Dune

Austrian designer Rainer Mutsch, whose talent and vision have garnered many awards including the prestigious Red Dot award for design excellence. Rainer Mutsch is probably best known for the ergonomic polygonal Rocking Chair.

Rainer Mutsch says the
Rocking Chair is an
"...artificial, technical
interpretation of natural
rock formations."







Rainer Mutsch has recently completed a range of outdoor furniture called Dune.  Dune is set to launch in 2011.  Each Dune piece is three dimensionally molded out of one whole, 100% recyclable eternit cellulose fiber-cement panel.  When most of us think of cement furniture, we think of benches and perhaps objects that are fun but less than functional.  In Dune, Mutsch has created a collection that is exceptionally artistic yet completely functional.

With six different shapes the possibilities are endless for placement of the pieces.  Space constraints are not at issue as you can modify the collection to suite your needs. 

Use the pieces as a sectional or leave them individual as lounge chairs. Create groupings or seating for solo enjoyment. 

While modern in design, the organic nature of Dune would be suitable in many outdoor settings. 

Something not to "throw" away...

For decades, Textillery Weavers has had the reputation for being of the finest weavers of hand woven throws in the United States.  John Rose gave his wife, Judith, a gift loom in 1974.  Judith learned to weave small at first, creating place mats and pillows. They sold their goods wholesale at craft fairs across the country.

By 1978, the Roses realized there was a market for hand woven goods and they formed Textillery Weavers.  Slowly the business grew as Textillery developed a reputation for their fine weaving, exceptional business practices and their use of innovative materials. They where seeing such growth that everything they wove was sold as fast as they could weave it.  This lead to the purchase of new looms for the studio.

By the early 90s, Textillery weavers was regarded as the leading maker of hand made throws.  Today,they are credited with being apart of the explosion of chenille throws. 

By 1998, the company had outgrown the studio and was ready to move into a 37,000 foot, state of the art facility where they ran 28 looms.  This facility is one of the few hand made textile mills in the world.  With the Roses at the helm - creating the designs and researching new technology, Textillery Weavers started to explore other outlets for their creativity and design skills.

Approximately four years ago, the Roses, along with Glen Raven choose to design a line of indoor/outdoor throws using  Glen Raven custom fabrics.

The Sunbrella throw, is made from Glen Raven's famous solution dyed acrylic. This wonder thread prevents fabrics from staining , bleaching  and mold.

The color selection will go with any collection of furniture you might choose.

 The Chenille and boucles fabric are soft to the touch and will keep you warm on the coolest of evenings.

J. Meejin Yoon's Light Drift: October 15-17, 2010

 Light Drift was a temporary interactive lighting installation along the edge of the Schuylkill River that drew thousands of viewers into a playful engagement with the artwork, the river’s edge, and each other. The project created a field of lighting elements arrayed along the waterfront, with elements on land and in the water.

 The lighting elements are shaped like orbs or buoys and are equipped with electronics that allow them to respond to a viewer and to communicate with each other. The orbs on land use sensors to detect the presence of a person and relay a radio signal to the corresponding orbs in the water, allowing visitors to transform the lighting behavior and color of the orbs in the river. 

 As viewers engage and occupy the orbs along the park, the grid of lights in the water becomes an index of the activities on land. Multiple viewers can create intersections of linear patterns, encouraging viewers to “play” with each other. These orbs bring the community together by providing gathering spaces for watching the river turn into a flickering constellation, creating new connections on the river’s edge.

 After Light Drift is de-installed, the project may be reinstalled at a second venue in Boston, on the Charles River. When the project is finished, the PETG materials will be recycled.








MY Studio Project team: J. Meejin Yoon, Eric Höweler, Ryan Murphy, Parker Lee, Jennifer Chuong, Lauren McClellan, Man Yan Lam, Yushiro Okamoto, Kris Swick, Dan Sullivan, Jeremy Jih
MY Studio Electronics Engineer: Mark Feldmeier

It's Wednesday, and I am in love!

I have fallen in love with McKinnon and Harris.  This is estate furniture of fine quality!  You rarely see anything in the market place so exquisite.  William McKinnon Massie Jr. and Annie Harris Massie are creating outdoor furniture to last a lifetime.  Each piece is lovingly hand-crafted .  There is no mass production involved in these creations and it shows in the design of their exceptional furniture

Photograph courtesy McKinnon and Harris

The Du-VAL Alexander Collection is so beautiful, you will want to showcase it inside!

All Mckinnon and Harris furniture is powder coated with only the best finish.  For added durability, each piece is protected with a dry protective, epoxy primer.  This primer is the maximum protection against the elements and chipping or flaking.  The primer is followed by an architectural-grade topcoat for the most exceptional color retention and to provide additional protection against elements. 

Photography courtesy McKinnon and Harris

 The rich texture of the fabric along with the fabulous details make this Pavilion VI an instant classic.





The color palette is exceptional with twenty-one choices for frame finish.  Fabric colors range from canvas to jockey red and everything in between.

Photography courtesy McKinnon and Harris 

Not only is Ablemarle with round Adams big top a gorgeous combination for a dining table, it's available in 21 colors.  Ablemarle comes in one of the largest round table sizes I have seen for outdoor dining at 81 inches in diameter.  This outlandish size means you can seat 10 very comfortably!  This table is simply amazing!  It can be so hard to find a round table for exclusive outdoor use that is larger than 60 inches in diameter.

I rarely have issues editing myself when it comes to designers collections.  One or two immediately jump out at me and I say, "Yes...these are the collections I would like to share on my blog."  I could simply not edit myself with McKinnon and Harris.  I love, love, love every single collection they have created!

Photography courtesy McKinnon and Harris

There are certain pieces of furniture I must own and Philippe Starck's Ghost Chair is on the top of my list.  I dream about having a fabulous table with clear ghost chairs to place around it.  Well, now I have an addition to my list: The Camelback Sofa and Settee are to die for!


"Thank you!" to McKinnon and Harris for opening up a brand new showroom in New York City.  I know it will be a great success!

And the WINNER is...............?

Who doesn't like a good awards program?

All those shiny trophies being handed out - the speeches, and the tension of waiting to see who's name is going to be called!  I'm excited just thinking about it.  Imagine how the designers and manufactures must have felt at the Design Excellence Awards ceremony held in late September to honor the best in the outdoor living market for the year 2010.

Lets take a look at a few of the winning entries.

The winner of the Outdoor Rug category is...

 

The Peacock Ocean Aqua by  Sawgrass Mills Outdoor Rugs    

The award winner and her equally beautiful chocolate and eclair fraternal twin. Sawgrass Mills makes amazing outdoor rugs.  Given their abundant collection, I don't know how the judges narrowed it down to peacock but check out their website to see a full selection of colors and sizes.

The winner of the Lighting category is...

The Phatty Conversation Table light:  Shady Lady

Love it!
Look - it has a sibling that hangs! Fabulous choice !! Shady lady has a huge selection of lighting for outdoor use. This transitional piece is a beauty!

The winner of the Rattan/Wicker/Woven Materials category is...

The fabulous and always Chic Janis et Cie  with their "knockout" Gigi lounger.

A steel electro-polished frame supports the specially designed, resin saturated craft paper. Janis Feldman ( founder/owner of Janis et Cie ) and her incredibly talented design team have done it again! 









The winner of the Shade Features category is...

Tuuci with their Plantation Max. Tuuci does not make umbrellas - they define shade architecture.

Plantation Max is available in different shapes, sizes, profiles with single and double vent options

The fabric and base choices are endless. They can all be viewed on the Tuuci website









These are just a small selection of the amazing recipients of the Design Excellence Awards held in late September.

Lee Industries

Take a look at a collection that was launched this past summer - it looks like, "Flop down on me please - get comfy and stay awhile!" outdoor furniture. Sunday morning with coffee and the newspaper kinda cool.

In fact, it looks so much like indoor furniture, I had to do a double take.  Lee  Industries has been in business approximately forty years, focusing on the best and most environmentally sound way to create indoor furniture possible.

This summer, they launched the outdoor collection with chic slipper covers and sumptuous fabrics.  The collection looks so good you might be tempted to bring it indoors.

Oleander Outdoor Sofa

 w/ Canopy 

Standard w/Brushed Aluminum Feet
Standard with Canopy Poles and Brackets In Powder Coated Steel
Standard w/Top-Stitching
Standard cushion - Outdoor 

 Agave sofa and chairs

Standard w/ Brushed Aluminum feet Standard cushion-Outdoor 

Love this look, it also comes in a sectional!!

Can you believe this is outdoor furniture? 

Oleander Outdoor Sofa

Standard with Brushed Aluminum Feet
Standard with Top-stitching
Standard Cushion - Outdoor 

The canopy is removable - Take it off put it on either way this is such a rich look ...





Slip-covered dining chairs? Yes they do!!

Mimosa Outdoor Chair  

Outdoor Cushion
Standard with Casters
Standard with Topstitching

I am loving what Lee Industries has done with their new line of outdoor living furniture.  I'm excited to see what they do next!

Fall Dining Part Four - Finishing touches

I can't believe how fast this week has ZOOOOOOOOOOMED by!

We have spent most of this week talking about a fall dining experience - how you would and could achieve a rustic look though the addition of a fire place, furniture and dinnerware. 

Other important details include flowers, candles and accessorizing your table to define your style and what you want to say to your guests.

I prefer to put flowers that are taller on the credenza - that way my tablescape is not disturbed when we sit down to dine.  You have set the perfect table, it looks amazing until...

You have to move your floral arraignments to allow your guests to converse with out "goffering".  Now that you have moved the display, you have a hole in your theme making it look bare and unfinished.

Better to go low with your tablescape.


NOW HEAR THIS!!! 

I know... that you know... that I know... that you love...  those vanilla scented candles.

However...
Put them in the powder room.  Come on, take them out of the kitchen, away from any food, and put them in your bedroom or powder room.


Scented candles do not belong around a meal serving only to distract from what your guests truly should be enjoying - the fabulous aroma of your freshly prepared meal.

I also consider it a courtesy if your not terribly familiar with your dinner guests.  What if someone has allergies?

Alrighty Then.... Lets tablescape!


These gorgeous floral displays are created by one of the most innovative and sought after Florists in  in the San Diego area - Che Bella Fiori.

Sunflowers, Pumpkin Vine, Nandina, Forsythia and Cone flowers  mixed together to bring us a fabulous floral design. 

















Mambo Spray Roses, Green Hydrangea and Maple: So delicate and yet still rustic. 













Lighting is a hugely important element when planning a fall dinner.  By the time you sit down, it will be most likely, dark or getting dark.  I have found some really attractive options for outdoor illumination.
I thought all these lighting elements were interesting.  All are designated to go outdoors and, depending on the size of your dining table, you could choose to place several of these uniquely designed lighting elements under your pergola.  Be aware, however, you will need a contractor to install them.

Now we can look at some things you can add to the table.

Remember...

PUT DOWN THE SCENTED CANDLES!


All these items are available at PotteryBarn.  Just remember, when you finished placing whatever items you choose to use, stand back, look at the table and take half of it away.  The point of having a centerpiece is to enhance your dining experience, not be the dining experience.  You're outdoors, enjoying a moonlight night  and surrounding you is your beautiful garden.  Don't take away from the natural beauty of what's around you by going overboard with the accessories.

Here, the rocks might be a nice touch for writing fall words on or, perhaps, instead of place cards you could write the name of your guest on the rocks.  Printing a menu is also a fun touch - people always seem to enjoy receiving a menu to look at prior to the meal being served.

Everyone has their own taste and design sense and these are just a few things I pulled together to show what can be done.  Explore you own desire and your own taste.

The fun is in the exploration!

Have a great weekend,

Jane 

Fall Dining Part Three

In my last post, I mentioned how you can use the availability of different table types to create a rustic feel in your outdoor space.  Rustic and fall go hand and hand as far as I'm concerned. 

When your choosing your table settings, think about how the color or lack thereof will affect the palette you are choosing for you tablescape.  If you will be purchasing a stone top, mosaic or copper top table, my suggestion is to ensure you are purchasing your tabletop items to quietly float/sit on the table while still giving the tabletop star-billing.  You don't want these tablescape elements competing with the tabletop and this is why I am a big fan of white dinnerware and a even bigger fan of the stemless wine goblet or a wine goblet that has the smallest stem possible.


I am stark, raving mad (...is there any other kind?) for Simon Pearce !  I can't think of one piece of blown glass or hand crafted pottery from his work that is not absolutely beautiful.  From cookbooks to the smallest detail on the table - Simon Pearce has it all covered. 

                                                                                                

Dinnerware : Simon Pearce

• Cavendish ( Handmade )
  
• Barre        ( Handmade )

                                                                                                      Stemware : Simon Pearce

•   Barre  ( Hand Blown Glass )
  

Flatware : Simon Pearce 

• Pewter ( five piece place setting) 

Bowls : Simon Pearce 

• Slow growing cork oak bowls

Placemats : Simon Pearce

• Egyptian papyrus hand woven

Pottery Barn I love you too!  I have always liked Pottery Barn, but in the last few years I was nonplussed about most of their offerings.  This year they have the wow! factor going on big time. There is much information on their website for decorating and styling your home and getting it spruced up for the coming holiday season.

Table Runner : Pottery Barn

 

•  Hemp braided table runner

Dinnerware: Pottery Barn 

• Gabriella ( Hand-crafted in Portugal ) 

Flatware 

• Sheffield Heirloom Silver Plated Flatware

Stemware 

• Montana Goblets ( Hand-blown in Poland )

Monday,  we are going to finish the series with some floral designs and other interesting elements to consider when creating a fall dinning tablescape.

Fall Dining part 2

Yesterday, we looked at a couple of fantastic fireplace options.  Today, you will need seating and the vibe I want to achieve is rustic.  There is something about fall that always makes me think of stews and home made soups, good wine and bread.

To obtain a rustic look in your dining area there are several solutions:

Copper top tables are elegant but have a rustic touch. if you choose a copper top table you will want to place it in a space that is covered.

Simply polish with a good quality wax occasionally and it should last for many years.




OW Lee creates a hammered copper table top in a variety of sizes and shapes, The natural patina will change over time, adding to the character of the piece.

Picture provided by OW Lee

Bases and chairs are your choice - From decorative scroll work bases to something less complicated.

With any of these looks, you are going to be able to achieve a rustic look and feel.  Adding chairs is the same - Simply, choose something you like the look and feel of!  The chairs below are all from the same collections as the bases shown above.  However, if your comfortable in matching what's available, find something that you love!

From left to right Montrachet,Craftsman and Ashbury

All pictures courtesy OW Lee

Stone Top Tables

Handcrafted from select Italian marble and travertine, all tabletops from Ancient Mosaic Studios are made in the USA by skilled artisans.  Each table is unique, of heirloom quality, and backed by a 6-year warranty.  The company offers more than 45 designs in 30 standard sizes and offers you custom stone and color detailing. Using only the finest materials and a double coating of the company's own Stone Enhancing Sealer, Ancient Mosaic Studios produces tabletops of unsurpassed quality and simply stated, the best stone and marble tabletops in the marketplace.

Below are two very beautiful bases for the stone top, depending on the look you seek, They carry both faux-stone and aluminum bases. Supporting substantial weight is not an issue with either base.

With dining chairs your choices are truly endless.  You can choose from any company and any style.  Just make sure you allow enough room for the arm on the chair to fit under the table!


The next piece of the puzzle will be be floral and tablescapes.

Fall Dining

I respect the fact that not everyone lives in a climate that allows for year round outdoor dining.  It's still warm in many areas and accomplishing an outdoor evening meal is quite possible with a little extra effort - even with Jack Frost lurking around the corner.

With an outdoor fireplace, dining alfresco is not only possible but can be truly magical this time of year.  Imagine this:  A fat harvest moon beams it's radiant splendor of color from a gentle dusk sky; the cool, brisk evening air tickles the tip of your nose and the falling, jostling leaves of trees changing color almost before your eyes all set the stage for a special enchanted moment.  Sounds lovely to me!

If your going to dine outdoors and the air is getting a wee chilly, an outdoor fire place can be a excellent source of heat along with its innate charm and warm ambiance.  The natural contours and geometry of your outdoor space and the degree of commitment you are will to commit to maximizing this space will greatly influence they type of fire place you choose.

If you desire a fire place that will give off maximum heat with the added ability to cook then you will need to find a licensed contractor.  The best way to find the right person for the job is to ask friends or family.  Ideally, the person for whom you seek advice is the one who has recently had work done for them self.  Masonry work is a specialty and finding the right contractor/artisan will mean the difference between an feeling the pangs of remorse over an embarrassing eyesore or enjoying a beautiful hand-crafted centerpiece in your outdoor space of which to be proud for many years to come.

I love the openness of this fireplace!  It has a rustic feel with a twist of contemporary.

A very traditional looking fireplace.  The great thing about this style is that you can find many accessories for actually cooking.  Personally, If I were to build a fireplace into my outdoor room I would want a pizza oven!  Currently, I use a stone on my grill and it works really quite well but to have a pizza oven would be high on my lists of needed things.  Just being honest!!

One of my  favorite places for finding just the right kitchen essential is, NapaStyle .  Everytime I visit Michael Chiarello's fabulous website, I break into a cold sweat just checking out all the latest additions.  I could spend half a day at NapaStyle just browsing!



The hearthside, hanging rotisserie evenly roasts a whole chicken, leg of lamb or small turkey right in front of the fire creating a fun, dramatic focal point and filling your home with delicious fragrances.  The Italian-made kit includes an iron l-bracket that mounts to your wall with a sliding iron holder and hook that adjust for fire size and heat.  Tie and hang the meat, give it a few twists, and the natural tension of the string spins it rotisserie-style for perfect, even roasting. (No motors, electricity or batteries required!)

Photograph Courtesy Napastyle

To prepare a perfect roast with a savory, caramelized exterior and a succulent interior, you must keep the meat constantly moving.  Our Italian made double spit rotisserie turns meat automatically in your fireplace or outdoor fire.  Each spit holds up to 17 lbs. of meat (about 4 chickens.)  Use your basting pan to keep your hearth clean and not lose one drop of delicious juice.  This rotisserie is made of solid cast-iron and steel with bronze mechanisms and a durable electric motor.

Photograph courtesy Napastyle

I thought we could put a room together over the course of this week.  A space that shows just how amazing a outdoor room can be in the fall!  Each day we will add additional pieces for review. 

Brown Jordan Takes Flight

Last week, we have looked at two of the new collections by Brown Jordan. - Architect and Drift.  Both collections are stunning examples of thoughtful design, showing us what we can expect for the new year and the decade ahead.  Today, I want to look at another Brown Jordan collection, something that inspire a sense of lightness and tranquility.

When I think of cast aluminum furniture, it generally has a weight and decorative quality that takes me back in time. Regal and elegant, but not always the look of which a more contemporary outdoor space is in need.

Flight

Photograph Courtesy Brown Jordan 2010

In Flight, Brown Jordan has given us a new way to look at cast aluminum. Light and airy in style, sleek and captivating by design.

Photograph Courtesy Brown Jordan 2010

Photograph Courtesy Brown Jordan 2010

Flight is a large collection - currently with thirteen pieces. Storage will not be an issue as Flight can be stacked. Yes - cast aluminum that you can stack.  Brown Jordan suggests the stacking height of three chaise loungers and four for the dining chairs.








Brown Jordan also give you choices in that both the dining group and the chaise loungers are available with arms and without arms in this collection. 

The dining group has stacking side chairs and stacking dining chairs.

Photograph Courtesy Brown Jordan 2010

Photograph courtesy Brown Jordan 2010

 The dining tables come in three sizes.


    * Bistro 36" square
    * Dine   54" round
    * Dine 45"x99" rectangle

    

Choose between a glass top or a perforated cast aluminum top for your dining and side tables.

As always, with Brown Jordan you have choices for your finish and Versatex® sling and Suncloth® for seat pads

Photograph Courtesy Brown Jordan 2010

The Bar Chair has become a fixture in the outdoor room, much like the kitchen breakfast bar. People enjoy sitting at the bar because it's a great place to dine or to just enjoy cocktails with friends.

When building your outdoor bar, make sure you choose the height of your bar chairs prior to your contractor starting work.  I have seen some beautiful bars created that had to be completely redone because clients could not find bar chairs high enough to fit naturally under the bar overhang. 

Brown Jordan has exceeded my expectation for the coming season.  Please visit the Brown Jordan website to view all the collections we have reviewed. While there, look at the parasols and their outstanding choices for table tops.