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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Home Gym? Nah, Just Use a Chair!

Irwin Weiner ASID - This month's issue of Elle Decor has a great duo of articles on Home Gyms: Form Meets Function (an interview with Pat Manocchia on why design matters in a home gym - "If the space isn't appealing, you won't use it.") and What the Pros Know. Some beautiful equipment was showcased, including the TechnoGym designed by Antonio Citterio, with options ranging from 24-karat gold leaf to custom leathers, the Philippe Starck line for Alias, and Chanel's toney calfskin covered hand weights.

But contrast this "home gym excess" with tongue-in-cheek Wallpaper* magazine's video below, showing four great arm exercises you can do with the Hans Wegner China Chair (see top photo), and note the decor callouts throughout the video which reference furnishings that aren't necessarily for a home gym, but certainly make for chic decor.

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Videos Show Off Today's Luxury Homes for Sale

Irwin Weiner ASID - Social media and Internet marketing are the keys to successful home sales, according to many realtors. People like to see many photographs of a home on the Multiple Listing Service - you should definitely take advantage of the full 25 photographs possible on any MLS listing if you're trying to sell your home - and short 3-minute videos help capture the lifestyle aspect of walking through a home. Keep your home videos brief and let them tell a simple story:

• Set the scene and show the beautiful area where your home is situated, or views directly from your house.
• Enter the front door and begin the home tour.
• Simple pans to the left, right, up, and down are all that's needed to show the scope of a room and focus on extra details of interest.
• Turn on all the lights and the gas logs on your fireplace to show off the space to maximum effect.
• Stage your home so it looks clean, spare, and minimal. It must show "clean."

Post your video on YouTube, Vimeo, and other sites where real estate videos are featured. Title your video the address of your property and use descriptive tags besides the address to attract people who are searching online for a home to purchase. Here's an example of an excellent, short-and-sweet real estate video from realtor Bobbi Vogel, Prudential in Oakland, CA (that's her going through the front door in the video).

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Design Video: Marc Newson's New Furniture Book

Irwin Weiner ASID - Iconic describes furniture designer Marc Newson and his amazing body of work. Taschen has just come out with a new book of his work - click here for more information on Marc Newson Works - and this video is the rare treat of seeing the UK designer actually thumb through the proofs with us and comment along the way. Pictured above is Newson's well-known Lockheed Lounge, one of the most expensive pieces of furniture ever sold at auction. (How's this for self-effacing? On his own website bio, Newson is described as "the most acclaimed and influential designer of his generation.")

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