News And Updates
This evening, while y’all were driving home from work, or to the mall to do a little Christmas shopping, I ventured into Cambridge to follow up on an earlier post and check out the the first Marimekko concept store in the U.S.
Man, the place is GORGEOUS! You’d never know that the site used to be a pharmacy. The store itself is a canvas of white walls and gray floors. This allows the product to stand out in a way unlike many other stores.
And the product… well, the store is stocked with a full line of men’s, women’s, and children’s clothes, as well as linens, home and personal accessories and, for this season at least, hand blown Christmas ornaments. The women’s clothes are a combination of mod and modern. One example was a plain black dress, with a shawl made of felted wool shaped into 3D blocks; the texture was incredible. The men’s line is anchored by the classic Jokapoika shirt, a striped dress shirt with metal buttons that was originally released in the 50’s.
Of course, the store was loaded with signature Marimekko fabric. There are so many options and colors to choose from, it’s mind-numbing. I’m going to go back with Alicia to find just the right pattern to put up above out sofa. I’ll be sure to put up photos when it happens.
Marimekko
350 Huron Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-354-2800
ps – A special thanks to Holly from decor8 for emailing me to ask if I’d been to Marimekko yet. You kicked me into gear!
DWR’s latest email campaign is portraying itself as where to find the cool stuff to give this holiday season. True, they have some amazingly cool items, but I don’t think anyone is going to dig deep and surprise me with something as expensive as an Eames LCW (not that I would deny such a gift – hint, hint).
Although their Gifts page includes such extravagances as the $2,490 Cellula Chandelier, I believe their true aim is the more budget friendly items, like George Nelson’s book, How To See ($29.95), the Eames House of Cards ($35), or the Films of Charles and Ray Eames ($80). I think either of these would make great gifts for the design fan in your life.
For those that aren’t necessarily design fans, but appreciate well designed objects, perhaps they might like the Cristal Water Carafe by Marcel Wanders (on clearance for only $39.95), or the Eclipse Lamp ($98), or the Crystal Marquis Desktop Globe ($168).
Maybe I won’t get a me-sized one, but I can always wish for a Vitra Miniature Eames LCW ($175).
Someone’s been doing her homework! Fresh back from two months in Europe (so jealous!), Holly at decor8 has posted a massive listing of arts & crafts markets in and around Boston and Providence. Whether it’s art or home decor accessories, you’re sure to find something. Impressive work. Thanks, Holly!
Ben Moore from Curbly has created an interesting Design Search using Google Co-op. Google Co-op allows website owners to use Google’s web search capabilities in a context specific format, such as Ben did with design.
BTW, Curbly is a fantastic site, and by all means, join up!
After extended construction delays, the Institute of Contemporary Art is set to open on December 10! The ICA, Boston’s home for truly groundbreaking art, outgrew its previous home for the last 70 years on Boylston St, so they built the first new museum in Boston in nearly a century.
The new building is breathtaking. The galleries are on a cantilever that extends right to the edge of fan pier; when you’re up against the windows, all you see is water. There are so many amazing design highlights about this building, I can’t list them all.
In related ICA news, local designer and fellow skateboarder (well, I’m a former skateboarder) Nick Sherman announced that his sister, Kelly Sherman, is one of four finalists for the 2006 Foster/ICA Artist Prize. The show will be up from December 10 through March 11, and admission on the first day is free!
After scouring the Internet for the past few days, it seems clear that the design event season is over, at least until after the New Year. That’s okay, because we all have so much to look forward to in the coming weeks!
Christmas ornaments and decorations seem to get more beautiful by the year. This year, the availability of gorgeous items spans the economic range, from the Tord Boontje series of Christmas dinnerware and accessories ($10.99-24.99) at Target, to this amazing Sterling silver globe ornament ($110) from Neiman Marcus. Alicia and I settled between those two extremes for our tree, with items like this great red coil ornament from Crate and Barrel and this mod circle ornament from Pier 1.
Of the four stores I was browsing around for ideas for this post, Hanukkah items are noticeably scarce from Pier 1. Target had a great variety of Hanukkah pieces, although none had the visual appeal of Tord Boontje’s Christmas line. Neiman Markus offers about a dozen Hanukkah seasonal items, but none of them struck the fancy of this design snob. C&B has, by far, the best looking Hanukkah decorations, like this Column Menorah. And no, I’m not just saying that because I work there now.
In my last post, I described BoConcept as “modern design at Crate & Barrel or Restoration Hardware prices”. This is not to say that I look down on either Crate & Barrel or Restoration Hardware; it’s just that they have a different style. Restoration Hardware is classical, and Crate & Barrel is contemporary. Of the two, I prefer Crate & Barrel.
Which is why I decided to apply to the Crate & Barrel on Boylston St. for the holidays. No, a blogger’s life is not all party’s and inside information; we have to work, too. Starting today through the middle of January, I will be working on the first floor, in housewares, helping frantic customers find just the right gift for that impossible-to-shop-for relative. Or something like that. Come by the store; maybe I’ll be there!
777 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02116
617-262-8700
On Thursday, I went to the BoConcept® New Furniture Collection Launch Party at their store on Mass Ave in Cambridge. Right as I walked in, the store’s general manager, Brad Dufton, immediately recognized me; the marketing coordinator forwarded a link to this blog to him, and he remembered the picture to the right (Yes, that is me).
We had actually met the first time Alicia & I checked out the store, but that was several months ago, before I started Design Boston. Brad, who organized the night and greeted nearly everyone that came by first name, is a fireball of energy, and, with a degree in furniture design from Wenworth Institute of Technology, he can surely help you create the right BoConcept setup for your home.
I also met Tina Pilgaard, BoConcept’s US Marketing Director. She is a Danish native, and a wonderfully friendly woman. She’s worked for BoConcept for 8 years, the last 2-1/2 in the US. Before she came to the US, Tina visited each of the 40 countries that BoConcept operates in. How much would I love a job that allows me to see the world and great furniture? You can’t get that in the Navy!
I love BoConcept. As I described it to Brad and Tina, I see BoConcept as modern design at Crate & Barrel or Restoration Hardware prices. They both agreed. The beauty of their customizable, modular furniture was on full display in the showroom. As beautiful as the furniture, and maybe even more, was the Bang & Olufsen sound system throughout the space.
I had a great time. As I was leaving, Brad told me to come by often, because he and I are a rarity: straight guys that understand and love design. How true.
I keep driving by this construction site on East 2nd Street in South Boston consisting of two buildings with a driveway or courtyard in the middle. It’s only at the point in construction where the plywood walls are up, but it shows big expansive windows, and clean, modern lines. As in, my style.
One drawback of this site is that it is directly across the street from the Tools 4 Hire yard, a company that rents construction equipment. I’m not bothered by the industrial aspect of Southie, but I’m sure some people looking for the new, hip place to live would be.
Anyway, I’m browsing around MyBostonLoft today, and I see a link to 557-557 East Second St. One nice aspect of the building project is that the two buildings are not mirror images of each other: 557 has four three-story, 2 bedroom units with a patio off the third floor living/dining room area; 559 has four four-story, 2 bedroom units with a study and deck on the fourth floor. Every unit comes with a single car garage, something that is an extreme rarity around here.
Apparently, not only are they attractive, modern “loft-style” condos, but they are environmentally friendly. This is the pilot project of Green Homes Northeast, an organization “whose mission is to transform the residential building marketplace so that healthy, energy and resource-efficient homes become common practice.” They are also aiming to earn an Energy Star® Home 5-star Rating. By using green building techniques, these buildings will provide improved energy efficiency (up to 30% lower energy bills); “thermal comfort” (double-paned, low-E windows, and spray foam insulation at all window and door edges); air quality (continuous ventilation and low or no off-gassing paints and sealants); and acoustic privacy (through improved insulation and other construction techniques on shared walls).
I’m not at a point to be able buy one, but at $529-$585K, it seems reasonably priced, considering the space, the amenities, and the environmentally friendly construction. As a buck to the trend of lower condo sales, two of the four units in 559 are already sold, so if you want a study and room deck, get going!
One of the gifts I got at the Modern25 party was a Bodum Pavina. It’s a 9 oz. cup with double glass walls. The double walls insulate both your drink – hot drinks stay hot, and cold drinks stay cold – and your hand. Because the insulation is so good, there is no need for a handle.
I used it for the first time last night. It insulates so well that I burned my lip on my tea – my hands felt like it was room temp. Since then I’ve washed and reused the cup three times!
The only drawback is that the mouth-blown glass is fragile, so it can’t be machine washed. Also, it’s more likely to break from unintended bumps than machine made glasses. That said, I would love to buy a whole set of these beautiful cups!