News And Updates

Only two days after I featured her stationary company, Angela Liguori gives me more great news: She now has her own blog! In edizioni, Angela will feature news and updates “about our collaborative work, projects and events for Carta, Inc. and Edizioni Almenodue, between the Boston area, Rome and Italy.”

That brings the number of Boston-area design blogs to eight. Angela, welcome to the blogosphere, and best of luck!

I’ve grown more and more interested as of late in locally designed and made crafts. I don’t like the word “crafts”, it makes me think of things that are a lot lower quality than what I’m talking about. Well, that’s what those that create them call it, so that’s what it is.

Magpie, in Davis Square, is “a gift store that carries hip handmade crafts, goods by indie designers and works by local artists,” like this “Boys are awful” journal (we really are awful, aren’t we?).

Magpie
416 Highland Ave (Davis Sq)
Somerville, MA 02144
617-623-3330
info@magpie-store.com

If you didn’t have a reason to visit Portland, ME this summer, here’s one: A friend tipped me off that The Portland Museum of Art has a new exhibit: Frank Lloyd Wright and the House Beautiful. The exhibit features approximately 100 objects, including furniture, metalwork, textiles, drawings, and accessories from the collections of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and other public and private collections.

“The exhibition explores how Wright sought to develop a modern interior reflective of a uniquely American spirit of democracy and individual freedom, illustrates his development in integrating the space with furnishings and architectural elements, and shows his experiments with bringing these ideas to the homes of average Americans.”

Frank Lloyd Wright and the House Beautiful is running now through October 8, 2007.

A while back, I blogged about Kirei, an innovative, new green material. I recently noticed that 2Modern carries Iannone Design, a company that uses Kirei in it’s furniture.

I got a chance to meet Michael Iannone back in May at the ICFF (he’s all the way to the left in the photo above). I’ve always found it amazing how the most unassuming people are the most creative.

His furniture is modern and, obviously, eco-friendly. I love how on certain items, he’s cut away the laminate to show the kirei boarding underneath.

Another email that I feel you may be able to answer for me:

Hi

Great Blog. I wonder if you know anyone in Boston who designs, makes, and
then sells his/her own t-shirts. I am not familiar with the fashion scene
here in Boston but perhaps you know or can point me in the right direction.

Thanks,
Oscar

Oscar, thanks for the compliment. I don’t know any T-shirt designers off hand. Can anyone help Oscar out?

Angela Liguori, owner of Carta, Inc., is a Italian-born and Brookline-based designer of custom stationary products, from invitations and announcements, to hand-bound books, to Edizioni Almenodue, her limited edition publishing collaboration with graphic designer Silvana Amato. Her work is highly detailed, showing a combination of contemporary design and old-world craftsmanship.

Angela Liguori
Carta, Inc.
9 Resevoir Road
Brookline, MA 02467
617-232-2787
mail@angelaliguori.com

NorthPoint is billing itself as “the ultimate urban oasis”, and for good reason. A new condo development in East Cambridge, steps away from Lechmere station and within walking distance of the Museum of Science and the Charles River beyond, will offer various unit layouts and configurations in multiple buildings, all situated around a 10-acre park.

The initial development is of two buildings. Sierra features 99 two story 1-BR+ loft-style condos. Each unit will feature double-height rooms with 14′ windows – talk about plenty of natural light! A couple that I’m friends with are buying one of the units, and from their description, the place is going to be to-die-for.

Tango, the other building, consists of 12 stories with 230 studio, one- and two-bedroom condos. Depending one what size unit you get and what floor it’s on, you have the option of a private entrance and patio, or a private rooftop terrace.

NorthPoint is still in the construction phase, and I believe there are still units available. Units in Tango start in the mid-$300K’s.

What do you think of when someone mentions Newbury St? Salons? Restaurants? For me, I think clothes. Lots of clothes. Expensive clothes.

I have no problem paying for good quality clothing; I’ve been known to do so from time to time. But why not spend the money for good quality clothing that is also environmentally conscious?

Enter Envi.

Envi is a new store featuring “fashion conscious clothing for an eco-conscious lifestyle”. They offer a full range of women’s casual clothing from a variety of designers, including Amelia Pastiche, Perfectly Imperfect, and Deborah Lindquist. And the prices are not outrageous, considering the street their on.

As happy as I am to see a store dedicated to eco-friendly women’s clothes, I have to ask: What about us men?

Envi
164 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116

Philip Guarino is opening a new store. The owner of Arclinea has signed a deal to open Rimadesio’s first stand-alone showroom in the US.

Rimadesio is one of the world’s premier manufacturers of contemporary sliding door, door, and closet systems. “We are very excited to bring Rimadesio to Boston,” says Rimadesio export manager Andrea Romano. “Our products have been embraced around the world, and we feel certain that Boston, which is becoming one of the leading centers for contemporary design in the United States, will be a great fit for the Rimadesio lifestyle.”

Rimadesio Boston is located adjacent to Arclinea. According to Philip Guarino, “A visit to the interconnected Arclinea Boston and Rimadesio Boston showrooms will demonstrate the tremendous benefits of innovative and spectacular contemporary design.”

Rimadesio Boston
10 St. James Ave
Boston, MA 02116

Another question came in that I would like to pass on to my lovely audience:

Do you know of a “hot” technical illustrator who can create hand drawn interior and exterior sketches similar to the ones used architecture studios use to pitch a project? This is for a retail store design. It could be a free-lancer or associated with a studio.

Thanks

Jack

Do you have any recommendations for Jack?