Jordan Kushins is a freelance writer and former associate editor at Dwell. She's happiest when crafting but also enjoys drinking tea, swimming in outdoor pools, and Singin' in the Rain, and once baked a very large cake that was shaped like a hamburger.
If Milan 2010 were introduced as a new Crayola color, some might argue that "Ash Cloud Grey" would be the most appropriate shade. Air travel through northern Europe at the tail end of the fair was an impossibility due to the eruptions of Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland, so rather than continue to reflect on the city-wide scope of international design on display, Salone ended with a hard-stop for many. Attentions were turned to making one's way—if not back home, then somewhere else—and labyrthine terrestial voyages ensued. Rather than let the volcanic dust remain the predominant shade, I've selected some of the best and brightest that I saw. Click through to the slideshow to see a selection of hue-tiful pieces that truly popped.
Located at the ever-shifting intersection of design, fine art, and craft, R 20th Century has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a small vintage boutique in Brooklyn over a decade ago. Since then, the gallery has cast aside the kitsch, moved to Manhattan, and gained an international reputation for its well-appointed exhibitions and expansive catalog, representing designers from decades past and present. Furniture and decorative pieces from a handpicked stable of oft-overlooked or obscure creative visionaries like Greta Magnusson Grossman, Wendell Castle, and Sergio Rogrigues are all on display, and founders Zesty Meyers and Evan Snyderman work with the sensibilities of uptown museum curators. Keen to share the stories behind their collections with everyone who enters their Tribeca showroom, they also produce lush, well-researched publications to accompany their installations. R 20th Century has become a destination for design diehards from around the world.
Chronicling the eponymous exhibition from earlier this year at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, First Works: Emerging Architectural Experimentation of the 1960s and 1970s presents 20 projects from today’s most influential architects.
We all know not to judge a book by its cover, or people by the company they keep. Unpacking My Library: Architects and Their Books offers a guided tour across the shelves of ten famous architects, each of whom gives a brief yet intimate take on the titles that shaped their lives and careers. It tempts us to conflate and contradict the opening adages: We are invited to judge these people by the covers they keep.
Business as usual for ReForm School founders Billie Lopez and Tootie Maldonado means far more than simply managing their popular Silver Lake, California, shop. Whether exploring thrift stores for vintage finds, hosting a series of hands-on Home Ec. classes, or planning field trips to test out a new DIY-canoe kit, the duo successfully share their passion for unique goods with local (and loyal) customers and artists. With the addition of an online store, class is now in session for the rest of us, too.
“Prolific” is a weighty designation to assign to a living designer, but few contemporaries have produced the caliber and portfolio of Piero Lissoni. Since the start of his career in 1978, the designer and architect has produced major works for every room in the house for a who’s who of brands—Alessi, Cappellini, Living Divani, Kartell, Cassina—as well as homes, showrooms, and hotels in cities around the globe. Dwell caught up with the soft-spoken Italian at the showroom Dzine in San Francisco.
Nestled in behind a small glass storefront in central Frankfurt is a one-of-a-kind throw utopia. Blanket Store is a niche boutique dedicated to—yes, you guessed it—blankets, and owner Natalie Gray has found inventory that’s stitched, knit, and woven around the world. Assistant Editor Jordan Kushins stumbled upon the shop when wandering through the city on a cold, snowy day last month and couldn’t think of anything more inviting than the warm wonderland dedicated to keeping you cozy and your home a little bit brighter, so she asked Grey to open up about her coverlet sanctuary.
Every collection has to start somewhere, and for Lisa Congdon, it began with a dish. Nearly ten years ago, the San Francisco–based artist (and co-owner of local design shop Rare Device) picked up a piece of Cathrineholm enamelware at a flea market, drawn to its bold hue and simple pattern. After researching the piece’s provenance, she began scouting garage and rummage sales for similar items. “I try not to buy on eBay, because I like the challenge of finding each piece and the story that goes along with it,” she explains.
London's Victoria and Albert Museum has opened up its extensive archives and published the fantastic V&A Pattern volumes. The first four hardcover editions in the series are William Morris, Indian Florals, Digital Pioneers, and The Fifties, and page after page feature prints, patterns, and color combinations. It's an amazing set and resource, as each has a disc with every image in high resolution for use in your own projects and decorative endeavors. Purchase the books individually or as a set at Amazon, and keep an eye out in June 2010 for the next additions to the series: Kiminis, Novelty Patterns, Secret Garden, and Owen Jones. We can't wait!
One word that has come up in nearly every conversation here at Heimtextil is “inspiration.” Whether looking to discover it or provide it, the show is not just about buying and selling, but also creating. The Trends hall was the place to go for forecasting about the look and feel of the next few years in textile design, with four installations exploring the forms and colors that just might make their way into our homes.
