Tag Archives: Design

Inspiration: Diane von Furstenberg

November 12, 2014

The theme of the exhibition.Slideshow

While in LA last week I indulged in a little nostalgia.  I went to see the newly opened Diane von Furstenberg exhibition at LACMA. Her iconic wrap dress has been memorialized at 40 with the exhibit, THE JOURNEY of a DRESS. While it is indeed a celebration of the evolution of a dress, it is also a tribute to the designer herself, with paintings and photographs of her distinctive beauty and glamorous life.

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Travels: The Bauhaus in Tel Aviv

November 7, 2014

Slideshow

On my recent trip to Israel I planned some extra time to see just a few of the thousand or so Bauhaus stucco buildings that still exist in Tel Aviv. They are not hard to find or identify. Their distinctive features–from balconies, vertical glass stairwells, horizontal bands and rounded forms to the unmistakable stucco exteriors–are dotted all over the city. Clearly, some have had sensitive renovations and others are in a complete state of disrepair.

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Italian Mosaics

November 5, 2014

Imagine this pattern in larger format. It feels fresh and current today even though it was created and installed hundreds of years ago.Slideshow

I simply love mosaics–from the earliest ones I’ve seen at Ephesus, Herculaneum, St. Mark’s and other Venetian churches, to the charming creations in the foyer of early 20th century Paris apartment buildings as well as modern interpretations of any of these designs. I always look for elegant cuts, artful arrangements and placement of the tesserae, the tonal value of the palette and the skill of the artisans. The beauty of mosaics is in the detail. Whether simple black and white or multi colored, mosaics use thousands upon thousands of small and precious tiles to tell their stories, assessing the effect of light and shade or exploiting complementary colors.

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Tiled Kitchens

November 5, 2014

Simple bright white "subway" tile is a good choice for this space. It is a neutral background for everyday essentials.Slideshow

The word “backsplash” has become synonymous with renovating, remodeling or creating a new kitchen.  It is part of the essential elements of the design. In fact, it can become the defining moment for the ubiquitous white kitchen. However, I have been thinking that tiling the backsplash is not enough in a space that should be easily maintained with a quick wash down. The solution is to tile the entire kitchen.

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