Design Video: Brad Ford Demonstrates the Importance of Handhelds

Irwin Weiner ASID - Bravo to interior designer Brad Ford. In an Architectural Digest video promoting the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 tablet (click here to view the video), Brad shows how today's apps and handheld features are a crucial part of the interior design industry.

I use my iPad in the same way Brad uses his Galaxy: track schedules and appointments, make notes on everything from client billing hours to design inspirations, sketch and draw, take photographs of client spaces and proposed resources, and use presentation tools to show clients aspects of their projects. We use handhelds to organize our thoughts, remember resources we've just found in showrooms, and store on-the-job sketches and notes; they've become a key extension of our staff and an important tool. Watch today's video to see Brad Ford in typical designer scenarios and to hear him talk about his contemporary spaces "with soul." 

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San Diego Designer Rebecca Robeson's Christmas Video House Tour

Jay Johnson - Irwin officially "passed" on doing this particular post. It's not that he's bah-humbug about holiday decorating, but he's very critical of being too kitsch and decorating everything. I'm just the opposite. Maybe it's my Midwestern upbringing, but I love turning a home into a magical wonderland that tells either a Christmas, Chanukkah, or Winter story. Rebecca Robeson, an interior designer in San Diego, CA, mentions in today's featured video that being in her perpetually warm and sunny part of the world requires special decorating to make it feel like a festive time of year.

But even if there's a foot of snow on the ground outside, one still can use some merry decking of the halls to make special family memories. Enjoy Rebecca's video (she shops at HomeGoods - don't we all!), and definitely check out her other holiday how-to videos for more decorating advice. (I love the way this interior designer has taken to the communication-friendly video medium; she's way ahead of the industry curve on that one!)

And speaking of a California Christmas, here's a video from sunny CA to put you into right spirit, with a rousing Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree from the artists performing in A Christmas Together.

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Bolt and Build - Modern Quick-Assembly (and Green) Prefab Housing

Irwin Weiner ASID - The Loblolly House by Kieran Timberlake is an amazing structure in Maryland that uses an aluminum beam frame with "smart" and "dumb" components bolted to it. (Smart components contain "stuff" like wiring, pipes, etc.; dumb components are filled with insulation and nothing further.)

Components are created off-site and assembled on the building site, and environmentally it's superior construction because everything can be unbolted, taken apart, and moved - or components that age can be switched out easily. Watch today's featured video to get a complete picture of the design and construction process of this vibrant future housing option.

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Video House Tour: Seaside Villa in Greece

Irwin Weiner ASID - Pardon the extremely bad pun, but even though it's Thanksgiving Day (happy holiday!), I'm serving you Greece instead of Turkey. You'll enjoy this video look inside and outside one of the White Key Villas on the Grecian oceanfront.

These homes focus on utility and comfort, not overdecorating, allowing the texture of the stone walls and the richness of wood and tile floors to do all the talking. I'm sure there is lots going on in these villas - it seems ideal for large family and guest gatherings, parties, and entertaining. I can't wait for my invitation!

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