Tuesday, April 21, 2009

The Un-Office Office Space


The Los Angeles Times recently featured an article on (home) offices titled "The Un-Office Office." Isn't it true that many of our work spaces are part of our homes and hence, they become an extension of a living room, a dining room, a bedroom, maybe even a closet. Here are some work spaces that I think demonstrate the "un-office" office:









Sunday, April 19, 2009

Pasadena Showcase House


Today marks the opening of the annual Pasadena Showcase House. This year's chosen home is a 10,000 square foot home built in 1917 by renowned Pasadena architect, G. Lawrence Stimson. The Italian Renaissance Revival Estate features a grand marble staircase, acanthus scroll columns, and paneled ceilings. A traditional tea house with a koi pond is part of the estate's garden areas.

For additional info regarding the showcase house and ticket info, visit the Pasadena Showcase website. Tours run from April 19th - May 17th.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Garages Are Rooms Too


I've seen many a garage in my lifetime. As a kid, I remember my cousin and I hid for hours from my brother in my aunt and uncle's detached garage that was actually not used as a garage but used as a sort of indoor/outdoor rec room where many kid birthday parties were celebrated. That was the 70's. Do people still do that now? Seems these days, I see homes with 3-4-5-6 car garages (I live in LA!), others with the garaged packed like a storage unit, and still others who's garages are meticulous: the complete organized built in storage, the second fridge, space for five cars, etc. My guess is the kids aren't playing hide and seek in the garage and the parent's aren't throwing kid birthday parties in the garage! That aside, the garage is still another room extension of one's home. I think it has a lot more potential then most people make of it.

Maserati along with Architectural Digest is currently on the search for the best in architectural garages. I would think you don't quite have to have the car collection as these garages do. But here are three of the top votes in so far:



To enter Maserati's search for the finest of architectural garages, submit your entry here.

So what have you done with your garage?

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

A REAL Housewife's REAL Remodel


Jill Zarin of Bravo TV's "The Real Housewives of New York City" recently renovated her Upper East Side NYC Apartment and it's currently featured on the Traditional Home website. The before and after pictures are remarkable, the after pictures look great, and thanks to her husband's family business: Zarin Fabrics she had access to some very glamorous textiles.







Log onto Traditional Home to view the complete story with before and after pictures.

Iconic!


B+N Industries (known for their inconic wall panels, most notably used in commercial design) has now launched a line of furniture using their incredible carved designs.)
CHAIRS:

BED (with some of the finish colors - red, black, walnut, and not shown but also matte and gloss white):




CAFE TABLE:


CREDENZA:


SCREEN:

ARMOIRE:


B & N Industries and Iconic Furniture.

Branches in the Powder Room


I came across this picture on thenest and love the idea of these branches which are hand painted onto the bathroom wall.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Rejuvenation Lighting Contest


Rejuvenation is having a contest featuring home makeovers. Submit your home improvement stories for a chance to win $1000. Check out some of the entries so far - those with the most votes win!

7 Designers, 7 Rooms


To raise money for charity, Real Simple magazine asked seven designers to create a room each using three items incorporated into their rooms: Terri Crystal Lamp from Circa Lighting, Chin Chin Trays by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, and Macau Chairs by Ballard Designs. Here are the 7 distinctively different rooms by the 7 participating designers:
A HOME OFFICE

The first room was designed by the Real Simple editors who created a comfortable, multifunctional space. The sofette is from Pottery Barn, the rug Madeline Weintrub, and the walls painted in Blue Hydrangea from Benjamin Moore.
A COZY NOOK

Susan Kasler has a thing for horses and incorporated horse prints on the wall painted in Kingsport Gray and used old horseshoes as curtain brackets.
AN ISLAND IDYLL

Charlotte Moss created a breezy, summery space using natural materials with blue accents. The wall stripes are playfully wide to evoke big cabana stripes.
A SPALIKE BATHROOM

Mary Foley with partner Michael Cox created a serene like bathroom in white with leafy green accents. They mixed matte and shiny objects and added textures such as a terry cloth bench cushion and sea grass rug.
AN URBAN OASIS

Philip Gorrivan envisioned the room as a contemporary apartment with modern touches. The inky, dark walls are painted in Witches Hour and then he used accessories in punchy colors of shades of green.
A RUSTIC RETREAT

Susan Hable Smith created a retreat with "campinglike" elements using mixed tones of greens, cots with duvets tied up with rope, and using the lily pad artwork to create a sense of nature.
A DRAMATIC SITTING ROOM

Jamie Drake created a theatrical room using jewel toned artwork and bright colors with walls painted in Amethyst Cream. He tempered the bright colors with a white sofa and white painted side chair.
Images via Real Simple.

The furnishings in the rooms were sold, raising $500,000 to benefit Housing Works, a New York City organization that provides services to people living with HIV and AIDS.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Alexandra Von Furstenberg Furniture


Alexandra Von Furstenberg's new collection of furniture is called the "Voltage" collection and is made primarily in Lucite in a dark and smoky palette.

Clear acrylic diamond cut table:

And some pieces from her first collection, neon and translucent.
Radiant Table:

Trillion Tables

Alexandra Von Furstenberg Showroom located at 9001 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood.