Anthony
An office and a guesthouse
Previously, we mentioned the firm of Kanner Architects in a blog about the AIA/LA Awards. Revisiting their site, we discovered their Canyon View guesthouse.
The owners insisted on a warm modern design that was to be flexible, private, and contextual. The structure's highly articulated form is composed of a series of angled cedar wall planes. "Breaking the box" into a series of angled walls allows the building to more effectively blend into its environment.
Firm: Kanner Architects
From across the pond
From UK Designer Samuel Chan comes Channels.
Channels is an acclaimed British furniture designer-maker. Its distinctive style is a refined modernity - bringing together minimalism in design with the richness and luxe of timber. Every piece of furniture is made in Channels' own workshops and the craftsmanship is superb.
Channels presents at least one new range of furniture a year. Some pieces are available as stock items, others are made to order.
Link: Channels Design
Simple, yet impressive
Based on the date of our last entry in the kitchen category -- and the, *sigh*, general lack of entries -- it would appear that we've been neglecting one of our favorite rooms in the house. Well, now that we've found this wonderfull kitchen island from Time & Style, we're hoping that will change. This island features a built-in range and sink with all plumbing and gas lines built into the legs. An extendable top board is included and a pull-out counter is also available as an option. Materials include stainless steel and walnut.
Link: Time & Style
Creative lighting from Brooklyn
From the Brooklyn studio of designer Jeff Weiss comes lamps in both fluorescent and incandescent flavors. From what I can gather on the site, the incandescent lights are cast in gypsum cement and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The flourescent lights are a mixed variety with some cast from gypsum cement, while others are constructed from a mixture of fluorescent tubes, plaster, and clear resin. The Particle lamp, featured at right, features four eight inch circle lights cast in plaster sphere.
Link: Jeff Weiss Studio
Art framing systems
Aluma Designs manufactures framing products from free-standing tabletop models, wallhanging models, and their versatile panel systems. They have a frame available to accomodate just about any size print. Their panel system (below) can be custom configured in many different sizes, colors, and configurations:
"The Aluma Panel Systems are also perfect as large conceptual art pieces for lofts, homes and or commercial spaces that want the industrialy modern look. You can cut images and frame them in the different panels to make up one image, like the photo on this page, or frame a different image in each panel. The Aluma Panel System offers you limitless possibilities in the creative arena of conceptual design."
Link: Aluma Designs
Use your imagination for this one
The other day, Harry over at Mocoloco talked about websites with little more than photos and that's certainly the case here. Damian Barton's site is full of product imagery (mostly renderings) and very little information. Amongst the renderings, we came across what looks like a finished product: the Pet(al) Chair. We have no idea what materials were used in its construction or even if it's available but we like it nonetheless.
Link: Damian Barton
A clean sense of design
From the look of his work, Charley Wheelock is one hell of a talented cabinetmaker. But his work is so much more than cabinets. From modular shelves to children's furniture, Charley's work is clean and simple. Quite refreshing, actually. We're fans of his Gravity desk as well as his Book Boxes.
"Kapow Design is essential design. Our inspiration stems from an interest in connections. This is embodied initially in our attention to detailed physical joinery and expands to include an emotional connection between people and their surroundings. Unique material choices and a clean sense of design offer a dynamic approach to furniture."
Oh, and while you're checking out his site, you should know that moving your mouse over the children's furniture is quite addicting. Don't say we didn't warn you! ;-)
Link: KaPOW Design
Modern home decor and lifestyle products
PlushLiving is a Los Angeles based studio that designs colorful and bold accessories for the home. Their current lineup includes pillows, shower curtains, coasters, journals, and wall art.
"All PlushLiving design revolves around the principle of using striking and contemporary color palettes, high quality materials, and innovative packaging. Each product is highly stylized to create a glamorous statement."
Designers: Kenneth W & Shirley C
Link: PlushLiving
"Cultivating culture and form"
Symmetry Showroom features rugs handknotted in the "finest wool" available in numerous patterns and designs. They are a showroom for numerous partners including Gus, SpekeKlein, and Ethnicities. In addition, they also carry handpicked items from Tibet, Thailand, Phillipines, Peru, and elsewhere.
Besides rugs, they also feature contemporary home furnishings with an Eastern flair.
Link: Symmetry Showroom
"Wood is a living material"
Based in Finland, Albicantes specializes in wooden interior objects. Wood varieties include aspen, birch, mahogany, maple, oak, and walnut. We're especially fond of the Wind vase (featured at right) along with the Motion tray (below).
All Albicantes products are designed and crafted for everyday use. The products are coated with natural tree oils and wax. Direct contact with water is not recommended for any wooden surface though wood can be wiped for cleaning with a wet cloth. The coating keeps the wooden surface naturally lively and protects the material from dust and humidity.
Link: Albicantes
Fetching dog products
As the canine-obsessed one here at L+L (that other guy is into *gasp* felines!), it's always good to come across fun pooch products with a modern slant. With that in mind, the pooch gear from Otis and Claude fits the bill. With products ranging from tug toys, bowls, and of course bedding, they've got a great selection sure to please just about every dog owner. And for you cat lovers, they've even got a kitty condo.
Link: Otis and Claude [Thanks Peter!]
Simplicity. Defined.
In the past, the majority of our landscape posts, with a few exceptions, focused primarily on residential projects. However, when I came across Mikyoung Kim's Contemplation Garden, I thought it would fit in quite nicely with the other posts in this category.
In this spare entrance garden, bamboo, moss, water, and granite are used to create a contemplative courtyard and sculptural pool. The granite water wall invites users to engage directly with the water before entering the contemplative area where the pool reflects the movement of the sky.
Also be sure to check out Mikyoung's "Navigations Garden".
Link: Mikyoung Kim
Unique Industrial Style
The Waterblade (featured at right) and the Frame are two faucet designs from Lacava Designs. The Waterblade features sleek contemporary lines and comes in both wall-mounted and deck-mounted configurations. They are available in brushed nickel and polished chrome.
The Frame series (below) is also available in deck or wall-mounted configurations and features a braided steel hose attached to an external frame.
Link: Lacava Design
Via: Trendir [Thanks, Joe!]
Celebration of the Australian outdoor lifestyle
The 10th annual Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show will be held April 6 - 10, 2005.
Reputedly the best annual garden show in the Southern Hemisphere, the show has featured some stunning contemporary gardens in past years. Designers will include Mark Browning of Cycas Landscape Design, Jamie Durie of Patio Landscape Design, and many others including four students from Australia and New Zealand competing for the Fleming Student Award.
Link: Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
Printed textiles and pattern design
Morag Macpherson is the designer behind UK based Global Guru. A graphic artist, she has turned her talents to textile design for the interior and fashion marketplace. She's got some terrific patterns which in a way, remind us of the wallpaper patterns from Flavor Paper and Timorous Beasties. Great stuff, Morag!
global guru designs and manufactures a diverse variety of contemporary collections in many different colourways and repeat sections. These surface patterns can be translated into a variety of interior accessories and fashion pieces.
Link: Global Guru
Minimalist metal artwork
Miya Ando Stanoff is a minimalist metal artist who creates artwork on metal canvases. She utilizes traditional metalworking techniques such as grinding, sanding, and the application of heat, along with acids, solvents and metal-based pigments to create varied textures on her canvases. In the right setting, her work will really stand out.
Miya Ando Stanoff is a minimalist metalworker; employing steel and pigment to create quiet, meditative environments. Working solely in two-dimensional metal panels, she is ultimately interested in the study of subtraction to the point of purity, simplicity and refinement.
Update: Her work is on display at Zinc Details in San Francisco through February 28th.
Update II: Received a Ligne Roset SF installation shot from Miya today (2/25), thanks! (see below)
Link: Miya Ando Stanoff [Thanks, Miya!]
Link: MocoLoco San Francisco
Link: Zinc Details
Japanese Design Solutions for Living
Our previous blog on The Very Small Home generated a comment about how concrete structures in Asia were "Stalinist grey, drab, utilitarian...cement block monstrosities." Well, on that note, here's another book highlighting those horrendous living conditions that the Japanese endure. ;-)
Written by Michael Freeman and published back in August 04, Space explores Japanese architecture and design in size constricted areas.
In their work, Japanese interior designers and architects constantly draw on cultural traditions, while using a modern, even radical approach. Whether in the use of lightweight partitions to create flexible spaces, deliberate profligacy to give a feeling of generosity, or strange perspectives, the results are not mere workaday solutions, but artistic and unusual ones that can turn a lack of space into a surfeit of style.
Link: Space (Amazon)
Blending playful accent pieces with high-style design elements
Mixture is a modern and contemporary furnishings store located in San Diego, California. Carrying furniture, lighting, artwork as well as accessories, they feature many hard to find lines that are, occasionally, exclusive to Mixture.
The goal of Mixture is to create a fun, friendly, service-oriented environment that takes the intimidation out of contemporary and modern furniture/gift shopping and feature an ever-changing inventory. Developed to take a young and fresh approach to contemporary design, Mixture exudes a relaxed atmosphere, one that welcomes questions and thrives on educating customers about the intricacies of modern design.
Link: Mixture Designs
Link: Design*Sponge [Thanks, Bryan!]
2005 Collection highlights
Christopher Paul rugs have been updated for 2005 with bold contemporary graphics and clean styling.
Our rugs combine contemporary
aesthetics, bold graphics and clean styling
for a unique design element in any setting.
Each design is available in custom colors.
We can also customize a design
especially for you.
Our rugs are very low maintenance. Care
and maintenance is much like caring for
hardwood flooring. Simply wipe clean with
a damp cloth. Occasionally give your rug
a good cleaning with a mild cleanser such
as Murphy's Oil Soap. Abrasive cleansers
are not recommended as they can
damage the protective finish. In addition,
our rugs are a great consideration for
those whose health is adversely affected
by traditional floor coverings.
Link: Christopher Paul [Thanks, Christopher!]
Link: 2004 Collection (MocoLoco)
Zense the Difference
Danish company Zali has a whole collection of matching products designed around glass and stainless steel. That's great if you're into matching all your accesories in sort of an "early 90's Z Gallerie" sort of way but with these accessories, we definitely think moderation is key. Don't overdo it :-) Featured at right is a piece from their Candle Series.
ZALI expresses man’s natural striving for necessary aesthetics. Aesthetics that have actual function and which are also a delight to the eye. A combination of robust, high quality natural materials and the stringent strengths of metals provides a living reflection of expression.
This reflection wanders forever with the changing light – where nothing and everything is new at the same time.
Link: Zali
Inspired by nature
Amenity Design is a Los Angeles based studio with a main goal of creating "beautiful, yet useful everyday objects of high quality that reflect the warmth and beauty of nature." The premiere line of bedroom linens consist of three different designs: Twig (featured at right), Leaf, and Drift.
Their duvets are made from 400 thread count fabric and are 100% cotton.
Update - 2/21/05: Grace over at Design*Sponge is serving up scoops, so I'd like place an order for 2 of my favorite scoops. Mmmmmmm! I promise I won't spill any on the sheets. :-)
Link: Amenity Home [Thanks, Gwen!]
Living in Modern Style
Billing itself as "the premiere resource for all things modern", 360° Modern features real estate listings as well as a community page with descriptions on the buying and selling of modern homes. Their real estate section seems to focus mostly on the greater Seattle area.
We are people passionate about and dedicated to the appreciation of Modern Architecture and all things related. We are here to provide two services: a place for pertinent, interesting, changing information about Modern Architecture and Modernism and to provide real estate services for people wanting to buy or sell a Modern home.
Link: 360° Modern
The art of the chair
It's been a while since we've featured a bentwood piece so here's something from designer Po Shun Leong. This piece is created from two pieces of identically pressed wood and held together with what I'm assuming to be t-bolts (since it's "easy to assemble" I'm thinking IKEA-like hardware).
Link: Po Shun Leong
Multi-function.
Designed by Johnson Chou, the Workplaysleep.01 from nienkämper combines multiple functions into one attractive design. In it's most basic form, the Workplaysleep is a simple sofa. Add the optional work surface and you've got the perfect spot to work with your laptop or chow down that last night's leftovers.
Designer: Johnson Chou
Link: nienkämper
A nice piece of glass.
What do you get when you introduce a millionaire food entrepreneur with a passion for the arts to a skilled glass blower? Sorry, no punch line here other than some fantastic looking hand blown glass. The website features two collections, the Adam Aaronson Collection and Adam Aaronson Architectural, along with several one off pieces.
Adam Aaronson Collection is a range of stylish functional glass developed in a contemporary colour palette and fired with silver or gold leaf. These pieces are all handmade to Adam's designs, in our Earl's Court Studio.
Designer: Adam Aaronson
Link: Aaronson Noon Glass
Furniture for the Modern Minded
Back in high school, there was this foreign exchange student from Sweden named Katja that I had a crush on. We didn't have any classes together but for some reason, I was reminded of her. You see, back then, I had woodshop and Katja was in a horticulture class that was near the woodshop building. We'd hang out before class making small talk and such. No sort of relationship ever came out of it and we didn't keep in touch after the semester was over and she went back to Sweden.
So, what on earth does this chair have to do with Katja? Absolutely nothing other than it reminded me of a project in my high school woodshop class which then reminded me of Katja.
Link: Modern Object
Illuminated furniture and off-grid living
We frequently browse our site logs to see where our site traffic is coming from and recently noticed a few referrals from GlenHunter.ca. After checking out the site, one of the first things that caught my eye was his handmade coffee table. It features a cedar slab with a light running in the middle along the length of the cedar that illuminates a glass shelf below. It is quite an attractive table.
"I've been toying with the concept of lighted furniture for a while now. I like the idea of creating small discreet sources of low light scattered around a room and using point sources where more illumination is needed (i.e. for reading). One method of doing that is embedding lights within furniture. In the case of this table the light is provided by two 1W LED's. It shines both up and down. The light up is very pretty, but not particularly useful (you can't read by it). The light down illuminates the bottom shelf, in our case the home of our stack of current magazines."
Another cool thing on his site is the house he's building built. It's an "off-grid passive solar home" and from the plans and pictures on his site, it's looks fantastic. Definitely lots more to see here. Cool dogs, too :-)
Link: Glen Hunter
Link: Hunter House, Scott Morris Architects
Update: Check out MocoLoco's coverage of the Hunter House.
Japanese Ideas for Living Well in Limited Space
Ever since I picked up a copy of the Slesin book Japanese Style back in the early 90s, I have been a huge fan of Japanese design. Japanese homes are the epitome of compact and efficient design and in Azby Brown's forthcoming book, The Very Small Home, he explores the attitude in Japan towards efficient and functional design. Needless to say, you won't find any McMansions here. Projects in the book range from traditional and handmade to futuristic.
Urban living space in the west is becoming increasingnly crowded; conditions that the Japanese have coped with, and their architects have gained much experience dealing with, for quite some time. Japanese design patterns are bound to be adopted by Western architects and this book makes a point to showcase some of the finest small home design that Japan has to offer.
Release Date: May 2005
Link: Amazon
Author: Azby Brown
Publisher: Kodansha International
Textures and colors
I stumbled across the website of Nani Marquina just by chance while doing some random Google searches. Their collection features rugs and cushions (along with a pair of slippers) by several designers. However it was their rugs that caught my eye with their bold geometric shapes and aesthetic lines.
Nani Marquina's rugs are handmade with 100% New Zealand wool. Their rugs are not crafted with child labor and they are a member of Care & Fair, an organization that fights against illegal child labor in the manufacturing sector of handknotted carpets.
Link: Nani Marquina
Link: Care & Fair
Link: Mocoloco
A rant about one of our favorite rags
Over in the Archinect forums, a member with the moniker Suture has written an interesting little rant about how Dwell is slowly changing from a magazine that once featured hand made coffee tables and stenciled walls to one that now features individuals tooling around in "mid 50's Mercedes" toting "$1000+ worth of luggage" and can afford "$20,000 plus worth of iconic Mies furnishings". I guess it's been a long transition because I never really noticed it, but now that he mentions it, it suddenly stands out so well.
"Where they once documented honest, affordable projects that did not strain to be trendy, they are now profiling unfinished projects (or was that a proposition for a new temporal plywood design) (p96) just so they can stuff crass advertising down peoples throat (back cover and 123), sell branded shoes (see p127), sell not very accessible or ecologically friendly cars (p 27 and they have had H2 ads before)...sadly the list goes on. I wont even touch the out of control and exponentially growing ad section in the back that is busting at the seams."
So, we pose the question: Should Dwell go back to leaning more to the Ready Made side of the fence or should they continue on their current path catering to the Elle Decor crowd? Comment below!
Link: Archinect Forums
Link: Dwell
Link: Fruit Bowl Manifesto (Dwell)
