Not too big…
May 25, 2017
not too small. But, just right. Garden shed, studio or just a little place to hide out, the Muji Hut is any and all of those. At just under 100 square feet it features a covered porch, sliding glass door, an additional small window for cross ventilation and a wood burning stove. The surface materials of plywood and concrete with the exterior of charred cedar are the perfect complement to the simple shape with its sloped shed roof. While Muji is not currently offering the Hut outside Japan, you might start scoping out the yard for the perfect location should that change or they decide to offer plans only. A little something to inspire if you’re not taking off for the holiday weekend.
photos: https://www.muji.com/jp/mujihut/en.html
A Good Place to Start
May 22, 2017
It doesn’t take much to create a little something special. Keeping things simplequietmodern is key, as is careful editing of design and material. Let’s start with materials, shall we? My absolute favorites…raw plywood, concrete…and the addition of charred cedar. Stay tuned.
photos: Muji.com
Don’t Fight It
May 4, 2017
Like so many May flowers, sale signs are popping up everywhere now that it’s Spring. Yard sales, garage sales, rummage sales….you name it. My advice? Follow your gut. If you have an inclination to stop…stop. You might just come across a find like this early Florence Knoll table. The base is solid stainless bar stock and the top, walnut. While the surface had a large chunk taken out of the edge, for an initial investment of under $20 it was worth having a new top fabricated. That’s right, under $20. Boom.
photo: gp
Dining Out
April 11, 2017
Outside, out of the house, on the patio, in the yard…any which way but indoors. Two great modern classics from Knoll’s iconic 1966 Group of outdoor furniture by Charles Schultz, ready to be set for dinner. I’m torn between the 60″x 60″ square and the 90″ x 38″ rectangle. Both will easily accomodate 8, the later even up to 10 guests. The original white finish is now joined by a striking black, either being a great place to start, especially when taking advantage of the Knoll Outdoor Furniture Sale which starts on April 13th.
Photos: https://www.knoll.com/product/1966-dining-table-60×60
Pick One…Any One
March 30, 2017
Easter and Passover are just around the corner and nothing makes a simplequietmodern statement than a classic glass cylinder vase filled with flowering branches. From your own yard, a friends garden or a trip to the market, this exercise is simple…pick a single type, fill your vase with water, grab your secateurs and give each branch a fresh clean cut. Done.
Top to bottom:
Pussy Willow,Forsythia,Yellow Twig Dogwood,Lichen Covered Branches,Quince,Tulip Magnolia
all photos: http://www.shopterrain.com/fresh-faux-flowers/?cm_sp=Homepage-_-week032717-_-Branches
Modern Milestone
March 25, 2017
What a fitting tribute. In celebration of Florence Knoll’s 100th Year, Knoll has reissued several classic pieces by one of my favorite icons of mid-century furniture design. The simplicity of her designs had me hooked from the start. I’ve collected so many vintage Florence Knoll pieces that friends would joke that I owned more Florence Knoll than Florence herself. One piece that eluded me was this small table originally released in 1948. A simple round top on steel hairpin legs… a design that set into motion a wave of knockoffs that continues to this day…The Hairpin Stacking Table.
Photos: Knoll
https://www.knoll.com/product/florence-knoll-hairpin-stacking-table
Finally,
March 22, 2017
Spring.
Photos: gp
