Tastes Like Fine Design

Amsterdam-based design firm Uxus Design just upped the ante in California’s wine country.

While many of the wineries in the area embrace the California rustic aesthetic, Uxus gave Merus winery something edgy, modern and ultimately cool. Don’t get us wrong: there is a nod to the geographic aesthetic in the wine cave and exposed wooden beams; however, they traded in the long farm table for a sleek, lacquered black table and hanging pendants from the likes of Tom Dixon. We love seeing what’s traditionally a romantic, artisanal craft shaken up with some great contemporary design!

Images courtesy of The Cool Hunter.

Out of This Stralasphere

Swiss designer TM Schmid, the creative force behind Strala, seems to be popping up everywhere recently with his tour de force collection of simplistic modern furniture.

Organic, natural forms – like the nautilus shaped sconce below – are the basis for much of his design. However, pushing the envelope and really exploring the process of modifying materials, shapes and consumers’ expectations is what sets Strala’s designs apart from the rest. We expect to see much more from this emerging talent.

A Creative Spark

Great design cannot be confined to a specific set of principals or ideals. For advances to occur, designers must stray beyond the border of conventional thought in order to break new ground. These attempts to innovate often result in failure but as with all things, failure is a key aspect of learning. The following three lighting designers have created products that serve as proof that breaking from the mold can result in great success when done properly.

The Zipp lamp from designers Camilla Waldal and Janne Helen Bulling is constructed entirely of zippers that have been attached together to form the supporting component of the lamp. The use of zippers as a means of controlling the light source creates an interesting play of light and shadow that allows the user to adjust the light source to their desired specifications. The Zipp lamp is available in a variety of heights and colors.

The Chester lamp by Dutch designers Bert van der Grift & Dennis van der Burch pays homage to the original classic chesterfield couch. Designed for the Belgian lighting manufacture Dark, this quirky and intriguing light has been coined the “chubby friend” of any space.

French designer Céline Wright presents the NID light. This handmade contemporary light was designed in Wright’s studio in Paris and serves as a prime example of her signature style of organic minimalism. Constructed of Japanese paper, Wright drew inspiration from the nest of a swallow hanging from a branch to develop the concept behind this unusually captivating piece.

Nuevo Living

Nuevo Living is one of the premier manufacturers of high quality modern furniture and décor. Select pieces from their contemporary lighting line, such as the Asparagus, Meringue and Cerebro chandeliers, embrace a palette of strictly white to achieve a clean and contemporary appearance that provides flexibility in placement and setting.

I Classici in Ceramica from Aldo Bernardi

I Classici in Ceramica is the oldest of the Aldo Bernardi collections and offers several types of unique solutions for interior lighting. All models in this collection: pendants, pendants with counterweights, sconces, spots, and ceiling mounts are made of ceramic and glass with brass and copper accents.

Products available through Ollier Distributors.

Lunaria Lighting Boutique Illuminates St. Helena

Lunaria, a specialty lighting boutique, has cast a new glow on the already spirited town of St. Helena. A popular shopping destination, St. Helena is located at the center of one of the most renowned food and wine centers in the world, Napa Valley.

At the forefront of innovative lighting design, Lunaria offers “lighting in context” by demonstrating the effect lighting has on its environment. Exclusive, world-class light fixtures are presented in vignettes that reference a variety of design styles. Jessica Hall Grace, owner of Lunaria, and her knowledgeable team boast more than twenty years of experience designing and consulting for prestigious clients world wide.

Stop by and peruse the stunning showroom:
1136 Main Street, St. Helena, California

Sneak Peak of NeoCon

Sondra Alexander Couture for Koroseal | Booth 8-7066
Dressage – Inspired by the harmony, flexibility and balance found in French equestrian pageantry, Sondra Alexander’s Dressage design combines the subtle textures of wood carving and leather to exemplify the elegance and sophistication of this classical artform.

Rocky Mountain Hardware | Urban Archaeology Showroom | Suite 108
The Ellis Collection – Designed by Rocky Mountain Hardware Design Studio, the brand new Ellis Collection is inspired by the finely ornamented fittings of the Victorian era. Its designs are fresh and innovative, while preserving the traditional aesthetic hallmarks and timeless beauty of the period.

Ted Boerner | Holland & Sherry Showroom | Suite 6-118
The Commune Dining Table and Server – Inspired by the concept that a dining table is more than just an heirloom, Ted Boerner’s Commune embodies what a dining table truly is: a place where friends and family gather together and connect with one another; a place where new traditions are made. The coordinating Commune Server completes the room’s aesthetic.

Rodolph | Summer Hill Showroom | Suite 6-157
Traviata – Part of the new Insignia collection, Rodolph’s Traviata is reminiscent of the great Italian opera of the same name. This exquisite velvet marries rich luminous elements with a contemporary floral composition, and adds luster to any setting.

Nomi Fabrics | David Sutherland Showroom | Suite 1800
Taza – Nomi has added yet another stunning fabric to her “high couture for the home.” Taza, a hand-painted 100% linen chintz, offers delightful visual texture inspired by richly patterned Moroccan mosaics.

Aldo Bernardi | William Switzer Showroom | Suite 1850
Civetta Chandelier – Like patinated palmettos, an array of individual fixtures branch out from the slender central trunk of Aldo Bernardi’s copper and brass Civetta Chandelier, ensuring bright light in even the most spacious areas.

Le Alte Vie Collection from Aldo Bernardi

The models in the Le Alte Vie (“The High Roads”) collection from Aldo Bernardi are named after the mountains, lakes and elevated locations in the Dolomites, a promontory of the Alps in Northern Italy. The rich natural resources and age-old peasant traditions in this area are reflected in the design and materials of these light fixtures.

Aldo Bernardi has invested 30 years of passion and research in the pursuit of creating a unique and personal style: a style that “just feels right” but distinctly stands apart in the lighting market.