Design2Share Recommends - Summer Reading for Design Lovers

Irwin Weiner ASID - Whenever I'm in Los Angeles, I make it a point to visit the Hennessey + Ingalls Art & Architecture Bookstore. They have an excellent selection of books and sidelines that are outstanding, and here are some of the titles that really caught our eye while we were browsing through their tremendous stock. Click on each book cover for more information on what we think will be great summer reads; example: The Wallpaper Book by Genevieve Brunet (top photo) is a glorious full-color ode to the history, utility, craftsmanship, and artistry of wall covering, and the new artists who are expressing themselves in this decorative medium will amaze you.

Bonus

Click here to watch a video and read about Axel Vervoordt - Interiors That Respect the Old.

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3 Cool Design Apps We Just Discovered

Irwin Weiner ASID - I can imagine a very special 12 Step program for me. Here's how one of my meetings would begin.

My name is Irwin.

Hello, Irwin.

I'm an Apple-holic. I admit to being completely obsessed with my iPhone and my iPad. I look at the bright screen in the dark, in bed, at stop lights when I'm driving, and during my client appointments - because there are so many great apps that help me with my interior design business. What did I do before Apple came along?

If you're an Apple-holic, too, you can relate. Or any other tablet and SmartPhone user as well (Android apps are great, and I admit I'm addicted to them when we use our Google TV). I ran across these three relatively new (to me) home design industry apps that continue to add to the growing functionality of mobile devices and their many uses in everyday business and residential life - including inspiration and generating great ideas.

Click on these links for more information on Edition29 ARCHITECTURE, the Schumacher App, and SnapShop Showroom.
 
 

 
 

 
 

Bonus

Click here to watch more design videos on our feature There's an Interior Design App for That.

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More Interiors from the 2012 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Sitting Room by Charlotte MossJanet Ramin - A walk in the French countryside inspired designer Charlotte Moss to create her sitting room at the 2012 Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Named “Behind the Hedge,” the space gloriously captures the French outdoors with a trompe l’oeil mural of a chateau garden and flourishes of greenery. The walls are sensuously draped in green velvet by Arabel fabrics and box hedges breathe life to the room. (The trompe l'oeil mural is by Osmundo Echevarria). 

Living Room by Bunny Williams, Brian McCarthy, and David KleinbergDesign team Bunny Williams, Brian McCarthy and David Kleinberg envisioned this bold living room. Providing the main focus of the room is the colorful tapestry by architect Le Corbusier. Its red, black, and white colors are reproduced in the Dupre-Lafon sofa, the zebra rug, the red-upholstered wood chairs and the bright draperies. The parchment wrapped waterfall coffee table is by Vosges.

Library by Jaimie DrakeGreen was the dominant color in this year's Kips Bay, and designer Jaimie Drake dreamed up this jungle mood for a library room. Snaked across the walls is an emerald grasscloth wallpaper. The glacial cocktail table from Lorin Marsh further plays up the green motif. Below, green painted bookcases line the walls. Palm trees emphasize the tropics. To give an air of sophistication to the library, Drake enveloped the ceiling in hammered silver paper. Dominating the room is a phantasmagoric oil painting by Andy Harper called Winter Gate.

Library by Jaimie DrakeCharles Pavarini designed this ultra-chic "Black, White, and Red All Over" bedroom full of decorative delights. The leather-wrapped platform bed custom designed by Pavarini floats over the Ironwork carpet by Stark. A resin painting by Damian Robinson provides red fire to the room as sculpted butterflies dance across the mirrored walls.

(Bedroom by Charles Pavarini)

Bonus

Click here to see more Rooms from the 2012 Kips Bay Decorator Show House.

Thanks to Janet Ramin and Sheffield School for this Kips Bay article. Interested in learning more about interior design? Take a look at Sheffield School's Complete Course in Interior Design. At Sheffield, you will learn how to transform a space, create color schemes, and select furniture, lighting, and accessories. 

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Luxe Styling at 2012 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Study by Brian del ToroJanet Ramin - Sweeping views of the Hudson River as well as the penchant for green colors were the major features of the 2012 Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Every year interior decorators have the opportunity to design a room to their heart’s desire – rather than a client’s – with only their imaginations as their limits. The location of this year’s show house is a beautiful condo complex, the Aldyn Residences, overlooking Manhattan’s river.

Our first room above by designer Brian del Toro is a jewel-like study rich in beautiful materials and a brilliant blue-green and lime green color scheme. The walls are painted in a teal grid-like pattern and the sofa upholstered in a matching teal strie velvet. The throw pillows are wrapped in Japanese obi, the sash used to tie kimonos. The gold, silver, and champagne check rug is from F. J. Hakimian Antique Rugs. The cubist glass mirror by Verner Panton further contributes to the sparkle of the room. Del Toro worked for the famous duo Parish Hadley before opening up his own firm. 

Dining Room by Todd A. RomanoTodd Alexander Romano designed this ultra-sophisticated dining room with many tongue-in-cheek accessories. The dining centerpiece is a Mexican Hilario Madrigal sculpture of a purple pineapple. Can you spot the brass giraffe? The long-neck animal by Sergio Bustamante brings your eye up to the spectacular two-story space and the Venetian Murano glass chandelier. Providing elegance to the room are the French Directoire chairs. They're upholstered in Brunschwig & Fils fabric of the popular lime green color, brightening up the warm chocolate-painted walls. 

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