Archive for the ‘News Flash’ Category

News Flash: Ligne Roset

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Get ready South Lake Union—Ligne Roset is coming your way in November! It’s set to open its doors on the corner of Denny and Westlake in a space with tons of windows and a decidedly modern vibe. Owner Barbara Prince explains that she had her eye on the space for quite some time: “I would drive by the Whole Foods and I would look at the building and think ‘This would be such a gorgeous store.’ The aesthetics were perfect for a Roset store. Visually, you’ve got a corner location, the building has all that metal and glass and really high ceilings.”

As someone who has been with the company for 13 years, Prince knows a thing or two about the brand. Owning a Ligne Roset store was an exciting venture for her, and now that she has a location of her own, she’s ready to have some fun with it. “This is my dream at this point, and so I really want some drama [in the space]. There’s going to be a wooden walkway that leads you to the back of the store where the reception desk is—like a runway,” she says.

When customers aren’t too busy strutting their stuff on the catwalk, their eyes will be drawn up to furniture hanging in the air. Hey, she said she wanted drama!  Prince has planned for the rest of the interior to take on a more subtle feel with natural tones, exposed concrete, white walls and a dark gray wood floor. The idea is to provide a muted palette to help showcase the furniture.

Prince designed the store with the Seattle market in mind, but was able to travel to France to work with the company’s designer and architect. (Talk about job perks.) “Ligne Roset is based on designs from France,” she explains. “I tried to tweak it to the Seattle market. I had to pick how I wanted to make those high design statements with practicality in mind.” For example, the dark gray flooring was chosen to work with Northwest elements—lighter colors don’t fare as well with rain and muddy shoes.

The fabulous location isn’t the only thing new we can expect from Ligne Roset this fall. The latest Roset products, fabrics and accessories are planned to appear in Prince’s showroom as well. “We’re going to have new models that have not been shown in the Roset store in Seattle before,” Prince reveals. Innovative pixilated fabric patterns reflecting the technology obsession of today will cover classic pieces such as the Ruché sofa, and boldly colored pieces can be put together to make modern, interlocking sofas.


Ruché


Confluences

But contemporary isn’t the rule of thumb for fall design trends. “I’m noticing more and more hints of whimsy,” Prince notes. “There are these little resin rabbits called Pan Pan that were at the furniture fair in Germany, and we will have those in the showroom. I like the idea of whimsy in design. I think having fun with your space is really important. I’m hoping that will come though in this space as well.”

Pan Pan

We’re looking forward to the grand opening of Ligne Roset’s latest location. Don’t forget to stop by the store in mid-November to check out the new products and showroom. —Rachel Gallaher

News Flash: New Botanist Series

Monday, August 30th, 2010

We’ve featured Orange22s cool Botanist Series benches before, so we were excited to hear about their latest venture—more than 80 new products and exciting collaborations with some of the hottest designers out there. We think the designs speak for themselves. Take a look! —Stacy Kendall

Clockwise from top left: Orikami Clock by Karim Rashid, Free Flowing Clock by Tord Boontje, Lyt Clock by Jeff Miller, Uniformed Clock by Mike + Maaike.

Clockwise from top left: Lines Trays by Massimo + Lella Vignelli, Uniformed Trays by Mike + Maaike, Epigram by Milton Glaser

Clockwise from top left: Blink Series Lanterns by Ashley Sargeant, Nuture Lanterns by Scott Henderson, Flow Lanterns by Dario Antioni, Lyt Lanterns by Jeff Miller

For more information and more new products, visit Botanist Series.

News Flash: New at Jonathan Adler

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Maybe they’re not as good as your own precious Fido, but they’re certainly better than a Chia Pet! Check out these new lovable creatures from Jonathan Adler ! —Stacy Kendall



From top: Doggie, $120; Kitty Cat, $120; Fox, $135: Prowling Cat, $135; Gorilla, $195 at Jonathan Adler

News Flash: Seattle Central Library

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Vanity Fair recently polled 52 architectural experts to find out what they, as a collective body, thought were the five most important structures built in the past 30 years. The votes were varied, and the results covered a wide range of architecture, with 132 different structures receiving votes. The overwhelming winner (with 28 votes) was the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, designed by architect Frank Gehry. Among the winners are Renzo Piano’s Menil Collection (second place with 10 votes) in Huston, Texas, and the Thermal Baths (third place with 9 votes) designed by architect Peter Zumthor in Vals, Switzerland. But among these architectural masterpieces is a building that is near and dear to our hearts—the Seattle Central Library, designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. It placed fifth on the list of most voted-for structures with six votes and placed third on the list of the top structures of the 21st century.

Photo by Robert Polidori via Vanity Fair.

Completed in 2004, the 11-story, glass-and-steel library is 362,987 square feet and has the capacity to house 1.45 million books (very fitting for such a literate city). Koolhaas embraced modern design and created an innovative “book spiral,” a continuous four-story ramp that is physically organized around the Dewey Decimal System in order to make locating books easier for library patrons. Koolhaas also used a variety of materials to creative interesting textures and colors throughout the building. Around every corner (and on every story) there are delightful visual surprises that blur the lines between art and architecture. Think neon yellow escalators, patterned rugs and bright red hallways.


Photo via The Seattle Public Library.


Photo via The Seattle Public Library.

No wonder it made the list! Congratulations to Rem Koolhaas and the Seattle Central Library for the well-deserved recognition. —Rachel Gallaher

News Flash: Camelion Design Sale

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

A chameleon may change its colors, but the style of this Ballard home boutique (with a similar sounding name) has withstood the test of time. Help Camelion Design celebrate its 13th anniversary, August 14–29. Enjoy 15 to 70 percent off furniture, art and other home décor items, including exclusive lines from Amy Butler, Thomas Paul and Tricia Guild. Also save 15 percent on any custom order. A celebration that includes shopping? Count us in! —Rachel Gallaher

News Flash: New Lighting from Blu Dot

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

As we move closer to fall, we learn more and more about new products being introduced in time for the New York Gift Fair. While we try to forget that summer is coming to an end, we can still be excited because it means new products for us to see! Like this new lighting trio from Blu Dot—the company is always putting out interesting designs, and it’s all the more intriguing because they don’t release new ones very often. These aren’t like anything else I’m seeing out there in lighting, and I think they’re cool—what do you think? —Stacy Kendall

Rook

Stilt

Watt

News Flash: Orbit Chandelier Now in Black

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

One of my favorite light fixtures, the Orbit Chandelier by Patrick Townsend, just got a chic update: it now comes in black! —Stacy Kendall


News Flash: DwellStudio for Robert Allen

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

Have you heard? DwellStudio has partnered with Robert Allen to create a collection of residential fabrics! Called “Eclectic Modern,”  the line offers 72 fabrics in an array of intriguing colors and motifs. To be released in early August, DwellStudio describes the collection as being for the “hip, luxe and modern home.” Take a look at the photos from the DwellStudio blog:
—Stacy Kendall

Robert Allen Beacon Hill, Seattle Design Center, Ste. P-182, (206) 763-0100

News Flash: New at Blu Dot

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Even with a fairly small collection, Blu Dot has become a favorite among modern design enthusiasts for its simple lines and throwback to the stylings of  midcentury design. New to the collection, and presented at this year’s ICFF, were office chair Scoop and desk Cant. I’m excited that Blu Dot is growing its collection, and I could definitely see that desk looking right at home in my office! What do you think? —Stacy Kendall

Cant desk


Scoop task chair

In Seattle, Blu Dot is available through Chartreuse Modern, Retrofit Home, Seva Home, Tottini and Velocity Art & Design.

News Flash: Fleurt

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

The gloom has cleared (fingers crossed), and it’s finally starting to feel like summer! To honor today’s nice weather, we’re sharing some equally sunny news. A new flower studio called Fleurt recently opened in West Seattle, and we are going ga ga over its gorgeous floral arrangements in vintage, rustic and modern styles. Each arrangement is placed in a unique vessel for a whimsical touch—everything from milk vases and mason jars to galvanized pails and birch-wrapped vessels. Plus, owner Samantha Crowley uses fresh, seasonal flowers and makes an effort to buy from local Washington growers. What’s not to love? —Angela Cabotaje

Check out some of Fleurt’s beautiful offerings:

Pretty Posy, $55

Medium Bowl of Lovelies, $80

Medium Floralscape, $65

Large Birch Buds, $80

Small Bowl of Lovelies, $60

Fleurt Succulent, $85