Thursday, September 29, 2011

Warming up for Autumn

Veronique Vanden Avenne

While waiting for Vancouver Interior Design Show 2011, IDSWest, to start with a big party tonight, I like to remember my visit in Spring at I Saloni 2011, in Milan where I met Veronique…. a talented, smart, gracious and beautiful lady who, together with her husband, runs Casalis, a Belgian based hand produced design carpets company, famous for their high end contemporary style.
At I Saloni they presented a new collection of pouffes called Slumber, designed by Aleksandra Gaca, made of Kid Mohair, covering a  highly flexible shape, so it contours your body and springs back when you get up. I find these pieces perfect for the Autumn at our doors.

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They presented also their new collection Bonnet outdoor and Bonnet indoor designed by Liset Vander Scheer. A great idea of a knitted, removable and very simple to clean cover for pouffes.

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Bonnet and Slumber are also coordinated with beautiful throws and can be chosen in complementary colors or contrasting ones.

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A great palette of colors to choose from, from neutral to vibrant and they complement the Casalis carpet collection perfectly!

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Veronique Vanden Avenne

I found this collection extremely appealing, versatile and oh! so comfortable.

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".


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Sunday, September 25, 2011

Is this a carpet? Or not?


No, this is not a carpet but rather concrete tiles creating a kaleidoscope of patterns and colors in a house in Spain where I can imagine people walking barefoot to feel relief from hot summer days. In the South of Italy these floors are also very common.
For centuries the decoration of floors was an art, from the  most elaborate mosaics to the more simple and inexpensive, at the time, use of fragments of marble as in Venetian terrazzo. Let's see how we can enhance our homes starting from the...floor!


Gianni Versace villa Como
Late Gianni Versace’s villa at Como lake, Italy,  with a superb inlaid marble floor.


Villa_Panza_SaloneImpero_b
Villa Panza di Biumo, near Milan with a Venetian terrazzo floor.


solid-hardwood-floor-tile-248976
An example of floor by Berti, who perpetuates the ancient art of marquetry,  mixing and matching  different veneers and colors in patterns of flowers, figures, creating inlaid floors with Asian, Mexican, Middle east motifs and more.


parquet_01
A modern approach to create visual interest on the floor,  from New Mosaics collection by Parquet In, where different hardwood tiles play with golden mosaic tiles. I find this fascinating, perhaps best in a large hallway?


ts
What looks like a mosaic is a painted trompe l’oeil mosaic floor in the
Villa Paradou, in Nice, France.


concrete floor painted over
The most simple way of transforming a concrete floor with a trompe l’oeil rug painted over, very simple and monochromatic as in this image or more ornate and colored.

Painted floors, trompe l’oeil, marquetry, use of multi materials to create unusual patterns, mosaic… the choices are endless.

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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Tuesday, September 20, 2011

How much would you pay for a doorstop?


Bathing beauties 
Bertoia's Auctions are famous for their early cast iron doorstops.
This Art Deco doorstop “Bathing Beauties” designed by Fish and produced by Hubley created a bidding frenzy during the million-dollar summer sale auction.

"The Bathing Beauties doorstop is an extremely popular form with collectors, and this example was in particularly nice condition,” said Jeanne Bertoia, the company's owner. “It was estimated at $3,000-$4,000 and sold for $10,350, which we believe to be a world auction record”.

Believe it! $ 10,350 for a doorstop! Don’t we wish to have this buyer as a client?!

Image courtesy of Live Auctioneers.

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Going to the flea

 
My latest purchase at Flea market: a complete  carving set, with Bakelite handles, in its original box, getting ready for Canadian Thanksgiving.

I always loved Flea markets, garage sales, yard sales and it is fun for me to walk around and discover interesting pieces at a reasonable price.
When I travel I always go visit the local Flea markets and of course the food markets, I find it a way of knowing more about the culture of the country.
I have found in the past many treasures where people simply saw “old and worn” and the hunt itself is exciting; even if you don’t find anything you like (and I doubt it…) it is a nice way of spending a few hours during the week-end, meeting people, talking to vendors, learning about old or antique pieces, their marks, their value.

Flea market
This delicate teacup is marked “US Germany” and comes from Bavaria, from the mark we can date it late 1940’s after the Second World War, when Germany was divided.
The decoration inside the cup add not just more beauty but also more value to it.


Flea market
I am in love with this unusual deep purple color and Asian decoration, the shape of
cup and saucer is also interesting.


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An iridescent Japanese teacup with a French style medallion.


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Viking plated teapot, made in Canada in 1950’s.


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A similar piece, to hold hot water for tea or perhaps coffee for two.

All the above were bought by me for a store in Vancouver I am involved with as an Interior decorator and soon I will post about it, when the Grand Opening will happen in a few weeks, so if you live in the area you could go there and enjoy a cup of tea in the purple cup or another I bought, while you are browsing the store!

Flea market
This ornate glass can hold an exquisite jam, a small bunch of flowers or
a sparkling tea candle.

Here are just a few of the many advantages of a Flea market find:

- A naive painting, an old coffee table, a teapot like the one above are unique pieces, not one of thousands.
- A slight imperfection in a piece adds a sense of history, making it often more interesting than the new production.
- Adding just one piece of furniture with a worn finish in a traditional room creates a more interesting, lively scheme.
- Reasonable prices at Flea markets allow anyone to start a collection and build up confidence and knowledge.
- We are encouraged to experiment, rethinking the use of an item: an old door can become a headboard, a gate can become a sculpture against a plain wall.
-  Flea markets are a contribution to the environment, less trees cut down, less energy and chemicals used.
- The hunt itself is fun and brings creativity into your life!

As I said Flea markets are one passion of mine and even my very first post on this Blog (HERE) was about a treasure I found.

Do you  have any special story you like to share with us?
What is your most rewarding flea market find?
I love to hear from you!

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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Images by ©Albarosa Simonetti

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Reflecting Absence


Project for One World Trade Center
Lower Manhattan how it will soon be with the almost completed One World Trade Center which will have 104 floors and will be 1776 feet high (the year of American Independence). The tall antenna will be an ambassador for peace.


New World Trade Center 2011
Reflecting Absence

Michael Arad and Peter Walker created the Memorial  “Reflecting absence” that will be inaugurated today, September 11, 2011, in New York:  it consists of two massive pools set within the footprints of the Twin Towers with waterfalls  cascading for 20 meters down their sides.  On the perimeter bronze plaques will have inscribed the names of the thousands of victims of that day of terror.
"The design strives to make visible what is absent. The primary responsibility we have is to those we lost that day." Michael Arad.



Project for Tower 2 NYC
Project for 2 World Trade Center by Norman Foster + Partners.

I am sure you have heard the question many times: “Where were you that day?”
My answer: I was in Milan and just after lunch I went for coffee to a friend whose daughter was working in Manhattan as a lawyer.  We heard the news from her…thankfully she was safe and  she was miraculously able to call and say she was OK…then the phone line dropped and the second tower was hit.

Ten years have passed, life went on but we didn’t forget.

Images © Silverstein Properties, Inc.;  © 2011 PWP Landscape Architecture; © Foster + Partners

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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Friday, September 9, 2011

Brionvega Radio!

Radio “Cube” ts522

The myth continues…

Radio “Cube” ts 522, designed in 1964 by  Richard Sapper and Marco Zanuso, for Brionvega, now wears fuchsia in 500 limited edition models, a symbol of the fusion of the high Italian design and the best technology: a mix that, thanks to the new fuchsia color, confirm it as a timeless, always fresh myth.

Brionvega radio 

Brionvega  is an Italian electronics company, established in Milan in 1945 and now located in Pordenone, Friuli Venezia-Giulia region. The company has focused on design since the beginning demonstrating how products with good design can become cult objects to the point of being displayed in various famous museums.


brionvega cubo
Radiocubo.it

In 2010 Brionvega has also launched Radiocubo.it TS 525, a new complete sound system: Internet Radio, FM, DAB / DAB +, docking station for iPhone and iPod connection, remote control, USB, clock and a bright LCD display ( I confess I don’t know all of these functions, yet!).

Brionvega TS 525 

Brionvega Cubo 

 “Ownership of a Brionvega is for those with a particular aesthetic taste and perhaps a critical attitude towards rapid replacement of product following mass consumerism dictates.”

Style, technology, power and simplicity.

And the first person to answer correctly on my previous post question (click HERE to see all the comments, some are funny!)  “Can you guess what it is?” is my loyal reader A Critic’s Eye who unfortunately does not have a blog.

Photography and part of the text are from Brionvega website

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".


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Monday, September 5, 2011

The joy of Summer




Cocktail al Cetriolo
With the help of a juicer mix 1/2 cup tomato juice, 1/4 cup cucumber juice, 1/4 cup carrot juice, Italian parsley.
Serve in a glass like "Diamante" by Driade.



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La Menta
Previously infused mint can be served in a glass like "Cilindro" by Ichendorf Milano with ice or with milk, garnished with mint leaves.




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Caffè Frappé
2 teaspoons of instant coffee, 1 teaspoon of sugar, ice cubes. In the Shaker "Chiringuito" designed by Ron Arad for Alessi add 15 ml. water, better if at room temperature, coffee and sugar. Shake until water becomes foamy. Pour in a 250 ml glass.
Add ice cubes for a "frappé Nero" or milk for a "frappé Bianco".



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Shake al Cocco
1/2 liter milk, 125 ml. coconut milk, 1 coconut.
Grate 1/2 coconut and mix with the two milks. Shake for 1/2 minute and serve with ice cubes in this silverplated tumbler designed by Bellini for Armanicasa.



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Lassi'
500 grams plain yogurt, 250 ml. water, 2 teaspoons sugar, cardamom powder.
Mix well yogurt, water and sugar to obtain a liquid drink, add cardamom and serve with ice cubes (mango juice can be added and a dollop of thick cream) or put in the fridge in a jug like "La Tina" by Guzzini until ready to serve.



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Acqua allo Zenzero
Thin slices of ginger and water.
Boil the water and pour it over ginger, infuse for 30 minutes in a Thermos like "Impulse" by Ikea.


This post appeared two years ago but since the weather is still pleasant and warm I am publishing it again…besides it is the long week-end so it is nice to be able to save time today!
Stay cool with style and Happy Labor Day!

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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Thursday, September 1, 2011

Can you guess what it is?


What a beauty, but…

Is it a toaster?

Is it a Picnic box?

Is it a lamp?

Is it…?

Only hint I can give you is that “It was designed in 1964”

Now it is your turn to write but remember, comments will be published all together next week, and the first to guess it right will not win anything…but will only have the “privilege” to be named in the follow-up post.

Please don’t spoil the game publishing comments on Facebook!

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".


If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the comments section.
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