2012 PANTONE Color of the Year is 17-1463 Tangerine Tango

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

A vibrant color choice for the year that is predicted to bring economic upturn and global recovery, Tangerine Tango is a reddish orange that is destined to uplift spirits and re-energize its surroundings.  Pantone’s executive director Leatrice Eiseman has summarized the true essence of this color by describing it as “sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it, reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

17-1463 Tangerine Tango - 2012 Pantone Color of the Year

In modern furniture design, we have already seen intricate examples of how orange revives and differentiates one piece of contemporary furniture from another era and it is a matter of months before we see so much more of orange incorporated into designer furniture from leading European manufacturers.

Tangerine Tango

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Top 10 Lighting Designs for 2011

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

Lighting is an essential part of any interior decor and without a doubt, one of its more dramatic elements.  While most conventional lighting fixtures draw attention simply because of their mere essence, modern lighting, especially lighting fixtures that were introduced throughout 2011 exceed expectations in terms of ingenuity and functionality.  Without further ado, here are our top 10 modern lighting fixtures for 2011.

1.  Stream Chandelier by Christian Lava for Terzani

Stream Chandelier by Christian Lava for Terzani

2.  Standelier by Todd Bracher for Swarovski Centerpieces

Standelier by Todd Bracher for Swarovski Centerpieces

3.  Niagra Chandelier by Bodo Sperlein for Lladro

Niagra Chandelier by Bodo Sperlein for Lladro

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10 Rules for Modern Lighting

Monday, December 19th, 2011

1.  Enjoyment
Lighting up a space should be pleasant.  Nothing harsh and irritating.

2.  Customization
Activities that happen in a particular space, should dictate the type of lighting it requires.  Often times, a combination between decorative and functional lighting is the ideal solution.

3.  Moderation
An overly bright space as well as a space that’s dim is not inviting.  Lighting fixtures should be added gradually.

4.  Dynamism
Lighting fixtures create shadows in addition to illumination.  Shadows are also important to the ambience of the room as they create movement and add drama to the space.

5.  Reflection
Light surfaces reflect light better then dark surfaces.  The same applies to shiny surfaces versus dull ones.  Lighting fixtures are as good as where they are placed.

6.  Durability
Lighting fixtures is not a temporary solution.  Its reliability, longevity, and user-friendliness should be vital deciding factors.

7.  Focus
Lighting fixture can be the focal point of a room as well as put the spotlight on a focal point of the room.  Lighting type must be parallel to its functional requirements.

8.  Eco-Friendliness
Lighting fixtures with dimmers, that are made from recycled materials and have a degree of consciousness have a greater intrinsic value.

9.  Design
One great looking lighting fixture is always more attractive than a number of mediocre ones.  Lighting should be treated as a decorative source with ambient enhancing qualities.

10.  Light Bulb
Light bulb is the source of light while the lighting fixture is its “packaging.”  It should have sensorial warm that is both seen and felt.

Green color in modern furniture design

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

Often associated with tranquility, opulence and confidence, green color is a likely choice when designing a modern interior.  The color and its wide spectrum of hues that range from bold to subdued tends to make a memorable statement as it is seen with Bonaldo’s 2011 introduction, the Melt sofa collection by Mauro Lipparini.

Melt Designer Sofa by Mauro Lipparini for Bonaldo

Green color can be added as an accent to an all-white palette, or an earthy palette of neutrals through a side chair such as the Apollo by Patrick Norguet for Artifort.

Apollo chair by Patrick Norguet for Artifort

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Remember Me by Tobias Juretzek for Casamania

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

Into a design world where innovation and ingenuity are at times, not enough to draw attention and where “green living” and recycling often takes priority above all else, comes to life Remember Me designer dining chairs by Tobias Juretzek for Casamania, a leading Italian furniture manufacturer.

Embedded in the notion of longevity and continuity, Juretzek set out to prolong the life cycle of some very random, yet common clothing by using them as unique exterior identifiers of linearly constructed dining chairs, hence creating one-of-a-kind furniture elements with perhaps a few memories that were attached to each garment.  Items like jeans and t-shirts are reinvented as surfaces in a sporadic, multi-dimensional, quilt-like pattern by being soaked in resin and dried into the shape of a chair that can be mistaken for having a wooden or plastic structure.