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100 Years of Bauhaus Endures in Florida Modernism

2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus movement that became a way of life and thinking still resonating today. Walter Gropius founded the Bauhaus school in Germany in 1919 with interdisciplinary ideals merging art and technology, collectively called modernism. Bauhaus means “School of Building,” in German and it attracted students who wanted to build “cathedrals to the future” using new materials and technologies born of a new era of mass production.

Walter Gropius founded the Bauhaus school in Germany in 1919

The Bauhaus school thrived as an incubator for ideas based on the ethos “form follows function,” until 1933 when the Fascist regime forced it to close. Many Bauhaus teachers and students dispersed to the United States, during World War II and took positions at architecture and design schools including founder Walter Gropius, who joined the faculty of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design in 1938. Gropius replaced the Bauhaus’s first Director of Architecture, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who left to become head of the Illinois Institute of Technology.

The Bauhaus School in Weimar, Germany

This influx of Bauhaus-trained creatives fostered a new modernist approach over traditional methods taught in architecture and design schools. By the late 1940s and early 1950s, the first generation of American-trained modernists began to work in commercial practice and Florida was fertile ground for experimentation.

Bauhaus ideals spread across the US, morphing into geographical interpretations and regional iterations of modernism that adapted to landscape, climate and culture. Florida, my home state, has a rich architectural legacy of modernism, expressed in many building types and structures erected in the state during the post-World War II era (1945-1975).

The Harkavy Residence in Sarasota, Florida

Florida Modernism is a genre that springboards straight off of the philosophy of Bauhaus. If you want to take a deep dive into Florida’s modernist architecture, I highly recommend the document, “Florida’s Mid-Century Modern Architecture 1945-1975.” This survey of the modern structures, architects and design trends of the sunshine state catalogs 50 Flagship Structures that should be further researched, documented, and considered for landmark designation. The study was undertaken by the University of Florida’s Historic Preservation Program, College of Design Construction and Planning. To download the report click here:

In Sarasota, Florida, a group of forward-thinking Bauhaus proteges formed the Sarasota School. Together they brought us iconic modernist homes including the emblematic Umbrella House, designed by architect Paul Rudolph.

The iconic Umbrella House in Sarasota, Florida designed by Paul Rudolph

In 1953, Lido Shores developer Philip Hiss commissioned Rudolph to create one of the 20th century’s most iconic houses. The dominant feature of the house, the aptly named “umbrella,” was originally built of wood and used to shade the house from the intense Florida sun was lost in a storm in the 1960s. The full umbrella over the pool was restored in 2015 by Hall Architects.

The “Other” Round House designed and built by electrical engineer Frank Williams. Photo credit: Sarasota Architectural Foundation

The recently restored “Other” Round House is yet another architectural jewel from the Sarasota School. Electrical engineer Frank Williams designed and built the Round House in 1971 as a one-story concrete cylinder with period breeze-blocks. The home stands out amongst typical rectilinear suburban houses of its time.

Interior of the “Other” Round House designed and built by electrical engineer Frank Williams. Photo credit: Sarasota Architectural Foundation

Rudolph working with architect Ralph Twitchell also designed The Revere Quality House in 1948. The home’s restoration was made financially feasible with the construction of a detached companion house with a dynamic relationship between the two structures to justify the cost of the land.

Karen LeBlanc, aka The Design Tourist, filming at The Revere Quality House in Sarasota, Florida, designed by architects Paul Rudolph and Ralph Twitchell.

The new house emerges both east and west of the existing house with walls of glass that take advantage of interior site views as well as views to the bayou and Gulf of Mexico beyond. The floor-to-ceiling heights were kept to a minimum to remain consistent with the language of the existing Rudolph + Twitchell house. The home’s original colors include Peacock Blue on the ceiling, Burnt Red on the lally columns and Buttercup Yellow in the kitchen and are each used once on site walls in the new composition.

The Healy Guest House designed by architects Paul Rudolph and Ralph Twitchell in Sarasota, Florida.

Rudolph and Twitchell also teamed up to design the Healy Guest House, also known as Cocoon House. Built in 1950 and located on Bayou Louise Lane on Siesta Key, Cocoon House is a two-bedroom, one-bath, 760-square-foot cottage built as a guesthouse for Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Healy. The house gets its name from the technology used to build its roof: a polymer spray that Paul Rudolph saw being used at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on warships returning after WWII in order to “cocoon” or moth-ball them. Rudolph’s creativity made him realize that this material could also be used in the construction industry.

For architecture tourists interested in Sarasota School, I highly recommend attending the annual SarasotaMOD Weekend, this year held November 8 – 10, 2019 and presented by The Sarasota Architectural Foundation (SAF) I invite you to check out my episodes of The Design Tourist featuring some of the Modernist homes on tour:

In Central Florida, the modernist movement expressed itself through the works of Taliesin-trained, Frank Lloyd Wright proteges such as Nils M. Schweizer. One of Schweizer’s most prominent and best-preserved residential designs is the Goldman House, recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Goldman House in Maitland, Florida designed by architect Nils M. Schweizer is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Goldman House is a significant representation of modern design during the mid-twentieth century in Central Florida and is a rare example of the residential work of prominent architect Nils M. Schweizer. The home is located in the Maitland neighborhood of Dommerich Woods.

Schweizer practiced in the Orlando area and supervised many of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed buildings at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Many call him the “Dean of Orlando architecture,” for his many notable residential and commercial structures including EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion and the Orlando Public Library Addition.

The Goldman House in 1965, the year it was designed and built. Nils M. Schweizer designed the home and the Goldmans acting as their own general contractor, supervised construction.

In 1965 Siegmund and Marilyn Goldman commissioned Schweizer to design a family home for the couple and their two children in a residential suburb north of Orlando. Schwizer designed the home and the Goldmans, who operated S.I. Goldman, Co., one of the largest heating and cooling contractors in the region, acted as their own general contractor. They build the 3385-square foot modernist home at a cost of $35,000. Constructed of walls of concrete block set on a poured concrete slab, the white stucco exterior contrasts with the lush greenery growing from concrete planters framing the primary facade.

The Goldman Home retains its distinctive geometrical design, concrete block and wood construction, fixed glass fenestration, flat, layered roof, cantilevered roof overhangs.

Signature features include horizontal planes, geometrically-defined spaces, and enormous windows with “transparent” corners created by butt-edge glazing, redwood columns on the rear façade. Although modernist homes are typically unadorned, Schweizer incorporated his trademark notched dentil pattern on the home’s wooden cornice line, bathroom cabinet pulls, and a fireplace concrete mantel.

Schweizer incorporated his trademark notched dentil pattern on the wooden cornice line of the Goldman Home in Maitland, Florida.

The sunken living room features a fireplace hearth and floating mantel shelf are cast concrete. The mantel has a notched dentil edge matching the pattern of the cornice line around the house. Above the mantel, the copper wall covering is hand-hammered, created Marilyn Goldman at the request of Schweizer.

Florida also claims a residence designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, The Lewis Spring House in Tallahassee built in 1954. Wright created an unconventional pod-shaped wedge to mold to a five-acre lot. He also tasked Schweizer to supervise the construction of the two-bath, three-bedroom house.

The Lewis Spring House in Tallahassee, Florida is the only residence designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the state. There is a preservation effort underway to restore the home.

Spring House was built at the same time as Wright and Schweizer were finishing buildings at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. The two-story home is designed as a hemicycle, a rare example of Wright’s work in this style. The open interior plan of the house is characterized by concentric and intersecting circles. A circular utility tower on the west side houses the kitchen, baths, heating, plumbing, and ventilation.

The east side, arced facade of the Spring House is a curtain wall of wood-framed, fixed, plate glass mirrored on the interior by the arc of a cantilevered balcony overlooking the open living area.

The first story and the tower are constructed of unpainted Ocala block with deeply raked horizontal joints set on a polished concrete slab tinted with red pigment. Red cypress weather-board is used on the interior and exterior to distinguish the second floor. Transom windows at the bedroom level provide light and air with small, semi-circular windows in the masonry wall beneath. Spring House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on-going preservation efforts by The Spring House Institute, Inc., intend to fully restore the building.

Florida’s Mid-Century Modern Resources, 1945-1975, a historic structures survey and analysis through the University of Florida, makes a case for the preservation of Florida’s midcentury modern architectural legacy. The report notes, “The state’s mid-century modern architecture is now reaching an age when many of these resources should be assessed and their significance evaluated for meeting the criteria for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and/or designation as local landmarks.”

For more on Central Florida’ s rich modernist legacy, I invite you to read my article profiling the Maitland Art Center, a rare example of Mayan Revival modernism and a National Historic Landmark.

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April 19, 2019 0 comment

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Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes You Need to Avoid

written by ContributedPost

There’s perhaps no other room in a house that looks better after it gets remodeled than a kitchen. For starters, it’s a place where you spend a lot of your time. Whether it’s cooking meals, entertaining guests or baking treats on a cold winter day – there are so many occasions for spending time in this part of your home. Consequently, if the kitchen is starting to get old and look tired, you have made the first step in realizing it could use a change.

The second step is to decide how and what you want to remodel. Most people will start first with new appliances, but also might replace the flooring, counters or cabinets while at it. There’s really no shortage of things you can do in a kitchen remodel. Any upgrade is always a positive thing, however, there are some common kitchen remodeling mistakes that you should be aware of and avoid.

Start with a Good, Clear Plan

Large spacious kitchen design with white kitchen cabinets white kitchen island with lots of storage white Granite countertops subway tiles and stainless steel appliances. Northwest USA . Northwest USA

The problem with kitchen remodels is while it looks really nice after getting completed, it can also be a little heavy on the wallet. The kitchen is one of the most expensive interior rooms in a house to remodel. Therefore, you must have a clear and strong plan before you start the renovation. The easiest way to end up spending more money than you originally planned is going into the project without a clear direction. Perhaps you start just by wanting to upgrade the refrigerator. Then, before you know it you’re ripping up flooring tile. It’s easy to see how your budget can get out of hand, and quickly. So before you begin, take the time to walk through the kitchen and decide exactly what you need. Then decide what you would like.

First, price the items that you realize you need to remodel. After figuring out an estimate, do the same research and quotes for things you would like to get. Can you afford to replace both what you need and what you’d like? If not, you need to take the time to decide what’s the most important. Additionally, since the kitchen is going to get torn apart and be unavailable for a certain amount of time, is now the opportunity to make it just right? If the answer to that question is ‘yes,’ you may need to consider finding additional funds elsewhere. It’s worth it if you only have to remodel the kitchen on one occasion as opposed to breaking it up into segments over many years.

Avoid Wasting Space

Space is, and will always remain at a premium for homeowners when it comes to their kitchen. Regardless of the size of the space, it always feels like the room could be bigger. Do you share this concern? If so, you need to double check, and then triple check during the planning process that you maximize kitchen space as opposed to making it even smaller than it was previously. The design in the kitchen is incredibly important. If appliances are placed in the right proximity to each other with the correct amount of counter space, and in relation to a sink – it can save homeowners from walking a mile to make a meal. The room is a delicate space and needs to get treated accordingly. Overcrowded kitchens are a constant headache and impractical. Meanwhile, a kitchen with too much open space just feels like wasted opportunity. If you’re already spending thousands on the kitchen remodel, you might as well take the time now to organize it exactly how it makes sense to the primary cook of the household. Take the time here to draw up a few different designs and consider the pros and cons of each option. You should ultimately settle on a design that makes perfect sense for your cooking and kitchen use habits.

Create Clean & Wide Aisles

Modern kitchen with brown kitchen cabinets, oversized kitchen island with bar stools, granite countertops, huge refrigerator and beige backsplash. Northwest, USA

How many times have you been in another home helping a friend or family member cook, only to discover you almost run over each other every time you shuffle around the kitchen? Though home kitchens aren’t commercial-grade facilities that have so much room to work with, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on the aisles. If your kitchen wasn’t already designed and constructed to create clean and clear lanes, now is the time to adjust the layout. Kitchen aisles should remain wide enough to accommodate all that takes place in the setting. It should provide clearance for multiple cooks carrying oversized items. As a result, all aisles between walls, appliances, islands, etc. should be at least 42 to 48 inches wide.

NOTE: You can also maximize aisles if you plan to use the kitchen for big events with multiple cooks by offsetting certain kitchen features like sinks and cooking ranges, far apart from each other.

Functionality vs. Style

Kitchen in luxury home with cherry wood cabinetry

Though we do get that most homeowners want their kitchens to shine – especially those that spend a lot of time entertaining guests in it – the style of it should never trump its functionality. A kitchen should look stylish and beautiful, but only to an extent where it doesn’t hamper on how it functions. So when you plan the space, always consider the size and direction of appliances, how the doors open and close, cabinet locations and every other measure of functionality you can dream up. One of the most frustrating steps in a kitchen remodel is to spend hours researching, pricing and studying new refrigerators and the new one doesn’t fit. When the refrigerator arrives and is set in its new location, you realize the doors don’t fully open because it smacks up against something else, like the island. Or, it blocks one aisle completely every time the door is cracked open. These are the kinds of practical, functional procedures you need to consider in order to avoid common kitchen remodeling mistakes.

Neglecting Natural Light

Many homeowners are often obsessed with the appliances, flooring, countertops, etc. While those things are the main features of a kitchen remodel, there’s one thing that can’t be forgotten. Natural light. Having enough windows and sunlight in your kitchen does wonders to the visual appeal of the area. Plus, natural light has been proven to make rooms seem bigger than they really are. Consider replacement windows for your kitchen remodeling project. For example, a garden window above the sink area is a great way to bring in maximum sunlight and ventilation. Garden windows extend beyond your home’s façade and have windows on 4 sides. Plus, with all the appliance running in that area, it wouldn’t hurt to let in some sunlight to help decrease energy costs on artificial lighting. Natural light also helps improve mood and productivity – both of which are important while cooking.

Keep the Island Reasonable

It seems like homeowners have a love/hate relationship with kitchen islands. Some people could never envision a kitchen without one, while others can’t wait to get rid of one quick enough. Regardless, kitchen islands are only practical when they don’t get oversized or overloaded. By making sure your island doesn’t violate one of these cardinal “O” rules, you can make sure the space is being used correctly. For example, in a large kitchen, often two smaller islands are more practical than a massive one that takes up half the kitchen space. Anything longer than 10 feet is usually unnecessary. On the other hand, overcrowded islands are annoying. If you like to place certain kitchen features on top of the island, make sure you have enough space on it to have it serve its primary purpose – a place to prepare a meal.

Avoid Making Changes Halfway Through

It’s a common trend. Homeowners start with a design and layout in mind, then halfway through the remodel decide to completely abandon ship and change the entire plan. Unless you realize you made a big blunder during the initial planning (which is rare, since you thought it out), there should be no change to abandon your original plans. At least not a major change. When you decide to adjust the remodel halfway through, your costs associated with the project are going to get out of control quickly. Since your kitchen is already halfway gutted, there’s really no turning back. So unless you firmly believe you made a huge mistake with the original plans, do your best to stick to the original script. Everything is going to turn out just fine.

Avoid Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes, Avoid Major Headaches

Space, functionality, storage. If you can constantly remind yourself of these three vital principles related to the room, then you can save yourself from many of the biggest kitchen remodeling mistakes.

This is a contributed post by Kevin Carroll

April 19, 2019 0 comment

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David Bowie’s Collection of Memphis Group Art

written by Karen LeBlanc

A rare look at pop icon David Bowie’s private collection of art and furniture by The Memphis Group on view at the Modernism Museum. Bowie was an avid collector of Memphis. After his death, his collection was auctioned off and for this exhibit, gathered together for one of the most comprehensive exhibitions of Memphis Group art and furniture. Learn about this movement in the 1980s that broke all the design rules to create its own unique, over-the-top aesthetic as The Design Tourist Karen LeBlanc takes you on a tour of works by Ettore Sottsass, the founder of the Memphis Group and his international group of artists and designers.

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March 4, 2019 0 comment

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Adirondack Folk School

written by Karen LeBlanc

As a Design Tourist, I actively seek out attractions and destinations that preserve and promote the craft and heritage of artisans around the world. While flying out of the Albany International Airport, I discovered a small exhibit promoting The Adirondack Folk School.

The installation was commissioned by the Albany International Airport Art & Culture Program and it caught my attention for its handcrafted works and mission statement which read: “Our cultural memory is fragile so the school seeks to be a place of where artistic discovery meets history, sustainability and self-reliance.”

The iconic Adirondack chair often comes to mind when we think of craft from this region but the Adirondack’s artistic heritage encompasses an entire style that includes home furnishings, boats, and decor still found in cabins, lodges, and homes today throughout the region.

The Adirondack Folk School promotes and sustains Adirondack crafts by offering classes in the arts, crafts, and cultural heritage of the Adirondack region. The non-profit school resides in the former Town of Lake Luzerne town hall building and is located in Adirondack Park, a six-million-acre state park of protected land, on “the last free-flowing part” of the Hudson River just above Rockwell Falls in New York.

Local artisans, craftspeople, and volunteers teach more than 200 classes a year in subjects such as Adirondack chair building, twig and rustic furniture, caning, paddle making, birch bark basketry, fly tying, weaving, organic gardening, fiber arts, soap making, boat building, ceramic arts, and blacksmithing.

The Adirondack Folk School is on my must-see list of authentic experiences that connect travelers with local culture, cuisine, art and craft.

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February 21, 2019 0 comment

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Memphis Group Design Objects: Must-See Museum Exhibit

written by Karen LeBlanc

Space Oddities: Bowie-Sottsass-Memphis at Modernism Museum

Must-See Museum Show:

The largest exhibition of Memphis objects ever presented in an American museum

Pictured in this vignette is the Lido Sofa designed in 1982 by Michele De Lucchi for Memphis and the Continental side table designed in 1984 by Michele De Lucchi for Memphis, crafted of laminated wood and plastic. Rug by Nathalie du Pasquier. Photo Credit: The Design Tourist. Both pieces were originally owned by David Bowie.

In the 1980s, a decade defined by big hair, loud clothes and MTV, artistic expression was just as over-the-top, attention-getting and bordering the absurd. During this time, a group of designers began making powerful postmodern statements almost cartoonish and comical in their aesthetic.

Pictured in this vignette are the Palace Chairs, 1983 by George Sowden and the Madras Table, 1986 by Nathalie Du Pasquier. Photo credit: The Design Tourist

These designers were known as The Memphis Group, brought together by Italian conceptual designer Ettore Sottsass.

Members of the Memphis Design Group including its founder Ettore Sottsass pictured with the gray mustache.

The Memphis Group emulated the design thinking of Sottsass who ignored the opinions of critics to create art and objects that flew in the face of 70s minimalism.

The Bel Air Chair designed in 1982 by Peter Shire and the Valentine typewriter designed in 1968 by Ettore Sottsass. This red typewriter is made of ABS plastic. Sottsass created the typewriter before his involvement in the Memphis Group. He designed it in collaboration with British designer Perry King for Olivetti it was groundbreaking for its pop sensibility and bright color. Photo credit: The Design Tourist

The late musician and pop icon David Bowie was a famous collector of Memphis works, many of which are on exhibit at the Modernism Museum in Mount Dora, Florida.

Karen LeBlanc aka The Design Tourist filming a new episode at The Modernism Museum featuring an exhibit of Memphis Design Group Art Objects, many from David Bowie’s private collection.

The largest exhibition of Memphis works in an American Museum, the exhibit includes over 75 works.

The Carlton Bookcase by Ettore Sottsass, is one of 20 pieces on exhibit that once belonged to David Bowie and are now in the hands of private collectors. The pieces are on loan for the exhibit at the Modernism Museum. Photo credit: The Design Tourist

Plaza 1981 by Michael Graves The Plaza vanity draws inspiration from Art Deco and old Hollywood. Although the vanity looks luxurious, its made of inexpensive materials—maple veneer over MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) mirrored glass and paint. The small bulbs evoke a starry night over Manhattan. Photo credit: The Design Tourist

Sottsass was in his 60s when he founded The Memphis Group bringing together young architects and designers with a shared interest in experimenting with unconventional materials and breaking design rules of modernism and classical forms.

Super, 1981 by Martine Bedin. This light is made of fiberglass, lacquered metal, and rubber. It is one of the most recognizable of Memphis Designs. Designer Martine Bedin envisioned it as a pet on wheels. Photo credit: The Design Tourist

Their works were humorous, irreverent and often blended high and low culture. The style appropriated modern iconography, infusing it with space-age futurism, nostalgic nods and bold ornamentation.

Tawayara, 1981 by Masanori Umeda. The iconic boxing ring seating is made of lacquered wood. Photo credit: The Design Tourist

Tartar, 1985 by Ettore Sottsass. This desk is part of the Memphis Group collection and is made of laminate wood. Photo credit: The Design Tourist

Sottsass collaborators included Martine Bedin, Aldo Cibic, Michele De Lucchi, Matteo Thun and Marco Zanini, George Sowden and Nathalie du Pasquier.

Bertrand 1987, by Massimo losa-Ghini. This desk from the Memphis collection is made of wood and metal drawing inspiration from 1930s streamlined automotive design. The designer referred to this style as Bolidism from the Italian word Bolide a fast moving object. Photo credit: The Design Tourist

Together they designed furniture, lamps and ceramics that rebuked modernist doctrine and presented their works in an exhibition in 1981 that launched the movement.

Roma, 1986 by Marco Zanini. This seat from the Memphis Group collection is made of molded fiberglass cast as a single piece. Photo credit: The Design Tourist

The Memphis Group was both revered and reviled for its kitschy, colorful art objects that transcend the boundary between art and design.

Malabar, 1982 by Ettore Sottsass This shelf from the Memphis Group collection is made of plastic laminate wood and painted metal. Photo credit: The Design Tourist

The works resonated in a decade dominated by pop culture’s flamboyant icons—Madonna, Boy George, Micheal Jackson and questionable taste: think neon colored clothing, shoulder pads and purple eyeshadow.

Palm Springs, 1984 by Ettore Sottsass. This table from the Memphis Group collection is crafted of wood and laminate with boldly contrasting colors. Also pictured are First chairs, 1983 by Michele de Lucchi made of enameled wood and metal. Photo Credit: The Design Tourist.

The First chair designed in 1983 by Michele de Lucchi was introduced in the group’s third collection. It is the only Memphis design mass produced. Its ergonomic back and elbow rests have the appearance of orbiting planets. Photo credit: The Design Tourist

Max, 1987 by Ettore Sottsass. This shelf from the Memphis Group is made of lacquered wood and reconstituted veneer terrazzo tiles and plexiglass. Photo credit: The Design Tourist

The movement’s shortlived moment in the sun ended in 1985 when Sottsass left Memphis and the group disbanded in 1987.

Magnolia, 1985 Andrea Branzi. This ziggurat-shaped set of shelves is unusual among Memphis objects for its high tech and complex engineering. Photo credit: The Design Tourist

After Bowie’s death, Sotheby’s London sold 100 lots from his art collection in November, 2016.

David Bowie pictured sitting on his Palm Springs Table, part of his many Memphis art objects and furniture pieces he collected over this life.

Other famous collectors of the Memphis Group include fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld and Nicholas Ghesquiere, artistic director of Louis Vuitton.

Architect and industrial designer Michael Graves continued to evolve many of the Memphis Group ideals through his work as “The Father of Postmodernism Architecture.” Just days before his death in 2015, I had the privilege of visiting Michael Graves at his home in Princeton, New Jersey. Grave’s signature postmodern design language produced many iconic products over his lifetime and made Target the cool place to shop. I invite you to watch my talk with Michael as he shares thoughts on his legacy and the future of architecture and design.

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February 12, 2019 0 comment

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The Future of Fashion is Wellness

written by Karen LeBlanc

Fashion’s Future Transcends Trends and “Fast Fashion”

Why Sustainable, Ethical Fashion Will be the New Normal

A model walks the runway at the ‘Ethical Fashion show’ during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images for Ethical Fashion)

February brings Fashion Week to New York City and the buzz is all about sustainable, ethical fashion brands. The 2019 Global Wellness Summit pegged “Well Fashion-Way Beyond Architecture” as one of its top wellness trends.

Each year, the Global Wellness Summit (GWS) identifies new trends that will have a meaningful impact on the $4.2 trillion wellness industry. Wellness Fashion ranks as the number one trend among eight and its trajectory is detailed in an in-depth research report.

This emerging self-awareness in the fashion industry transcends trends and fast fashion for smarter, sustainable materials and production methods.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in its effort to make sustainable fashion the new normal, released its Guide to Sustainable Strategies. In its opening remarks in the document, CFDA notes, “As American fashion continues its journey to a more sustainable future, transformative innovation of materials, processes and systems is about more than mindfulness, it is a change imperative.”

The ‘Ethical Fashion show’ during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images for Ethical Fashion)

The CFDA’s expanded Sustainability Initiatives in 2019 acknowledge that the fashion industry is not currently sustainable. “We are using up natural resources and exploiting people in ways that will deplete future generations of the resources they need, impacting future profitability and business opportunities. We have the power to change the way fashion is made and consumed by creating a sustainable industry with greater influence and increased profit.”

This intersection between wellness and fashion is re-engineering the fashion cycle—one where fast fashion and trend cycles no longer dictate what we wear. Consumers are embracing conscious design, responsible sourcing, and safer, ethical, more efficient value chains.

This new mindset in fashion rethinks every step in the manufacturing process. Here’s a look at the new wellness cycle of fashion, according to the Global Wellness Institute.

Design:

Sondra-craftswoman-working.-Credit-ARNO-Cooperative-Inc

Designing, producing and buying clothing becomes smarter and more sustainable with the use of artificial intelligence and 3D design technologies. Designing and making clothing enters the on-demand, digitally designed dimension to produce custom-created fashion. The end goal is to eliminate the “spray and pray overproduction” of clothing. ZOZO is one innovator of on-demand custom clothing using sensors to capture a person’s measurements in 3D.

ZOZO, developed by a Japanese leading e-commerce site

The company sends each customer a free ZOZOSUIT interwoven with 300 sensors that capture in 3D exact measurements. Customers then order custom-tailored clothing using a smartphone app including sweaters, shirts, tees and jeans in natural fibers.

Make:

Consumers want to feel good about the way their clothing is made. They’re asking questions: Are the workers paid fair wages? What are the working conditions? Are the materials sustainably sourced? Fashion and ethics are inextricably linked. Brands that are transparent and can convey a strong moral and ethical conscience with their clothing will garner consumer loyalty. The production of fashion isn’t just about being eco-friendly, it’s about having a socially responsible mission. Also, expect to see a revival in local makers and craft with clothing that highlights heritage and culture.

Acquire:

Resort Line 2019 from Budapest-based Nanushka’s vegan haute clothing line. Photo Credit-Fauve-Bouwman

The signifier of high-end clothing is the meaning threaded through its design and construction. Clothing with a conscience becomes the status symbol as labels embrace the eco and ethical impacts of what they produce. Consumers look to do their part lowering their environmental footprint in fashion by renting clothing, buying local, acquiring quality pieces that are timeless rather than trendy and choosing sustainable, ethical fashion.

Wear:

Ministry of Supply uses tech to make clothes smarter and more comfortable. Their smart jacket is activated by a phone app and adjusts the temperature based on the weather, your body temp, and how much you are moving.

The consumer closet is filling up with smarter clothing thanks to the rise of bio-tracking and fitness wearable tech interwoven into garments. Expect to see more self-regulating materials that adapt to cold, heat, UV rays. Some fabrics can kill bacteria, control air flow, moisturize skin or even broadcast your mood.

Care:

The cleaning and care of clothing become more sustainable with self-cleaning clothes and nonpolluting organic detergents and new washing technologies.

Reuse and Recycle:

Scandinavian retailer Carlings launched the Neo-Ex Collection,a new capsule that only exists digitally

Expect the rise of “Trashion” clothing fabricated from recycled garbage and clothing crafted from organic material including algae and mushrooms to replace man-made, petroleum-based fabrics, such as nylon, polyester and acrylic. These environmentally destructive materials will wane in use as more designers opt for natural fibers that are sustainably sourced. Silk, linen, organic cotton, wool, flax, hemp and alpaca, and semisynthetic and cellulosic fibers, such as modal, rayon, Tencel, lyocell and cupro are kinder to the earth and decompose much easier than petroleum-based fabrics.

Meanwhile, vintage clothing gains popularity as consumers seek to reuse and recycle fashion. This new upcycling mentality combats the previous “buy and trash culture,” that has dominated fashion for decades. Innovative brands are doing their part to reduce waste and promote reuse through take-back programs and discounts for returning used clothes. Expect to see more innovative uses for recycled clothing such as building insulation.

Wellness and fashion go way beyond the ubiquitous trend of Athleisure, workout clothing as day wear with a subtext of exercise and fitness. Today’s consumer is willing to trade in the temporary thrill of purchasing, cheap, fast fashion for more conscientious choices that are good for humanity and the earth.

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February 7, 2019 0 comment

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Wellness is the Next Frontier in Residential Real Estate

written by Karen LeBlanc

The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) in its report “Build Well To Live Well” found that real estate and communities that intentionally put people’s health at the center of design, creation, and redevelopment are the next frontier in residential real estate.

Instead of ROI the focus is ROW (Return on Wellness). The “Sun Belt” states of Arizona, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia lead the nation in the number of wellness residential communities.

Here’s a look at seven key wellness living trends that GWI predicts will drive future residential real estate development.

Home-Work:

In our current gig economy, powered by freelancers, many working from home, expect to see more work sharing spaces, home offices and ample wellness programming. WeWork is a bellwether for this co-living, co-working movement with its WeLive and Rise by We wellness programs. This rapid rise of remote and freelance work is the main ingredient of “the sharing economy.”

Affordable Healthy Homes:

Wellness real estate won’t be limited to the luxury market. GWI foresees a future where healthy homes and communities are affordable to all income levels including lower-income populations. Envision communities that integrate low-VOC materials, improved indoor air quality, and green roofs with community gardens, all designed to promote physical activity with walking trails, a fitness center, and ample community spaces, including an amphitheater.

Multigenerational Neighborhoods

Instead of “seniors only” and “active older adults communities,” forward-thinking real estate projects invite the diversity of ages, life stages and social classes. Motivated by the realization that segregation by age, race and class breeds loneliness and may not good for the soul, wellness communities are emerging that promote social connections among all ages and stages of life.

Medical Cities:

GWI predicts more world-class wellness communities will develop by combining a geographic concentration of cutting-edge medical industry companies and research organizations. Known as “Medical Cities” one example is right here in Central Florida. Lake Nona Medical City is a prototype for the rest of the nation, successfully catalyzing medical industry clusters and health services with wellness-infused homes and neighborhoods. Lake Nona is anchored on more than a dozen world-class research hospitals, medical centers, human performance and sports training facilities, and tech companies clustered around its wellness-focused homes.

Regenerative Living

Living a “green lifestyle” means more than sustainable, earth-friendly practices, it’s producing a net positive footprint through regenerative living. Residential communities that produce their own healthy food and renewable energy, clean the air, recycle their water offer this regenerative lifestyle. The concepts of green, biophilic and healthy design go the next level to improve air quality, biodiversity and renewable energy.

Smart-Healthy Homes:

The next generation of smart homes is wired for medical care, bringing on-demand wellness including telemedicine through sensors and artificial intelligence. The Connected City project in Tampa, Florida is under development as a wellness-destination that will combine high-speed technology and the next generation of medical services. Described as “the first Smart Gigabit Community in the United States,” the community will offer tele-medicine, advanced research facilities, an innovation center, a medical hospital complete with med-spa and a health and performance institute. In addition to the wellness amenities, the Connected City, the area will have two Crystal Lagoons, one in each of Metro’s master-planned communities of Epperson and Mirada.

Hot Springs:

GWI believes more wellness residences will revolve around natural thermal and mineral springs as people rediscover the therapeutic benefits of communal bathing. These hot springs are wellness anchors for communities.

Design principles that address the physical, social, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of residents are moving from niche to mainstream. GWI predicts wellness real estate will expand 6% yearly through 2022 to reach $180 billion.

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January 30, 2019 0 comment

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Ski in Style with Glamping in the Italian Alps

written by Karen LeBlanc

Nestled in the Palu Alps in Italy lies a ski resort that invites guests to go glamping among the snow-covered mountains. The Valmalenco Ski Resort caught my attention for its guest suites perched on top of the Palu Alps and only accessible by snowmobile along a snowcat track.

The 2Cuori in Pista, The Valmalenco Ski Resort

The 2Cuori in Pista is a minimalist suite with a double bed and a private bathroom with a white and Ferrari red bathtub that drinks in panoramic views over the unadulterated landscape.

The 2Cuori in Pista suite in the Palu Alps at The Valmalenco Ski Resort

The bathtub is situated in the most scenic corner of the suite

The bathtub is known as the MINI by Glass Design Italy with its white and red external surface finished in semi-gloss thanks to a process of hand-brushing which enables it to be finished in a variety of chromatic shades.

Scenic view atop the Palu Alps at The Valmalenco Ski Resort

Chiesa Valmalenco is the main center of Valmalenco, a valley in the immediate vicinity of Sondriohe and is home to hotels, restaurants and guesthouses. The Valmalenco Ski Resort is nearby and features 8 lifts including one of largest cable cars in the world with 160-person cabins.

The MINI bathtub in Ferrari Red by Glass Design Italy

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December 12, 2018 0 comment

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Pantone Color of the Year 2019 Calls for Coral

written by Karen LeBlanc

Pantone Announces the Color of the Year 2019: PANTONE^® 16-1546 Living Coral

The Color of Home Interiors Energizes and Enlivens with Coral Shades

Pantone Color of the Year 2019 Home Interior Fabrics in Living Coral by Kravet Photo Credit: Kravet

Pantone, the global color authority, believes our digitally-saturated, socially-isolated lives need a healthy dose of coral to comfort, connect, and soothe. Pantone announced PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral as its Color of the Year 2019, described as an animating and life-affirming shade of orange with a golden undertone. “With consumers craving human interaction and social connection, the humanizing and heartening qualities displayed by the convivial Pantone Living Coral hit a responsive chord,” says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute.

Mug in Pantone Color of the Year 2019 Living Coral by Room Copenhagen

According to Pantone, coral is an antidote to the onslaught of digital technology and social media invading daily life. “We are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy. The engaging nature of PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity and symbolizes our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits,” says Eiseman.

Adobe stock image of models wearing workout clothes in shades of coral.

Each year, Pantone probes our collective psyche and pop culture to find out what colors are resonating in the minds and hearts of consumers. Pantone believes Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression and represents the fusion of modern life. “Pantone Living Coral is a nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence within social media,” says Eiseman.

Adobe stock image of leaf in shades of coral

Expect to see Living Coral color in home interiors and consumer products ranging from makeup to stationery as designers and manufacturers interpret the 2019’s IT color.

Stationery is Pantone’s Color of the Year 2019 Living Coral by Brown Trout

Cosmetics in Pantone’s Color of the Year 2019 Living Coral by Butter London

Pantone suggests for interior décor and furnishings to use Living Coral as a bold statement or a dramatic pop of color to any room setting whether in decorative accessories, tabletop, or on the wall. The color connotes tactility and human connection through accessories such as shag rugs, cozy blankets and lush upholsteries for a warm, comforting and nurturing feeling in the home.

Home accessories by Surya in Pantone’s Color of the Year 2019 Living Coral

Home accessories company, Surya just announced its extensive line of coral-colored living space accents in over 100 Surya accessories across its product categories, including rugs, lighting, textiles, accent furniture, wall decor, and more.

Home accessories by Surya in Pantone’s Color of the Year 2019 Living Coral

“Living Coral is a multifunctional color that can cater to a variety of design styles,” says Satya Tiwari, president of Surya. “We have seen coral tones emerging in our product development research. It bridges the gap between reds and oranges in a playful, lighthearted manner, making it much more commercially accessible across industries.”

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December 8, 2018 0 comment

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Winter Wonderland in Orlando

written by Karen LeBlanc

ICE! at Gaylord Palms is a Must-See Holiday Experience

During the holiday season, Orlando offers a different kind of Winter Wonderland that transports visitors to a frozen world cocooned inside the Gaylord Palms hotel, in Kississimme, Florida. The annual ICE! exhibit brings ice carvers from the city of Harbin in Northeast China to sculpt more than 2 million pounds of ice into whimsical designs, each year set to a different theme.

Each year, the final scene at ICE! depicts a glowing nativity scene.

Our yearly visit to ICE! is a family tradition in my household that began more than ten years ago when the exhibit first came to the Gaylord Palms. My children were ages 4 and 7 during our first visit.

My family appearing in a 2012 commercial for ICE! Gaylord Palms. (Over the years we’ve often worked doing TV and print commercials for Orlando area resorts and attractions.) Although this particular visit was “work,” we’ve attended every ICE! exhibit since it began more than 10 years ago.

We were mesmerized by this frozen world where the temperature is a constant 9 degrees, while just outside, temperatures hovered in the 70s, a typical Florida Fall. ICE! was a foreign land, an exotic place and my children were spellbound.

Ralphie dressed in his pink bunny pjs in the scene “Aunt Clara’s pink nightmare” from the movie, A Christmas Story

In 2018 ICE! is back at Gaylord Palms featuring vignettes from the classic holiday movie A Christmas Story. Before you head in, the event provides each visitor with a warm blue parka that you return upon exiting.

The ultimate triple dog dare at the school’s flagpole scene from the movie, A Christmas Story at ICE!

The holiday movie has an almost cult following thanks to nearly three generations who have grown up watching it, including the 24-hour Christmas day marathon showing.

My family can recite almost every scene of this beloved holiday film, many which come to life through iconic scenes.

The Old Man’s Major Award scene in the movie, A Christmas Story at ICE!

Each time we visit ICE! and I watch the ice carvers at work, I wonder how they can take the 9-degree temperatures, working for hours in those conditions.

I learned from Gaylord Palms that the ice carvers are right at home in this frozen world because temperatures in Harbin, which is next to Siberia, stay below freezing for half the year, averaging only two degrees and sometimes plummeting to -36 degrees.

Each year, the ice carvers construct an ice slide in its own room for visitors to enjoy. This ice slide recreates the scene in A Christmas Story where Santa pushes Ralphie down the slide with his foot as the laughing elf looks on.

For more colorful ice sculptures, here’s a look at 2017 theme of ICE! Christmas Around the World:

[metaslider id=”4753″]

ICE! runs through January 6, 2019

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December 2, 2018 0 comment

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Historic Home Holiday Tour Inspires Festive Decor Ideas

written by Karen LeBlanc

The Historic Stetson Mansion Opens Its Doors Showcasing Fresh Ideas for Holiday Decor

Built for Florida’s first snowbird, famed hat maker John B Stetson the opulent 3 story Victorian mansion was rescued from obscurity 10 years ago to become the top-rated landmark tourist attraction in all of Florida.

As a member of the press, I recently attended a private guided tour of the Stetson hat maker’s opulent 1886 mansion to preview the new luxurious designer displays created for the 8th annual Stetson Mansion “Christmas Spectacular!” Holiday Home Tour.

Owners Michael Solari and JT Thompson open their doors year-round to the privately owned/occupied historical landmark. JT is the sole event designer for all the Christmas decorations you will see. He begins decorating in mid-September in a free-form process. “For eight seasons I have conjured my childhood memories to remind me what made this time of year so special. Christmas carols are a huge part of the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child. This year, 10 themes around the mansion are inspired by 10 well-known carols,” JT explains. We begin our tour at the grand staircase.

Guests enter the foyer opening to the grand staircase set in front of three large stained glass windows, original to the home. This is where the breathtaking scenery begins to unfold. The grand staircase is as a nod to the Christmas carol, Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly. “It’s my version of the traditional theme with a throwback to Christmas past and a strong evergreen and holly feel,” JT says.

Guests next enter the reception parlor, an homage to Angels We Have Heard on High where custom angel wings crafted by a local artist hang over the sofa and angels with lyres and other musical instruments congregate as an orchestra welcoming the Christ child.

In the piano alcove, a closer look reveals two electrical plugs that JT believes were installed by Thomas Edison and illuminated first Christmas tree with lights. “One of Mr. Edison’s assistants invented Christmas lights so we believe this is the first home in Florida that had Christmas lights.” The home also has several original Edison light fixtures and the original circuit box, complete with handwritten tags on each lever. “This was one of the first homes in the entire world to be designed and built with Edison electricity.”

The Christmas tree in the parlor is illuminated by electrical outlets installed by Thomas Edison. The current owners who live in this home still continue the old holiday tradition started by Stetson and Edison: lighting up the Christmas tree in the parlor with the same electric outlet Edison installed for that very first string of tree lights

Built in 1886 for Florida’s first snowbird, iconic hatmaker John B. Stetson, the ornate landmark on the National Historic Register has beautiful intricate wood carvings, 16 parquet floor patterns, and 10,000 panes of antique glass – all competing with this year’s elaborate designer decorations for the visitor’s attention.

Leaving the reception parlor, guests enter the mansion music room and library, where the Stetsons would gather with guests after dinner to socialize. The room is inspired by the carol, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem with nativities from around the world and a commissioned painting.

Guests can also marvel at the 16 different intricate original parquet floor patterns and 10,000 panes of antique window glass in the music room.

Peacocks use to roam the estate and JT used this fact to inspire his dining room decor theme, Pretty as a Peacock. “Mr. Stetson had peacocks roaming the property when he lived here and they would act as his guard birds, squawking to alert that visitors were on the property.”

The dining room draws focus to an antique birdcage and a peacock tail JT handmade that cascades onto the floor.

Another peacock perches on a tree limb on the dining room table with its tail sweeping down around and underneath the table. JT crafted each custom plate in the peacock tail from antique paper. A garland filled with peacock and crimson feathers lines the mantel.

Every holiday season, JT pays tribute to the military in one room decorated to honor our servicemen and women.

“The military tribute for the first time ever will be in the kitchen inspired by the carol Let There Be Peace on Earth with three Christmas trees,” JT says.

Guests leave the kitchen, heading to the second floor through the servants’ staircase stopping to admire a tribute to the Stetson Hat Company. JT designed a cowboy themed Christmas tree and decorated stair risers with icons of the American West.

As guests arrive at the top of the stair landing, a view inside a bathroom reveals grandma “had a run in with a reindeer” according to JT that was inspired by a well-known, humorous Christmas song.

Down the hallway, the room designated as The Elizabeth Suite reveals a winter wonderland inspired by the movie Edward Scissorhands. “It’s one of my favorite movies and the message is about acceptance. I decorated the room to feel like the inside of a winter snow globe.”

JT filled the room with winter woodland animals, a handcrafted willow tree covered in icicles and decorated the mantel with white pine cones.

The tour proceeds to The Gillen Suite that celebrates the three wise men, a nod to the Christmas carol, We Three Kings, with three handmade wise men crafted by an artist and former guest who bequeathed the decorations to the mansion.

The last stop on the tour is the Stetson Suite, decorated to the tune of I heard the Bells on Christmas Day, featuring Victorian Christmas bells including antique sleigh bells gifted to the mansion, church bells, school bells, and jingle bells.

Stetson Mansion is nominated as a contender for Best Holiday Historic Home Tour by USA TODAY for its 2018 10 Best Readers’ Choice travel awards. USA TODAY is giving voters four weeks to vote for the candidate of their choice at https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-holiday-historic-home-tour/

Voting ends Monday, December 10th and the winners will be announced on December 21st.

The mansion attracts more than 10,000 visitors from around the world during the holiday season. Guided tours are offered at 10:30, 1:30 and 5 pm daily for $25 and reservations are required.

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November 20, 2018 0 comment

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Cool Christmas Tree Ideas and Gingerbread House Designs

written by Karen LeBlanc

The annual Festival of Trees at the Orlando Museum of Art is now open for a week-long showcase of designer Christmas trees and gingerbread houses just in time to inspire your holiday decor ideas. I went on opening day to check out this year’s collection of holiday decorations presented by Council of 101 as a fundraiser.

Designer Christmas Tree at Orlando Museum of Art event, Festival of Trees.

This year’s theme is “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” featuring holiday vignettes, Christmas trees, wreaths and gingerbread houses all available for purchase.

Designer Christmas Tree at Orlando Museum of Art event, Festival of Trees.

Each year, Council 101 reaches out to area businesses and designers to donate a decorated Christmas tree to be sold at the event. The high profile philanthropy project is a great way for participants to show off their creative talents.

Designer Christmas Tree at Orlando Museum of Art event, Festival of Trees.

I attend every year to get fresh ideas to decorate my own tree and check out the latest holiday decorating trends.

Designer Gingerbread House at Orlando Museum of Art event, Festival of Trees.

For holiday baking and gingerbread house making, the event brings together pastry chefs to showcase original gingerbread house creations, also on sale.

Designer Gingerbread Art at Orlando Museum of Art event, Festival of Trees.

Designer Gingerbread Tree House at Orlando Museum of Art event, Festival of Trees.

Participants elevate gingerbread to a sculptural artform, constructing different interpretations of the traditional holiday edible house.

Designer Gingerbread Tree House at Orlando Museum of Art event, Festival of Trees.

Designer Gingerbread Art at Orlando Museum of Art event, Festival of Trees.

Designer Gingerbread Camper at Orlando Museum of Art event, Festival of Trees.

Designer Gingerbread Art at Orlando Museum of Art event, Festival of Trees.

The Council of 101 was founded in 1965 to further the cultural development and appreciation of the visual arts in Central Florida.

Designer Gingerbread Art at Orlando Museum of Art event, Festival of Trees.

Designer Gingerbread House at Orlando Museum of Art event, Festival of Trees.

A group of more than 300 volunteers holds fundraisers to support the Orlando Museum of Art. The Festival of Trees is now in its 32nd year is a much-anticipated event on the holiday social calendar.

Designer Gingerbread House at Orlando Museum of Art event, Festival of Trees.

If you enjoy holiday baking and cake making like me, I invite you to check out an episode of my show, The Design Tourist, where I interview celebrity chef Buddy Valastro, star of the TV show Cake Boss and hear from other celebrity pastry chefs as they share tips, tricks and ideas for couture cakes.

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November 11, 2018 0 comment

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Design Solutions for Single Use Plastics

written by Karen LeBlanc

My guilty conscious over single-use plastics started with the cases of bottled water, I used to stock in my household. After seeing horrific images of “plastic debris islands” floating in oceans, I switched to filtered refrigerator water that I carry around in my Yeti. In our throw-away culture, the plastics problem is hard to ignore and scary to think about its future ramifications for our planet.

photo credit: Humanscale and Bureo

According to Earth Day 2018, 32% of the 78 million tons of plastic packaging produced annually is left to flow into our oceans. By 2050, this could mean there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans.

Reducing plastics production and consumption is only part of the solution to the plastics problem. The other half of the solution deals with the question: What to do with all of this existing plastic refuse? A growing design movement is using single-use plastic as a material for art and craft. At the forefront is a group of designers creating objects from recycled plastics as a longterm solution to the single-use plastic issue.

“Plastic, Beyond the Chipper” exhibit at London Design Fair, 2018

Their work was showcased at London Design Fair, in an exhibit entitled “Plastic, Beyond the Chipper.” Designers: Dirk vander Kooij, Charlotte Kidger, Kodai Iwamoto and Weez & Merl treat gathered plastic waste as a virgin material, imbuing it with new worth and meaning. Charlotte Kidger uses a zero-waste process in the making of durable sculptural objects.

Charlotte Kidger's Industrial Craft Collection is a material based project focused around utilizing plastic waste streams associated with CNC fabrication. Photo Credit: London Design Fair

Charlotte Kidger’s Industrial Craft Collection is a material based project focused around utilising plastic waste streams associated with CNC fabrication. Photo Credit: London Design Fair

Charlotte uses lightweight polyurethane foam dust, a by-product after the milling process left in abundant volumes. “Given that this material is still regarded as a niche plastic, it’s only means of disposal is through incineration or landfill. With a clear design opportunity I set out to find ways of utilizing and repurposing this undervalued and problematic material,” Charlotte says.

Kodai Iwamoto creates flower vases from PVC pipes

Kodai Iwamoto creates flower vases from PVC pipe by applying air pressure into a closed PVC pipe, slowly warmed by a heater to make it soft so he can mold it. Kodai says his PVC Handblowing Project gives what was a mass produced and cheap material, a new value
by transforming it into a well-made object.

PVC Handblowing Project by Kodai Iwamoto

Weez & Merl works with LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) found in carrier bags, bubble wrap and film packaging. The designers say LDPE is easy to work with by hand and can be endlessly remelted and repurposed to create truly sustainable products.

Weez & Merl creates the plastic ‘dough’ that has been marbled and quickly compression moulded using a hydraulic press – the plastic flows easily into detail on moulds. It is then left to cool to retain its new shape

Dirk Vander Kooij uses reclaimed synthetics ranging from CDs to rooftop windows to make his objects. Dirk uses 3D printing to create his buitenhuis chandelier.

Dirk Vander Kooij Studio

Each year, London Design Fair places the spotlight on a material currently holding precedence in the design world. With plastic as the focus for 2018, participating designers were selected who demonstrate how plastic is being repurposed in imaginative and valuable ways as a new virgin material in their creations.

Bureo works with fisherman to salvage and repurpose discarded fishing nets

At the forefront of recycling ocean plastics into useful objects are is a group of designers and companies known as the NextWave initiative who are leveraging supply chains as a means of keeping plastics out of the ocean.

Costa Sunglasses by Bureo made of recycled plastic fishing nets

Bureo joined forces with Costa Sunglasses to create The Untangled Collection. The sunglass frames are constructed from 100% recycled fishing nets and are fit with mineral glass lenses, avoiding the use of any new plastic materials and providing superior lens clarity and durability. The new line of responsible sunglasses features Costa’s patented 580 polarized lens technology in four new styles.

Warehouse of salvaged plastic fishing nets from the ocean to be turned into pellets to create recycled plastic objects. photo credit: Humanscale and Bureo

Humanscale, another founding member of NextWave Initiative worked with Bureo to produce the Smart Ocean chair that incorporates almost 2 lbs. of recycled fishing net material (NetPlus).

The Smart Ocean Chair made of recycled plastic fishing nets by Humanscale in partnership with Bureo

The nets are then transformed into plastic pellets and used to manufacture quality products such as skateboards, sunglasses, and now — for the first time ever — an ergonomic task chair.

Humanscale was the first company in the world to receive the Living Product Challenge certification in September 2016. The certification recognizes like-minded companies sharing the mission to achieve a net positive impact with their products and production methods.

Brands such as American Express are offering solutions to single-use plastics with innovative packing and products. Amex is creating the world’s first credit card made from upcycled marine plastic pollution. The global credit card company is partnering with Parley AIR to introduce the first credit card made primarily using Ocean Plastic. American Express’s first ocean plastic card is currently at prototype stage, but is expected to be available within 12 months.

Photo credit: Earth Day 2018

The aim of the collaboration is to raise awareness and offer a solution to the growing marine plastic problem. Amex says it’s waging war on single-use plastics, committing to a number of waste-reduction strategies as well as reduced carbon emissions, switching to renewable energy, and aiming for zero-waste certification for its headquarters by 2025.

As its answer to combating ocean plastic debris, cosmetics company Lush launched a ‘naked’ line of products free from packaging, as part of a new campaign launched on World Oceans Day (June 8). Lush says more than 40 percent of its products is completely packaging-free. The company’s ‘naked’ products aim to raise awareness of the effect of single-use plastic on ocean life and start a discussion on how consumers can tackle this global issue.

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November 8, 2018 1 comment

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The 11th Annual Holiday House NYC Stretches the Imagination of Living Space

written by Karen LeBlanc

The 11^th edition of Holiday House NYC is open to the public from October 24^th through December 2^nd, 2018, featuring the work of twenty individuals/firms tapped to transform the eight-bedroom, 13,000-square-foot townhouse on the Upper East Side at 118 East 76^th Street, New York, NY into “shoppable” rooms with items on sale on One Kings Lane. Founded by interior designer and breast cancer survivor Iris Danker in 2008, the showhouse is a benefit for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BFRF).

Sky Lounge in the 11th Annual Holiday House NYC by Interior designer Vanessa Deleon

Interior designer Vanessa Deleon returns to Holiday House NYC this year to transform a bi-level sky lounge and pool room into a dreamlike oasis of serenity. The theme of the room, “Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil, See No Evil” applies the proverbial principle towards cancer—if we can do away with the disease, we will never have to speak of it, hear of it, or see anyone suffer from it ever again.

Sky Lounge in the 11th Annual Holiday House NYC by Interior designer Vanessa Deleon

Deleon’s Holiday House creation reflects a cohesive, retreat-like space reminiscent of a seaside escape. The designer used a palette of blues on blues from the floor-to-ceiling Sicis mosaic already dominating the pool room as a jumping off point for the bi-level, loft-like space overlooking a pool on the top floor.

Sky Lounge in the 11th Annual Holiday House NYC by Interior designer Vanessa Deleon

As a means to enhance the seaside feel, Deleon created an art installation featuring photographer Laurie Fishman’s “Swimmers” series, depicting small-scaled swimmers gliding through open water. The circular grouping was designed to echo the circular chandelier overhead, while in the pool, round white LED-lit balls provide an ambient glow that illuminates the tiles. Undertones of silver add an element of tranquility, subconsciously reminding the visitor to relax while still referencing the spirit of the holidays.

Sky Lounge in the 11th Annual Holiday House NYC by Interior designer Vanessa Deleon

In the Sky Lounge, monochromatic furniture from Room & Board outfitted in waterproof Sunbrella fabric encourages relaxation and elevates preconceived notions of outdoor furniture. Accent pillows and a Room & Board Cardiff rug in ivory/gunmetal sits underfoot a Phillips collection pebbled rock, kidney-shaped coffee table. Against the wall, a Phillips Collection Crown Console in silver leaf sits beneath avant-garde accents such as an artfully arranged wall grouping of pearl white and polished aluminum Ball on the Wall art pieces. Various artful accents such as wire lounging art pieces in male and female silhouettes and elongated sculptures depicting the Three Wise Monkey’s age-old directive (See No Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil) add interest and depth.

November 1, 2018 0 comment

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Must-See Christmas Markets for Design Tourists

written by Karen LeBlanc

Starting the last week of November, European city centers come alive with Christmas Markets, an old tradition that turns the town square into a festive gathering of local artists, crafts makers and cooks selling traditional treasures and treats. There are entire tours devoted to European Christmas markets but you can also explore on your own. Our top Christmas cities include Brussels, Prague, Dresden, Nuremberg, and the hometown of Santa Claus, Rovaniemi. Here’s a closer look at our favorite real-life winter wonderlands.

Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt | Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt

We start with the world-famous Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany is populated with approximately 180 wood and cloth stalls with red-and-white-striped canvas roofs. A written record of the Christmas market dates back to 1628.

Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt – Christmas Market – Opening Ceremony © Ralf Schedlbauer

The Nuremberg Christ Child, who is elected by the Nuremberg citizens every two years, always opens the market with a ceremonial prologue on the Friday before the first Advent. This golden angel with her white dress and a jeweled crown appears on the balcony of the Church of Our Lady.

Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg © Uwe Niklas

The Christkindlesmarkt takes place in the historic backdrop of the Nuremberg main market square with the Church of our Lady, the Beautiful Fountain and the view of the Old Town Gothic Church of St. Sebaldus.

Gingerbread at the Christkindlesmarkt © Steffen Oliver Riese

Here you can shop for traditional crafts, hand-made holiday treasures and regional treats including Gluhwein (mulled wine), Lebkuchen (a gingerbread-like cookie) and bratwurst. A stroll through the market of the sister cities is also interesting, where handcrafted articles and specialties from countries like Nicaragua, China, Scotland or the Ukraine are found.

Striezelmarkt Dresden Photo credit: Dresden Tourism www.dresden.de/tourism

Next, we head to Dresden, the oldest continuous Christmas market in Germany now celebrating its 584th year. The Dresden “Striezelmarkt” is named after the “Striezel” (“Stollen”), a traditional German Christmas cake. The market takes place on the Altmarkt with more than 230 festively decorated booths filling the air with scents of roasted almonds, mulled wine and Dresden Christmas cookies.

Striezelmarkt Dresden Photo credit: Dresden Tourism www.dresden.de/tourism

Here you can shop for handmade Christmas decorations and goods by craftspeople from the Ore mountains (Erzgebirge) and Lusatia (Lausitz). The market runs daily from November 28th, 2018 to December 24th, 2018 from 10 am until 9 pm.

Striezelmarkt Dresden © Sylvio Dittrich

On December 8, 2018, a special event is help with a group of people will carrying a big “Stollen” that weighs four tons along the Dresden Zwinger, the Semper Opera House, the Hofkirche and the Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady) to the “Striezelmarkt” where it will be cut in pieces and offered to the visitors.

Striezelmarkt Dresden Photo credit: Dresden Tourism www.dresden.de/tourism

The Dresden “Striezelmarkt” is surrounded by 10 more themed Christmas markets within the city including the Medieval Christmas Market at the stable yard of the Royal Palace populated with craftsmen, minstrels and jugglers.

Dresden Medieval Christmas Market © 2013 Sven Döring / Agentur Focus

A walk through the baroque quarter of the Hauptstraße within the baroque quarter offers unique Christmas charm in this Wilhelminian style part of the city.

Striezelmarkt Dresden Photo credit: Dresden Tourism www.dresden.de/tourism

Other markets to check out include the Frauenkirche Christmas Market, known for its pottery, glass art and lace from the Vogtland, and the après-ski charm of the Hüttenzauber Market and booths are along the Prager Straße starting from the Main Station along to the other side of the Elbe River to the “Neustädter Advent” Those who want to get even deeper into local atmosphere should visit the Christmas markets in the towns, villages and castles of the surrounding Elbland.

Winter Wonders at the Grand-Place © visit.brussels – Eric Danhier – 2017

Next, we head to Brussels for its festival of lights, Winter Wonders, illuminating the facades of Grand-Place, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Winter Wonders at the Grand-Place © visit.brussels – Eric Danhier – 2017

This year’s theme is “Brussels’ Christmas with Sia” showcasing the Grand-Place’s architectural lighting synchronized with Christmas tree lights and music by Australian singer-songwriter Sia.

Winter Wonders at the Grand-Place © visit.brussels – Eric Danhier – 2017

Brussels Christmas Markets © visit.brussels

Winter Wonders coincides with Christmas markets throughout Brussels including around the Bourse, the Place de la Monnaie, the Place Sainte-Catherine and the Marché aux Poissons. There, you’ll find snow-capped wooden chalets resembling gingerbread houses selling local crafts, handmade goods and regional treats.

©Prague City Tourism

Prague, the largest city in the Czech Republic, known for its Christmas card scenery of lantern-lit cobblestone streets and decorated baroque town squares that host several Christmas markets.

©Prague City Tourism

The largest is in the Old Town Square with a towering Christmas tree cut from the forests of Central Bohemia and lit up each evening at 4:30 pm, accompanied by classical music. Other must-see holiday markets include those in Wenceslas Square, Republic Square, Peace Square and Tyl’s Square where you can browse festive wooden huts stocked with traditional folk crafts while sipping hot honey wine known as Medovina and sampling traditional Czech Christmas cookies.

©Visit Rovaniemi (Rovaniemi Tourism & Marketing Ltd.)

The ultimate Christmas City is Rovaniemi, situated on the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, the official home of Santa Claus.

©Visit Rovaniemi (Rovaniemi Tourism & Marketing Ltd.)

Consistently ranked as the world’s best holiday destination, Rovaniemi offers a winter wonderland of activities including skiing, snowmobiling, reindeer farms, dog sledding tours and scenic vistas of the Northern Lights.

©Visit Rovaniemi (Rovaniemi Tourism & Marketing Ltd.)

In Rovaniemi, Santa welcomes visitors year-round at the Santa Claus Village, the Lapland’s best-known attraction.

©Visit Rovaniemi (Rovaniemi Tourism & Marketing Ltd.)

The resort features an igloo hotel, ice bar and restaurant, shops, dog sledding tours, reindeer rides, snowmobile tours, and Santa Claus’ main post office, run by elves.

Snowland Rovaniemi ©Visit Rovaniemi (Rovaniemi Tourism & Marketing Ltd.)

Rovaniemi during the holidays is an ideal place to view the Northern Lights on clear nights as shades of red, yellow, green, blue, and violet dance across the skyline of the city.

©Visit Rovaniemi (Rovaniemi Tourism & Marketing Ltd.)

Ranua Wildlife Safari, ©Visit Rovaniemi (Rovaniemi Tourism & Marketing Ltd.)

European Christmas markets typically run November 28 through Christmas Eve. Many tour companies offer river cruises and organized tours to the markets. As you plan your trip, check out these ultimate travel hacks and tips for finding the best deals on airfare, accommodations and more. For more design and travel news, I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter.

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October 26, 2018 0 comment

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The Dali Museum, An Architecture & Art Tourism Must-See

written by Karen LeBlanc

In downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, lies a futuristic glass and concrete structure that looms large over the waterfront dotted with docked sailboats. This architectural oddity is an attraction inspired by its the contents, the surrealist works of Salvador Dali.

The Dali Museum, One Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg, Florida

The Dali museum is designed by architect Yann Weymouth of HOK, combining “the rational with the fantastical.” Oozing out of a hulking concrete box with 18-inch thick hurricane-proof walls is a large free-form geodesic glass bubble known as the “enigma”.

The Dali Museum, One Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg, Florida

The Enigma is made up of 1,062 triangular pieces of glass, stands 75 feet at its tallest point, a twenty-first-century homage to the dome that adorns Dali’s museum in Spain.

Design Blogger Karen LeBlanc aka The Design Tourist visiting The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg Florida. A selfie at the spiral staircase.

I recently visited The Dali Museum and my advice to anyone wanting to enter Dali’s headspace is to begin at the winding helical staircase, a nod to Dali’s obsession with spirals and the double helical shape of the DNA molecule during his Nuclear Mysticism period of art, and gaze through the geodesic skylight.

The winding helical staircase inside The Dali Museum

It’s how I found myself teleported into the magical mind of Dali before I began to peruse the largest collection of his works outside of Dali’s native Spain.

First floor view of the winding helical staircase in The Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Dali Museum permanent collection is home to art spanning Dali’s career from his student pieces through works of Anti-Art, Surrealism, Nuclear Mysticism. I came to see how his native landscapes inspired his most memorable works in a special exhibit, Clyde Butcher: Visions of Dali’s Spain on view through November 25, 2018.

Clyde Butcher is known as “the Ansel Adams of Florida” for his large format black and white photos capturing the beauty of the Everglades. The Dali museum commissioned Butcher to photograph Dali’s dreamlike world, “to bring to light the geological delirium that Dali embraces in his work.”

Photographer Clyde Butcher’s image of Dali’s home in Port Lligat, where visitors are greeted by a surreal icon of a cypress tree growing out of a fishing boat.

In 2016, Butcher traveled to Dali’s homeland, Catalonia’s Mediterranean region, in Spain to photograph the landscape including Cadaques where Dali spent summers growing up and Port Lligat and the region of Cap De Creus, all area featured in Dali’s work.

American photographer Clyde Butcher captures the curiosities that filled Dali’s home in Port Lligat Spain.

In Port Lligat, where Dali and his wife Gala lived in a grand surreal home that began as a simple fishing shack, Butcher captures the curiosities the filled the living spaces. Dali and Gala eventually purchased adjacent shacks to create a meandering structure of rooms that has now become a museum.

One of several egg motifs, a Dali favorite, on view at his home in Port Lligat. Clyde Butcher took the photograph as part of the exhibit Visions of Dali’s Spain on view at The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg.

Butcher typically photographs with a large format camera but for The Dali Museum commission, he used a smaller format digital camera. “I shoot digital like I shoot film. I wait for the composition and light. Some days I only took two pictures. I don’t shotgun shoot,” Butcher says of his process.

Landscape photo taken by Clyde Butcher of Port Lligat, where Dali lived and worked. Dali drew inspiration for his art from the natural vistas that surrounded his home.

The Clyde Butcher exhibit pairs the photographer’s photos of Dali’s native landscapes with Dali paintings that drew inspiration from them. It’s a unique window into Dali’s mind and soul where the physical landscapes in his life are reimagined in dreamlike renderings.

“When people see the exhibit I would like them to see what inspired his paintings,” Butcher says. In the exhibit, Dali’s paintings are paired with Butcher’s landscape photography to reveal the inspiration behind many of Dali’s surrealist paintings.

Dali said of his work that people discern only a tenth of what’s visible in his paintings and that the meanings and themes run much deeper.

Clyde Butcher’s photography gives us a new lens to interpret Dali’s work providing a context to many of his paintings.

The Dali Museum holds the finest collection of his work outside of Spain chronicling Dali’s artistic evolution starting in the 1920s when Dali discovered surrealism after reading Sigmund Freud’s The Interpretation of Dreams while attending art school.

For the next 10 years, Dali’s work was the irrational subject matter with symbolic imagery and complex dreamlike stories. By the 1930s Surrealism grew from its literary origins to become a broad cultural movement encompassing art, design, film, animation and fashion. Dali became a central figure. The defining icon of the movement became Dali’s melting clock.

The painting: “Oeufs sur le Plat sans le Plat. In this painting, Dali said he had this vision of fried eggs in his mother’s womb so he painted the hanging egg to represent an embryo.

By 1940 Dali was no longer a surrealist. After he and Gala escaped from war-torn Europe living as refugees in America from 1940 to 1948. He branded himself as a classical artist reacting against modern art’s emphasis on abstraction.

Dali’s Nuclear Mysticism works include the painting, Galacidalacidesoxiribunucleicacid on view at The Dali Museum

In 1950 he created the term Nuclear Mysticism to describe this new phase of work. imaging moved from surrealism’s personal imaginings to the shared worlds of science and religion.

One of Dali’s optical illusion paintings on view at The Dali Museum. This one is called “Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea Which at Twenty Meters Becomes the Portrait of Abraham Lincoln-Homage to Rothko

Dali also produced a series of monumental canvases known as Masterworks integrating epic history stories often relating to his Catalan homeland or containing intricate optical illusions.

The Lobster Telephone by Salvador Dali, 1938 made of plastic and painted plaster.

The museum features several of Dali’s quirkier works including this lobster phone. Dali says the idea came to him while dining on lobster as he saw someone toss a lobster shell landing on a telephone.

Visions of Dali’s Spain, a photography exhibit by Clyde Butcher at The Dail Museum runs through November 25, 2018. I highly recommend a visit to admire and experience sublime art, photography and architecture.

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October 15, 2018 0 comment

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Florida Southern College’s Collection of Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture

written by Karen LeBlanc

An Architecture Tourism Must-See Site

On land that was once an orange grove in Central Florida, sits the world’s largest single-site collection of structures designed by famed modernist architect Frank Lloyd Wright. I recently toured Florida Southern College, a steward of Wright’s architectural legacy, where 13 buildings he designed comprise the majority of campus.

80 years later, Wright’s presence is omnipresent: The street aptly named Frank Lloyd Wright Way leads to the visitor’s center where organized tours depart and gift and books are available for sale.

The story of how this small private Methodist liberal arts college became an internationally famous destination for architecture tourism begins with an unlikely alliance between Wright and Florida Southern College’s President, Dr. Ludd Spivey.

Dr. Ludd Spivey, President of Florida Southern College welcoming architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his wife, Olgivanna, to the campus

During the Great Depression, Dr. Spivey was looking to make a name for the college, attracting new students and establishing a reputation as a forward-thinking institution. In 1938, with no money to build but a grand vision, Dr. Spivey traveled to Wright’s architectural school at Taliesin in rural Wisconsin to convince the famous architect, now squarely in the second act of his career at 70 years old, that Wright should design the campus. Wright accepted the commission in spite of his dislike for higher education.

Florida Southern College is a National Historic Landmark and listed on the World Monument Fund’s 2008 World Watch List.

“This is the only college campus Wright designed. He wasn’t in favor of higher education and thought it took away from the free thought process. He felt one of the best ways of a student to learn was by doing,” says Mark Tlachac, retired Director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Program at Florida Southern College. Mark is my tour guide and together we walked the campus for three hours, stopping to take in every architectural detail.

The north end of the administration buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Wright, famous for his organic architecture philosophy, designed 18 structures for the college of which 13 were built. He saw the buildings growing out of the ground into the light like a “Child of the Sun.”

Side view of the William H. Danforth Chapel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright showing the triangular leaded glass clerestory windows.

“This is a perfect Frank Lloyd Wright setting with its gently sloping hillside that was a citrus grove. Wright wanted the buildings to blend with the landscape they were on. He wanted to build out of materials native to the site. The land was very sandy so Wright built the buildings out of concrete blocks mixing sand and pulverized seashells in the concrete,” says Mark.

Tapestry blocks Wright designed that form the structural basis of all 13 of his buildings on the campus of Florida Southern College. The block had large matching notches for stacking instead of staggering. The blocks were together with small steel bars and mortar.

Wright designed a building system using tapestry blocks made of concrete mixing in native sands and crushed shells. The concrete blocks had colored pieces of glass embedded that sparkled like jewels in the sunlight. Florida’s harsh climate would later necessitate the restoration of the blocks because of cracking and expansion.

After WWII the blocks became more simple construction without the glass inserts.

“Wright used geometry to design the campus. We have squares, triangles, rectangles. He laid out all the land in six-foot squares with grid lines that run north and south and east and west. He did the same thing vertically so he built six-foot cubes of space throughout the entire campus. Every building lines up perfectly with one of his gridlines geometrically to perfection,” Mark says.

Several years ago, the Water Dome, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, became the first structure here to be fully restored back to Wright’s vision. The water dome is line elevation zero with every other elevation either below or above that on his master plan

At the heart of campus is the iconic Water Dome, the largest water feature Wright ever designed. Symbolizing the fountain of knowledge, the Water Dome shoots arched water 60 feet high and spans 160 feet in diameter.

Geometric cutouts resembling butterfly wings on the Emile E. Watson Administration Building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Wright used geometric thematic elements that echo throughout the campus such as these cutouts in the roof of the esplanades that resemble butterfly wings.

The Esplanade, a system of covered walkways designed by Frank Lloyd Wright to connect campus buildings.

Wright designed a system of covered walkways connecting his buildings known as The Esplanade that winds one and a half miles through campus.

Design details in The Esplanade designed by Frank Lloyd Wright include stamped copper detailing and poured concrete columns in an abstract citrus tree design .

The Esplanade is decorated with copper trim in stamped sheets along the edges. The columns resemble abstract citrus trees stamped in poured concrete.

The Esplanade columns resemble abstract citrus trees.

Also at the center of campus is the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel, the first Wright-designed structure built and the tallest on campus.

The Annie Pfeiffer Chapel is Wright’s signature building at Florida Southern College.

The cantilevered wings form interior balconies. The main level has no side windows with rays of colored light piercing the concrete walls through sparkling cut glass inserts. The chapel’s tower has cutouts in the figurative shape of a bowtie echoed in the college logo.

The skylight in the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel provides a view of the tower superstructure.

Wright did not design windows on the lower level of his chapels because he didn’t want them to distract. Instead, he designed skylights to fill with the chapel with light from above, like God shining down on his people. In the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel, all of the seats face towards each other to foster togetherness.

Interior view of The Annie Pfeiffer Chapel

The Annie Pfeiffer Chapel consists of the main level and cantilevered balconies. Notice the rays of colored light that pierce through the concrete blocks, a signature design element of the campus.

The Annie Pfeiffer Chapel

Wright designed a second campus chapel, the William H. Danforth Chapel as a place of meditation with a large leaded stained glass window in a slanted parallelogram design at the pulpit.

Leaded, stained glass window at the pulpit of the William H. Danforth Chapel

The floor-to-ceiling stained glass juts out at an angle visible from the southwest facade. Framed in native Florida tidewater red-cypress, the chapel still contains the original pews and cushions Wright designed and students built.

The round reading room in The E.T. Roux Library.

The E.T. Roux Library was the fifth Wright-designed structure constructed on campus distinguished for its round reading room interrupted by an irregular oblong section. Clerestory windows encircle the reading room evoking a spaceship silhouette. The library is now used for meetings and office space and the original clerestory windows have been glazed over to block out sunlight.

The round reading room in The E.T. Roux Library.

In the meeting room, several original pieces of furniture Wright designed for the campus are on view including three-legged chairs and roundtables, all crafted of plywood, Wright’s material of choice for furniture. “He experimented with building materials and he loved plywood because it was inexpensive and you could cut it and mold it and make all sorts of shapes.”

Wright designed these pieces for the library. The low chairs had three legs and purportedly, students would topple over when they sat in them but Wirhgt said all students need to learn to sit up straight with good posture.

Wright developed an affinity for plywood as a material for furniture because it was inexpensive and could be cut and molded to make all sorts of shapes.

Furniture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built by students at Florida Southern College for the library.

The original floors were Cherokee red concrete, a deep dark red that was Wright’s favorite color. Today the floors are covered in red carpet.

The Lucius Pond Ordway Building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Florida Southern College once housed the industrial arts program.

Clerestory windows in the Lucius Pond Ordway Building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Florida Southern College.

The Ordway Arts Building constructed in 1952 has retained its original courtyard that connects two parallel arms and a theater-in-the-round.

The Fletcher Theater in the Ordway building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright to serve as a theater-in-the-round

The Fletcher Theater is located at the north end of the west section with its rounded ceiling designed for perfect acoustics and illuminated by Wright’s signature clerestory windows.

The Usonian house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1939 as faculty housing for Florida Southern College. It wasn’t built until 2013

We end our tour at The Usonian house designed by Wright in 1939 as faculty housing. Originally Wright designed 20 such houses for the campus that were never built. In 2013, the college built a prototype of The Usonian House open for public tours.

The 1,200-square-foot home is illuminated by a flood of natural light coming through the floor to ceiling glass windows.

Constructed of approximately 2000 interlocking concrete blocks, the home has two bedrooms and a single bathroom but feels and functions as a larger living space. “Some people think Mr. Wright designed giant mansions but the vast majority of his work was two bedroom houses. He wanted to be the architect for the common man,” Mark says.

Concrete blocks with colored glass inserts and corner shelving in the Usonian House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Wright developed his Usonian design style during the Great Depression as an affordable structure for the average American.

The kitchen in the Usonian House opens up to the main living spaces. Frank Lloyd Wright was the first architect to open up a kitchen to the living room.

The floorplan features a small kitchen with high ceilings lined with windows above that open for air circulation.

The living room of the Usonian House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The house is open for public tours at Florida Southern College.

The kitchen opens to the main living spaces, a living room with large fireplace and dining room, surfaced in Wright’s signature Cherokee Red concrete floors. Mark tells me that Usonian houses are built with screws instead of nails because Wright believed screws are stronger. “Every architectural element of the home lines up with precision accuracy in a gridlike design.”

Florida Southern College campus view of the Water Dome and Esplanade designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Today, Wright’s “Child of the Sun” has matured into an architectural legacy with lessons about our relationship to the landscape and the built environment in the halls of higher learning.

A heartfelt thanks to my fascinating tour guide, Mark Tlachac, retired Director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Program at Florida Southern Colle

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October 9, 2018 1 comment

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Biomimicry Design: What Can We Learn from Nature

written by Karen LeBlanc

There is a lot of buzz about Biomimicry design, this idea that Mother Nature is the ultimate engineer and her handiwork teaches us much about enduring, functional, efficient design. Biomimicry is a philosophy, school of thought and design methodology that applies nature’s design principles to today’s design and engineering challenges

Biomimicry practitioners examine nature’s designs, patterns and strategies to find sustainable solutions to technical and design problems.

For example in building construction, Biomimicry can examine and apply nature’s solutions to light, heat and glare control

Biomimicry is based on respect for nature and the environment nurturing a deep connection between humans and nature.

This idea is nothing new. Leonardo da Vinci used the principles of Biomimicry in his designs. His flying machines drew inspiration from the mechanics of how birds fly and laid the foundation for the Wright brothers’ first powered air flight in 1903.

photo credit: Modern Surfaces

One of the greatest examples of Biomimicry is Velcro, invented by Swiss electrical engineer George de Mestral who got the idea for Velcro after observing that burrs kept sticking to his dog’s fur and his own clothes. He examined the burrs noting how their hooks caught onto anything with a loop and used that concept in this design.

Another example is electronic displays born of the study of butterflies that mimic the wings of a butterfly by reflecting sunlight instead of using backlight or e-ink.

Biomimicry is becoming a mainstream concept in design and engineering at the forefront of creative thought. The Biomimicry Institute co-founded by Janine Benyus, a biological and author of Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Design offers resources and events to promote nature as our design model and mentor. Benyus gave a TED Talk on Biomimicry saying: “We live in a competent universe surrounded by genius. Biomimicry is a new discipline that tries to learn and take design advice. It’s about the organisms and ecosystems that know how to live here gracefully on its planet.”

For more on Biomimicry, check out the following resources aimed at expanding the mainstream application of bio-inspired design :

Ask Nature, an online compilation of nature’s design ideas.

The Biomimicry Institute shares its ‘playbook,’ the Biomimicry 38 DesignLens Collateral Tool Kit, at http://biomimicry.net.

Whether copying nature’s form, function and shape, a process of nature or mimicking an ecosystem, the end goal is to create and build in a way that is more sustainable and functional.

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August 31, 2018 0 comment

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Create a Restful Bedroom with the Latest Design Trends

written by ContributedPost

Bedroom trends lean towards comfortable and inviting. But today, when Gen Xers are more stressed than ever, restful bedroom design is essential. Financial strains, a busy family life, and increasing professional pressure leave many members of Generation X searching for ways to calm their overstressed minds and bodies. What better place to do that than in the bedroom?

Start with Color

The psychological effect of color can depend on a lot of factors, including your own background and experience. But, there are a few generalities that hold true for the majority of people. Colors are divided into two broad categories – warm and cool. Cool colors like blue and green calm the mind and can even bring your heart rate down. If blues and greens aren’t your thing, colors with low saturation like gray, beige, and white don’t overstimulate your eyes and can have a relaxing effect. These neutrals give you more flexibility when decorating with other colors in the room.

Natural Design

Spending time in nature like a park or greenbelt can reduce the effects of depression and anxiety. You can bring some of those natural elements inside and get the same naturally stress-relieving benefits. A few easy ways to add nature to your bedroom include:

Houseplants: Houseplants come with the scents, shapes, and colors of nature. They can also have some amazing sleep benefits. A study conducted by NASA found a long list of plants that improve interior air quality. The spider plant, peace lily, aloe vera, and mother-in-law’s tongue are a few of the plants that made their list. These plants not only have a psychological benefit but remove biotoxins from the air, which can help you get better, deeper sleep.
Artwork: If you don’t have a green thumb, artwork depicting natural elements like trees, leaves, and landscapes can have a similar effect on your mind. Even artwork done in the greens, blues, and browns found in nature can be enough to add an air of calm to your bedroom.
Furniture: Nature-themed and inspired furniture continue to grow in popularity. Pieces made from weathered wood, dressers with branch-like handles, and chandeliers inspired by organic design might be the perfect hint of nature you need.

Simplify the Bed for Greater Comfort

Your mattress serves as the foundation of nighttime comfort. It should support your weight and preferred sleep style without any lumps or sagging. Today, there are many mattresses that are both comfortable and affordable. They can even be purchased online and delivered to your front door.

With the mattress taken care of, it’s time to dress the bed. A growing trend that’s made its way from Japan, called Wabi-Sabi, finds its basis in simple, comfortable beauty. Wabi-Sabi doesn’t mean shabby or cheap but tailor-made and purposeful. It embraces imperfection, which works well for bedding.

Natural fibers like linen and cotton may wrinkle easier than synthetics, but they’re more breathable and comfortable. A bedspread in calming colors (remember the blues, greens, and neutrals) made of soft fabric can look elegant and clean without adding a stiffness to your décor. Limit your design choices to pieces you love so that when you enter the bedroom, it’s like walking into a welcoming embrace.

Blog post author: Samantha Kent is a researcher for SleepHelp.org. Her favorite writing topic is how getting enough sleep can improve your life. Currently residing in Boise, Idaho, she sleeps in a California King bed, often with a cat on her face.

August 29, 2018 0 comment

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Japonism’s Influence in Fashion & Art

written by Karen LeBlanc

The American tour Kimono Refashioned: 1870s-Now! opens October 13, 2018 at the Newark Art Museum showcasing the impact of Japanese garments, textiles, design and aesthetics on global fashions created by internationally recognized designers such as John Galliano, Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, Iris van Herpen and Issey Miyake.

The Kyoto Costume Institute photo by Takashi Hatakeyam

The exhibition, co-organized by the Kyoto Costume Institute and the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, features more than 40 garments by more than 30 Japanese, European and American designers, underscoring the kimono’s influence in contemporary fashion.

The Kyoto Costume Institute photo by Takashi Hatakeyam

Kimono has influenced global fashion since Japan opened to the world in the late 19th century. Motifs used to decorate kimono, its form and silhouette, and its two-dimensional structure and linear cut have all been refashioned into a wide array of garments.

The Kyoto Costume Institute photo by Takashi Hatakeyam

“Kimono Refashioned will present dynamic and visually stunning manifestations of inter-cultural conversations between Japan and the West from the late 18th century through the lens of fashion,” said Interim Co-Director Ulysses Dietz.

The first section of Kimono Refashioned displays oil paintings by William Merritt Chase and Jacques-Joseph James Tissot from the late 1800s as early examples of the influence of kimono.

Kimono Refashioned displays oil paintings by William Merritt Chase and Jacques-Joseph James Tissot from the late 1800s as early examples of the influence of kimono.

The next section accents Japonism in fashion from the late 19th century to the 1920s, when new garments were inspired by the motifs, shapes and cuts of kimono.

John Galliano Ensemble / Autumn/Winter 1994 Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute Photo by Takashi Hatakeyama

The third and largest portion of the exhibition explores contemporary fashion and its use of kimono’s flatness and silhouette, along with cutting-edge Japanese technologies–contemporary and historic–that were employed for weaving, dyeing and decorating textiles. The final section demonstrates how Japan continues to inspire the world of fashion through popular design, including manga and anime.

Raf Simmons Jacket, T-shirt, Trousers/ Autumn/Winter HC 2016 Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute. Photo by Takashi Hatakeyama

Iris van Herpen Dress / Autumn/Winter HC 2016 Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute. Photo by Takashi Hatakeyama

The Kyoto Costume Institute (KCI) pioneered Japonism’s research in fashion focusing on innovative Japanese designers since the late 20th century. KCI systematically collects and preserves authentic samples of western clothing from each era, together with the underpinnings that shape the clothing, and pertinent documents that explicate the background.

Yohji Yamamoto Dress / Spring/Summer 1995 Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute Photo by Takashi Hatakeyama

The collection currently ranges from the 17th century to the present day, with holdings of 12,000 items of clothing and 16,000 documents.

The institute has received donations from some of today’s top designers and fashion houses such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and was presented with a gift of approximately 1,000 sets of clothing from Comme des Garçons.

Christian Louboutin Boots. Photo credit: The Kyoto Costume Institute

The Newark Museum is the exclusive East Coast venue for this exhibition, where it will remain on view until January 6, 2019.

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August 20, 2018 0 comment

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Generation X, the Underrated Trendsetter in Design

written by Karen LeBlanc

Gen X “Consciously Cool” Style Trends

As a woman of a certain age, I’m part of Generation X, those between ages 35 and 50 years old, who are approaching the phase in life where they feel like they should’ve “arrived.” Career success, wealth or at least financial stability should be a fact of life rather than an aspirational ideal. By middle age, we have worked long enough at something, gained enough experience and skill in our chosen career that we are considered an expert.

Office in The New American Remodel 2018, renovated by Farina & Sons, Winter Park Florida

Author Malcolm Gladwell in his best-selling novel, Outliers: The Story of Success posits that it takes 10 thousand hours to master something—most of us have clocked those hours and expect to see the fruits of our labors.

Golden Oak, the luxury residential community located at Walt Disney World Resort within the community’s Four Seasons Private Residences Orlando neighborhood. Home designed and built by Phil Kean.

Our home is the most outward and obvious emblem of success and achievement with curated decor that coincides with and communicates our self-image.

Great room in The New American Remodel 2018, renovated by Farina & Sons , Winter Park, Florida

A recent report by trend forecaster WGSN found that Gen X believes having beautiful living spaces express success though not at the levels of Baby Boomer predecessors at the same age. “The Gen X midlife crisis is defined more by worrying about a status kitchen than rushing out and buying a Ferrari.”

Kitchen in the 2018 New American Home built by Legacy Builders with interior design by Kate Clarke located in Bella Collina, Florida

As we go about balancing parenting, career, a social life and perhaps caring for aging parents, Gen X wants a home that is part status symbol and sanctuary. We are a stressed-out and sleep-deprived generation.

Bedroom in The New American Remodel 2018, renovated by Farina & Sons, Winter Park, Florida.

So much that we now look to color for calm and stability. WGSN cites a Fitbit report that says Americans in their 40s and early 50s get the least amount of sleep because they are squeezed on all sides by the demands of everyday life. “Today’s Gen Xers – aged between 35 and 50 years old – are stressed. They are coming into parenthood at an older age than previous generations, and they are often raising a young family while looking after aging parents. Plus, in this less economically prosperous time, retirement is a long way off.”

photo credit: Sherwin-Williams Colormix forecast 2019

Pantone’s color forecast for home interiors in 2019/20 predicts color will be a refuge from the chaos of daily life with soft pastels and grounded earth tones. We are looking to color to soothe us and make us feel secure, now more than ever. Perhaps that’s why color forecasters say Gen X tends to be more attracted to practical colors throughout the home that are balanced and purposeful.

2018 Kips Bay Decorator Show House, New York City

Beyond the pressures to prove success and lead a balanced life, research says that Gen X strives to remain relevant, cool and youthful. This mentality is propelling a whole lifestyle trend we call self-care as Gen X seeks holistic solutions for the home that promote physical and mental well-being.

2018 Kips Bay Decorator Show House, New York City

“The challenge for many Gen Xers is to retain coolness alongside the realities of aging and responsibility. From tattoos to recreational drugs, a stereotypical midlife crisis doesn’t work for this generation – they’ve done it all already, and unlike their wealthy Boomer counterparts, they don’t have the money to splash on a sports car. The answer is, at least in part, to focus in on the home environment,” WGSN says.

2018 Kips Bay Decorator Show House, New York City

WGSN also notes that Gen Xers are inclined to transfer their cool to their kids creating designer children’s rooms. “Children’s rooms are given just as much thought as any other space in the house. Architects are increasingly being asked by parents to design children’s rooms that develop creativity and imagination.”

As Generation X, we are in our best earning years yet often overlooked by marketers who are hyper-focused on Millennials and Generation Z (those born in 1995 or later). According to the US Department of Labor, Generation X spends more on housing, clothing, eating out and entertainment than any other generation.

Whether referred to as “the neglected middle child” or that generation of latchkey children, Generation X’s spending power and value in the workforce are undeniable. In the world of social media influencers and “lifestylists” our sense of style is honed by wisdom, an appreciation for finer things and a life well-lived.

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August 15, 2018 0 comment

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My Favorite Parisian Quirks & Charms

written by Karen LeBlanc

This summer, I visited Paris, not as a Design Tourist, but as a parent to show my children the city’s must-see landmarks, monuments, and museums. Beyond the City of Lights’ obvious attractions, Paris has many quirks and charms that make it, well Paris. Here are my favorite idiosyncracies in the city.

Architectural Lighting on Public buildings:

For the past sixty years, Paris has made decorative and architectural lighting a priority illuminating and highlighting important sites and monuments. City administration is currently updating many of these older lighting schemes to more energy-efficient LEDs.

To date, 313 Parisian sites are illuminated including municipal buildings, the bridges of the Seine, emblematic public monuments belonging to the State: Arc de Triomphe, Panthéon, the July Column, and cultural monuments including Notre Dame, churches and many other noteworthy sites and constructions.

Spontaneous Street Performances:

On a Sunday night, as we were strolling the grounds of Notre Dame, a street performance began drawing quite the crowd. Juggler Alexandre Ledit, winner of France’s Incredible Talent Search Show, Season 3, and his troupe of fire jugglers held a free show that began with Alexandre’s mesmerizing crystal ball juggling and dance choreography followed by nail-biting flame throwing and fire juggling. This talented group of performers is one of those unexpected discoveries when you just take time to roam Paris, sit awhile and take it all in.

Instagram Worthy Bridges:

Thirty-seven bridges connect the left and right banks of Paris over the Seine River, each with its own backstory and unique architectural character. The Pont Neuf is considered to be the oldest stone bridge in Paris. Henri IV ordered it to be constructed in 1578 with its 12 arches, 384 mascarons (grotesque faces) decorating the cornices and the equestrian statue of Henri IV. A portion of the Seine riverbanks is UNESCO world heritage site and it runs from Pont de Sully to Pont de Bir-Hakeim via Pont Alexandre III

Religious Architecture:

As an architecture aficionado, the churches of Paris are some of the finest examples of Romanesque and Gothic vernacular.

Beyond the headliners, Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur, there is a church in just about every neighborhood in Paris as chroniclers of history set in stone.

Food Art:

For foodies, even the ordinary becomes art in the hands of skilled and creative servers, chefs, baristas, and bakers. Check out this gelato in the form of a flower bloom topped with a meringue cookie. It’s the little things that impress me most.

Architectural Mashups:

Modern architecture melds with historic architecture throughout Paris. The most obvious example is the Louvre where its sleek glass triangle pavilion, an addition in 1983 designed by I.M. Pei, FAIA sits alongside the historic quadrangle of the Louvre buildings.

The 71-foot-tall glass-and-metal pyramid caps an underground welcoming reception area, as well as a system of public spaces and circulation for visitors to access the collections. After initially suffering much criticism an architectural joke and eyesore, Pei’s glass pyramid is now respected and celebrated as a defining landmark of the Parisian landscape.

Cell Phone Pics Of The Mona Lisa:

The fact that you can actually take cell phone pics of the Mona Lisa baffles me. If you can elbow your way through the throngs of tourists, you have to snap a selfie with the smiling lady. I made my cell phone snap of Mona Lisa my new screen saver. The Louvre does allow still and video photography for private, non-commercial use only in the galleries housing the permanent collection. The use of flash or other means of artificial lighting is prohibited. Photography and filming are not permitted in the temporary exhibition galleries. The same restrictions apply to the photographing or filming of technical installations and equipment.

Maximalism Decor of The French Court:

When it comes to over-the-top decor, the French court excelled at what we now call Maximalism style, that 17th-century Baroque style and 18th-century Rococo aesthetic where every inch of a room is gilded, carved, painted, or plastered in decorative arts that scream wealth and excess.

The eccentric styles gave us ornate wood paneling, fine tapestries, furniture, decorative bronze work, marble items, gold, silverware, and porcelain, like no other era in design.

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August 8, 2018 0 comment

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New Emojis for 2018 Have Designs on Conversations and Commerce

written by Karen LeBlanc

On July 17, the world celebrated National Emoji Day, yes. It’s a thing now. Emojis are morphing into a universal language of sorts and soon, 157 new emojis will join your smart device collection. These new emojis were approved for release by mid-2018 by the governing organization, Unicode bringing the grand total of emojis at our fingertips to 2,823.

New emojis coming soon include faces with different skin tones, hair types and colors including redheads and curly haired emojis and range from the practical to the quirky. New facial expressions include the partying face, pleading face and woozy face emojis. The swan, peacock, parrot and lobster also have their own emojis this year.

Emojis are part of our collective lexicon and an emerging field of influential design that mixes psychology, pop culture, practical expression and commerce to come up with new symbols that communicate how we feel in ways that words simply can’t.

It’s a genre of design that deserves respect and is gaining traction as a legit industry. Emojis are now referenced in the AP Stylebook, an authority on grammar, style and usage for journalists.

Emojis are also gaining a lot of clout in commerce with cutting-edge brands incorporating emojis for search and purchase tasks. Google’s twitter handle now responds to emoji searches by simply tweeting an emoji to @Google and you’ll receive local search results related to the emoji.

Aficionados of this commonplace communication tool now celebrate World Emoji Day established in 2014, by Emojipedia founder Jeremy Burge. Emoji enthusiasts also have their own annual conference, Emojicon that brings together speakers, guests and notable emoji figures who debate and explore topics such as the concept of Neuromoji— how emoji are changing the brain.

Emojis also have their own popularity contest where each year, emoji enthusiasts vote on their favorites. The 2018 Emoji of the Year is the ‘Thinking Face’ emoji.

The Best New Emoji goes to the ‘Exploding Head’ emoji

Most Anticipated Emoji goes to the ‘Lacrosse Stick and Ball’, coming to phones in late 2018.

Ever wonder how an emoji ends up on your smart device? It’s an interesting process to ponder. Behind the scenes, Unicode approves and sets the standard language for emoji code so that emojis are rendered across platforms like Android, iOS, Facebook, Samsung, and others. the Unicode Consortium handles the selection process with its members, including Google, Facebook, Huawei, and Netflix, voting on fresh symbols every year.

Once an emoji is approved, various platforms and vendors such as Google and Apple set out creating their interpretation of the animation using the data necessary to create their emoji fonts and code. These new emojis start showing up on mobile phones in August or September.

You can check out all of the new emojis for 2018 by clicking here: http://www.unicode.org/emoji/charts-11.0/emoji-released.html

These images are just samples: vendors for mobile phones, PCs, and web platforms will typically use images that fit their overall emoji designs.

If you would like to take a crack at designing your own emoji, there is a process to follow outlined by Unicode for new emoji proposals

Now here are some fun facts according to Word Emoji Day:

📸 By mid-2015, half of all comments on Instagram included an emoji

📊 The most used emoji on Twitter is 😂 Face With Tears of Joy according to

📈 More than 700M emojis are used in Facebook posts every day

💬 Over 900M emojis are sent every day without text on Facebook Messenger

Another interesting factoid, July 17th marks World Emoji Day because that is the date famously displayed on the calendar emoji:

In 1999, the first emoji appeared in Japan, the creation of Shigetaka Kurita who worked at the Japanese telecommunications company NTT DOCOMO. Almost a decade later, emojis made their way into cell phones in the US. In 2010, emojis were incorporated into Unicode, the standard that governs the software coding of text. That year, Unicode released 722 emoji on both iPhone and Android.

Everyone has their personal favorite. Mine is the Meh face but with the latest crop of emojis coming out, I suspect I’ll be partial to the partying face. What’s your favorite emoji? Leave a comment at the bottom of the blog post to share with our readers.

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August 1, 2018 0 comment

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Holiday Decorating Trends for 2019

written by Karen LeBlanc

Mother Nature Meets Santa Claus in Holiday Looks For 2019

It’s July, the pivotal month where Christmas is on the brain with countless “Christmas in July” sales, specials and events aimed at getting you focused on the holiday season ahead. So, in honor of all this “Christmas in July” hype, I’m bringing you a look ahead at the trending holiday looks for 2019. For the latest holiday styles and decorating ideas, I look to Christmasworld, a global show for holiday decorations held annually in Frankfurt, Germany.

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Peter Litvai

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Gift Company

Expect the 2019 holiday season to couple Santa Claus with Mother Nature as natural materials and earthy motifs ground the tinsel, faux snow and bling, bling ornaments. Surfaces and structures lean towards nature with grainy, frosty and bark-like textures. Patterns are inspired by nature, including above all, fir trees, deer, twigs, snowflakes, stars and feathers. Wood makes a strong showing in decorative figures. Envision design elements such as wooden trays, candle holders, lanterns, twigs and coniferous wreaths, and hanging decorations in the shape of animals and fir cones.

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Designimdorf

Key color stories venture far beyond the traditional red and green with this trend towards natural themes with blue and green surfacing as dominant colors on holiday decor.

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Rui Camilo

There are many iterations of this Mother Nature-Meets Father Christmas the look mixes animal, plants, insects and sea life in colorful, whimsical scenarios: woodland scenes with deer, squirrels and owls.

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Krebs + Sohn

jungles populated with peacocks, parrots, monkeys, orchid blossoms and palm leaves; meadows with blooms and butterflies and beetles and insects and underwater worlds swarming with jellyfish, corals, seashells, fish, crabs and seahorses.

Here are some of my favorite trending Christmas scenarios to get you inspired as you plan your holidays.

Warm Holiday Lighting:

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Pietro Sutera

Moving lights, wirelessly controlled by an App, bring the figures and objects to life. Warm golden light is visibly taking over from cold white light.

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Pietro Sutera

Transparent Christmas baubles filled with light have the potential to be favourite pieces.

Natural Ornaments:

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Pietro Sutera

Christmas decorations merge with real flowers and blossoms, green plants, twigs and succulents and faux flowers and plants as tree ornaments, wreath designs and mantel swags, all enhanced with the scents of candles, room sprays and scent diffusers.

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Rudolph Keramik

The color palette pulls in the colors of autumn leaves— red gold and aubergine as well as cinnamon, grey, beige and white with accents of black.

Folklore Influences:

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Peter Litvai

Folkloric motifs mix with patterns in color palettes of yellow, blue and red to create a richly decorated holidayscape with unexpected, humorous touches.

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH

Design elements include differently glazed and inscribed ceramics, gift boxes with blue printed and batik patterning, and candles in intense solid colors with gentle grooved designs. In between all this, there are eye-catching elements: paper maché rams and horses painted by Ukrainian artisans, strings of lights in the shape of small lobsters, and a wild band of robbers made of glass that is destined for hanging on the tree.

Minimalist Motif:

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Pietro Sutera

This holiday decor theme is an understated style in pure white, deep black, red gold, and cool grey. It draws influences from Japanese aesthetics to create a calm, meditative atmosphere with delicate materials. Artistically pleated, plaited and folded baubles and stars made of matt white paper make an appearance as tree decorations.

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH

Design elements include minimal shapes and simple materials such as chipboard, wire and paper, light wood, matt porcelain with perforated patterns, transparent glass baubles and cones dusted with white snow, ornaments with high-gloss silver or black surfaces, and marbled Christmas tree decorations in black and white, radiate calm.

Eclectic Gathering:

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Rui Camilo

Eclectic gathering is a quirky, vibrant look, full of energy, multifaceted, and intensely colored. The color story includes lemon, pink, mandarin, azure and rosé enriched with gold and grounded with black.

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH

This is a look of contrasts with figurative, fanciful and exaggerated design elements. Christmas baubles in neon colors and ombré-effect patterns, others embellished with sequins and mother-of-pearl work, iridescent bird ornaments, dragonflies dipped in gold, and glass jellyfish dusted with gold adorn the tree work together to create a visual feast.

Vintage Opulence:

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Shishi

This Christmas winter wonderland embraces color palettes inspired by the ocean, precious stones and minerals. Dark greens, dark blue shades, light blues, warm golds, bronze and metallic tones, combine to create a mystical, opulent holiday scape. Envision opalescent ornaments in aquamarine and aventurine shades of green with metallic effects, relief work, and patinas inspired by nature. Christmas decorations that are marbled, veined in gold, sprayed with glitter, and studded with pearls are very decorative.

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Pietro Sutera

Transparent glass decorations in the shape of crystals with a shimmering look, and precious glass baubles with seemingly rusted metallic coatings, create a mysterious and sumptuous effect. Gold bowls and ceramic dishes in the shape of large palm leaves are all part of this exalted style.

Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH

For even more holiday decor ideas, check out my Holiday Tour of the famed Stetson Mansion:

For even more holiday decor ideas, check out this blog post.

July 20, 2018 0 comment

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The New Face of the Workplace

written by Karen LeBlanc

The Latest Design Trends from NeoCon 2018 Create a Home Away from Home

As the office looks and feels more like home, architects and designers are ramping up the wellness factor. This growing concern for employee well-being brings into focus biophilic design concepts and sustainability all aimed at creating healthier commercial spaces.

At NeoCon 2018, held in June at The Mart in Chicago, the buzz was all about biophilic design, the practice of incorporating natural materials, natural light, vegetation, nature views and other experiences of the natural world into the workplace.

ESI Ergonomic Solutions LotusDX Lifestyle workstation

From adaptive furnishings to living walls and privacy pods, today’s office employs design elements that foster community and company culture, collaboration and physical activity with just the right dose of me-time.

Several standout exhibitors exemplify this new face of the workplace with innovative products that embody the direction commercial design is headed. Let’s break it down to five major design trends creating this new face of the workplace.

Biophilic Design:

Climate Office Hedge Elements are plant walls of philodendron that can be equipped with acoustically-effective filling for sound absorption that is made of recycling material.

Biophilic design counterbalances all of the time we spend indoors by strengthening our connection to the outside. Research shows that contact with nature stimulates the human parasympathetic system. The idea is rooted in Japan where the popularity of forest bathing prevails— taking walks outside among trees and nature to lower stress levels.

I discovered an interesting study from the environmental consulting firm Terrapin Bright Green. “The Economics of Design” found that incorporating nature into the built environment is not just a luxury, but a sound economic investment in health and productivity, based on well researched neurological and physiological evidence.

Privacy Pods:

Open-concept office spaces meant to spark collaboration and imagination come with a downside— the lack of privacy. To compensate for all that social space, there is a growing demand for products that provide privacy on demand. From agile partitions to mobile pods, manufacturers are offering new solutions to create quiet time away from other co-workers.

Framery Q provides a stylish solution with a quiet and comfortable space designed for two users to have meetings, work sessions and important conversations.

JabbrrX, cutting-edge IoT workspace solutions designed for use in open and semi-public spaces, the on-demand consumer amenity offers the perfect environment for on-the-go work, well-being, and privacy.

Healthy Products:

Healthy products and materials in the workplace that minimize or eliminate off-gassing and are crafted of recycled materials also factor into employee well-being at work.

Room One is a privacy solution for open-plan offices designed to create a moment of peace in the open-plan office made with recycled plastic bottles. Engineered to reduce noise in the office, helping support employees’ work preferences as well as mental health and well-being, the system’s human-centric design is easy to customize.

One standout sustainable product caught my attention with signage bearing the quote: “20,000 bottles are bought every second, by 2050 the ocean will contain more plastic by weight than fish. Source: Ellen Macarthur foundation. It makes you stop and think, doesn’t it? What about all those ubiquitous plastic water bottles and soda bottles.

We know China has tamped down on recycling our plastic refuse as a consequence of escalating trade tensions. Sustainable manufacturers are vital to our earth’s health more than ever in the marketplace, innovating ways to reuse our refuse. For that, I give props to Shaw Contract for launching its new product category, PET Resilient flooring made from 40 percent post-consumer recycled content. The Palette collection is made of 16 recycled plastic bottles per square foot, 64 recycled bottles per plank, and no plasticizers, chlorine, or PVC. Starting with a minimum of 40 percent post-consumer recycled content, its trajectory aims to dramatically increase the use of PCC plastics to minimize our carbon footprint.

Designed in collaboration with Jason McLennan of McLennan Design, Lichen is the first flooring product to achieve the International Living Future Institute Living Product Challenge Petal certification.

Another sustainable product standout is the Lichen Collection by Mohawk Group, a new modular plank carpet system, inspired by the idea of “Nature’s Carpet. ” Mohawk Group says the creation and specifying of Lichen has a net positive impact for people and the environment, through innovations in materials, manufacturing and community involvement.

Get Up and Move:

As architects and designers seek ways to get employees up from their desks and moving more, adaptive furnishings are gaining popularity as one solution. Reconfigurable and highly adjustable furnishings promote physical activity on at work. There is a growing product category of active workspaces with new sit-to-stand capabilities such as the Accel Active Desktop that provides ample space for a variety of work tasks and repositions at the touch of a button – no lifting effort required.

The Sound of Silence:

Floating Panel Workspace CoArt Acoustics

All this open space in the workplace makes means sound mitigation can be challenging. Acoustical solutions that minimize unwanted noise at work are essential to loft-like commercial spaces and NeoCon offered a wide range of products promoting the sound of silence.

Lina Mosaic sound absorbing panels

Polarmoss Flex Element, made of reindeer moss, panels for interior walls.

This year NeoCon celebrated its 50th anniversary, with a nod towards its beginnings as a commercial design industry trade show in 1969.

Studio TK, a NeoCon exhibitor, succinctly captured the gist of the collective conversation on a sign that read: “Social spaces, that create connections, prioritize well-being and express a point of view, have a work culture that empowers people to do the same.”

Studio TK

This blurring of the lines between home and office challenges designers to create productive, comfortable workspaces that emulate the comforts of home but with the on-the-job structure.

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July 9, 2018 0 comment

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Inside the Design Mind of Alan Pepin

written by Karen LeBlanc

Editor’s Note: I met Alan Pepin, a freelance product designer, at a recent trend talk I gave at LightStyle of Orlando. Pepin has his own design studio, Red Dog Run Design, and works with a variety of retail and manufacturing clients in the categories of home decor, lighting, furniture and textiles. He is the design mind behind the home decor products of several popular retail brands. I want to take you behind the scenes for an up-close look at the creative process of one of the most prolific designers in the business. In my interview with Alan, he shares his creative process that gets products from the page to the store shelves

Alan Pepin, freelance product designer, founder/owner of Red Dog Run Design, St. Cloud, Florida

First a bit about his background: Alan started designing products in 1997 at Marshall Field’s department store in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He created technical illustrations for ready-to-wear which led to designing for the home division creating products for Frank Lloyd Wright Gallery and Thomas O’Brien. Later, Alan moved to the product development team at Target Stores, where he continued to design for the home division.

Please describe your creative process. Give us a peek inside your “Design Mind”

Matte black home decor products by Alan Pepin, DCOTA, 2018

When it comes to product design, I begin by collecting information. I need to understand my client’s particular niche and what their goals are. Then I need to take a deep look at the marketplace they are in (or want to enter). My thinking here is to look for missed opportunities or gaps, and where my clients may gain an advantage.

I’m constantly looking at new products, as well as emerging finishes and materials. At the same time, I’ve been taught by some of the best designers it is critical to have a good grasp of the classics, and what makes great design so timeless.

What are your muses in the creative and design process?

Barbara Hepworth – “Sculpture with Colour and Strings”; Jasper Table Lamp for J. Alexander

That’s an interesting question. My first love has always been fine art. Painting, drawing, sculpture. At a young age, I learned that art presented the opportunity to share what really moved me.

Over the years I’ve learned there isn’t much difference between art and design. Sometimes the product is useful and solves a particular problem, and sometimes it’s simply decoration. Regardless, in order for people to feel compelled to buy, they must be moved in some thoughtful or inspiring way.

What are the latest design trends driving products for the home since this is part of your expertise?

Metallic Glass at West Elm, Brooklyn, NY

We live in such a dynamic time! We’re living so fast and overwhelmed with constant choices. The continuous move towards minimalism, clean lines and nature are still strong. People need their spaces to feel like a retreat from all the noise. Some folks have said that minimalism is falling away and maximalism is the “it” look, but I’m not seeing much of that. The materials are a bit more luxurious; beautifully grained woods, seeded and plated metallic glass finishes and colors that are a bit more deep and rich.

Looking forward, any emerging trends of note?

Ilse Crawford’s Book, Sensual Home

As of late, the world outside seems more chaotic and divisive. Whether it’s politics or socially, it just feels heavy and darker. I’m seeing more stories and design that centers on creating a space that invites the positive and the peaceful. It’s not only about minimalism, it’s personal. It’s reflective and inspiring. Maybe somewhat spiritual? I’ve been looking back at Ilse Crawford’s classic book Sensual Home for inspiration.

The design world is experiencing seen a return to craftsmanship and traditional artisan techniques with an emphasis on the handmade. Does this influence how and what you design?

Red Dog Design studio, inside the S.W. Porter Building, circa 1915, St. Cloud, Florida

I recently interviewed local designer, Angela Neel, for a project and asked her thoughts on craftsmanship and attention to detail. She said, “You may not be aware of the crown moulding in a room, but you feel it.”

A really insightful observation in my view, and I think people in general are awakening to this. You may not be aware of the exact construction of a given item, whether it’s an acacia wooden chair or a basket woven from seagrass, but you feel it. It’s weight and texture. The depth of its finish. You really feel these things.

Are there any individuals in the creative world, past or present, you admire and seek to emulate or who elevate the bar for your work?

Wow, there are many. Personally, I’ve always admired Eva Zeisel, Gerald Thurston, and Mathieu Matégot’s work. A few contemporary designers I really admire are Kelly Wearstler, Ilse Crawford and Lake and Wells founders, Mark Kinsley and Tamera Leigh Staten.

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July 6, 2018 0 comment

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Inside The Design Mind of Kate Clarke, Inventor of The 2 Way Chaise

written by Karen LeBlanc

June 28, 2018 0 comment

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My Design Chat Takeaways on the Podcast Wives Winedown Wednesday

written by Karen LeBlanc

I recently appeared as a guest on the podcast Wives Winedown Wednesday to share the latest home interior trends and decorating tips and tricks. To listen to the full podcast, available on SoundCloud, click below:

While sipping wine with hosts Angela Bell Deems, Mitzi Hoag, and Lauren Graham White, the ladies wanted to hear about the basic direction home style is headed.

Me, Karen LeBlanc, Design Journalist, aka The Design Tourist, with the hosts of the Wives Winedown Wednesday Podcast, Angela Bell Deems, Mitzi Hoag, and Lauren Graham White

Here are the top takeaways from my Podcast design chat:

Making It Personal is the Predominant Style in Living Spaces:

The latest looks are all about personality and authenticity rather than copycat styles torn from the glossy pages of shelter magazines. The overarching trend in home decor is more of an anti-trend— it’s all about creating spaces that tell your story through thoughtfully collected and curated elements and objects rather than meaningless stuff. Fill your home with possessions that have backstories which give them beauty and value that supersede any price tag.

Stylish-ISH is the Design Mantra:

As people seek to personalize their living spaces, there is a lot of design-hacking going on, this riff on established styles. I call this home decor movement “Stylish-ISH” adding a dose of “ishness” that customizes the standard style lexicon: Think “Modern-ISH, Industrial-ISH, Retro-ISH and Traditional-ISH and you get the idea. Modern-ISH is sleekness softened with natural materials and textures.

Retro-ISH brings in vintage elements in a modern-day setting creating a space that hints at nostalgia without looking like a museum exhibit.

Industrial-ISH style takes on a softer, lighter look striking a balance between machination and sophistication with knurled detailing, warm metals, especially rose gold and copper, and glass elements.

My Decorating Formula:

The family room in my personal home embodies my design formula

I also wanted to share with you my formula for decorating rooms: Texture + Color + Metallic+ Organic =Timeless Decor. I think every room should speak to the senses with fabrics pleasing to the touch, plants that ground us in nature, metallic accents to bounce light and brighten the space and natural materials such as wood or stone for timeless appeal.

Deep Thoughts on Design:

As we embrace the idea of our living space as an autobiographical statement rather than a style with no substance, we are drawn to products, materials and objects that tell our story through craftsmanship and traditional artisan techniques rather than mass production. This emphasis on handmade, limited edition pieces circles back to our desire to personalize our homes rather than that “keep up with the Joneses” look so pervasive in the 90s and early 2000s. As I said in the podcast, it’s an exciting time to design and create because there are no rules.” If it speaks to you, then it has style no matter how cray-cray others may say:

2018 © Nickolas Sargent Photography

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June 22, 2018 0 comment

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Foodie Destinations Top Millennial Travelers’ Vacation Choices

written by Karen LeBlanc

Top Foodie Destinations Tempting the Tastebuds of Travelers

Hotels.com in its Tasty Travels research picked several cities as “Top of the Chops” for foodie travelers. Paris, Tokyo and Rome are the top three foodie destinations according to Hotels.com which commissioned edible renderings of the top three foodie destinations by renowned food artist Carl Warner.

Food artist Carl Warner created this city scene of Paris featuring Parisian markets and the Eiffel Tower out of chocolate and blue cheese. Photo credit: Hotels.com

Each city scene, captured in HD photography, is constructed with famous foods from each location. “When Hotels.com approached me with the idea, I instantly knew this project was right up my bean-cobbled, blue cheese street! It was a great opportunity for me to bring images and scenes of these hugely popular foodie destinations to life in an exciting and contemporary way. I hope that these images will not only blow people away, but inspire them to get online, get booking and not just ‘sight-see’ but ‘sight-taste’,” says Carl, a food artist and photographer.

Food artist Carl Warner created this city scene of Rome featuring the Pantheon and a cobbled back street out of pasta, Parma ham and Parmesan cheese. Photo credit: Hotels.com

Food artist Carl Warner created this city scene of Tokyo featuring a zen garden and tea ceremony overlooking Mount Fuji out of Maki rolls, ginger and shiitake mushrooms. Photo credit: Hotels.com

Hotels.com research also offers insight into millennial travelers, where nearly two thirds (60%) in the U.S. choose their holiday destination based on what they’ll eat – not what they’ll see or do. “American millennial travelers (64%) say foodie vacation experiences are the most memorable. The younger generation in the U.S. is now even more focused on munching delicious local delicacies on vacation (65%) than visiting landmarks (49%) and exploring the outdoors (34%),” says Hotels.com

Millennial travelers also prefer “food over friends” with 78% of millennial U.S. travelers admitting that they prefer to snap their food instead of their friends’ faces (36%) for Instagram. The research also pinpoints a rise in food photography on social media, revealing that during a week-long vacation, U.S. millennial travelers snap on average 128 photos, of which 15% are of food.

The Tasty Travels research also revealed that millennials are opting for street food (20%) over Michelin star restaurants (19%) and say foodie experiences stand out the most in their vacation memories. This topped spending time with their travel buddy (22%), and even an exciting adrenaline activity (11%).

Johan Svanstrom, president of Hotels.com comments: “The love amongst millennial travelers for what we at Hotels.com have dubbed #TastyTravels, stems from food being one of the most connective and rewarding currencies there is. Experiences are the new wealth and food provides one of life’s most pleasurable experiences, where there’s always something new to try when you travel. So, it’s understandable that younger generations of travelers are defining their holiday by what they can eat, how they eat it, and how good the ‘Grams’ will be while they’re away.”

Other foodie cities making the list include London, Barcelona, New York and Madrid.

For more on what’s new and next in design, subscribe to The Design Tourist Channel and sign up for the blog email.

June 19, 2018 0 comment

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HomLuv: A Digital Disruptor in the New Home Market

written by Karen LeBlanc

Pinterest Meets Houzz in Shopping Platform for New Homes.

Editor’s note: I get hundreds of press releases weekly and the ones that cut through the noise— the ones that I choose to write about in magazines and on my blog are game-changers influencing the way we shop, live, decorate and create. HomLuv caught my attention because it is one of those digital disruptors in the homebuying industry changing the way we search for a new home. Now, the home finds you. I interviewed Mark Law, VP Product Innovation for HomLuv, on the day HomLuv launched, June 14, 2018. Here is a deep dive into this new website:

Building a new home comes with a steep learning curve and one of the most challenging aspects is matching your design voice, lifestyle needs and budget to the perfect builder. The new online site HomLuv.com recently launched as the first visual search and discovery platform for people looking to build or buy new homes. Think of it as a cross between Houzz and Pinterest, where buyers indicate which images they like or dislike and HomLuv creates a unique profile for them using artificial intelligence and crowdsourcing tools to match buyers with homebuilders who can build their perfect home, in their desired location, and price range.

Unlike the traditional Multiple Listing Service (MLS) where the buyer searches for a home from the outside-in, HomLuv flips the search process around, showing buyers interior images, floor plans and videos. “People buy a home from the inside out,” explains Mark Law, VP Product Innovation for HomLuv, who used the site to find his new home in Austin, Texas. His three millennial-aged children also used the site in their new home searches.

During the testing of HomLuv technology, data showed that most consumers on the site started their search queries with kitchens and master baths rather than exteriors. “With the real estate listing sites, the homebuyer is not in control because the site’s algorithms decide what to show. Every single buyer has a preference of how they want to enter the house and it’s not through the front door,” says Mark, a technologist who has worked with industry heavy-hitters including MSN, Microsoft, Yahoo, and AOL.

“Builders and real estate listing sites tend to start with the exterior of the house and the homebuyer has to hunt and peck to find the best rooms they are interested in. Our testing shows that people want to look at the home’s exterior at the end of the search process. The entire new home marketplace has it backward.”

“With Pinterest, people create boards pinning images of homes and interiors that they like but it leads to nowhere because there is no way to click on the photo and find the builder,” explains Mark. HomLuv is an image-centric online platform that allows homebuyers to explore design options, share that collection with the co-buyer and collaborate in real time.

Homebuyers can click a heart icon next to each image indicating the ones they like and share them on a digital board with their co-buyer, spouse or loved one. The system is designed to open up communication by sharing comments on each room.

HomLuv’s artificial intelligence takes all of that data to match the homebuyer with the ideal home and builder. “For millennials, this was an eye-opening experience because HomLuv is a neutral place to understand your significant other’s preferences before you walked into the model home.”

Once HomLuv matches the homebuyer with their ideal builder, it will ask if they want to be in contact with the builder. “We aren’t just pushing leads to the builder without the homebuyer’s permission.”

HomLuv’s parent company NewhomeSource.com is the largest website for new construction representing almost half of the US new home inventory. Many of the builders on HomLuv originated from NewHomeSource.com. To date, Mark says HomLuv has more than a million photos of rooms and represents thousands of builders nationwide.

“There are many people, especially millennials, who are dreaming of a home and they don’t know where to start but they aren’t ready to visit model homes. Millennials are not running around doing field tours of spec homes; they are searching online. HomLuv allows them to explore their options based on their own criteria.”

As a new website that recommends new homes and builders to suit homebuyers’ tastes, needs and budgets, HomLuv doesn’t compete with traditional real estate listing sites but rather enhances the new home buying process.

For more on what’s new and next in design, subscribe to The Design Tourist Channel and sign up for the blog email.

June 19, 2018 0 comment

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Innovative Design Find: The Two Way Chaise Lounge

written by Karen LeBlanc

I’m always on the lookout for innovative design finds and my latest discovery is the Two Way Chaise Lounge because it offers a better way to sunbathe. Invented by interior designer Kate Clarke, the Two Way Chaise Lounge is designed to raise up or down on either end so you can follow the sun’s rays without having to constantly get up and flip the chair around.

The Two Way Chaise Lounge, a better way to sunbathe. Invented by interior designer Kate Clarke. Each end of the lounge chair flips up or down so you can follow the sun’s rays. Photo credit: The Design Tourist

I’m sure many of you can relate to the aggravation of having to move your lounge chair to follow the constantly changing direction of the sun. The shade inevitably creeps over your perfect poolside spot forcing you to shift positions to stay in the sun. Kate had an ah-ha moment while lounging at a resort’s crowded pool that became the inspiration for her Two Way Chaise Lounge.

The Two Way Chaise Lounge pictured here in the faux wicker frame with optional cushions in navy blue. Photo credit: The Design Tourist.

“One guy lifted his chaise lounge around and hit me with it and I thought to myself— Wow if the lounge chair could go up or down on both sides, that wouldn’t be an issue,” says Kate, who engineered the Two Way Chaise Lounge with several practical features.

Each chair comes with a pull out drawer underneath the seat that contains a solar charger for electronic devices so you don’t need to be tethered to an outlet poolside. The pull out drawer doubles as a drink stand eliminating the need for a side table. This game-changing invention also provides a stylish, space-saving solution for busy resorts and high volume cruise ships where poolside spots are at a premium.

Each Two Way Chaise Lounge was a built-in drawer that contains a solar charger to charge electronic devices poolside.

I tried out the Two Way Chaise Lounge recently to even out my ridiculous tennis tanlines and found it super easy to use. The chair is lightweight and easy to lift up or down on either side. I really enjoyed the convenience of the solar charger which kept my cell phone battery charged up so I could text and check emails poolside. The drawer comes with an optional lock so I can lock up my belongings and take a dip in the pool, knowing they are safe.

The Design Tourist aka Karen LeBlanc sunbathing with the Two Way Chaise Lounge.

I also appreciate the lounge chair’s sense of style; it comes in a faux wicker frame, aluminum frame and poly wood frame with optional cushions made of Sunbrella fabric and outdoor rated foam in a wide variety of colors. For the resort and hospitality industries, the Two Way Lounge Chair is available in a sling fabric that can be customized with a logo.

The Two Way Chaise Lounge in sling fabric that can be customized with a resort or cruise line’s logo.

Kate has a direct relationship with the factory that produces her Two Way Chaise Lounge and can fulfill a large custom order in only eight to ten weeks.

“I envision the Two Way Chaise Lounge in resorts and cruise ships where space is tight. This solves the problem because it eliminates the need for a side table so the pool area can accommodate more chaise lounges in tighter spaces. It also allows sunbathers to either follow the sun’s rays or stay in the shade by flipping the ends up or down.”

The Two Way Chaise Lounge in sling fabric that can be customized with a resort or cruise line’s logo.

The Two Way Chaise Lounge is a clever design find that offers a stylish space saving solution for the hospitality industry and goes great with any poolscape at home.

Check out the Two Way Chaise Lounge in action in this video:

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June 11, 2018 0 comment

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Modern-ish, The Latest Iteration of Contemporary Style

written by Karen LeBlanc

Most of you know that I express my passion for design as both as Design Journalist and a Decorator. I’m always on the hunt for the latest looks and trends to keep you up to date on the ever-evolving world of style. When it comes to my personal home, I try to stay current and contemporary without being too trendy. Yes, we all know that home decor typically requires a refresh after 10 years because looks go in and out of the style. The Mediterranean/Tuscan inspired interiors of the 90s and early 2000s with their faux finishes and heavy-handed embellishments gave way to today’s lighter, streamlined styles. Not everyone is a fan of modern decor. I get it. For me, I want a clean, uncluttered space that feels like I can breathe. I like simple and serene. With this in mind, I invite you on a tour of my personal residence. A Florida modern home that reflects its regional vernacular: slightly pitched rooflines that appear flat from the facade with geometric angles and elevations embracing touches of wood and stone.

The Design Tourist’s personal residence, a Florida Modern Home. The exterior elevation has a linear roofline with a subtle pitch to facilitate drainage of the region’s ample rainfall. The home was designed by Orlando Custom Home Builder Jorge Ulibarri at www.ImYourBuilder.com

An aerial view of The Design Tourist’s personal residence, a Florida Modern home. Notice the subtle pitches in the roofline that are designed to appear planar from the facade and ground level. The home was designed and built by Orlando Custom Home Builder Jorge Ulibarri www.ImYourBuilder.com

Inside, I choose a color palette of white and grey with pops of blue to keep the spaces from swaying too monochromatic. Although my decor is decidedly modern, I didn’t want my rooms to feel cold and sterile like white-box museum space.

The living room of The Design Tourist’s home features marble floors with grey veining, a 24-foot fireplace clad in white ledgestone and a custom crafted wood column with steel bands. The fireplace mantle has a cantilevered ledge of white quartz. The Design Tourist added a dose of cobalt blue with the shag rug and pillows mixing in textures of faux fur, leather, stone and wood.

I have a formula that I use to decorate my rooms: Texture + Color + Metallic+ Organic =Timeless Decor. Every room should speak to the senses with fabrics pleasing to the touch, plants that ground us in nature, metallic accents to bounce light and brighten the space and natural materials such as wood or stone for timeless appeal.

The Design Tourist’s personal home features a master bedroom that incorporates her design formula: Notice the doses of metallic with the hanging pendants on either side of the bed and the stainless steel fireplace. Texture comes from the grey shag rug, faux fur accent pillows and blanket that complement the natural wood floors.

The master bathroom in The Design Tourist’s personal residence draws inspiration from boutique hotels with a zen/spa-like ambiance created with natural elements including a bed of river rocks below the freestanding tub and porcelain shower tile that mimics the look of espresso wood used throughout the home.

I don’t think you should be beholden to trends but I do think you can use trends as a springboard to create your own style and draw inspiration. I weave in trendier elements with pillows, accessories and lamps.

The grey and white color palette in The Design Tourist’s kitchen plays with metallic accents including the silver glass tile backsplash that bounces light around the kitchen, chrome globe pendant lights, stainless steel appliances and chrome framed frosted glass upper cabinets. The quartz countertops around the perimeter of the kitchen and the quartzite double kitchen island give the space a contemporary feel that is grounded by espresso wood cabinets.

Light fixtures add a sculptural presence and are more cost effective to replace in tandem with the latest looks as opposed to entire suites of furniture.

The wine room in The Design Tourist’s personal residence draws the eye to an on-trend “Sputnik” light fixture. The wood floors and white ledgestone wall echo the home’s central design details.

The living room of The Design Tourist’s Florida Modern home features two large globe lighting fixtures that fill just enough space in two-story room without overwhelming. The white sofa sectional visually defines the perimeter of the living space.

My main living spaces are 24 feet high which presents a challenge with scale. Scale is a tricky concept in living spaces but makes the difference between a so-so and a stellar space. Scale is a subtle thing; it’s subjective yet essential to creating a space that is beautifully proportioned.

The glass and wood staircase in The Design Tourist’s personal home features espresso wood handrails with chrome supports and marble stairs with mitered wood cladding on the sides.

Glass and translucent materials such as acrylic allow spaces to visually breathe which is why I designed a glass-paneled staircase with espresso wood railings and added acrylic home decor accents.

The Design Tourist and the home’s builder Jorge Ulibarri on set filming a tour of the Florida Modern custom residence. For more, subscribe to the youtube.com/thedesigntourist

For more of my home’s design details, I invite you to check out this video tour of The Design Tourist’s residence filmed with the builder, Jorge Ulibarri, owner of Jorge Ulibarri Custom Homes.

For more on what’s new and next in design, subscribe to The Design Tourist Channel and sign up for the blog email.

June 5, 2018 0 comment

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The Glass House: 2018 Metro Designer Showhouse

written by Karen LeBlanc

The Glass House: 2018 Metro Designer Showhouse opens its doors through June 30. The showhouse pairs leading designers with distinguished national and global home furnishings brands including Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Design Within Reach, Pera Design, Williams Sonoma, Lazzoni, and The Italian Design Center at Michelangelo, features 12,000 square feet of waterfront on-trend living spaces. The home showcases the work of interior designer Vanessa Deleon known for her glamorous yet minimal approach to interiors and a fashion-forward sensibility.

The Glass House: 2018 Metro Designer Showhouse in Edgewater, NJ

One of five designers participating in the event, Deleon was tasked with reimagining the largest residence—a two-bedroom, three-bath townhouse with two 391-square-foot patios/balconies and two floors each spanning 1895 square feet. Deleon selected furnishings from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams to create a timeless, modern classic design that is in line with her signature style.

The Glass House: 2018 Metro Designer Showhouse in Edgewater, NJ

For this particular townhome, the designer opted for a relaxed, neutral palette in shades of grey to create cohesion. Furnishings and accessories from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams outfit the master bedroom, dining room, den, office, and living area where the Hunter sofa in a stunning Peridot shade adds a rich, vibrant appeal. Above the sofa, Deleon added an avant-garde artwork by multidisciplinary artist Porkchop. Free-flowing curtains from Evelin’s Creations add a soft, sensuous vibe in the living, dining, and master bedroom.

The Glass House: 2018 Metro Designer Showhouse in Edgewater, NJ

In the family/library room, Deleon added touches of beige and taupe to complement the greys and blend in with the ultra-comfortable yet modern Elroy chair. A Gibson reading table forms the perfect perch for a coffee or a cocktail while taking in the views. A strategically placed Filmore bookcase completes the look.

The Glass House: 2018 Metro Designer Showhouse in Edgewater, NJ

To add a bit of modern flair and formality in the dining room, Deleon installed the Perla Oval Chandelier in vintage brass and champagne crystal over the sculptural Addie round glass dining table. In the kitchen, Mackenzie-Childs’ Courtly Check Tea Kettle adds a fairy tale touch while marble accessories highlight the quartz countertops seen throughout. Most of the other eye-catching kitchen accessories are courtesy of Williams Sonoma.

The Glass House: 2018 Metro Designer Showhouse in Edgewater, NJ

Deleon took a more Hollywood glam approach to the bedrooms. Elegant Solange nightstands and a faux shagreen dresser play well with a dramatic tufted and winged headboard. Across the way, the office features dark blue hues and a rich walnut desk that can double as a vanity. A Thompson Ferrier candle adds the finishing touch.

The Glass House: 2018 Metro Designer Showhouse in Edgewater, NJ

The townhome will be available to view through June 30. The Glass House is located at 3 Somerset Lane in Edgewater New Jersey.

For more on what’s new and next in design, subscribe to The Design Tourist Channel and sign up for the blog email.

June 2, 2018 0 comment

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Design Hotel Debuts in Fort Lauderdale Capturing the Culture & Style of Boating Life

written by Karen LeBlanc

Tryp Maritime hotel in Fort Lauderdale Offers Authentic Accomodations for Design Tourists

When a hotel captures the essence of the local culture and community through fixtures, furnishings, materials, art, amenities, and experiences, I call it a Design Hotel— authentic accommodations with a sense of place.

The TRYP by Wyndham Maritime

Wyndham recently opened the Tryp Maritime hotel in Fort Lauderdale catering to the city’s boating community. Fort Lauderdale, a south Florida city known as “the Venice of the United States” because of all its canals, hosts a sophisticated genre of traveler seeking stylish accommodations and luxury and/or sporting boating experiences.

The TRYP by Wyndham Maritime

Tryp Maritime hotel fills a niche, a void, I should say, by incorporating the community’s identity into the design of the hotel while going green. Edenburg Hospitality designed the 150-room hotel and manufactured many of its furnishings. CEO Ignacio Edenburg, an interior and furniture designer and manufacturer, has captured the character of Fort Lauderdale and tells its story through color, material, art, furniture and fixtures.

The TRYP by Wyndham Maritime

It’s the perfect place to stay for Design Tourists, those intrepid travelers looking to ignite their inner muses by exploring the world’s creative cities, cultures, and creators. Design travel is a growing trend in the hospitality industry catering to travelers seeking authentic accommodations. It’s also inspiring designers to convey a community’s identity through the hotel’s decor. What excites me most about this new design hotel is its eco-friendly furnishings that leave a minimal carbon footprint. This is a big driver in design— this push for a net positive future by designing and making products that give back more than they take from the earth.

The TRYP by Wyndham Maritime

“Hotel owners and developers are increasingly looking at creative designs to help differentiate their hotels from their competitors,” says Edenburg, who designed and manufactured many of the furniture pieces and fixtures in the company’s factory in Spain using green technology.

“Hotels are choosing to go green to attract guests who are more environmentally aware. Today, many travelers expect hotels to be eco-friendly and sustainable. TRYP at Wyndham Maritime is a great example of how to meet those preferences.”

The TRYP by Wyndham Maritime

Edenburg Hospitality’s self-sustained manufacturing plant has all of the EU green certifications and operates with clean recycling and combustion of the industrial remains. The company uses formaldehyde-free wood panels and glue and works with natural veneers and lacquers. The factory provides an environmentally friendly process of varnishing, liquid effluents minimization, and purification in an air-conditioned and acoustically isolated work environment.

The hotel’s design elements nod to the city’s top-notch marine industry and boating and yachting communities.

The TRYP by Wyndham Maritime

Exotic fish tanks and wave-like blue sofas adorn the hotel lobby while fixtures and artwork embrace Fort Lauderdale’s maritime identity. Underwater photographs by noted marine ecologist and photographer Richard Murphy hang in every guestroom. Other design elements include circular light sconces resembling portholes on a ship and the ceiling above the tapas bar simulates ripples of water.

The TRYP by Wyndham Maritime

The TRYP by Wyndham Maritime, located at 2161 Maritime Boulevard, anchors the 168-slip Marina Bay Resort, one of the few marinas in the Southeast coast of Florida that can accommodate mega yachts and offer charter boat rentals and waterfront dining. Hotel amenities include an outdoor spa, mini basketball court, a sports movie theatre, business conference rooms and a business center, the Zen Tea garden and koi pond, a European-style tapas bar and coming soon, a rooftop flight deck bar with sweeping views of the airport runway, downtown Fort Lauderdale’s skyline, cruise ships and marina view.

A minority business owner who has worked with more than 300 hotels around the world, Ignacio Edenburg helps each become eco-friendly by manufacturing furniture with almost no carbon footprint and has an impressive roster of design hotels including recent projects, the Hyatt Regency in Seattle and MGM National Harbor.

For more on what’s new and next in design, subscribe to The Design Tourist Channel and sign up for the blog email.

May 30, 2018 0 comment

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How to Measure Design’s Handprint on the Environment

written by Karen LeBlanc

It’s not just your footprint that counts with environmentally sustainable design. Today’s definition of good global stewardship also examines your handprint. “Handprint” measures a company’s commitment to social responsibility— what it is giving back to communities, employees and the environment. It goes beyond fair trade, ethical work environments, and eco-friendly materials. We are in the midst of an evolution from “Environmental Responsibility” to “Social Responsibility” that’s driving purchasing decisions that drill down to the way products are designed, sourced, made and contribute to a net positive future. This expanded definition of sustainable design demands more than doing less harm or using fewer resources from the environment, it demands that architects, designers, makers, and manufacturers work to restore, regenerate, replace and repair. Here are four metrics to measure your carbon footprint and handprint:

1.Sustainable Operations:

Zero Waste Bistro, featuring Durat, at WantedDesign Manhattan

For more than a decade, consumers have been ditching the disposable mindset for products in the marketplace with permanence and sustainability. This change in consumer values forced companies to take a long hard look at their environmental impact. The word “sustainable” became a marketing buzzword used loosely to mean “green.” Today, many companies prioritize their carbon footprint and are going next level by creating zero waste production methods and circular economies. To understand the concept of a “circular economy,” let’s look at the restaurant industry where the average restaurant produces over a ton of waste every week.

As a solution to all of this restaurant refuse, a group of innovative chefs from Helsinki created The Zero Waste Bistro, a dining experience installation at NYCxDESIGN.

At the Zero Waste Bistro, chefs from Nolla, the first Nordic zero-waste restaurant in Helsinki, present food that is sourced, packaged and produced to create zero waste.

Zero Waste Bistro explores the themes of circular economy, new material innovations and sustainable design. Presented by the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York and co-curated by Finnish designers Harri Koskinen and Linda Bergroth. It introduces the food philosophy of Helsinki-based Restaurant Nolla, the first zero-waste restaurant in the Nordic region. Chefs Luka Balac, Carlos Henriques and Albert Franch Sunyer are working to make the restaurant industry healthier for the planet with a zero-waste model. This circular economy follows the philosophy of refusing, reducing, reusing and (only as the last resource) recycling .

Restaurant Nolla chefs Luka Balac and Albert Franch Sunyer photo credit: Nicholas Calcott

“It’s time to rethink the way we live, the way we eat and the materials we use. Our seas are filled with plastic waste. In the US alone, over 58 billion disposable cups are discarded and sent to landfills every year. What if all of those cups were reusable, compostable or recyclable? What if our everyday packaging was made of plastic-free materials, reducing plastic pollution and toxic microplastics in our soil and water supply. What if we collectively committed to only buying products that we love and that will last a lifetime? These are the questions we need to ask ourselves as a society. With Zero Waste Bistro, we’re proposing a future that reduces waste and helps to regenerate our natural environment, making it livable for generations to come; a future that’s already here if we make the right choices,” says Kaarina Gould, Executive Director of the Finnish Cultural Institute. The Zero Waste Bistro is constructed of Durat surfaces, sustainable solid surface material which contains recycled plastic and is 100% recyclable.

2. Healthy Material Selection:

Materials literally become a part of us just by passively living with them. It’s a scientific fact that the items we live with shed and emit into the atmosphere, the built environment and we absorbing these small particles. Paints, varnishes, particle board, plastics, carpet— there are numerous substances in the common household that slowly release toxins that end up in our bloodstream. This underscores the importance of well-made design using healthy materials that are good for us and the environment.

Lapitec, a “sintered stone” is one example of healthy surface cladding that goes beyond its performance by embracing sustainability and stewardship. Lapitec designed a product that incorporates technology to help clean the air with its proprietary Bio-Care technology “baked” into the slab that breaks down pollution. Lapitec reacts with UV light to break down pollution. 100 square meters of Lapitec can break down the equivalent CO2 of 28 trees.

Launched in Europe, many of these sintered stone manufacturers build sustainability into their brands through the manufacturing, recycling and reclamation processes.

3. Wildlife Preservation:

Companies that advance both conservation and business objectives not only reduce their carbon footprint but make a “handprint” by protecting and fostering mother nature. New England lumber mill, Hull Forest Products, permanently protects over 13,000 acres of forestland through the family land trust, Hull Forestlands L.P. The company removed the possibility of development to ensure that its working forests will remain a source of timber for generations to come. “Wood flooring that hails from well-managed forests is a great way to bring a sustainable material into your home. Not only does wood contain less embodied energy than any other floor covering, it’s also good for your home’s indoor air quality. Solid wood floors also have an exceptionally long service life, and they sequester carbon. While our working forests are growing the timber that we use to make our wood flooring, they are also providing wildlife habitat and other important ecological services,” says Hull Forest Products.

Hull Forest Products invites the public on wood walks to learn about sustainable forestry. Participants can walk recreational trails created during a 2017 timber harvest and observe enhanced wildlife habitat.

4. Net positive Effect on Our Global Community:

Net positive means to give more than you take. Net positive products give more back to nature and society than they take. Companies that make net positive products do detailed calculations to understand a product’s full environmental impact. They take into account materials used, energy consumed, emissions caused, a product’s social impact, packaging, and transportation. We as consumers have the power of net positive consumption when we shop: We can buy a normal product that decreases natural resources; buy nothing and natural resources stay the same; or buy a net positive product and natural resources increase.

To better understand how companies can commit to a net positive effect, let’s look at the company, Tales by Trees, a net positive art and design startup. The Finnish company aims to be a model for how to achieve both a product line and a business model that is completely net positive.

A minimalist sculpture made from sustainably grown Nordic birch designed by Finnish designers Elina Helenius and Saara

The brand will introduce new designer collaborations and net positive designs in 2018 in categories including decor and wall art, home textiles, jewelry and books. Each design will be developed to support the company’s net positive model, increasing natural resources and achieving a measurable benefit to the natural environment

A minimalist sculpture made from sustainably grown Nordic birch designed by Finnish designers Elina Helenius and Saara Renvall

The company makes data available for each and every product it develops to both the general public and the environmental science community.

“Almost everything you buy decreases natural resources, even those you usually consider green products,” says Founder Markus Pyhältö. “When people talk about sustainability, they typically only think about material use. We wanted to go beyond that and take into account everything that goes into production, including energy use, emissions and transportation. When our customers buy these items, they are not only getting elegant art and design, but they’re also rebuilding the planet.”

With each introduction, Tales by Trees hopes to give its customers an opportunity to combat climate change and biodiversity loss with simple, but impactful designs.

For more on what’s new and next in design, subscribe to The Design Tourist Channel and sign up for the blog email.

May 25, 2018 0 comment

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Brooklyn’s Contemporary Design Scene

written by Karen LeBlanc

Brooklyn has a thriving and prolific community of artists, artisans, craftspeople, and designers that puts it on par with other hubs of craftsmanship around the world. Products bearing the Brooklyn-Made certification are coveted by collectors and design aesthetes interested in authenticity and the backstory of pieces they acquire. Once a year, the borough showcases its maker community in an event known as Brooklyn Designs, now in its 15th year presented by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and co-produced with Novità Communications.

The borough’s rich design heritage, iconic style, and bustling creative community are rooted in time-honored techniques and contemporary style, a mix of old and new in small batch and limited run production. In an age of mass-produced, disposable consumer goods, Brooklyn makers return us to the value of something well-built, by hand with heart. Here’s a look at some of my favorite design finds from emerging designers and established brands.

The Platonic Lounge Chair by Francis Assadi Design Studio

Francis Assadi draws inspiration from his background in film, photography and design and his work with Lebanese craftsmen. His latest collection fuses a love for the modern with the aesthetic sensibilities of various cultures.

The Warren Lounge and Q Table by Token

Token draws on the European Arts and Crafts movement, Chinese landscape painting and Abstract Expressionism to produce unique, atelier-style furniture.

Caterpollar bench and layered oval coffee table by Shuya Design

Emerging brand Shuya Design creates custom furniture that combines wood, marble and other materials in unconventional ways.

Handcrafted furniture designed and built by Ottra. Photographed by John Muggenborg.

Brooklyn is also known for its concentration of architect-turned-product designers including Ot/tra that creates hand-crafted furniture complementing its architecture practice.

Torsion table by Foundrywood

Fitchwork is another Brooklyn contemporary maker standout for its ornamental pendants sintered from powdered nylon.

Array lamp by Fitchwork

Quiet Town, Inc. creates stylish shower curtains using ethical, quality materials including 100 percent, 10-ounce cotton milled in the USA. The co-founders created the company because “they were tired of buying pieces they needed but didn’t love.”

Marfa Shower Curtains by Quiet Town

The 2018 edition took place at the Brooklyn Museum, kicking off the first weekend of NYCxDESIGN from May 12-13.

For more on what’s new and next in design, subscribe to The Design Tourist Channel and sign up for the blog email.

May 22, 2018 0 comment

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Trendspotting at The 2018 New American Home:

written by Karen LeBlanc

I recently toured The 2018 New American Home, the official show home of the NAHB International Builders’ Show known as IBS held in Orlando, Florida. I was joined by interior designer Kate Clarke, President of Homes Reimagined, who decorated the home and specified many of its architectural features.

The New American Home in Bella Collina, Monteverde, Florida photo credit: Jeff Davis Photography

Located in Bella Collina in town of Monteverde, about 20 minutes from downtown Orlando, the 6,662 square-foot home sits on a ridge overlooking Lake Apopka with sweeping vistas of rolling terrain that melt into the horizon. The 3.975-million-dollar show home was built by Legacy Custom Built Homes and introduces an updated, streamlined interpretation of Tuscan architecture to this country club community. Here are the top trend takeaways for a look at what’s new and next in home decor and spatial design.

Garages that Double As Saferooms:

photo credit: Jeff Davis Photography

The garage has always been a multitasking space in the home often serving as a dumping ground for household excess, a game room, hobby shop, or man cave. Now the place we park our cars provides a safe haven in the home. Luxury garages outfitted with air conditioned storage space are designed to double as a safe room with reinforced walls. High-end garages also pay attention to design details such as hidden and drywalled motorized tracks for garage doors.

Stackable Washer & Dryers:

photo credit: Jeff Davis Photography

Large capacity washers and dryers now come in stackable models offering a space saving option to those side by side models. This is new innovation in laundry room design takes cues from urban spaces such as small apartments where space is limited. Until now, stackable washers and dryers only came in small capacity units but this latest design trend gives you the power of large capacity with more space efficiency.

Modern Barn Door Hardware:

photo credit: Jeff Davis Photography

Barn doors remain popular design elements in the home from master closets to laundry room and office doors, popular for their space saving slide, side-to-side hardware rather than doors that require a wide berth to swing out.

As style trends more towards modern and contemporary looks, the rustic barn doors are falling out favor for sleeker barn doors with modern hardware.

A great example is this clean barn door track without the typical wheels by Hafele that updates the look of the sliding door.

Space within a Space:

photo credit: Jeff Davis Photography

There was a lot of buzz at the 2018 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show about this concept of a space within a space in kitchen design. The layout is gaining traction as an alternative to the ubiquitous open plan kitchens dominating today’s floorplans. Envision a cut-out wall that overlooks the dining and family room and that is your “space within a space.” It’s open yet separate. Interior Designer Kate Clarke designed this kitchen and calls it a “pass-through,” where the cook can hand over the dishes through to the dining room.

Pendant Clusters:

photo credit: Jeff Davis Photography

This is a huge design trend in lighting that groups together pendants or light fixtures at various heights and often in various sizes and shapes. The pendant cluster is an updated alternative to the single light fixture such as the chandelier. Progress Lighting provided all of the light fixtures in The New American Home with several installations as pendant clusters such as the foyer and stairway. In the foyer, Clarke notes that the pendants are sold individually and purchased nine and attached them to an anchoring plate to create the cluster lights. Also worth noting is the popularity of hanging pendants everywhere from the bathroom to the bedside.

photo credit: Jeff Davis Photography

Bathroom Divider Walls:

photo credit: Jeff Davis Photography

As Clarke notes, “No one likes to see a toilet when they enter a space.” As a design solution, in each bathroom of The New American Home, Clarke designed divider walls to hide the toilet, keeps it separate from the sink, and provide storage and shelving.

photo credit: Jeff Davis Photography

In this powder room, the separation wall provides storage for towels on one side and toiletries on the other side. Expect to see a lot more of these feature walls in the powder bath as it gains priority in the overall aesthetics of the home.

Free Hanging Closets:

Closet design is evolving to become more flexible acknowledge that people’s storage needs change over a lifetime. Free hanging closets with adjustable shelving are a great design solution allowing you to switch up the configuration to suit your changing wardrobe needs.

Wine Room Under Stairs:

photo credit: Jeff Davis Photography

In The New American Home, a wine bar resides just off the entry, tucked under the floating, glass panel staircase. The wine tasting space is outfitted with a tasting table, Thermador wine refrigerators and refrigerator and freezer drawers. This creative use of space takes the wine room out of hiding in the basement or bar area puts it in the main living area of the home as a design element.

Read the full article that I wrote about my tour of The 2018 New American Home published in the magazine Interior Appeal by clicking here:

For more on what’s new and next in design, subscribe to The Design Tourist Channel and sign up for the blog email.

May 16, 2018 0 comment

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The Design King of Knurling, Massimo Buster Minale Inspires This Year’s Biggest Trend

written by Karen LeBlanc

Buster + Punch’s Trifecta of Muses: Motorcycles, Metalwork & Music

Architect and industrial designer Massimo Buster Minale calls himself the Black Sheep of the Design World creating products from lighting to custom motorcycles that blend knurled detailing with rock star chic.

I first met Massimo in 2013, at The London Design Festival where he was launching the Buster + Punch label born of his passion for motorcycles, metalwork and music. Check out our interview where he promises to “Kick Minimalism in the teeth.”

Since then, I credit Massimo’s precision cut metal work, inspired by the knurled detailing of his custom-made motorcycle handles, with popularizing the design trend of knurled detailing evident in kitchen and bath fittings, fixtures, furniture and home decor accessories.

“We have become famed for our diamond-cut knurling technique, which we first used on motorbike handlebars and footpegs back in the day. The reason why we use this across our interior product ranges is for two reasons – firstly it shows that we use solid metal in all our products (you can only successfully knurl solid metal) and secondly it captures our DNA – so no matter how ‘ordinary’ a light pendant or cabinet pull might seem, ours have a special story and feel that is hard to put your finger on,” says Minale.

Today, Buster + Punch is a global brand of interior products including lighting, furniture, and fittings crafted with signature design elements of solid knurled brass, quilted leather, and bronze gunmetal. “Our work is inspired by London’s fashion, music and subculture scenes, where we collaborate with street artists, bike builders, musicians and fashion designers to inject attitude into our crafted products.”

Minale began his creative career as an architect working in for a large firm before starting his own firm, Minale + Mann. “My first love has always been architecture. During the day, I worked for some of the largest architecture firms in London and at night found the time to build custom motorbikes. I became increasingly frustrated with architecture because it is a very slow profession. As an antidote, I threw myself into my bikes, both riding and building,” Massimo says.

Minale’s irreverent approach to design comes from the gut, an outlier attitude that bucks trends and takes risks. His work defies conventions in the interior products industry drawing from a creative symbiosis between custom bikes and home decor.

“Each custom motorcycle reflects the personality and style of its owner. “We will always start by finding out what bikes or cars hold an emotional connection with that customer, then we will check out their homes and wardrobes and then we do the rest behind ‘closed doors’ i.e. we will not let a customer see the bike until it is finished……this is very risky, but gives each design a purity that is rarely found these days. We do the same with our products – we rarely use data or general opinion/trends, but go by our guts and hearts and more often than not this serves us well.”

For a cinematic look inside the design mind of Buster + Punch, check out this new short film, Switch Up, starring supermodel Cajsa Wessenberg with music by British Rapper Ms Banks, playing the role of Buster and Punch’s as Artificial Intelligence.

Expect these three design stories to continue evolving as we create spaces that reflect our personalities and promote healthier lifestyles. For more on what’s new and next in design, subscribe to The Design Tourist Channel and sign up for the blog email.

May 14, 2018 0 comment

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EnLightening Trends For Hip Home Style

written by Karen LeBlanc

Expert Insight on The Latest Lighting Trends from Jeff Dross, Kichler Lighting

photo credit: Kichler Lighting

For the latest looks in lighting, I recently spoke with Lighting Trends Expert, Jeffrey R Dross, Kichler Corporate Director, Education and Industry Trends. Here is his take on light styles in 2018 and beyond.

What are the latest lighting styles/designs/materials resonating with consumers in the home?

“Consumers today are still gravitating toward Vintage Industrial styles, but the style is taking on a softer, less industrial look. Some of the unkempt finishes and roughhewn edges are being polished away. This lighter industrial feel works nicely in the more relaxed residence consumers are now creating.”

Running parallel to Vintage Industrial in our “red-state / blue-state” world is Contemporary. More and more consumers, typically younger Millennials or Baby Boomers setting up a new home are seeking out this alternative. Chrome, Polished Nickel and White finishes are king here. Designs are simpler and the look is crisp and new.

photo credit: Kichler Lighting

In the bathroom, clear glass still dominates, but there is some desire to shift from the preponderance of Chrome. Black is emerging as a strong alternative, Natural Brass is showing signs of adoption and the addition of wood (real or faux) has become immediately popular.

Photo credit: Kichler Lighting

What are the latest lighting techniques gaining traction in interior design?

Expect to see more and more lighting effects in the home of the future. Light will be used, but you may not always see the source of the light. Lighting over cabinets, under toe kicks, under counters and behind room objects will deliver comfortable indirect light from an invisible source.

Photo credit: Kichler Lighting

The decorative lighting used will also serve as an aesthetic element in the space. Chandeliers, pendants and ceiling lighting will be more curated, less utilitarian. This will then become an opportunity to feature some magnificent lighting fixtures that magnify the design of the space.

Pendant Cluster by Progress Lighting in the foyer of The 2018 New American Home.

Any unique, fresh ideas for lighting installation and configuration?

We are now in an era where outdoor lighting is coming indoors and indoor lighting is shifting locations, up to and including the exterior. Any preconceived notion of propriety has been set aside and the new norm is no norm at all!

Photo credit: Kichler Lighting

Progress Lighting pendant lights in the master bathroom of The 2018 New American Home

Bath sconces are being replaced with mini-pendants. Mini-pendants in the kitchen have grown in height and width to better blend with the tall ceilings and expanded square footage of the room.

Pendant kitchen lights in the ReNewable Energy Home

The dining room chandelier has shifted to an over-scale pendant and if that is not enough, two chandeliers and two or three pendants are the alternatives.

Chandeliers in the dining room of the 2018 Remodeled Home built by Farina & Sons.

Progress Lighting fixtures in a linear configuration over the dining table in The 2018 New American Home

Rather than bed lamps in a bedroom, pendants are used at each side of the bed, or why not mini-chandeliers!

Hanging light pendants by Progress Lighting bookend the bedside in the master bedroom in The 2018 New American Home

Chandeliers have found their way into the bedroom and Master Bath suite and even outside! The disappearance of multi-story foyers means exaggerated semi-flush lighting is used, or a chandelier hung with no chain or stems nicely fills this space. Finally, aesthetic excess is now on display in Powder Rooms.

2018 NKBA Award Winning Powder Bath

Their small size allows for the use of extravagant products that will wow family and friends, the primary users of these rooms.

2018 NKBA Award Winning Powder Bath

Once these unconventional pieces have found their way into an unfamiliar place, additional creativity can be employed in placement. We are in the midst of a topsy-turvy time for lighting employment!

Any thoughts that you would like to share about emerging trends in lighting?

For the near future, I would keep my eye on Art Deco styling. While this may never be totally mainstream, it will have a sizable impact for a handful of years; much like the Mid-Century trend we now see winding-down. In addition, the Matte Black finish is perhaps the hottest color in lighting right now.

Photo credit: Kichler Lighting

As Oil Rubbed Bronze declines in importance, this, along with the already popular Natural Brass (a lighter, brushed version of brass) will begin to dominate. In that same vein, expect the return of Polished Brass, albeit in a denser, deeper coloration then we used for Williamsburg-style lighting twenty-five years ago.

Unrelated to aesthetics is the growing understanding of how our bodies respond and react to lighting. Science is quickly gaining knowledge about this interaction. Expect to hear more about what our bodies need and how good lighting can help us lead healthier lives. Commensurate products are certain to right behind.

Any other thoughts that you would like to share about lighting for today’s lifestyle?

Photo credit: Kichler Lighting

In the past, most homes and rooms were simply lit with a single luminaire in the center of the room. It was light, but not very good light. Our understanding of what we need has matured and our expectation of design has never been higher. One lighting product does not complete the task. A good lighting solution addresses the “Task” needs of the space, includes overall general or “Ambient” light, then add “Accent” or decorative lighting to add sparkle. The concept of Light Layering will ultimately drive lighting design to new heights.

May 12, 2018 0 comment

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3 Design Trends You Need to Know

written by Karen LeBlanc

Hygge:

photo credit: Duravit

The most talked about lifestyle trend of 2017, Hygge is a way of being and decorating comes from the Danes and is firmly anchored in their culture. Hygge ( pronounced “hoo’gah” —who knew?) The style philosophy stands for coziness and peace of mind. The soothing color scheme is typically Scandinavian hues of soft beiges and greys fostering a rest, don’t race; relax, don’t stress ethos.

photo credit: Duravit

Simplicity defines this Nordic interior style. Hygge incorporates lots of ambient light including candlelight and small lamps and sumptuous textures. There is no right or wrong way to create Hygge, the style is more of a feeling that makes you want to curl up with a cup of warm coffee or hot chocolate in front of a fire with a fluffy blanket.

photo credit: Heimtextil

Envision soft, lived-in fabrics; warm, glowing light; simple, classic lines. Surround yourself with objects, furnishings and fabrics that make you feel content and you’ve got Hygge.

Wellness by Design:

photo credit: Humanscale

Health is the new wealth and design that promotes wellness and self-care are shaping today’s living spaces. Changing attitudes and priorities about the way we live and inhabit space is driving a wellness revolution in design at home, at work and at play. Today’s consumer demands toxin-free materials, fresh air, and good lighting at home and at work.

Vessel Light by Todd Bracher for Humanscale

Humanscale, designer and manufacturer of products that improve wellness, calls on the science of biological lighting to create lights that follow the circadian rhythms, to enhance mental and physical well-being. Interior plant walls or vertical gardens purify the air bringing nature indoors. Chairs and furnishings that mimic the biomechanics of humans enhance comfort.

Style-ISH:

2018 Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York City.

The ishness of design is taking an established style and adding a dash of “ish” to make it your own. Think: Modern-ish, Farmhouse-ish, Retro-ish, Organic-ish, Traditional-ish. It’s a riff on stereotypical aesthetics.

Modern-ish softens sleekness with natural materials, textures and curves taking away the style’s harsher, cold edges and injecting color into the typical monochromatic colorscape.

2018 Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York City photo credit: Drake+Anderson

Farmhouse-ish takes country style and gives it an urban or industrial edge.

Contemporary Farmhouse, a Millennial-targeted concept home built by Pardee Homes

Farmhouse chic kitchen in the Contemporary Farmhouse, a Millennial-targeted concept home built by Pardee Homes

Farmhouse kitchen with an industrial edge by Kohler

The look is a chic upgrade from the old world charm of a Tuscan kitchen with creative use of design elements such as woven basket pendant lights clustered in a modern configuration.

Retro-ish brings in vintage elements in a modern-day setting creating a space that hints at nostalgia without looking like a museum exhibit.

Retro-Modern kitchen by Wellborn Cabinet Inc at KBIS 2018

Wellborn Cabinet Inc., did a great job of pulling this look together at the 2018 KBIS show.

Retro-Modern bathroom by Wellborn Cabinet Inc at KBIS 2018

Organic-ish infuses mother nature into decor with lots of wood and stone but without being too rustic, keeping the look sophisticated and refined.

NKBA Best Bath Design Winner 2018

2018 Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York City

Traditional-ish is what we like to call Transitional, not wanting to leave your comfort zone and abandon what’s familiar and timeless yet wanting to update the look for today.

May 6, 2018 0 comment

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Four Spaces Driving Design

written by Karen LeBlanc

Space-Shifting for the Future

A recent statistic by Heimtextil, the global textile trade fair, estimates that by 2030, the world will have 41 megacities with over 40 million inhabitants. This demographic shift is known as “the great urban migration” and will shape how we live, work, consume and socialize. As designers, architects and urban planners look to the future, they are embracing the wellness movement and the circular economy (the reuse and repurposing of materials) to design healthy, flexible spaces at work and home. We want room to think, create, and connect with nature in our spaces regardless of size. Here’s a look at four space-shifting concepts driving design.

The Flexible Space: Adapt+Assemble

Tiny House by Studio Mama. Photo credit Moon Ray Studio

Urban living means making the most of every inch of space, challenging us to rethink what we really need to live with. The Tiny House Movement and The Minimalist-No Clutter movement both encourage thoughtful consumerism and living with less stuff. Designers are responding with furniture and living spaces that adapt and morph for multiple uses. Heimtextil says “This lifestyle trend offers solutions for big city dwellers who are increasingly living like modern nomads and in ever smaller flats.” Expect to see more furniture pieces with geometric and interchangeable shapes and materials that convert into other uses and can be packed and transported.

Tiny House by Studio Mama. Photo credit: By Moon Ray Studio

The Healthy Space:

Breathe by Soil for Mini Living. photo credit: Heimtextil

One of the challenges of city living is communing with nature since urban dwellers tend to spend much of their time indoors. Air, light and noise pollution are problematic for those living and working in close quarters. The integration of plants, responsive lighting systems, mood-boosting color scapes, fresh air, natural sunlight are essential ingredients of healthy spaces. Forest Bathing, taking a stroll through nature to relax the mind and sharpen the senses, has become a therapeutic activity to de-stress and recharge. For urban dwellers, the nearest green space could be miles away so designers are discovering creative ways to bring the nature indoors with furniture, objects, and accessories.

INOUT by Judith-Fassbender and Benjamin Shief. photo credit: Heimtextil

The Re-Made Space:

Benches crafted of recycled materials. photo credit: Heimtextil

The circular economy has infiltrated design with the proliferation of objects fashioned from repurposed materials. Designers are engaging with waste materials more than ever now that the stigma around refuse has faded. Recyclable refuse is an untapped material for furniture, art, design, and objects giving rise to the Re-Made Space. Heimtextil sees repurposed design as a solution to the rapid generation of waste in urban areas. “For the first time in history, the amount of waste produced in cities is growing faster than urbanization itself. To conquer this huge mountain of waste, cities must understand that the future is to put waste on an equal footing with resources. This will make waste a starting point for new design.”

Denim by Sophie Rowley. Photo credit: Heimtextil

The Maker Space:

Kniterate by Gerard Rubio. Photo credit: Heimtextil

Today’s consumer wants room to create at home whether it be a craft space, “she shed” or converted garage. Online marketplaces for maker goods such as Etsy have inspired many to turn their hobby into a home business. 3D printing continues to democratize design making it possible for anyone anywhere to manufacture their own designs using open source software. The maker space is a must-have for many regardless of square footage.

For more on what’s new and next in design, subscribe to The Design Tourist Channel and sign up for the blog email.

May 2, 2018 0 comment

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Wallpaper Goes Big For Wow Walls

written by Karen LeBlanc

Wallpaper Goes Big with Maxi Motifs & Large Scale Patterns for Trending Home Style

William Morris made wallpaper fashionable in the 19th century with his nature motifs taken from British wildlife. Since the mid-1800s, wallpaper has fallen in and out of style. Today, patterned walls are back in a big way with maxi-motifs often inspired by Morris’ progress patterns from the Victorian period.

Salgari wallpaper design from Skinwall

William Morris’ patterns endure today through a variety of licensees manufacturing homeware, bedding and wallpaper and are often emulated by other designers. Victoria & Albert Museum in London holds a large archive of William Morris designs available for license in different product categories.

Gardening set featuring a William Morris botanical print from Victoria & Albert Museum available for sale in the gift shop

The museum recently licensed a series of William Morris patterns to Moda Fabrics to create a line of quilting fabrics.

Taking cues from William Morris’ oeuvre, wallpaper houses around the world reinterpret his radical naturalism born of the British the Arts and Crafts movement to create contemporary wallpaper and textiles. Italian wallpaper house Skinwall is fusing the concepts of pattern and mural to create massive wallscapes in sweeping scenes for feature walls or entire rooms. Here’s a look at some of their latest designs in the Palingenesi collection wallpapers by artists/designers Fabio Iemmi, Michelangelo Bonfiglioli and Gloria Zanotti.

Exotic Gardens:

The garden goes indoors with exotic settings evoking wild forests, jungles, lush foliage and exotic birds.

Peace wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Tropicalia wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Welcome to the Jungle wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Salgari wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Maxi Motifs:

Large stylized florals and foliage update a traditional motif with a pop art edge.

Pure White wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Blue Valentine Pure wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Deco wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Blossom wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

The Magic of Colors wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Dreamscapes:

Wallscapes that infuse an ethereal, fantastical ambiance to a living space stir emotions. These dreamlike designs feature various muses to create striking, theatrical atmospheres.

Persephone wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Precious wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Bubble wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Chinoiserie Amplified:

Large Asian inspired motifs create a contemporary take on Chinoiserie style in the home in bold colors.

Maya wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Moon wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Korean Drama wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Harmony wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

Indie wallpaper design from the Palingenes Collection, Skinwall

For more design ideas, subscribe to my youtube channel for regular episodes of The Design Tourist for what’s new and next in design.

April 27, 2018 0 comment

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Atlanta: Destination Design

written by Karen LeBlanc

In the chaos of a big city with its sensory overload and bustling daily life, I often find myself looking without really seeing what’s right in front of me. That pause that puts you squarely in the moment and lets you take in your surroundings gets lost in the machinations of maneuvering from point A to B. Not in Atlanta.

This city of 4.1 million encourages such creative pauses that pull you back into the present as you stop, behold, appreciate things of artistic beauty in the most unexpected places. Whether it’s a tiny decorated door tucked into a cement wall, a graffiti blanketed tunnel or sculpture, Atlanta is full of visual surprises.

As a design destination, the city has a thriving community of makers, a world-class collection of fine art, and architecture by such luminaries as Philip Johnson, I. M. Pei, and Marcel Breuer.

Ignite your creative muse with these must-see experiences.

Do: A Graffiti Art Walk

Atlanta is home to several world-famous street artists including Amir “Totem” Alighanbari known for his pioneering 3D style and robotic armored letters. To check out Totem’s work and that of other graffiti artists, I started with a visit to Krog Street Tunnel that connects the Cabbagetown and Inman Park neighborhoods of Atlanta. The tunnel entrance is unassuming and easily overlooked for what lies inside, every inch is covered in graffiti art and the concrete panels that bookend the tunnel are large-scale canvases for graffiti murals.

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Krog Street Tunnel is located in the Five Points neighborhood, a pocket of urban renewal populated with refurbished houses and alive with outdoor activity— people jogging, biking, pushing baby strollers, and walking dogs through and around the tunnel.

In 1995, Totem began painting the walls of this continually evolving canvas where every inch is covered in art. After snapping pics of the tunnel graffiti, I walked down the street to Krog Street Market for a morning coffee. The market comes alive at mid-day with food vendors and nearby restaurants.

Shop: the Maker Community at Ponce City Market

Atlanta has a prolific community of makers and artisans who organize in markets to sell their wares. I recommend a visit to Ponce City Market, housed in the renovated Sears, Roebuck & Company building in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward. The 1926 brick building is re-imagined with industrial interiors that showcase exposed bricks and infrastructure as design elements.

Throughout the 3-story building, mechanics and systems that powered the original structure are preserved and on display including an electrical power grid. Here, offices including that of Pinterest share space with a food hall and maker booths and shops selling handcrafted and small batch production items.

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I found Citizen Supply to be a treasure trove of local brands, handmade goods, and sustainable products. The flea market setup houses several independent makers and craftspeople selling their wares in booths including leather maker Kim & Co Accessories and Bradley Mountain canvas bags.

See: SCAD Fashion & Film Guo Pei Couture Beyond

I was blown away by the couture dresses of Chinese designer Guo Pei on exhibit at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, located within the SCAD Atlanta campus.

Pei’s creations are architectural wonders, each a visual feast of mind-blowing engineering and intricate embroidery, detailing, sumptuous fabrics and materials. Fashion designer Guo Pei is the first Chinese national designer invited to join the prestigious Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. The exhibit showcases more than 40 of her grandest, most dramatic couture designs from the past decade alongside a selection of custom dresses and jackets and footwear including the iconic imperial yellow cape worn by Rihanna to The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala.

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For the fashionista, the museum is a must-see that will fill your head with new possibilities of what can be done with fabric and intelligent design. Pei ’s fantastical creations reference her Chinese heritage and mythology, each piece tells a story through color, material, and construction.

Visit: High Museum of Art

For world-class fine art, sculpture and art objects The High Museum of Art is the next stop on your design tour. I’ve been following the evolution of 3D printing in design and the influences of biomimicry in art, which drew me to the works of experimental Dutch designer Joris Laarman. The museum has the largest public holding of Laarman works outside of his home country, the Netherlands. In addition, a visiting exhibit, “Joris Laarman Lab: Design in the Digital Age,” organized by the Groninger Museum, the Netherlands took me further inside the design mind of Laarman with furniture designs, applied projects and experiments from every phase of his career presented alongside related videos, sketches, and renderings that illustrate the Joris Laarman Lab creative and production processes.

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One of the highlights is the Makerchairs series by Joris Laarman, a new concept for the digital fabrication revolution crafted of “Bits & Parts” printed using small 3D printers and CNC milling machines to fabricate full-size affordable furniture available to all. The curved chairs’ silhouettes reference Danish designer Verner Panton’s iconic plastic chair created in the 1960s. Some versions of the Makerschairs blueprint can be downloaded from the Internet under the creative commons license at bitsandparts.org

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In his Bone Furniture series, Laarman draws inspiration from organic shapes using nature’s logic— a design ethos that Laarman calls a transformation from the industrial era of geometric, machine-dictated forms to the digital era of smart, complex organic forms. Based on scientific research on the structural growth patterns of bones and trees by German Professor Dr. Clark Mattheck, Laarman designed his Bone Furniture using computer software from the European automotive industry and cast each chair in a 3D mold.

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In digital technology and arts, the groundbreaking works of artist Amy Elkins will challenge notions of photorealism. Elkins documents the lives of prisoners sentenced to solitary confinement in digitally manipulated portraits that blur facial details by layering images through an algorithm that chronicles each life. Elkins starts each portrait with a found photo of her subject (often the last one taken before his sentencing). Elkins then uses an algorithm to distort the image in proportion to the man’s age relative to the number of years that he has been in prison. The resulting images render their subjects anonymous. Elkins says the process of distortion acts as a metaphor the “inevitable drift of personality and profound alterations to identity that occur in extreme isolation.”

In addition to these two exhibits that caught my attention, The High Museum of Art has more than 15,000 works of art in its permanent collection, an extensive anthology of nineteenth- and twentieth-century American and decorative art; significant holdings of European paintings; a growing collection of African American art; and burgeoning collections of modern and contemporary art, photography, folk and self-taught art, and African art.

Experience: 10 Artists 10 Bottles at World of Coca-Cola

As a design traveler, we tend to overlook the stereotypical tourist attractions but oftentimes, they too contain creative treasures. Case in point—The World of Coca-Cola. (Atlanta is the birthplace of the soft drink that has become a part of Americana) On surface value, it’s a kitschy attraction that chronicles more than 100 years of the soft drink brand history however the museum also commissions original art and design from local artists.

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Check out the “10 Artists 10 Bottles” exhibit that commemorates the 10th Anniversary of the World of Coca-Cola at Pemberton Place. The museum invited 10 Atlanta artists to express their creative vision using a sculpted Coca-Cola bottle as the canvas.

There is also an album cover designed by Andy Warhol for Velvet Underground Featuring Nico Album Art Cover 1971 on display.

March 1, 2018 0 comment

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2018 Kitchen & Bath Design Finds & Trends

written by Karen LeBlanc

Trendspotting at KBIS 2018

The 2018 NKBA Kitchen and Bath Industry Show offers a first look at the latest design trends and product innovations for the home. App-driven appliances and smart home connectivity continue to blur the boundaries between the real and virtual world as all-knowing Alexa sits in the cloud overseeing our devices via Amazon’s Echo and Google Home. As smart products and appliances get smarter, what was once a “trend” has now settled into a new state of being.

I just recently built a new home where I can boss around all its inner-workings with the command of my voice and the omnipresent Alexa. My smart home assistant controls my thermostats, lights, refrigerator, oven, doorbell, security cameras, smart TVs, and knows my favorite playlists and podcasts. Sleek, tubular Echo devices sit in each room at attention and in perfect sync with my home’s modern decor.

One of my Amazon Echo devices that operates my smart home

What I can say about this synergistic relationship between design and technology is that it’s creating a fresh, exciting aesthetic in the home where sleek digital touch screens replace knobs and buttons, color changing LEDs illuminate in lieu of incandescent bulbs and new silhouettes recalibrate rooms. Case in point, this Real Rain overhead shower panel from Kohler powered by its DTV+ technology with pre-programmed spa-like experiences that can be customized and controlled by a digital touchscreen and voice.

Voice controlled lighted mirrors are yet another example. The Verdera mirror is embedded with Amazon Alexa to respond to voice commands that adjust the mirror’s lighting levels and play music.

The Verdera Lighted Mirrors by Kohler with Amazon Alexa

Without belaboring the marvels of smart home technology baked into almost every household item, here’s what’s pinging my design radar at KBIS/IBS 2018:

Rose Gold Finishes:

Maybe all that Millennial pink from 2017 fabrics and accessories is seeping into metallics or perhaps we desire a warmer alternative to the ubiquitous chrome and steel. Whatever the root cause, Rose Gold is having a moment in home decor, especially in fittings and fixtures. At KBIS/IBS, I saw a lot of Rose Gold and I have to say that it plays perfectly with one of the latest trends, mixed metals.

Rose Gold Faucet sits in the mix of brushed Gold, chrome and other finishes at the Kohler booth

Rose Gold, Brushed Gold, Brushed Brass and Oil-Rubbed Bronze are among the trending mixed metals dictating the latest designs. These faucets are from Kohler.

Basket Lighting:

A tisket a tasket, the basket is now lighting de jour. Basket light fixtures configured in clusters with random shapes and styles were everywhere as statement-making focal points casting interesting visual grids from LED bulbs within. These woven shades crossover just about all style genres from modern to farmhouse chic, and industrial to transitional when paired with supporting accessories and furnishings.

Picture Sinks:

Picture this: a sink with a scenic vignette, a Kodak moment captured on a porcelain bowl. This is one of my fav design finds at KBIS/IBS for its attempt at making the sink centerstage in bathroom design. Feast your eyes on this colorful butterfly-floralscape from Kohler #ArtInOddPlaces.

picture sink by Kohler

Patterned Sinks:

I like the etching in this line of patterned sinks— the subtle artistry at work creates a visual surprise upon closer inspection. What I’m seeing is an appreciation of the sink as a canvas for art, something that is happening on a larger scale in the design world as furniture manufacturers commission or license artworks to imprint on credenzas, coffee tables, chairs and more, liberating art from wall space.

etched patterned sinks by Kohler

Appliance Art:

SMEG is on board with this whole idea of the appliance as canvas, debuting its Dolce & Gabbana designed line. Art in unusual spaces is a direction I suspect more designers will take their work in 2018 since authentic spaces dictate many of the trends.