Bucket List
February 25, 2016
On your bucket list of things you’d like to see or do, can there be room for those things you’d like to have? I’m thinking yes. Like the Mies Van der Rohe Barcelona Couch. A classic. And, simply one of the most beautiful pieces of modern furniture produced. Even with the Knoll Classics Sale going on now this piece is still a major investment. Sometimes you just need to bite the bullet.
Photo:http://www.knoll.com/product/barcelona-couch
Put it in neutral
October 25, 2015
I’ve owned a pair of vintage Womb chairs in a sunflower yellow with black frames and then a single in royal purple with a chrome frame, each a nod to the time in which they were produced…first the fifties, then the seventies. The first pair was acquired during an impromptu stop at a Beverly Hills yard sale and the latter from a similar unplanned stop in the mid-west. Now I’m feeling the urge to buy back my simplequietmodern favorites that have been long gone to new homes. Lucky for me this classic is still in production. And, bonus, Knoll has re-issued the Saarinen Womb settee. Hmmmm, what to do. In any case, the textile selection for me is a no brainer….the classic wool boucle is always my first choice. And, as if it could get any simpler… the color is aptly named “Neutral”. Hard to make a mistake here, especially when combined with the black frame. That settled, it’s on to choosing a chair and ottoman, a chair and settee. a pair of chairs or the settee alone. Good to know that there are no bad choices here.
photos:http://www.knoll.com/shop
That was easy.
December 3, 2014
You showed me your “ugly” and, well…boo hoo for you. All of the pics I received looked pretty good. And, trust me, I’ve seen some”ugly”. The random entry I’ll be addressing here is lovely. Even though the homeowner sees this space as a “catch-all” after a cross-country move, it is full of beautiful furnishings, art and comforting neutrals. The one item that seemed out-of-place to me was the rug. While seagrass is a great choice, the size is not … it’s too small. Here’s an opportunity to play off the graphic placement of the framed pieces with a bold anchoring base. Enter Flor. A larger area rug made of tiles in their Modern Mix recycled carpet could just be the thing to breathe new life into this familiar collection. Continuing to keep things neutral with the gray or taupe mix is one safe direction…but choosing a bold sweep of color, like the red , will most definitely ring in the holidays with style. Complimenting the bowl of glass orbs with a single large sphere of spicy carnations will add some unexpected panache. By ordering online you’ll be laying this down in plenty of time for your holiday entertaining. That was easy… so, who’s mixing up the Brandy Stingers?
If the modern check isn’t a fit, perhaps bold hoizontal stripes in an oyster white and espresso brown? All available options can be seen here.http://www.flor.com/splitsearch/index?order=relevance&dir=desc&q=modern+mix&search_submit=Search
Red too traditional for you? This orb of carnation heads would be simple quiet and modern if done in snowy white.
Top two photos: the homeowner, bottom two photos:gp
“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
Five Easy Pieces II
September 30, 2013
Again, a simplequietmodern interior starting with five easy pieces…the armless sofa, 2 armchairs, 1 pair of raffia cubes for a coffee table and the folding screen. A base of pale neutrals anchored with rich peacock-blue, this room could be equally stunning if the blue were switched out for another rich color (aubergine, copper) or pulled back completely with a smoky charcoal. The selection of the French armchairs, the classic shape of the white lamp set on a simple geometric base and the white armless sofa are reminiscent of the elegant interiors the late David Hicks created for the jet-set in the 1960’s. Even in an intimately scaled setting like this , it’s possible to achieve great style and seating for eight with the right selections and a little judicious editing. If you’re lovin’ the “cocktail stools” pictured you might try a pair of these raffia cubes from oomph!
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