Brad Pitt’s Shopping Spree

By the time you read this, may have finally ended the media speculation and popped those twins out, but it seems her equally-gorgeous partner is the one who’s nesting. Pitt was spotted picking up a few items – likely for the growing family’s new pad in the South of France – at the Design Miami/Basel event in Basel, Switzerland. And while most dads-to-be concentrate on the staples like cribs, changing tables and rocking chairs, Pitt’s spree had a decidedly modernist twist. And a price tag that could probably put his soon-to-be brood of six through college – twice.

Pitt started with an appropriate choice for a man with a houseful of kids – a pair of lamps representing a family by Atelier van Lieshout. The lamps are made of foam and reinforced fiberglass, so they’re not only good design, they may also be baby safe! The perpetual Sexiest Man Alive also scored a pair of Ron Arad chairs from New York’s Sebastian + Barquet, and a rug from New York’s Cristina Grajales that retails for a whopping $175 a square foot, possibly because it’s woven from aluminum thread. The piece de resistance, however, was Dutch Designer Jeroen Verhoeven’s Rococo-style coffee table fashioned from hollow white marble. The cost of this creation – supplied by London’s Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery? A whopping $293,000.

KMPfurniture.com  Modern Furniture

Finally — A Room with a Real Ocean View

If you really, really, really love the ocean, some of the world’s best and brightest minds are working on a project that could create your dream home. The Seasteading Institute, founded by Google’s Patri Friedman and a former Sun Microsystems programmer named Wayne Gramlich, is investigating the idea of building entire communities in the ocean. People will work, live, play and govern themselves in what are essentially “city-states” located, in, under and on the sea.

It may sound like something out of a science-fiction movie, but the Institute is serious. They’ve already secured $500,000 in funding from PayPal founder Peter Thiel, and plan to break ground – or water – on a prototype to be launched within a few years in San Francisco Bay. The structure is based on the design used in oil rigs – which are often small floating cities in their own right – but with gardens, solar panels and wind turbines added to the above-ground platform space to make the “city” sustainable and pleasant to live in. The living space, meanwhile, will be located inside the underwater tube that will anchor the platform to the ocean floor. Which means your ocean view will be a real ocean view – no sky, no sand, only water. It sounds like a perfect pad for a mermaid.

KMPfurnitur.com Modern Furniture

Concrete Floors Go Glam

There are a lot of reasons to like concrete floors.  For starters, they’re practical – spill a glass of wine and you can literally hose it off.  Try doing that with carpet!  They’re eco-friendly – they can soak up the sun’s rays during the daytime and warm your house at night.  And of course, concrete, unlike wood, is a renewable resource.  Concrete is relatively inexpensive, and for those who like a sleek, industrial look, it’s incredibly stylish, which is why so many modern offices, restaurants and homes across the globe feature them.  But until now, concrete floors could hardly be described as “pretty.”

 

San Francisco design firm Transparent House Studio is out to change all that with the latest evolution in the concrete floor.  Called “Concrete Art,” it involves adding design to flooring that is normal regarded as the epitome of simplicity.  The unique concept allows any sort of pattern or design to be applied to the floor’s surface either during the pouring process, or later, when the floor has set.  The example we saw featured a floral pattern, but clearly anything from pop art geometrics to stripes to faux “natural” finishes could also be applied.  And if you get the urge to scrawl “Mike Loves Jennifer” across your living room floor, you can probably do that too!

Cool New Ways to get your Clothes off the Floor

If you’re one of those people who seems to always have a pile of clothes sitting on your bedroom floor, you’re about to run out of excuses.  Because the design community has been hard at work coming up with new ways to get you clean up in style.  Icelandic designer Ragnheidur Ingunn Agustsdottir has created an oh-so adorable rack constructed of ceramic coffee cups, their handles pointed upward to ensure clothes hung on them will not fall off.  Designer Matthias Pinkert has created a great-looking piece of wall art called the Klotho that does triple duty as a drying rack and wardrobe – all for an unbelievably affordable price.

But possibly the greatest new invention of them all – especially for those of us who like to pile our clothes on chairs, is the miraculous new Chair & Hanger.  Designed by Hyun-Jin Lee and Hyeroung Choe, this simple yet elegant creation is exactly what it sounds like, a chair and a hanger in one, with one side of the modern chair’s back rising above the sitter to form the built in “hanger.”  It’s an ideal choice for restaurants, giving guests an easy place to leave their coat or purse while they eat.   But it’s also a great idea for those of us who can’t help throwing our clothes on the nearest chair wherever we are.

Louise Campbell – Modern Furniture

If summertime could choose its designer, Louise Campbell would be first call. Campbell’s work is vibrant, energetic and captures the sentiment of a fresh summer day. One may find themselves smiling involuntarily when viewing her creations. In exchange for profundity, Campbell instead judges her work by how much fun erupts.
Born in Copenhagen in 1970, she is daughter to a Danish father and English mother. Campbell grew up greatly influenced by both countries. She graduated from the London College of Furniture in 1992. Four years later she set up her own studio in Denmark, which remains her base camp to this day. Artists, designers and architects alike are many times measured by their exquisite paintings, natural abilities and well engineered buildings. A better measuring stick is the personal affect a work of art has on its viewer. It takes boldness to leave room for the amateur eye. Yet, the more room left for interpretation, the longer the life of the work. Millions of eyes have millions of interpretations.
It is with this philosophy in mind that Louise Campbell accomplishes beautiful first and secondary art from her work. That is, she creates artistic interpretations that are birthed out of her original work. She uses light and shadows to uncover images not seen in the original design. A great example of her second tier artistry is her work on the Spiderwoman, Retreat and Zanotta chair renditions.

These creations birth secondary designs once touched by artificial or natural light. It is beautiful to behold. In the Spiderwoman design, geometric shadows add complexity to an otherwise straightforward design, just the right amount of texture. The same experience emanates from Retreat, a honey-comb-like chair that seems to maintain it uprightness from an invisible axis. Lovely work. This type of approach also tends to engage a younger demographic that may otherwise not be interested in architecture. There is a youthful attraction to movable, flexible artistry that can be manipulated in real-time by simply adjusting the angles.
From her Denmark studio, Campbell has produced numerous notable works. Campbell joyfully describes her hollowed workspace, “We are situated in an old workshop in the heart of Copenhagen. The floor drops 28 cm from one end of the space to the other. This means that all our mess and coffee-spills end up in a pile at the far end of the space. Next to me!” Campbell has a three-prong philosophy in her studio, always start from scratch, find the core of the issue, and dare to be different. These simple, yet effective rules have expanded her client list which now includes: Louis Poulsen, Zanotta, HAY, Royal Copenhagen, Holmegaard, Stelton, Muuto, and The Danish Ministry of Culture, among others.
The work completed for the Danish Ministry of Culture has gained special significance. Campbell took a refreshing look at a rather stressful, stiff governmental environment. The result was the creation of a cozy, welcoming space. Her use of colors, and at times the lack of color, exceeded expectations.

Denmark, continues to benefit greatly from having Campbell as its citizen. She has taken it upon herself to improve the image and design of the city. One initiative has been “Walk the Plank.” This is a collaboration between 30 modern furniture designers and numerous cabinet makers all who donate their time to create original designs. The objective is to leave a lasting impression on all who visit the city.

Notable exhibitions highlighting Campbell’s work include: Sim Sum, Madrid, EPAL, Iceland, Studies of Light, Louis Poulsen, 3 Falke Møbler, Copenhagen, ‘Quick. Quick, Slow’ – Danish Design Centre, and Waiting Rooms, Trapholt museum of Design. Awards received include: Thorvald Bindesbøll Medal, The Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum, Bruno Mathsson Award, and the Wallpaper Magazine Interiors Maverick Award.
Campbell has a design style that in many ways is counter-intuitive to today’s trends. She wisely commented on this dynamic in an interview with Danish Crafts. Campbell stated, “Trends arise because we all have a need to possess what others have, a need to belong. Parents who don’t treat their children exactly the same are the exception rather than the rule. Therefore we learn early on that homogeneity is good, that it prevents conflicts, and that there is a certain orderly logic to the whole concept,” Campbell concludes, “The premise of the craftsman is, cynically speaking, to go against the flow, whatever the consequences. They travel the uncharted path, as indeed they must in order to capture new territory.”

Dining room furniture tips:

Choosing dining room furniture can be an exciting adventure, because attitudes have come along way in accepting the space for formal eating as space that can be used for a multitude of objectives. Dining furniture today does more and says more than the matching pieces once placed in formal settings, years ago. Eating rooms of this decade exists to serve as favorite family gathering places, ideal spaces for homework and school projects, or cozy intimate exchanges. The word “normal” has been removed from most designer’s lips and the climate in decor indicates that anything goes. So, when searching for the right eating arrangement for your family or for individual tastes, there are some helpful hints to keep in mind to get the most of the furniture purchase and to get the most of this room that can be utilized in a variety of ways.

Before choosing the dining room furniture for any home, there are a few designer tips that can be considered to maximize the space and feel of the room. Assuming that eating will be the primary activity of the room, how many plan to sit at dinner under normal circumstances should be considered. Often, expansive tables are purchased for a once a year celebration, like Christmas. However, this space can be wasted throughout the other 364 days of the year. If budgets allow and the room can handle a large table and chairs, then this may just be what the home needs. But during most large dinner parties and celebrations, people don’t mind pulling up extra chairs or bringing in an additional, but interesting, table for dinner. So, make selections based on general year-round use.

Keep in consideration what additional tasks or gatherings could take place in the room, looking for ways to optimize spaces. The Dining room of today will often double as an office or craft location, so there may be a need for storage and extra furniture. When making room selections, a family’s comfort and convenience should be the key and not necessarily following standard, traditional rules. Rooms are empty spaces to be filled with inspirational color, energy, or serenity. Before selecting dining furniture, ask what this space truly needs to accomplish, within diverse family dynamics.

The next step in selecting a table and chairs for this exciting space will be to think about style. The style or theme used in the rest of the house should be carried through into the dining room. But, individual spaces can certainly have their own character. Walls should be painted in coordinating and complementary colors. The table and chairs selected should also reflect the over-all family feel of the home. This can be challenging when using existing dining room furniture, which might be pieces passed down through family lines. But old can be new again, so keep in mind painting older pieces, restoring in a new finish, or using creative fabrics to hide out-of-date carvings or ornate decor on chairs. A bold, vibrant color can turn an old and tired table into a jazzy statement and an exciting place to spend time.

If new dining furniture is the fortunate choice, then finding a table and chairs collection to fit not only the mood of the home, but the scale of the home will be important. Buyers will want to keep in mind their objectives, looking for tables and chairs that reflect a cozy, warm, bold, simple, or dynamic statement. Rectangles in dark woods speak formality, round and colorful surfaces are signs of fun, and wood tones in round or oblong shapes are perfect for cozy comforts. And, chairs do not have to match tables or each other. Mix matching favorite finds from antique stores, second hand markets, and discount places can make the entire eating area a unique display of individuality.

Using a dining area for hospitality purposes is a God centered idea. In the book of Acts, there is an example of how Christians are to be sharing and caring for one another. One method of showing brotherly and sisterly love is in enjoying each other’s company over dinner. “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” (Acts 2:46) Sharing home and food is an awesome way to give others the opportunity to share burdens and to encourage one another. Inviting others into the home is utilizing God’s gift of hospitality.

There are many different purchasing options available to the dining furniture buyer. There are furniture stores throughout communities with wide ranges of selections. Discount warehouses can be sought for overstocked items. Dining furniture may also be found from companies that sell goods online, through the Internet. And, do not forget about the second hand stores or charity outlets. With a little elbow grease and time, an old discarded table and chairs can become a family favorite. Think outside the box when selecting just the right dining room furniture for your home and family, and future entertaining plans.

What Should You Put at the End of Your Bed?

Are you fortunate to have a bedroom large enough to place a piece of furniture at the end of your bed?

Whether you’re looking for beauty or function, there are lots of ways to use this found space. You can find interesting pieces at tag sales or flea markets or choose a special piece for your room.

Depending on the amount of space you have, you’re sure to find the perfect piece on our list of the top 10 things to put at the end of a bed.

• TV Cabinet – The newest “must-have” for a bedroom is a cabinet with a TV that goes up and down at the touch of a remote control button. By day, you have a cabinet or bench, and by night you have an eye-level flat screen TV. What a luxury! You’ll have to dig deep into your wallet for this one.

A Large Upholstered Bench – A large bench or ottoman can catch your bedspread at night, hold a tray of goodies, or serve as a great place to sit. ·  Choose a fabric cover that enhances your decor and give it a seasonal change with a soft, cuddly throw in the winter or light, sheer slipcover for summer.

·  A Storage Bench – Whether you choose a wooden bench or an upholstered one, a storage bench provides a perfect place to put bedding, pillows, and extra linens. It’s a great place to sit to put on shoes and socks and also a handy place to put your bedspread at night.

·  Skirted Table- If you have a small round, oblong, or oval table, this will work perfectly. Purchase or make a floor-length tablecloth that coordinates with the decor of your room. If you have more space, add a small side chair on each end of the table.

·  Pair of Chairs – If you love to read in your room, you could place two small upholstered armchairs or side chairs at the end of your bed. With an ottoman and small reading lamp, you’ll have a comfortable, private reading nook.

·  Loveseat – A small loveseat is great at the end of a queen or king size bed. Have a good floor lamp close by for reading and decorate the loveseat with a soft blanket and pretty decorative pillows.

·  Low Cabinet, Chest, or Trunk – While a long, low piece may look better in most rooms, even a taller piece will work well. The drawers are great for linen storage, books, craft supplies, and CD’s or DVD’s that you might use in your bedroom. A trunk can hold extra blankets and pillows. A nice piece of wood furniture gives a good balance to a bedroom’s upholstered look.

·  Wicker or Iron Bench or Seat – The end of a bed is a great place to put an unusual piece of furniture, one that has “character.” Iron and wicker look great in casual interiors or rooms with a vintage look. Add a pretty plaid or floral cushion to coordinate with the rest of the room.

·  Writing Desk – With a small writing desk at the end of your bed, you’ll be able to use and enjoy your bedroom during the day. Read your mail, write a letter, make your shopping list or a phone call in the comfort of your bedroom.

·  Table – A pedestal or library table can provide space for books, collections, family photos, or a small television. The table should not be more than 8″ taller than the top of your mattress.

 

Mies van der rohe chaise lounge chair

Mies Van Der Rohe Chaise Lounge Chair
See it at: Kmpfuniture.com

Product Description

If you’re planning to rest for a spell in the Mies chaise lounge chair, make sure you have plenty of time available. We heard Rip Van Winkle had one of these van der Rohe creations in his own abode and you know how his next 20 years went. With its sweeping, thick upholstery mounted over a sturdy, stainless steel frame, the Mies chaise lounge chair will lure to you sleep. Add in the matching ottoman and you’ll slumber off, even as your favorite team battles it out on the boob tube before you. Ottoman sold separately.

How to organize the end of your bed

Today’s large master suites offer plenty of room for armoires, dressers and even chairs. But what do you do with that cavernous space at the end of your bed?

 

The answer is plenty. From a design perspective, the end of the bed begs to be softened with additional pieces. This is not only true with beds that are open on the end, but ones with footboards as well. It creates a visual barrier that disrupts the flow of the room.

 

Softening it doesn’t have to be an expensive undertaking either. With a little creativity, even the simplest things can do wonders in this area of your bedroom.

 

Here are some ideas that work particularly well:

 

TV cabinet. This is a newest “thing” to have for the bedroom. By day, it’s an ordinary bench. At night, you click a remote control and a flat-screen TV pops up so you can watch Letterman before slipping off to dreamland.

 

A table. A small round or oblong table will fit the space nicely. Pick out a tablecloth for it that is floor length and which complements the décor of the room. If you have a little extra space, add a small bistro style chair to complete the look. Don’t use a square table. It just extends the edge of the bed visually and does nothing to soften the space.

 

A bench. Benches are great for storing extra blankets, pillows or seasonal items. It’s also a great place to get dressed in the morning. You can put your socks and shoes on without waking anyone else up. You can go with a traditional wood bench or a large upholstered bench in a complementary fabric.

 

 

Loveseat. This is a terrific solution and so useful too. Be sure to select a loveseat that fits the size of bed you have. You don’t want to be tripping over the edge of it if you need to get up in the middle of the night. Add a reading light and a cozy comforter for a nice retreat at the end of the day.

 

Pair of chairs. If you have a king sized bed, two chairs work well at the end of the bed. You can add a small reading lamp and an ottoman to create a cozy place to read. It’s almost like adding a new living space to your existing square footage if done well. Remember to select chairs that are scaled appropriately for the smaller area.

 

Writing Desk. While people aren’t writing with pen and ink the way they used to, a small writing desk or secretary is a great place to store your laptop and catch up on your email before you go to sleep. Plus it’s a tidy place to put your cell phone, keys, wallet and other personal items so you always know where they are. If you don’t have a wireless network, you can run the connection under the bed and up to the back of the desk so it is virtually invisible.

 

A low dresser. There never seems to be enough storage in homes these days. A low dresser offers you additional space to store your clothing, particularly seasonal ware or intimate apparel. You can also consider a trunk or a wood chest as a good alternative. These provide the additional space you need while adding character to the room.

 

 

Wicker or iron furniture. Wicker and iron can create a nice visual contrast to the wood furniture in your room. You can even use it to create a small vignette. Add candles to the table, place a throw over one of the chairs and finish the scene with a fine porcelain cup and saucer, as if someone had just been enjoying a cup of tea to welcome the morning.

 

Bookshelf. If you’re an avid reader or just in love with the idea of reading, a bookshelf can be a nice addition to the end of your bed. Classics, leather bound editions and collectible works help dress up the room and soften the edge of your bed.

 

And there you have it – great ways to add visual interest to your room while softening the space that signals the end of your sleep space and the rest of the bedroom. It’s the ideal place to exercise your creativity and let your imagination run wild while adding some new features to your room that make it more romantic and more welcoming.

TRENDS

The consumer goods industry – particularly the areas of tableware and kitchenware – is extremely competitive these days. It’s hard for designers to come up with products that address a new function. After all, there are only so many gadgets you can need to crush garlic or open a bottle of wine.

 

To differentiate themselves in the marketplace, savvy designers know that new designs are always in demand, even for such seemingly mundane tools as bowls and toasters.

 

But good design is rarely enough. In order to sell, the products need to communicate as well, whether it’s a new way of enjoying a meal or new ideas for saving time, space or money.

 

One of the main driving forces these days is globalization. As it continues to take hold, new forms are evolving, particularly in the area of tableware. Infusions of other cultures are changing the look of traditional plates and flatware. No longer are plates just round. Rather, they are made to fit the type of dish or meal being served. These include new categories of dishes made specifically for sauces and sides.

 

This exposure to global tastes also influences how we eat. New designs allow families to move away from the traditional dinner table and out into other living spaces in the home and even outdoors.

 

This change in eating venues has also created designs that are more organic, where form follows function in new and exciting ways. While traditional fine china holds onto the geometric classics such as round, oval or even square, informal tableware is being made in exciting new shapes and styles, something to match not only every occasion, but also every style of food imaginable.
 

But the trends don’t end with shape. New colors are coming on the scene as well, fueled in part by fashion, but also by new manufacturing techniques globalization brings to the table.

 

Bright new colors such as apple green and lemon yellow have come on the scene, and a new shade, lagoon blue, is beginning to gain favor. The entire spectrum of berry colors is very popular right now, as is pink. Black and white are always classic choices, but look for them to be accented with bold colors to create contrast.

 

Cutlery is also experiencing change. The auto industry has perfected new methods of producing finishes on steel and housewares designers were quick to seize on these ideas. The result: cutlery with black surfaces instead of the traditional silver finish.

 

Though families have strayed from the dining room in recent years, the kitchen is increasingly being brought into the living room and other eating areas. Many new cooking appliances such as Rechauds, which can be used as a wok, a grill or a fondue, allow the meal preparation to be moved away from the kitchen and into the living area. This is a direct influence of the Asian culture.

 

Finally, new materials are beginning to make their mark on the kitchen. Silicone is finding its way into cookware in new and exciting ways. Because silicone has high heat resistance, good insulating qualities and noise suppression capabilities, it is well suited to a variety of cooking situations. For example, a silicone ring that has different-sized vents inside the lid. The lid can then be adjusted to four different sized openings and there’s no clunking when the lid is placed on the pot.

KMP Modern Furniture