We have visited and subsequently reported back to our readership on NYC Design Week many times in the past. This year is different, however, with a new name and a good deal of excitement and buzz to boot. For the first time, New York City officially launches a week in honor of design (it’s more than seven days, but do remember everything is bigger in New York City!). The twelve-day long festival (May 10-21) has been re-branded as NYCxDesign and features city-wide events on everything from fashion and graphic design, to interior design and architecture.
We made a beeline this past weekend to Bklyn Designs, which is being promoted by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and showcases a jury-selected group of Brooklyn-based designers. This gave us the perfect opportunity to say hello to some old faces and welcome some of the new ones fortunate, and talented, enough to be representing Brooklyn – one of the country’s creative strongholds.
We hope you enjoy this snapshot of images from our visit to Bklyn Designs. Stay tuned for more details on this and other events we’ll be taking in during NYCxDesign.
Posted by Keren Fathi-Poor at 14 May, 2013
Designed for a discerning bachelor, the Rox Residence in Toronto is a bright modern dream home designed by Shirley Meisels of MHouse Inc.
Perhaps the most enviable and well-planned space of this home is the master closet. The client travels frequently for work and needed a sizable space to pack clothing, as well as store laundry. This room is really an integrated lounge and closet, replete with a large coffee table, flat-screen television, smooth-paneled walnut cabinetry and vivid yellow molded chair with ottoman. Glass doors allow natural light to fill this area, while an Ingo Maurer white paper chandelier adds whimsy.
The home’s entry opens directly onto the dining room which features an innovative steel bench to visually and literally divide the space. The custom-made modern farmtable is offset by six mid-century white and chrome chairs. Smoked oak floors provide a rustic contrast and help define the interior. An intentionally off-centered globe chandelier bursts with mini lights.
The connecting kitchen is striking with walnut and white cabinetry stacked into the recessed backsplash wall which is sheathed in Calacatta marble. A massive island features the same color scheme and is flanked by three contemporary white and chrome bar stools. The palette of greys and whites effectively softens the modern edges.
A casual, second floor den possesses a windowed wall which frames the exterior views and sheds light on the space. Mounted rock posters collected by the owner are displayed above the sectional sofa. Colors here are muted creating a relaxed environment.
The living room wall is a stand-out with a five-foot, horizontal fireplace. To mimic the look of poured concrete (which proved to be too expensive and time intensive), 24 x 48 inch porcelain tiles were used. Furnishings are contemporary with a clear square glass coffee table centering the space and an Eames lounge chair adding iconic modern appeal. The handwoven rug from Nepal pops with neon florals, picking up on the punch of yellow fabric chairs surrounding it. Plentiful windows feature mechanized blinds to help diffuse the sunlight when desired.
The master bedroom is rich with dark grey patterned wallpaper, a solid walnut bed and plush rug. A softly curved side chair offsets the geometric-framed windows. The adjoining bathroom is a small space that was expanded by a mirrored medicine cabinet, suspended custom white-oak vanity and glazed wall. The walk-in, Calacatta marble shower features lights and rainhead on the ceiling, as well as an extraordinary freestanding tub.
With inventive design elements, art collections and beautiful, high-end furnishings, the Rox Residence is a most desirable modern dream home.
Posted by Suzanne at 13 May, 2013
Envisioned with an eclectic eye by the artist/designer himself, the modern dream apartment of Greg Baker of Ambassador Home manages to encapsulate a melodious mix of warm woods, ethnic accents, contemporary lines and rich textiles that make the space ultra-inviting.
Located in the city of Perth in Western Australia, this flat was originally built in the 1970s and possessed a limited, closed-in floorplan. Greg and his father personally renovated the space, knocking down walls and enhancing the living areas to be more functional and conducive to the owner’s lifestyle. The color scheme is earthy and sumptuous with gold, cream, beige, brown, grey and black coming into play throughout.
Creating interest is the decisive design of the living room and master bedroom. Both are open to each other, yet afford enough privacy to make the distinction between the somewhat shared space. A central wall remains in tact, with openings on either side of it expanding the area and gathering natural light from the dining room’s glass doors.
While initially a smaller space, the bedroom now escapes constraint with a furnished sitting area. A fully mirrored wall behind the bed exhibits an oversized photographic artwork and bounces light from both the outside and table lamps perched in front of it. The bathroom features a combined step-in tub and shower with glazed wall, and a minimalist wood vanity with cool white basin.
Adjoining the bedroom is the living room which is anchored by a stunning, customized EcoSmart ethanol fireplace which is housed in an elongated unit also storing books, CDs and displaying a collection of intriguing–sometimes playful–objects d’art which are dotted amongst the interiors. A beautiful cowhide and chrome-legged bench ties together the other contemporary furnishings of leather and sturdy woven fabric. The shared dining room sits adjacent to a sliding glass door leading to the terrace. Mid-century modern chairs surround the rustic wood table.
The kitchen is streamlined and practical with a center island discreetly housing the refrigerator, freezer, cooktop and oven. This space becomes perfect for entertaining guests as it is unfolds unto to the main living areas.
Greg Baker’s modern dream home is a thought-provoking apartment that magnificently redines the quintessential bachelor pad. (via)
Photography by Ross Swanborough
Posted by Suzanne at 13 May, 2013
Who says lamp shades need to be white and boring?! Mood Design Studio creates the most design forward lampshades on the market, showcasing fabrics with bold colors and patterns that are right on trend from some of the hottest indie textile designers!
This fun geometric shade has a modern feel and adds the perfect detail to any contemporary, modern, or vintage decor scheme. Try it in your living room or bedroom to add some color and style or bring it to the office to liven up your work space!
Bright and trendy lamp shades are a great way to revitalize a favorite lamp base or switch up your decor, even if just for Spring!
Posted by Keren Fathi-Poor at 13 May, 2013
This year at the Milan Design Week 2013, Italian design brand Kartell introduces a surprising new furniture collection designed by Philippe Starck. The “Aunts and Uncles” is a family of indoor and outdoor furniture pieces which is comprised of five designs: the ‘Uncle Jack’ sofa, ‘Uncle Jim’ armchair, ‘Uncle Jo’ chair, ‘Aunt Jamy’ dining table’ and ‘Aunt Maggy’ console
“My family of Kartell “uncles and aunts” is the minimalist technological version of the armchairs and sofas where my uncles and aunts used to sit smoking their pipes or knitting by the fireplace in total peace and serenity. Times have changed and so has furniture … but our dreams are always the same”. (via)
Posted by Keren Fathi-Poor at 10 May, 2013
An abandoned industrial bakery, the Kempart Loft in Liege, Belgium was transformed by Dethier Architectures into an ultra-modern dream home doused in severe futuristic style.
Inspired by the clients’ affinity towards precision engineering, the design team worked to create the approximately 1,660 square-foot modular space which is primarily one open area, though divided into zones by metal corrugations stemming from the pitched roof. A centralized, podlike structure resembling an iconic Airstream trailer rests in the middle of the stark space, acting as an aerodynamic container for two bathrooms, storage and the heating/ventilation systems, as well as the flat-screen television. Doors in this unit can fold open or slide shut to induce an intensely streamlined aesthetic. Abundant uplighting throughout aids an airy sense of the space.
Interiors are virtually monochromatic in grey and white, while the gleaming brushed aluminum contributes a sleek effect to the radically minimalist home. One bathroom bursts in lime green, while the other buzzes with tangerine walls and accents. Each has a portal-type window, allowing these vivid hues to glow from within, creating pops of color to the otherwise muted living areas.
The bedroom resides in the north sector of the loft while the lounge rests at the south. This living room consists of custom-made sectional seating which was intentionally positioned so when relaxing, the residents could have sight-lines of the neighborhood street at one end and the rooftop terrace via the other. The spacious, connected kitchen is sheathed in white and stainless steel, yet surprises with bright red chairs at the dining table. A wall panel with LED read-out further adds a space-age vibe.
Unexpected is the expansive garden roof terrace, which is nearly twice the size of the interior living plan. This contrasting space engages the more organic elements of the outdoors with wood decking, brickwork and potted greenery
The Kempart Loft is a boldly reinterpreted dream loft which takes extreme minimalistic design to its outermost realms.
Posted by Suzanne at 10 May, 2013
