Showing posts with label Eames. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eames. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

A fool proof way to mix and match styles, and a tiny peak into my home

During the warmer months I don't spend a whole lot of time indoors, so once it gets chilly, my mind - an body, turn to my home and it's decor. It's the time of year when I swap out cushions, rugs, and throws, and give everything that's being packed away a good cleaning. Objects that stay out or don't get rotated - like furniture, get wiped down and I revaluate the room it's in or it's placement in a room. It's times like these that I'm always thankful that for bigger price tag items - I stick to the time-tested classics!

 For those who know me you know that my tastes change and vary. I don't necessarily like to stick to one particular style, but I like a transitional and eclectic look. One such classic in my home is my mid-century rocking chair. It gets compliments from almost everyone who walks in the door, and I got it in white so it can fit in anywhere I put it. Since I don't like all of my furniture and decor to be from one era alone, it's important to know your classics and basics from the various eras. There's a lot of great books and online resources that cover the classic furniture for each era - I like to refer to the One King's Lane resource page.


Above: My rocking chair, the side table I made, the bookcase from Ikea, rug by Surya.

If you want to add some classics to your furniture collection, but not be a slave to a certain era or style, make sure you mix and match a bit.  I think rooms done all in mid-century modern can be a bit heavy on dark woods, drab fabrics, and primary colors. Here are some items I would mix in with my rocking chair to mix the look up a bit:

via One Kings Lane

This sofa ever so slightly adds a little glam to the mid-century modern style with it's feminine color and minimal tufting.  The clean lines tie it in to the chair.




via One Kings Lane

I would push the mix little farther then by adding this Asian inspired table.  It nods to Chinoiserie but the primary lines are clean and keep the look cohesive.


via One Kings Lane

Accessories and small goods, like these vintage Swedish candlesticks, really allow you to play and have fun mixing and matching.

via One Kings Lane

A wooden tray adds a touch of the industrial and natural.

via One Kings Lane

This gorgeous rug in a silky turquoise throws traditional in to the mix. It adds enough pattern and depth for visual interest without screaming for attention.

via One Kings Lane

I'd make sure that at some point I'd circle back around and add another mid-century elements, like a lamp.


What are some guidelines or tips you have for mixing and matching styles?

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Another Nordic beauty...a house tour that inspires...

You know my feelings on Nordic interiors...they can't really do wrong... This home, which belongs to Nina, founder of Stylizmo, only solidifies my opinion even more. It was featured in the most recent issue of Llamas Valley


Those butterfly prints are so pretty...


I love all the little vignettes to be found around this home...


Now I want an espresso...and that beautiful china...





Palette repurposed as a headboard... do you like or too rough for you?

Not to be a hater...but it's a little refreshing not to see "keep calm..."

See more and read the story at Llamas Valley

Thursday, December 15, 2011

A clutter-free and warm home of a Toronto artist

It's often a bit hard to find a home that is minimal and clean but not cold or sterile. This cozy home is a carefully edited space of meaningful objects.

The artist, Cylene




She keeps a rotating art wall, and displays collections, such as the cameras you see here, but the space still feels airy.

The kitchen is so cute.


The artist also let the folks over at Covet Garden tour her studio. I always love seeing a studio because I majored in ilustration and spent many years among other artists in their studios.



Her beautiful, whimsical paper art

via Covet Garden

Monday, December 22, 2008

Modern Design Icon 101

George Nelson is a modern design icon. He is most well known for his relationship with furniture designer Herman Miller. He actually got the attention of Herman Miller when Life Magazine featured one of his designs in a 1945 issue. Herman Miller founder D.J. DePree saw the article and met with Nelson in New York, and he soon became Herman Miller's director of design. Nelson also went on to found George Nelson & Associates, his own design firm.

His partnership with Herman Miller "shepherded design into the modern era," where he worked over 25 years. Modern classics like the Marshmallow Sofa and the Coconut Chair are still must-haves in modern homes, offices and museums. You would probably recognize Nelson from his Herman Miller designs- including my favs, the Swag Leg Series of tables, desks and chairs and his Platform Bench. Here is a little history for ya on both designs-

Swag Leg Series
Originally introduced in 1958, the Nelson Swag Leg Group is just as relevant today as it was in the late 50s and 60s. The perfect addition to any modern home office, the pieces can be used together or separately. The desk has just the right amount of work surface, and those colorful little cubbies make desktop organization a snap. The Swag Leg Chair is probably one of the better known pieces from this series - its separated seat and back have a sculpted look and feel, flexing with the sitter for supreme comfort.

"Swaging" is the process in which the legs in the series are manufactured by "using pressure to taper and curve a metal tube." The goal with this series was to create stylish yet easy to assemble pieces that could ship flat to cut down on costs. Nelson received permission from Charles and Ray Eames to use their patented plastic molding process to make the shell, going a bit further and creating two separate shells - one for the seat and one for the back. Today, while the design itself hasn't changed, the shells are made of recyclable polypropylene for an added eco-friendly benefit.

Nelson Platform Bench
The Nelson Platform Bench made its first appearance in 1946 and was part of Nelson's first collection for Herman Miller. It was reintroduced in 1994. Made of solid maple, the Nelson Platform Bench is a perfect addition to any living room, vestibule, bedroom or office. The slats were spaced to let air and light through and finger-jointed legs make it extra durable and strong. The Nelson Platform Bench is a quintessential multipurpose piece and can be used as either a low table or as a bench.

While there's no substitute for a Herman Miller chair, (I have an Aeron at work and it’s done wonders for my posture) it’s not all office furniture. Over the years, Herman Miller has been a modern design magnet, attracting some of the most famous and talented designers, including Mr. Nelson. Which piece strikes your fancy?





*love love love* the platform bench