Design

Marketplace: West Elm + South Africa

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If you can’t make it to South Africa…

photos by Mathilde

photos by Corie & Jeff

but crave a South African vibe in your living space…

via

then West Elm’s recent collaboration with South African designers and artisans might be just for you! The collection of ceramics, textiles, furniture and home accessories has been growing in popularity since it hit the marketplace just a little while ago. Some of my favourite pieces are white (duh!) and they are simple, structural and functional.

Mick Haigh oversize serving bowl, $63.09

Potter’s Workshop napkin set – black shields, $21.39

Ceramic Matters candleholder, $63.09

Anthony Shapiro pillar candleholders, $84.48-$105.87

Source dining chair, $212.81

Pedersen + Lennard hooks, $12.81

Note: All prices are in Canadian dollars. Some items are not available for international shipping.

Many thanks to Mathilde, Corie and Jeff for allowing me to use their photos from their trips to South Africa.

Inspiration: The 15 Things Charles and Ray Eames Teach Us

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I love this…

The 15 Things Charles and Ray Eames Teach Us

1. Keep good company.

2. Notice the ordinary.

3. Preserve the ephemeral.

4. Design not for the elite but for the masses.

5. Explain it to a child.

6. Get lost in the content.

7. Get to the heart of the matter.

8. Never tolerate “O.K. anything.”

9. Remember your responsibility as a storyteller.

10. Zoom out.

11. Switch.

12. Prototype it.

13. Pun.

14. Make design your life…and life, your design.

15. Leave something behind.

Excerpt from: An essay by Keith Yamashita (PDF)

(via Swiss Miss via Dare+)

The Friday Five: Outdoor Spaces

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As we head into a hot, hot, hot weekend it seems only fitting that today’s Friday Five includes a selection of dreamy outdoor spaces. (And if you end up booking a trip to Greece after scrolling through this post, then, well, I completely understand!)

Grace Hotel Santorini

Grace Hotel Mykonos

Semeli Hotel Mykonos

Cavo Tagoo Mykonos

Cavo Tagoo Mykonos

Since I can’t make it to Greece this weekend, I’ll be spending as much time as possible at the amazing outdoor pool in my neighbourhood. How do you plan on staying cool this weekend?

The Friday Five: Mugs

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Do you have set criteria for the mugs you use? Do they all match? Or are they random? Does size matter? Colour? Shape? My mugs have one thing in common – they’re white (or mostly white). Surprised?

white and black J mug from Anthropologie

white and black J mug from Chapters Indigo (thanks Shannon!)

white mug from GlucksteinHome (thanks GH Team!)

black and white mug from Gstaad (featuring a scherenschnitte design)

black and white mug from Beauty’s in Montreal

I hope you all enjoy a cup of coffee (or tea!) in the summer sunshine this weekend. Enjoy!

Note: You can see I’ve been enjoying many meals and tea breaks on my balcony except for one day when it was raining.

Photos by me.

Interiors: Kitchen Renovation. The Progress.

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Way back in February my parents began a major renovation of their main floor. They tore out the floor, the powder room, the laundry room, the kitchen, and the family room. And then they put it back together again (with the help of a few very talented people). I’m happy to report that the renovation is almost – almost – done! And it is gorgeous (I’m not just saying that because it’s white, either). Here is a sneak peek of some of the details.

kitchen cabinets (wood with dovetail construction) – Parada Kitchens

kitchen cabinets – Parada Kitchens; Wolf stove ready to be assembled; counter ready to be installed

Sub-Zero fridge – ready to be unpeeled

a sweet vintage crystal chandelier (you won’t believe the deal my mom got on this one!)

fireplace mantel with carrera marble surround

fireplace mantel detail

Note: If you’re in the Toronto area and you’re looking for a kitchen cabinet maker my parents definitely recommend Parada Kitchens. My mom, who is very particular about quality, craftsmanship, work ethic and design (among other things – sorry Mom but it’s true), was quite impressed with Parada. (And no – they did not get a deal on their kitchen because I just wrote all of this.)

Photos by me.

Photography: Patterning at IKEA

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On Mondays I love to head over to Jacquelyn’s blog because through her Scenes from My Weekend series, she shares interesting photos from her weekend activities. It is not as though she does something grand every weekend but the subjects and composition of her photos are so lovely. She has a great eye for detail and her honesty comes through in her posts. I encourage you to click on over and check out what Jacquelyn has been up to.

Today I thought I would try out a super mini scene-from-my-weekend à la Jacquelyn. I was in Toronto on the weekend doing an assortment of things, one of which was a trip to IKEA (I needed to stock up on crackers). I took some photos of the interesting patterns I saw. I wonder – can you name the four products in the photos below?

I’m such a fan of repetitive forms.

Photo by me using iPhone + Instagram + Pic Stitch.

Event: International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF)

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The centerpiece of many design events taking place in NYC last week was the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (known as ICFF).

While oriented towards furniture retailers and “the trade” (aka interior designers and architects) the fair is open to the public for one of the four days.

This was my first year attending (for inspiration and potential new merchandise for Caviar20) and many design professionals I spoke with shared my enthusiasm for this year’s display.

While it was no surprise to see powerhouses like Vitra and Knoll, the strength of ICFF came from the small and medium sized studios that offer bespoke furniture or manufacture their own products (Grain, Rich Brilliant Willing, and Misewell are paradigms)

Strong American design was out in full force – earnest young talent creating work with great lines out of fine materials. Brooklyn-based studios were noticeably well-represented.

While some say ICFF lacks the avant-garde creativity found at the rival fair in Milan, there is a significant and consistent display of fresh, commercial, and livable furniture. Another surprise is how affordable many of the pieces are. If you’re looking for preposterously priced limited edition à la Marc Newson you’re at the wrong fair.

Below is a selection of amazing white pieces I encountered. With the exception of two pieces – everything is priced below $750.

Rock Chair designed by Fredrik Färg

Grant side table by Gabriel Scott

Tiffin lunch kit by Sinclaire

Dakar chair by Skitsch

Hanging light by Lukas Peet

Fern table by Egg Collective

Sydney pendant by Mary Wallis

Delta V pendant by Rich Brilliant Willing

Lockwood chair by Misewell

The Friday Five: Knobs

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Okay. Does anyone else go into Anthropologie, browse through all the knobs, fall in love with half of them, want to buy a bunch, then wonder what the heck to use them for, and walk out of the store empty handed? This is what happens to me. Every. Single. Time.

black & white stripe knob, $8

deco block knob, $10

squirrel knob, $10

linen flower knob, $12

molten spectrum knob, $8

The knobs are so pretty but I really have no use for them. Do you?

Images via Anthropologie.

Furniture: Sit on This

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Things are getting a little wonky in the seating department. First, my friend CC sent me this seat designed by Lila Jang:

Lila Jang’s wall-climbing sofa

And then Kelly from Design Crush posted a link to these benches designed by Jeppe Hein:

modified social benches by Jeppe Hein, images via Beaufort 04

What do you think? Are these pieces functional or are they only for fun?

Whiting away branding

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I was delighted to come across a feature of Andrew Miller’s work on Designer Daily.

Andrew has taken on the challenge of painting white one commonly-known object every day for 100 days in a project he calls Brand Spirit. The images of branded objects now in white reveal how we come to understand branding, logos and the functionality of these deeply invested items.

Take a look:

Images courtesy of Andrew Miller.

Architecture: Squish Studio

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With a name like Squish Studio how can I help but be intrigued? This is what the Squish Studio looks like on the inside:

And here is its wicked exterior:

Designed by Saunders Architecture in collaboration with the Shorefast Foundation and the Fogo Island Arts Corporation, this white gem is not only supporting the Fogo Island arts community, but it is also bringing plenty of attention to this tiny part of Newfoundland (area: 110 square miles; population: 2700).

Notes: Images via Tevami. Thanks to CC for sending this my way.

Reading: The Lab Magazine

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I feel a bit sad that I neglected Issue 5 of The Lab Magazine for a couple of months. I was pumped when it first arrived (many thanks to Tony for sending it my way) and I had a good initial browse through it. But then my life became quite hectic and I have barely been at home to really sit and review it. So this past weekend I made it a priority to spend some good quality time with Issue 5.

I have to admit that even though actor Willem Dafoe is on the cover of this issue, when I first got a hold of The Lab Magazine I was actually more attracted to the large format, the shiny gold lettering, and the quality of the paper of this Canadian (woohoo!) publication. I’m such a sucker for beautifully crafted works.

The magazine’s stories and photos are beautifully and artistically arranged which made it a true pleasure to read. And because I’m not as much of a movie or music buff as my friend Drew (who initially introduced me to the Lab), I learned a lot about the lives of some pretty fascinating actors (e.g., Ty Burrell, Shailene Woodley, Greta Gerwig) and musicians (e.g., Electric Youth, Hey Ocean!). (Have I mentioned before how much I like to learn new things?)

While each article has its unique appeal, I really enjoyed the Making the Shoot story toward the end of this issue. The Making the Shoot, an international competition, invited photographers to submit their work for judging. The grand prize – a full editorial shoot – is featured in this issue. Marta Dymek, the winner, was flown to Los Angeles to photograph Selma Blair (amazing) and the results of this shoot are beautiful. I’ve included a sneak peek here and as you can see Marta’s photos of Selma are simply stunning in this editorial spread (if you want to see more – buy a copy!).

Kudos to Editors in Chief Justin Tyler Close and Jeremy Power Regimbal and their team for The Lab Magazine! It’s apparent that a lot of thought and effort went into this – and I’m sure every – issue.

Notes: The Lab Magazine is available at Barnes and Noble, Chapters, and news stands across the world. Stay tuned for more of their online presence. Thanks to Tony for sending me this issue. Thanks to Drew Nelson for introducing me to The Lab Magazine. Photos of The Lab Magazine by Jordana.

The Friday Five: Play Spaces

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Today is all about play time!

via Varpunen

via Remodelista

DIY play space via Country Living

Celine Dion’s white treehouse

via Dekris Design

While the five play spaces featured here are designed for kids, I do think that it wouldn’t hurt to have a slide or super cool reading nook in an adult space – just for those days when you want to feel like a carefree kid!

Have a wonderful (and playful) weekend!

p.s. Don’t forget to submit your photos of whiteness to me at whitecabana [at] gmail [dot] com for our new series White Out. I’m curious to know what gorgeous whiteness surrounds you!

New Series: White Out

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I’m happy to announce that we are starting a new series on the blog today! White Out will be a monthly (for now) post featuring the work and photos by our readers. If you see something white that catches your eye – cool architecture, innovative product, great design in any form – snap a photo and send it our way. Each month we will post our favourite images.

So – let’s kick off the series with a couple of photos that have landed in my email inbox and Twitter feed over the last few weeks. While the subject matter of the photos is so completely different, I love that they have one thing in common – repetition. The repetitive, but very different, forms in each of these photos have definitely caught my eye.

NYC architecture, photo by Alisha H.

antique goblets, photo by Elizabeth L. of Shock the Bourgeois; sent to me by Caroline C. V. of Paloma’s Nest

I am so happy when someone sees white and thinks of White Cabana! Thank you to our first couple of readers for sharing your photos.

Note: You can send your photos of delights in white to me at whitecabana (at) gmail (dot) com.

Design: Holaria from Brazil

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I was recently asked what inspires me. I feel very fortunate to say that I’m continuously inspired by the places I visit, the new people I meet, and the interactions I have with old friends and family. I am also inspired by the books and magazines that I read, and of course, I find an incredible amount of inspiration online (have you scrolled through my blogroll lately?).

Every so often amazing things find their way into my email inbox! Most recently I received an email all the way from Brazil from Rômulo who was eager to share a video that his company, Telecinese, created to feature the work of Holaria, a porcelain design studio in Brazil.

Isn’t the creative process beautiful? I think this short film does an excellent job of capturing the design process while also making it accessible and informative for the viewer. It is additionally attractive because of its whiteness (obviously)!

Here are some of the products produced by Holaria. Which are you most drawn to?

Holaria – Booh salt & pepper shakers

Holaria – Plissan

Holaria – Pinguim Rei

Holaria – Mathelada

Holaria – Glaciar

Images courtesy of Telecinese. Many thanks to Rômulo Z. for introducing me to the world of Holaria.

Marketplace: Ginger's

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Ginger’s is one of the top places in Toronto to visit if you’re looking for exceptional bathroom fixtures, gorgeous hardware, and beautiful bathroom accessories. My mom and I popped in a couple of weeks ago and we were inspired by all the white and crystal pieces that filled the store.

You can see why I love this place so much, right? White, sparkle, and a little bit of glam – everything a bathroom needs!

Images by Jordana.

Design: Seven Continents

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adjustable wall display unit at Seven Continents

A few weeks ago I had the incredible opportunity to have a guided tour of Seven Continents. This Canadian company, established in 1977 and based in Toronto, manufactures mannequins, bustforms, furniture and display fixtures for the likes of Victoria’s Secret and Nordstrom. When Brooklyn from Seven Continents invited me to tour the showroom and factory, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. Mannequins might be cool, I thought, and I’m usually up for a new learning experience, but mannequins, really?

mannequin forms on display at the Seven Continents showroom

Anyway, I’m thrilled to say that visiting Seven Continents was a very fascinating experience for me!

Mannequins are everywhere in the Seven Continents building – in all sorts of forms and colours and at every stage of production.

Here are the getSMART and PM Sasha mannequins all finished and styled:

getSMART dressed by Cydelic by Choryin

The PM SASHA with Colette Harmon Jewelry

And here are some mannequins at various stages of production:

Here is Athena – in her most original form:

It appeared to me that the mannequins had personalities of their own and it seemed as though Brooklyn talked about them as if they were real people (I’m not going to lie – it did take me a bit of time to get used to seeing Athena and others all dressed and just hanging out around the building.) The dressed-up mannequins, many positioned as if holding intense conversations, didn’t seem to phase anyone in the office but me.

In addition to the various mannequin forms, Seven Continents designs and manufactures an ever-evolving collection of store fixtures and furniture.

The SPUNBOOTY fixtures, made out of bamboo, is a great collection to feature fashion accessories. The Bodality model is used for purses and the Ovality and Wavality duo is designed to display belts (and are not used as lamps, as I mistakenly thought!).

The SPUNBOOTY Collection

The showroom at Seven Continents includes a handful of pop shops where clients can see how the mannequins and store fixtures might be put to use in store. One of my favourite of these pop shops was the one below. The wall of movable wire arms really makes an impressive visual impact.

Pop Shop at Seven Continents

The factory floor at Seven Continents includes a group of dedicated technicians, engineers, painters, and upholsters who work together in an open, bright, and well-organized space. I was drawn to the rows of fabrics!

And there you have it – a very quick behind-the-scenes tour of the Seven Continents showroom and factory.

a collection of fixtures at Seven Continents

Many thanks to Brooklyn B. and the Seven Continents team for arranging my visit and for taking the time to show me around.

Photos by Jordana.

Office: GlucksteinHome

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As a blogger I sometimes get the opportunity to do some pretty cool things. Most recently, I was invited to visit the Toronto offices of GlucksteinHome. (Hooray!)

I feel so grateful that the GlucksteinHome team stopped their work for a while (don’t tell Mr. Gluckstein) to show me around their all-white space. And of course I am thrilled to be able to share my photos with all of you.

White artwork at the GlucksteinDesign offices

GlucksteinHome product planning

Now, if you know the work of Brian Gluckstein, you know that he’s pretty much a traditionalist. Gorgeous neutral fabrics, rich woods, and perfectly placed accessories come together to create the most inviting spaces. What you may be surprised to learn is that the office space of the GlucksteinHome division is a super sleek, well-designed, modern, all-white work space that is filled, almost floor-to-ceiling, with IKEA products.

GlucksteinHome work station

Corner cabinet at the GlucksteinHome office

Amazing storage solutions at the GlucksteinHome office

A perfect meeting space

Organized Pantone colours for upcoming collections

Gorgeous fabric swatch

A lot of white paper at GlucksteinHome

Even the pushpins at the GlucksteinHome office are white and clear

Product designer Lauren hard at work

Lauren, me and Cheryl, the GlucksteinHome PR pro

Me at the GlucksteinHome office – with a little bit of Pantone colour

Yes – even the ceiling and wires are white. This makes me smile.

I feel so lucky that Cheryl, Lauren and the whole GlucksteinHome team welcomed me so warmly into their work environment. I have to admit that I’m pretty envious of their lovely white space. But of course, with Brian Gluckstein at the helm why should I expect anything less than perfection?

Many thanks to Cheryl and the whole team at GlucksteinHome for welcoming me in, showing me around, and treating me to an all around fabulous afternoon. 

Photos by Jordana.

Brochure fold how-to, illustrated

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I’m really loving this illustrative guide to making brochures.

As someone who is constantly thinking critically about user experiences, this is a really neat poster that illustrates the simple concept that there really is a best form for every function.

Brochure formats via Designer Daily

Are you making a brochure? Here’s a handy link that will take you to free brochure templates you can download and use in your next project. Thanks for finding it, Designer Daily!

The Friday Five: St. Patrick's Day

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In case you haven’t heard, St. Patrick’s day is just around the corner – as in tomorrow – and while many people may opt for green beer this weekend, I’m more of a fan of the longer-lasting items below. A diamond ring – yes please! A cool clover chair – I see you! And a couple sweet clover-y tables – what an easy way to bring some good luck into your home.

Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Ring

Comme des Garcons clover wallet, 145 euros

Ron Arad Clover Armchair

Ethan Allen clover table, $259

mirrored tray table, $480

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Art: Fail Harder at Wieden + Kennedy

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I recently watched the Art & Copy documentary which is about advertising and inspiration. One of the images and ideas that really caught my attention was this sign at the Portland offices of Widen + Kennedy.

via Mocoloco

The mural “reminds us of the importance of failing during the creative process”. Look closely – beyond the words – can you guess what was used to form the script?

via Mocoloco

Clear push pins. 100,000 of them. Pretty amazing, right? The video below shows us how it was done and how many people were involved in the process.

Video

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xffQBxfKJg&w=480&h=360]

 

Paper cut art

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Today I’m in absolute awe of the beautiful paper cut art by Elaine Penwell.

The more I look at these beautiful designs, the more I discover this artist’s impressive skill and huge depth of creativity.

I think you’ll like it, too.

Paper cut art work is truly a matter of precision, planning and a very sharp edge.

All cut art work by Elaine Penwell

There’s so much more amazing stuff to see on Elaine’s website; check it out!

Marketplace: Gluckstein Home

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Today I am happy to share two beauties from Canadian favourite GlucksteinHome. Chrome and white are a classic combination and Brian Gluckstein doesn’t let us down with his latest art-deco inspired collection, Regatta.

Regatta bar stool, $89.99, GlucksteinHome

Regatta lamp, $89.99, GlucksteinHome

These products and the entire Regatta collection are available exclusively at Home Outfitters. The GlucksteinHome line of home furnishings is available at the Bay and Home Outfitters in Canada and at Lord & Taylor in the United States.

Images via GlucksteinHome.

Delightful pop

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This week I’m back with more concept work, this time it’s from designer Niklas Hessman.

Behold: fancy Pringles chips in beautiful packaging!

This is what Niklas has to say about his concept:

“Myself and others feel that there is a lack of a premium Pringles product line. Therefore I decided to design one.

There is also a need for this to compete with other brands and their eco-products like oven baked and farm chips. Also those others with the special flavours. [The outcome] is a product that will stand out from the other Pringles but still have the well-known tube.

Simple and clean packaging design that will work in the Scandinavian market for sure. We also like the idea of branding the product with a little poem instead of photoshop effects.”

Pringles- premium inside and out. Concept design by the talented Niklas Hessman

Design: TOMA

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I had the opportunity to meet Montreal-based designer, and leader of the TOMA design studio, Anne Thomas in person at last month’s Come Up to My Room event in Toronto. She was there showing off the prototype for one of TOMA‘s latest designs, the Inside Out closet. White, functional, and very cool.

So while we wait for the closet to appear in retail spaces in Canada and abroad, we can be on the lookout for some of TOMA‘s other well-designed products, including this newly released shadow clock which are printed and die-cut out of synthetic paper.

Photos by Maude Chavin via TOMA. You may purchase TOMA objects in these stores.

The Friday Five: White Containers

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My collection of gorgeous white vessels has grown in the last couple of months thanks to the generosity of some of my dear friends.

fruit basket, Anthropologie (Thanks Johanne!)

Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal dish (Thanks Troy!)

C. Wonder ring bowl (gift to myself)

sugar canister (Thanks Indigo & Canadian Design Blogger Meetup!)

Sophie Conran large mixing bowl (Thanks Mom & Dad!)

Photos by Jordana.

Event: Interior Design Show

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Ideas. Inspiration. Innovation. What more does one event need?

My experience at this year’s Interior Design Show began with The Party, continued with BlogPodium, and ended with a lot of photos and information about what’s new and exciting in the design world. Mix these elements up with designer talks, the Studio North exhibit, and a crowd full of beautiful people and it’s no wonder that I’m still on an IDS high.

Reports and reviews of cool design, innovative products, and designers’ takes on trends have been circulating around the web for a few days now and hopefully you’ve had time to read some of them. As for my recap? Well, here it is…all in white!

At the entrance to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, event goers were greeted by Strip Tease, the collaborative effort of RAW and Mark Tholen. Not only were the hundreds of white felt strips interesting to look at, but they doubled as a projection screen. A white welcome…yes, please!

Strip Tease

La Cl̫ture is a hold all for coats, hats, mail, umbrellas, and anything else you might want to drop off Рor pick up Рat the entrance to your home.

La clôture, $149.95, Six Point Un

It was wonderful to see Tahir Mahmood’s beautifully crafted pieces in person and I appreciate having the opportunity to chat with Tahir about his background, his design process, and his plans for future projects. While many of his designs are colourful, my eye was drawn to this wood and white spinner.

Spinner by Tahir Mahmood

Like almost everyone at IDS, I fell in love with the space designed by Italian architect and designer, as well as International Guest of Honour, Piero Lissoni. Ah – those books!

BY_LISSONI

While many of us are now used to our stainless steel appliances, Jenn-Air is bringing back white and making it super sleek and simple.

Jenn-Air appliances

I can always count on IKEA for injecting a dose of white into a space and this time was no different. The white kitchen (with black counters and back splash) was in classic IKEA style – storage galore, simple design, and repeated forms. I could really use a wall of cabinetry like the one below for my growing shoe collection.

IKEA

The display at Eurolite was gorgeous overall but it was this white fixture’s layers and form that really caught my eye.

Eurolite

The Hansgrohe faucet is sleek and sophisticated. Gorgeous.

Hansgrohe

The texture on the chairs at the Andrew Richard Designs exhibit was just lovely.

patio chair at Andrew Richard Designs

The Magus Julius chair was transformed by a selection of designers for Cherish, an auction in support of the ONEXONE non-profit children’s foundation. I wonder who were the winners of these two white chairs.

Magis Julian chairs in white (right: with lights; left: textured)

And, of course, the people were great!

Troy Seidman, Mazen el-Abdallah, Suzanne Dimma at the How do you live? exhibit

Troy Seidman & Tahir Mahmood

So, there you have it. My recap in white. What are your thoughts? Did you attend IDS this year?

Photos by Jordana.

Event: Come Up to My Room

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Each February, the gorgeous Gladstone Hotel in Toronto gets taken over by talented artists who transform twelve rooms with their innovative, creative, and jaw-dropping installations. The event, Come Up to My Room, began in 2003 and was co-founded by Pamila Matharu and Christina Zeidleris. I had a chance to see the installations in person this past weekend and I was impressed by the talent of the artists, designers, engineers, and architects at this year’s exhibition.

Among Bruno Billio and Sam Mogelonsky’s mirrored room with shiny spinning things, and Matthew Blunderfield and Skanda Lin’s hanging installation exploring the disposable nature of the digital world, there was plenty of whiteness to be seen.

Wendy Fok

Gareth Bate

Interstice Studio

Matthew Davis & Aurelia Adams

TOMA

Redux Lab

Redux Lab

Redux Lab

Sonia Tyagi

WE-3

Did anyone get to Come Up to My Room this year? What was your favourite exhibit?

Photos by Jordana.

Design: Peacock Chair by UUfie & Dupont Corian

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Now – is this a chair, or is this a chair?

Jordana sitting on the Peacock chair, at the Interior Design Show, Toronto

The Peacock chair is the result of a collaboration between UUfie architectural firm and DuPont Corian (yes, as in the countertop material) which was completed for IDS 2012. If you can believe it, the Peacock is made from a single sheet of DuPont Corian which has been cut, bent and folded through a process of thermoforming (sounds like quite a process, right?).

If you want to see the Peacock chair up close, be sure to get yourself to IDS this weekend.

Interview: Robert and Cortney Novogratz

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Robert and Cortney Novogratz do keep themselves busy. Not only have they been successful and inspirational designers for more than two decades, this dynamic duo has also been sharing their knowledge of design through the medium of television, most recently on HGTV’s Home by Novogratz. They’re also the authors of the successful book, Downtown Chic.

Robert & Cortney Novogratz (via)

Oh, and if you haven’t already heard, they have seven kids to take care of too!

The Novogratz Family

I recently had the opportunity to ask Robert and Cortney some questions about their approach to design. Before I share their responses with you, I thought we could have a little peek into their own homes (yes, multiple). I really love seeing how designers design for themselves (and, of course, how they incorporate white).

In New York…

via Novogratz

via Novogratz

via Novogratz

via Novogratz

In Great Barrington…

via Novogratz

via Novogratz

In Brazil…

via Novogratz

The Novogratz also bring in quite a bit of white into the spaces they design for their clients.

via

via

via

I just love that while this couple obviously loves high-impact colours, industrial design, and a variety of materials, they also use white to make their designs complete. I recently asked them about their fondness of white, among other things, and I am happy to share their responses with you today.

***

1. What is one of your favourite spaces to design?

We love all different kinds of spaces. Homes, stores, schools – we are always looking for a new challenge.

2. What are two of your best organization tips, tricks, or tools?

Two great tricks for instantly improving your space: 1. Get rid of clutter and watch your room open up and feel more spacious. 2. A new coat of paint can work miracles. Don’t be afraid to try a little colour (or more) if you are feeling bold.

3. What three elements define a well-designed space?

Does it work for the people using it? Is it comfortable? Is it chic?

4. What are four of your best ways to avoid clutter?

Get rid of what you don’t really need. Kids don’t have to have boxes and boxes of toys. Just keep their favourites and what they use regularly. Donate the rest, give it to friends or family, or have a tag sale! For what is left – get some good storage. Make it easily accessible to the kids. The same applies to adults. If you have a collection of something you really love, or books you don’t want to part with, find a cool way to display them that does not look cluttered. Closed-cupboard storage is great for things you really need but don’t necessarily want out for the world to see.

5. What are five of your favourite white accessories/objects/pieces of furniture (that you own or that you often use in your designs)?

We love white candles, white flowers, and white walls. They are all excellent for different reasons. Because we love bright pops of colour in our design, white is a really good way to make art, accessories, and brightly-hued walls pop. We have great white vintage dining chairs made from washable leather so they are easy to clean. The floors in our country home are painted white, which really opened the space. White is classic and always looks good.

6. What are your six top shopping destinations (i.e., for home, clothing, food, etc.)?

We have lots of shopping destinations. We love a good flea market anywhere in the world and the one in Brimfield, MA, is one of the best. We also love shopping for vintage pieces in Hudson, NY, and several locations around NYC. For decor items that are affordable, CB2, IKEA, Target. For clothes and food, there are nine of use, so the shopping choices are quite diverse.

7. What are seven of your kids’ favourite toys/books/objects?

Legos (especially Star Wars) are big with our twin sons, who are six. One of our sons loves music and musical instruments. Our girls love to read. Our oldest is an athlete so many of his favourite things are in that arena. Our three year-old has a stuffed dog he likes quite a lot.

***

Many thanks to Robert and Cortney Novogratz for taking the time to respond to my questions. Thank you to Sarah Stevens at Shaw Media/HGTV Canada for arranging this interview.

Read more about HGTV’s Home by Novogratz here.

January is organizing month

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Happy New Year!

Are you poking around your home and office clearing out accumulations of stuff to start the new year a few pounds lighter?

We are. And we’re coveting these cool modular shelves by Belgian-Dane Julien De Smedt of JDS Architects for Muuto. Perfect (or painfully obsessive) for the indecisive designer who likes to redesign.

Stacked shelving system designed by JDS Architects for Muuto, available at Design Within Reach

Julien De Smedt explains, “Our projects are humanly designed, politically engaged, financially viable, and structurally realistic.” When asked how he sees the “new Nordic” celebrated by the Danish company Muuto, De Smedt says it is “like an embrace of a southern culture with a northern rigueur.”

In three sizes and held together with strong steel clips, the shelves are the best design storage investment we’ve seen all year. Ha.

Might I recommend watching this neat video I’m now renaming, How Do I Shelve Thee? Let Me Count The Ways-?

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/27183069 w=400&h=225]

Travel: Scenes from New York

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First, let me take the time to wish you all a happy new year! I hope you celebrated the new year in style! As for me, well, I celebrated the arrival of 2012 in NYC! I know some of you might be expecting me to tell you about a wild night I had in the city but my New Year’s Eve was quite low-key. After my sister and I fed and bathed my cute little nephews and put them to bed, we changed into pjs, watched a movie, and listened to the party goers outside making their way to Times Square. We watched a bit of the Times Square coverage on tv which was bizarre (because it was only a few blocks from where we were) and at midnight I opened the window and listened to the sounds of people’s noise makers and cheers down on the street below. It was a great evening and I felt happy and lucky to have spent it in NYC with my family. I hope your night was just as you had wanted it to be.

As you may have noticed, I have been away from the blog for a few days – what with the holidays and travel and all that, I haven’t really had much of a chance to blog. Things will get back to normal soon, I promise. For now, I am happy to share with you some images of the things I’ve seen so far in New York City.

Vivian Maier exhibit at the Howard Greenberg Gallery

Vivian Maier exhibit at the Howard Greenberg Gallery

eyelash containers at Gaga’s Workshop; read my review here

stunning works of art at Bergdorf Goodman

gorgeous dresses at Bergdorf Goodman

Swarovski star at Rockefeller Center

cool lighting display at Anthropologie

The NYPD getting prepared on New Year’s Eve (p.s. the Starbucks was closed!)

I’m not the only one in my family who loves white…
my sister painted these massive works of art for her white kitchen

So – there you have it – a glimpse into my current adventures in NYC. I look forward to sharing more photos soon.

Before I sign off for a few more days, let me thank you once again for joining the White Cabana team on our daily exploration of white. We hope we can continue to inspire you in 2012!

Photos by Jordana.

The Friday Five: Beautiful Books

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Yes – we all know I’m a sucker for books. I’ve got books in every room in my apartment (and I’ve actually read most of them too!) and I just love them all (if that doesn’t sound like an academic, I don’t know what does). I’ve been browsing the bookstores often lately and there are some really gorgeous, high-quality books currently on the market. Publishers like Taschen and Phaidon produce just beautifully clean books and I always get so much pleasure reading them – and then looking at them stacked up on a table or bookshelf. The five books featured here have easily grabbed my attention – because they’re white, yes – but also because they provide so much inspiration.

The Art of French Baking, $31

Eleven Madison Park: A Cookbook, $36; photo by Paula Forbes

The Family Meal: Home Cooking with Ferran Adria, $23

A Taxonomy of Office Chairs, $45

D & AD 2011, $59.99

The Friday Five: Paloma's Nest

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Wow! Christmas is only two weeks away – I can barely believe it! How’s everyone feeling? Are you fully in the Christmas spirit?

Naturally there have and will be plenty of holiday-related posts on White Cabana this next month and I have been eager to share some of the gorgeous hand-crafted holiday items from Paloma’s Nest. I just love artist and designer Caroline Colom Vasque’s sweet creations.

holiday ribbon, $10

Christmas tree, $64

dove ornaments, $38 set of 6

reindeer ornament, $34

Nativity Set, $178

Event: Design Miami

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The art world descends on Miami this week for a variety of art fairs and events anchored by the mammoth and super-glam Art Basel: Miami Beach.

There are numerous additional art fairs and cultural events happening around the city simultaneously including Design Miami. Now in its sixth year, the fair has become one of the trendiest venues for selling (super) high-end contemporary and 20th century design.

This year David Adjaye was awarded the designer of the year and was commissioned to construct a site-specific work for the show grounds. Below is a selection of Adjaye’s creations, celebrity visitors…and, of course, great design being exhibited.

Genesis by David Adjaye at Design Miami

Chainsaw Lounge Chair by Charles de Lisle, Hostler Burrows

Craig Robins and Pharrell Williams

For more information, check out Design Miami’s great blog about the show, the exhibitors, designers, and more.

Dear Readers: Do not adjust your computer screens. Troy is taking over White Cabana this week and, as you can see, he’s really shaken things up around here! Enjoy. – Jordana

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