COLOR

To freshen up the A. Rudin Showroom this year, I decided to bring in small doses of color for dramatic impact.  A huge trend right now is bright colors- so a small dose can go a long way.  The idea was to select a few chairs and re-upholster with pops of orange and green.  Thought you might enjoy a few pictures-

In this area of the showroom, I brought in a dose of color with coral-colored draperies

Not everyone can re-upholster a chair to bring in color...so for those who want to take small baby steps...check out these great pieces I found on my favorite new website
http://www.etsy.com (they only sell things that are handmade)

I love the jolt of color on the interior!  Place this bowl on a stack of colorful books on your coffee table for an instant update.

Another bowl I found on http://www.etsy.com

When you work with bright colors, you don’t have to match them.  As long as they’re bright, they’ll work together.

Another great find on etsy - great vintage pillow cases - these would make any sofa feel fresh and updated.  Mix it with one of the bowls above

If you would like to read an interview I did recently click onhttp://meadedesigngroup.blogspot.com/

WOW

When I first started design school, the biggest challenge I faced was perspective drawing.  Before college, I had never taken an art class so I felt like I would never succeed.  Over time I learned how to draw in perspective, but still consider it a challenge. 

I’m sure many of you saw these images circulated through mass emails lately, but I just had to share this guy’s amazing work.  His ability to draw in forced perspective blows me away (as well as those who come across his work on sidewalks) It looks like a 3D piece of art

Although it is a flat drawing on a city sidewalk, at first glance you think it’s a sculpture standing up

When you view it from another angle, you see how the forced perspective drawing played on your senses when viewed head-on

Another brilliant piece by the artist - seen with his work.  Can you believe it is a flat drawing on the sidewalk?

Being a huge fan, I wanted to share his amazing talent with you. You can check out more of his work by clicking (or copying and pasting the link below)
http://images.google.com/images?q=julian+beever&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf8&um=1

Also - thanks for all the feedback on KBTV.  While we continue to experiment with ideas to tape, I hope you enjoy seeing the process of my own place.  We post new episodes every Monday and Thursday.  Click on KBTV at the top of the home page to check things out.

If you’re in Madison WI, I hope to see you tomorrow at the Isthmus Green Building Expo.  I’ll be the keynote speaker Saturday Morning - hope to see you there.

Finishing Touches

The finishing touches can help make a room.  On a recent installation we grabbed a camera to share a few tips on dressing your fireplace mantel.  I’m a fan of putting a mirror over a fireplace, especially if the mirror has an interesting shape.  I use newspaper to mark the hangers on the back of the mirror so that I can mark the exact place to hammer a nail on the wall.  To avoid writing on the walls, I use small post-it notes to tag the location. 

An empty mantel creates a void in a room.  Because the fireplace is usually a focal point, it is important to add interest, but nothing that is too over-done.  When I see mantle’s with too much ‘stuff’ I feel like the focal point becomes too heavy.

The goal was to add simple touches to highlight the fireplace, not over design it.  I applied my formula of 1-3-2.  One piece hanging over the mantle, 3 accessories on the mantel and 2 stools in front of the fireplace.  This configuration creates a sense of balance

Seattle

Seattle has an emerging design scene and I was honored to be their keynote speaker at their sold out ‘Eye on Design’.  Having the ability to travel and see new cities plays a huge part in my design vocabulary.  Even with their infamous rainy weather, Seattle is inspirational.

How amazing are these doors?  Susan Mills who owns a showroom under the same name found these antique doors in Paris around the corner from Notre Dame.  Over 12 feet tall, these doors welcome you to her modern showroom featuring Donghia, Victoria Hagan, and David Sutherland.  http://www.susanmills.com

This slipper chair is upholstered in one of my favorite Donghia fabrics.  The repeat on the fabric is so large, that I may use it as draperies in my guest bedroom.  You can also get a sense of scale of these doors.  I appreciate the modern vs. antique and how these 2 styles get along so beautifully.

I am a fan of lanscape paintings becuase I’m drawn to horizon lines.  Horizon lines draw the eye in, and can create an inner peace.  While waiting for my flight, I took this photo across the runway.  The soft colors of the gray sky and the shadow of the trees would make a beautiful painting. 

10 minutes later, I snapped this shot with the skies opening up.  Maybe I’ll paint a series based on these 2 images.  Design inspiration can strike at any moment, even at the Seattle airport

The Brutalist Design Style

I find that certain design styles get a sharp reaction from clients.  This is the case with the popular Brutalist Design Style.  Even saying the word Brutalist conjures up a scary image.  Originating between the 50’s and 70’s, this style was most popular as an Architectural Style.  By allowing the structural materials of a building to be the finished skin of the building, many people thought the construction was never finished. The Architects of the time such as LeCorbusier felt that the beauty of a building should be about the materials that make it stand.  Many of his projects displayed the concrete structure as its exterior skin. At the time, people wondered when the decorative exterior was going to be applied. Well, there was no decorative exterior, thus making the point that beauty should come from within.

As I shop for my new place, I am beginning to see many pieces labeled Brutalist.  As you can see below, it appears that each piece is exposed, allowing you to see its structure.  This concept is what ties the Architectural style to the Decorative Arts style.

Curtis Jere was best known for his metal wall sculptures.  Occasionally you will come across one of his light fixtures. 

Brutalist lamps are in high demand.  A pair like this can fetch $4,000.

The signed tag you should look for, if you think you have an original somewhere in the garage

Curtis Jere’s most popular piece is the metal sunburst wall sculpture.  This piece is so popular today that Crate and Barrel have come out with their own version http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1420&f=12207

In Seattle this Saturday

I’ll be speaking this Saturday in Seattle.  If you live in the area it would be great to meet you. 
10:00-11:30 AM at the Seattle Design Center 5701 Sixth Avenue South 800.497.7997

Phoenix, Seattle and Mouldings

A quick thank you to everyone at Collins College who were wonderful host this past weekend. 

One day I hope to teach design, but until then I appreciate the opportunity to share my passion with graduating students and aspiring designers.

For those of you in Seattle, I will be speaking this Saturday.  http://www.seattledesigncenter.com/

And last, be sure to check out the newest video on KBTV where I share a tip on door casing and base moulding.

Video Journal

My website is going thru an experimental phase with the KBTV page.  I thought a video journal would be a nice addition and it seems many of you missed it while it was down recently.  Because this is a new endeavor, we are looking for suggestions from you.  I want to offer as much design information and tips as possible. 

Over the next few weeks, we will be posting video entries on Monday and Thursday.  Each of these entries will be mini-tours of my new place as I go thru the final construction phase and enter into the design phase.  I hope you enjoy it - the first video about my entry is now up.  Check it out

For those of you in Phoenix, I hope to see you tomorrow at my speaking engagement at Collins College on Tempe’s campus.  I’ll be there from 10 - 12:30

Nightstands
I fell for a pair of amazing nightstands today while shopping for a rug.  My bedroom will have upholstered heather gray wool walls and my headboard will be upholstered in a steel grey fabric. Since I am accenting with brass details, I thought these 1940’s combed wood chest with carved wood pulls would add a perfect mix of dark wood and gold.  Keep checking back - I’m gearing up to finish my place soon. 

Daybeds
I came across this daybed from one of my favorite stores, Lawson-Fenning http://www.lawsonfenning.com Daybeds always work well between 2 areas because there is no back to block one area from another.  I plan to place it between my living room and dining room and upholster it in a cream colored leather. 

I’m finally selecting my furniture pieces after a long remodel.  Check back - I want to share the secretary/desk that I plan to buy