Maison & Objet in Paris, France...Color!!!

Color always start in fashion then work its way into our homes. Here are pictures of a few store windows in Paris.

This is Fendi's outdoor furniture line. Notice the chili color used as accents

I had the privilege of attending the Maison & Objet show in Paris (Sept 4 - 8, 2009) Wow!!!!! What an experience and what an absolutely beautiful show. I could hardly wait to get back home and blog about color. The show had a definite color palette. Purple, chili, mushroom, navy and a little apple green. The purple ranges all the way to a lovely magenta, while the navy can tip to the cobalt side.

Mesmerized by Modern Lighting

I am always fascinated by illuminating, magical effects of lighting. I was browsing Metropolitan Home magazine when I stumbled upon an article about the amazing inventor/designer Paul Cocksedge. This is a Paul Cocksedge design called "Swell." There is a small glass bubble in it filled with colored mercury that reacts to the heat produced by a light bulb, when the lamp is on - the coloured liquid expands in the glass container filling it and when the lamp is turned off the liquid contracts again.



This Paul Cocksedge design is made from plastic foam cups to transform into his Styrene lamp. A very organic and amazing sculpture made by applying heat to polystyrene...causing the structure to change its shape.

Something Special, an "Oldie"

What a little treasure I found on Craigslist. Periodically, I scan Craigslist for furniture “for sale,” like many people – I am always looking for a bargain, when I stumbled upon what I like to think of as “an old chair with really great bones.” I got so excited about this crazy old chair for $15.00. I could barely stand waiting for the reply from the seller if the chair was still available. It was, so I made arrangements to go take a peek.

The chairs cushions are shot and probably smell of years living at a retirement center, but in my mind this beautiful “oldie” will be part of my own collection in my home. I will transform it (with the help from “my” upholster) into a crisp, grass-green beauty with a monogram and new shinny black lacquered legs. The chair probably will cost as much as a new chair – maybe even a bit more, but I am left with a one of a kind….something I always find rewarding. This is true for all areas of the home. Why settle for something everyone else has????

What is "BIM"?

BIM is short for “Building Information Modeling” is the process of generating and managing building data during its life cycle[1]. Typically it uses three-dimensional, real-time, dynamic building modeling software to increase productivity in building design and construction.[2] The process produces the Building Information Model (also abbreviated BIM), which encompasses building geometry, spatial relationships, geographic information, and quantities and properties of building components. (courtesy of Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_Information_Modeling)

Computer Aided Drafting started out as a drafting tool, that was like drawing by hand on paper but made changes and duplication much faster. It also was not a messy, smudgy, or hard to keep clean process. The old way of drafting with pencil and paper is now an art form and those who still design this way, produce amazing drawings.

Old style Blueprint with Hand Drafting.




As we have progressed over the years, everything in our lives has changed, too. What would we do without or cell phones, laptops etc?? I know when I lose my cell phone I feel lost and it’s the end of the world, until I find the stupid thing.

So to the computer aided drafting programs has progressed, from complicated 2d systems that at times seemed slower then hand drafting because of slow computer systems. Now we are at a stage that the computers are way more capably of handling the new 3d software systems that use the new “BIM” technology. Software companies like Autodesk ‘Revit’, Graphsoft’s ‘Archicad’, Nemetschek ‘Vectorworks’ etc. have been developing these programs to be able to design from scratch to final construction drawings - using one model.

The model is drawn and developed in 3d and is uses parts and blocks that are real world building components. So with this new way of drawing, we as designers have now the access to see our designs before they even dig the ground for the first time. Since working with a real life size model, it is like viewing the real building in every aspect of the building can be studied from how we interact in the spaces, to HVAC duct systems, how the building is constructed, to energy studies to how the building sits on the site etc..

"Revit" generated overall view of Hotel

Interior courtyard "Revit" generated model view

Ariel photo of completed Hotel

Front Perspective view of Custom Home "Revit"

Perspective view of custom home concept "Revit"

"Revit" Interior view of concept kitchen

These programs make our job of conveying our designs to our clients easier to understand and see how it will look when built. We as designers have imagined our designs and can see what they may be when built, from our experience - but most of our clients cannot visualize the final project when looking at flat 2d drawings on paper. With this instant feedback we receive from our BIM models, the decisions can be made quicker and more accurately so the process saves money and time.

This technology is also used in building huge airliners like at Boeing and so far is very successful.
From these programs we can add finishes, trees, cabinets, people, cars, pets, carpets, art, etc; that will be used so that everything from how we interact with the spaces, to what the walls will look like. We can get an almost photo like images as if we have the project built.

As a designer, I feel much more freedom to explore options and to provide my clients with more then they can imagine, before we ever get started designing. This gets my imagination and creativity flowing and it is so much more exciting to see my clients visualize what we have designed for them. This gives you a glimpse of what we find so exciting about the future of designing for our clients and how we are able to effect our built environment in a positive way.

New boutique hotel in Cerritos Mexico, north of Cabo

This project started out as a modest 18,000sf vacation home that we started designing couple of years ago, and is almost done, but it is open for business. Now it is a 30,000+sf boutque hotel up and running. It is located in a quiet off the main orad site, next to the only surfable beach on the Pacific Ocean side of the Baja.

What a amazing project to see come to life. This is Nordby Design Studio 's first major project built outside of the Pacific Northwest and it's first Hotel. As you can tell we are very proud of this project and hope many people can enjoy it and it's surroundings.

I love to see how a project comes to life, from the white pages and Cad machine screens to the final built project. To see it and feel it, is the most amazing feeling.

Check it out and you can see our cad images at our web site to see where it started....

go to: http://www.haciendacerritos.com/

Glass Paint

I actually have a few blogs I like to read. One of them is Apartment Therapy. I found this very interesting and thought I would bring it to you. If you love how these aqua mason jars look but don't want to pay the premium for them...did you know there are glass paints you can make them with yourself? Vitrea 160 is a glass paint that will allow you to turn items like clear canning jars into a beautiful antique aqua color...perfect for summer. You can purchase a case of the wide mouth ball jars from Amazon for only $13.49 (according to Apartment Therapy's blog). Fill with flowers or fill with sand and a candle.

"Change a Room, Redesign It!"

Each time you walk into your home, are there areas or a room you just don’t like, or care for any longer, or you notice it just feels “off?” Think redesign!!! The concept isn’t new, but with a slowed down - more cautious economy it is a practical and more affordable way to change a room.
When I redesign a room for a client - I work with existing furnishings and accessories and use them in creative new ways that will help to give a refreshed, more updated designer look to a space. Often times paired with the addition of new paint color(s), a few new updated accessories, and a new furniture layout. A room can completely change! I always think of it in these terms…revamp, refine, redefine, and refresh. If this is something you have been thinking about….why wait, it will change how you feel about your home.

This Room got a complete new look. We changed the wall color, added window treatments, new pillows, and a few new accessories, and changed the furniture layout. We brought in a chair and a small console table from another room.

The before picture.

The outdated red walls and mismatched accessories made this room feel very uncomfortable. Our objective with this space was to keep all existing furniture, tone down the wall color, add updated accessories and make the room feel cohesive with the rest of the home.