Farewell 2011

Such a blessed year, so much to be thankful for, so much to learn from and make me stronger. If at the end of the year I can say that I’ve laughed, cried, loved and became a bit wiser than I consider it was a successful one.

Happy Goodbyes to 2011

The Château de Goult

Have you ever wanted to be ‘Lord of the Manor’ for a week in a luxury French chateau? Well, how about The Château de Goult, a magnificent 800 year old medieval castle at the hill-top of the village de Goult in Provençe

You will cross the ages: from the 12th century tower through the Guards Room of the 14th century to the Grand Staircase of the 17th century. The Chateau offers over 1000m2 steeped in history. Its 2 lounges and dining rooms, its 2 kitchens, 8 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms can accommodate twenty people or more.

Beni Ouarain rugs

These shaggy pile rugs featuring soft black abstract archaic-looking patterns against ivory backgrounds are hand woven by the Beni Ouarain, a Berber tribe in the Middle Atlas Mountains in Morocco.

One part of each family cultivate fields in the valleys, while the others migrates with their flocks and tents to the mountains in summer, descending in winter to the hill country.

In these mountain regions one can still find the ancient breed of small sheep whose excellent wool is responsible for the quality of Beni Ouarain rugs. 

L'Objet's new collection of Fortuny-inspired tableware

The famous hand printed Fortuny fabrics designed by Mariano Fortuny in the early 20th century inspire young designer Elad Yifrach to create a luxurious line of tableware and home accessories.

The world is going mad for Plaid!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The singular vision of Madame Grès

“I wanted to become a sculptor, for me it’s the same thing to work with fabric or with stone”. These words were often repeated by Madame Grès (1903-1993) - So curator Olivier Saillard had the fantastic idea to exhibit those sculpture-like pieces among other sculptures in the Musée Bourdelle in Paris.

Madame Gres, a celebrated master of couture and a pioneer of sculpted and uncompromising minimalist dresses, found inspiration from the purity of Hellenistic sculpture, and from the ancient world, spanning from Northern Africa to India.

Carlton Bookcase by Ettore Sottsass

For the Italian Designer Ettore Sottsass, design was about communicating an emotion while having fun doing it – He was known for his use of geometric forms accented by a brave and bold use of color. I cannot help but feel joyful when I look at this bookcase.

“Stamps of Approval” Exhibition honors Pioneers of American Industrial Design

A traveling exhibition features the work of American industrial designers recognized by the U.S. Postal Service in a new series of Forever stamps will open at the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 15.

Industrial Design emerged in the United States in the 1920s, and gained prominence during the Great Depression. The streamlined objects created by the designers of this period are characterized by horizontal lines and rounded shapes that evoked a sense of speed and efficiency and projected an image of progress and affluence.

Stefano Boeri’s Vertical Forest in Milan

Bosco Verticale or Vertical Forest is a project for metropolitan reforestation and a model of vertical densification of nature within the city.

The two residential towers of 110 and 76 meters height which are currently being built in the center of Milan will host 900 trees. On flat land, each Bosco Verticale equals, in amount of trees, an area equal to 10.000 sqm of forest.

The Bosco Verticale is a system that optimizes, recuperates and produces energy and helps creating a microclimate. The diversity of the plants and their characteristics produce humidity, absorb C02 and dust particles, producing oxygen and protect from radiation and acoustic pollution, improving the quality of living spaces and saving energy. Plant irrigation will be produced to great extent through the filtering and reuse of the grey waters produced by the building. Additionally Aeolian and photovoltaic energy systems will contribute, together with the aforementioned microclimate to increase the degree of energetic self sufficiency of the two towers.

How clever!!!

Starting Nov 11, the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris celebrate Jean-Paul Goude

The retrospective and creative exhibition offers insight into the world of one of the most brilliant contemporary "image makers". The exhibition, conceived as a giant installation, combines drawings, objects, music, photos and films and invites the visitor into this designer's unique world through all fields of artistic expression: from fashion to photography, publicity to performance arts…

Cobalt Blue is the Staple this Fall

I love playing with colors, all the colors, but right now I am totally obsessed with Cobalt Blue, which is a staple this Fall. It was love at first sight when as a kid I visited the beautiful Jardin de Majorelle in Marrakech. In the 1920s, the French artist Jacques Majorelle fell in love with Marrakech, settled there and over time created a masterpiece of a garden. The special shade of bold cobalt blue which he used extensively in the garden and its buildings is named after him, “bleu Majorelle” – Majorelle Blue.