I love books.

Love love love. Adore. Cherish. Worship. Covet & Lust after.

I also have a VERY strong aesthetic attraction to spiral staircases. [Aside: I once scared off a fellow theatre patron by waxing lyrical about the set design for Bell Shakespeare's Hamlet, and my "thing" for spiral staircases].

So to me, this image…

{ Casa Aquino by Augusto Fernandez Mas, on Freshome, via FFFFOUND! }

…is almost perfect.

Almost.

Why?

I just can’t abide the Eames Lounge Chair (670) and Ottoman(671). Look at it. ‘Tis a boring blot on an otherwise heavenly room.

This aversion, I think, is borne of 5 years working for an architecture & interior design magazine — where I chance upon an image of ‘The Eames’ at least three times a day, usually as prop-furniture in project promo photo shoots — in addition to a lifelong general disaffection for Stuff What Everyone’s Already Got.

Some people (okay, LOTS of people) adore 670 & 671. And I’mma let them finish… but I’m sorry, I think it ruins everything. See, That Chair can even turn this really sweet and interesting poster (full of good intent and fine advice):

{ Graphic-ExchanGE via FFFFOUND! }

…into “Oh. Another pretentious design poster”:

{ image credit: ditto }

Even the ineffable cuteness of Polaroid can’t save this from the Eames Lounge Instant Cliché Effect (patent pending).

It’s just so thoroughly and undeniably… beige (in the figurative sense… unless you buy this one, in which case it is also literally beige, and therefore the definitive definition OF beige).

But to prove that I’ve no deep-seated [oh. Oh that was BAD. Sorry] prejudice against Eames’ designs in general, I’d like to introduce a beautiful new acquaintance I made just this past weekend:

{ via eamesoffice.com. Take special note of the jaunty umbrella and hat. Very handsome; pure class. More chair-lust here. }

Everyone, I’d like you to meet the Eames Time-Life Executive Chair. Designed in 1960 for the Time-Life building in New York. The pair I had the pleasure of meeting — in a severely cool retro-antiques furniture store the quiet country streets of Milton, South Coast NSW — were upholstered in aqua-blue wool tweed, with the smoothest, buttery, faun-coloured suede back and armrests… I fawned over them. I thought they were truly lovely.

This fleeting encounter was an informative one. All this time I thought I was anti-Eames, yet all it took was 5 minutes with two darling retro chairs to prove that this dislike only applies to SOME Eames (Eameses? Eames’es?).

This is a happy discovery, for absolutist prejudice is never a pleasant thing.

Disclaimer: This does not change my feelings re: 670 & 671.

photo from 1959 Chairs for Home, Office and Public Areas. Want to read more? Check this great site, Eames Office.

It’s been a rough year, but good. As a little gift to myself, I recently bought a little piece of mid-century furniture. He should be arriving any day I can’t wait to meet him! I will post photos when I do. Until then, enjoy this lovely cover of a brochure depicting the different style of chairs for your office or home! I just wanted to leave ya’ll with a beautiful design from the time period!

I came across this gorgeous film while reading the fantastic swissmiss blog. I love everything about this little slice of photographic wonder, especially the first minute or so and the rather inspired narration at the end.

Polaroid SX-70 Promotional Film from Ekim on Vimeo.

If Santa really existed, he would bring me……..
The Audrey Bag, Coach $798

Reebok Easy Tones $99, Dicks Sporting Goods

Daisy, By Marc Jacobs Perfume $70-80, Sephora

“Hue” By Kelly Wearstler, Barnes and Noble

A little White Malti-poo, oh and the ability to not be allergic to it would be great.

I’d even take:

But these would be great too, Santa Baby

Eames Molded Plastic Rocker

or

-A cute new apron
-A mixer/food processor
-Anything with elephants on it
-Glittery ANYTHING.

There you have it. A Holiday wishlist, Create H style.

What’s on YOUR list? Let me know in the comments:)

Wandering around Google maps today (during a testing session), we passed by the Arboretum and the Volière at the Lake of Zurich. It was a sunny day again, which seems to be the case quite often these days in google maps, and a lot of sunbathers where scattered around the small lakeside park inbetween boats, birds and bankers.

View Larger Map

This made us remember the all time classroom classic “powers of ten”. Google maps is not quite there yet and only covers a small part of the zoom displayed in the video below. If they hold true to their name though, then we might see them extending their range soon, to cover more than the ten to the sixth currently on display.

Along with the movie the Eames created a very wide range of other fantastic products. And while the more abstract, philosophical aspects of their work might not have reached a lot of board rooms (“Eventually, everything connects.” – Charles Eames), their furniture certainly has. More Information about the Eames’ work, can be found here: www.powersof10.com

A lot has changed since the making of the movie in 1977, which the Eames (funny enough) produced for IBM.

What will happen within the coming 32 years?
Think about that, next time you press that zoom button!

This retrospective of the work of the Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen is open until 31 January 2010. The Museum of the City of New York, Fifth Avenue at 103 Street.

A beautiful sense of involvement in so many ways... (permission to reproduce via Creative Commons requested)

After seeing this wonderful exhibit twice,  it suddenly struck me that Saarinen needed to simultaneously be a visionary architect and a uniquely fantastic salesperson

Many of the projects whether built, partially built, or the few that remained unbuilt, all required Saarinen to be able to convey his expressive vision for the unseen structure to the potential client. Making sure that person or organization would be comfortable in the role of being lauded themselves as “visionary” for having had the foresight to choose Eero Saarinen to design and build on their behalf. I’m not being in any way less reverent: I’ve sought out and visited many of Eero Saarinen’s projects and can safely say I was always completely amazed beyond expectations when seeing them in person. Each new site visit allowed me to understand and learn more about the specific work. But still “Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future” gave me in each gallery and at each turn, rich new context on how some of the projects were sold in and ultimately built.

Since it is not practical to visit many of these structures today, and negotiating security or insurance requirements can be daunting, curator Donald Albrecht has assembled a fantastic journey through the career of Saarinen in both museum exhibition and book form for us to take. While many of Saarinen’s built works have been lovingly restored by their owners, and others maintained in perfect condition continuously by their institutional owners because they were in constant usage, Mr. Albrecht has brought a large amount of research into the exhibit that helps to replicate what it might be like to visit some of the more inaccessible projects. He has also added quite a bit of context for the visitor on Saarinen’s family life which shows the importance and balance of this to his architectural career.

On simple lined, yellow notepad, the distinctive shape for Deere & Co headquarters emerged (photo by author of work displayed in exhibition)

With the totally white models, sometimes cut-aways, of various projects, Albrecht and the exhibition designers have given Saarinen’s combination of innovation and practicality a straightforward form: ideas for the future, here for you to use today. Go ahead, just drop into the environment and take off. One of Saarinen’s insights that has seen the greatest revival and usage in the last decade of air terminal design by SOM, Gensler, HOK and others is his sense of visual orientation. In transportation projects, Saarinen always keeps the passenger aware of just where they are in the process and which way to go. At Dulles, the giant maquette in the exhibition shows clearly this vernacular: as passengers are dropped curbside, they are actually able to see the tails and occasionally the winglets of their aircraft beyond the glass curtainwalls of the check-in portion of the terminal. This simple idea helps to keep passengers oriented and moving in the logical direction of the security clearances and ultimately the departure gates. The exhibit clearly defines, shows, and celebrates both the TWA and Dulles projects as having established this concept.

Overall, the exhibition is a rich tribute…

This massive maquette of Dulles International Airport also has detailing for some of the most future-facing ideas that may not have been practical at the time of construction... like the mobile lounges which unfortunately could not be manufactured as envisioned. (photo by author of exhibition installation)

… to a number of forces in Eero Saarinen’s career: his father Eliel, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Florence Knoll, Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, and Dan Kiley. Albrecht also points up father Eliel’s shrewd decision to introduce Eero into the Eastern establishment of architectural circles and patrons by having him attend Yale University’s School of Architecture. He developed a style of architecture that acknowledged the contributions of others, while rapidly establishing his vernacular of movement, dynamism and organic fluid rationalism. Post-war America was looking for this to embrace. His firm also utilized an enormous variety of materials, sometimes in novel ways and occasionally by determining new engineering properties for them with many “firsts”, eg reflective curtainwall glass for cooling at Bell Labs in Holmdel, NJ, and patented gasket and panel systems co-developed with manufacturers to achieve the correct aesthetics while meeting dictated cost constraints. The exhibition has an excellent freestanding example of just such a collaboration in the corner of the first gallery that refers (I believe) to part of the IBM Thomas Watson Research Center in Tarrytown, New York.

Saarinen also moved with social ease among captains of industry, boards of corporations, and transportation authorities. The exhibit clearly details his adeptness at expressing his understanding of the needs and desires of so many of his clients: IBM, Deere & Co, CBS, Yale, MIT, TWA, Concordia College, Bell Labs, and many others.

I would urge anyone interested in Saarinen’s work to attend and expand their horizons further via “Shaping the Future.” With the recent sale of the United States Chancellery in London to development partners who are talking “luxury hotel” perhaps now is that time you need to visit London, toss your duplicate travel documents into the Thames and head directly to the Chancellery to ask for assistance. They remain open to serve US citizens for another year or more, but don’t delay. Likewise, “Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future” is at The Museum of The City of New York through 31 January 2010, so don’t miss the opportunity to visit this well-researched and timely retrospective.

Well-installed galleries cover major projects and supply interesting and unusual details supported with a wealth of photographic, drafting, and correspondence documentation. (photo by author of exhibition installation)

This cute toys by Herman Miller I found on mocoloco somehow forced me to start this design-lab finally. They are designed by KleinReid and inspired by Charles Eames, under philosophy “inspire work through play”.

www.mocoloco.com

With the holiday season upon us, Tiny G wanted to share a few of his favorite things for the stylish mister about town. Clockwise from top left:

Eames Plastic Elephant, $290. Eames has reissued this classic design (originally issued in plywood) in plastic, making it extra durable. Plus, it can go outside. This is the one item on the list Tiny G does not have, and he may have to settle for a lump of coal instead. We’ll see.

Tea Collection “Nippon Pullover,” $65. Tiny G’s latest fave, this 100% Pima cotton pullover is perfect for L.A. weather and totally machine washable.

Chomp & Clack Alligator Push Toy, $50. Somebody crawls at the speed of light, but at 16 1/2 months has yet to walk. He’s taking his sweet time about those first hands-free steps. In the meantime, he is crazy about walking around the house with the help of a developmental wooden push toy from Melissa & Doug. Fantastic for toddlers 11 months and up. It’s incredibly well made, sturdy and a huge hit with the little ones. Tiny G’s younger lady friend, Hazel, is also a fan.

Crocodile Creek 7-inch Dinosaurs Playball, $9. We got this awesome rubber ball on Larchmont Blvd when Tiny G was about 11 months old, and it has been the toy in heaviest demand and rotation ever since. Tiny G might not be walking yet, but his hand-eye coordination with a ball is pretty tough stuff!

Cozy Fleece Hat, $12. This fleece hat just went on sale over at Hanna Andersson and is the BOMB. Super soft and all important—machine washable.

Bear Snores On, $8. This classic board book was a present from a family friend, and is Tiny G’s absolute fave. Last night I tried to read him another book, which he took and threw and then reached for Bear Snores On. Nope, don’t think bratty behavior is all that cute, but I see where he’s coming from. The rhythm of the text is great. Love this book and don’t mind reading it every damn night.

Sigg Kids Water Bottle, $18. I learned the hard way that you have to try several different types of sippy cups before you land on one your kid likes. The Sigg is Tiny G’s preferred bottle, and that’s a good thing because it’s non-toxic, durable should someone throw it out of a stroller onto a cement sidewalk, and a green choice you can feel great about.

Hanna Andersson Sleeper, $38.  The best pjs on the planet and although the price tag is steep, worth every cent. (Not to mention, you can snap them up on sale every few months as new patterns/colors are introduced.) Thanks to his grandmother, who sends a pair or two of these organic cotton pjs every few months, Tiny G is kitted out with a variety of colors. His mom and dad may or may not have coordinating long johns, too.

Charles e Ray eram americanos e se casaram em 1941, tendo contribuído muito para o design industrial, de móveis e arquitetura, além da indústria de fotografia e cinema.

Foram inovadores no uso de materiais como o plástico, resinas, fibra de vidro, arames e compensados moldados, e trabalharam com outros tantos desigers famosos como Saarinen, Herman Miller e Harry Bertoia.

A “La Chaise” foi criada em 1948 e faz uma brincadeira com o nome do escultor Gaston Lachaise e a própria chaise (cadeira). A combinação de materiais e o movimento de suas linhas realmente fazem dela uma escultura.

La Chaise - plástico reforçado com fibra de vidro, aço e madeira

E a poltrona e divã Eames foi o primeiro de luxo produzido pelo casal, feito originalmente de lâminas de jacarandá, metal e couro.

Perfeita para ler um livro no fim da tarde.

Tem as cadeiras de plástico, com algumas variações, mas os pés ainda são de outros materiais, madeira ou aço.

Quem tem uma avó com uma cadeira de balanço dessas?

Os pés desta cadeira a batizaram de Eiffel. Sim, referência à torre do mesmo nome.

Repare na combinação dos pés de madeira com metal

Também muito conhecida, a cadeira de compensado moldado, exemplo interessante de como eles começavam pela função e acabavam numa forma muito interessante.

Esta cadeira foi feita em parceria com Herman Miller

I was first introduced (not in person) to Boy 8-Bit a couple of months ago on Annie Mac’s Mashup. his remix of Drumming – Florence and the Machine was playing, and in all honesty it didn’t jump right out at me straight away. But I decided to buy it anyway. I popped up a couple of times when my ipod was on shuffle and it grew on me quickly.

Drumming (Boy 8-Bit Remix) – Florence and the Machine

However, the next song by him topped it. His Mars – Fake Blood remix is definitely a better song. I was surprised because there are so many Mars remixes out there, I think I preferred this one to his drumming remix because I love the original drumming, it was very difficult to top, and it didn’t quite make. What I really liked about his mars remix was that he focused the whole song around the awesome sounding chordy bit before the main catch. Then he made that bit his own.

Mars (Boy 8-Bit Remix) – Fake Blood

Then his remixes hit the big time. Even though this next song was one of his earlier remixes (2007), it is the most recent one I have heard. This one sticks to his name the most out of all of the ones on show today, being the most 8 bit, a very enjoyable song indeed.

Innaday (Boy8-Bit Remix) – Eames

The next song is his best remix to date (in my opinion), therefore receives the ‘coveted’ γ song award. Again I heard this on Annie Mac’s Mashup, great radio show, and bought it as soon as it was released, earlier this month. It is of course his remix of Quicksand – La Roux. I love the use of odd instrumentation, such as the steel drums, and the slow attack synths. I liked the original, but I love this.

Quicksand (Boy 8-Bit Remix) – La Roux γ song

And just to finish the post with some originality, here is one of his own songs from my collection.

The Suspense Is Killing Me – Boy 8-Bit

Excelente vídeo-documental sobre la sílla aluminium de vitra diseñada por los Eames, dirigido por su nieto y visto en edgargonzalez

Jeg har samlet sammen en rekke flotte spisestuer til inspirasjon. Fellesnevneren er fargerike innslag og moderne møbler. Gjerne i kombinasjon med noe gammelt og/eller personlig. Bra stil med andre ord

I disse spisestuene finner man alt fra Arne Jacobsens syvern, Eames DSR side chair til Ghost fra Kartell.

Stolen DSR side chair fra Eames har blitt et ikon i “design stol verden”. Stolene kommer i en rekke farger som er sammensatt for å komplettere hverandre. Det betyr at du like godt kan velge en stol i hver farge og bevare harmonien.

Ekteparret og arbeidskollegene Charles og Ray Eames var med på revlusjonere møbeldsign, gjennom sine perfekt balanserte og funksjonelle møbler. Stolen produseres av Vitra.

Foto: Vitra.

Innovative furniture maker Herman Miller, producer of several midcentury icons, is the subject of an exhibit opening Friday at the Goldstein Museum of Design.

The University of Minnesota gallery is the first stop on a national tour for “Good Design: Stories From Herman Miller,” which details how the company uses innovation and collaboration in its design process.

On display: original objects such as the Eames molded plywood and Aeron chairs and Marshmallow Sofa. John R. Berry is an exhibit curator; his book, “Herman Miller: The Purpose of Design,” (Rizzoli Publishing, 2004) served as a basis for the show and is being reissued to coincide with the tour.

The 6-8 p.m. opening reception is on the second-floor gallery of McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Av., St. Paul; the exhibit runs through Jan. 17. A related panel discussion is planned 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at McNeal Hall.

Berry will join designer Jeff Weber, of Studio Weber + Associates, and Jeff Scherer, of Myer Scherer and Rockcastle Ltd., in a discussion of “Good Design Stories,” the theory and practice of designing “to address the social problems of today’s consumers.”

Due out this spring: a documentary on Herbert Matter, legendary graphic designer, photographer, teacher and artist of the 20th-century.

Check out this clip—his logo for the New Haven Railroad went through literally hundreds of sketches before arriving at the final design.

Amazing stuff. Much respect. Truly influential. Can’t wait to see it.

If you’ve got 10 minutes, I promise you these commercials will show Herman Miller in whole new light…

… a comical, and crazy sexists new light that is.

J’adore tellement les chaises ayant un design particulier que j’ai décidé, il y a quelques années, de commencer une collection de chaises. J’ai souvent un seul exemplaire de la dite chaise mais parfois je me laisse tenter par un duo ou un quatuor. Je vais même jusqu’à acheter des modèles similaires mais de différentes couleurs. Il m’arrive aussi d’en recevoir en cadeau pour mon anniversaire ou à Noël, et croyez-moi, j’en suis fort ravie!

There was not a whole lot to choose from this week, and a couple of them
are out of town but sometimes if you are up for a road trip or you can meet
someone in the middle it’s worth it.

1. Mid-Century modern end table $50 (Wheeling, WV)
This seller is willing to meet in Washington, PA, it’s a great side table!
2. 1960’s Retro Chairs $15 each

3. Mid Century Buffet $250 (Youngstown, OH)
The photo isn’t so great and it’s in Youngstown but I had to post
this because it looks awesome and if the seller wants it off their
hands they would probably be willing to meet half way!

4. Mid Century Eames era Danish Modern Room Divider $40
5. Herman Miller Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman $1900

I don’t have $1900 lying around the house for this piece but I couldn’t resist
posting it and it’s rare to find something like this on craigslist in this area.

I am unsure if I have told my readers that I am taking a furniture design class this quarter as one of two electives that I am able to take while at Ai. For our first project that was due we, us students, had to design a desk for a client, another student in class, and meet their needs and wants from a desk. My project was for a fellow student Jennie that was into mid-century furniture, liked clean lines, cantilevered items, and that her desk would sit somewhere in the middle of the living room and not against a wall.  From what I understand about mid-century desk was that they were functional and heavy however there were some good, interesting, sculptural, mid-century furniture out there so I figured that Jennie’s desk didn’t have to be bulky and heavy. After flipping through several furniture catalogs such as Knoll and Herman Miller I came to decision that I like the Eames Molded Plywood Chair and that I shall use that as my inspiration, especially since the chair looks great and that I wanted to have a more sculptural desk for Jennie with the desk sitting in the middle of the living room floor.

This is the result that I came up with; a molded plywood desk inspired from the fabulous Eames Molded Plywood Chair. Hope that you folks like it. I would like to go over it again and round of the edges from the top of the desk. And for those that are wondering, this render was modeled in CAD and rendered in 3Ds Max w/ the help of my lovely girlfriend Whitney Robinson since I have not yet mastered 3Ds Max.

On another note.  I should be working on my thesis and preparing for my Midterm Review and instead I am posting up work and just opened a Coroflot account ^ ^

http://www.coroflot.com/johnydecali

Herman Miller produces these amazing walnut stools designed by Charles and Ray Eames.  But for the $800+ price tag and lack of needs, I’d have all three.  Charles Eames said “Toys are not really as innocent as they look. Toys and games are preludes to serious ideas.”

This year, for the holidays, Herman Miller has taken their words to heart. They’ve released  a “collection of three wooden tops, each with an original sculptural profile, each crafted of walnut, inspired by Eames [and] designed by KleinReid…the tops are both classic toys and kinetic art. It’s an original set of spinning tops that are as sculptural and beautiful as they are fun.”

Read more about their inspiration here, or pick them up from Herman Miller Select.

A year ago Herman Miller created Select.  It is a once a year limited edition release for those with good taste and an eye for design.

The 2009 release puts a fresh spin on one of Charles Eames’ passions: toys.  Inspired by Charles and Ray’s philosophy of ‘serious pleasure’ and their 1969 film, “Tops”, Herman Miller has created an original set of spinning tops.

Charles Eames once said, “Toys are not really as innocent as they look.  Toys and games are preludes to serious ideas.”  Charles and Ray Eames were both avid toy collectors and considered playtime productive time.  They recognized what psychologists have since realized; the act of play causes the brain to fire in new ways.

With Eames inspiration and Herman Miller innovation a classic combination prompted the Select release for this year.  A collection of three wooden tops, each with original sculptural profile, each crafted of exquisite walnut.  Designed by the New York City design studio, KleinReid, the Tops are both classic toys and kinetic art.