Notre Maison Design Group Blog

RL’s New Collection

Beth — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:27:12 +0000

I have never been a fan of furniture companies that are huge and mass produce their pieces and tend to be drawn to small companies that make pieces custom . By the way, when I had a shop, they did not like me either. The entire furniture industry is geared towards high volume sales and therefore I would have to carry a set dollar amount of their furnishings to even open an account with them. That is not really what I was ever about..but you can clearly see why some boutique stores have gone to a high volume of furniture and dropped small ticket unique items to get the account and therefore the huge profits. Also mass produced items in the past lacked good design. This has somewhat changed by furniture companies hiring designers to sell their products by putting their names with these companies. By endorsing them, I feel like the furnishings have come up the ladder in design. Tibor Kalman said “the difference between good design and great design is intelligence”. I had heard that Ralph Lauren was introducing some new lines to his furnishings and I was happy to hear because it seems like awhile since anything has come out new from them. The line is called the Desert Modern Collection and is really amazing. Take a look at these pieces! They are pricey but definitely great design!

Which Section?

Beth — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:50:47 +0000

Don’t know if you have noticed.. but seemingly sectional sofas are really vogue these days. Picking out a sofa usually involves size, comfort, use, and of course price. With a sectional sofa ..things get a little more complicated or just plain confusing..like how do you measure for the size ? Will that actually fit the space or will it be able to ever get up to my space which is a third floor walk-up ? There are so many variables in sectionals..some have corner pieces others are basically just two sofas jutted together..then there is the sofa with a chaise at the end or both ends. This can be a challenging endeavor for those that have decision-making phobia already. Then there is the practical buyer thinking “these are expensive pieces of furniture and not well-adapted to a change in environment”.The solution to the last challenge is a new type of sectional that works well if the pieces are separated for use as two sofas or together as one. The tip for the “will it fit in the space” dilemma is to remember that whatever the corner is..that depth and width has to added onto both sides of the sectional if it is an L-shaped sofa or one with a chaise. It is a fact that this new appeal of sectionals involves the comfort factor. That being said..I have seen [and actually experienced] some really uncomfortable sectionals. The very best way to get started on your sectional sofa quest is to get some inspiration from pics like the ones below AND just go out and experience a few first hand!

Mio Preferito

Beth — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:00:58 +0000

The annual Salone del Mobile in Milan just ended. It is the largest furniture design event in the world! I was excited to read that my favorite architect and interior designer Paola Navone‘s studio was the venue for a Merci temporary pop-up store during the week of this event. I am so sorry I missed this show..will have to plan for next year! I am sure some attendees will be posting blog pics this week of some amazing new furniture pieces they were lucky enough to be the first to see! Here are some pics of the pop-up Merci store and of Paola’s residences in Paris and the Cyclades Islands of Greece. Is it time for a holiday yet?

The Accessorator

SoFiliumm

Style Files

I am thinking this view of the Aegean Sea is the most amazing feature of her home!

Coté Sud

The living area is framed by the view from the sea.

Coté Sud

Her Paris apartment with the amazing tables and sofa she designed for Gervasoni

Coté Sud

Her Paris salle de cuisine is my fav. It is so well designed with designated prep area, vegetable wash sink, cooking, and cleanup. The space is perfect with the wall of windows for natural light.

Turning The Heat UP

Beth — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 03:31:39 +0000

I was just having a conversation with my daughter offering her a trip to Tulum or somewhere else similar for her graduation gift. She quickly responded “Isn’t it going to be way too hot there in June?” Wow..I cannot believe she has already forgotten about the summers here in Florida before leaving for California for college and now New Mexico for grad school! It is hot here in the summers ! A friend of mine from Los Angeles responded to my complaint about the sweltering summer we were having a few years back with an air of understanding ..”Yes, it is hot ..I am out in Palm Springs”. That is not the same hot as Florida period! There is no elevation here and the humidity can soar to 100% in the summers. I am preparing for a project with a client who wants me to help with the design and furnishings of her courtyard space. It is a stucco walled- in area with a pool, a loggia for outdoor dining, and an empty space which will become the lounge area. There is really limited to no space to add mature trees to provide shade so I am thinking of an awning. Here are some idea pics for covering this area that could work and provide shelter from the sun! Which would you prefer?

Bathroom Storage Sense

Beth — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:21:55 +0000

Do you ever look at pictures of amazingly designed bathrooms in shelter magazines or on design blogs and wonder sometimes “who lives here?” I mean where do they put their stuff??? You know the shampoo and soap for the bathtubs and showers? Or where does the toothbrush and paste , makeup, and contact solution go on the wall hung vanities or pedestal sinks with just those great mirrors above them? Maybe there is an entire group of people that don’t even use towels in their bathrooms..I rarely see towels in these photos except in neatly styled precisely folded stacks or rolled up in baskets with no towel bars in sight to hang them after their use. I love the look believe me, I just do not have any clients that live that way seriously. After all, I mainly design beach houses with people on vacation that will have dozens of wet towels! So..I am a huge fan of the niches and robe hooks to remedy the problem of well designed bathrooms with places to really place your bathroom “stuff”. Here are some inspirational pics.

Notre Maison Design Group

Remodelista

Bates Masi Architects

French By Design

Max Levy Architects