thats nice...

i was looking into the hottest and latest in nice, france yesterday...

not that i'm going there but i have good friends who herself and myself made in dublin, and they have recently moved there so i got to wondering what the city has to offer...

and this is top of the list...the boscolo exedra...

the recently opened 5-star luxury hotel in the heart of nice on the french riviera is just completely stunning, stylish, sophisticated...i guess it brings right up to date the spirit of the belle epoque period...

belle epoque you ask - thats right...!!! belle epoque...i'm glad you asked because i too had to find out a little bit more...

"The Belle Époque (French pronunciation: [bɛlepɔk]; French for "Beautiful Era") was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until World War I... the "Belle Époque" was named in retrospect, when it began to be considered a "golden age" for the upper classes, as peace prevailed among the major powers of Europe, new technologies improved upper-class lives that were unclouded by income tax, and the commercial arts adapted Renaissance and eighteenth-century styles to modern forms..."

so thats the historical context section over...i hope you learned something...

the boscolo exedra evokes the golden age of the original belle epoque building...it's the refurbished contemporary version of the creativity and originality of that lavish period in history...the building has retained its sumptuous and classical facade and its opulent interior decor which has been lovingly restored...

the common areas and rooms have been refurbished and given a contemporary approach that blends with the original louis XVI style...the images i have seen capture a spacious feel, and the organic shapes really evoke this concept...

the sculptural bar with its flowing white lines of corian...

the floor to ceiling panelling in the breakfast room...

the floor of the conference centre is dotted with red glass inserts...

everything about this place just exudes and luxurious and contemporary ambience...see more for yourself in the gallery on the website by clicking the link below...

http://www.boscolohotels.com

q&a with jaime hayon...

i saw this on wallpaper a while back - and thought you might like to read it too...it's a short read really, a quick catch up following his collaboration with faberge which i posted earlier this month...

click the link below to read it...
http://www.wallpaper.com/interiors/qa-with-jaime-hayon/4256

just an idea...

all her idea...

holding the line...

its always exciting and fun to discover a new blogg...and for me, finding 'holding the line' was even more enjoyable as i know the blogger...

niamh kiernan is the name to the face behind 'holding the line'...niamh and i worked together for a little over 2years at henry j lyons and partners (hjl) in dublin...

while niamh no longer works for hjl anymore...she is still based in dublin, currently working on re-modelling and extending houses, as well as the odd shop and office fit-out...and if a busy working life isn't enough niamh is studying visual culture in NCAD at night...

niamh refers to her blog as a filing system for inspirational works...and inspirational it is...you only have to look at her recent post where she highlights an artist who uses lego bricks to repair damaged walls in cities around the world...

i'm also looking forward to learning more about her involvement with the 'space for learning' programme...it seems like such an interesting and challenging programme to be involved with...i would be daunted at the prospect of giving a lecture to a class of 16/17 year old transition year students...

good luck with the blogg niamh...i'm looking forward to more from you...!!!

http://holdingtheline.wordpress.com/

meet Kate Smith of Four Dots Design...

this month, meet kate smith of four dots design...kate and i studied together for 4 years at napier university, edinburgh...it was nice to catch up with someone i studied with and learnt a bit about their design views and what they've been doing since we graduated in 2002...

kate runs her own company, 'four dots design' which is an interior design company providing a full interior design service ranging from initial design ideas and discussions to the production of full interior design concepts, product specification and bespoke design items, through to full site co-ordination for deliveries and installations, including space planning, technical drawings, 3D visuals and personal shopping...

here's our wee questions and answer set...

Where did you study and what did you do next...?

I studied at Napier University in Edinburgh completing a 4 year Interior Architecture course graduating with a BDES (honours) degree, following my final project and show within my 4th Year at university I was approached by BDG McColl Architect (Edinburgh) to work as an Interior Designer within their Edinburgh office where I worked for 2 ½ years working on mainly commercial projects, I then left to progress my career at Yeoman McAllister Architects (Edinburgh) where I worked for 4 years working on mainly domestic/residential projects. Following this I then set up my own interior design company called Four Dots Design where I have been working now for nearly 1 ½ years and thoroughly enjoy...

How would you describe your style…?

I would describe my design style as modern and abstract, I like to think outside the box. However I do think my design style is also flexible to accommodate various clients design styles and requirements...

Who or what has influenced and inspired your style…?

I’m a huge fan on Mies Van der Rohe as I truly believe less is more, if you have quality pieces within a quality space the items and spaces will stand out alone and speak for themselves...

What trends in design are you loving right now...?

I have to admit I’m not a big follower of design trends, I like to review specific projects and analysis the design brief to determine which products/designs I feel are most suitable for the project...

What is the most important object in your day to day work...?

I could not be without my light box for sketching, it’s amazing...

What will be your next venture in design…?

I enjoy designing bespoke products like my snooker table and I would like to progress this area and also expanding the business in the near future with regards to products and staff...

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

Oh this is tricky one!....I think the last thing that really excited me is the new technology in LED lighting it’s amazing what the tiniest of fittings can now achieve and are economically friendly too. Also there are some fab textured wall panels and products available at the moment which I’m also loving...

What would you have become if you hadn't become a designer...?

When I was younger I always wanted to be a hairdresser, I’ve always like making things and am a big fan of fashion so think if I hadn’t chosen interior design as a career I would have still chosen a creative career...

Which architect-designed hotel would you like to spend a weekend in...?

Any of the new Missoni hotels, I love them although I do have a bit of a thing for the Hudson Hotel in NY as it’s such a crazy mix of everything...!!!

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

As sad as this sounds I think it would actually be within my home as I feel this is the one place I can truly relax which is due to being so comfortable around my own things. Also as I’m lucky enough to live in Edinburgh and there are so many great places to hang out it would be so hard to chose but I think my home wins it for me...

thanks kate for taking the time to answer my questions...it was great to catch up and see what fofrmer classmates have been up to...check out more from four dots design at the link below...

http://www.fourdotsdesign.co.uk/

take it and shape it...

i have spent quite the portion of the afternoon checking out the guggenheim website and the online exhibition 'contemplating the void: interventions in the guggenheim museum'...

i read the article in fridays 'new york times' and i got to thinking about what i should post and what images i should select and to be frank...i'm not going to show anything other than the image from fridays paper...

there's just too much to pick and choose from and how i'm supposed to pick from architectural elevations and conceptual collages i don't know...but i do know i had great fun flicking through some of the participants proposals...

the rotunda of the guggenheim museum is the inspiration for the show - i got a great kick reading the nyt's review on friday...this is the first paragraph...

"The Solomon R. Guggenheim Musuem is capping the 50th birthday festivities for its Frank Lloyd Wright building with some naval gazing. Still, there are worse navels to consider. Wright's spiral rotunda, in fact, could be thought of as the greatest belly button in modern architecture: an innie and an outie all in one.''

roberta smith for the new york times

i love that comparison...the guggenheim and a belly button...

while away a bit of your day here...

http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/exhibitions/on-view-now/contemplating-the-void

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/19/arts/design/19void.html

friday night...

looked a bit like this...

a glass of wine with herself and a friend in a homely little wine bar with friends...and a nice pint of guinness to boot...pics taken with my I-phone...

http://www.dicksonstreetinn.com/

it has arrived...

thanks mummy...

i was excited to find in todays mail the jan/feb 2010 issue of house and home...

yeah yeah yeah everyone else has already talked about this back at home and you've all said wonderful things about the issue and i can see why...

the irish hot 100 people , places, products is a great read...and also is the irish bloggers guide to interiors...i'm looking forward to having a great flick through this magazine over the weekend...

and lucky auld me was happy to get a mention on page 98...

''Custard by Design - Irish blogger Richy shares his latest design and architectural finds from around the web."

thanks guys...

and here's a shout out to the panel of bloggers who put it together...zita, lorna, dara, blanaid & melanie - thanks a million...!!! if you ever need a mans point of view in your wheelings and dealings call on me...

http://www.houseandhome.ie/

http://www.homebug.net/

http://www.gdlaneinteriors.ie/blog/

http://padcandy.blogspot.com/

http://www.blanaid.com/

http://designheaven.wordpress.com/

still thinking about bathrooms...

this is a nice little project to be working on...its a great little learning experience for me, i'm learning all about feet and inches - its like a foreign language, i feel like i'm translating from mm to feet and inches and when i'm stuck i'm running to herself for help...

its not that my design ethos or process is any different...

i guess styles and trends are different here in the south than they are in ireland, and i'm suspecting in other parts of america too...and its the difference in style that i'm adjusting too...

and i'm not compromising my own style or interpretations of space either...i'm just getting to know a new client, getting to know a new brief and getting to know feet and inches...

have a great weekend y'all...i know what'll be keeping me entertained this weekend...

today i'm thinking about...

bathroom layouts...

budget style...

i like this...its a budget hotel in berlin that opened last september...

the michelberger takes its name from the founder, tom michelberger...unlike many budget hotels the michelberger was designed by widely accalaimed designer werner aisslinger...

i like the simple, almost student accomodation approach to the room design...i like the bed cum desk cum windowsill cum throw me a pillow and i can sit here type multifunctional furniture that was created for the rooms...

i guess the budget hotel called for a budget brief and a budget solution...but if you ask me, i reckon it maximises on space without compromising on design...

some kinda crazy phunky techno inspired things happening on the website too...check it out here...

http://www.michelbergerhotel.com/

fully expressive...

i came across a new company today via twitter called skitsch...and i took the time to browse through their catalogue...

"the choice of the name SKITSCH fully expresses the philosophy of the brand: to offer a selection of non ordinary, high quality and great design products directly to the final client"

thats a great mission statement...and a mission statement that seems to sound loudly whilst looking through the online catalogue...

and if the catalogue of products wasn't enough to woo me they present their catalogue of designers, which boasts names such as maarten baas, xavier lust and ding3000...

here are a few of my favourite pieces...

http://www.skitsch.it/

ted...

thanks to anonymous last week who is indeed a very great friend of mine i discovered ted.com...

i spent a riveting 18minutes listening to an 'allo allo' sounding philippe starck...a funny, entertaining and inspiring man...what a great charachter indeed...

its great to listen to someone who you admire and find that the personality holds up to the expectations...

i went to a david chipperfield lecture in the chq building in dublin a few years ago and was less than enthralled...not that i'm dissing the works of chipperfield, but in looking at his work and looking at the work of starck...therein lies the difference in style and creation - and maybe too therein lies the difference in personality...

i'm looking forward to watching some more fantastic talks on ted.com...

i hope you find time in your day occasionally to check this out...

http://www.ted.com/

sharing the love...in pictures...

quite a few of my favourite things in one weekend...was a great weekend for myself and herself...i thought i'd share the love in pictures...

surprises...food and a nice log fire...

coffee...good music and mardi gras beads...

lunch for two in cosy surroundings...

a wee bit of shopping and exploring...

easy tiger...

terrible weekend for someone with a sweet-tooth...but a great weekend none-the-less...