Do We Read Anymore?

From the portfolio of Richard Gillette

We follow two hundred blogs, if not more. We run to our Google reader and open it and scroll. Stop at a pretty picture or two and maybe even save them to an inspiration file and scroll again, faster and faster we scroll, because we have to rush out or rush into something. We go back to our reader again, perhaps between appointments, and find that the number of unread posts has climbed up again to 800 and we feel that rush again to scroll faster to get that number down, as if it is another job that needs to get done and not so properly too.

We don't stop and read anymore. We tend to forget that a person has actually put the time and effort to put together that post, from finding the right photo to formulating the right words. We forget that a person has actually taken the time to entertain us, we forget to actually read what was written, we forget to see what kind of emotion the writer was trying to convey, we forget to stop for a few seconds, and we forget to say thank you.

An Elegant Way to Die

Never thought I would one day post about “death”, but this mausoleum was too interesting of a concept not to write about.

Even though when I depart I could care less where it happens, I am sure the person taking care of arrangements would enjoy such a setting. It is somber and austere and befitting of the mood, unless those left behind are feeling more celebratory.

Located in Murcia and designed by Spanish studio Clavel Arquitectos.

 

 Beautiful work with the walls and doors

First three images via Dezeen. Last image from Clavel Arquitectos Facebook page

Modern Temple

Via Home DSGN

The pool at the Mario Rocha house designed by Atelier Nunu Lacerda Lopes in Portugal. Isn’t this calling you to meditate ?

Colorful Retail

One of my favorite blog reads, Blue Fruit, showcased this beautiful project in Brazil. It is true, pictures do sometimes speak louder than words.

   

Images via Blue Fruit

Variations On A Classic

As part of the “Suite New York’s” The Pink Swan Project benefiting The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 18 designers were asked to customize the Swan chair designed by Arne Jacobsen. Click on the link to view the whole collection.

Windsor Smith

Alexandra Von Furstenberg

David Mann

Jonathan Adler

Jamie Drake

Kelly Hoppen

Simon Doonan

Vicente Wolf

Karim Rashid

Do you have a favorite ? Do you like the idea ?

Badly Needed

Today I would like a space like this. Normally this would be too clinical (maybe creepy) for me, but not today.

Designed by Anouska Hempel via Casa Tres Chic

Good Design/Bad Design, Thou Shalt Not Judge

Most people can judge different professions, they allow themselves to give opinions both good and bad about almost anyone regardless if they are in the same profession or not, regardless if they are qualified to give such an opinion or not, they just do, and it is widely accepted. You hear people declaring someone as a good lawyer/bad lawyer, good doctor/bad doctor, good politician/bad politician etc ……

BUT, if you are a designer you are almost robbed of this right, and you have to watch what you say and how you say it. If you should ever dare say “this is bad design” or “I do not particularly like this design”, you are immediately labeled as someone that wants to be a style police, someone that limits creativity or the ever so popular label, you are jealous. It is even worse if you happen to critique a younger designer, you suddenly become the evil one, the horrible step mother that is stifling budding talent, and who is threatened by new talent and their possible success.

So why cant we as professional working designers freely express our opinion without being judged ?

I know that creativity and beauty are hard to define, they are vague areas that are very perceptual whose very nature creates more vague definitions of what is good or bad. In recent years the grey area has grown even more, encompassing many disciplines in the world of visual arts not only design making it harder to define what is good and what is bad.

Good Design

Still, with all this craziness and ambiguity I believe there is a difference between good and bad, and more importantly there is what we like and what we don't like regardless of how great it is, and it should be ok to express an opinion without people becoming too sensitive.

What do you think ? Should you be able to freely express your design opinion, or shut up and be goody two-shoes as requested by some blogs?

3D Bikini

I would love to see the tan lines created after sun bathing in this bikini

Ouch…… I think 

For more images and to know more about this project go to Dezeen

Skin Is In ?

What is it with skin this year ? Have you seen this previous post?

Chairs from the skin collection designed by Pepe Heykoop Images from Dezeen

 

 

Grilling With Eva

Winner of 7 awards, Eva is quite sexy too, well, for a BBQ

Balls & Boobs

Too many balls and boobs for one room, don't you think ?

But I have to say that the rest of the house has some cool elements, and some not so cool elements. You decide. More pictures at The Designerpad

I Hate Ceiling Fans

But these I like for a change

By Moooi. Who else would come up with such a fan ?

By Fanimation. Love the lines

Found both fans through Chic Tip

Dramatic Minimal

Entrance to a house designed by A-Cero Studio near Madrid, Spain. I am not a big fan of concrete structures they tend to be cold and industrial, but this entrance is dramatic.

More from this house over at Dezeen.

Good Curves

Muscle bench by Alexandre Moronnoz via Chic Tip

I really like the fluidity of this design especially that it is made of steel, I would have changed the name and made something more ummmm… “fluid” ?

I Hope This Is Not A Stool

By Aldo Bakker

Ok so it is a chair, blame it on bad photography !

Steel Masterpieces

 

From Georg Jensen Masterpieces Collection

Lets Pray

San Josemaria Escriva Church by Javier Sordo Madelano Bringas via Contemporist

I was taken by this church. Looking at the pictures I felt that I wanted to be there and pray. The architecture captures the light in such a beautiful “heavenly” way. It is devoid of ornament giving way to an uninterrupted spiritual experience.

Wouldn’t you want to pray there ? If it’s your thing that is !

Warm Buns

Not only do I not know where to place this “radiator” in any room but what may have bothered me more is the look on this guy’s face and where his hand is. Well, I guess he is wondering about what is happening to his sperm count with all the heat.

Why do we need a radiator chair ?

A White Dish Story

Many years ago I bought a collection of white dishes from a very well known and expensive, I should add, brand, thinking that how could a white plate become old. I thought plain can never be either dated nor too popular to loose it’s appeal. Little did I know that white plates will be all over the place and the thing that is being imitated right left and center, from the biggest names all the way to cheap knock offs from you know where. WHITE PLATES BECAME THE IN THING AND WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED ?

 

Recently in collaboration with Lenox, Donna Karan launched her own version of yet another white plate, and she says: “Our new tableware & giftware collection is divine, and truly unlike anything out there.”  I can manage to overlook the “divine” part, but unlike anything out there ?

So, my question is do you want more white plates and are these plates unlike anything out there ?

Comfy Living

A few  days ago I received an email with pictures from Zaha Hadid’s home. Quite comfy I would say.

 

I want to lounge on this “sofa”

Dining table, maybe?

“Moving” Ceramics

It is May, finally and “Bloom” was only appropriate for this hopefully blooming month, enough of cold and gloom, only long summer days, blooming gardens and blue skies ahead.

 

“Bloom” an installation by Los Angeles ceramic artist Katherine Dube

 

An interview with the designer and more pictures of her work is on Houzz, very interesting techniques and beautiful pieces. Could not help think about dust, but sometimes we have to disregard certain issues for the sake of beauty, no ? I love the white on white and the movement of the pieces.

 

Do You Like To Mix

By Tracery Interiors Via Houzz

“An abstract by Hyunmee Lee hangs above a museum quality Italian console in the Living Room of this 1929 Tudor Revival home in Mountain Brook, Alabama.”

Do you like to mix styles ? What different styles do you think would look good together ?

Look (HERE) & (HERE) for more mixing

What Could Have Been The Inspiration ? Again

Grinza by The Campana brothers for Edra 

 

I still insist that I love the brothers’ work, but maybe you would like to read this?

Beautiful Balls

Saw these beautiful pendant lights on California Home Design, by Corbett Lighting. Loved the shape, texture, material and color. Perfect ball I would say. I am sure the shadows it throws can be really “sexy”

The room is not so bad either