E. Pearce Revisited

Designers often turn to history for inspiration. But rather than looking to reproduce past works, what if instead we interpret, using technologies that are completely current? Extraordinary design can result.

Case in point? This staircase that design firm, workshop/apd created for its contemporary update of a modern Tribeca loft.

The work pays homage to this Baroque staircase attributed to 17th century English master Edmund Pearce (on exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.)

According to the firm, “Where Pearce incorporated oak leaves and pine cones, we digitized interlaced tree branches to create an element of modern-day beauty and craft in water-jet cut steel, bringing fancifulness and ornamentation back to architecture.

“Like its predecessor, the dramatic scroll – now in perforated steel – weaves the two floors together in a unique way.”

See more views and details at workshop/apd’s Web site.

Designer DIY

by Mari Robeson

Design Junkies, we are in for a treat! Today, designer Mari Robeson joins us as Interior Design expert and Contributor. I am thrilled with the colorful and creative stories Mari has planned for us, about what we’ll learn from her, and how inspired we’ll be. Learn more about Mari at her Web site.

Have you ever planned a room and figured out all the elements you would need? Then, all you had to do to complete your design, was find that perfect piece of fabric to pull it all together, but, alas, it was nowhere to be found? Being an Interior Designer, that scenario happened to me more times than I can count even with full access to multiple fabric companies.

I started to think, that in this wonderful age of technology, there must be a way that I could create my own fabric. I did a little digging around on the internet and found just what I was looking for. There are some great companies out there, where you can upload your design, have it printed digitally onto fabric, and in your mail box within 2 – 3 weeks.

Of course it helps if you have a background in graphic design and are familiar with programs like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, but there are many graphic designers that would be able to help you with your design. (Even some of the companies that print your design will offer those services.) If that sounds too intimidating there are other companies like RoomsByYou.com that make it even easier. They have hundreds of designs to pick from. You just drag and drop the design onto the product you want and you’re done!

To give you a visual of how the process is done from start to finish, I decided to give my Mudroom a makeover with my one of my fabric designs.

My Tulip design starts with a drawing in my sketchbook which I then scan into my computer. I select my colors from the Pantone color wheel, in this case, bright green and purple.

Then I have to create a repeat. This is one of the more challenging parts in my opinion because the repeat has to be exact. Where it cuts off on the Left Side it has to pick up exactly on the Right side. This is true from Top to Bottom. I found tutorials online that explained this process in detail. With a little practice, it starts to make sense.

You will have to save your file in a format that is compatible with the service who prints your fabrics. They will give you their exact specifications. If you use a service like Spoonflower, they have a very simple process that explains how to upload your designs and in what size.

Then…tap tap tap fingers tapping…you patiently wait until your fabric arrives. When it does, you’re ready to start sewing!

In my Mudroom I wanted to add a cushion to our cubby bench and curtains to my upper cabinets.

This is the first and last room my family sees when coming and going, so I wanted to make the room bright and cheery.

For those of you who sew, making a cushion like this is a piece of cake, but if you’re like me, you may need to solicit the help of a seamstress. In my case I asked my talented friend Nina Taylor, www.TheSewingAtelier.com to help me for this intermediate sewing project.

You’ll need:

• Foam sheet (also called ‘slab foam’) for your cushion
• Fabric for the front, back, sides and piping
• ¼” Cord for piping or pre-made piping.
• Zipper half as long as the length of the cushion
• Sewing Machine
• Thread
• Scissors
• Pins
• A Long Measuring Tape
• A Cutting Board
• A Marking Pencil

Step-by-step:

1. Measure how wide and deep you want the cushion to be and cut your foam accordingly.

2. Lay out your fabric, measure, and cut out the front, back, and sides, adding a ½” seam allowance.

3. Next, cut on the bias strips (2″ wide for ¼” piping) for two times the length of the perimeter of the cushion. (You will create two strips of piping – one for around the top edge, and one for around the bottom edge of your cushion.)

4. Piece together your bias strips and then fold the cord into the bias strips to create your piping.

5. You may want to sew along side the piping to secure it. (You can also purchase pre-made piping and skip this step.)

6. Sew one piece of piping onto the your cushion top piece. Then separately sew the second piece of piping onto the cushion bottom piece.

7. Snip the piping fabric so that it bends nicely around the corners. (See photo above.)

8. The side seams are meant to be at the corners. Join the sides together and then attach it to the top.

9. Now you’re ready to attach it to the bottom leaving a space in the center for your zipper.

10. With your cushion inside out, sew the zipper into the crease between the piping and the side fabric to keep the zipper hidden.

11. Turn right side out and insert your foam!
 

You can see I did a few more things to personalize the space.

I made the chalkboard with simple molding and ¼” plywood that I painted with chalkboard paint. It’s a great place for my busy family to write important notes to one another or inspirational quotes.

Above the cubby bench, I gave each one of my family members their own personalized hook (see top photo). I found these a while ago at Anthropologie and I just love them.

Digital textile printing has brought an entirely new way to customize and personalize your space. No longer do you have to be frustrated by not being able to find the perfect fabric. With a little creativity, you can create your own unique and distinctive room. Happy Designing!

Color & Inspiration,
Mari~

Mari Robeson — an Interior and Product Designer, and a published Illustrator — strives to bring beauty into the world whenever she can. Mari shares with us her Interior Design tips and advice, and makes learning design concepts fun. With her fresh, creative projects, Mari spreads her love of color and beautiful textiles.

Most days you can find Mari working up her latest designs or teaching Interior Design Workshops in her colorful studio nestled in the countryside.

 
Have you tried designing your own fabric? Tell us about it….

Artist Profile — Craig Anczelowitz

I just met an artist who has it all. Creative vision, practical knowhow, business-sense,
and moxie.

And Bronx native Craig Anczelowitz’s resume is like a how-to for the successful, self-sufficient artist/designer:

1. M.F.A.: Check.
2. Work your way up in a specialty New York boutique: Check.
3. Traverse the globe, buying and designing for retail tastemakers: Check. Check.
4. Leave it all. Move to a faraway land; design and produce multiple product lines:
   That too.

Back in 1991, Masters in Printmaking/Papermaking in hand, Craig embarked on his
artistic journey.

“I started with mixed media artwork created from papers mixed with a wide range of materials mostly salvaged from NYC dumpsters,” said Craig. “Joseph Cornell was and remains my biggest creative influence – his dreamlike yet scholarly assemblages always appealed to both sides of my personality.”

Craig began to learn the business of art. “I had worked at Kate’s Paperie for 5 yeas, eventually becoming their paper buyer and NYC’s first unofficial ‘paper guru’,” he said.

It seemed this art thing might actually pay his bills.

“When the owners of Kate’s Paperie had asked me to develop branded collections of stationery, papers and notebooks with a number of overseas and domestic manufacturers, I thought that this was what I wanted to do full-time and felt that it may be the first step to a more creative livelihood.”

Victorian Mod Vases

Then his career coup: He scored senior design and buying gigs for ABC Carpet & Home and Urban Outfitters.

“Through these jobs, I was able to travel the world and work with artisans to design and develop a wide range of products such as Murano Glass, Florentine Leather, Thai ceramics, Indian brass work and Japanese stationery,” said Craig.

Some of Craig’s mango wood stools.

Nowadays, Craig is the rare artist that can create top-notch work in multiple mediums:

• Ceramics,
• Wood,
• Paper,
• and Textiles

“I enjoy the diversity and challenges of working in many materials and have been fortunate that my prior jobs afforded me the opportunity to work in so many different and interesting mediums,” he said.

“Although I currently am having a lot of fun creating my patchworked textile ‘Nook-Nook’ toys, I would say that deep down my true love is for paper…..and in particular for Japanese paper or ‘washi.’”

Craig’s adopted home provides ample inspiration for his creative projects.

“I am lucky to live in such an amazing place as Thailand,” he said.

“With its abundant natural resources and extremely rich visual culture, I can be inspired every day by simply walking out my door.

“Travel is also a great source of inspiration and since I am working on many diverse projects, I need to be a sponge and soak up inspiration everywhere.

“Ideas and designs evolve from all over the place: From broken shells on a beach to the patchworked pleats of Hilltribal women’s skirts…or from the flea markets of Paris to the tropical gardens of Thailand.”

Then it’s a matter of focus. “Channeling that wealth of inspiration and stimuli into creative design is the challenge,” Craig said.

How does he know when he’s got a terrific design going?

“When I sense that I may be onto a great idea or am excited about a particular piece, I often visualize in my mind’s eye or dream a huge jigsaw puzzle that sort of just completes itself with all the pieces calmly floating into place,” Craig said.

Craig is a prolific designer, and needs a team to bring much of his work to fruition.

“I design the pieces myself but since my plate has become quite full, I most definitely need the assistance of another designer to help realize the work – and to meet deadlines,” he exclaimed.

“I currently work with 6 different factories in Thailand and Japan who manufacture my work and about seventy-five percent is then incorporated into their product lines.”

 
Yup. Craig Anczelowitz has it all.

Did I mention he looks like a rock star?
 

Want to see more of Craig’s work? He maintains a great photo record on his Flickr photostream.

It’s best to track him down through Flickr.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Do you design and create in multiple mediums? Do you favor one?

What’s the Best Color You Ever Painted Something?

You can still see it in your mind’s eye. Or maybe you are surrounded by it right now. Perhaps it was for you, or designers — for a client. But you could feel it in your gut.

You nailed that color choice.

Tell us the story of your best color ever. Share with us by Leaving a Comment, OR–even better–if you have a photo, share with us in the Challenge Entry Form here.

We Design Junkies want details, so if you remember, tell us the paint brand, the color name or number, and the finish. But mostly describe for us what made you weak in the knees for the color, and why it ended up being a great choice.

 
To ensure we get a rainbow of replies, a random entrant will win a copy of the new and idea-packed bookazine, “House Beautiful’s 500+ Favorite Paint Colors.”

Read a great review of it here by my friend, special event co-conspirator and color maven-blogger, Sonu Mathew. Sonu was nice enough to send us an
extra copy.

• You’ll get one entry in the drawing for telling us your story in the Comments section.
• You’ll get three entries, when you “show and tell” by uploading your photo with your story in the Challenge Entry Form.

 
Can’t wait!

We’ve had some heated discussion here lately about books, and about book covers, as elements in one’s home decor.

So when I found these new cover designs for classic F. Scott Fitzgerald books, from Senior Designer Coralie Bickford-Smith at Penguin Books, I just had to share.

Penguin plans to release the books on November 4th.

Now that’s marketing I can get behind. (via Notcot.)
 

Fess up: Do you judge a book by its cover?