People
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Noir Sculptural Objects Create a Lyrical Effect
Call it the new noir. Black finishes are bringing sculptural furniture into focus as never before. In porcelain, bronze, walnut and other natural materials, well-designed objects are coming out of the shadows to shine in every room of the house. “There is something powerful about the serenity and mystery of these essential shapes,” says Belgian-born designer Pieter Maes, who works with a bronze foundry in Ghent, Belgium, on his organic, softly curving tables and stools. “I became obsessed with making simple, unfussy work that triggers something very old and dormant in people, no matter where or when someone comes from.” Blackening a surface is as old as fire itself, points…
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Shou Sugi Ban binds Art and Architecture in Spectral Bridge House
A unique collaboration between EYRC Architects and an internationally known artist, this house could be called “a vessel for living and art.” The artist Johannes Girardoni created site-specific projects that explore connections between art, design, technology, and architecture. For this site, a narrow lot in an eclectic urban neighborhood about a mile from Venice beach, he wanted to build a home that would also be an immersive art experience. Ehrlich, Yanai and Girardoni collaborated to integrate art and architecture by creating three two-story living blocks. Sensitively scaled to surrounding houses, these monolithic shapes are disrupted by irregular angles and rotated axes. The upper level is rendered in smooth white stucco…
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Shou Sugi Ban Fowl Play
When Ilse Ackermann describes herself as a “chicken consultant to the stars,” her tone is tongue-in-cheek. But she has the nondisclosure agreements to prove it. Her job, which involves 24-hour “fowl consultations” for anxious clients with broody birds, stems from her years living on Skyfarm, the Los Angeles area urban farm she shares with her husband, photographer Meeno Peluce, their two daughters and 25 animals. She may design custom coops for Hollywood’s A-list, but her own is more modest, built of inexpensive wood and a galvanized roof from Home Depot that she estimates cost around $1000. By contrast, the coop’s black charred exterior makes a statement in an orchard filled…
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The Appeal of a Burnt Wood Finish
This Old House’s Bob Vila addresses the hottest trend in design—which is also an ancient Japanese technique— and offers his list of surprising benefits for siding, furniture, and more. Whether you’re ready to build a new wood deck, furniture, or wood wall paneling—or aim to spruce up existing ones—you’ll ultimately want both beauty and longevity. While chemical preservatives can be applied to untreated wood to prolong its life, and stain or paint can enhance visual appeal, these time-consuming treatments must be undertaken separately. Home improvement guru, Bob Vila, wonders why not consider shou sugi ban (pronounced shoh shoo-gee bahn), a much-buzzed-about technique that allows any DIYer comfortable with using a blowtorch to fortify and beautify…
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East meets West in Modern Alabama Farmhouse
What do Japanese architecture and Southern style have in common? The answer is a custom-designed farmhouse tucked among a small forest of tulip poplar and oak trees in Shelby County. And, also, a forward-thinking designer who was allowed to let his creativity run wild with wood, concrete, and flames. Back in 2012, architect Michael Philip Curtis got a call from Birmingham real estate developer Len Shannon. Shannon was in the market for a custom-built home that showcased some of the high-brow design he regularly works with. His vision for the home was simple—a farmhouse that blended traditional and modern elements while also comfortably accommodating his three children. After some brainstorming,…
