Fad*ish- fashion and design

The sleek and simple elements often seen in Scandinavian designs are now influencing baby furniture. DUMBO Brooklyn’s own Argington modern children’s furniture makes the statement that baby furniture can be just as creative and stylish as the big boys.

Chic children’s furniture is the natural evolution of contemporary design. When the mass merchants jumped on the chic band wagon-- think of Target’s Michael Grave Designs-- it was only a matter of time before other genres followed suit. Whether it is to marry with your existing minimalist décor or just to keep the “cutsie” elements out of your SOHO loft, there is a growing need to make your baby furniture feel more like home. Argington is one of many contemporary children furniture companies paving the way by tying together function and style.

Children are an extension of you, so why not their furniture? Gustav Maxwell seems to agree offering up children’s bedding with bold geometric prints replacing the cartoon characters of yesterdays. From infant cribs to toddler beds, their retro prints flirt with a period that is nostalgic for you and visually pleasing for them-- after all they have the rest of their lives to drive you crazy with Dora the Explorer. Another company making its mark on the children’s furniture scene is Igloo Play, making a name for themselves with their ‘mod rocker’. And for those wanting to give a stylish upgrade their child’s toy box, Modern Seed’s provides the answer for tacky toys and accessories.

With all there is to offer these new breed of children designers insure that your child is too cool for school, and in some cases the nursery. While I’m sure that playful patterns, and stylish environments provide a soothing psychological effect for your child-- baby chic is designed for your style peace of mind.

*Originally Posted on Word on the Street 5/28/06

Labels: Decor

Sometimes it doesn’t pay to be sober. This past Friday night was a prime example of this, when I found myself at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and Design Within Reach (DWR) event. There I was staring bright-eyed into the drunken faces of my interior designer chums-- as they tried desperately to place where they knew me from.

Just further proving my theory that a design party and Stella Artois don’t mix, I felt as if I stumbled into a pub rather than an industry gathering. The designs that were meant to be the main event-- Eames® Lounge Chair & Ottoman-- were outshone by the heat (I guess air-conditioning took away from the ‘mood’) and littering of pale green glass bottles. The event sponsored by Domino® magazine-- and not the Belgian beer company-- was overcrowded, and at any moment I kept expecting a middle-aged man to jump on the table, kick off his Hogan loafers and start swinging his Prada bag over his head screaming “Herman Miller® rocks!”

Needless to say, I could feel the need for people to let go the tension of this past furniture market week, and maybe 10:00 on a Friday night was not the best time to discuss design theory. The crowd was a mix of out-of-towners and Europeans all in New York for the various furniture tradeshows at the Javits-- letting everybody know that designers can party like the best of them.

*Originally Posted on Word on the Street 5/22/06

Labels: Decor

BKLYN Designs 2006 took center stage this past weekend, as the desolate streets of DUMBO came alive with the talent of its local designers. Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass (DUMBO) is emerging as New York’s premier resource for home furnishing talents.

The theme of this weekend’s show was “clean, and chic”, as all silhouettes revisited the beauty of minimalism. Companies like R Day offered visions of exotic, yet sleek furnishings-- while Palo Samko’s craftsmanship revisited rustic mod. Children’s furniture designers also followed suit as Brooklyn’s own Argington gave options for parents looking for function and style. And not to be outshone by the big boys, Igloo Play proved that modernism can be suitable for any age.

All areas of the trade were represented from ceramic knick-knacks-- for your gardening pleasure-- to modular shelving designed to fit any dimension. Opened to the public and to the trade, potential buyers could browse for more than just inspiration. But what set this trade show apart from the rest was the feeling of a neighborhood atmosphere. Every restaurants, art gallery and clothing shop showed their support to DUMBO’s finest.

For more information on BKLYN Designs visit their website at www.brooklyndesigns.net.

*Originally Posted on Word on the Street 5/18/06

Labels: Decor

It sounds like a new board game. But Wenge is actually a rich and deep wood hailing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Now some wood aficionados might be saying a snooty “but of course,” but I was truly stumped when interviewing furniture designer Rob Day on some of his recent pieces. He was busy explaining that nobody was injured during the making of his coffee table, and I was left pretending I knew what he was talking about.

For all those that missed that part in class, Wenge is from the Millettia laurentii timber and is used for everything from flooring to cabinetry. Its dark complexion is further characterized by thin blond streaks, setting it apart from other dark woods. What makes it desirable is its beauty and durability, but it is still an endangered wood in some regions of Africa. Despite the high price of importing Wenge, it is available on the market at every price point-- I’ve even spotted Wenge cabinets at Target.

So why was Rob Day explaining to me the social ramifications of getting the wood out of Africa? -- Civil War. I’ve followed the fighting taking place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tens of thousands are either dead, have been raped or fleeing for their lives as a result of a civil war that has been going on since the late nineties, but is only recently receiving our media attention. This area is known for its abundance of gold and diamonds-- its export of Wenge is insignificant in comparison. And though I haven’t seen any evidence of people harmed in the exporting of Wenge, it is hard to bring up the beauty of the DR Congo’s exports without the bloodshed leaving a bitter taste in your mouth.

Though Wenge is not the only wood being exported out of that region of Africa, it is becoming one of the most sought after. I cringe to think of the social affects on the Democratic Republic of the Congo if this wood becomes a serious trend.

For more information on the DR Congo please visit the following websites:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4604627.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4259171.stm
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/africa/03/22/congo.01/

*Originally Posted on Word on the Street 5/16/06

Labels: Decor

We all come to a crucial moment when we are confronted with questions that change our outlook on life. For a street shopper like me at some point in my expedition I always end up asking myself “Do I sacrifice craftsmanship for price?”

Now a fundamentalist on the subject would say that you can’t put a price tag on true artistry. The blood, sweat and tears that a designer puts into a piece are priceless, and you are getting it for a steal at any price. I listened to designer Eric Manigian explain why his product was better because the wood was imported, and as treated by hand. He went on to distance himself from his cheaper competitors’ products because they were clearly poorly made. Now that might be. If you put the two together you could tell why one costs $1,000 and the other cost $10,000. But an uneducated consumer-- looking at both items separately-- might not care as long as the price is right.

But shouldn’t there also be something said for the less expensive version? Okay maybe the wood is flown in from Indonesia and it is treated in an assembly line rather than by hand, but some might construe their ability to pump out a cheaper version as being smarter. This argument says little for the artisans who do lovely work by hand, but why should one be better than the other? Some customers don’t have the budget for a hand carved table, and it is a service to these customers to be able to buy a similar product cheaper. Honestly, it doesn’t take away from the artisan. A customer looking to spend $1,000 on a piece is not going to spend ten times as much for the quality. Inversely chances are a customer that invests $500,000 to renovate a luxurious showroom, is not going to buy the cheaper model.

So where does that leave Eric Manigian? I am always on the side of the artisan, so I say if you can afford quality; his works really are priceless pieces of art. Others might ask how this argument effects globalization, but that is another story.

For more information on the handcrafted furnishings of Eric Manigian, visit http://www.ericmanigian.com/.

*Originally Posted on Word on the Street 5/10/06

Labels: Decor

On a recent stroll down Fifth Avenue, I realized how more and more unconventional objects are influencing todays lighting trends. I’ve even seen evidence of this on HGTV, where you can find interior decorators creating chandeliers out of everything from twine to popsicle sticks. I especially like it when they create a light fixture out of another piece of furniture. For example, “Don’t like your grandma’s antique bureau? We can chop it up and give you a unique lighting fixture that adds texture to your room!” And I remain glued to my TV crying over the beautiful piece of furniture they just smashed into pieces.

I do not know the cause of this lighting trend. Perhaps chandeliers are priced out of people’s range—pieces from Venice start around $2500. Or maybe we are just bored with the classical ways of adding conversation to a room, so the idea of creating a dining room centered around a giant ball of twine seems appealing, maybe even nautical. And why not when Anthropologie’s spring window features hanging water bottles? Yes, it diffused the light and adds texture, but hanging over your dining room place setting it would create more of a ‘homeless’ rather than a “homely” feel.

Making any fixture work is not as easy as it looks. You have to consider practicality, flammability, and watt usage-- you don’t want to send your house ablaze in an attempt to be frugal. You also don’t want to end up with huge mess of hot glue, and metal dangling dangerously over your evening meals. I suggest always consulting a professional before short circuiting the neighborhood, or at least a very good handy man.

*Originally Posted on Word on the Street 5/7/06

Labels: Decor