Cosentino Etchings: Ink & Aquatint

April 21, 2016

This April my fellow Cosentino Trendspotters and I had one of our new patterns featured in Metropolis Magazine. The Trendspotters: Cheryl Kees Clendenon, Interior Designer Pensacola, Fla., Christopher Kennedy, Architect Palm Springs, Calif., Denise McGaha, Interior Designer Dallas, Drew McGukin, Interior Designer New York City and Steffany Hollingsworth, Interior Designer Santa Fe, N.M. and I met in Spain last fall to brainstorm ideas which resulted in the Etchings Series.

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#15 is the new products that we created called Etchings "Ink".

As an invited member of the 2015 Silestone Trendspotter program, we came up with our own design and colour for the Silestone “Influencer Series” that was debuted at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas. We met in January 2016 and our trip to the show included a panel discussion moderated by Elle Décor’s Carisha Swanson. 

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With our goal of bringing something new, exciting and versatile to the market we developed this unique colour by combining two of Cosentino’s products – manufactured from shards of Dekton cast in Silestone. The design is offered in two colours, Aquatint (soft light-blue) and Ink (black), featured in Metropolis above. 

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These two materials combined in a single product (Silestone quartz surfacing & Dekton ultra-compact-surfacing) are extremely durable and they are a beautiful graphic pattern fit for a range of kitchen and bath surfaces.

Also, see below a bedroom I designed with fabric walls similar to our Etchings Ink and one of my inspirations.

For newest trends and insight from the Silestone Trendspotters you can follow along on Twitter and Instagram using #SilestoneTrends.

Barovier Toso - Lighting

April 15, 2016

Barovier Toso is a company that specializes in Venetian glass light fixtures and one of my favourite suppliers for projects that need an injection of glamour and sophistication. I typically do not purchase new ones, but rather I am drawn to the vintage 1930’s era pieces, such as the bold, brass and glass styles shown below:

Here’s a bit of history: The company is one of the oldest family businesses in the world, founded in 1295 as simply Barovier.  The history of the Barovier family derives from the XIIIth century, when the Barovier family is mentioned for the first time in an official Venetian document. The company headquarters is currently based in the Palazzo Contarini in Murano, a small island in the archipelago.  It was not until 1936, that the Barovier family merged with the Toso family's Fratelli Toso Glassworks, to form Barovier & Toso, with the newly formed company specializing in crystalline glass, mother-of-pearl glass, and gold-free cornelian red glass.

The dynasty has continued and developed over the centuries, through generation after generation, and has become one  of the leading international manufacturers of specialty glass, producing beautiful and original glass lighting fixtures and decorative vases. 

Finally,  here is the beautiful Barovier Tosso Pendant fixture that I come home to every night.

Enduring Images

At this time of year I find myself  going over old photos and I came upon this gem by photographer Ted Yarwood. Taken for Toronto Life Magazine 13 years ago at my home on Euclid Avenue,  I am still taken with this image, and  do not tire of the composition, the objects and the memories it evokes. Ted Yarwood creates photographic moments that are timeless. Please see the original below and variations I have created with filters.

Memories of Sicily: Architectural Details

February 5th, 2016

Baroque architecture became prevalent on the island of Sicily during the 17th through to 18th century. Scilian Baroque is distinguished  not only by Baroque curves but by the sculptural grinning faces and putti. I found this to be one the most intriguing parts of Sicilian buildings when I visited Sicily: the relics of the grinning and glaring faces that survived since before the mid-17th century. Here is a photographic collection of some of masks, putti and various other sculptures.  It has been said, that this particular flamboyance in the sculptures gives Sicily its unique architectural identity.

These glaring grotesque masks are often found supporting balconies or decorating various parts of a building in Sicily. 

The Mystery of Sicilian Doorways

January 31st, 2016

When wandering the streets of Sicily you can come across a variety of doorways. Curved topped windows and doors with decorated rustication are all characteristics of Baroque architecture, a style prominent in Sicily, during the 17th and 18th centuries.  Sicilians live much of their lives outdoors and  can often be found lingering at their doorways as they watch their children play on the street, chat with their neighbours and connect with the energy from the street.  From the charming to the daunting,  here is a gallery of some of the doors that I photographed. Each doorway embodies a different persona and often made me wonder what lies beyond...

 The use of curved topped doors in construction dates back to antiquity and was utilized to minimize tensile stress in large spanning entrances. The arched doorways in Palermo can still be found all over the city.  

A peek inside the entrance of a Sicilian church.

 I love the layers of wood  pealing from this old doorway. It gives it character yet a feeling of abandonment and mystery.