MAY/JUNE 2012
Poolside Repast
The year 2012 welcomes a couple of additions to the Richard Frinier Collection for Brown Jordan, including Swim, a spare, stylish new line of furniture. Constructed with powder-coated aluminum and topped with glass, the dining table (pictured) comes in a variety of sizes and shapes. The collection also includes dining chairs, a chaise, a lounge chair and ottoman, and coffee and end tables. brownjordan.com
In Living Color
Neon-bright hues characterize furniture designer Jessica Charles’s summer offerings—including the 323 Hug Chaise, which boasts an S-curve shape that envelops sunbathers in style. Handmade in North Carolina, it comes in customizable fabrics and finishes. jessicacharles.com
Dish Duty
Heath Ceramics’ Summer Seasonal collection captures the vibrancy of spring through fresh bursts of color. The pieces are coated with matte glazes and have a natural clay body texture. They are handcrafted in Sausalito, California, and can be used both indoors and out. heathceramics.com
Campfire Cool
Conjuring images of campfires, the vent-free EcoSmart Fire Stix sculptural fireplace was designed by Hiroshi Tsunoda and is made of tubular steel secured around a burner. The use of bioethanol (a renewable liquid fuel) means no smoke or sparks, and the design makes it portable—easy to assemble outdoors and use time and time again. ecosmartfire.com; roomandboard.com
Sitting Pretty
With its geometric shape, Gloster’s Bloc seating collection offers comfort as well as sleek, minimalist style. Pictured here, the sofa rests on aluminum internal supports clad in thick layers of waterproof cushioning. The seat cushions, on integrated sling-seat panels, are wrapped in Leisuretex fabric. gloster.com
Etched in Stone
Eldorado Stone’s Eldorado Outdoor collection creates an authentic stone profile, custom designed and sized, in any hardscape project. Eldorado Stone is an engineered-stone product made of glass-fiber reinforced concrete, which eliminates the need for a concrete foundation. eldoradostone.com/outdoor
Party Time
Frontgate’s Cordless Margaritaville Frozen Margarita Machine brings the party outside. With a lightweight pitcher of durable, high-impact plastic, the machine blends up to 70 drinks on a single charge and includes four settings and a separate reservoir for shaving ice, then blending it. Comes with a rechargeable 18V battery and a three-foot cord. frontgate.com
Groovy Griddle
Transform your barbeque grill into a flat, low-stick cooking surface for fish, pancakes, eggs and more with Little Griddle’s line of heavy-duty, grill-top griddles. Available in four styles and six sizes, the griddles boast high sidewalls and a grease trough that eliminates flare-ups. Vented cross bracing prevents bending so heat stays even. littlegriddle.com
Summer Sizzle
Designer Trina Turk’s second indoor/outdoor fabric collection for Schumacher greets the season with brightly hued, bold patterns in highly durable twill and canvas weaves. Pictured here, the Santorini print offers crisp interlocking curves in a geometric design. fschumacher.com
Up in Flames
Stone Forest’s fire vessels incorporate natural materials into functional sculptures. Pictured here, the Vesta Fire Table features a polished blue/gray granite top with chiseled sides and a stainless-steel base that safely cradles the flames. It includes a match-lit trough burner kit for natural gas. stoneforest.com
Very Versatile
Aluminum mesh panels atop this functional coffee table from Hammacher Schlemmer can be lifted to create surfaces for dining—and that’s not all. A metal bin in the center doubles as a receptacle for ice or a fire pit; a domed screen helps contain sparks. The frame is made from rustproof aluminum with stainless-steel hardware. hammacher.com
Groovy Griddle
Transform your barbeque grill into a flat, low-stick cooking surface for fish, pancakes, eggs and more with Little Griddle’s line of heavy-duty, grill-top griddles. Available in four styles and six sizes, the griddles boast high sidewalls and a grease trough that eliminates flare-ups. Vented cross bracing prevents bending so heat stays even. littlegriddle.com
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and landscape design ideas. Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas, and outdoor spaces to life.
MAY/JUNE 2012
Visitors to bustling Penn Quarter can’t help but notice the modern, glass-fronted District Architecture Center. From the open lobby, guests can see inside each glass-enclosed room in the two-story structure—and marvel at its play of fluidity and natural light.
Designed by Hickok Cole Architects, the recently opened Center houses the Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Washington Architectural Foundation. The public is welcome to attend many of the Center’s exhibits and events.
“We wanted the space to promote the profession and create an ongoing dialogue between the person on the street and the architect practicing their trade,” says project designer Thomas Corrado of Hickok Cole Architects. “This is a place for celebrating architecture.”
Upcoming events at the Center include “Hands on Architecture: My Ideal Home,” a children’s event on June 2 that invites kids eight and older to build a model house; and a lecture on landscape design by Ralph Cunningham of Cunningham | Quill Architects on June 21. The latter is part of an ongoing brown bag lunch series, “25 Architects,” in which local architects speak on a variety of subjects.
The District Architecture Center is located at 421 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC. aiadc.com
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home design and building/remodeling features. Wonderful visuals of custom homes and eco-friendly resources are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design and remodeling projects to life.
MAY/JUNE 2012
Katie Ridder Rooms by Heather Smith MacIsaac showcases designer Katie Ridder’s colorful, eclectic approach to stylish, livable home décor. Living areas such as entrances, living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms are grouped together, and the book devotes a chapter to Ridder’s signature looks, ranging from embroidered trim to brightly hued and patterned wallpaper. An extensive list of sources recommended by Ridder is included to help with the design process. The Vendome Press, New York, NY, 2011. $50.
Interior designer Matthew Patrick Smyth’s classic style and attention to detail are among his hallmarks. In Living Traditions: Interiors by Matthew Patrick Smyth, the designer demonstrates how to incorporate antique and contemporary pieces in projects ranging from an Aspen vacation home to a London flat. The book showcases Smyth’s design style with more than 200 full-color photographs, and features design tips for meeting the challenges of uniquely shaped spaces. Monacelli Press, New York, NY, 2011. $50.
Rachel Ashwell’s seventh book, Shabby Chic: Inspirations and Beautiful Spaces, takes the reader on a tour of 12 homes that includes the designer’s own Malibu beach house and her newly acquired ranch, situated on a Texas prairie. Ashwell originated the shabby chic brand back in 1989 when she opened a shop full of vintage finds in Santa Monica. Today, her trademark style is part of the design vernacular. The homes featured here are scattered from London to the Catskills; descriptions include personal stories and details. CICO Books, New York, NY, 2011. $35.
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs. Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas to life.
