Furniture & What's Next?

Here's one more piece in the furniture line. 

I've received a few comments and even more emails from people who have been surprised by my last post about the furniture line.  No one has missed anything.  I decided not to mention the line until I had worked through the possibility of bringing it to reality.  My hope has been to introduce the line to the residential market at Highpoint in October. But, as much work as you put into the designs, brand and concept it doesn't happened unless you find someone to actually make the stuff!  And, securing a manufacturing partner - who you can trust - is the most difficult part.  Even with that roadblock I was determined to push forward...

Until something else happened which changed everything!  Stay tuned...big news in my next post!

Oh...here's another piece in the furniture line. 

 

It comes in white or black...of course the black version is larger!  (just checking to see if you are really paying attention).

The Furniture Line

I thought I'd share a few images of my furniture line.  There are close to 60 different pieces at this point.  The line focuses mostly on occasional pieces such as consoles, side tables, cocktails and étagères.  It is primarily marketed to our retail clients as inspiration for our store design projects.  I've toyed with the idea of slightly retooling the line and marketing it to the trade for residential clients. I'd developed a name, logo and brand concept and even have gone as far as trademarking certain concepts - but the way things are whirling around  my head these days that idea will just have to wait.  For now anyway.

 

MO Mohair

I may be in the market to recover my sofa.  I probably should just buy a new one, but C and several of my friends would never speak to me again if I got rid of ‘the gold sofa’.  In fact C informed me I’d go before ‘the gold sofa’. 

The fabric is still in pretty good shape, but the down cushion has had it and the springs probably need to be re-tied.  So, if I have it redone I’m thinking of changing the color and fabric from its current gold chenille to mohair. Maybe green or gray. 

Of course I could change it to purple or orange and it would still always be known as ‘the gold sofa’.  Some things never change if no matter what you do to them.

Neutrals & Green

Today's design thoughts revolve around neutrals and greens.  Outdoor natural inspired tables.  Color - let us not forget green is a color after all.  Linen inspiration in the garden.  Pebbled courtyards. 

Hanging Art is an Art

I've posted images of artwork groupings before.  Hanging art is an art to a certain degree - whether formally and symmetrically placed or massed randomly.  Here are some older images that have been hanging around in my Shelter magazine files which demonstrate both.

 

 

Outdoor Dining

The middle of winter seems to me the perfect time of the year to think about warmer weather and lunching outside.  

Although recently it was 70 degrees here so don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.  

I thought I'd share some of my favorite photos I've collected as outdoor inspiration for my never ending quest to finish my courtyard (maybe this will be the year)!

Walking the Highline

Last month on a typical work trip to NYC I took the time to walk the Highline - for the first time I'm embarrassed to say! I've said it before but, as often as I'm in New York I don't take the time to enjoy the city and take advantage of everything it has to offer.  However, this particular trip C was with me so I made a better effort to combine some pleasure with business.  

For any of you who may not be familiar with the Highline it is the latest park to open in New York and one of the large green space expansion in a major city in decades.  The park use to be a raised rail line which ran the long the Hudson River on Manhattan's west side.  Abandon for years, a group of visionary aesthetic citizens managed to save the rail line from demolition and now it has been converted to a wonderful and unique raised park and green space.  

There are several entrances.  We entered near 30th street.

 The design does not shy away from the rail line aesthetic - fortunately.

I love how the new concrete slabs merge into the old existing railroad.

Interesting art along the walk - not to mention being able to stroll amongst high rise apartment buildings.

I found it beautiful in the dead of winter.  I will walk the Highline again in the Spring.

This was one of my favorite installations - an enormous mural on the side of a non-descript building.  The mural was made of recycled tin and mirror.

At times, even in person it was hard to tell when the mirror stopped and the sky started.

And the Highline is not void of wild life either.

 A view of the Hudson.

And every park should have a cellist in a tuxedo.

I was most excited about the Standard hotel at the south end of the park near the Meat Packing District.  The park passes under the hotel.

And park strollers have been known to catch intimate views of hotel guests - some actually performing against the glass windows in their rooms!  All I saw was a maid changing a bed.  But, the mere idea of misbehaving will encourage me to return to the Highline soon.