Nesting Instinct
April 30, 2012
Whether it’s a Cardinal locking his sights on a large shrub in your yard or a friend scoping out the perfect tree on a bluff overlooking Lake Huron…everyone is looking up this spring for the ideal location. Built of gathered grasses,twigs and bark or construction cast offs and recycled product, each of these tree houses possess a simplicity and modernity that can’t be denied…both the result of design instinct and hard work. If you’re feathering your nest to welcome a new family or looking for a place of quietude from the family you have, start with an inspired plan and you too can enjoy rewards such as these. 
Plywood,concrete…
April 18, 2012
where do I sign? I L O V E this space. Maybe becuse it is not only simple, quiet and modern…but it is constructed of my all- time favorite materials; plywood and concrete. I could move in immediately…what else is there to say?
http://www.narukuma.com/main.html
Until then maybe I could be happy with one of these concrete pendant lights. I already have the plywood floors.
simplequiet…poof!
April 16, 2012
And, decidedly modern. Like magic. As if something was there and then POOF!…it’s gone. Or, perhaps something otherworldly is about to emerge from the colored mist. Mesmerizing. In any case it is hard to ignore the beauty and genius of these photographs. Armed with a camera and homemade smoke bombs, Filippo Minelli created these visions in various locations throughout the European countryside. http://www.filippominelli.com/silenceshapes/
Branching out
April 14, 2012
No matter where you are in the country there should be copious amounts of flowering branches available…if not in your own yard maybe a kindly neighbor or friend? A small armload of judiciously pruned branches~ be they cherry, quince, forsythia or peach~can make quite a statement when brought indoors. Pull out your glass cylinder vase, pound those woody stems and let them arrange themselves. 
Five Easy Pieces
April 12, 2012
OK…this is where you start. An empty room…and add five easy pieces. In this case; 1. a sofa 2. a lounge chair 3. a coffee table 4 . an end table & 5. an occassional chair or two. This will kick things off with plenty of places to sit for you and your guests as well as a place to set your coffee or cocktail. Whether it’s a group of classic mid-century designs as illustrated or assorted hand-me-downs of various degrees of style or vintage this formula establishes a strong base to which you can add and embellish…or keep it simple and modern.
From this…
March 28, 2012
to this. Who knew a pile of discarded tires could be repurposed as the top on this simple and striking coffee table? That’s some modern thinking… with a simple and quiet result. Perfect. And, at 60″ w 14″ d 17″ h this stunner can do double duty as an ample bench. Singly or in pairs “Retread” is ready to enhance your design statement while reducing your carbon footprint. How ’bout that?
http://shop.manorfinewares.com/FNcffetbleretrd.html
table photo: Jake M Richardson http://www.jakemrichardson.com/
Warm days, blue skies and cool water…
March 24, 2012
can easily become the catalyst for your next interior design project, as this lake side residence illustrates. Pulling the outdoor colors in visually expands this space, blurring the confines of walls and windows. Crucial editing of furniture and accessories keeps the room’s design lean and modern…even when occupied by family and friends, the dog and that growing pile of mail.
It’s not what goes in-
March 14, 2012
to a design that makes it good…it’s what’s left out.
” The camel is a horse made by committee” * is a maxim that can be applied to any creative endeavor you may undertake, from a complete re-design of your environment to getting dressed in the morning. Stop, take a deep breath, reel it in…then remove something. Now you’re on your way to a result that is simple and quiet…and that makes it modern.
*Vogue 1956
White’s the new Black
March 11, 2012
With the change of time to Daylight Savings, it’s a great opportunity to shed some new light on things at home. While most people agree that a shot of black in an interior is simply great punctuation, I can’t help myself from shaking it up. Do a 180 and you land at white, the color that your eyes recognize first. White accessories bring a new freshness home while presenting everyday items in an elegant new way. White will highlight both the simplicity of the design as well as the most complex detail. My favorite whites can be matte, satin or high gloss on everything from picture frames to pottery. As you set the clocks ahead use the opportunity to see where something white could breathe new life into your space. 
http://www.heathceramics.com/go/heath/ for these simple cups and the Neutra house numbers.
…and the skies are gray
March 4, 2012
Still. But, California Dreamin is off the sticks. Done and done. Ready to take the chill off those cool desert evenings. This newest blanket is near exactly as I had anticipated while gathering the yarns…a definite woven look like some of the earliest Knoll and Herman Miller textiles. And, the hand is wonderful…softer than I expected considering the mix of recycled fibers, cashmere, cotton, linen, merino and hemp( even a touch of nylon )… the colorations are complex at close range while receding to neutral from a distance. I like it.
simplequietmodern 