Designer Discovery - Jessica Helgerson

Crisply cut interiors - CHECK. Subtly dramatic vignettes - CHECK. Textures in motion - CHECK. Harmony with a hint of green - CHECK. There are so many things to love in the work of Jessica Helgerson, a Portland, Oregon based interior designer. I love the detailing in her designs, from the laser-cut mirrors in the foyer to the green foliage in delicately carved vases , to the interplay of modern/mid-century lamps against stark ceilings. Some of these rooms make me want to crawl in the pictures and curl up in one of the chaises and sigh in content. Check out her interesting portfolio here.

Are your selves on your shelves?

Lately I have been obsessed with shelves. Shelves in studies and kitchens, bathrooms and mud-rooms. Shelves in cramped corners, dark basements and sun-filled rooms. Shelves that hold knick-knacks and trinkets, memories and stories, passions and more.

LOVE: The olive background to the shelves, juxtaposition of art and books and baubles 

LOVE: Everything! The abundance of texture on the shelves (glass, ceramic, metal, wood), the strategic placement of the  focus lamp.

LOVE: The narrow ledge shelves

LOVE: The cool psuedo box art on the could-have-been-boring cabinet.

LOVE: The art of painting the shelves (above the credenza) to the wall color.

LOVE: Clean symmetry!

Hello Earth Habitants! Welcome to Planet K. R.

Karim Rashid's talent and wizardry with shapes and colors completely blows me away to another planet. Considering that he has designed and sold millions of his products, I am guessing I am not the only one.

Bold! Stimulating! Futuristic! and Spirited! is how I define his work. I came across this gem (no pun intended:-) of a house, belonging to K. Rashid and located in Chelsea - NY, in SkonaHem (one of my favorite magazines). The home, in my mind, in an ideal example of what a marriage of shape, colors and imagination can do to four walls and a blank canvas of a house. Filled with furniture, art and accessories designed or influenced by K. Rashid himself, this home is a treat to see.

How cool is the yellow Koochy sofa, and gemmed-variation of the Kivas modular sofa (designed for Valdichienti). the Dekon Glass Coffee table (designed for Tonelli, Italy) on the left and the signature chess set (designed for Bozart)

Love love love the beautiful Matrix Sofa system (designed for Meritalia) - Very ikat-like

Love that the pink hues in the photo gelling with the walls and the contrasting blues of the bar stools

Clean and sleek lines of the bed with a blob side table and polka-holed lamp 

Cool Poly chairs (designed for Bonaldo) and a Kurl bookshelf (designed for Zeritalia) and don't forget to see the black Bokka pendant lamp  (designed for Kundalini)

Pretty in pink bathroom

Karim Rashid's portfolio on his website contains many more enticing pictures of his creations. 

Andy Warhol

So the aching has set in.  Andy Warhol 'Marilyn' and 'Campbell' in the US are like Klimt's 'Kiss' in Europe - common, trite and found in every self-professed art fanatic's home.   But, its another set of his (over-exploited) quote art prints that I have wanted to order for a long long time. But, for now, we shall be content with the pictures.

Find this notion incredibly romantic.

This is, by far, my favorite!! 

Accurately put!

My thoughts when  I am in a super-altruistic mood.

Err...only if I am waiting for something good.. :-)

Or maybe I should ditch all this and put-up my very own cheesy warholic series :-D

[created using lunapic]

References:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Warhol
2. http://www.warhol.org/
3. http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/warhol_andy.html
4. http://www.warholfoundation.org

Vladimir Tretchikoff

Vladimir Tretchikoff - my inspiration for today. Here come my favorites of his work (while I re-fight the temptation to order his art prints for my already over-crowded home)

Ndebele Girl

Malay Bride

Balinese Girl

Chinese Girl

Miss Wong

Down from inside the earth, may I touch the sky?

Lo and Behold - for one of the most stunning pieces of architecture! Located in Vals, Switzerland, "Villa Vals" is designed and developed by Rotterdam-based Christian Muller Architects and Amsterdam-based Dutch SeARCH architect Bjarne Mastenbroek . What makes this house radically different and unconventional is that it is fully self-contained but completely subterranean in design. Lying amidst the valleys and integrating seamlessly with the awe-inspiring landscape, does this house not make your heart beat a teeny-weeny bit faster?


Built primarily with reinforced concrete which was poured into an excavated tunnel in the side of a hill, this visually-deceiving house is pretty big at 1,700 sq ft  (it measures 52 ft side, 26 ft deep and is 2 stories high). The entrance to the house is through a bi-level barn, which connects to the house through a long concrete tunnel. A long corridor connects the various rooms inside the house. A ground-source heat pump, radiant floors and hydro-electric power are further attempts to covert this into a sustainable home.

Looks like the house is now open for rentals. When can I move in?

Source: http://www.villavals.ch/ , http://www.christian-muller.com/CMA.Projects.VVW.html

OMG! Is this for real?

Love the floating fireplace, concrete ceiling and minimalistic design

Bedrooms and hallways

The perfect sibling vacation bedroom

Not just another hole in the ground!

Libraries and more

Today has been one of those days when I have been day-dreaming (dawn-dreaming? :) of my dream home which has this huge huge library and staircases and small corner lofts filled with countless books.

Some images from my collection for inspiration.

Dreamy!

How well is this space utilized!

I love the art here. And how well is gels with the books. And love having  a ladder to reach the books.

I love the Kitschness of this shelf

If I have a dreary ol' basement, the path to it will be heavenly. A girl can dream, can't she! ? :)

I love you, my dear living room!

Almost there! Need a fire-place and some cozy rugs