Interior Design in New York City

In honor of Earth Day, we headed to the New York School of Interior Design to see sustainable-design expert David Oakley speak about his transition from questioning the sustainability movement nearly a decade ago to becoming a leader in sustainable design.

David is a tremendous inspiration for me – whether designing products or a business model, he encourages us to change their approach to the “design” process. This shift necessitates reconsideration of materials, products, and processes within the entire business realm. David, who is InterfaceFLOR’s exclusive product designer, not only draws inspiration from architecture and fashion trends, but also from nature.  In simple terms, how can we design the way that nature does – where “waste” = food?  Essentially eliminating “waste”. Meanwhile, as in Interface’s case, they’ve created beautiful and sustainable products with no harmful impact on the environment.

We think their products look really great too! Sustainable AND sexy.  Just the way we like it.

Today I was quoted on bobvila.com in an article on Open Floor Plans.

Another potential pitfall is the new acoustics that come with very open spaces. With fewer walls and sometimes higher ceilings, homeowners may experience issues like echoing or cross-room conversations that sound garbled and less crisp. “The easiest way to address this is with the right window treatments and floor coverings,” says Kati Curtis, ASID, LEED® AP, principal of Nirmada Interior Design in New York, N.Y. “Softer materials can absorb sound yet not detract from the open, airy feel of the space.”

For most of our NYC clients, the most important design feature and challenge we face is  storage.  Snaidero has finally come out with a solution which is both functional and fashionable, with the Kube collection.   In 2008, their Kube Collection won the historic Good Design Award from [More]

We know it’s not necessarily easy to be green, but thanks to Electrolux’s new limited edition kelly green washer and dryer, going green is now, well, really green…

You tried planting a garden for Earth Day, but all your green thumb produced was a whole lot of grass stains (and no budding foliage to show for it).
This year, clean up your act with Electrolux’s new Kelly (as in Ripa) Green washer and dryer.
The limited-edition shade, an upbeat green that packs a visual punch, hints at the machines’ abundant ecofriendliness: Electrolux washers use up to 83 percent less energy and 56 percent less water than your old-school model, with an optional ecofriendly cycle that slashes energy usage by 43 percent.
And don’t abandon that garden yet. For every virtual flower you plant at electroluxappliances.com, the company will donate $1 to Global Green USA to support green schools initiatives across America.

At the time of this posting, we don’t have any clients for whom the green color would work…yet…

A couple of days ago I was fortunate enough to score some tickets (they’re sold out for ages) to the Philip Johnson Glass House and compound in New Canaan, Connecticut.

I’ve studied Mr. Johnson’s work since those architectural history days at SCAD, but I was overcome with excitement to see his most intimate creations in person.

Welcome Center and one of PJ's later works

We picked the worst day weather-wise and it poured with rain all day long.

Johnson's Private Study - Glass House was too distracting for working

But I was grateful for the rain, as it created a wonderful backdrop for appreciating the interiors of the Glass House.

Approach to the House

Glass House Interior

I was most struck by the fact that the interiors included many pieces which I had just installed in an apartment on Central Park West. 60 Years later, mid-century style endures.

Dining Table and Chairs at the Glass House

Identical dining chairs in our clients' apartment - April '09

Same Knoll cocktail table, but in crystal clear Starphire glass - April'09

Knoll Side table - Glass House

Same side table April'09

Timeless design!

Our favorite quirky, tall, and all around colorful designer-guy, Karim Rashid, is now curating and exhibit on …radiators?? I admit, I can’t live without my two Kone vacuums, (one on each side of the apartment) but radiators? This could be the answer to my most perplexing NYC design dilemma…

"honey" by Caleido

So I headed over to the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) to check out their current exhibition – Totally Rad: Karim Rashid Does Radiators. Selected from over 300 designs, the exhibition features approximately 30 steam-heat designs in production today. All of the designers and manufacturers aim to re-examine this everyday object and offer a fresh design perspective. The radiators, while retaining their functionality as heaters, are beautifully crafted and intelligently designed, serving both visual and practical needs in the domestic interior.

It’s an amazing collection. From Gruppo Ragaini comes a radiator that holds and warms pillows. Once they’re toasty, you just take them out and throw them on the sofa.

Whenever I am in the UK I LOVE that everyone has radiators that can hold towels in the bathroom.

One of our favorites in this exhibit is shaped like a shower curtain.

We also liked the one made from green squares, like tiles — fill a wall with as many as you’d like and use them to create interesting patterns.

The exhibit runs through May 17 at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York.