BIJOU LIVING: interiors

Showing posts with label interiors. Show all posts

Aug 11, 2015

Oscar Niemeyer Chaise Lounge

Oscar Niemeyer Chaise Lounge images via R 20th Century

Originally published July 6, 2013.

Oscar Niemeyer made cool furniture as well as buildings? Of course, he did. Seems like most architects are also budding furniture designers (Frank Lloyd Wright, Ron Thom). Niemeyer passed away in December 2012 - 10 days short of his 105th birthday.

The Rio Chaise Lounge was designed in 1978 with his daughter, Anna Maria Niemeyer.

Features a bentwood frame, woven cane seat, and leather headrest pillow with weighted straps.

The image shown is a 2001 reissue for sale on 1st Dibs.

1978 original for sale at $28,000 in 2013

1978 original sold at auction for $22,000 in 2008

1978 original unsold at auction $5000 in 2003

images © R 20th Century

Jul 17, 2015

Dining dilemma

I've had at least five dining tables in the past ten years.

This is partly because I've moved six times in the past five years (and you've been with me for each one). What was purchased for one area only fits in one location.

This is what leaves me torn. I need a new table - again. I want to invest and get something I can keep from this day forward, but seeing as we rent, who knows what will happen?

Our last movers trashed our teak bedroom set, smashed most of my BC ceramics, broke my alabaster table, and gouged the top of my stump table with a six-inch crevasse.

What do I do? Of all those tables, our card table was the most versatile, and the size was right for each dining room. I should look for one of those old wooden ones.

If I had 'my own' dining area, it would go something like this:

Florence Knoll's oak or walnut-topped table.

or the Wegner CH002 table

"Oh, hi, we just look cool."

Jonathan Adler's Sputnik chandelier

Hoffman for Thonet cane back chairs

mixed with Wegner's Wishbone chairs

It's not in my dining area, but the Womb chair would be there.

Now I'm into the flax colour.

Good thing I didn't get the purple velvet one four moves ago!

Here's one of those card tables I just found on Craigslist.

Thirty bones and a "leather top" - too bad those fantastic chairs aren't included.

Nov 5, 2014

A (Bed) Room of One's Own

Master Bedroom Boyd House Architect Ron Thom image by Stacy Reynaud

I brought up the topic of separate bedrooms this morning, only to be greeted with, 'Should we each have our own house, too?' Geesh, sensitive.

Architectural trends reflect our culture, but how far do these trends reflect our instincts?

My first thought was that the shared bedroom is a socioeconomic thing—lots of money = lots of house. Not so much money = not so much home.

You know what I'm talking about, so let's not go into tiny house living choices or the cost of a 435 s.f. apartment in Vancouver because I'm simply talking about the concept of the shared bedroom.

My second thought - brought into fruition by a comment regarding prudery - is an image of a lovely Homo erectus couple snuggled up under a muskox blanket in front of their amber-hued, crackling cave fire. The shared bedroom now becomes a mammalian instinct.

Stay warm, stay safe, and have sex (in whichever preferred order).

My next thought - is Lucy and Ricky's bedroom - sure, it was fictional (somewhat), and they were shown in separate beds due to TV regulations of the 1950s. Still, I'd argue that it was actually the result of the continuous evolution of Western socioeconomic and mammalian instinctual concepts.

Okay, let's leave it at that - I want my own bedroom, and ignorance is bliss.

image: Boyd House, Ron Thom
© Stacy Reynaud

Oct 31, 2014

Wallpaper is Wallpaper

The other night, I dreamed of wallpaper. Well, not really. It was actually an image during a little gong meditation journey I was on. Eighties lovers sculpture comes to life in a Fauvist equatorial rainforest (think Henri Rousseau). The backdrop was impressive, and I want wallpaper like it! It was so vivid that I felt I must've seen it before.

I'll leave the philosophy of consciousness dialogue alone right now.

Similar vibe to this Rousseau painting.

It was black with sparsely placed tropical leaves but not palm fronds.

More like ficus leaves

and they were electric green.

This pair of tights is pretty close.

But on a larger scale.

This shirt actually might be a closer fit than the tights, but without the flowers and more vibrant green.

Whatever, it was a rewarding journey, and I'll get hit with deja vu soon enough.

PS I hate how wallpaper isn't wallpaper anymore - according to search engines.

Aug 18, 2014

Trend Spotting - The Equipale Chair

In 2012, I spotted some equipale furniture in a late 60s decorating mag. This Mexican handmade leather furniture has been popping out at me right, left, and centre within the last month. Traditional Equipal furniture is handcrafted from tanned pigskin and cedar or rosewood strips. Each piece is unique; like all unwaxed, natural leather will improve with age.

Take a look at the different styles. I can't decide which one I like the best - probably the lounge chair and peacock chair (of course).

images via

greenweddingshoes
bijouliving
salvationtaco
jessicacollins laceandlikes makemodelnashville
kimberlygosnell
joeyrandall

Aug 6, 2014

10 Ideas for Living Windows

Cynthia Wood

A million years ago (2009, actually), I did a post on How to Accent Windows - let's consider this post the 2014 version. Vintage paned windows are perfect for framing your plant collection for indoor and outdoor appreciation.

Marion Berrin

Make sure you pull the dead stuff off - that is, of course, if they're dried flowers. If you follow feng shui decorating practices, make sure you keep the energy fresh and the meaning special - don't let the dried plant simply become a dust collector/clutter.

Esther

Have a less-than-ideal view? Use the plants as a living wall. They're much better than keeping the blinds down or the curtains closed.

viciouslycyd.tumblr.com

whimsicaljane

archisculpture

Lucky enough to have a window like this in your washroom? Block your sexy silhouette from the snoopy neighbours by hanging a plant in front of the window.

Ferns love the humidity from the shower; if your window is facing east, even better!