The color of wood…
March 17, 2013
is as an important consideration as any of the other color decisions you might be required to make when working on a design project. Yet, for some reason, many treat ” wood” as a neutral, giving it little if any consideration in the overall plan. This very simply could be the reason so many are disenchanted with their environments once completed. And, the biggest mistake is making the wrong decision on the hardwood floor…the first and most important decision. Because there is so much of it, if the color is “off ” then it is “off ” in every room that floor color anchors. Even at a glance, the samples below clearly state their tonalities…Gray, Black Brown, Orange, Dark Rust, Blush, Sand. By looking at them in terms of color it’s easier to see how each of the wood colors will react with paint, fabric choices and casegood finish selections. It’s simple really…no harder than pulling an outfit together which you manage to do every day. Right?
Oomph Furniture Driftwood Finish http://www.oomphonline.com/backgammon-table-wooden.html
I ♥ Fattoush
March 13, 2013
Really, you’d think I was Lebanese or something. It’s the Sumac… the Middle Eastern spice… that gives Fattoush its distinctive character. I eat it all year round but it just tastes better when the weather is still cold, like a quick Mediterranean vacation. The assortment of crunchy vegetables, herbs, crisp pita and simple dressing is just what’s needed to lift your spirits on a gray March day. Not a minute too soon, I think it’s time for lunch.
As you spring forward…
March 10, 2013
you loose an hour of sleep. To make up for that loss you’d be totally justified investing in new bedding to take you through the Spring and Summer months. It is no secret that linen is my simplequietmodern fiber of choice so these thick, rumpled natural linen sheets and cases from Fog Linen should do nicely…ensuring plenty of sweet dreams and restful nights.
http://www.shop-foglinen.com/product/linen-pillow-cases-natural
If you were lucky enough to call this bedroom yours, you’d be able to take full advantage of that additional hour each day. Perfect.
http://www.archdaily.com/336289/residence-in-keisen-masao-yahagi-architects/
By the bunch
March 7, 2013
Even though it’s been said that the giving of a bunch of Daffodils will ensure happiness and good fortune, it’s a pretty fair bet that they will ensure a sweet smile or a big hug. Not bad for a $2 investment. Yet another reason to welcome March.
A little on the side
March 5, 2013
Occasionally there arises a need for, um….an occasional table. Something that is sized perfectly to place beside a chair or sofa, with just enough room to accommodate a cocktail, a cup of coffee or a book. A table that can be placed in a variety of places depending on the need while still feeling at home in each spot, as if it were its permanent home. With its 18″ height and near 16″ diameter, this classic by Warren Platner could be the perfect choice. The sculptural steel rod frame with its varied available surface options has been gracing the most sophisticated interiors since 1966. Deciding if this piece is right for you is the easy part. Pairing the nickel or bronze finished base with any of the wood, marble or glass tops…well, that might take a while. The good news is there is simply no bad choice.
http://hivemodern.com/pages/product2485/knoll-warren-platner-bronze-side-table
Slowly awakening
March 2, 2013
Once I’ve made it through January and February I can breathe a little easier. There may still be a bit of Winter to deal with, but once March rolls in we can see the promise of Spring…like the light at the end of Winter’s long dark tunnel. Even before we get into the forcing of flowery branches we have the option of bringing indoors the earliest signs of the earth waking back up. Bits of moss and lichen seem the first to emerge as the snow melts off, bright spears of dogwood follow, reminding us that yes, things will be green again. And, their appeal could not be more simplequietmodern. If you are lucky enough to gather them locally, great. If not, Terrain offers both of these branch selections, harvested from the Pacific Northwest, by post.
http://www.shopterrain.com/stems-branches/
C’mon…bring it.
February 26, 2013
Imagine coming home after a day of fighting traffic during the latest of winter storms only to find your mailbox has been catapulted into the neighboring property in an explosive shower of cedar shards and shredded envelopes. That snowplow must have been really gunning for my old standby who had been quietly receiving snail mail and parcels for decades. I now found myself in the market for a NEW mailbox…something with style that suits the mid-century sensibility of my home… while at the same time being able to stand up to the bullies behind the wheel or those out for a joyride wielding an aluminum bat. Jonathan Duke at Steel House Mfg. in Austin, Texas got it right with both the MB1 and MB2. simplequietmodern solutions that almost whisper…”You want some of this?”
Images by Steel House Mfg.
Who wants pie?
February 24, 2013
It held me in good stead as a decorative object from early fall right through the holidays. Now this gorgeous Winter squash, the Hubbard, is about to be transformed into a simple comforting treat. This recipe for Brown Sugar Hubbard Squash Pie claims to be heartier and more flavorful than canned pumpkin, but equally creamy. Even with the added process of cutting this monster up and baking it off into the master roasted squash puree could not have been simpler or more economical. One finished pie down and there is enough puree to freeze that will make 4 more or anything else you can conjure that requires cooked squash…Gnochi, Soup, Lasagna? That said, the end result looks fantastic. I think it’s time to put on some coffee and start cuttin’. 
Totally floored
February 20, 2013
When looking for a suitable flooring material during a home renovation many years ago I was hard pressed for an appropriate material that fit all of the criteria I had set. Yes, it’s always much easier to specify when working for someone else. It was hard to find an individual at the time who was able to refinish the concrete floors, laminates were not a direction I cared to go and standard hardwoods seemed like a yawn. I also wanted something that was as cost effective as possible…even to the point of becoming one of the installers to keep costs low and make sure things were handled correctly. Then a friend reminded me of a material that I had put to successful use years earlier in my home in L.A….plywood. I guess there was no reason to reinvent the wheel or mess with prior success…so, plywood it was…simplequietmodern.
A stronger more graphic result was achieved more recently with a mosaic of “humble” materials…ply, particle board and MDF… in this Warsaw cafe and bike repair shop. Now that’s a statement.
http://www.designboom.com/design/relaks-cafe-cafe-and-bicycle-storerepair-shop/
The apple doesn’t fall…
February 17, 2013
too far from the tree, which is pretty apparent in this Eero Saarinen Armchair. Designed in 1957 at the same time the design and construction was taking place on the iconic TWA Flight Center at New York’s Idywild Airport, the influences between the two are unmistakable. Originally designed as an executive office chair, this groundbreaking seating , with its use of a fully upholstered flexible fiberglass frame, offers comfort that is equally at home in any residential setting requiring a modern note. As time has passed, Idylwild was renamed JFK International, TWA has ceased to exist, and the simplequietmodern days of early elegant air travel has given way to…well, you know. The good news is that this chair is still available, in multiple variations, to satisfy your need for comfortable seating with a light touch… and, this magnificent building has undergone a recent multi-million dollar renovation and is now a National Landmark.
http://nyc-architecture.com/BKN/BKN002.htm
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