Viteo Outdoors

Well, I never even realized there was a need for this until I saw it today. And then, I said, "Finally, an outdoor sectional!" Think of the possible permutations, the endless days spent arranging and rearranging, the possibilities of adding more until you get a long wrapping bench like Gaudi's mosaic masterpiece. I love this thing. Kudos Viteo!

Technorati Tags: Viteo, outdoor furniture, gaudi, modular bench

Wallpaper's "Best" for '07

Couldn't wait for Wallpaper's '07 Design Awards (how can the awards be for a year that's hasn't taken place yet?). The avant garde UK glossy loved Poltrona Frau's $16,000 very long leather sofa -- which nice as it is just doesn't do it for me. Although I like their choice in Hella Jongerius as furniture designer of the year for her gorgeous collection for Vitra which we featured last May.

They also brought to our attention the Hospes hotel chain in Spain for its juxtaposition of the haute modern with palacial grandeur resulting in an understated opulence. The category for Best dentist? Well that went to Nagano dental clinic -- designed by Japanese architect Hiroki Tanabe, who has just horded his 4th international award in a couple of years.
(Note how the buildings are 3 irregular teeth, which we loved being "yellowed" at night. Green would have been just bad taste.)

Technorati Tags: Wallpaper+Design+Awards, Hella Jongerius, Furniture Design, Vitra

Nurseryworks New Furniture

Nurseryworks is ready to debut new designs by Truck Product Architecture for Nurseryworks.

The New York International Gift Fair––Jan.28-Feb. 1––will be the spot to see what Truck came up with. So far we know they've got two new cribs, the loom crib and studio crib, a loom changing table and a goodnight collection made up of a glider and ottoman. We'll give you the inside scoop with pics soon.

In the meantime check out other hot trends in kids rooms at these links:

Kids Go Mad for Mod
Modern Kids & Baby Furniture, Toys and Accessories

Technorati Tags: Nurseryworks, modern kids furniture, truch design, rockers

2007 Dates Announced for Neocon Family of Shows

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) announced the 2007 schedule for its NeoCon® shows in Chicago, Ill.; Baltimore, Md., Los Angeles, Calif., and Toronto, Ont., Canada. All NeoCon exhibitions focus on the latest products and trends in the contract furnishings industry. MMPI has been managing and producing NeoCon® World’s Trade Fair since 1969 and regional NeoCon shows since 1998.

For full Schedule click below ...

The 2007 schedule of NeoCon shows is as follows:

39th Annual NeoCon® World’s Trade Fair
June 11-13, 2007
The Merchandise Mart
Chicago, Ill.
NeoCon® World's Trade Fair, the contract furnishings industry's premier event and North America's largest conference and exhibition for interior design and facilities management, features the following shows all under one roof at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart:
·          Buildings Show®
·          Office Expo by Office Furniture Dealers Alliance (OFDA)
·          NEWHospitality
·          Fine Design Residential Furnishings Show™
·          GREENlife™
·          The Architectural Stone and Ceramic Tile Exposition (ASCTEX)
·          TechnoCon™

NeoCon Xpress
August 22-23, 2007
Los Angeles Convention Center
Los Angeles, Calif.
The West-coast design community will have the opportunity to see hundreds of hot new products fresh from NeoCon World’s Trade Fair when they attend the newest addition to the NeoCon family of shows, NeoCon Xpress. This completely re-branded show, formerly known as NeoCon West, is expected to attract more than 150 manufacturers who will roll-out their newest product offerings in a variety of market segments, including Corporate, Hospitality, Healthcare, Education, Government Building Products, Technology Solutions and Eco-Friendly/Sustainable. The Buildings Show West will also be featured and will include products and services for the design and management of commercial facilities.

IIDEX®/NeoCon® Canada
September 27-28, 2007
The Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place
Toronto, ON., Canada
As Canada’s largest exposition and conference for the design, construction and management of the built environment, IIDEX®/NeoCon® Canada is widely recognized as an industry leader, with over 15,000 attendees and 400 exhibitors from the interior design, architectural and facility management communities. In addition, IIDEX®/NeoCon® Canada also produces a world class conference and keynote speaker program with over 60 CEU accredited seminars and 5 international keynotes. An industry innovator, IIDEX®/NeoCon® Canada provides attendees with unique networking events, internationally acclaimed special exhibits and innovative feature areas including, Canadian Facility Management and Design Expo and Conference, Exposure to Light, Architectural, Tile and Stone Expo, Material World, Green Boulevard, Home Automation, Energy Management in the Workplace and Jumpstart. IIDEX®/NeoCon® Canada is produced for ARIDO, the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario by MMPI.

NeoCon® East
October 17-18, 2007
Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimore, Md.
NeoCon® East provides the Mid-Atlantic region inspiring solutions for the design and management of the built environment. The show includes four show components, including: Government Interiors™; Buildings Show; GREENlife™: Products for Sustainable Environments; and the Architectural Stone and Ceramic Tile Exposition.

For more information on exhibiting or attending NeoCon shows, please visit www.merchandisemart.com or call 800-677-6278 (MART)

Nip/Tuck -- custom made

Our readers can't get enough of the modern furnishings on the FX hit Nip/Tuck. Set designer Ellen Brill fills us in on Sean, Christian, and Kimber's bedroom secrets...

Where can I purchase the white bedroom in Kimbers apartment?
    Most of of the furniture in Kimber's apartment is vintage, purchased at a few different stores in LA. The custom-made bed was inspired by the beds used at the Maison 140 hotel in LA.

Where can I find the white platform bed in Christian's apartment on Nip/Tuck?
    The platform bed in Christian's is also custom designed and made.

We are looking for info on the bed (name, company etc) in Sean's bedroom?
     The bed in Sean's room is by Michael Berman Limited, located in LA as well.

Stay tuned for mod makeovers as the doctor's move from Miami to LA...

More Nip/Tuck

Danish Modern Dining

I grew up with Danish modern in our home; although unlike the teak and cherry that is so prevalent today, ours was from rich rosewood. At a young age I learned how the grains on table leaves would all match, how hinges were hidden and how seamless the craftsmanship was. Once the epitome of uber modern, Danish design is now the status symbol for a more conservative bent.

Quietly elegant and void of ornament, Danish dining is an acquired and quite sophisticated taste. But don't let the simplicity fool you. Look at the detail in this Skovby extension dining table: Leaves deftly fold and store within the table; the ends of the base are book-matched; edging is as smooth as silk.

Yes, it is nearly 60 -- and apparently just coming of age! check out our feature on Danish Dining is Hotter Than Ever!

Technorati Tags: Danish Dining Room Furniture, Scandinavian Design, Skovby, Danish Modern

Costco gets Elite

A major manufacturer of modern metal furniture gets into the local scene by stocking their products at big box stores.

Elite Manufacturing broke the barrier between high-end retail shops and democratized design by getting its furniture into one of the nation's largest stores: Costco.

Orange22's Dario Antonioni apparently had something to do with connecting Elite with Costco, so maybe he could help other mannies break in to larger markets, too.

Elite creates bars, barstools, casual dining and occasional tables from a modern mix of metals, glass and upholstery.

Surprised at Elite's entrance into Costco? Take a look at the store's other deals. It carries iconic styles like the Mies chair (that's the Barcelona); the International Collection (Le Corbusier's classic club chair with chrome details) and the Egg and Ball Chairs.

Fantasy Island

The kitchen has always been the heart of the home, no matter how big and spacious or small and sparse – and regardless of family size.

It was the evolution of the family structure and the tradition of kitchen-based family gatherings that Dieter Zimmer, Professor of Design at the Muthesius College of Art in Kiel, Germany, had in mind when he challenged students to create a new kind of kitchen-island. Zimmer was satisfied with the results, “In all my 25 years as a teacher, this is the first time I have ever seen work of this standard by students.”

ALNO became interested in the project and invited two students, Arne Bollensen and Andi Kern, to lay the foundation for the ALNO island fantasies.

The LongIsland by Andi Kern – cooking and dining combines with a fixed stainless steel cooking block (outfitted with a four-zone electric cook-top) and sliding tabletop.

LibertyIsland (below) by Arne Bollensen -- the mobile cooking station with glass cover and mobile container can be positioned against a dining table, either indoors or out. The glass cover protects against splattering while cooking; closed it covers the dual-zone induction cook-top. The mobile container is used for storing cooking utensils.

For those of us who are spatially-challenged the fusion of cooking and dining elements may be the solution to bringing family & friends back to the kitchen. Visit ALNO for more info.

Technorati Tags: ALNO, modern kitchen, modern kitchen design, contemporary cooktop

Compare and Be Spared

Couldn't help but notice the similarities between our previous post on Vitra's La Monroe sink and the White Vessel and Vitreous China Vessel lav sinks in the budget shopper's best friend, Overstock.com.

All three sinks are white with a flat installation ledge at the back for a single hole faucet.  The overall look of each sink is similar, with differences in bowl shapes ranging from angle of sides to the vertical back of the Vitra sink. These are subtle and, although the La Monroe's upright back is unique, you may or may not remember that when faced with a major price difference. 

The Overstock sinks sell for $119.99 and $149.99 respectively, with $2.95 shipping. But what are the quality differences?  Vitra's version is made of fire clay. Overstock's--we don't know the brand name of the sinks--are made of vitreous china.  Size is roughly the same on all three. Overstock's White Vessel does not come with a drain, not sure about Vitra's.  Neither of Overstock deals sports the 10 year warranty of the Vitra model, although you can return them within 30 days for a full refund. Depending on the who it is, the manufacturer of the sinks on the Big O might offer their own support, too.

The choice is yours, and it's always good to know you have options.

Technorati Tags: modern bath, contemporary sink, counter sinks

Looming light

It doesn't exactly evoke that warm and fuzzy feeling... but Julian Lwin's LED Loom Lamp will be a great conversation piece as the light forms jagged shadows against surrounding walls.

A loose hand weave of Ash coppice woods combined with low energy super bright LED’s is the first in Lwindesign Studio's ‘organic technology’ products.

More modern lighting

Love it or hate it? Share your thoughts below in Discuss Design!

Technorati Tags: modern lighting , green design, wooden lighting fixtures