Summer Break

Irwin Weiner ASID - We're taking a rare week off from blogging to enjoy family and friends, but we'll see you next week! (Here I'm holding new grandson Oliver James Joyce in Minneapolis, MN.) Hope you're having a great summer, too!

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Design Video: Is Art Essential for Every Home?

Jay Johnson - It's hard for some interior design clients to "go the extra mile" and accessorize their home once the bones of the space have been improved and key furnishings have been added. Accessories and artwork are the finishing touches, those essential "jewelry" items that make a room special. Today's featured video takes us to the recent ArtHamptons gala - don't forget that the Hamptons has always been an art enclave (heard of Jackson Pollack?). Thanks to James B. Fairchild, this helps us all think about the importance of art in the home by looking at art as something fun, engaging, and highly creative.

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Is Your Wallpaper This Cool and High Tech?

Jay Johnson - If you think you've heard everything in the world of interior design and decorating, think again - enter modern technology. We've had many revolutions in our industry due to technology, ranging from greener building materials to time-saving appliances. Soon we're going to have Wi-Fi blocking wallpaper!

A French research team at Centre Technique du Papier developed a snowflake-patterned paper - they call it metapaper - made from recycled materials that is effective in blocking 99% of the electromagnetic waves that travel through the air. Traditional wallpaper can be hung right over this special paper if you're not grooving on the flakes.

Why the fuss? Several reasons: homes and businesses that need boosts for their own wireless Internet signals will benefit; personal and corporate Wi-Fi will stay put inside the walls of the home or business to help discourage signal hacking; and there are purported health benefits in blocking out the bombardment of electromagnetic waves we're now being constantly subjected to. The special paper won't block FM radio signals or emergency frequencies. Keep your eyes out for metapaper; it's not on the market yet.

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UK Furniture Designers Struck Gold Designing the Olympic Torch

Janet Ramin - By now you've seen it light up the London's 2012 Olympic Flame, but did you know who designed the torch? The brilliant British design duo, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, of course!

Barber and Osgerby - known for clean, minimalist modern furniture - designed the golden aluminum Olympic torch. Pierced with over 8000 holes, the triangular torch was sleekness defined. On the opening night, young budding athletes carried the Olympic torch and lit the lily-shaped copper petals. Then the petals rose up on long stems to create a gigantic shimmering bouquet that became the Olympic Flame. Wow!

The view below the Olympic Flame transformed to a starburst of indvidual torches. Then Paul McCartney serenaded the audience with Hey Jude ... a lovely ending to a memorable night.

Reprinted with permission of Sheffield School. Are you interested in learning more about furniture and home design? Take a look at Sheffield School's Complete Course in Interior Design. At Sheffield, you'll learn how to transform a space, create color schemes, and select furniture, lighting, and accessories.