Shine is the creative outlet for Susan Hornbeak Ortiz, the co-owner and designer. The style of Shine is very Southern Califiornia slick. Like Palm Springs during the rat pack years when Courrèges was king.

And the furniture reminds me a lot of movies from that era as well – with a twist. The fabric of the piece above with the traditional fabric tacked edges is very mid-60′s – but the cut out from the top of the back is something different. An Asian influence in shape.

These photos don’t do the furniture justice though – if you want to see how they really look you should check out their Fall 09 catalog.

These are conversational pieces, the kind that catch the eye. They remind me of when we had a formal living room and a family room. The living room had furniture that weren’t allowed to sit in – but the pieces were fabulous.

Ming anyone?

The pieces above actually remind me a lot of the furniture I saw in Shanghai last spring. Especially the stool. It’s the lacquer, bright color and shapes that were prevalent there as well.

This goes back to the slick look of the other furniture. The line is consistent in it’s mood and style.

Shine Everyday. There are two directions that furniture seems to be going these days. One way is the linen laid-back look, and the other is straight backed ultra-slick. Shine is the latter.

A couple of weeks ago I was hanging out with my bestest pal Mandy, who is the art director at the magazine where I used to work. She showed me the November issue, which finally had the feature on Arkansas architect Marlon Blackwell and his finally finished home. We seriously started chasing the story not long after I started there in 2002, so I was delighted to see it finally happen. (The house was actually featured first in Met Home, but Mandy obviously styled it way better.)

Anyway. As I was perusing the layout, I saw them. These fabulous yellow and gray floral silk pillows on the Blackwells’ sofa. “THESE! I WANT THESE!” I cried. And when Mandy told me they were from DwellStudio’s line from Target, I declared her a liar. No way did that fabulously modern house designed by this amazing architect (and his amazing architect wife) have some damn pillows from Target decorating the living room sectional. I know the pros love to mix high and low like anyone else, but still.

And I was wrong. I checked it out the next day and sure enough, these gorgeous pillows are indeed part of DwellStudio’s Baroque bedding collection for Target. My local store only had one, but once I got my hands on it, I was in love. I ordered a pair the next day—fifty bucks delivered!

I love the textural combination of the silk and leather. Which, okay, it sounds a little kinky I admit, but it works. The appliqued peonies feature beautiful embroidery outlines, and the black piping ties them in with the sofa.

The colors reverse on the flip side, which is just a fun added bonus, right?

The new pillows bring some much-needed color into the forest of brown furniture we’ve got going on. But I’m working on that. In the meantime, I need an awesome throw to complete the sofa situation. And I don’t mean the dog blanket that goes on it at bedtime. Maybe a great cable knit?

As far as multipurpose furniture goes, you can never go wrong with a bench or two. The location possibilities are almost endless—put one at the foot of the bed or in front of a window, create communal-style seating at the dining table or group a few together for a modular conversation pit. Today’s offerings are more stylish than ever, with clever storage, unexpected materials and silhouettes to fit every decor.

Quite possibly the most brilliant piece of furniture ever, the Cognita bench designed by BluDot for Herman Miller is equally at home in the office or in the bedroom. The upholstered seat lifts to reveal ample space for files or extra linens, while the hard section (which is the perfect spot to place a cocktail, by the way) opens to a removable tray with organizing compartments for smaller bits. A pair of drawers completes this smart instant classic.

Used indoors or out, Arktura’s laser-cut Coral table is bound to leave a lasting impression. Made from bent steel, the bench has soft lines, and is eco-friendly thanks to its no-VOC powder-coated finish. And the mesmerizing pattern is “algorithmically-generated,” which involves math.

I love everything Mariette Himes Gomez does for Hickory Chair, and the Calla bench is no exception. Shown here covered in red velvet, this small bench has a saddle seat with button details on the rolled ends. Its size makes it ideal as an extra party seat, while its good looks let it stand alone as a decorative accent.

Oly Studio is one of my all-time favorites, with their fantastical collection of transitional to modern furnishings. The Henry bench is just rustic enough with its natural plank seat and skinny legs, and would look lovely in an entryway or alongside a cool, casual dining table.

Although technically an ottoman, this amazing kilim from Restoration Hardware is oversized and makes for a plush spot to relax. The rich, hand-woven colors impart an autumn-inspired vibe, and turned legs on brass casters make it elegantly portable.

Another lovely from Oly! The Marco bench features a hand-hammered iron frame covered with a woven leather seat for a great texture combo. Three finishes and leather options further customize this chic seat.

From Viva Terra, a fantastic source for luxe-but-accessible-and-affordable eco wares, comes the Barcelona bench. The colorful stripes are sure to brighten up any room, the oversized baskets are perfect for stashing your stuff, and the chemically-free, enviro-friendly cushion will help keep you green.

And last but not least, CB2′s Fresca bench has a clean, high-gloss white finish that works in almost any situation, making it another great candidate for dining room or end-of-the-bed seating.

]]> http://www.tchochkes.com/wordpress/bench-please/feed/ 2 http://www.tchochkes.com/wordpress/home-tour-somewhere-in-israel-part-1/ http://www.tchochkes.com/wordpress/home-tour-somewhere-in-israel-part-1/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:00:26 +0000 Shira Abel Shvo http://www.tchochkes.com/wordpress/?p=10238

By request of the owners of this home I’m restricted from using their names or location – but I can show my pictures – so I’m good with that. As such, for this post I’m calling the woman W and the man M. Yes, I know, original.

From the moment you get to the iron gate blocking their front door from the backyard you can see that this is no ordinary home.

They have a gnome watching out for them. However, whatever expectations the gnome gives you for their home – I doubt you would expect this…

I took so many pictures (over 160) this post will be continued on Wednesday and Friday this week.

There are so many collections and tchochkes and antiques grouped together it’s impossible to take in all of the visual information in one shot. W told me that she has had friends over multiple times who will ask if something is new only to find out that no, it’s been there for years now.

These metal shelves have been allowed to rust, giving them a rough patina. I tried to show it in the pictures, but couldn’t quite capture the texture. Pity.

There isn’t a square meter or yard in this house without something in it.

At this point I’m still in the entryway.

Their living room is huge, but it’s broken down into several small seating areas built specifically towards intimate conversation. I’m ignoring the massive twigs in the gorgeous metal vases.

The back wall of the living room goes out to a patio – but first one has to stop by the bar.

A closeup of a conversation area with Moroccan style seating by the inner patio.

The French doors lead out  to a patio in the middle of the home.

The vertical beams are reinforcing the second floor, while the horizontal beams are for show only and are used for stage lights.

The floor of the house is all painted or stained (as in the color mixed in) cement. This industrial look balances the antiques used throughout the home.

Even a half bathroom had a million interesting elements to look at. The drape hiding the standing toilet, the wood beam…

To a cement counter top with a hanging towel rack. I especially liked this because if you’re lacking in space this is a great solution to hang your towels.

The view of the living room from the kitchen (which will be featured on Wednesday.)

Hey, remember last week when I wouldn’t shut up about the most perfect gray sofa ever (on my budget)? Well, it is totally the most perfect gray sofa ever (on my budget), but after a shopping trip this weekend, I got the most perfect black leather sofa ever (on my budget). Herewith, the long version…

Saturday afternoon—following the measuring-for-new-kitchen-flooring debacle (I’m looking at you Home Depot)—my husband Matt and I headed to Cost Plus, an enormous furniture warehouse that has awesome deals and no air conditioning. We got our last couch there, and it was fine. It still is; it was perfectly fine when Civitan Services hauled it away to the donation shop this morning. But every piece of furniture in our living room is just brown, so replacing that anchor piece was the first big step. It also became a glorified dog bed. Seriously, I get up every morning to Bailey on one end, Ceili on the other, and they both have their heads on a couch pillow:

Bailey's last morning with the old couch. Hard life.

After five minutes of wandering, we found the first and only true dark gray sofa. Comfy, streamlined, great price. Not totally sure about the texture of the fabric. We took some phone pics and moved on. Eventually we moved over to the leather section, just for kicks because while we both agreed the right black leather sofa would be cool, but didn’t expect to find anything. After walking through loads of really traditional, gentleman’s office or hunting lodge-style leather furniture, we stumble upon this one, paired with a love seat. Matt sits down on the love seat. I plop down on the couch.

We both totally had the same reaction: LOVE. And then I look at the price tag and discover that it’s a floor sample, and it’s cheaper than that West Elm sofa, but there’s no brand name. We decided it was fake leather and probably poorly made. But it was also fabulous and we loved it. So then we pulled back the cushions to look for a tag, and the inside is covered with the Natuzzi logo. Matt looks at me. Even he knows that name. Clearly there’s something wrong with it. So we lounge around for a bit, and check it out, notice a couple of odd spots (floor sample, I know), and eventually our sales guy finds us. Again. We interrupt his Natuzzi sales pitch—yes, shut up, we know, we want it, shut up—to ask about the imperfections.

He goes (yay) to find out if they can do anything, treat it, whatever, and eventually returns with the news that there is one more just like it in the back, unopened and unscathed. Same sofa, same warranty, same price. So yeah, we got this fabulous $2,000 Natuzzi Italian leather sofa for $750. Because they phasing out the line. Whatever. Never underestimate the furniture warehouse, but be prepared to dig, even if you aren’t planning on buying right away.

It was delivered today, and the faintly textured matte black leather looks amazing in the living room (you’re getting “creative” shots because the place is a wreck). I love the single bench cushion with the subtle retro detail. Please excuse the spots on my camera.

I also love the arms, and how the ledge style continues across the back.

I’m excited about bringing more color and texture to the overall space, so now I’m on the lookout for some cool decorative pillows in fun fabrics, patterns and shapes. Any suggestions? There are seriously so many options I don’t know where to start, other than the usual suspects (who have let me down, btw). What are your favorites?

From the runway to the entryway, classic menswear continues to influence everything from women’s clothing (like Alexander McQueen’s luxe houndstooth creation above) to the way we dress our homes. I began noticing this not only from my over-consumption of fashion and interior design mags, but also when I embarked upon my search for the most perfect gray sofa ever (on my budget). Then I got obsessed.
And luckily, unlike say, the return of neon, these looks are timeless, not trendy.

First things first. The most perfect gray sofa ever (on my budget). West Elm’s Goodwin collection includes the sofa in two lengths, a sleeper sofa, chair and ottoman. It’s also available in chocolate brown or something, but whatever, because this was the charcoal sofa of my dreams. Can’t wait to check it out (at the cash register) at the Dallas store in October.

You just cannot go wrong with a pair of x-base stools. Everyone makes a version and they fit with almost any decor. This Italian leather and chrome pair from Williams-Sonoma Home hits the perfect balance of modern and dapper.

At just $150, CB2′s Joe chair is the perfect extra seating in any room. Personally, I’d like to pair a couple with a white Parsons table and a couple of red/orange Eames side chairs. The tight-knit black-and-white tweed might play nicely with the most perfect gray sofa ever (on my budget), and I love the retro school furniture look.

I remember the horrible set of black towels my husband had when we first met. Yeah, lost in the move…. I love soft, all-white towels, but I must say that the Ash color group in Restoration Hardware’s Turkish collection are absolutely beautiful. In muted graphite, stone and ash, they’re a subtle accent for the bath.

Hickory Chair’s Kelsey chair is simple opulence. Feminine shapes, an upholstered leather shield back, completely understated elegance. Decades-old glamour with a new twist. It is all those “juxtaposition phrases” you use when you can’t quite describe how brilliant a chair really is.

For all you people who love Moroccan design, hurry over – there’s a summer sale at Villa Maroc on Yehuda Halevi Street in Tel Aviv! (Warning: not for those who fear bright colors).

To me the colors are breathtaking. The plush sofas and cushions, just make me want to lay down on them and eat couscous from one of the beautiful colorful hand painted clay dishes.

Villa Maroc is owned by Deganit Cohen, who buys all the store’s goodies from Morocco. She also does these fantastic Moroccan style etchings which are framed and for sale in the store. (Deganit is the daughter of Israeli artist Dan Fartush).

These mirror frames are really stunning, as are the cushions:

In Villa Maroc you need to look carefully at everything since there is so much to see, you may miss out on the beautiful floor tiles if you’re too busy looking at those amazing baskets, or the white carved table:

Have a look at these hand painted tiles:

Let’s take a rest on this sofa. Because of the shape of it, it’s not a sofa you can just sit on, you need to really lounge on this one. I love the sausage cushions, too:

Another sofa, but this one is a mattress type sofa on the ground and true to the Moroccan colors of red, orange and gold. Warm, plush and inviting:

There is a lot of hand painted wooden furniture in this store, which I find very beautiful indeed! I love the look of it, it has this human touch. When you look closely, you can see it.  Below some colorful ashtrays on more painted furniture.

Next to the store is the showroom. When you visit the store, don’t miss out on the showroom. This is the entrance. Yes! the door is spectacular:

The window below is sensational with the wrought iron bars in a Moorish style, I think, as is the dusty pink wall, with maroon curtain. No lack of color around here!

Inside the showroom:

A feast of color and light

And some man size vases:

Here’s the textile room where you will find all the textiles you can choose to make your sofa or cushions from.  The textiles are imported from Morocco, Demascus and Syria.  I love the turquise-green lattice screen at the back of the room.

The textiles:

I would love a huge window like this in my apartment with those gorgeously designed wrought iron window bars.

The simplicity of these gorgeous lampshades surprised me (again, don’t miss out on the floor):

Outside in the yard there are mosaic table tops which you can choose from. I particularly liked this green and pink table top (the floor here is also fantastic).

If you’ve read up till here, you get a bonus. Here is the drawing that appears on the inside of the business card, which I find particularly special (I didn’t ask, but I have a feeling Deganit did it):

If you can’t get to Tel Aviv, there’s a website you can take a look at http://www.villamaroc.co.il/

Earlier this week, I took a trip to the great homecenter in Israel; as with all trips I take, I brought along my trusty Nikon, here’s a different view of Ikea:

All images copyright 2009 Jessica D. Korman. All rights reserved

Welcome to a place of elegance and simplicity on Dubnov Street. Architect, Dan Troim, bought a 2 and a half room apartment two years ago and transformed it into an elegant bachelor pad by tearing down most of the walls and creating one lovely large rectangular space. Dan is known for the stylish restaurant interiors that he does, though he also designs apartments and other projects.

His own apartment is airy and gives one a wonderful sense of space. There is a lot of white and he uses different textures on the walls for some variation on the white theme. Dan added many large windows which means that there is a lot of natural light streaming into the apartment. Unfortunately you don’t see these types of windows often in Israel. This apartment really appeals to my Zen side.

Here is the entrance hall and workspace:

I love this built in bookshelf that lets in the natural light from those fantastic windows.

The open plan kitchen is simple, elegant and pure. There aren’t even knobs on the cupboard doors.

Next to the kitchen, there is an exposed brick wall, painted white to give a variation in wall texture. I like this simple touch.

Light streams into the living area from what used to be the balcony. How amazing are those wooden floors?! They are pine floors painted light gray.

Here are a few angles of the living room.

There isn’t really a bedroom, there’s a kind of sleeping corner, enclosed behind the wall that you see here behind the couch.

The metal window frames and handles are so simple and beautiful (white of course), here’s the frosted bathroom window. All the windows in the apartment are framed in the same way.

The toilet door is a tall, slim white washed wooden pannel with a thin wooden piece for the handle . It’s so refreshing to see a different type of door in an apartment, somehow in Israel the doors all tend to be the same size and shape. There’s another door exactly the same design for the bathroom to the right of the sleeping corner.

This was a big surprise, the man keeps his shoes fresh in an old fridge Maybe that’s the way to keep your feet cool in the hot Israeli summers.

So many windows, love it. Here’s yet another one.

Dan is moving into a new apartment so, so prepare yourselves for more great design from him in a few more months.

My husband and I found out about this Danish furniture company nearly a decade ago when we lived in Pittsburgh and bought one of their beds from a shop there. We have since replaced the original mattress once but we still have the frame, which we brought from Pittsburgh to Washington DC and then to Tel Aviv where we live now. We like it so much we also purchased two sofa-beds for our place when we got here. Innovation is distributed globally, and we found a dealer in Israel via the Innovation website.

The sofas and beds are very comfortable, and most have removable and washable covers. Also they recline in several positions using very simple mechanisms. They produce a range of contemporary styles—a line called “one-room-living”, which targets a younger market with edgy prints, convertibles, and bean-bags, but also some more sophisticated minimalist sofa-beds. There’s whole system of modules for customization, which they call the “Design It Yourself” concept. You can choose from different types of mattresses, fabrics, frames, and accessories. It’s good quality stuff—the hardware is under lifetime warranty and very easy to assemble/disassemble/reassemble. And it’s affordable, like somewhere in between Ikea and say, Vitra, and considering how nice it looks and feels I would definitely say you get your money’s worth.

You have to purchase through a local dealer who will walk you through their catalog and all the choices for customization. There seems to be at least one retailer in most major cities. The Israeli distributor, Aminach, runs a store in the Design Center shopping mall near the Bnei Braq rail station. Generally a good place to look around if you’re furnishing a home.