MoD Must Haves: Legrand adorne collection

MoD Must Haves

stylish, tactile, novel 

for cutting edge design lovers

Michele Alfano of MODmadeNY Studio. Image credit: Deborah Grosmark
DXV Pop Vessel , Keefe Monoblock faucet, REM body shower

Lucky me, last year I won a design contest where I won Legrand wallplates, outlets and switches. I was excited to receive the adorne product however they basically sat on my husband’s workbench for a year collecting dust. Then a lightbulb went off (no pun intended), these beauties can be used in our extensive masterbath and kids bath renovation. Yay! Legrand happily sent me whatever I needed to complete my installation. Thank you so much Legrand!

Legrand Adorne collection

Being a lover of cutting edge details, the adorne’s eyecatching Titanium switch plate and burnished pewter finish takes the bathroom to another level. It adds polish, style and sophistication.

Michele Alfano of MODmadeNY Studio. Image credit: Deborah Grosmark 
DXV Pop Vessel , Keefe Monoblock faucet, REM body shower

There are  extensive types of finishes and customizable options. The functionality is revolutionary. Combining ingenuity with convenience, the options available allow you to tap, touch, switch or wave. My switches and dimmers are the softap. You can set the light level to whatever you want with a slight tap! I am completely enamored with the adorne product. Here is the whole look of my earthy bath with a high tech product

Michele Alfano of MODmadeNY Studio. Image credit: Deborah Grosmark 
DXV Pop Vessel and Keefe Monoblock faucet

Please Note: No monetary compensation was given for this post. However I did receive some product. All opinions are my own, and all pictures are under copyright to MODmade NY unless otherwise noted.

1986 Bathroom Renovation goes 2015 Earthy Modern

Michele Alfano of MODmadeNY Studio
Image credit: Deborah Grosmark

Rugged stone, warm wood and variegated colors. This is the feeling I wanted for my renovated masterbath. We lived with this 1986 bathroom for way too long and it was time for the sledgehammer! It's a testament to American Standard that the toilet lasted a long time! Their products are timeless. A special thanks goes to DXV  of American Standard for all the gorgeous fixtures!

Bye Bye 1986 Bathroom!!

Mind you, my master is tiny; so the material choices were very important. To feel connection to the earth, I went back to the basics giving my masterbath design a more organic feel with a modern edge. 

Michele Alfano of MODmadeNY Studio
Image credit: Deborah Grosmark

Starting off subtly, the slate stone vanity wall has uneven texture resulting in a truly natural look and feeling.  Pairing the stone with the crisp lines of the DXV Square POP vessel adds a contemporary edge.

Custom Lacava Vanity
Michele Alfano of MODmadeNY Studio
Image credit: Deborah Grosmark

Stainless steel accents on the custom Lacava walnut vanity with industrial lighting from Renovation Hardware adds a modern dimension to the space too.

DXV Pop Vessel and Keefe faucet

Michele Alfano of MODmadeNY Studio

Image credit: Deborah Grosmark

The flow of water was an important factor in this small space. The beautiful flowing waterfall from DXV Keefe’s vessel faucet connects me back to a lake with the sounds of water rippling over pebbles.

DXV Rem Collection
Michele Alfano of MODmadeNY Studio
Image credit: Deborah Grosmark

The combined DXV Rem rainhead with the Rem body sprays offers the ultimate showering spa experience....

Michele Alfano of MODmadeNY Studio

Image credit: Deborah Grosmark

Thank you DXV| American Standard! I love my new bathroom!

Please Note: No monetary compensation was given for this post. However I did receive some product. All opinions are my own, and all pictures are under copyright to MODmadeNY Studio unless otherwise noted.

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MoD MUST HAVES: WoodKO's crafted wildlife decor

MoD Must Haves

stylish, tactile, novel 

for wildlife lovers

 Bull Head 3D puzzle Head

I love made products with a crafted hand. I recently came across WoodKO on Etsy, a small woodworking company with big ambitions. They love animals and wildlife, their inspiration for their products.. Deer, moose, bulls, rams – they take the loveliness of nature and embody it in the wood. 

 Deer 3D puzzle Head

Holiday time is here...... For anyone who admires wildlife,  woodworking and stylish home decor, WoodKo has useful, eco-friendly products like key racks, wine stands, sunglasses holders, coat racks, wall art, animal 3D puzzles.  

Wooden Wine Bottle Elephant

Wooden Wine Bottle Reindeer

Guess what? WoodKo is giving away the Moosehead 3D puzzle  today!!

Enter to win the giveaway! 

Submit an image of your favorite holiday decor and the most votes win this awesome 3D puzzle Mooshead for your wall decor! Its really special...maybe its the moose horns? maybe the wood color or just the fun to assemble this 3D puzzle? It's a high quality product made of veneered plywood that is undemanding. Moose head size: 19.7" high x 29.5" wide x 26.4" long. 

Moosehead 3D puzzle Head, I love it!

Good luck guys! 

Product supplied by WoodKO.

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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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Enter the Tile of Spain Passport To Creativity Contest 2016

Natucer (top row and bottom left) and Vives Ceramica (bottom right)

I cant believe its been almost a year since I was in Spain travelling as a guest of Tile of Spain with an amazing group of architects, designers and journalists to Seville and Valencia. What an amazing trip! I got back home filled with inspiration! We were immersed in the local culture and learned firsthand about the architecture, design language, cuisine, got a guided visit to Cevisama 2016, toured a tile factory and and learned how ceramics is the lifeblood that flows through both cities.   If you want to experience the time of your life, Tile of Spain is now accepting entries for the 2016 "Passport to Creativity" contest. Enter through December 1st for your chance to win an CEU trip to Spain.   Winners will participate in a February 2016 architectural excursion in Spain where they will earn CEU credits exploring Spanish culture and touring Cevisama 2016, the International Ceramic Tile and Bath Furnishing Show in Valencia, Spain. To enter, be creative and submit a picture of yourself with Spanish Tile at tileofspainusa.com/contest!  The tile can be a photo, a catalog or even a sample of Spanish Tile. Photos can be downloaded from the Inspiration Gallery at tileofspainusa.com. Be imaginative, and have fun!

For complete rules, and details on how to enter "Passport to Creativity", please visit www.tileofspainusa.com/contest.

Brizo Design Vignettes: Solna Articulating Faucet and Rook Bath Collection

Brizo has announced two new products. The Solna Articulating Faucet and the Rook Bath Collection. Four talented designers in the Brizo Blogger19 family have come together with Brizo to showcase these newest beauties in rockin set designs. Congratulations to my four friends: Jonathan Legate of Jonathan Legate Interior Consultation, Christian May of maison21, Donna Hall of Donna Mondi Interior Design, and Richard Herb of Richard Herb Associates....If you didn't know the Brizo Blogger19 represents an elite group of designers, architects and influencers who gives insight into Brizo's new products they are about to bring to market.   I am proud to be a part of this group and have met so many wonderful people including the impressive Brizo team. 

Take a look at how the Solna and Rook can look in beautiful Bath and Kitchen spaces below:

Jonathan Legate, Jonathan Legate Interior Consultation

I love this kitchen set vignette by designer Jonthan Legate! The Solna takes center stage in a space of beautiful materials and textures. Inspired by contemporary Scandanavian furniture, the Solna's sleek articulating movement features a hidden pull down spray wand held in place with MagneDock Technology.

Christian May, maison21

The Rook collection has a different feel than the Solna. Its blocked shape inspired by a rook chess piece focuses on the intersection of old and new with its classic modern and traditional elements.   The Rook is showcased in Designer Christian May's set design. His edgy use of dimensional tile with geometric accent pieces plays nicely with the Rook's waterfall lines. Very cool!

Donna Hall, Donna Mondi Interior Design

I want this shower design by Designer Donna Hall, two of everything! The accouterments make this bathroom feel so lush. A great escape for a couple. Wonderful space!

Richard Herb, Richard W. Herb and Associates

Designer Richard Herb combines Rook's masculine details with rich subway colored tiles to enhance a spa experience. The shower becomes a real focal piece. Nice!

 To connect with Brizo,

Check out her WEBSITE, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST

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Cement Tiles,an artistic backsplash for your Kitchen

While the typical kitchen backsplash has been seen in glass, metal and stone, cement tile backsplashes have become very trendy lately. The powerful geometric patterns are a sure way to show off your personality and style in your home. Since each tile is hand crafted, you can customize these tiles.  If you do not see a color combination, shape or size you like in stock, the manufacturer can simply create one to fit your needs. I also love that they are environmentally friendly too, comprised of natural components and pigments. Cement tiles function well as a protective shield over the wall in your kitchen which helps prevent damage from spills and splatters;  so much easier to clean and keep clean. 

For a bit of history, Cement tiles were first produced in the South of France in the 1870s. They are known under various names such as Mission tiles, Cuban tiles, Victorian tiles, and hydraulic tiles. Cement tiles are popular in Mediterranean and Latin style spaces and are generally highly patterned with geometric and floral designs. 

Cement tiles are formed by hand pouring pigmented cement into decorative molds in order to separate the colors. When the cement has been set, the molds are removed and the tile compressed with 2,000 pounds of pressure. The result is an irresistible work of art to create a beautiful kitchen backsplash. Cement tiles are technically concrete tiles since they include aggregates such as marble dust and a layer of sand for reinforcement.

Something to Consider:

The floor, countertop and backsplash must all work together for your kitchen to have an even, balanced look. Keep in mind that the backsplash should not be treated as a separate entity to the overall space. All elements need to work to create an overall effect.

Tip: In order to calculate the amount of tile you will need, measure the square footage of your kitchen backsplash, then be sure to add an additional 10 to 20 percent to that total. This will help to account for any waste you have from trimming or breakage.

Materials and tools you will to create your own backsplash:

Adhesive, tile spacers, notched trowel, bucket, tape measure, grout and grout sponge. Tip: Pick a grout color that complements your tile, avoid an exact color match. Select one that will be easy to keep clean and try to stay away from bright white, unless you love scrubbing. Premixed grout that already has a sealer mixed in helps you save a step as opposed to using a topical sealer.

Cement tiles are typically 8 by 8 inches and run about $15 to $29 per square foot. Installation would be the same as ceramic or porcelain tile, with one big difference. Cement tile has to be sealed with two coats of penetrating sealer after is has been set but before grouting. The sealer will protect the front facade of the tile from absorbing the grout material.

I think one of my faves are the black and white patterns. This is a modern style kitchen with a display of classical black and white color tones. The kitchen features 8"×8" Moroccan cement tile backsplash creating an astonishing wallpaper effect with its daring black and white design. 

Image credits: Rustico Tile and Stone

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MOD Must Have: Anjolee, Jewels great for a Bride

MoD Must Haves

stylish, tactile, novel 

for jewel lovers

I just celebrated my 15th wedding anniversary. It feels like yesterday when I was living in Manhattan and planning my wedding. At that time there wasn't pinterest or any online magazines to search for ideas. I had to rely on magazines and comfortable pumps to hunt for the perfect dress, headpiece and jewelry. In a small shop in Brooklyn, I scored and an exquisite vintage headpiece but no other jewelry really spoke to me. 

Who is that lovely couple below?

9/9/2000

Fast forward, the internet has opened so many doors for artists, and online companies. If Anjolee had existed 15 years ago it would have made my life so much easier. One of the largest diamond jewelry manufacturers in the U.S., Anjolee diamond jewelry offers some stunning selections from rings, to bracelets, to necklaces and wedding rings. Great customer service and an education center too. You can learn about the different cuts of diamonds and how to care for them. 

 Timeless Dreams Tennis Bracelet

I didn't get diamonds, but I am now rockin a new CZ Timeless Dreams Tennis bracelet that I customized.  Yes, custom. To your taste and budget, you can customize any gold or platinum jewelry design. 

Thanks Anjolee, I just love it! It's the bracelet that I was looking for my wedding day 15 years ago!

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