Inspiration – Studio VI

I am nearing the end of my final project for my BA in Interior Design. T-minus 24 days until my final presentation, and 24 days until the rest of my life. I’ve been studying for four years part time while working full time, and I literally am at a point where having complete control of your own free time is a completely foreign concept to me.
I’m busily working away on my CAD plans and 3D Max, and it’s easy for me to forget my concept and what I’m aiming for. What better way to remind myself what I’m loosing countless hours over, than to share a couple of my favorite concept, typology, and precedent images – to keep me on track.
Raffles City Beijing Office by SMC Aslop | My initial inspiration for my current project was encouraged by the Raffles Beijing Sales Office. A strongly reflective environment, which had a feature wall I so much wanted to achieve. Similar to the 4 minutes video by Madonna and Justin Timberlake {slightly embarrassing to have that as a reference}, I wanted a feature wall that was encroaching on a typically normal or clinical space.
Zaha Hadid | Her Sonnabend instillations really appealed to me. I like the absent environment, mixed with an interactive foreign object intruding on the space. What an overwhelming feel to a room.

Natalia Farnosova and Helena Samarin | I can’t help but cringe when I hear or use the term futuristic, but it is ultimately the vibe I’m trying to achieve for this project. I have found abundant inspiration from this amazing apartment in Kiev designed by Natalia and Helena.

Tron Legacy | My last three college projects have been influenced by movies, to a degree. For the most part the Tron soundtrack has influenced a lot of my creative process, and is just the pick-me-up I need when the going gets tough. It was more so perfect timing, since my project is going down a similar route, even using some similar cold blue highlights and those Barcelona chairs, I want to much. {source}
If any of you are in the same boat and are nearing your finals – I feel your pain. Good luck, and hopefully you can see the finish line!

That rug really tied the room together, did it not?

Inspired by a recent Facebook post from an ex-coworker of mine who has an equally obsessive fascination with The Big Lebowski, I was influenced to write a little post about what rugs can bring to a room.  

“Alex, please promise me you will, at some stage in your design career, be sure to tell someone they must have a particular rug because it really ties the room together …” 

Thus, this post came about. 

Monochrome | I’m really into big bold black and white prints. I hope to have a big striped rug in my living room one day. What a way to add a contemporary twist to an otherwise traditional design. Images | Your Decorating Hotline and Javabali

Pretty in pink | Over sized stamp rug by Stamp Rugs. Coupled with a quaint bathroom with a punch of pink and red in the rug. Images | Prickly Thorn Sweetly Worn and Downlo
More mono | I couldn’t help adding these two pictures. More black and white loveliness. Images | Modern Homes Interior and E+ST+Laurent. Please note I very much prefer replicated animal print in stead of actual animal print. 

Relief rug | Not your run-of-the-mill rugs – amazing cut Stella Rug by Michelle Mason as well as the amazing and homely little black rug and Make yourself at home rugs by John Pour Home

The Big Goldstein

In a semi-vegitative state over the weekend {after submitting a rather stressful project}, I found myself watching E! I don’t like to admit it, but sometimes I need an artery-clogging helping of bad television. Although, if I watch a lot of it in one go, I feel my brain starting to go mushy and my vocabulary deteriorates at an alarming rate.
How’d You Get So Rich? hosted by Joan Rivers was on. I don’t mind watching it since half of it is snooping around the houses of the rich and famous. In this particular episode Joan explored the house of a fashion junkie – James Goldstein. It took me a couple of minutes to recognize his house – there’s no mistaking those couches.

It screams bachelors pad to no end, and is featured as the house of Jackie Treehorn in one of my favorite movies – The Big Lebowski.
Goldstein’s house has to be one of the most dangerous houses I’ve ever seen. Situated on the top of Benedict Canyon in Los Angeles, the house is built jutting from the face of the canyon, to take in the most of the surrounding sights. What gives the house the unmistakable feeling of danger is the hallway to the spare bedrooms {as seen below} – there are no walls or windows to the south side of the house to stop you falling into the canyon below. It has a 400ft drop to the south of the house, with small amounts of vegetation – for aesthetics – between you and the bottom.

Up next is James’ bedroom {not just architecture danger here ladies. Google image search him}. At the push of a button, the windows unfold upon the farthest point of the house, revealing stunning views of LA {as seen below}.
I’ve included more of my favorite pics of Goldstein’s house. I know his house is not to everyones taste. It’s very much you either like it or hate it, but I’ve got to admit I am on the side of liking.