6 Modern Bookshelves that Tweek the Imagination

Irwin Weiner ASID - Physical books are beautiful. They deserve to be displayed well in a home. As an interior designer, I'm often asked to come up with storage solutions for books and small accessories - sometimes collections, sometimes mementos from my clients' travels - so I'll come up with custom library built-in solutions in a dining room, family room, media room, or traditonal den.

What I'm always amazed at, however, are the innovative designs for stand-alone or wall-mounted bookshelves. So unusual - and sometimes downright goofy! It's not enough to have flat shelves supported by end and back pieces; modern bookshelves have to "do something" or "say something."

It's all a bit silly, but some clever new bookshelves can add a touch of fun and whimsy into a too-serious room, and I'm all for lightening-up a design scheme. Click on each photo for more information.

Bonus

Click here to see more Bookshelves That Break Out of the Box.

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"California Dreaming" Video - Residential Architect Harry Gesner

Irwin Weiner ASID - We're coming back to NYC today from a long weekend in California, and the following video perfectly captures the California Dreaming that I love so much. As a native South Africa, California coastlines are so much like my home in Cape Town, and when I discovered this video feature (beautifully produced, by the way) on architectect, environmentalist, and visionary Harry Gesner, it distilled the beautiful architecture and soaring modernism that I love in coastal home design. Beautiful windows framing outdoor seaside views. Natural wood. Fascinating house shapes that have personality and fit difficult lots like a glove. Enjoy this visit with an iconic designer. 

Bonus

Click here to read more about Cliff May, another famous California residential architect: Sunny California Ranch House Restoration Magic.

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6 Golden Home Goods Favorites from Barneys New York

Irwin Weiner ASID - Shopping for home goods is a non-guilty pleasure for me - and likely for you, too. Homeowners love to feather their nests, and bring home a cute score like some tricked-out napkin rings to set a more dramatic table (see the Kim Seybert Supernova Napkin Ring from Barneys New York above). Here are 6 of my current favorites - all with a golden cast; click on each photo for more product information.

Marc Blackwell Northern Hemisphere Double Old Fashioned Glass

Fornasetti Theme & Variations Decorative Plate #136

Nine Iron Studios Petite Flat Pitcher

Mepra Due "Ice Oro" Flatware in Brushed Gold Finish

Michael Wainwright Truro Candlesticks

Bonus

Click here to read more about decorating effectively with color: 10 Feng Shui Tips - How to Use the Power of Color in Your Home.  

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Is It Possible to Love Window Glass?

Irwin Weiner ASID - Is it possible to love window glass? (Yesterday, I asked if it was possible to love shower doors, so I've been thinking lately about materials we use all the time in our home design projects.) Absolutely, positively YES! The folks at Bendheim offer their Architectural Glass lines, and these are widely used in commercial building projects - but I use their Sample Request system all the time for my residential clients. Bendheim features innovative EcoGlass and glass designed by starchitect Robert Stern, among others. 

I particularly love their Low-Iron Glass line because the glass doesn't have a greenish cast to it. My clients also love to see samples, and Bendheim's Sample Glass request system is wonderful. Note: designer glass isn't only for windows. I use them for glass panels serving as room dividers, interior wall glass inserts, inserts in front doors and French doors, and whole-wall treatments over painted wall surfaces; the texture of some of these architectural glasses is outstanding.

Bonus

Click here to watch my video on Window Treatment Tricks.

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