5 French Style Furniture Favorites from Roche Bobois

The Ferre table adds welcome color notes to the otherwise bland outdoor furniture scene.

Irwin Weiner ASID - We're heading to Paris in mid-October, and today the trip has us thinking all about fine French contemporary design. That immediately puts to mind Roche Bobois, a leader in contemporary French home furnishings. Here are some of my favorites from their current collections; as usual, please click on each photo for more information.

The BLOGGER 3-seat sofa's plump profile is daring and innovative.

Love the PLI chair's crisp plexi folds!

Hail the VICTOR 4-door dresser for its wake-me-up-happy color blocks.

These KOBE armchairs are both comfortable and fashionable, a 1-2 punch.

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Residential Architecture vs. Interior Design - Tug of War?

Irwin Weiner ASID - I can tell when a home has been decorated by an architect. There's usually a precise, masculine rigidity to the interior space that isn't present in a home utilizing a professional interior designer. Decorators know how to relate a space to the individual needs of a client, and most of all, how to facilitate comfortable, everyday living needs. I've often said that a well designed interior should look lived-in, like it's always been there. Architects who "do interior design" oftentimes create a CAD model of how the interior should look without referencing the human factor and the need for harmony, mood, proportion, scale, and other variables. I chose today's video on a contemporary Estonian architect's home design in the woods to illustrate the point. The talented architect, Indrek Allmann, is frank with us when he details all the work and research and effort he put into the exterior design of the home - but how the interior falls short. I did, however, like the elevation of the home's foundation so that views of nature from the interiors show two-thirds forest and trees and one-third sky; a great touch.

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Irwin Weiner Interiors - Proud Decor Sponsor of This Year's Bucks County Cabaret

Stage and screen stars Bebe Neuwirth and Malcolm Gets will join forces Saturday, October 13 for BUCKS COUNTY CABARET, a one-night-only concert to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The evening of Broadway standards and other popular songs will be held at the newly renovated, historic Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, PA (70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA 18938).

Neuwirth is a two-time Emmy Award winner for her role as ‘Lilith’ on “Cheers” and a two-time Tony Award winner for acclaimed performances in Sweet Charity and as the unforgettable ‘Velma Kelly’ in Chicago.

Gets is a Tony Award nominee for Amour, two-time Obie Award winner for Merrily We Roll Along and The Two Gentlemen of Verona and audience favorite for his stand-out performance in HBO’s Grey Gardens and on NBC’s hit comedy “Caroline in the City.”

“Bucks County has a history both as a home of exceptional theatre and as a community offering compassionate support for those affected by HIV/AIDS,” said Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. “For seven years, the community has embraced BUCKS COUNTY CABARET and Broadway Cares is honored to have the opportunity to join forces with our friends in Bucks County on what promises to be a spectacularly entertaining evening.”

Individual tickets cost $75-$300, with exclusive sponsorship opportunities also available. Tickets can be purchased at Broadway Cares (click the link for information and ticketing), by calling 212.840.0770, ext. 268, or at the Bucks County Playhouse box office (70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA 18938).

The evening will begin with cocktails at 6 pm, followed by the 7 pm performance and live auction inside the playhouse. An exclusive VIP reception with the artists will be held following the performance at The Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm (5281 York Road, Holicong, PA 18928).

For New York City residents, Broadway Cares is offering a limited number of round-trip travel packages that feature luxury shuttle service to and from the show. The trip includes an afternoon in New Hope with discounts at local restaurants. New Hope is about 90 minutes west of New York City.

Irwin Weiner Interiors is the proud decor sponsor for the event, and we encourage all Design2Share readers to join us in a star-studded evening of celebration and music, all for a wonderful cause.

Fresh Creations from Jarrod Lim Design, Singapore

Koi ChairIrwin Weiner ASID - Formerly a designer with Patricia Urquiola's iconic studio in Milan, Australian born, now Singapore resident Jarrod Lim has had a distinguished career in creating products that capture a fresh international vibe. Look at his Koi Chair in these top photos; daring, sculptural, and playful, the piece demands attention and makes a clean statement in any room. There's an Asian zen about the chair, yet it has an anything-but-calm energy. And when the light shines through, the shadows really dance! Here are some other designs to admire from this young design star. Click on each photo for more information.

Kikari Coffee Tables

Pawn Clock

Apex Chair

Collar Magazine Rack

Cuff Chairs