Category Archives: Architecture

Small Living

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

Homes come in all sHaPeS and sizes! Currently, 🆃🅸🅽🆈 homes are becoming more popular because people want to live minimalistic lives. The functionality of these spaces are incredible, taking advantage of every little nook and cranny available. Tiny homes are mobile, allowing travelers to go anywhere. If you are looking to downsize, consider a tiny home!

Here are some amazing tiny homes:

1. This yellow home is bright and airy. It’s decorated with light, natural tones that complement the natural lighting beautifully. 

tiny1

2. This rustic tiny home is inspired by nature. Its wooden features create a cabin-like space. Bring the outdoors indoors with this home!

3. This home is a blend of modern and rustic decor. The modern elements are sleek against the wood paneling of the walls. Sliding doors are used to maximize space and you feel right at home.

4. This home is versatile, crafted to meet your daily needs while decorated with aesthetically-pleasing features. It has a beachy ☼ feel with its cool tones that makes the space feel bigger than it is.

tinyy

5. This home is absolutely adorable. Its boho accessories make the home cozy and relaxing. Natural lighting floods the home and the wooden ceiling is an added bonus, making it even more unique.

8576

Would you ever live in a tiny home?

In the name of print & pattern,

DW

 

Mod Moments in Palm Springs CA.

Posted on by
1

Modernism Week-It’s a thing in sunny Palm Springs California and we were so happy to be a part of this iconic Mid-Century celebration!

Architects in the likes of Albert Frey, Michael Black, E. Stewart Williams, Walter White, Craig Ellwood, Richard Neutra and James McNaughton are just a few of the mid-century greats that helped turn Palm Springs into the Mid-Century destination it is today!

So much fun visiting Maison a l’Orange, Moroccan House, Hidden Frey and West Elm Pool House to see varying styles of architecture as well as interior design. Safe to say that orange, hot pink and turquoise are the “go to” colors of Palm Springs.‬

Kinetic Store Design | The new trend in VM

Posted on by
Reply

Lets put it in motion! As retail spaces are getting smaller, designers have to be more and more creative about what to do with all of the store’s product. The new design trend is building up, kinetically. Stores are bringing their displays to life while maximizing space in a small square footage. Conveyor belts and moving clothing rails are automated and add an entertainment factor. Going beyond that, displays can also hold stock in the ceiling area to free up premium floor space below.

Here are a few examples of the coolest kinetic stores right now

MCM’s latest concept store in Seoul has a conveyor belt, touch screen installations, and robotic displays.

Screen Shot 2017-09-25 at 9.57.37 AM.png

MCM

Aether store in San Fran stacked 3 shipping containers on top of each other and created a conveyor system to carry stock between all 3 floors.

Screen Shot 2017-09-25 at 9.57.00 AM.png

Aether

Dolce & Gabanna used kinetic design in creating a ceiling that can descend to create a special VIP room within the space.

Screen Shot 2017-09-25 at 9.56.35 AM.png

D&G

Our favorite! Check out this moving display on our Insta @designworksinternational from Descente Blanc in Tokyo. They created a unique stock display system that can be lowered depending on what the shopper is looking for. This same practice can also be found in their larger Fukuoka Store, creating a striking visual impact.

Screen Shot 2017-09-25 at 9.55.36 AM.png

Descente Blanc // Tokyo

Screen Shot 2017-09-25 at 9.54.53 AM.png

Descente Blanc // Fukuoka

 

Hope you got your daily dose of trend inspiration!

In the name of print & pattern,

DW

Design Works (Goes) International

Posted on by
1

Happy Friday everyone! Before we head off into the weekend we want to share a little inspiration from our creative director, Nancy Fire, who spent the last week traveling through Paris, Lisbon, and Madrid. Nancy discovered and captured some gorgeous colors and patterns on her adventures and we thought we would share a little bit of her finds with you today! (Aren’t you lucky?) So sit back, relax, and lets go on a little trip to Europe (visually, at least).

Screen Shot 2017-09-15 at 11.51.41 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-15 at 11.51.52 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-15 at 11.52.04 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-15 at 11.52.11 AM.png

From the world traveler herself:

“Inspiration is everywhere in Lisbon, especially if you love Azulejos Tiles. Today these tiles are dominant in every Portuguese city and are embedded in its history and culture. The word “azulejo” means “small polished stone” and although they are not a Portuguese invention, by the 18th century no other European country was producing as many tiles as Portugal. Over the years, azulejo tiles have become an art form used for a variety of design applications both in exterior and interior home design. Spending time in Bairro Atlo and Principe Real, two older areas of Lisbon, I spotted various azulejo tiles on homes in different color combinations and patterns.”

In the name of print & pattern,

DW

Collaborating Style with GAF 

Posted on by
1

Honored to be working along side GAF on the re-launch of their GAF Style Guide on GAF.com Our focus is the lifestyle shift of “bringing the indoors, outdoors”, a trend in home design today!

Founded in 1886, GAF is the largest roofing manufacturer in North America. The company’s products include a comprehensive portfolio of steep-slope and commercial roofing systems, which are supported by an extensive national network of factory-certified contractors.

The new GAF Style Guide is a resource that helps homeowners select shingles that best match their personal style with their exterior home portfolio.

The style guide can be found at http://www.gaf.com/style.

In today’s world, we have seen a major lifestyle shift in “bringing the indoors, outdoors” so a paramount design decision like choosing the color and substrate of your roof is now being influenced by your lifestyle. Color as well as texture are factors to consider while making this important decision and I am thrilled to be working with such an innovative company as GAF.

The reality behind “bringing the indoors, outdoors” begins with our housing market because homes today are being built with a more organic vibe towards the outdoors, blending the lines of where the indoors starts and the outdoors end.  We are seeing homes built with glass partitions connecting the house to the outside.

Gardens have become multi-functional rooms allowing for comfortable, quality furniture and accessories that have been in the past only associated with interior living.

Outdoor kitchens and dinning areas have become permanent fully functioning structures that allow for all year round entertaining.

The variation of outdoor space in rear patios, interior courtyards, upper floor balconies and rooftop decks allows people to experience outdoor living no matter how small their indoor living space is.

As you can see “bringing the indoors, outdoors” is not only a trend, it’s a lifestyle that allows us to extend our time outdoors enjoying friends and family!

I am blessed to have my own business, Design Works International located in NYC for the past 27 years providing companies like GAF creative consulting through color, trend and design solutions. (Designworksstyle.com)


  
  
  
  

Maison Objet Miami

Posted on by
2

I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical when I heard that Maison Objet, the French trade show for interior design that has taken place in Paris only, was having its debut in America in Miami May 2015. I decided to venture to Miami yesterday (twist my arm) and see what Maison & Objet (Americas) was all about.

Maison Objet in the Miami Beach Convention Center had just over 300 exhibitors from all over the world. The diversity ranged from high profile companies to new rising star artisans which gave the show a new twist to its more established show in Paris…think “Boutique Maison”!

The venvue was easy to navigate which left me with a few hours to explore the Miami Design District which too has grown over the years! With the success of Art Basel and the expansion of the Design District Miami does seem to be the right and natural choice for Maison in America!

Enjoy some of my highlights from my day at Maison Objet in America as well as images from the Miami Design District!


Gilles Caffier, Paris

  Alicia Kossick (Representing Artisans Worldwide)

  Tidelli, Brazil

  Vallila Interior, Finland

  Opiary, New York

 Fine Art Lamps, USA and Wep Lighting, Brazil

  Internum, Italy (The Hug Chair)

  Miami Design District

  Miami Design District

  Monica James & Co. Miami Design District

  Fermob, France

  Holly Hunt, Miami Design District

Internum, Miami Design District

 

NYC as a Backdrop for Beauty

Posted on by
Reply

 

When you live and work in this city, you often forget how beautiful it is. I love being able to stumble upon moments like this one. The beautiful NY Public Library as a backdrop for art.

It made me wonder… what is on showcase? Is the dancer helping the photographer with her portfolio? Is the photographer helping dancer with HER portfolio? Is the garment the dancer is wearing the focus? It didn’t really matter to me, I was lucky enough to find beauty this morning in our fair city.NYCbeauty

 

Small Holdings

Posted on by
Reply

This past weekend I happened to stumble upon what I call “A Treasure Chest of Goodies” at the Small Holdings Farm in Aquebogue, NY. For all us designers out there, it is getting harder and harder to find great antiques and “barn finds” that are affordable and allow us the opportunity to be used for our DIY projects.

The Small Holdings Farm is home to a large barn filled with many trinkets, furniture and rustic finds outside on the perimeter of the property. If you like to repaint, reclaim or just repurpose, I would highly suggest paying the Small Holdings Farm a visit!

They specialize in farmhouse decor, painted furniture, country cottage, industrial, reclaimed and renamed items. It is truly one of North Fork’s best kept secrets on Long Island NY. They are located in Aquebogue at 965 Main Street and their number is 631-722-3342. Winter hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.    -Enjoy Treasure Hunting!

SmallHoldings

photos by Nancy Fire