Simple Chic

After sifting through tons of interiors 'stuff' the other day, I realized you could condense 'chic'(in a general sense)pretty easily; and figured I best share it as it helps navigate a lot of "I'm not sure if it works moments". Essentially, keep it neutral; keep it simple; and keep it textured. These would be the 3 rules to live by if one forced you to express 'chic' in an E=mc2 kind of way. Thus the below are all easily accomplished, and all "simple-chic". I like this term. Mix and match, or just choose one of your liking to inject a little elegance into any situation. As an overview we've got two bigger items. A natural textured rug and a headboard; both chosen for there dual neutral and textured qualifications(as well as being excessively simple flat slabs of form). An then getting smaller in scale, I've got some super simple things anyone can pick up quickly like knitted pillows(texture on a smaller scale), and throws, as well as some things that wouldn't come to mind so quickly; such as a weathered clock, or some trays that I'm sure you can come up with a reason for having. And to cap it off, candles from Jo Malone. Can't get more chic with less effort than that. Enjoy!

A Natural Jute Rug Via FashAndFurn.com

Home Decorating Ideas, Simple And Chic, A Natural Jute Rug

A White French Tufted Headboard Via FashAndFurn.com

Home Decorating Ideas, Simple And Chic, A White French Tufted Headboard

White Rib Knit Pillow With Buttons Via FashAndFurn.com

Home Decorating Ideas, Simple And Chic, White Rib Knit Pillow With Buttons

Knit Throw Blankets Via FashAndFurn.com

Home Decorating Ideas, Simple And Chic, Knit Throw Blankets

Rustic White Antique Clock Via FashAndFurn.com

Home Decorating Ideas, Simple And Chic, Rustic White Antique Clock

Weathered Wooden Trays Via FashAndFurn.com

Home Decorating Ideas, Simple And Chic, Weathered Wooden Trays

Jo Malone Vanilla Candles Via FashAndFurn.com

Home Decorating Ideas, Simple And Chic, Jo Malone Vanilla Candles

Not Neutral, Graphic Table Settings

Today is table settings. Fun ones. Don't know why, but these left an impression on me about a week ago. I think because they're so 'graphic'. Let me define that. Basic flat shapes or patterning with not so much detail(or 'depth'; as 'basic' would imply)... They're bold, but not tacky(the consistent presence of black and white keep them toned down a bit which is good). They're modern, but could work on an eclectic table with mixed pieces as well(as long as it's not too crazy). And most importantly, they're not boring(something to always try to avoid). The first two are particularly cleaver, and if you have a thing for maps like I do lately you're in luck(again) because they're architectural city plans. You can follow up on the recent post about antique maps as wall decor if you're into that type of thing here. Wouldn't advise mixing the two together directly, but they're both fun options depending on your taste. The tabletop below is all by a smaller brand named Not Neutral(like the name), and all linked to the retailer for convenient impulse action.

Best,
Thomas-Michael

Via FashAndFurn.com

Graphic Design Tabletop Table Settings From Not Neutral, Washington DC
...self explanatory, these are a great conversation piece/just fun to have around. And if you're looking to get serious about why city plans would be on plates; I'd say it's a reflection of a more general cultural impulse towards the visual information environment(another post/too deep for today).

Via FashAndFurn.com

Graphic Design Tabletop Table Settings From Not Neutral
Las Vegas, another fun city map plate.

Via FashAndFurn.com

Graphic Design Tabletop Table Settings From Not Neutral
...k, enough with the city maps; these are very petite and cute. Always love lite blue on anything. Particularly delicate patterns like these.

Via FashAndFurn.com

Graphic Design Tabletop Table Settings From Not Neutral
...and of course like any creative person, I love the complete opposite of the last image as well. Being dark as opposed to lite, and completely not delicate. Oddly they work great together(like most oppositions). These shapes are amazing though. A little retro, bold, don't know, something about them I love.

Via FashAndFurn.com

Graphic Design Tabletop Table Settings From Not Neutral
...here's an example of a setting, think everything looks great and balanced together.

Via FashAndFurn.com

Graphic Design Tabletop Table Settings From Not Neutral
...this one's fun, love these odd shapes.

Via FashAndFurn.com

Graphic Design Tabletop Table Settings From Not Neutral
...here's 4 plates I REALLY love, all different patterns, all alot of fun. Mix and match as desired.

Via FashAndFurn.com

Graphic Design Tabletop Table Settings From Not Neutral
...more amazing shapes/patterns. They're somehow pretty and abstract at once. Not too wild, but fun and easy going. Maybe a little Miro in general, something surrealist about some of the patterns/shapes.

Via FashAndFurn.com

Graphic Design Tabletop Table Settings From Not Neutral
...and lastly, a few lace inspired plates for all of you out there who love everything lace inspired(like me).

Clover Green Knitwear From InhabitNY

...just a quickie because I loved the color and thought others wouldn't mind having one in their wardrobe. Reminds me of the edge of glass, really love it.

Via FashAndFurn.com

Spring Clover Colored Knitwear From Inhabit NY

Via FashAndFurn.com

Spring Clover Colored Knitwear From Inhabit NY

Via FashAndFurn.com

Spring Clover Colored Knitwear From Inhabit NY

Via FashAndFurn.com

Spring Clover Colored Knitwear From Inhabit NY

Decor And Fashion 2012: Seeing Red

...not always a bad thing.

...forget about holiday associations(even Valentine's Day for that matter/hope everyone had a great one though). Red is entirely it's own thing. Ask a matador. I'd look twice if I saw red in the summer time, and I'm sure you would too. There's always one woman in a red dress, isn't there. It's a color so powerful; I'm seriously considering classifying it rather as a shape. And that's simply because everything around it always seems to bounce off of it(must be physical)... So below we have a nice little sample of ways you can 'get-red' in your wardrobe and at home. And if you're anything like me, everything red in your current environment will suddenly pop out to your eyes a little more after seeing this post(it's startling). Enjoy!

Thomas-Michael

Red Valentino Hobo Bag On FashAndFurn.com

Seeing Red, Fashion, Valentino

I'm starting with this Valentino bag because it's shiny on top of being red. If you're looking for attention, this is surely the route to take. Very gorgeous(and red).

Red Missoni Dress On FashAndFurn.com

Seeing Red, Fashion, Missoni

A short red dress can go a long way, but this one is somewhat softer in texture than what you usually see(less hard lined). It's a lovely mixture of bold and soft I think.

Red Sam Edelman Pump On FashAndFurn.com

Seeing Red, Fashion, Sam Edelman

A couple of smaller things now, if you're not inclined to go all in just yet. Spikes and red seem naturally in love, need I say more.

Red Zanotti Stiletto Bootie On FashAndFurn.com

Seeing Red, Fashion, Zanotti

Another great red shoe, this time from Zanotti.

Red BEBE Skinny Belt On FashAndFurn.com

Seeing Red, Fashion, BEBE

Or you could just sport a skinny red belt like this one from BEBE. It's amazing how powerful just one thin line of red can be.

Red Alexander McQueen Scarf On FashAndFurn.com

Seeing Red, Fashion, Alexander McQueen

More subdued, but still powerful, this red scarf from Alexander McQueen(for the darker/mysterious types).

Red Lanvin Swimwear On FashAndFurn.com

Seeing Red, Fashion, Lanvin

Summer is around the corner(in New York at least) and I love the lines of the old-fashioned inspired bathing suits. So elegant. This one in red by Lanvin is shocking and refined.

Red Urban Outfitters Readers On FashAndFurn.com

Seeing Red, Fashion, Urban Outfitters

Maybe it would be too much to put with the above, but who cares. Red sunglasses from Urban Outfitters. I'm slightly obsessed with the old librarian shapes lately.

Red Urban Outfitters Clock On FashAndFurn.com

Seeing Red, Decor, Urban Outfitters

And when you get home, hard to see how you could be late for something with this red rimmed clock.

Red Chandra Rug On FashAndFurn.com

Seeing Red, Decor, Chandra

I love(LOVE) red in big patched geometrical shapes; particularly on the floor. This would work well with any of your existing pieces.

Red Alphaville Chair On FashAndFurn.com

Seeing Red, Decor, Alphaville

And lastly, a little modern red chair to float around the apartment/office. Has a lot of character for such a simple shape.

Antique Maps As Wall Decor

Maybe it's because I went to school for architecture and spent one too many nights up during urban analysis, or maybe it's just because they're beautiful. But I recently came across these antique maps while curating the shopping portal(FashAndFurn.com/shameless plug/whatever/get over it); and thought I had to share. I instantly thought they were such a great idea for people who need something large in scale for their walls, but who don't want to be 'canonical' about it(as in art,-done,boring,take me somewhere else please). The below would all be amazing to be struck with, and amazing to look into(inspect) at a smaller scale up close. ...as maps are a record, it's a bit like having the texture of an unfolded book on the wall(only more beautifully drawn). You can check them out at the portal, I linked everything to the page that has them laid out so you can see them admist the others in one clean display... And then naturally you can follow through to the retailer if you're feeling in love about them and find your credit card mysteriously close at hand. Enjoy!




Thomas-Michael

FashAndFurn.com

Interior Design Ideas, Using Antique Maps As Wall Decor, 18th Century Paris Plan

FashAndFurn.com

Interior Design Ideas, Using Antique Maps As Wall Decor, 17th Century World Map

FashAndFurn.com

Interior Design Ideas, Using Antique Maps As Wall Decor, 17th Century Rome Plan

FashAndFurn.com

Interior Design Ideas, Using Antique Maps As Wall Decor, 17th Century World Map

FashAndFurn.com

Interior Design Ideas, Using Antique Maps As Wall Decor, 18th Century American Map

My Projects, An Exhibition Concept For DVF Home

For those of you who don't know, DVF has a recently lauched 'Home' line which includes what else; a very fashionable array of bedding and tabletop. If you haven't seen it yet, you should check it out.


The below is actually the 'lesser' of two schemes I drew up for one of their 2012 Maison & Objet exhibition booths. The other(chosen) scheme we'll have to wait on a little bit before posting as the booth hasn't happened just yet. So... I suppose the obvious over-riding question is how to take a brand which is so canonically associated with fashion and shift it slightly to present a different type of product... This scheme utilizes the mannequin as an embodiment of the connection to fashion; while utilizing the new product line in cleaver ways to articulate them... Plates and pillows are used to cover the 'un-mentionable' parts of the body, bedding sheets are treated as simlutaneously covering and sliding off(as clothing); and further yet, the patterns of the home line are applied directly to the bodies of the mannequins themselves. I suppose there are a few ways you could go with that last part if you were more broadly thinking about the relationship between a brand and a consumer(the kind of direct application of the brand to the consumer's life, or imprint if you will). Or even the relationship between clothing and skin. But whatever... Pulling back, I grouped in the mannequins in the extremely posed manner of fashion photography, even a little bit thinking about groupings in classical art and sculpture; all-in-all to keep insinuating fashion while simultaneously elevating the presentation of the product in a kind of museum like sense....


But I suppose my favorite parts are some of the less obvious things such as the use of a Mondrian type of architecture on the mannequin bodies. Something about the extreme geometrical definitions of Mondrian interfacing with the curve of the body really interests me. More broadly from the outside of the booth, I love the extremely narrow doorway opening for it's proportions(Egyptian inspired I think) and for the way it suggestively frames what you're about to encounter inside. In the same manner and even to a greater degree I love the excessively narrow slot window you'll see at the end of the images. At a time when brands and merchandising can't find a billboard or a store display window large enough; I actually think the most powerful way to get someone to look, is to hide(or tease). Everyone wants to peek through a crack in the wall, don't they. So the sides of this booth as you'll see are designed with an extremely narrow 4-6 inch slot at eye level; where-upon you can just see the heads of the mannequins, and tell that something interesting is happening inside...


...K, hope you enjoy!

tmds1.com

Somewhere Between Fashion And Interiors, A Visual Merchandising Concept For DVF Home

tmds1.com

Somewhere Between Fashion And Interiors, A Visual Merchandising Concept For DVF Home

tmds1.com

Somewhere Between Fashion And Interiors, A Visual Merchandising Concept For DVF Home

tmds1.com

Somewhere Between Fashion And Interiors, A Visual Merchandising Concept For DVF Home

tmds1.com

Somewhere Between Fashion And Interiors, A Visual Merchandising Concept For DVF Home

tmds1.com

Somewhere Between Fashion And Interiors, A Visual Merchandising Concept For DVF Home

tmds1.com

Somewhere Between Fashion And Interiors, A Visual Merchandising Concept For DVF Home

Shop Fashion And Furniture, Shop Lifestyle

Haven't posted in w-a-y too long. Part of the reason is below though, so let's get into it. About a month ago, I realized a few of the following things. Shopping on the internet can be a pain(so many sites/brands/etc.). To go from one individual site to another(one at a time) is relatively time consuming effort. And let's face it, it gets frustrating. Particularly for those of you trying to hide it from your co-workers. Then, there's the auxiliary problem of all that, ummm, we'll call it 'less-than-interesting' merchandise that gets in the way. A LOT of sifting to do. Now while everyone could simply cut through all that by hiring a personal lifestyle consultant or a designer like me, that takes time as well(meetings = ugh), and can also be expensive. What do you do when you just want some quick advice on a chair, and nothing else? Hmmm...

So now for all of my blog readers, and hopefully others, we have the below. It's a shopping/starting point on the internet and I'm calling it FashAndFurn. And anyone who can add 2 and 2 together should be able to guess why. We've got fashion(girls AND boys), and home furnishings in one spot. Better than that, it only takes about 1/10th of a second to switch from one to the other(Note: Big 'W'(omens) 'M'(ens) 'I'(nteriors)) on the site... To additionally ease the burden of having to engage multiple sites; we've also got tons of brands to choose from; so navigate by brand at will...
Now, in terms of quality; because I said part of the issue was weeding out the 'less-than-interesting'. I personally sifted everything ahead of time; so you're always looking at a pre-curated selection of what out there. It's a bit like having a personal shopper, but it's just online. If I didn't think it looked great, I didn't put it in front of you(on the site)...

Lastly, the concept is super easy. Jump on, find something you like, and click it. The site will transport you as directly as possible to that product on the internet while keeping itself open in the background; so you can come back and look some more. Super easy. The interface is 'stuff'-free/clean and modern with NO pop-ups, blinking things, or whatever else... Just white and to the point, the way I like everything design...

Some images and sample merchandise below, hope you enjoy!

Shop Fashion And Furniture, Shop Lifestyle At FashAndFurn.com

Splash!

F2 Home Page. Click the image to check it out, and easily navigate into the shopping portal...

Shop Fashion And Furniture, Shop Lifestyle At FashAndFurn.com

A Clean Easy-To-Use User Interface Design

Shop Fashion And Furniture, Shop Lifestyle At FashAndFurn.com

FashAndFurn Merchandise, Play By Givenchy

Shop Fashion And Furniture, Shop Lifestyle At FashAndFurn.com

FashAndFurn Merchandise, A Modern/Elegant Lighting Fixture From Nuevo Lighting

Shop Fashion And Furniture, Shop Lifestyle At FashAndFurn.com

FashAndFurn Merchandise, A Great Relaxed Gucci Watch For The Boys

Shop Fashion And Furniture, Shop Lifestyle At FashAndFurn.com

Shop Fashion And Furniture, Shop Lifestyle At FashAndFurn.com