EYE CANDY OF THE WEEK – bjhon ii sink by angelo mangiarotti

 

 

 

PRODUCT

Bjhon II Sink

 

MANUFACTURER

Agape

 

DESIGNER

Angelo Mangiarotti

 

MATERIAL

Cristalplant Marble or Pietra

 

DESCRIPTION

The Bjohn II sink retrieves an original idea by Angelo Mangiarotti of 1970. The collection, made in marble or pietra calls to mind classic garden planters with a minimal line.

 

This sculptural pedestal sink, with truncated cone shape column containing the central wastepipe, reminds me of the classism of Palladio’s lines, with the edge of Mangiarotti’s concepts.

 

But you may ask, who is Angelo Mangiarotti?

 

“Angelo Mangiarotti, is one of the leading exponents of 20th-century Italian design, a committed, cultured and brilliant designer, who took on the ideals of the Modern Movement and actually exceeded them through his experimental and highly original work, a Mies with the mind of an engineer, a freer and more creative Prouvé, a more multifaceted and experimental Nervi, and even a Brancusi drawing on the technology of his own time: because Mangiarotti managed to apply his own ingenuity to both architecture and design, a razor-sharp exponent of rigorous functionalism, who, however, never lost sight of elegance and beauty, taking his own work to the very verge of sculpture through clever studies of form, always using cutting-edge production processes and materials backed up by proper know-how and, above all, thinking, constantly drawing on ethical principles and a deep awareness of moral values, unique traits of this master, who, by brilliantly bringing together the dual qualities of ethics and aesthetics, has achieved “happiness” through “correctness”.” – Agape

 

YUMMY FACTOR

Better than any gelato!!!

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

IN CONVERSATION WITH SUZANNE RHEINSTEIN

 

Suzanne Rheinstein

 

Masterful designer Suzanne Rheinstein creates traditional, but not stuffy or ostentatious spaces that feel comfortable yet luxurious. A Southern Belle after my own heart, Suzanne’s motto “Every day is all there is”, encapsulates the philosophy behind my mother’s way of life and the way I was raised back home in Mexico – stressing the importance of enjoying the beautiful things in life daily, not just for special occasions (such as ‘the good china’ or having fresh flowers at home).

 

Her designs have been published in all of the top design publications (including Architectural Digest, Elle Décor and House Beautiful), as well as her own book - ‘At Home’ which was released in late 2010. In addition to the success she has had with her interior design, Suzanne also has a very successful line of fabrics with Lee Jofa. A stunning collection inspired by antiquities which includes needlework, prints, linens, flocked patterns, textural solids, elegant silks and (my favourite) plush mohairs.  Lee Jofa is also planning a carpet line with Rheinstein which will be released later this year.

 

Interiors by Suzanne Rheinstein

 

I am so thrilled to have this interview with Suzanne and cannot wait to hear what she has to say about design today. Please read on to get in on the conversation…

 

Iván Meade - What was your first experience with design?

 

Suzanne Rheinstein –I grew up in New Orleans, and I absorbed a love of architecture from living there. I was always very aware of my surroundings.  And I grew up during a time when the mothers were very interested in their gardens and houses…my mother certainly was and my next door neighbor was Gerrie Bremmermann, a doyenne of decorating in New Orleans.

 

Interiors by Suzanne Rheinstein

 

Iván Meade - What is your process to find that unexpected elegance in your designs?  Each of your rooms always have a moment that is unexpected and beautifully thought-out. Does the piece inspire you to create a room around it, or do you create the room and find the perfect piece to fit into it?

 

Suzanne Rheinstein - My decorating is object driven…I do love it when clients have, or I find for them, one of a kind things for a room…I do create rooms with a certain calm as my clients tend to have very busy and somewhat hectic lives.  An elegant and calm room is quite nice to come home to, whether it is rustic or more city.

 

Interiors by Suzanne Rheinstein

 

Iván Meade - It is more than evident that you have a long relationship and love for beautiful antiques; or in other words, you are very selective in what goes into your designs, what makes a piece important enough to be used in your projects?

 

Suzanne Rheinstein  - I don’t go for importance as in provenance or grandeur, but in a certain shape and patina or well worn paint or something that is a bit magical about it…and I do like pieces that show the hand of the maker

 

Interiors by Suzanne Rheinstein

 

Iván Meade - Hollyhock has become the place to go for quality handmade pieces for many designers.  How did your love affair with quality antique pieces begin?

 

Suzanne Rheinstein  - I was exposed to them because they were in so many houses and then my interest took off.  My favorite period is the late 18^th century and the beginning of the 19^th…in several countries…Louis XVI and Directoire style in France and the slightly wonky way the Italians interpreted that, Gustavian in Sweden and Regency in England….I love painted finishes espcecillay but I think they need to be mixed with woods too, unless you were doing a period room, which I don’t do.

 

Interiors by Suzanne Rheinstein

 

Iván Meade - We love the elegance and the comfortable sophistication of your fabric line by Lee Jofa - What is the inspiration behind it?

 

Suzanne Rheinstein –I was thrilled to be asked to do collections for Lee Jofa and I thought of fabrics I wished we had in the  library at my studio…one of the designs I wanted to do was a floral that my most sophisticated clients would like …I wanted to do a floral that looked like the wrong side of  one of the Lee Jofa hand blocked linens…I love to use the wrong side of them…and I did that with Garden Roses…it is soft and beautiful and it is only about 1/3 the cost of the hand blocked ones

 

Interiors by Suzanne Rheinstein

 

Iván Meade - What is the most practical thing that you own and what is the most rare?

 

Suzanne Rheinstein – The most practical thing is the Hollyhock racetrack ottoman, which is slip covered in a check in our library and covered with books and many times, feet!  The original was a Napoleon III window seat that I bought at auction…the man who ran Rose Cummings was in town when I opened and he bought it but not before I copied it…I have been making it since 1988.

 

Interiors by Suzanne Rheinstein

 

Iván Meade - What is your favourite element in nature and why?

 

Suzanne Rheinstein – That’s not easy, but I would  have to say foliage…our garden is mostly shapes in every shade of green and gray, with plants that just happen to bloom, flowers aren’t the point, shape and shadows are. But when the roses are blooming, as they are now (May), they are other worldly, rambling up all of the walls – and over the roof of the Back House…Reve d’Or, Mme. Alfred Carriere, Blanc Double de Coubert, Jeanne d’Arc (insane! Reaching up to the roof of our two story house) and Sally Holmes, a strumpet who runs wild.  Then when this blooming madness is over the garden is all about green and gray and shapes again.

 

Interiors by Suzanne Rheinstein

 

Iván Meade - Your book "At Home" is a great lesson in how to live with handmade pieces and how to recognize quality while maintaining an elegant simplicity - What motivated you to write this book?

 

Suzanne Rheinstein - I wanted to show how  these families live with beautiful pieces as well as comfortable upholstery  with children and dogs and having friends over and bringing leaves and flowers inside and really living in their houses…how having fewer things but better things is a good way to go, and how to decorate so that it evolves with your family.  I am happy to say that the book is in its fifth printing and people I meet tell me that they really read it!

 

 

Iván Meade - What is next for Suzanne Rheinstein?

 

Suzanne Rheinstein – I have a  rug collection coming out in the fall at Lee Jofa…it will be stocked…and I am excited about it!

 

Interiors by Suzanne Rheinstein

 

Iván Meade - Lastly, you have already created a stunning body of work with many mediums and styles, what would you like your legacy to be?

 

Suzanne Rheinstein -Happy and inspiring memories for the people who lived in the spaces I created…and the same for the people who have discovered  my work in books and periodicals

 

I invite you to visit the stunning body of work of Suzanne Rheinstein’s website:

 

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

EYE CANDY OF THE WEEK – NEST BOWL BY stephane parmentier

 

 

 

PRODUCT

Nest Bowl

 

MANUFACTURER

Christofle

 

DESIGNER

Stéphane Parmentier

 

FINISH

Silver Plated

 

DIMENSIONS

Extra Small with Spoon, Small, Medium & Large

 

DESCRIPTION

I love the clean lines of this piece.  Simple, yet unique.  This is the type of piece I wish I had designed.   Interior Designer Stéphane Parmentier had the opportunity to collaborate recently with Chirstopfle in a new exquisite line of decorative pieces.

 

The silver-plated Nest bowls come in four sizes: XS, which is lilliputian and includes a spoon for salt and pepper; S, M and L, which can be used as centerpieces to hold fruit, for example, or simply as exquisite decorative objects.

“I wanted to express the ambivalence of opposites,” explains Stéphane Parmentier. “A juxtaposition of extremes, between linearity and curves. Paradoxes condensed into a single object, where the boundaries are imperceptible. ”

- Christofle

 

YUMMY FACTOR

Scrumptious!

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

designers garage sale

The Vancouver Island Chapter of IDIBC is organizing a DESIGNER GARAGE SALE  to raise funds for Amber Kingsnorth’s   Designer Survivor's Tour Team participating in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer this June and we need your help!

 

Location
355 Catherine Street, Victoria, BC V9A 3S8

 (Map)

 

Date & Time

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: Liesch Interiors Office Interiors Parking Lot
355 Catherine Street (across from Spinnaker's Pub) Victoria, BC V9A 3S8

 

Contact
Amber Kingsnorth

 

Last year, I received one of the most encouraging and surprising gifts I have ever received in my entire life.  I have to say that I tear up a little when I read Amber’s inspiration page and what it was all about. You can’t imagine the strength I received with this gift  – My good friend and colleague Miz Amber Kingsnorth will be participating once again  in a two-day cycling event to take place this June. During this bold cycling journey, Amber will ride for two days through the scenic Pacific Northwest.  Amber’s vision is clear - A World Free From Cancer.

 

If you cannot attend the DESIGNERS GARAGE SALE this weekend – I invite you to support her clicking the the image below and give, give, give… Remember, she is biking a lot and she needs LOT$$$$$$$$$$ of motivation.

 

 

Here is Amber’s Statement:

 

The adorable Miz. Amber Marie Kingsnorth

 

As an interior Designer in Victoria BC I have seen a number of individuals in my industry affected by Cancer.  Colleagues who have undergone treatment and come out survivors (!) including Kimberly Williams, the woman who gave me my start in this business and for whom I am ever grateful.  These are my Designer Survivors and the inspirations for my ride! 

 

Last year I rode for my good friend and colleague Ivan Meade of the Meade Design Group who was undergoing treatment at the time.  I wanted to help him in anyway that I could and knowing that treatment is an unbelievable struggle, I thought; why not go through a little struggle of my own ... ride a bike for two days straight! :)  I am over-joyed to report that he is now in remission!!!  This year I'm keeping the momentum going and hoping to get more people involved.  If you'd like to join the DST team, drop me a line.

 

Donations, no matter the size, all help to support breakthrough research, exemplary teaching, and compassionate care made possible through BC Cancer Foundation, a leader in cancer research and care.  Please help me reach (and hopefully exceed!) my goal of raising $5000.00 for this amazing cause!

Thank you for your help and support,

Amber

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011