Designers Call Blog

Weekly Wrap Up: Stockholm, Black Florals, and Carpets

Michele — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:45:00 +0000

Monday’s History Lesson: A Brief Discussion of Carpets
Wednesday’s Design Meets Fashion: Black Floral Designs
Friday’s Destination: Stockholm, Sweden

Destination: Stockholm, Sweden

Michele — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:00:30 +0000

With green spaces covering about 30% of the city, Stockholm is known to be one of the cleanest capitals in the world. This beautiful city is a treasure of color and design, water and light, and architecture from medieval to modern. The 2012 Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair is next week- the world’s largest event for Scandinavian design featuring new furniture, lighting, and accessories from about 750 exhibitors. So, dreaming of Stockholm today…

Would love to see these in my kitchen! Amazing ceramics by Maria Kristofersson:

Pretty textiles by Hanna Nyman:

Love the aesthetic of FOLKFORM- the design studio of industrial designers Chandra Ahlsell and Anna Holmquist:

(Images via Maria Kristofersson, Hanna Nyman , FOLKFORM)

Design Meets Fashion: Black Floral Designs

Sara — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:42:05 +0000

I can’t get over how beautiful these floral designs are with black backgrounds. They are luxurious and feminine while also very sophisticated. I love the idea of having one piece of furniture in a floral print, don’t you?

(Images from SFGirlbytheBay via FFFFound & Wit & Delight.)

History Lesson: A Brief Discussion of Carpets

Michele — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:15:04 +0000

Carpets provide warmth and comfort, a place to sit and a place to play. They define a space, adding beauty and personal style. With so many types of carpets to choose from, it can be confusing to determine which is best for your needs.

There are two main types of carpet production: woven and tufted.

Woven carpets are produced on a loom, resulting in plush or berber pile. Plush carpet has a cut pile and berber has a loop pile. Combining cut and loop pile results in a variation of texture. Generally, any color and pattern can be woven on a loom. Woven carpets are usually the most expensive due to the laborious manufacturing process.

Tufted carpets have their pile inserted into a man-made backing material. This is then bonded to a secondary backing for stability. The pile surface can be cut or loop. The tufted carpet is the most common method of manufacturing and generally the most affordable.

Other types of carpet include needlefelt (felting individual fibers resulting in high durability- good for areas of high traffic), knotted (weft threads alternate with a supplementary weft that rises at right angles to the surface of the weave, such as in oriental carpets), and flatweave (interlocking warp and weft threads so there is no pile, such as kilim and damask carpets, as well as tapestry).

When looking at carpet, it is important to consider the fiber content. Fiber is chosen for durability, appearance, and cost. Wool and silk are luxuries, and can be expensive. Wool has excellent durability qualities and can be dyed easily. Look for a wool blend (usually 80% wool/20% synthetic) for a more affordable alternative.

Hand-knotted silk from Fort Street Studio

West Elm’s wool Souk Rug

“Hey Jack” from Flor’s spring 2012 collection, 100% recycled Nylon

Nylon is the most common material used for carpet production. It can be dyed or printed easily, and has good wear characteristics. Acrylic carpeting has improved over the years. It is washable and colorfast, and can have the appearance and hand of wool. Polyester is used for low- to mid-priced carpets. It is inherently stain resistant, but mats down easily. Polypropylene, or olefin, is a good choice for small loop berber carpets, commonly used for commercial installation.

(Images via Fort Street Studio, cococozy, West Elm, Flor)

Weekly Wrap Up: Claw & Ball Foot, High Drama, and Hard”de”core

Michele — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:05:30 +0000

Monday’s History Lesson: Claw and Ball Foot
Wednesday’s Design Meets Fashion: High Drama
Friday’s Destination: Hard”de”core, Prague

Destination: Hard”de”core, Prague

Michele — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:00:47 +0000

Who could resist that pink floor! Hard”de”core is an experimental showroom and sales gallery in Prague’s city center. They proudly represent independent designers and artists with a thoughtfully presented collection of art, fashion, jewelry, and home décor. Featured products are generally limited edition runs from up-and-coming Czech designers together with select international designers.

In 2010, Mobile Cube was launched as a way to feature the shop at major design events, focusing on new collections and designers. The pink shipping container is just as inviting as the shop!

(Images via Hard”de”core)

Design Meets Fashion: High Drama

Sara — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:41:12 +0000

Much in the same way Dior Haute Couture can be theatrical, so too can an interior when you do something as simple as choose one deep intense color and fill the room with it. I love the high drama of this deep black-blue bedroom just as I adore the My Fair Lady-esque qualities of Dior’s S/S 2012 collection.

(Images via David Woolley on Desire to Inspire & Dior Haute Couture on Hanneli.)

History Lesson: Claw and Ball Foot

Michele — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:00:23 +0000

The inspiration for the design of the claw and ball foot came from a Chinese motif of a dragon’s claw clutching a pearl or crystal ball. Often associated with the cabriole leg (a symbol of 18th century furniture), good examples of the claw and ball foot can be found in Chippendale and Queen Anne furniture, as well as some Georgian pieces. It was first developed in Europe by the Dutch in the early 1700’s, and made its way to America about 30 years later. The style of the carving generally seen in England is a lion’s paw, and an eagle’s talon in America.

Burled walnut Queen Anne dressing table, England c.1760

Irish Chippendale armchairs in mahogany, late 18th c.

Chippendale mahogany drop-leaf table, America c.1780

(Images via 1stdibs)

Weekly Wrap Up: Philip Johnson, Cool Pastels, and Liberty

Michele — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:17:31 +0000

Monday’s History Lesson: Philip Johnson
Wednesday’s Design Meets Fashion: Cool Pastels
Friday’s Destination: Liberty, London

Destination: Liberty, London

Michele — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:00:25 +0000

Every time I visit London, I make sure I put Liberty on my list of things to do. Not only is the selection of textiles to die for, but with a history dating back to 1875, the gorgeous Tudor itself is enough to make you want to spend hours wandering about.

Liberty’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection has been unveiled, and it is really lovely. Entitled “Liberty Art Fabrics,” the collection was inspired by archives, antiques and costume. “Colour palettes were based around mood boards created by eminent contributors to fashion, art and antiques, with prints giving a nod to the beautiful Glencot House in Somerset as well as Olympic motifs.”

Here’s a sneak peek:

(Images via Liberty)