24
Jun

A Dose of Inspiration

Houses, Inspiration, Pools

2 comments

my favorite tumblr Cabbage Rose

where my house

all things stylish

20
Jun

Interview with Joyce Wang

Designer, Interviews

8 comments

“Design was and still remains to be the most powerful thing I know.”

Joyce Wang

I can barely contain my enthusiasm for the work of Hong Kong born interior designer Joyce Wang – an amazing talent and one of my favorite young designers. Joyce is the winner of INTERIOR DESIGN “Best Of Year” Award, 2011 and Design Within Reach “M+D+F” 2010. The famous AMMO restaurant in Hong Kong designed by her – photos below – was named as one of the 5 best designed restaurants in Hong Kong. Having landed in the interior design scene only three years ago, Joyce Wang has already set the tone of what has yet to come in the next few years. “For years the design scene in Hong Kong has been dominated by men such as Andre Fu and Steve Leung. Joyce Wang is on a mission to change that.” Go Joyce!

How would you describe your style?

I stay away from a particular style. My practice is still extremely young and cannot lay claim to a signature style. More so, I love
learning from new briefs and finding inspiration from new clients; you might say this approach keeps us rejuvenated and on edge.

What inspired you to get into design?

It began at a very young age. When I was five, I realized my most vivid memories were of places and the feeling I felt when I was in them. I wanted to be part of the process of crafting spaces and curating those memories for others. Design was and still remains to be the most powerful thing I know.

How did you get your first assignment?

My first client was an entrepreneur who made his success when he was 26. He wanted to pass this torch of opportunity when he took a chance on us to re-design one of his luxury hotel properties – The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles.

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

That if you can draw it and articulate it, your design can most definitely be fabricated and built. This knowledge either breeds ego or humility into a designer.

Is there a designer that has influenced you?

Designer Ken Adam who was the mastermind behind the film sets for Goldfinger and Dr. Strangelove.

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 context and crafting meaning out of it. It can be the context within which the client has commissioned work from me, or the context which the space is located within.

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

My own body has always been a reference point for crafting proportions and deciding on dimensions. Design should begin from a human scale and my body is conveniently available.

What do you enjoy most in your work?

Empowering people to execute challenging ideas. For example for a recent restaurant design named AMMO, I had communicated the design of 3 custom staircase chandeliers to be crafted entirely out of plumbing pipes and plumbing parts. Initially, the fabricator looked at me with a black stare. After going through some trial and error collaboratively, he was not only able to build it but looked at me with a smile and said “Send more of your exciting designs my way.” Itʼs a trust and bond I value deeply.

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

Swimming, daydreaming, eating chocolate.

Who are your favorite artists?

Lucien Freud, Dan Flavin, Fabienne Verdier.

Your favorite books?

Roland Barthes’ “Mythologies”; David Mitchell’s “Cloud Atlas” and Roald Dahl’s short stories.

Your favorite places in Hong Kong?

The beaches.

What does success mean to you?

Keeping a tight family together and being able to do what you love.

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

Privacy. To me, a sense of privacy is the ultimate luxury.

photos: Edmon Leong

18
Jun

Monday Dreaming

Dream View, Monday dreaming, Travels

6 comments

Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel mit traumhaftem Blick auf die Amalfiküste, Italien. Einen guten Wochenstart!

Dream view from Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel, Amalfi Coast, Italy. Happy Monday!

where is the cool

14
Jun

Interview with Daniel Marshall

Architecture, Designer, Interviews

12 comments

“Success is feeling that you have a mastery in the craft you have chosen.”

Daniel Marshall

Loving the work of Auckland-based award-winning architect Daniel Marshall. His houses look like a landscape element, like a piece of sculpture and the way he maximizes the views beyond the structures is fabulous. Daniel spent a lot of time in Asia, loves painting, playing the guitar and snowboarding the beautiful mountains in New Zealand. The interview below was made while Daniel Marshall was heading over to Waiheke Island for a new project…

What was the moment when you knew you would be an architect?

I think from a very early age I was intrigued: really just a stationary fetish and many hours with lego as a child. However I really knew when I was in an IM Pei building when I was an architecture student – it was then that I clearly realised that spatial constructs and materiality had a direct resonance with the human soul: it is an art.

Is there something that connects all your projects?

We call it sculptural resolve – the commonality of our projects across quite different contexts and requirements are that the resolution is sculptural in nature – this is probably a result of my design process running between drawing, physical modeling and computer modeling throughout the entire project and across a range of scales. I place a great deal of emphasis on the context and we explore the landform, history and wider context a great deal.

Looking back at your first project what design knowledge do you wish you had back then?

I think that regret can not be part of the creative process – we have to be constantly projected into the future. So the things I learn on each project enable the growth of the creative process.

What do you enjoy most in your work?

Most of it – I think architects are generalists and as such you encounter a large range of conditions – from introspective analysis to highly collaborative action. I think the diversity is what keeps me stimulated and interested in the process.

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

Diverse – I love painting and playing the guitar as both are creative in a direct way while architecture is an abstract from the finished result. I love drinking and catching up with friends, and I love snowboarding the many beautiful mountains in New Zealand.

Your favorite books?

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

Your favorite places in New Zealand?

New Zealand is so diverse geographically – just from Downtown Auckland where I live, you can travel in 30mins by car in one direction and you are on the wild west coast with crazy black sand and ferocious waves crashing in from the Tasman Sea. 30 minutes by ferry in the other direction and you are on Waiheke Island which is a tranquil and beautiful island littered with vineyards, quiet private beaches and wonderful places to eat.

What does success mean to you?

Success I think is feeling that you have a mastery in the craft you have chosen.

What’s your advice to upcoming architects?

Listen to your intuition.

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

One of my lecturers said that the Sydney Opera House wasn’t about the arching iconic forms, rather it was about the platforms. That statement has was a revelation to me. I think the interaction of various floor levels, and how they interact with the surrounding context is the most important design element.

photos: Daniel Marshall Architects

13
Jun

Wednesday Mix

7 comments

design: Michael Haverland, photo: AD France via viva full house

paradiso

12
Jun

Burnette Residence in Arizona

Architecture, Houses

8 comments

Traumhaus gefunden… Design:: Wendell Burnette Architects

Dream house found… Design: Wendell Burnette Architects

photos: Wendell Burnette Architects via where is the cool

11
Jun

Sydney Harbour Penthouse

Dream View, House Tour

9 comments

Sydney Harbour Penthouse mit Blick auf das Opernhaus. Interior Design: Sarah Davison

Sydney Harbour Penthouse with a great view of the opera house. Interior Design: Sarah Davison

photos: Prue Ruscoe

7
Jun

Interview with Charles de Lisle

Designer, Interviews

7 comments

Charles de Lisle is a San Francisco-based interior designer whose work I’ve been drawn to from the first moment I saw it on Desire to Inspire 2 years ago. Charles’ experience spans the last 25 years working within the art of ceramics, metalwork, custom furniture, product design and interiors. His projects – so full of character – has been published in many magazines globally, including Architectural Digest Germany, The Wall Street Journal, Metropolitan Home, Interior Design, The New York Times Magazine, Dwell, Sunset, California Home + Design, Traditional Home. I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did!

How would you describe your style?

Traditional, with a fresh perspective I think.

What inspired you to get into design?

I think it found me, I was building furniture, welding and doing ceramics when I started a job with an event-planner in San Francisco. Years prior I had torn out a House & Garden page, and one day found myself in the very room that was photographed. I was introduced to the owner and she proceeded to tell me all abut her years working with Michael Taylor, one of California’s most important interior designers… and decided that I loved the idea of making amazing experiences and telling stories through architecture, just like that room did.

How did you get your first assignment?

A friend asked me to help design and build & design a small shoe store, the budget was $600.

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

None. I miss having the opportunity to be naïve, just dreaming up crazy ideas and be fearless in hoping clients would consider them.

Is there a designer that has influenced you?

Francis Elkins, she brought moderne interiors and the magic of the artisinal, fully created interior to California in a fresh and interesting way.

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?

Could be a table, or a vase, a photograph… I just designed a house where the color palette came form the bark on the redwood trees outside the front door. That being said, its easier to match the carpet to the trees at the start, then to try and find a rug to work out in the end., but that’s experience and lessons learned through trial & error, and why you hire a decorator in the first place.

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

I need to work out scale in my head seeing the items in person… I’m not to good at realizing a floor plan on paper. The internet has made this difficult. All those items on white backgrounds look to be exactly the same size ~ I don’t trust them. You need to see, then assemble in person to get it on the right track.

What do you enjoy most in your work?

When mistakes turn into something new.