Continental Bounce.

Starting February 2nd and running through March 2nd, Clic Gallery here in New York will be exhibiting a show entitled Continental Bounce featuring the work of photographer Magda Biernat. Biernat was born and raised in Poznan, Poland. In 2002, after obtaining her MA Degree in Marketing and Management from the Adam Mickiewicz University and a BA degree in Photography from Wielkopolska School of Photography, she moved to the United States first settling down in Seattle, Washington. After two years in the North West, she decided to move to New York and started working at Magnum Photos Inc. In 2007 she decided to leave her steady life here in the city and took off for a year long trip around the world. While traveling to more than 17 countries she worked on her personal projects concerning urban landscape and habitat which is now the subject of this particular show. We think she's got a fantastic eye and we hope to meet her in person at the official opening this Thursday. For more information click here!

The Industrial Revolution.

We're re-posting this story from last February because our good friend Jim Zivic is having a big opening tonight at Ralph Pucci and we couldn't be more excited for him! We've been huge fans of Jim's work almost from day one when he started his original company, Burning Relic, back in 1993. Now known simply as Jim Zivic Design, this studio manages to bridge an industrial edge with a sophisticated elegance by combining smart design with an eclectic mix of materials both familiar and unexpected. These materials, which include hand forged steel, bridle leather, suede, shearling and anthracite coal, are used to create everything from seating, to beds, to tables, as well as an assortment of rugs. Born and raised in a small Ohio steel town, Zivic's vision was formed at an early age. Surrounded by Amish wood-workers, strip mining, dairy farms and his family's steel trucking business, the designer was inspired to create things both useful and artistic. His work is collected by private and commercial clients such as Lou Reed, Yves Saint Laurent, Yoji Yamamoto and Tom Ford. Frequent work has also included designing for Studio Soffield, John Saladino, and The Rockwell Group. You can find his collection at the Ralph Pucci Showroom here in New York or you can see more of his work at his new studio located at 377 Broome Street down in Soho (make sure you call first .... this location is by appointment only). Not only do the original designs seem as fresh as the day we first saw them almost 15 years ago, the new work is just as smart and inspiring with the same level of craftsmanship that one longs for now that "Design's Within Reach". Do yourself a favor and check out Jim's new website here and if you live in New York, stop by Ralph Pucci or make your way down to his new studio to see it in person. We can assure you, you won't be disappointed. To read more about tonight's show click here!

For The Birds.

Anyone who knows us, knows we love art, nature, and "dust cleaners!" Yep...we can't help but admire anyone who can come in and blow the dust off a historic company and make it feel fresh again (...and we've made no bones about the fact that there are a few companies out there we'd like to help out as well.) That's exactly what Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon has done for porcelain manufacturer Lladró which was originally founded in 1953. Available in over 120 countries, Lladró figurines are made out of an original blend of hard-paste porcelain and each one leaves the factory in Spain after many hours of painstaking craftsmanship. In 2005, the company brought in Hayon as the brand's artistic advisor at which point he introduced The Fantasy Collection resulting in a new direction for Lladró. In fact, just last week Hayon introduced his newest collaboration with the porcelain manufacturer at Maison et Objet in Paris entitled The Parrots Party and we have to say the results are pretty fantastic! We'll be eager to see the rest of the collection when it gets here to New York, but in the meantime check out more photos of Hayon's installation from the Paris show here! (then click here to see what Lladró normally produces and perhaps you'll understand why this is somewhat significant).

And because we love a theme...we thought we'd play one of our favorite songs from Andrew Bird. Enjoy!

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

House of Style.

We'd like to thank our friends over at The Inside Stoop for introducing us to Yatzer, a fantastic on-line resource for design, architecture and fashion. Yatzer recently featured the above project, a Madrid house belonging to the Spanish duo, fashion designer David Delfin and architect-turned-photographer Gorka Postigo and we're absolutely wild about it. We love it for a number of reasons, but the one thing that stands out for us the most is the home's unabashed authenticity. Delfin and Postigo have an eclectic mix of art and furnishings that obviously says a lot about their interests and tastes yet it's pulled together seamlessly in an artful, almost understated manner – not necessarily an easy feat to accomplish. Stylish and sexy, this expressive residence is incredibly inspiring and definitely worth checking out. To learn more about it click here. (photos by Manolo Yllera)

Just a reminder...it's not too late for you to vote for us here and possibly win a PRIZE! (FYI-you can vote once a day until March 23rd.) We're currently in 3rd place so we could really use your support and would appreciate your help in spreading the word!

Monster.

Just got back from seeing the insanely talented Lady GaGa at Radio City Music Hall-Amazing! This photo by the late Irving Penn pretty much sums up the way we feel about her. Have a great weekend!

Sunday School.

Every now and then we come across something so inspirational we practically start quoting the verse before speaking in tongues. That's exactly what happened the first time we spotted the work of Pamela Sunday. Sunday makes hand built ceramic sculptures inspired by nature and science and the results are truly out of this world. Heavily influenced by the illustrations of German biologist Ernst Haeckel, Sunday is known for her meticulous craftsmanship and for testing the limits of her chosen materials both in surface and form. You may have seen some of her sculptures in our story for Lonny Magazine or at Galerie Van Den Akker where her work is on permanent display. Regardless, we think she's definitely someone to keep an eye on...we have a feeling this gifted artist could teach us all a thing or two about meaningful design. (See some of Ernst Haeckel's illustrations below for comparison.)

Some Exciting News!

We'd like to thank Traditional Home Magazine for naming us one of their 20 Young Designers to Watch in 2010. We had a fantastic time working with them this summer on the Hampton's Designer Showhouse and to be recognized in this way along with such a great group of designers is truly humbling (we especially appreciate the term "young" designer!).

However, not only is this good news for us it could be great news for you as well! In a smart move to create a buzz and build awareness with this year's list of designers, Traditional Home has created a partnership with Duralee Fabrics for an exciting contest. They're encouraging both consumers and designers to visit www.traditionalhome.com/duralee to vote for their favorite Young Designer. (Sure would appreciate your vote!)

Everyone who votes is automatically entered into a contest for a chance to win a FREE PRIZE! For consumers, it’s a custom room design and Duralee fabric. For designers, it’s Duralee fabric they can use in a project. You can find additional details about the contest below or on the back page of the Young Traditional Designer feature in the Feb/March issue. The winners of the Reader's Choice and Designer Choice Awards will be announced in the October 2010 issue of Traditional Home. Thanks again to Ann Maine and the rest of the gang over at TH .... we can't tell you how much we appreciate it. Now click here to cast your vote and possibly win a prize!

DAM! This is Cool.

We want to thank our friends over at Cool Hunting for turning us on to artist Steffen Dam and his stunning work. Dam creates luminous glass blocks and panels, within which imaginary plants and sea creatures are suspended like fossils or scientific specimens and the end results are absolutely mesmerizing!

Dam says "I originally trained as a toolmaker and worked for some years as such before I realized my curiosity spanned more than that which is measurable. In glass I found these qualities. The uncompromising nature of this material exactly fitted the precise and analytic way of thinking that I was taught in constructing industrial tools."

"During my first ten years of glass making I was practising and experimenting with all the different techniques to become a good craftsman. While doing so, I discovered a new kind of beauty in the fringes of the well crafted glass I was making. In the area of mistakes and faults - the unwanted air bubbles, ash marks, soot, cracks and crookedness - I found something that cannot be predicted or sketched beforehand. I set the established and traditional techniques aside and started making glass all "wrong" in an attempt to capture the good in the bad. Out of these experiments came the "Fossils", "Plants" and other objects - like frozen extracts of chaos to be watched undisturbed."

His work can be seen here in New York at the Heller Gallery through the end of the month. We know what we're doing this weekend. In the meantime, to learn more about the artist click here!

The Sports Illustrated Model.

We're back from a quick day trip to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where we were part of a panel discussion entitled The Evolution of Design. The event was sponsored by Editor at Large as well at the DCOTA and included us, Michael Bruno from 1stdibs, Phoebe Howard-designer and founder of MrsHowardPersonalShopper.com, Bryan Patrick Flynn-designer and founder of DecorDemon.com, and Pamela Lerner Jaccarino-executive editor of Luxe Magazine. It was a fascinating discussion on the state of the design industry and where it's headed and part of the talk focused on publishing, specifically shelter magazines. That's when we learned about this video! Although it has nothing to do with interior design, it still got us wound up as far as what magazines might look like one day! Obviously, we're a bit obsessed with this idea. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did. There's no question...this is the future! Now, it's late and we need to get to bed, but we'll be sure to tell you more about Atlanta and Florida in the coming days...

Back To The Future.

This Wednesday January 13th, Interior Design Magazine is kicking off the new year by sponsoring a retrospective of mid-century design. Cindy Allen will moderate a discussion about American modern furniture from both historical and relevant contexts. She’s put together a great group of panelists including: Donald Albrecht, curator of Architecture and Design for the Museum of the City of New York; Phyllis Ross, author of Gilbert Rohde: Modern Design for Living; internationally known architect Gunnar Birkerts; and Andy Lin and Larry Weinberg, founders of the Lin/Weinberg Gallery: 20th Century Modern Furnishings. The discussion will be followed by a reception and a presentation of the exhibitions Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future and The Future at Home: American Furniture, 1940-1955 (click here for a great write up on Lin and Weinberg's involvement with the Future at Home show.)

When: Wednesday, January 13, 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Where: Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave. at 103^rd St.

Reservations required. RSVP to larryweinberg@mac.com.

(Photographs courtesy of Eric Laignel and Larry Weinberg).

R.I.P. Kenneth Noland

We're sad to learn that artist Kenneth Noland has passed away at the age of 85. We've always been huge fans of his bold colorful paintings and we have a feeling wherever his spirit lands it's about to get a whole lot brighter. To learn more about his amazing career click here. (images courtesy of the New York Times).