On Downton Abbey

Have you been as taken by Downton Abbey as we have?  Last nights two-hour finale was the best of them all.  I won't spoil the ending for you, but we were smiling as the show ended.

Susannah Buxton, Downton Abbey's Costume Designer, was interviewed by Time about the show and costumes. The interview gives us some great background on how to dress like an Edwardian and the changes that WWI brought to England.

More Couples Are Sleeping Apart. They Don't Need to!

Myles Black, Surgeon at The Private Clinic of Harley Street, writes at The Huffington Post that more and more couples are sleeping apart because of snoring and fidgeting and flopping and sighing and talking. Bev and I sleep together, however I accuse her of stealing covers on a cold night when Ralph the Golden Retriever jumps up on the bed. Once in awhile we might say to the other, "Honey, you are snoring!" Myles Black has some sleep recommendations for kicking the snoring habit:

• Avoid alcohol
• Stay on your side, not on your back
• Identify and understand the root cause of your snoring
• Investigate permanent solutions
And
• Change your bedding at least once a week, and hoover regularly: it might sound odd, but it can make a real difference. Dust and other tiny particles in the air can lead to irritation in the nasal passage. As a natural reaction, the body creates more mucus to block the nose, and this leads to you sleeping with your mouth open, so exacerbating a snoring problem. Fresh sheets and a bit of dusting can work wonders for keeping your nose clear, your mouth shut, and your partner asleep. I also recommend buying the cheapest pillows you can find and disposing and replacing them regularly - around every three months or so.

Here's where I part company with Myles Black. I just tried Claus Pummer's Delta high pillow made by Samina and my sleep has been excellent. Key advantages include construction, size, use of natural materials and the variety of fillings ranging from virgin sheep’s wool to spelt and millet and even stone pine shavings. The Delta pillow is all natural cotton with a highly elastic natural rubber core, adapted to the neck-head line, orthopedically effective. It prevents positional strain in the neck and it's ideal for people who sleep on their side.

The Delta pillow retails for $350, but unlike cheap pillows that you throw away every three months, it doesn't compress and force me to sleep with my arm under my pillow for the proper height to support my neck. In addition, my Delta pillow doesn't harbor dust mites. Dust mites like the moisture that gets trapped in pillows and they thrive in the moisture causing us to wake all stuffed up. The Delta pillow exhales the moisture into the air and I wake up breathing normally.

Next, I'll buy a pillow for Bev. I can't wait to change the mattress for the whole sleep-healthy system from Samina.

"Mad Men" Is Back Next Month

"Mad Men," the TV show about Madison Avenue in the late fifties early sixties, will be back soon and already the PR machine is ginning up interest. 

The Baltimore Sun has one article about Bryan Batt, the actor who played Salvatore Romano, the closeted art director. Batt gave a "...sensitive, nuanced portrayal of a married man struggling to deal with his gay identity." He is an interior designer in real life and lives with Tom Cianfichi, his partner of more than 20 years. He opened Hazelnut, a home furnishings store in New Orleans, in 2003.

Then we learn that Paul McCartney may make a  cameo appearance on "Mad Men" because the Beatles were big in the 1960s




 Banana Republic has already featured their Fall 2011 'Mad Men' Collection.

New Paris Designs From Pummer Natural By Design

We have exciting information about the January international furniture show in Paris. Clause Pummer tells us that these are new designs that will be featured in his showroom and available for North American buyers.

Consumers will be looking for “Natural Luxury” seen as security and simplicity in one’s home and a slowing down to offset the fast and confusing world outside. The home becomes an oasis of peace and tranquility – a private mental spa.

“Natural Luxury” is seen as a harmony and balance of nature and complements this with a clear combination of colors and elegant materials. Stony shades of grey are accentuated by delicate and classy hues of coral and red, while a luminous red combined with classic black in wood and lacquer provide for the intended elegance.

Pictured here are some new designs that exemplify the “Natural Luxury.”

The Darius chair with its straightforward and classical silhouette fits in nicely with other designs and woods. Lacquered in stone grey or black, this stylish chair made of solid beech wood is brought out to its full beauty.

Timeless in design, extraordinary in the mix of materials and elaborate in production, the Stanley desk and tall sideboard perfectly reflect the “Natural Luxury” theme. European wild oak is combined with black linoleum and forged iron to make a practical and stylish line of furniture. With two deep drawers and a linoleum-covered writing surface the Stanley secretary desk is the deal workplace for your office at home. The two-door sideboard offers useful storage space in all living areas.

 

The teardrop-shaped lights of the Fadi series are uniquely pieced together with deep black soapstone and polished aluminum. Through a painstaking process holes are drilled nto the stone and then filed and polished. Traditional craftsmanship implemented with the modern design makes for an exciting mix, taking up the cross-cultural concept. Fadi creates a unique play of lights as an individual lamp or as a chandelier with five fixtures.

Inspired by nature, the spherical lampshades of the Colon lamp hang like a bunch of grapes from the ceiling and with six or twelve lampshades provide the right amount of light for living rooms. The Latifa pendant lamp with its calabash shape appears rather classic and timeless and reflects the light to provide a unique ambience through high-gloss nickel-plated lampshades.

Follow Pummer's tweets at  @pummer_inc

Like  Pummer Natural by Design on Facebook

Best of Paris: 2012 Maison & Objet

Dwell has a slideshow of the Best of Paris: 2012 Maison & Objet and when I saw this makeup table, I wondered why somebody hasn't thought of this before now.

The Princess table by Olgoj Chorchoj is now being produced by Process after its debut at 100% Design London last year.

Introducing Sara Palacios Designs

Gerald Celente is one of the foremost trend forecasters.  He expects the emphasis going forward in this economy will be on Quality and Style.  He believes that today’s economy is like the 1930s, a time when people dressed to the nines and danced to the hottest, happiest music.  A period of affordable sophistication! What better time to take note of our newest advertiser SaraPalacios Designs.

The proud owner of any of Sara Palacios’ pieces knows with absolute certainty that there is none other like the one they own.  There’s an evocation of The Renaissance and the Baroque eras infused with elements of modernity and the avant-garde.

Each panel of fabric in her creations is viewed primarily as a work of art, which, in turn, is made into functional objects; window coverings, pillows, wall hangings, tablecloths, lamp shades, upholstery, chairs, sofas, etc. A wonderful dialogue results from her fabrics on upholstered pieces, whether traditional, transitional or contemporary. 

While most of Sara’s designs are sold at retail, she does have an interior designer policy.  Interior designers share their specific color palette with Sara who then provides hand-painted samples from which the designer can choose.  She may work with pieces brought to her by a designer seeking an upholstered piece in her fabrics that will create a unique accent to a room.

Cuban artist Sara and her husband Rodrigo Palacios arrived in Los Angeles after spending four years in France and Italy. They hand paint silks, linen and cotton resulting in textiles that are transformed into one of a kind pieces.  Their designs have been featured in Home Accents Today and they have collaborated with Cisco Home and an American interior designer and fashion designer Kelly Wearstler.

Sara and Rodrigo would like to think that collectors of their pieces do not want to be bound by trends, but want to express their unique selves by surrounding themselves by art. Isn’t that what quality and style are all about?

Bernhardt Interiors

One of our interior designer clients recently ordered this Bernhardt Interiors sectional. Shown here is the  Kelsey Left Arm Loveseat and Kelsey Right Arm Return Sofa. S/H 19in. / A/H 25.5in. / S/D 24in.

You can choose from Bernhardt Interior's fabrics or use your own.

BERNHARDT INTERIORS allows classic and contemporary to mix and mingle and have fun in unexpected ways. And with more than 225 pieces for the whole home, this eclectic collection lets you create a style that's all your own.

Living room upholstered items feature sumptuous, softly-colored fabrics and leathers with surprising energy. Accent items such as ottomans, benches, tables, and screens add whimsy as well as function.

Ordered From Stanley: Winemaker's Tasting Table

As any good vintner knows, half the enjoyment of a given wine is in the ritual of its presentation. That's why in vineyards across the country, tasting tables like this one are carefully arranged in a secluded part of the winemaker's cask room, offering a select few the chance to heighten an already magical experience. And whether you use it for serving drinks, sharing cocktails or just for casual gatherings and entertaining, Stanley'sr Winemaker's Tasting Table is sure to bring the same level of import to the activities in your own home. 

Carved to emulate a continuous disk of solid Dutch white cedar, the generous 42" top delivers an unexpected bit of drama to contemporary spaces. The stave-like lower supports recall the iron barrel bands used to support old oak casks, complete with vintage-look rivet rows on the base, center band and apron. Curved metal feet and hand-rubbed terrain finish complete the lost-in-time look.

Tempo Barstools Are Ordered

One of our clients just ordered Brazilia barstools made by Tempo; two with backs and two without.We've been ordering from Tempo for years.  They are reasonably priced and powder coated.  They have a great choice of finishes and fabrics.  COM is available at no charge.  Bar height and counter height all come with the same price. And we have an outstanding price for designers!

Introducing Sealy

Sealy is the bedding industry’s largest global manufacturer with sales of $1.23 billion in fiscal 2011. The Company manufactures and markets a broad range of mattresses and foundations under the Sealy®, Sealy Posturepedic®, including SpringFree™, PurEmbrace™ and TrueForm®; Stearns & Foster®, and Bassett® brands.

Sealy, available globally, is striving to help the world sleep better. So no matter if you’re across the globe or across the street, you can expect their legendary commitment to excellence in everything they do for you. Be it the comfort, durability or affordability in their mattresses or their customer service. Their aim is to meet customer needs, wherever they’re needed.

Recently, I posted about the fast-growing gel bedding arena.  Sealy is debuting two new lines in Las Vegas Market this week. One new line uses an innerspring core and the other a foam core. Both deliver optimal temperature, comfort and support levels for the best sleep experience possible. The new lines feature Opticool, Sealy’s name for a gel memory foam that is fused with Outlast, a phase-change material, in an application that is a Sealy exclusive. 

Some owners of plain foam complain that the bed is too hot during their sleep.  Sealy claims Opticool is 12 times more effective than standard foam or gel alone in removing excess heat during the night.

In the UK the place to go for Sealy mattresses is Furniture Choice where they also have a large selection of sofas. Is this a great place to shop?  Why not read their customer comments here.

GLASS RECYCLED Update

GLASS RECYCLED's White Sale

Missed Out on a FREE iPad2?

GLASS RECYCLED is extending its WHITE SALE promotion for another month. THey are offering an iPad2 with an order of a GlassSLAB; yes, this includes all custom designs. They are working hard to provide one of a kind pieces art for your home or office. Place your orders by February 29, 2012 and receive an iPad2!

Degeeri: This otter-like creature uses a rock to break clamshells. The Degeeri is expressive and energetic and can be found on the beach.

I love, love, love these creatures of contemporary sculptor Geoffrey Gorma.  He takes sticks and cast off materials to fashion animals that appear to be alive.  Each with a story.

As he works, Gorman imagines a life story for every animal. He assigns each a Latin species name to hint at what “family” it belongs to. Like the novelist who creates entire histories for fictional characters, Gorman gives his creatures backgrounds and biological attributes: they emerge from an enchanted world, tucked between the pages of history. As each workday begins, he looks around his studio and asks, “What blend of fantasy, nature and imagination can I make of this?”

Melanotus: Fast, sleek, intelligent and sometimes scary, the Melanotus is a trickster. Do not turn your back on him

.
The Courtship of Purcist and Osmia: These two fowls are in the middle of a courtship dance. Purcist shows off his tail feathers, while Osmia struts. Each is trying to impress the other.

GLASS RECYCLED

Terrazzo floors were originally made in Western Asia 9,000 to 8,000 BC with burnt lime and clay, colored red with ochre and polished.  Much later, Venice invented a terrazzo that used marble chips in clay and goat milk as low cost flooring when polished.

GLASS RECYCLED has improved on the process by turning glass bottles and discarded porcelain fixtures into beauty. Instead of filling our landfills with some 30 billion bottles, they turn post-consumer and industrial glass into gorgeous countertops, fabulous flooring and landscape materials.


Sustainability is very important to GLASS RECYCLED. Their terrazzo is easy to maintain and lasts as long as your building or home stands. By mixing crushed glass with an epoxy resin, they’ve created over 400+ sparkling terrazzo designs.

Durability and low maintenance are at the core of green construction. Terrazzo flooring can be refinished repeatedly, reusing instead of replacing materials. It can be restored to its original luster at a fraction of the cost of replacement. Routine maintenance for Terrazzo flooring (both cement and thin-set epoxy) is easy; just dry and damp mop.

With no VOCs, GLASS RECYCLED earns further points on indoor air quality ratings. Both cement-based and thin-set epoxy Terrazzo systems are made of zero VOC materials. Terrazzo produces little or no off-gassing over the life of a cured floor. The non-porous Terrazzo finish resists microbial growth and moisture.

The potential for local sourcing is another environmental strength of Terrazzo. Manufactured on site, Terrazzo installations generally produce minimal post-commercial waste and save on transportation costs.

Please welcome another of our quality advertisers. We invite you to imagine the possibilities of GLASS RECYCLED. Browse their gallery of eco-friendly designs, and request a sample to see how their recycled glass countertops and recycled glass flooring will look in your home or office.

There's a new cookbook out written by Portland food writer Ashley Gartland.  It's "Dishing Up® Oregon: 145 Recipes That Celebrate Farm-to-Table Flavors."

Just a glance at various pages starts my mind thrilling to the imagined flavors:

• Shaved Zucchini and Basil Salad with Guajillo Chile Vinaigrette
• Chocolate Crab Bisque
• Cherry-Basil Bruschetta
• Basque-style Chicken with Espelette Piperade
• Chilled Marionberry-Peach Soup

"Gartland solicited recipes from her state's leading chefs, farmers, fishers, winegrowers, cheese makers, brewers, and just about anybody else of import on the Oregon food-and-beverage scene."

Available for purchase at Powell's, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Judy George Adds Product Line

 

While writing for Home Accents Today, I posted about the demise of Judy George's Domain Home in bankruptcy.  I was interested in following George to see where she would turn up next.  In September I wrote:

Well, she’s back as Judy George International and her mission is to become one of the leading global home furnishings design groups.  George intends to launch four brands in 2010 and 2011.  The first is Hotel Maison.  Company press materials says it "unlocks the door to the luxury suite experience at home." The hotel-inspired collection has six lifestyle themes, focused on the living room, bedroom and dining room and will have 200 SKUs of upholstery and case goods.

This week I received a press release saying "...Hotel Maison, the modern furniture line inspired by chic boutique hotels from around the world, is updating and streamlining its offerings to focus on a less traditional, more innovative look to appeal to a broader demographic."

This new focus has prompted the development of a new sub-line called Chic Boutique. The Chic Boutique line will include the same product categories as Hotel Maison, but at opening price points that will make it extremely attractive for online and catalogue sales.

“The world has changed and the furniture business needs to change with it. Consumers are looking for fresh product that speaks to their lifestyle. They are using social media to inform their purchasing decisions. As such, we are moving ahead in new directions, with new sourcing, new distribution strategies and an aggressive social media marketing push for Hotel Maison and Chic Boutique, said Judy George, principal, Hotel Maison.

433 Contract readers identify their top three preferred casegoods and desks manufacturing brands as:

1. Steelcase
www.steelcase.com
2. Kimball Office
www.kimballoffice.com
3. Knoll
www.knoll.com
4. Herman Miller
www.hermanmiller.com
5. Gunlocke
www.gunlocke.com
6. Geiger
www.geigerintl.com
7. HBF
www.hbf.com
8. Haworth
www.haworth.com
9. Tuohy
www.tuohyfurniture.com
10. Bernhardt
www.bernhardtdesign.com

Bernhardt Design is a division of Berhardt which includes

Residential Divisions:

Commercial Divisions:

Nice to know that!

Please Welcome Pummer, Natural By Design

Pummer is a strange name here in the U.S. Wikileaks describes Pummer as a “solar powered self activating LED flasher. Pummers are nocturnal critters that soak up sunlight during the daytime, then, get active at night. Their nocturnal activity can either consist of a light show, or some pattern of sounds.”



There’s another Pummer I’d like you to meet. His name is Pummer, Claus Pummer and he lives in Ontario, Canada. Over the next 12 months, Claus Pummer is going to share the latest information about furniture and design coming from Europe. Three great furniture shows are coming up: Meuble Paris 2012 and the New York International Gift Fair in January and Ambiente Frankfurt 2012  in Mid-February. Claus Pummer is the exclusive distributor of international furniture and accessories from Lambert under the Pummer name. We’ll be some of the first North Americans to see what’s hot.

His passion for design started in Germany where he became a Master Cabinet Maker. He has made it his mission to personally search the world for the best “hand-made” furniture and accessories.



Today, Pummer® uses the most basic elements to create his pieces, avoiding unnecessary chemical treatments for a fresh new approach to environmental conservation. That is why Pummer offers a dedicated line of organics.

We will learn about the worst threat to health, according to the World Health Organization, is indoor air pollution and electronic smog. We will learn why Claus Pummer recommends the Samina bed or Healthy Sleep System he imports to the U.S. He believes it’s the answer for back pain AND a healthy sleep.

The SAMINA sleeping system is made exclusively from natural materials such as wood, natural rubber, virgin sheep wool and cotton. Only the best quality raw materials are used and great care is taken to preserve the integrity and conserve the subtle energies of these natural materials.

Unlike most mattresses and beds, the SAMINA system provides active support, fulfilling the orthopedic needs of the body during sleep. The natural S-shaped curves of the spine are maintained and there is an even distribution of pressure in any sleeping position.



Please welcome our newest advertiser and check out his website: http://www.pummer.com/index.php

Home Office

The Reading Eagle has an informative article on desks for the home and includes this photo of a Global Views desk.

Courtesy of Global Views
This substantial desk from Global Views is made from exotic zebra wood veneer in a dark walnut stain, finished with lacquer and a hand-rubbed wax. An oversized pencil drawer is deftly disguised. The open-block desk is 60 inches long, 29 1/4 inches deep, and 31 1/2 inches tall.

More and more homes have a home office. Working from home or bringing work home has made some sort of office space a necessity in recent years. Between 2011 and 2015, there will be nearly 2 million home-based businesses and more than 3 million corporate home office households, according to the International Data Corp. In addition more and more women are carving out a space for just their activities much like men with their "Man Caves."

Kudos To Interior Designer Marcie Harris

There's something written almost everyday about our home and office environments with words like LEED, sustainability, Green, indoor air pollution, low VOCs.  I was reminded by a Baltimore Sun article recently that we wrote about "Universal design" back in 2005, when we interviewed interior designer Marcie Harris.

Marcie Harris said "Universal Design" and "Green Design" are areas that we now think of as 'specialties" but I believe will soon be standard requirements for all credible design proposals.



Bev: Whoa, Marcie, Mike just got lost with talk of "Universal Design" and "Green Design".
Mike: How did we switch to Green cars and Universal joints?
Marcie Harris: Ha, Ha! Certainly there is correct terminology for this concept - but my interpretation of Universal Design is creating an environment that is end-user friendly - for all age groups and for users with physical limitations. It is not just about ADA compliance. For instance, a space designed for a young family could have lower vanities in the baths for the kids - perhaps with a pullout cabinet under the sink if someone in a wheelchair needed to use it. It is about proper lighting - reducing glare, proper task lighting. It is about proper flooring - seamless changes in flooring materials so someone with limited ambulatory abilities won't trip on the edge of a surface change. It is about wider doorways and hallways and making bathrooms more accessible and safer with proper grab bars and turning radius and wheel- in showers. It is about a space that if you suddenly broke your leg - you would not be helpless in your own space. It is about aging in place.

Bev: It could be about aging "boomers"! And "green Design?
Marcie Harris: Again, we've heard a lot of this lately. My interpretation of Green Design is that designers and architects need to be educated about the 'lifecycle" of the products they specify. This is not only the recycling capability of products, but thinking about what it took to make the product in the first place. Obviously we can't evaluate everything - but if more pressure were put on manufacturers from designers and architects regarding "green design", I believe the industry would react accordingly. I have a client with a child that came down with environmental sickness after they moved into their new home. The off-gassing of VOC's from the various products (osb board, carpet glue etc.) was enough to keep her out of one whole year of high school. This was 8 years ago and things are improving - but it is still a huge concern.

Bridget A Otto On Saturday

Bridget Otto spins a story today about Tufted Is The New Look

Hot trend -- Spin through any shelter magazine and within the first few pages, you will no doubt see a tufted something being promoted. From ottomans to chairs to sofas to headboards, the tufted look is trending up and the look is fresh -- unlike that tufted gold couch you may be remembering from your childhood.

Just a reminder, but back in June, 2010 we announced that Bernhardt Interiors was coming to Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery with these tufted pictures:

Will future hot products come from the following link to new products from Bernhardt Interiors?

New At Winter Market

Global Views	Donut Glass Lamp	14"DIA x 7"H

What's Hot For 2012

Happy New Year 2012!
Our first post of the new year concerns an article in Florida Today about the design outlook for this year in "What's hot for 2012." Bottom line: Green will be bigger than ever. Here's a sample of the designers' thoughts:

• Focus on Indoor Pollution - The EPA says our indoors can be more polluted than the outdoors. So the focus will be on "...fabrics that are green and do not absorb odors or pollutants, or for fabrics that can be washed."
• LED is the rage in decorative lighting
• "...make room for veggies in their backyards."
• “Made in the USA” will be even more important
• “The “shop local” movement will benefit American manufacturers, but local artists will also benefit
• Power furniture will find more acceptance as in power recliners in chairs and sofas, and adjustable beds
• Impact Art - oversized artwork, often photography

Roxanne Brillante-Justice, owner of As Nature Intended design firm, says “Impact Art” was a huge trend at the fall wholesale market. The term refers to oversized artwork, often photography. / Photo courtesy of Roxanne Brillante-Justice

What do you think of this list?  What messages are you receiving from clients?

Be Different, "Don’t Chase Money"

I came across a wonderful site, (Robert) Sonneman A Way Of Light. "Robert Sonneman pioneered modern lighting making it an art form. World renowned and acclaimed for clean lines and alliance to form and function, his world famous award winning designs have been at the forefront of the design world for over four decades. Robert introduced sleek, new functionalist lighting designs in the 60s and 70s that have become classics of the modern era."

He recently wrote the following message, "Don’t chase money. Create something of value and let money chase you." I liked it so much that I'm reprinting it here:

In a society that values money above ability and respects wealth above talent it is no wonder that making things well became less revered and less aspirational to succeeding generations.

Acquisition is the idol that we worship at the alter of capitalism. But often those who have attained most are left empty by the process because the value created is only the sum of their positions.

Respect and self esteem are powerful motivators which we derive from the gratification of the process and the product of our work. I believe that it is more satisfying for wealth to be attained through the effort of creating something of intrinsic value that we feel good about and take pride in, as opposed to simply manipulating a system to our numerical advantage.

Generations have worked with pride at various trades and crafts passing down acquired skills as their legacy to those who followed. It was the natural order of survival and the university for the young who followed the old. With the knowledge of a craft well learned came the pride of a job well done and the gratification that comes with creating value from ones personal effort.

What I would say to the young is: Don’t chase money. Create something of value and let money chase you.

Find something that love to do and do it well. Allow your passion to drive your ambition. It will become your life’s work and your identity. Money comes and goes. It is good to have but in the ups and downs of life, for most of us, the passion for doing what we love and believe in survives the ebb and flow of financial fortune.

Creative Use of Lighting

BRIAN PAQUETTE INTERIORS is showing some unusual ways to bring lighting into a room:

Aren't These Fun?

  Felis Dining Chair

Probably pretty expensive, but they look like they are alive, ready to move about your home or run out the door to the nearest zoo.  They bring a smile and a feeling that I'm looking inside the mind of Film director Tim Burton. They are made by Peter Handler at Handler Studio in Philadelphia whose been making quality, custom-built furniture since 1984.

  Pteranodon Dining Room Chair

High Throne Living Room Chairs

 Leilani Dining Table

 

Lily Pad Dining Table with Rounded Rectangle Top

Furniture should be fun, made with quality and sometimes unique. Way to go Peter Handler