31
Mai

Outdoor Movie Theater

Homekino der Spitzenklasse und atemberaubende Aussicht auf Los Angeles – das Haus des US-amerikanischen Architekten Hagy Belzberg, der während seines Studiums ein Praktikum bei Frank Gehry absolviert hat.

The house of architect Hagy Belzberg who interned in Frank Gehry‘s office – an awesome outdoor movie theater and breathtaking views of Los Angeles.

photo: noticias arquitectura

29
Mai

Tennis Sunday

weekend

Ein Foto auf meinem Weg zum Tennisplatz. Ich wünsche Euch einen schönen Sonntag voller Dinge, die Spaß machen…

Just one image on my way to the tennis court. Have a great Sunday wherever you are. I wish you all lots of fun…

Paul Newman, photo: The Life of Polarn Per discovered via Japanese Trash

25
Mai

Pets on Lifestyle Design

Lifestyle Design, quotes

“Dogs
…aren’t afraid to get their paws dirty
…listen deeply, even if they don’t understand
…know how to love
…scratch where it itches
…don’t compare themselves to others.”

from “Dogs Don’t Bite When a Growl Will Do. What Your Dog Can Teach You About Living a Happy Life“

desire to inspire

24
Mai

Smile

Inspiration, Lifestyle Design

The Life of Polarn Per via Japanese Trash

deviant art

23
Mai

Living Rooms I Love

Living room

Eine schöne neue Woche allerseits! Hier sind einige Fotos von Wohnzimmern, die mir besonders gut gefallen….Übrigens habe ich gestern das neue E-Book von Leo Babauta “The Simple Guide to a Minimalist Life” zu Ende gelesen. Es hat mich inspiriert…

A beautiful day out here and a brand new week… Hope you enjoy the living room images. btw I finished reading the new ebook by Leo Babauta “The Simple Guide to a Minimalist Life”. This book inspires… Happy Monday!

Carver + Schicketanz

via french by design

Hughes Umbanhowar Architects via home dsgn

22
Mai

All the moments in between

Inspiration, quotes

“There was a period in my life when I did not have a clue about who or what I wanted to be. I was completely disconnected from whatever talents I might have had. I was fortune enough to meet Bob Patino, an interior designer who become a mentor to me. Very quickly, I found a direction and a career.

I immersed myself in work, and the years flew by. I was continually looking for the next job, the next challenge. The one constant in my schedule was an annual trip. Every December I visited some exotic destination. This was adventure travel, and it usually did not involve luxury hotels or pampering. The point was to get closer to another culture.

One year I was in the Himalayas, hiking through a rhododendron forest…The views were incredible, but the mountain path was more suited to goats than to people…I was looking at the steep incline coming up and thinking about how I hate going uphill. When was it going to be lunchtime?…

All of a sudden a light bulb went off in my head. The clouds just parted, the sun came out, and I can feel the warmth on my skin. Why don’t I enjoy it, instead of worrying about what’s up ahead?

The future will always be just out of reach. You’ll get there eventually…But in the meantime, don’t miss the here and now. Live in the moment. That’s what’s important. What I am doing today? How can I use my energies?

I don’t pretend to have absorbed this message completely, but I’m trying. There is always a before and an after; but the point is to be present and aware for all the moments in between.”

Vicente Wolf, “Lifting the Curtain on Design“

Pangong Tso Lake in the Himalayas via my pinterest

18
Mai

Interview with Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz

Designer, Interviews

“When you open the door and see a room for the first time, your breath should be taken away. You should not be able to identify particular pieces of furniture or art, the room should be art in itself. And a strong sight should say it all.”

Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, “Emotional Rooms“

photo: Sara Krulwich for The New York Times

Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, principal designer at BNO Design, is one of my favorite designers. He is the extraordinary mind behind various Mondrian hotels and also has produced projects for Lenny Kravitz, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Mark Seliger, among others. Named by House Beautiful as one of America’s Most Brilliant Decorators for 10 consecutive years, Benjamin is recognized as one today’s most stylish and influential interior designers. I like his color-rich interiors and his book “Emotional Rooms”. I remember looking through it even some hours before my bar exam…

Tracie Martyn Salon in New York, photo: Antoine Bootz

How would you describe your own style?

My own personal style is comfortable yet theatrical. I don’t like interiors that are just nice, they have to have something else which makes them unique. I love to introduce whimsical elements that make you smile however, my rooms must be calm and serene.

When did you first realize that you wanted to be an interior designer?

As far as I remember I wanted to become an architect. It was not until I finished my second Master in Architecture and started working as an architect that I realized that interior design would suit me better.

Looking back at your first project what decorating knowledge do you wish you had back then designing the interiors?

I didn’t professionally designed interiors until I was an architect so the main tool that I had to learn was furniture history and fabrics! They don’t teach that in architecture.

Please talk us through your design process – how do you complete a project from start to finish?

I can actually quote you from my book, Emotional Rooms: “The four elements of design for interiors are architecture, color, furniture selection and lighting. Architecture is the space itself. Color brings emotions to the space and is of primary importance. Then you select the objects…. Finally, lighting- this is when everything gets revealed. The right choice will either highlight or obscure an object.”

Apartment in Paris, photo: Antoine Bootz

Some designers believe that the first piece for any room is the rug or a painting that sets up the colors palette. What is your first source of inspiration?

The first piece of the puzzle that I select is the color, which comes to me naturally by being in the room or studying what I want it to become. The color can come from a feeling that you are trying to convey, from the view or from the inhabitant (their favorite color usually is the color that makes them look better).

What do you do if you want the room to feel calm and serene?

I use one color almost exclusively, that’s the key in my case. Using one color in abundance makes you feel the colors rather than the objects. I try to then combine visually active pieces like chairs with visually quite pieces such as full upholstered sofa.

Why would you prefer a neutral color scheme in a room?

I don’t’ prefer a neutral color. I make any color feel neutral by using it in abundance. An entire red room can feel neutral because you cannot compare it to any other color in the room.

“Furniture placement is an art in itself”(Emotional Rooms). How do you achieve that the furniture looks as art?

I look at furniture for their shape and form and not for their function. If you do that, it will make it easier to mix different styles. For example, soft rounded pieces go together very well and give the room a sensual air. Hard edge pieces feel dangerous therefore making you feel agitated. Its just like a sculpture or a painting.

Jaharis / Ledes Residence in New York, photo: Antoine Bootz

What’s your one best piece of advice on lighting?

Diversify. Try to combine at least three or four types of lighting in each room (natural, task, ambient, whimsical) and never shy away from using two or three lamps on one table, they do different things so there is no reason to just have one!

How do you achieve a good scale? Scale is a really interesting and difficult topic.

Scale is something that you really have to feel and experience really tells you a lot. Always imagine a room as it was a painting. Nowadays you can take a quick iPhone photo which will reveal a lot. By taking photos you will train your eye to see scale and perceive what is too large or too small.

What do you love to do when you are not designing?

I love watching old movies when at home and I love to travel. Traveling is a requirement to all designers, you must travel.

What are your favorite books?

I really have not favorites but the ones that fit on my coffee table and bookshelves. I do love my Kindle and iPad.

Mondrian Soho Hotel in New York

What does success mean to you?

Doing what you like doing.

Who will be the Andrew Martin International Designer of 2011?

The one who deserves it.

My signature Design Elements question – what are the most important design elements?

Your eyes…

16
Mai

A Cosy Home in London

House Tour

Dieses Haus voller Licht befindet sich in London. Die Außenwand wurde durch eine Glasfassade ersetzt. Einen schönen Wochenstart!

This house in West London is flooded with light. The owners have removed the back wall of the ground and first floor and replaced it with window. I hope your week gets off to a fabulous start!

photos: Livingetc via House to Home

15
Mai

House in Ubatuba, Brazil

Architecture, Houses

Dieses Haus ist in einen Hang gebaut und wird von 3 Betonpfeilern gestützt. Es befindet sich in Ubatuba (Staat São Paulo) an der brasilianischen Südost-Küste. Design: spbr. Einen schönen Sonntag!

This house with magnificent view is located in Ubatuba, a coastal city in the state of São Paulo. The house is supported on three columns, made in reinforced concrete. Design: spbr. Happy Sunday!

source: design milk, photos: Nelson Kon

10
Mai

Peter Schmidt’s House in Ibiza

Architecture, Designer, House Tour, Houses

Peter Schmidt ist einer der bedeutendsten deutschen Designer. Er entwarf mehr als 100 Parfüm-Flakons, Verpackungen und Logos (u.a. Davidoff, Jil Sander, Boss, Lufthansa, Hamburgs neues Stadtwappen). „Die Funktion dient dem Design: Der Sinn der Dinge tritt in den Vordergrund. Ein neuer Weg. Zurückkehren. Den Wert des Wesentlichen neu entdecken.” ist das Motto von Peter Schmidt. Es ist in der Inneneinrichtung seines Hauses auf Ibiza wiederzuerkennen…

Peter Schmidt is one of the most influential German industrial and packaging designers. His perfume jars (Davidoff, Jil Sander, Boss) have turned into classics exhibited at the MoMA in New York. On the photos below is Peter Schmidt’s minimalist home in Ibiza.