My Quest to Learn Everything

After visiting a kitchen showroom the other night, I decided that the best approach I could take to becoming a successful designer is to first get a thorough knowledge of New York showrooms and vendors.  I realized that if someone asked me to spec a piece of furniture, I wouldn't know where to start in this town. Over the next couple of months, I am on a journey to get an essential idea of what is here, and then continue to stay updated.
Reinforcing this idea, I opened up Elle Decor last night and there were great interviews with five successful women designers.  When asked to give advice to people starting out, here's what they had to say:

"Do your homework. Inform yourself on a daily basis. Study magazines. Go to museums. Attend lectures. Ignorance isn’t bliss." - Charlotte Moss

"Train your eye. Whether you’re going to a museum or a flea market or flipping through a book, always be on the lookout for something special." - Kelly Wearstler

"Your business needs a raison d’être [reason to be; driving purpose]. Be prepared to work 24 hours a day, and be willing to take risks. And you have to love it or you won’t succeed." - Josie Natori

"Work for—and learn from—someone who is successful. Also, travel abroad and expand your horizons by visiting museums, galleries, important architectural sites—and understand why these things have influenced design and style. Read." - Michelle Nussbaumer

"As I say to my sons—who are all artistic—be like a sponge; soak up everything. Working in this industry, you touch upon so many different ideas." - Holly Hunt

I am very excited.  And coincidentally, I'm going to update more frequently with products, textiles, materials, or furniture that I find in New York that I like.  

Starting with this rug:

Map
Harry Allen
Dune


Number one I love maps.  This rug is just phenomenal, not only because of the visual interest and the path that your eye travels.  If you look at it as a pattern, it becomes a whole new image.  I can't get enough. 

What city is this?  Paris?



Venice?

Haunted Denim

The other day I was in the park, and amidst the crisp wind -that reminded me to dig out my winter clothes- there was a particular rustle of leaves that made me realize it was Halloween season.  Time for pumpkin seeds and Frankenfurter's mansion... which I can't seem to find a good picture of.  But I did find an appropriately spooky installation at the Diesel Denim Gallery in Tokyo. 

Nature Factory created the surreal forest using various types of plumbing.  I'm pretty much obsessed with the contrast of the dark ceiling with the pristine pipes.  It's always interesting to me when you can see a change happen in the materials, and the transition from rectilinear to controlled chaos is done really well.  It helps to keep the attention on the clothes, while being visually stimulated by what is above.
It gives the whole store a new experience, entering a mysterious forest with only the jeans to guide your way.  Would you make it out unscathed?

Live Leatha.

I saw this today on Materia and it was really fascinating.  Studio Art, an Italian-based company, designs unique materials and home accessories composed of natural elements, such as stone, wood, and especially leather.  One of their specialties are leather mosaics, i.e. mosaico in pelle.  I've seen leather used in a lot of unique ways- floor tiles (what's the wear on those?) to bar tops (your glass probably stays in place), but never quite like this.  Leathers are tiled into place on walls, sometimes dyed beforehand.  They are versatile, from really bold styles, with widely varying shades, to muted, tidy mosaics of one tone.  Either way it's a statement wall.  I love that they embraced the texture by applying it to a curved wall in their showroom.  People are going to be trailing their hands all over that.

And yes, while part of me cringes at the thought of using so much animal, I can't forget that leather is a part of Italian culture.  I visited a leather production house in Florence, and the whole process was almost reverent.
It's a celebration of leather, in a way.  Studio Art says it the best:

"...offering ancient emotions, essential fragrances and tactile sensations and showing just how much leather is a live element full of expressive meaning."

A Treehouse Fantasy

I am extremely excited about this exhibition, Treelife, put on by The Cool Hunter.  It's celebrating eco-architecture and design in a ton of different ways.  When I was a kid I used to design tree houses for the plum tree and giant cactus in my backyard.  Needless to say, they were not very structurally sound.   
Anyways, I hope this event is somewhere close to New York and that I can go oggle.  It's next year some time.  Looking forward to the actual tree house designs the most,  though I am very intrigued by the LED light shows.

If I had my way, we'd build tree house-like rooms floating up in our loft.  Here's a quick sketch of one petite idea, paper lantern-esque.  Operable windows that you flip up maybe, facing the large loft window only. Oh, to dream!



Update [10/11]: Looks like treehouses are in.  Build LLC designed one for the launch of a new Microsoft product.  I really dig how it kind of feels like the ribs of a whale. 

Home for lunch.

+ I'm designing a line of tables and home accessories for work... that will be MADE!
- My dog got into the trash.

More on the former, to come. Hopefully less of the latter.

September, you minx!

I blink for one second and the month is nearly gone.
Alas, lots to discuss. I went to the New Island Festival on Governor's Island earlier in the month. For being only an 8-minute ferry from Manhattan, its got a whole different feel. Kind of like historic suburban Philadelphia. The main action was in (eight?) historic houses that surrounded a central grassy area. In each house was a different design or cultural group, and in the middle were sculptures or installations (left). All in celebration of Dutch design. The organization and design of the event was very cohesive and intriguing from day one, including the humorously disorienting signs during the event. And another point- each group of people coming off the boat was required to witness a nonchalant ribbon-cutting ceremony, complete with full Dutch fanfare. Make what you wish of that.
I'm getting increasingly interested in honing my graphic design skills. At work I've been learning tips and tricks, though I am looking for some means of lessons to get a solid education. Maybe a podcast? I want to explore typography first.
Speaking of podcasts, I've devoured almost every episode of NYC History by the Bowery Boys. The intro is enough to get you hooked. Coney Island part I and II are my favorites.
And lastly, progress on the loft-front. Long-set concrete columns and beams have posed a problem in several areas. By means of crafty C-clamps and spare bamboo, we were able to devise a way to hang our curtains off the mullions of our 18' x 10' window. Since our housewarming, we've been edging the house into better shape. It is difficult with three different tastes- minimalist, eclectic, and functional- and opposing schedules. But we're making it work, and I'm getting increasingly proud of my new domesticity. Here's to Red Hook.

Crafty Day Off

This Labor Day, I went down to the docks in the morning before it got too hot. The smell of the water always reminds me of home, honestly, so that's one reason why I enjoy it down there. Also the giant cranes. I came home and crafted all day. Three friends and I are starting an Etsy account soon, and I'm beginning with mainly hand-drawn things. I think it will be a fun side project. Here's a preview:

After four years in a school of architecture, I finally bought some yellow trace. I'm experimenting with fonts as well. This particular one was inspired by a recent haiku regarding Piedmont, North Dakota and rice pilaf. Alphabet City.

Work-Type Observation

Also working in home furnishing retail, I've been learning a lot about the inner goings-on of a large corporation. How about these vocab words: order points, back flow, goods dominance? Alright, I still don't understand the last one, but I'll pick it up eventually. Contrasting this is what I'm learning -both taught and observational- from my internship about running a small business. The differences are interesting, though I suppose anyone who has worked for a national or international brand/store can attest that its rigid structure may at times be stifling. Also interesting are the similarities, which tend to stem from the basic concepts of the companies, i.e. wanting to enhance the home life of the consumer. At this point in my career, I'm prepared to be sponge-like and disregard my (collegiate-based) aversion to Business.
Though to balance, I've been doing more creative things on the side. Working on the loft brings me great pleasure, as always. I built a desk for myself out of some sanded plywood (street find) after getting frustrated about the hunchback situation I created for myself. New issues to tackle are leaky pipe, curtains, and oven. (Yes, oven. Spare the joke.. it's hot out!)
Housewarming party is coming up, and it is the goal for getting the house into working order. I'll take some glamour shots of the finished product. I can't wait to see it myself, actually.
*One more note. Next week is Fashion Week. Does New York have a design week? Where designers open their studios and shmooze each other? When and where!

Internship at Uhuru

Last week I started working for Uhuru Design. Lucky for me, it's only a few blocks away. Lucky for Earth, they use mainly reclaimed materials.
This piece, the Stoolen, is my favorite so far, particularly because of the concept. Scraps of wood, made beautiful.
I'm also very intrigued by furniture made of wine barrels.
Look at the website to see all of their amazing creations!

New workstation

These two end tables were found by my sister. She decopaged them with a cool rose print and also found the beautiful red velvet chair. I saw the hollow wooden door on the street the other day, and dragged it in. Combined: A new place for us to draw, craft, etc!