They said…
September 22, 2014
it wouldn’t last. It’s been two weeks now and this vase of Rhoadsidiana is still going strong…looking good from every angle. Clearly the secret to long lasting flowers is an impeccably clean container and a fresh cut to every stem. You might try this yourself during your next walk. Gather an assortment of seasonal grasses, twigs, pods or berries and create a pleasing arrangement right there in your hand. Secure it all by tying it together with a piece of twine, trim all of the stems to the appropriate length and drop immediately into your chosen vessel. There you have it…a little simplequietmodern seasonal DIY to gently segue into Fall.
Creative block…
September 19, 2014
to color block. It could be the simplequietmodern solution to the earlier challenge. A richly textured, richly colored new wool blanket split asymmetrically in two. Let’s see what develops.
Illuminating
September 4, 2014
I was trying hard to warm up to the LED as a lightsource but it was a slow go. The initial offerings had color so bad that the CFL seemed tolerable by contrast. Remember the white miniature LED Christmas lights of a few years back? How blue were they? The thought of illuminating your interior with that option drove many to gather the last of the incandescents left on the shelves. Finally, we are not only finding LEDs with the warm white light we are used to, we are seeing amazing new designs in lighting and fixtures like never before. One of my favorites is THIN, designed by Peter Bristol and Juniper Design. As task lighting, Thin comes pretty close to simplequietmodern perfection with its minimal profile, full articulation and integrated dimmer. Now that it’s time to get “back to school”, this might just make hunkering down with that pile of homework something to look forward to.
Photos via: http://www.juniper-design.com/products/thin
All Set
August 24, 2014
And, ready for anything. Soups, pastas, salads…coffee, chai latte or warm cider. What more do you need? One large simple shallow bowl and an accomodating cup will take you from breakfast to dinner and back again. Add a handknit linen lapkin and you are ready to strap on that simplequietmodern feedbag. Think of how many cupboards you’ve emptied by bringing your dining experience back to what’s absolutely essential.
“If only…
August 21, 2014
…you could design just one good chair in your life… But you simply cannot”. Apparently, when Hans Wegner spoke those words in 1952 he was right, designing over 500 chairs in the course of his lifetime. We are all familiar with some, as they have become icons of mid twentieth century Danish design. Others never got past the prototype stage, until now. In celebration of his 100th birthday, PP Mobler has re-issued a collection of Mr. Wegner’s best known designs, as well as a few that were never produced. You could base an entire project around these two.
Top: The Chair 1949 Bottom: Tub Chair 1954 Photos via Dezeen
Better like this?
August 17, 2014
When an unexpected package shows up on your doorstep…well, it’s just the greatest. Intended to cure my homesickness for the West Coast, this “care package” contained some items found by friends on a trip to the desert…a program book from Modernism West, a bit of vintage modern Hawaiiana and a pile of wool yarn that I’m sure was gathered at one of their regular ” picking ” haunts. I could feel the hot desert air the minute I broke open the box. I laughed out loud thinking how much fun we would’ve had if we had all taken that trip together…then laughed some more as I imagined them guessing what would become of these skeins whose palette was clearly…umm…challenging. Well, challenge accepted.
Who knew that a little fuchsia dye and a kettle of hot water would turn that Robin Hood green into this? Yep, better like this.
Or, that the intense green/blue/purple self-striping yarn would turn into this rich charcoal black when cooked up in a bath of dark brown? Oh yeah, now we’re talking. You’ll have to check back to see what happens next.
Separated at Birth
August 11, 2014
Is it me or are these two products related? What is the likelihood of seeing such similar characteristics in totally unrelated materials like this mens Hermes scarf and this box of packing material used by Heath ceramics? I’m also seeing a little of Picasso’s Guernica in the mix as well…anyone else?
Top photo: Hermes http://usa.hermes.com/man/tie-fre/scarves-140-for-men/imprimeur-fou/configurable-product-scarves-imprimeur-fou-47978.html
Bottom photo: gp
case study: Van Keppel Green
August 3, 2014
From the Case Study houses of southern California then to your own backyard today, nothing will have you relaxing in simplequietmodern style like these iconic pieces by mid-century modernists Hendrik Van Keppel and Taylor Green. Faithfully reproduced to the original 1939 specs in UV powder coat over stainless steel and wrapped in marine cord…the Case Study #22 Chaise and Lounge chair and ottoman.
http://hivemodern.com/pages/products.php?sid=3995 all photos: Hive Modern
Shhhhhhhhhh…
July 27, 2014
I’m praying. Praying that I might absorb every bit of creative inspiration that I can from this amazing space. Stone, wood, air, light, quiet…what else is needed? The Atelier Brancusi in Paris as photographed by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic. And, if the opportunity to visit wasn’t enough…admission is free. Can I hear an Amen?
All photos courtesy of Heather Clawson. You can continue her tour here http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2014/07/chic-in-paris-atelier-brancusi.html
Sidetracked
July 24, 2014
I thought I was zeroing in on the beginning of something big when I was sidetracked taking a shortcut through the garden center at Home Depot. Could a simple ball of sisal twine slam on the creative breaks and start me turning in another direction. Apparently it can…I’m a sucker for any type of natural cord. You name it…jute, sisal, hemp…I like them all. It wasn’t long before a test swatch was produced and then another…first on its own, then knit together with my homespun newsprint yarn. Stay tuned.
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