Olympics: Green Installation

The ContainR is showing sports films from around the world during the Olympics in downtown Vancouver. Its concept, a "street installation at the nexus of video, public art and urban design, sitting at the cross roads of mountain and urban culture, art and sports cinema, embracing public art and sustainable design.” Phew that’s a mouthful! By using reconditioned shipping containers and integrating alternative energy sources, the installation references Vancouver’s rich history as a major port as well as a center for green design. ContainR asks the question: where is the line between art and sport? As a traveling public art piece it inspires and sparks innovative uses that travel beyond the confines of any one city in particular.

The container is designed by Vancouver architect Robert Duke, industrial designer Keith Doyle, and Iain Sinclair.

Pairings: Cookware & Linen

Le Creuset Lilac & Cassis                                 Coffee & Cake Dish Towel

Down-To-Earth Interiors

Many clients are caught between the desire for a cozy, child-friendly, home and a sophisticated style. I maintain the notion, you may have both. Consider appropriate proportions, furniture, and color schemes that you will balance the needs of all inhabitants. You will never be fully happy with your house until it’s compatible with the way you live. Keep the color palette simple and understated. The pops of color can happen with accessories and unexpected exceptional pieces. Taupe or cream color walls with a neutral sofa color establish a mutual comfort, while an Oushak or antique area rug with bold pillows on the sofa provide spots of color. Throughout the house, textures, tactile fabrics, and occasional splashes of saturated color can punch up the neutral backdrop. Interior design selections should make you smile and set an elevating tone when you enter the room. You should impress yourself before impressing others.

A few pairings...

Persian Style Rug                                                  Pillow: Printing Cloth

Honeycomb Rug                                                              Elephant Pillow

Labyrinth Rug                                                                       Pillow

To order contact Lora Gellerman Interiors

Pairings: A Good Match

I Am Not A Paper Cup       paired with        Megan Auman's Cozy Cuff

Artist: Alena Hennessy

Alena Hennessy. Contact Lora Gellerman Interiors to order.

This Food is so...Architectural

Designer Alessandro Zambelli was challenged to come up with a solution for hiding dinnerware in plain sight. The way cool, Palace Collection was Mr. Zambelli’s solution. At first glance, the pieces look like porcelain renditions of Renaissance palaces in Florence, but each “building” is actually made up of a stack of six plates (dinner or dessert size) or bowls (cereal or soup) with a “roof” that, when turned over, becomes another usable dish.

Interior Design: Scent

I am a huge advocate of using scent to set the tone for an interior space. The scent of a room should be in-tune with it's activities.

Slatkin & Company: Sandalwood Vanilla, $19.50
Henri Bendel: Fig and Firewood, $30.00
Capri Blue: Volcano, $28.00
Tocca: Tahiti, $36.00

Flower Arrangements: Ariella Chezar

Ariella Chezar's floral designs intertwine color, nature and style to a stunning effect.

Ariella Chezar Flowers

Budget, but Don't Compromise Design

In my opinion, nothing is as good as the original. When a chair takes on a certain amount of popularity imitations are bound to follow. Striving for the "real deal" is an amicable goal, but sometimes budget takes prescient. As a designer, I work with my clients and find products to fit their budget while not compromising design.

One example of compromise:

Emeco: Navy Chair

$415.00

Home Decorators: "Sandra" side chair

$129.00

Laundry Hampers

All laundry hampers available @ organize.com

(clockwise from top left)

1. modern x-frame

2. metallic-bronze frame

3. blue canvas

4. black/natural bird pattern

Door Mats

Flip Flop Door Mat

Made from material left over from colorful flip-flop once the foot bed is stamped, these recylced factory remnants become rugged doormats that are as colorful as they are indestructible. Each one is unique.

$29.00- $79.00 @ Viva Terra

Tape Measure Mat

Yards ahead in style and woven out of tough eco-friendly plastic, this mat made from recycled brightens up a kitchen, laundry room, or entry.


$49.00 @ Viva Terra

Check out VivaTerra for some other great eco-friendly designs

Book: Printing By Hand

For some wonderful Design It Yourself ideas, read this:

Printing By Hand    Lena Corwin

Domino Magazine: Interior

I was flipping through some back issues of my favorite (discontinued) magazine, Domino, and came across this home. The West Village, Manhattan apartment is 425 square feet, which could be a bit daunting. Keeping proportions in sync, making comfort key, and conveying warmth through soft gray walls make this (in my opinion) a great space.

DWR: Pendant Light

This is a great pendant light for over a breakfast table or an informal dining space.

Design Within Reach: "Coral" Pendant

I can picture it in this room:

Carpet: Fiber & Style

Good To Know

Fibers
Naturals (sisal, sea grass, jute, coir, and abaca): typically pricier than synthetics but less expensive than wool, these impart a modern wholesomeness.
Nylon: durable and available in many colors, it is by far the most popular. Typically treated with stain-guarding chemicals.
Olefin (polypropylene): strong, simple to clean, affordable and fade resistant. Good for indoor/outdoor use because it resists mold and mildew.
Polyester: soft, washable and often manufactured from recycled plastic bottles
Wool: condsidered the gold standard. Wears well and is the most luxe to the touch.

Styles
Plush or Saxony: A thick, extremely soft surface of cut "pile" (aka yarn), more formal.
Loop or Berber: A flat, minimalist weave that resembles sisal but if formed from looped yarn.
Frieze: A term for texture or a type of saxony carpet with yarn that has been twisted to create dimension.
Shag: Long, cut pile with fibers twisted in a loose design. Funky, retro, and lounge-y

*Note* Ask for "green" pads/backings stanard carpet can sometimes emit chemcials into the air.

Organize: Laundry

It's the area in your home where so much becomes clean- whites get brighter, linens get crisper, and stains disappear. The best most effective laundry room is itself tidy and well kept. With a few easy systems and devices, plus a small stash of multitasking products, even a cluttered corner for dirty clothes will be transformed into a streamlined, clean attractive laundry room. 

baskets, bins, and boxes

Label- Small items, such as sewing kits and lint rollers, can be put in labeled baskets on shelves to keep the, from getting dusty or misplaced.

Store- Under-sink storage is a good place to stow cleaning products (away from little hands)

hangers, clothespins, hooks

Hang- Clothes that are air-dried on hangers are less likely to shrink and will have fewer wrinkles to iron out later

Attach- Clothespins help you evenly clip items such as bed linens to a clothesline

Hook- Clothing that needs to be steamed can be hung on a hook on a wall, which will keep the item from swinging and free both hands to do the job.

clothesline

Conceal- A clothesline is ideal for clothes and bedding that require full or partial air drying. Get a retractable one that can be installed unobtrusively on a wall.

Organize: Gadget Wires

Cable Holder

The clips have adhesive backs that can be attached to walls, table legs, or anywhere pesky cables and cords run amok.

Available Here: Blue Lounge

Outlet charger

Plug the charger into the socket, place your phone on the platform, then wrap the cord neatly around it.

Available Here: Driinn

Gadget Organizer

Save some counter space. The storage station charges up to three devices and hides the tangle of cords.

Available Here: Kanga Room

Organize: Bathroom

You cleanse, brush your teeth, and put on your makeup in the bathroom each day, but that doesn't mean the space has to be strictly mundane. You can add plenty of personality to the bath, turning a room of function into a sanctuary of tranqillity and calm.

1. Purge- overhaul the medicine cabinet and other storage areas by removing everything that's not vital to your daily life

2. Regroup- gather similar items and assess how and where they should be placed

3. Relocate- lone accessory pieces (ex. nail clippers, tweezers, hair clips) in containers. Toothbrushes and toothpaste take up less space if they are stored upright in a cup or jar.

Shelves- Open shelving in an accessible any easy way to store towels, which should be stacked in piles.  Shampoo, conditioner, and soap stock on display can help remind you when replacements are needed.

Container Store (shelf stacking unit, similar to one pictured on the left)

World Market great source for baskets

Storage Containers- If bathroom space is limited, countertop baskets, bins, and boxes are helpful for grouping toiletires. Cotton swabs and other applicators look much tidier when they're placed in apothecary jars, or even just an attractive bowl.

Organize: Closets

Closets are often go totally neglected. Think of this space the way you would any other. At the very least, paint it the same shade as (or something complementary to) the adjoining room. For example, if your bedroom has brown touches, extend that accent color to closet walls. If you’re putting in new carpet, continue it in the closet for extra luxury. And if you want a truly finished effect, try wallpaper. Whether a graphic print or calm floral, it’ll make your closet seem like the inside of a jewelry box.

- closet systems are not attached to the wall, they can go wherever you do

- entirely adjustable, can store items to your preference

- work with a designer and start with a clean slate

- consider the items your closet holds as you plan a storage system, take measurements, and sketch out a plan

The Container Store

Organize: Pantry

1. Double your space: stack a few of these platforms gets the most out of high shelves.

The Container Store

2. Display basics: decanting rice and other cooking staples into canisters allows you to see when you need more.

Amazon.com/Kitchen

3. Create a system: labeling shelves corrals everything in its designated place, no matter who's putting it back.

Paper Cup Design

4. Stowing tilted wide-mouth jars on the most grabbable levels let you snag easily. Ex. Cookie or Dog Treats

Target

5. Secure storage: baskets prevent large items like paper towel rolls or bottles from toppling over.

Bon Maison