Airings on Design by Area Aesthetics

Happy Holidays

2009-12-25T12:40:25-05:00

Art: Go With Your Heart! Shreds by New York Artist Sheila Smith

2009-06-19T14:43:22-04:00

I'm almost always surprised by my own art purchases. Intellectually, I would say I know exactly what I like. But then something totally different will grab me in a way I hadn't anticipated. That's how I felt when I first saw Sheila Smith's "Shreds," a recent series of acrylic and shredded paper paintings on canvas. Reminiscent of the Abstract Expressionist and Non-Objective schools of the 50's, Shreds is all about color, texture and design... The works would beautifully complement a modern interior that could benefit from a punch of color as well as some softer lines. (Full post: http://areaaesthetics.typepad.com)

For Something Different in Bath Tile, Work Outside the Box

2009-06-16T09:05:45-04:00

Bathrooms are fun - that is if you're a designer and not the person cleaning it. There are literally thousands and thousands of choices when it comes to tile and a wide ranging selection of bathroom fixtures to complement any choice. One thing I tend to avoid studiously is overworked trends - and that's how I was feeling about mosaic glass and subway-style tiles in the latter part of 2008 with three bathroom renovations, in three different homes, on my upcoming project list.(Full post at: http://areaaesthetics.typepad.com )

Design with a Sense of Humor - Home Accessories to Make You Smile

2009-06-15T11:55:00-04:00

Finally after 12 days of rain, the sun came out yesterday, only to disappear again behind this morning's thunderstorms. It's been a gloomy two weeks of gray skies and and indoor living. It helps to have things in your home that make you smile....Walking thorough ICFF this year, there were a few home accessory designers who set out, tongue in cheek, to give you a chuckle and, perhaps, bring a smile into your home. (Full post at: http://areaaesthetics.typepad.com )

Confessions of an App Addict - The Skinny on Color Apps for the iPhone

2009-06-10T13:00:44-04:00

Confession: I'm one of those people who actually hired someone to line sit for me for two days in front of the Apple Store in order to get one of the first iPhones. And, when last year's 3G version was released, I upgraded to the 16 meg phone so that I would have plenty of room for apps, which for me held the promise of having everything I need in the palm of my hand as I race around town for my design clients...I also have quite a few color apps, more than I need and more than I use. However, as someone who is totally bewitched by color... (Full post at: http://areaaesthetics.typepad.com)

MAD About Bean - Limited Edition Rugs by the Noted Ceramic Artist

2009-06-08T19:34:49-04:00

Discovering an artist after his work has already been curated in such vaunted venues as The Whitney Museum of American Art, the Smithsonian Institute and the White House Collection of American Crafts among others, often means that acquiring his work will probably be out of reach for most of us. Fortunately for us, works by Bennett Bean, noted ceramicist, sculptor and painter who brought his unique sensibility to textile design, in collaboration with Elizabeth Rand, remain very accessible. (Full post at: http://areaaesthetics.typepad.com)

Through the Looking Glass - The Whimsy and Fancy of Furniture from Straight Line Designs

2009-06-05T21:38:47-04:00

With the weekend upon us, it's definitely time for some fun! And what could be more fun than the imaginative, quirky furnishings of Straight Line Designs. Just when my aching feet were begging to call it a day at ICFF, I saw what at first glance I thought was a slinky little black dress being used as an installation prop. Now my feet are no match for my shopping mojo when it comes to anything slinky and black , so I headed down the aisle to get a closer look. But all is not what it seems in Wonderland. That little black dress turned out to be a little black dresser... (Full post: http://areaaesthetics.typepad.com)

Pomp and Circumstance - Artistic Lighting and Accessories from John Pomp

2009-06-04T16:49:58-04:00

Okay, here's the Pomp part... John Pomp, an incredible Brooklyn-based artist whose blown glass collections of tabletop items totally captivated me last year with their vibrant colors and definitive lines, just blew me away at ICFF this year with this chandelier. (Full post at http://areaaesthetics.typepad.com)

"Where's the Bed?" - Clei's Incredible Convertible Furniture

2009-06-03T13:45:05-04:00

Five or six years ago I wrote an article about the smallest studio I ever designed - a paltry 225 square feet of living space - which seems to have a life of its own on the internet. Rarely does a month go by without a few calls from prospects hoping I will help them figure out how to manage their entire lives in a space that is often dwarfed by what our suburban neighbors usually turn into a walk-in closet. So I'm always on the lookout for great convertible furniture - with easy to open and stow beds that minimize the daily inconvenience and disruption, and look fabulous as well. (Full post at areaaesthetics.typepad.com)

Dyke's - The Best Resource for Decorative Trims and Moldings

2009-06-02T12:57:37-04:00

Now and then, clients will have a treasured family heirloom needing repair or will need to match an existing furnishing. Invariably one of the missing pieces is matching the decorative molding. The more common moldings and trims are pretty ubiquitous: Home and hardware stores and many lumber yards carry a good stock. However, when you need to find something more unusual, the search can be challenging. A few years back, one of my contractors let me in on his little secret - and I don't know how I ever got along without it.

In the Pink - Hot Colors On the Court and At Home

2009-05-31T18:13:49-04:00

If you're a fan of Grand Slam tennis, as I am, you've undoubtedly noticed how pervasive hot pinks and oranges are on the clay courts of Roland Garros at this year's French Open.... If you're looking to dress your home in Grand Slam style, there's plenty to go around. Fabrics and trimmings in these hot colors abound in the market this year.

Disappearing Designs - USPS Doesn't Get My Stamp of Approval

2009-05-30T10:45:45-04:00

I've never been a stamp collector, but I've always selected my stamps with a very personal eye. No staid American flags or Liberty Bells for me!. For years, I've been choosing stamps that represent things I love and one of the things I really love is great design. So when my cache of wonderful, oversized Eames and Noguchi commemoratives depicting some of their most notable achievements in interior furnishings and design ran out a few days ago, I did what I always do.

A Delight from Disegno - A Perfectly Balanced Contemporary Glass Table

2009-05-29T02:00:00-04:00

I'm in the design centers in New York - where we have many such buildings and hundreds of showrooms - sourcing furnishing for clients every week. Racing around from showroom to showroom with my "shopping list", it's easy to glaze over, especially when looking for an item as common as a contemporary glass coffee table. So when one jumps out at me, as did this two-tiered table from Disegno by James Dipersia at the NYDC, it stopped me in my tracks.

ModKat - A People-Friendly Litter Box

2009-05-28T01:12:12-04:00

The ModKat Litter Box I saw at ICFF, is a stylish, fresh approach to litter box design that promises to best the "wandering litter" problem as well. As the name implies, it will look best in modern interiors, but no matter your style, it is unquestionably a great improvement over the standard litter box look. A perfect blend of form and function, it comes with a washable, reusable deep liner making it an eco-friendly choice as well. As someone who can't figure out how to get the cat box liner out of the box without spilling half of the litter on the floor, I especially appreciated that the designers have incorporated handles on their liner for easy lifting.

Nelson's Nursery on "Living in Color with Sonu"

2009-05-19T10:09:07-04:00

An admitted color junkie, even in the beige-est of times, I am an avid follower of Sonu Mathews' blog, "Living in Color with Sonu." So imagine how pleased I am to see this post about a nautically-themed nursery I designed for the winners of Similac's (Abbott Nutrition) Custom Nursery Design Contest. http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a01156f94bd28970b011570882866970b http://livingincolorwithsonu.typepad.com/sonu_blog/2009/05/meaningful-color-and-design.html