Amazing stairs in New York Armani Boutique

Isn't this space just mind blowing? Recently completed in New York city, this is the home of an Armani store, designed by Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas of Fuksas. I am just in awe with the design of the stairs, which is unmistakeably the focal point of the space. I just love the way it wraps around all floors in a very chaotic way and the various shapes the stairs seem to take depending on your point of view. It's a very dynamic concept. Definitely a space I would love to experience. I wonder if some producer will think about using this in a sci-fi movie.

























Source: contemporist

Rockin' SNILLE

PREVIOUSLY POSTED ON : 2007-11-25

When you are faced with a really tight budget, you sometimes have to use the same product over and over again because it doesn’t cost a lot of money. Believe me, 1000$ for a teenager’s bedrooms goes out fast! So when it comes to furnishing, to add a bit of variety to a limited choice, you have to personalize and that’s exactly what I did with IKEA’s SNILLE chair for one of the rooms I recently did.

At $29.99, they are the cheapest I could find with a decent look. Problem is, they only come in four colors: white, blue-green, pink and red. (Perhaps they’ll eventually add more color choices). In any case, they just didn’t fit my design. I needed a chair with a bit more edge to match my client’s personality and style. So I put together a drawing that I felt better represented her personality (as shown below) and spray painted the chair black.

I’m sure there are many ways to do this, but here’s how I did it. No fuss. Anyone can do this in a couple of hours.

Here’s what you need:
- painter’s tape
- black marker
- black and white drawing (drawn or printed)
- scalpel
- black spray paint (or any color you like)

First I laid out several rows of painter’s tape on the back of the chair to cover the surface that needed to be protected. Then I temporarily stuck the drawing on the back in order to trace it onto the tape. I also made a point to write where I wanted the black and the white to be so I wouldn’t mistakenly spray-paint where I didn’t want to.

Then I used the scalpel to carve out all the bits of tape I didn’t need. It’s basically just a question of tracing with the knife and peeling off the unwanted pieces of tape. Once I was satisfied with my homemade template, knowing that everything blue on my chair would become white and everything white would become black, I spray painted the chair. It took 2 coats.

And voila: A personalized and rockin’ SNILLE chair. She loved it!

e-glue wall stickers

PREVIOUSLY POSTED ON : 2008-04-09

Kids’ room can be modern and fun. An easy way to add a bit of fun in their room is by using modern wall stickers like the ones from e-glue.

This company from France specializes in adhesive wall stickers for kids. Their products are said to be healthy and safe because there are no solvent, ink or other chemicals in the products.

e-glue offers several collections of stickers (giga-KIT, dida-STIK, aqua-STIK, pico-STIK, tutti-STIK,and my CHIKY). The first one is composed of set of stickers within the same theme so customers can create a "new world" by enveloping the room with several stickers of various sizes, as shown below. The graphic characters and objects can "interact" with the elements in the room.

source: e-glue

They also offer several single stickers of various sizes where you can create your own theme or use only one large one as a focal point.

source: e-glue

What I like about this company is that you can choose the colors of your stickers online and create various color combinations to suit your style. You can even create your own wall art.

source: e-glue

Of course this is not limited to kids' room. There's an opportunity to create some very creative grown-up rooms with these stickers.

Enough with electric baseboards, bring in glass radiators!

In my opinion, electric baseboards are one of the most unappealing elements of a modern home. There are so many better alternatives. I don't understand why people still hold on to the ugly ones.

I remember the first time I saw a picture of a glass radiator in 2005. It was from a European company. I've been hoping they come to Canada in the near future so I can finally say goodbye to the electric baseboard. Well, five years later, I have yet to see anyone selling these around here. I found two companies in Europe that sells them: The Glass Radiator Co in the UK and Thermoglance in Italy.

The ones sold by The Glass Radiator Co are manufactured in Germany by Saint-Gobain Glass, a German company that is considered to be the largest glass manufacturer in the world. It's also an environmentally friendly company who uses recycled glass.


photo: The Glass Radiator Co

The ones sold by Thermoglace are manufactured by an Italian company called Asola Vetro




photo: Thermoglance

So not only are glass radiators more pleasing to the eye, they are more efficient and eco-friendly. I think it's only a matter of time before we get to see them here. Needless to say, the first occasion I get to use these in a design project I will... unless something better comes along :)

HRTC : A good reason to renovate your home

M2JL :: STUDIO - Kitchen renovation (Before)

If you're home is in desperate need of a little TLC, now's a good time to renovate it. As part of its stimulus package the Canadian government has created an incentive to encourage families to invest in their homes: The Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC). If you renovate your home or the land on which it sits between January 27,2009 and February 1,2010, you are eligible to receive up to $1,350 in tax relief on renovation expenses.

The credit can be claimed on eligible expenditures incurred on one or more of an individual’s eligible dwellings. Properties eligible for the HRTC include houses, cottages and condominium units that are owned for personal use. Renovation costs for projects such as finishing a basement or re-modelling a kitchen will be eligible for the credit, along with associated expenses such as building permits, professional services, equipment rentals and incidental expenses.
For example, the following are eligible for a tax refund :

- Renovating a kitchen, bathroom, or basement
- New carpet or hardwood floors
- Building an addition, deck, fence or retaining wall
- A new furnace or water heater
- Painting the interior or exterior of a house
- Resurfacing a driveway
- Laying new sod

So why not hire a designer :) It will make a big difference. See :)


M2JL :: STUDIO - Kitchen renovation (in progress.Check back soon for the final result)

More information on the HRTC is available here site.

Surface computing has reached a restaurant

Inamo is a restaurant and bar unlike any other. Designed by Blacksheep interior architecture and design, it's a fusion of design and technology...my favorite :) I also love the black ceiling.

Located in Soho, London, it features an interactive ordering system where you can order your food on a surface computing system right on your table. This computer/table enables you to see what you can eat, the chefs cooking your food, choose the look of your table, find out about the neighborhood and more. I don't know if it's already in the interactive system, but I would add the option of drawing things and sending messages to other tables.





Photo: Blacksheep & Inamo


via : Trend Land

Avant-garde bank in Italy

It seems like modern design concepts are finally starting to appear in banks! CheBanca in Milan (Italy) is probably the first pioneer. Designed by Crea International the concept of this bright white and yellow minimalist space was based on the sun. The layout of the bank echos the solar system. It's a bold choice that will definitely won't go unnoticed in this gray street. Notice, they didn't change the historical architecture of the neighborhood. I'm loving the biomorphic style of this space. Very Star Trek-ish. I think we could use some of that around here to break the monotony of the usual gray roman inspired buildings. :)














Photos : Crea International

Via: The Cool Hunter