Steven Holl Architects offer us to pull up a chair, or rather a Porosity Bench in a new piece commissioned by New York-based  Johnson Trading Gallery. The bench is constructed of solid bamboo planes with digitally cut interlocking edges. The beauty of the see-through seat is that it casts shadows and patterns of light that surround this inventive throne.

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I guess it’s not enough to be a hunky Hollywood god (Brad!), or rock n’ roll superstar (Lenny!) or a world-famous tennis champ (Venus!)…now it seems like lots of bold-faced names want to be taken seriously as designers. 

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The legendary actor-turned-interior designer William Haines defined Hollywood glamour with clients like movie star friends Joan Crawford (who he nicknamed Cranberry), Carole Lombard and powerhouses such as the Annnenbergs and Bloomingdales. We can all get a taste of those golden days of Hollywood through the William Haines furniture collection, reproduced by L.A.-based Lindley Associates and available at Profiles in the New York Design Center. And coming this fall, look for a piece with extra razzle dazzle – a limited edition of Haines Ice Crystals Sconces.

A limited edition of Haines’ Ice Crystals Sconces will be available this fall.

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A South African interior designer’s critique of her client’s decor became her last words. According to BBC News, the client, Jose Da Silva, said: “She did not make any nice comments about my place so I went to my garage and fetched an axe.” Yikes! Da Silva’s seemed to go cuckoo after he came out of a coma after a heart operation. He tried to lure interior designers over to his place because voices told him to kill someone. Guess the voices didn’t like good taste. Now the axe murderer is awaiting sentencing and, luckily, he won’t have any decorating worries where he’s going…

Sans any frivolous details, the Scantling floor and pendant lamp by Mathias Hahn of OKAYstudio are made from timber. Hahn describes that, “Without the need for any counterweight this light’s adaptability relies on a hidden mechanism that uses friction without the usual self-loosening.”

The hanging lamp works similarly and because the whole construction is suspended from a hook in the ceiling, the light is free swinging.

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When you first hear the phrase “What I Am Loving Now,” you expect to hear someone state something over the top and outrageously expensive, such as I am loving Dom Perignon, a house in the Hamptons, or some fancy car! Let me take this opportunity to share with you what I am loving right now. Simply put, I am loving SIMPLICITY …powerful, but simple living!

I encourage you to think about putting some simplicity into your interior design which then, I firmly believe, will put simplicity in your life. You are probably thinking: whoa, he’s been reading too many Zen books! I applaud the principles in Zen regarding the use of color and light, and the placement of objects to achieve peace; just as I appreciate the sprinkling in of some sensory elements, such as sound and scent, to indeed create a relaxing atmosphere. Albeit great, this does not have to be your reason, or even a reason at all, for creating simplicity in your space. I ask for a little trust from you when I say, you will love having a clutter-free living environment!

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Kathryn Hinton’s tableware talks! The Exhausted Cutlery line includes pieces with lettering on the prongs of forks that correspond with words imprinted in bowls.  The cutlery also bends into the shape of dishes for a Daliesque visual trick that makes it appear as though they are melting.

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The Pixel Sofa, designed by Ron Arad reminds me of a Crayola Crayon box with all the crayons sticking up and out at different levels. What it really is, is a sofa composed of many soft, square-based cube- or rectangular-shaped units of various heights. Each unit is made of polyurethane foam in varying densities. The pieces can be rearranged to change the shape and orientation of the sofa. 

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…then I have the furniture for you…

The Swarovski crystal edition of this Edra collection is made from a special high-resistant fabric containing Kevlar. The fabric is cut and then covered with Swarovski crystals for a sparkling sheen. How do they do it? The crystals are prearranged by Hot Fix technology, a patented hot application on fabric. A special glue, sensitive to high temperature, then fixes the self-adhesive crystals on the fabric permanently, and voila, you have a dazzling funiture collection. 

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We picked out some favorite pieces from SUITE New York, a contemporary furniture and modern design showroom and store in midtown Manhattan. If you don’t already know, the company reps 30 manufacturers and showcases iconic furnishings from such designers as Arne Jacobsen, Poul Kjaerholm, Hans Wegner, Fabricius & Kastholm, plus it’s the exclusive US showroom for Azucena, Zeitraum, and Martinelli Luce.

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One of the sleek subway interiors that greet Olympic visitors.

Golden boys from the USA swimming team.

The Olympics isn’t just about the yowza! opening ceremonies, the jaw-dropping athletics or tug-at-your-heart-string’s national pride, it is also about hot bodies (go Michael Phelps and the USA swim team!) and hot design from the athlete’s fashions to even the Beijing subway stations…

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Stolen Wood’s clever Catching the Wind Coat Stand seems to defy gravity. Made out of steel and polyester rope resembling a lasso, it’s sure to add a little western flavor to any foyer. 

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There are many things to shop for in Nepal.   A designer and buyers heaven
for rugs, textiles, furniture, artwork, jewelry…. and as a constant
shopper, I was looking at all of the above.  But after I left Kathmandu and
entered the Chitwan National Park to go on photo safari for black rhinos …
I came across the largest and most wonderful purchase of my life!!!

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Named after a large pine tree that crowns the Alto de Kanpazar (an exceptional landscape located in Guipuzcoa, Spain), the Kanpazar light’s form blends with it’s natural surroundings. Designed by Jon Santacoloma for B.Lux it is perfect not just for all types of landscaped outside spaces, but also for city settings, to which it infuses a more spontaneous character. There are three versions: portable, standing or in a plant pot.

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Simon Doonan has a new book out, “Eccentric Glamour: Creating an Insanely More Fabulous You.” In his book, he creates three personality types to aspire to, and with these fabu alter egos in mind he went shopping for accessories with The New York Times. 

Check out all the quirky pieces here. 

Or, read the article here.