and pick out your clothes for you. Yes, our clothes will be compressed and stored. With clicks of a button, you can pre-select outfits. 


See the future of GE:

To connect with GE, follow on their WEBSITE, and FACEBOOK 

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MoD Must Have: Hutton Home's European collection

MOD Must Haves

stylish, novel, tactile 

for furniture lovers

Historically themed pieces can mix well in today's modern interiors. Hutton Home is a perfect example....classic, elegant, beautifully proportioned designs characterizes the European Collections designed by the late John Hutton. Their designs are reinterpretations of 18th century but are designed in a modern scale.  Hutton Home distributes furniture from many regions of inspiration. Lets travel to France, Italy and the Netherlands...

The hand carved oak Boo! Chair is from Hutton Home's Pierre collection and is  a modern twist of 18th century Versailles. Love the intricacies on the legs.

   Eva Nero Frosted is a glass beauty from the Hutton Murano collection and was developed by John Hutton on the island of Murano, Venice.....Pure voluptuous classic still produced by hand on the island of Murano in the Venetian Lagoon.

 

The Full Moon Brass is from Hutton Home's Piiart collection and was developed by Hutton and Dutch artist Pii in the Netherlands. The refined base is a work of art using sand-casting techniques. Comes in Nickel or Brass (shown above)

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Marvin's Architect Challenge: The Lyme house by David Mansfield Architecture and Design

What is "good design?"
According to architect David Mansfield of David Mansfield Architecture and Design, "design for us is 80% perspiration and 20% inspiration. While the design process is multi-disciplinary it always requires a single clear voice. Logic, lateral thinking and intellectual curiosity are the corner stones of the process but aesthetic certainty and mechanical and structural know how provide the catalyst for the built form. Our work is defined by our love of material & detail, always striving to make the whole greater than the sum of all the parts. To paraphrase Louis Kahn "materials tell you what they want to be" and the balance of this idiom with his ability to reduce space to it's primal elements are the basic inspiration of our work."

 David Mansfield 

Are you mesmerized by this modern interpretation of an American barn as much as I am? The owner wanted something unconventional that combined their love for Japanese and New England styles. The Lyme house, one of the winners of the Marvin's Architect Challenge by Marvin Windows & Doors,  naturally embraces its site, an homage to the Japanese concept of balance with nature. I really love this modern structure's placement on the site -  its precariously set on top of a sloped drop off..... A retreat for one's imagination to flourish.

Marvin's Architect Challenge: The Bragg House by Moger Mehrhof Architects

What is "good design?"

According to architect Matthew Moger of Moger Mehrhof, "We believe that good design occurs through a process of evolution. Empathy is a word we often use in our office. We feel the best designs evolve through spending time with, and listening to our clients. Equally as important for us is to form a relationship with the site. We want to understand each sites natural qualities that come only from that unique place. We empathize both with our clients and with the land to allow a design to evolve that has meaning. We feel that if our design ultimately reflects our clients dreams, and feels right in the landscape, then we have achieved a good design. You can feel it." 

 

 

Matthew Moger of Moger Mehrhof

 



The image above is of The Bragg House by Moger Mehrhof Architects, one of the winners of the Marvin's Architect Challenge by Marvin Windows & Doors. Do you love it as much as I do? You can see that the architects paid attention to the site and listened to what it had to say. The building is not plopped on its site, rather its carved into the land and feels very connected to nature.  

Electroluminescent lighting by Joe Doucet

 photo: Kendall Mills

 

Love meeting new inventors... At Wanted Design, I had a nice chat with Joe Doucet, a NYC designer, artist, architect, and furniture designer. Yep, he crosses many disciplines of design and his mantra is "Everything communicates" ....where each design is composed of layers of meaning...

James Turrell: perception, light, color and space at the Guggenhiem Musuem

In architecture school, I learned about the brilliant work of James Turrell, an artist who explores perception, light, color and space.  His work is very important as each piece is very site specific and light plays the role as a tangible element, one which evokes emotional effects.

At the Guggenheim NYC, James Turrell completely changed the museum's rotunda into a volume of shifting natural and artificial colored light with his installation called Aten Reign. Visitors were designed to either be centrally located on the floor or on slanted seating on the periphery of the space. In quite contemplation, you are enveloped by five concentric ellipses....where you become one with this perspectival vortex of ever changing light..... It was an overwhelming sense of space and vibrant color. 

I snapped with my I-phone so you can only imagine the colors to be ever more powerful in person. 

The colors beautifully slowly change over time. The Vine below gives you a snapshot of the different colors...the experience is far more dramatic.



The James Turrell installation is at the Guggenheim until Sept 25th. 
It's an exhibit to experience!

 

Marvin's Architect Challenge: Casey Key Guest House

For a chance to gain national recognition, hundreds of leading architects submitted their most creative and inspirational projects utilizing Marvin Windows & Doors for the Marvin's Architect Challenge. Last week, the winners were revealed..... and one of my faves is the Casey Key Guest House by Florida based firm Sweet Sparkman Architects.



NY NOW 2013: Typography Trend in Decor

NY NOW, the premiere market for Home and Style came by storm this month showcasing 2800 exhibitors at the Jacobs K. Javits Convention Center. New collections and vibrant graphics were abound to personalize your home... especially words that state an opinion seemed to be a trend. The quirky, the unique and a save the earth mentality was apparent in different playful and modern applications...

State what's on your mind with Alexandra Ferguson's Eco-friendly pillows. 

Alexandra Ferguson

Love the whimsical graphics and  vibrant colors against its neutral felt covers. Her eco-aware pillows are made out of 100% recycled materials: the felt covers are made out of recycled plastic PET containers with plastic polyfill inserts. I love that it is made in the U.S.A.! All covers have zippers for easy maintenance.

Natural Curiosities

The multi-artist house of creativity called Natural Curiosities breathes expressive and vital artwork that reflects an attitude. Their production process is made in their Los Angeles studio, made by their hands with applications after they print. Art can be created by anyone and everyone with their unique typographic art....

Natural Curiosities

The love collection is an ever changing message of love to be created by you using alphabet, numbers, punctuation marks and hearts. The font is created with shoe polish and layering individual letters over vintage letters. Love that it is printed on acid-free paper! 

Vagabond vintage

Cool over-scaled, carefully crafted industrial letter light fixtures from Vagabond vintage. The letters reminds me of an old nostalgic marquee.  

Primitives by Kathy

Create a powerful wall that collage cheeky ideas and make a statement. The distressed looking box signs by Primitives by Kathy can hang on a wall, sit on a desk or on stack on the floor. Fun and whimsical!

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A Blogger - Designer Manifesto

While on vacation, I had the opportunity to stop for a few days, reevaulate and ask myself what I have learned as a blogger/designer/architect. I wanted to share my thoughts as its important to facilitate the exchange of ideas....

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