Zen Vanity for the Powder Room

This gracefully elegant vanity is the epitome of simplicity and minimalism.

 

 

This natural sculptural vanity features the "live" edge of a tree bark.  It comes with a unique natural artfulness which can read rugged yet delicate at the same time.  It is available in two heights.  The butterfly joints ensure stability.  The lovely delicate bronze Zen Vessel sink is a perfect partner and has been hand crafted using traditional sand and casting techniques.  What do you think? I think it could be lovely in just the right situation, perhaps like this one inspired by the kimono.

 

 

 

Eva Hesse: The Artist and The Kitchen

THE ARTISTThe biggest trend in design today is "personalization", the late painter and sculptor Eva Hesse spoke of personalization before many of us were even born! She was speaking in terms of her art when she said,"It just seems to me that "personal" in art, if really pushed, is the most valued quality & what I want so much to find in & for myself."Eva Hesse,  succumbed to a brain tumor in 1970 at the age of 34.  Although she only produced art for 10 years, from 1960 to 1970, she is known for her pioneering work in latex, fiberglass and plastic.  She was part of an art movement in the 1960s known as postminimalism. Hesse was among the first artists of the 1960s to experiment with the fluidity of the organic shapes of nature.  She used modern materials to portray organic forms including grid patterns and repetition. These themes were often found in minimalism, but Hesse typically made her works by hand while her contemporaries were using machines. This practice introduced a human element into her art.A new documentary about her life was released earlier this year and premiered at The Whitney Museum in New York City back in May.  I can't wait to see it! Below is a clip."Eva Hesse" feature doc Intro from Tracing the Rope on Vimeo.THE KITCHENI wonder what Eva's kitchen would look like.  I could find no photo to give me clues but when I think of Eva I think of organic elements, natural finishes, bold shapes and even a touch of the absurd, which she loved!  Here are some kitchens evocative of Eva. 

Asian Kitchen- This style frequently features natural elements.  Kitchen by Seattle General Contractors Gaspar's Construction

  On my morning walks, whenever I pass this spot I always look up and think of Eva.

Put Some Style on Your Counter with Muji

You know how much I love my white walls and the uber sleekness of contemporary design.  Today I came across a post at deZeen.com and discovered the world of Japanese product designer Naoto Fukasawa.  He makes accessible, functional and simply gorgeous small appliances for your kitchen under the brand name Muji.There are no sharp corners here, it's all minimal, voluptuously curvy and white.  The series includes toasters, electric kettles (I want one!) rice cookers and more.  Muji is crazy popular in Japan not just for the innovative styling of its products but also for their affordability.  This line retails from $95-$195 and will be available in the UK and select USA (whatever that means) stores at the end of the year.Fukasawa is a creative thinker who also designs furniture and  intuitive interfaces for cell phones .  The comment element is it's minimal, highly functional and always artful!

Seduced by Mr.Steam

Have you ever stopped to think about how design impacts your health and well-being?  Design is just not working if it doesn't make you feel good and that is what Mr. Steam is all about.  One of my experiences on the Modenus Blog Tour Vegas was to attend Modenus Talks.  This was a day long, interactive meeting of design minds and it is where I heard Martha Orellana, AKA Mrs. Steam, seduce us with the physical and mental benefits of steam.Perhaps you already know too much about me.  You know that my dream bath is going to include the TOTO Washlet but the other big must have is, of course, steam.  I will find a way and, according to Mr. Steam, it's not so hard to do.  But first, a word (ok a few) about what's in it for you.  Steam is great for your skin but also for your whole respiratory system and is recommended for the relief of symptoms from colds, flu, sinusitis, bronchitis, allergies, asthma, throat irritation, arthritis and more. Sore, tired muscles? Rigid joints? Steam eases the pain.  It also acts as a natural detox (which we all need now and then). Steam therapy is nothing new.  The Greeks and Roman indulged and so did the Japanese and even Native Americans.  Check here for more about this  interesting tradition.  We got to bathe in the steam at the Aria Spa courtesy of Mr. Steam.  A lovely experience made even better with Tala.  Tala Bath & Body is a new discovery for me and is a line of  essential oils, clays, scrubs and soaps. Mrs. Steam traveled to Morocco to research and develop these products.  The Arabic word for "bath" is "hammam" and there is a beautiful ritual associated with it that you can follow with Tala.So now you're probably curious about what it would take to get steamy.  Basically you need an enclosed shower area around 8' high with a slightly sloped ceiling (because of condensation).  You'll need a water line, drain line and electric for the generator. A seat is a good idea and then you're ready for ten minutes of bliss.  That's all it takes. Steam showers do not require special ventilation. With the shower door closed, very little steam escapes. At the end of a steam shower session, simply turn on the shower to condense the remaining steam in the enclosure before opening the door. Voila'! Next Up: Taking personalization to the kitchen with Wood-Mode and TopKnobs!

Honor Mother Nature with Style at TOTO

"People First Innovation" is the guiding principle behind Toto, the world’s largest manufacturer of bathroom fixtures and fittings. TOTO is an un paralleled luxury brand creating beautiful and functional fixtures for the bath.  What really impresses me is that at the same time the are heavily focused on water conservation, a leading global concern that needs more attention here in the US. In 1989, in response to the state’s dramatic drought conditions and the growing need for water conservation, TOTO USA was established in California.  Today they operate three manufacturing facilities in the US. I was amazed to know that 80% of all toilets on the Las Vegas strip are, you guessed it, TOTO! The brand first started nearly one hundred years ago in Japan.  Today there is still a zen aesthetic to both the design and experience of the product. The Washlet is a must have in my opinion.  There are lots of choices to make when creating a new bathroom.  A few judiciously selected "special items" can make your bathroom awesome and this is one I'd pick.  TOTO reinvented the toilet seat by creating the Washlet, which gives people a new way to be cleaner and more comfortable every day. Washlet seats can be installed on virtually any toilet and use pure, clean water –along with several TOTO technologies – to make their users cleaner and more refreshed. Ok we're taking personalization to a new level here but you must admit... In case you're wondering, there are many public restrooms you can visit and see for yourself.  Here's where they are.  If you do, get back to me.  It would make a great blogpost ;) Speaking of blog posts,  I also found this great post by engadget.com A Westerner's Guide to Japanese Toilets .In addition to this, TOTO uses a lot of technology designed to preserve both the environment as well as your water and energy bill.  This even includes something called SanaGloss. TOTO’s patented, super smooth glaze that repels visible and invisible waste, making it difficult to adhere to porcelain.  I'm all for less toilet cleaning!Accessible design and real showers were a part of TOTO's interactive booth at KBIS2015!   Up next:  The other item not to be missed for your bath, Mr. Steam!  You can easily plan it into your bathroom renovation.

DAY ONE AT ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST SHOW

 

 Day one began with a little networking at the Marys and Mimosas event sponsored by Modenus.  This is where I was hoping to meet some of the other bloggers.  I did run into Veronika of Modenus and Linda Merrill of Surroundings as well as meeting Saxon Henry for the first time.  Of course, Mimosas and Bloody Marys were on the menu but the temperature was hot, hot, hot and I just couldn’t at 11AM!  Tasty treats were also on hand for those who were so inclined.  Everyone was very friendly but I couldn’t weight to tuck into all the enticing displays.

 

First off I roamed the area featuring kitchen related products and there were some really awesome offerings.  Reclaimed wood is THE thing in flooring.  I loved the finishes at Tennessee Wood Flooring.  Wouldn’t this be awesome in a kid’s room?  This company’s products are stained through and through, well at least a couple millimeters so that sanding and repairs won’t compromise the finish color.I also fell in love with a company called Manhattan Forest Products whose tagline is “reclaiming New York City”.  That’s exactly what they’re doing.  Their flooring and wood paneling is made from wood reclaimed from the old Coney Island boardwalks, the old wood water towers that used to top many old buildings among other places.  If it’s old wood in New York City, they can make magic with it.  Just think, your floor could be “green” AND have its very own story. Of course I’m always on the hunt for interesting cabinet designs and these cabinets by Rutt certainly fit that criteria.  These are made of Sapele Mahogany and Rutt wants you to know that they will provide you with “chain of custody certification” when you purchase cabinets from them.  No, it’s not a warrant for your arrest, rather it’s a trail of proof that green practices were employed in the manufacture of your cabinetry from start to finish.Now you remember Think Glass.  I wrote about them here.  The painted glass is beautiful in person.  The paint is not on the surface but is, in fact, embedded between layers of glass!  Stunning. Many appliances were on show including Sub Zero Wolf, ULine, Best and Liebherr who has a kicking 48” refrigerator freezer that is half fridge and half freezer.  I love the symmetry of it and the fact that their products are a TRUE 24” deep with no muss, no fuss.  I enjoyed chatting with ventilation hood specialists at ModernAire and at Faber regarding a tricky design dilemma I’m working with at the moment. Compass Ironworks are iron forgers in with old world attention to details and I got to see a demo on the spot.  Yes it was hot.I also enjoyed one of the featured events of the day which was a talk entitled:  Globe Trotting: Inspiration Through Travel.  Yes, I agree that incorporating artifacts and mementos from our travels, wherever they may be, certainly make for  unique and personal interiors. It was a special treat to hear Juan Montoya speak as a part of the panel.All this crazy fun to be continued tomorrow but tonight my sis and I will see the Merce Cunningham dance company.  The production is called “4 Walls Doubletoss Interludes” and if you know anything about modern dance this is a very big deal indeed.