Video: Doshi Levien Expresses the Joy of Fine Design

Irwin Weiner ASID - How refreshing to hear two designers talking about their work, stressing the importance of joy and fun in their designs.

Yes, good design is functional design, but form doesn't have to always follow function. Looking at cookware as an expression of culture and tradition, looking at shoes as a wrapping of materials around the feet, and drawing attention to the decorated backside of a usually-hidden part of a sofa - this is the wit that Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien bring to their Doshi Levien collaboration.

Design without a sense of humor is a sterile, bad business. Steer clear of it, and always look for that tongue-in-cheek touch for any design project to elevate your mood and put a smile on your face.

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Textured Coverings Are Ready to Climb Your Walls

(Squares wallcover from Graham and Brown)

Janet Ramin - Are you tired of looking at wall paint? Do you wish your walls could be livelier, more exciting, more in your face? If you’re not afraid of shaking things up, then take a look at these paintable, textured wall coverings.

Graham and Brown offers their paintable Squares and Pure wallpapers. Squares shows off a dynamic geometric pattern that can be left white or painted in fun colors as seen behind the bookcase above. Pure wallpaper is a curvaceous choice that creates an elegant background. 

(Pure wallcover from Graham and Brown)(Architect Wall Flat from Inhabit)For an even more dimensional wallcover, we have the wall flat series from Inhabit. Above is the Architect wallcover which is made from bagasse, a fibrous matter left over after sugarcane stalks have been crushed. It's lightweight and recyclable. Below is the Drift wallcover, a design that hints at slender tree limbs. 

(Drift Wall Flat from Inhabit)Besides providing visual punch to your walls, these wallcovers are perfect for covering flawed walls. If you have uneven walls and you don't want to replaster them – a process that can take several days of application – then these textured wallcovers will hide the imperfections. 

 

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.  

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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Lace Translates from Traditional Design Form to Artistic Expression

Jay Johnson - For anyone who appreciates handcrafted products (and we've begun to discuss handmade vs. machinemade this week on Design2Share), you'll enjoy today's featured video about Philadelphia University's Lace in Translation exhibit. Examples of classic handmade and machinemade lace were exhibited back in 2009 as well as new works by artists, all inspired by the lace designs (see Cal Lane's welded lace oil drum above and lace garden tools below).

The result: a design lover's dream environment. 

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