Friday, January 29, 2010

meet Richy Mc Cusker of custardbydesign...

this week I decided to kickstart what is hopefully a monthly feature – a series of interviews beginning with an interview with me...hopefully this will give my followers a chance to get to know more about me and what I do...

as you all know custardbydesign is a blogg specialising in topics related to interiors and stuff...i like to think that I bring to my blogg my passion for design and share my finds and musings on anything interior related from spaces and designers to wallpapers and artwork...

please read on to find out more about me, my inspirations and a snippet of some projects which best sum up my work and style...


Describe your work…?

I think professionally my work has been guided by senior work colleagues to a certain extent, and also steered very much so by what have been client driven projects. Although that said, I've been fortunate to have worked with design orientated clients who were very much open to new ideas and products, and very clear in their understanding of their roles as 'client' and my role as 'designer'. I have had the opportunity recently to work for myself on some freelance projects, and also to collaborate with some of Dublin's finest design talents – and I feel these areas have been where my work had truly had its chance to shine...

What was your first experience with design…?

When I was 15 and in school trying to decide where I wanted to spend a week in work experience, I had the opportunity to work in a local architects firm in Armagh. I actually spent the week working on the designs for a science classroom for a new school. I think I enjoyed the opportunity and it cemented the idea that I wanted to design interior spaces, and not study architecture. I guess sitting through a 3hour meeting in the same week where we discussed the road drainage scheme for a project helped me form that decision...

How would you describe your style…?

I guess I describe my work and style as a modern collusion of styles and ideals, fused with retro and quirky injections. I think some of my moodboards created for some consultancy based work over the past year really highlight this. I love contemporary furniture and clean lines, although I like to throw something vintage into the mix as well just to phunk things up...


Do you have any personal design quirks…?

I would probably say my lust for that something different and or retro...

Who or what has influenced and inspired your style…?

Influences - definitely past tutors and lecturers as well as some of the people I've had the opportunity to work with. It was at university that I was introduced to and learnt about some of the greats, Mies Van der Rohe, Le Corbusier and Eileen Gray and also where I learnt about some of their contemporaries; Oliver Chapman, Malcolm Fraser, Richard Murphy and Enric Miralles. Although heavily influenced by my surroundings while studying in Edinburgh it's this base that furthered me to find my own style and new influences. Now I look at designers such as Philippe Starck, Marcel Wanders, Karim Rashid and Suzy Hoodless...


Who would be your ideal client…?

Well, having said all of the above I'm thinking someone like the lovechild of Suzy Hoodless and Marcel Wanders...with loads of money...

What is the most unusual request you have received from a client…?

The most unusual request from a client was probably not so unusual but challenging; to source an eye catching piece of art for a project that was sexy and classy and tongue in cheek. Something that was make everyone stop and look. Collaboratively with the senior designer on the project we found exactly that, an image that was sexy and classy that would make everyone stop and look, yet it was still classy and sophisticated to suit the space and the brief. It now hangs above the fireplace of the 'Veranda Bar' in the Radisson Hotel, Galway...


What will be your next venture in design…?

I am awaiting my work permit to be able to work in the United States and I'm hoping my next venture in design will find me working for an exciting firm in the North West Arkansas area. I've been putting the feelers out there, and I'm finding that there are firms creating exciting and innovative interiors but in sectors that I've never developed too closely, areas like retails and churches - and they're beginning to really appeal to me. Something new...

What are you excited about in the world of design today…?

New technologies and the ease of information sharing. Concept generation and creating moodboards can be one of the most exciting parts of a project, and I feel with the wealth of information available out there on the web, bloggs like my own create a forum for information sharing. I also believe that trends and styles are clearly stylised by their decade, and as we enter the 2010's I'm looking forward for some new trends and movements to evolve. I'm ready for new 21st century design icons...

Where is your favourite space to hang out and why…?

Ahhhh, where to pick and why! In Dublin I liked to go to the bar with no name, number 3 Fade St is its location, but not on a Friday or Saturday night. To go there in the early afternoon or on a Sunday for brunch is my favourite time to go there, when its quiet and chilled and laid back. The interior is like a classy shebeen – domestic couches, tables and chairs, hardwood floors and beautiful Georgian architecture create a fancy house party vibe. I'm still sussing my way around the cool hang out spaces in North West Arkansas...

Thursday, January 28, 2010

blogger party...

i went to my first blogger party today...thanks to mise at pretty far west...

and what a party it was...

http://prettyfarwest.blogspot.com/2010/01/blogging-meet-photos.html

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

six degrees of separation...

''Six degrees of separation (also referred to as the "Human Web") refers to the idea that, if a person is one step away from each person they know and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people they know, then everyone is at most six steps away from any other person on Earth.''

just in case you weren't familiar with the concept there it is...

so today i sat down and had a chat with an architect here in fayetteville...and this is where the fascination factor hit me...

this architects father is also a practicing architect who worked with a man called fay jones...he later went on to become an associate and partner of fay jones...for those of you who are unfamiliar with fay jones - fay jones was a noted american architect and designer and an apprentice of the architect frank lloyd wright...

so there we go...in 5 steps...my link to frank lloyd wright...

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

australia...

its australia day today...and typically i, like many others think of australia and think of such iconic images such as the kangaroo and the sydney opera house...

i got to thinking about this building i saw somewhere or other last year so i googled it today...its the 'elisabeth murdoch hall' in melbourne...

if ever the sydney opera house needed a rival this is it...inside and out...

it punches...it draws attention...its exciting...

Monday, January 25, 2010

the 'o' concept...

the perfect shape...the circle...

and albeit a form dating back as far as 3500BC....today its revolutionising our homes, revolutionising decor on floors, ceilings and walls...

charachterised by clean lines, punchy colours, and minimal aesthetics - the simple circle can add serious bling to your home...think lighting, think fixtures, think textile patterns, think wall decorations and wallpaper....

for your floors...emily todhunter for the rug company...



for your walls and splashbacks...check out the 'penny rounds' from modwalls...



for your ceilings...light it up with disco inspired pendants...



for your walls...circles have made a big splash in the wallpaper world with companies like graham & brown, and flavour paper...



and for those finishing touches...circular accessories such as mirrors and artwork can add style and glamour to your home...check out this assortment of round mirrors from crate and barrel subsidiary CB2...



i think circles will be big this year...watch out for circular patterns in all sizes and forms...circles with bling and bold colours while others offer more sedated hues...hanging on walls, coverings for floors or lighting a room, circles offer a fun and funky alternative to tired florals and outdated squares...whether you prefer the subtle and austere or something a lot more punchy...circles are most definitely around...

weekend round up...

friday's 'new york times' posted an article about joan rivers and her house in the country...

"Occasionally she puts up her feet, but only for an eye lift or tummy tuck..."

well this isn't exactly what comes to mind when you think of joan rivers...a wild cry from the formalities of new york, its a place where she loves to make omelette's for her friends - in new york she doesn't even know where her kitchen is...

the article makes for funny reading as miss rivers speaks of her ''frank lloyd wrong'' house...it wasn't exactly picture perfect when she purchased it 10 years ago...

i like the high ceilings in the kitchen...her taste seems very simple and muted, and i admire the subtlety in the trinkets and ceramics on the shelves and their colouring and how they tie in with the chandelier...nothing ostentatious or salubrious about this place, its just old and grand...

what a retreat...

Friday, January 22, 2010

i never knew that...

i never knew that...before the onset of plumbing, a nightstand was more than a place for our bedside treasures...

it held something of quite a different nature altogether...the circular chamber pot...hid behind the doors of what was then referred to as 'the commode'...

long gone is the ceramic bowl...and ofttimes the doors and drawers too...

i just thought i'd share that with you...thankyou 'dwell' for the enlightenment...


http://www.dwell.com/

Thursday, January 21, 2010

wednesday evening...

well it was 58 fahrenheit here in fayetteville, arkansas yesterday...and i spent a part of the early evening sitting on the terrace surrounded by all the newness in my life...

my new i-phone, {with might i add my new screen saver, which is might i add my new picture that i took yesterday}...my new book {elle decor: style and substance, courtesy of ruth at antiques by zaar}...and the latest edition of 'dwell' magazine which i picked up yesterday...

all of the above topped off with a mug of chow in my favorite paul maloney mug...given to me personally by the man himself...

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

just a picture...

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

change of heart...

i had a few posts lined up for yesterday and today...however they were both all about me and whats new with me...so i'll save that for another time...

i came across this today via the coolhunting website...emergency housing shipping containers...and found it much more appropriate...

'seed' is a company that turns unused shipping containers into starter homes for emergency situations...when recent tragedy hit haiti this project was already underway, in fact it has been in development since hurricane katrina...

strong enough to stand up to hurricanes and earthquakes, the containers make for instant robust homes and guarantee a small degree of safety from more activity...

on a smaller scale...how many containers are sitting in places like galway docks or dublin port that could be easily, quickly and readily modified in this way to counteract some of the flooding issues areas of ireland saw in late november of last year...???

check out the link below for the full article from coolhunting and a link to the 'seed' website...

Friday, January 15, 2010

acquisition #1...

i won something in a give-away today...via linked-in...

a book...i'm excited to get it too...!!!

i won 'style and substance, the best of elle decor'...yay me...!!! thats a nice start to my weekend...thankyou antiques by zaar...

i'm off now to buy a scratchcard and check out that plot pretty far west...which is now my east...!!!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

300 blogg posts...

wow...300 blogg posts...

so what have i achieved since i reached 200 blogg posts...well for starters my followers have grown from 23 to 39...yay me...and yay you for following...and secondly i promised a we revamp and revamp i did...

here's to more from me...more reviews, more pics, more interviews, more opinions and more stuff...

as always i find the support and encouragement from other bloggers exciting...keep on commenting and following you guys...here's to 300 more blogg posts...


thanks for following...richy aka custardbydesign...

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

all tied up...

i found a new blog today and i found these curtain tie-backs...i thought these curtain tie-backs were just something else...

innovative and well designed and pleasing to the eye...a nice modern interpretation on the old swag...available form kevin kelly interiors...


Monday, January 11, 2010

i'd like to work here...

'funemployment' it has been for too long...now the paperwork has been filed, i'm waiting for my work permit to come back to me and i'm commencing the job-hunt...

i want to work in a office like this...

the design of this office space for an architecture firm in stuttgart was built on the firms standards as 'identity architects'...

the colourful textiles loops i guess they are, hanging above each workspace are actually lightswitches...how could you fail to get inspired and creative working in a space like this...


http://www.ifgroup.org

Friday, January 8, 2010

real bloggers wear suits...

had he lived, elvis aaron presley would have been 75 today...

i've spent about an hour searching for pictures from my trip to graceland in 2004...and i just can't place them so i'm guessing i've left them behind me in ireland...

like myself...he's got the moves, he's got the looks and i truly am a fan...

graceland is a colonial revival mansion, built in the 1930's, and it was home to the rock star from 1957 until his death in 1977...


soon after purchasing graceland, elvis began remodeling and redecorating...and the house grew as elvis added more and more rooms...not only did the house grow in size, but it grew more colourful...indeed elvis changed the interior colour schemes many times...

i really enjoyed my tour of graceland...for me the 2rooms that stand out in my mind are the trophy room and the jungle room...they will let you take photographs, but what they wont let you do is visit upstairs...

ah sure, forbidden fruit is the sweetest and i'm sure i'm not the only one to have asked; ''why can't we visit upstairs''...the truth is elvis never brought anyone upstairs, he entertained his guests downstairs in 'the front room'...check out the white marble fireplace, the glittered mirrored walls and that stunningly colourful stained glass...


the jungle room amazed me...is it boutique or is it vogue or is it kitsch or is it tacky...??? who knows what to label it, but one thing is i loved it...the shag carpeting on the floor and ceiling, the mirrors framed in the breast feathers of pheasants, flocked austrian shades, fur lampshades, massive pine chairs and couches carved in what others have labelled polynesian and tahitian, ceramic tigers prowl amongst the artificial greenery and the rocky waterfall...just look at that arm-rest...


the trophy room astounded me...if there was a record, a movie poster, a suit, army clothes, hawaiian shirts, spangled glittery jumpsuits, trophys, awards elvis had...it was in this room...amazing...!!!


elvis presley is interred beneath an angel statue on his memphis estate...the day i was there i met busloads of people who made the 'pilgrimage' to graceland, each and everyone of them able to remember where they were and what they were doing the day elvis died...

i guess for me i can relate that to significant events that i remember, like 9-11 or michael jacksons death...

anywho, regardless of whether your a fan or not...i think anybody will enjoy a visit to graceland - the tack, the splendour, the extravagance and the simplicity...its all there...


Thursday, January 7, 2010

antique affaire...

myself and herself spent a few days in a little town called eureka springs to celebrate new years...

we stumbled into an antique store on one of our walk-abouts...the 'antique affaire & consignment shop'...and what a great time i had perusing the offerings to hand...here are some of my favourite picks...


i got very nostalgic and homesick when i saw this...my folks had a very similar mirror hanging in their utility room for a long time, and my granny had one of those sunset images with a light behind it in a similar surround...anyway, enough of the retro nostalgia for me...i think this piece would look stunning on any wall...i see it on an off-white or grey background, maybe complimenting a similar mirror or else on a deep blue background...i'm thinking the g-hotel here or along those lines...


this entire arrangement was screaming mid century modernist at me...the table, the chairs, the lamp...i'm talking 'the wonder years' and 'kevin arnold' here and i love it too...


the 2 seater, the rug, the lamp...whats not too love about this snap...the 2 seater may be almost diner-esque in its stylings, but i would love a piece of furniture like this in a hallway/entryway or in a bedroom...and it is styled perfectly in the store with the rug and the lamp...

and for $35 this chair is a steal...it too speaks danish mid century design...the black leather and the dark wood...i want...

so if ever you find yourself in eureka springs, arkansas...take a wander up center street and see what you stumble upon....

winter hotties...

well apparently on the other side of the pond its dark, its wintery and its cold...so what better way to cheer yourself up than with some of 'crumpet and skirt's' alluring ladies...

the pin up wrapping paper is the way to perk up some wintery birthdays and with 2 new peek-a-boo mugs to complete the set of four - what better way for the likes of me to be drinking my much loved hot coffee's...

elizabeth over at 'crumpet and skirt' is running a competition to name the 2 new additions on her website...check out the link below...but meet them here first...!!!!

cheeky...!!!



Wednesday, January 6, 2010

west side style...

i came across this company today and became an instant fan of the fresh, modern and clean image this furniture and accessories company...even the language they use in their online media communicates with me in a familiar way...

''west elm furniture and accessories appeal to style-savvy customers who love modern, affordable design''

with a range of furniture lines inspired by global and natural influences, many designed to suit small urban spaces and an increasing range of 'green' products...i can see west elm ranking highly on my go to list in the future...

it's kinda nice being somewhere new and stumbling across new companies, products and designers...

here a few select choices of mine...fresh, modern and on the 'i want' list...


http://www.westelm.com
Related Posts with Thumbnails
 

blogger templates | Make Money Online